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Vitals

Name:
Joyce (joyce)

Member Since:
February 19, 2008

Home page:
Click here.

Instant messaging:
jmhinnant41

Location:
Scotland Neck, North Carolina

Birthday:
November 7, 1941

Type of Cancer:
Breast Cancer

Diagnosis Date:
January 1994 & November 2005

Stage of Cancer:
Stage 2

Tumor Size:
03

ER:
Positive

PR:
Positive

Lymph Node Involvement:
Yes

Surgery:
Lymph Node Removal, Mastectomy

Chemotherapy:
Fluorouracil, Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide (brand name: Cytoxan), Adriamycin (chemical name: doxorubicin)

Hormone Therapy:
Tamoxifen

Profile:
Cancer Survivor

What I Hate Most About Cancer:
The Chemo

What I Have Learned From Cancer:
Be Thankful For Every Day You Have

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help:
Pray for me and donate to this site and to cancer research if you can.

Cancer Symptoms:

I really had no symptoms that I noticed. I accidentally found the first lump in 1994 myself. The second one in 2005 was detected during my annual mammogram. I would never have found this one because it was in the center of the breast at the back wall.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects:

January 1994 – Stage 2 – Lump was 2.4 cm. – A second 0.3 cm lump found in breast after surgery. Left modified radical mastectomy with removal of 9 lymph nodes…1 (3cm) lymph node positive. ER/PR both positive.
November 2005 – Stage 1 – Lump was 1.6 cm. Right modified radical mastectomy with lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy. 2 lymph nodes removed…both clear of cancer. ER negative(1%) and PR positive(7%).

Radiation Description, Dates & Side Effects:

None either time.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

6 treatments from March 3, 1994 to June 29, 1994. Started with Taxol Study. Received high-dose Cytoxan 3980 mg and Adriamycin 74.6 mg for 2 cycles. Except for the 1st and the last, blood transfusions were required after every treatment due to low hemoglobin. I developed a blood clot in my right arm shortly after the first blood transfusion in April and had to be hospitalized and put on coumadin for 3 months. Had to be taken off Taxol Study because I could not take high-dose Cytoxan/Adriamycin and Coumadin. I was given Cytoxan 995 mg, 5-FU 995 mg and Adriamycin 99.5 mg for the next 4 treatments. Other side effects were nausea, some vomiting, sores in mouth, diarrhea, heartburn, fatigue and complete loss of all hair.
6 treatments from January 20, 2006, to June 2, 2006. I was given a CMF combination of 1200 mg of Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide), 80 mg of Methotrexate and 1200 mg of Fluorouracil (5-FU). This bout with chemo was much easier than the first. I also had a blood clot in my lung in February, 2006, and was hospitalized for 7 days and put on coumadin for 18 months. Only other side effects were minor nausea, fatigue, sore mouth, minor diarrhea and only thinning of my hair.

The worst thing to happen was the death of my husband and my boston terrier dog in May during this bout of chemo.

Hormone Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

Tamoxifen – July 1994 through July 1999
Hot flashes were the only side effect I remember.
Arimidex – June 2006 through January 2007
No side effects that I noticed. I was taken off Arimidex because my oncologist was concerned with damage to my bones. I was diagnosed with low bone mass or osteopenia on 02/20/06

Bone Marrow Transplant Description, Dates & Side Effects:

None

Immune Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

Injections of G-CSF 10 mcg/kg until my ANC recovered. No side effects that I remember.

joyce's Cancer Blog

September 29, 2008

Question For Everyone? Views: 492

Hi Everyone,
When I went to my oncologist in August for my 6-month checkup, I was telling him about the pain in my middle back being so bad when I was walking or standing. It doesn’t hurt AT ALL when I am sitting or laying. I cannot walk or stand for any longer than 10 minutes without terrible pain. I have had this problem for a long time but just haven’t mentioned it before. My oncologist suggested that I talk with a neurological surgeon. He says that this problem can be fixed with surgery. He then grinned at me and said after I got my back fixed I could then walk the 6 miles a day he wanted me to walk. I grinned back and told him sureeeee. It would be great to be able to walk 6 miles. I have not been to see the doctor yet because I am afraid if they start messing on my back that it MIGHT start hurting ALL THE TIME instead of the pain going away. I know I should at least go talk to the doctor. That doesn’t mean I have to have it done.
My question is….has anyone else had or do you have this problem? I would also like everyone’s opinion on what they think I should do.
THANKS, MY FRIENDS, for listening.
My love, thoughts and prayers are always with you all.
Love and hugs,
Joyce
Posted on September 29, 2008 at 9:40:30 AM by Joyce ( Question For Everyone?, 8 comments)

Hey Joyce! I am see a neurologist because I am having some fainting issues. I think it is stress related, but not sure. I had a brain MRI a few weeks ago which came back with a pineal gland cyst. I don’t really know what that all means, but should find out tomorrow. Wish me luck and let me know what you decide to do.

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 9:56:27 AM by jill

Hi Joyce,
I’m so sorry that you are having so much pain :(

My mom had similar symptoms a few years back. She could not hardly stand or walk either. I believe she had a nerve that was being pinched in her back by a messed up disk and it was causing her this great pain. She did have surgery and fixed the problem.

Yours could be totally different of course. I think you should at least see the doctor about it. Find out what it is exactly and what your options are, then you’ll be able to make a decision on how you want to proceed.

Please, at least see the doctor to find out what’s going on.

Big Hugs for you,
Wendy

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 10:12:05 AM by wildspirit

Dear Joyce,

I’m sorry that you are suffering. From what I know of you and your story, you are a very strong woman. Be brave and go to the doctor. At least hear him/her out and ask a lot of questions. Share your concerns about surgery possibly making things worse. While, of course, that is a possibility, I know several people who have had back surgery and are now pain-free and livin’ easy! That’s what I’d like for you, too!

Let us know how the doctor’s appointment goes. (See how I did that? I made it sound like you’ve already made the appointment!)

Best of health to you!

Peace,
Kathy

P.S. Thanks for the happy birthday song! You sounded great!

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 11:50:16 AM by curlygirl

Joyce go to the Doctor!

That is what you keep telling to done.

Hug Sherri

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 12:23:46 PM by karlak

OOP)s the word is do! LOL
Sherri

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 12:24:36 PM by karlak

GO TO THE DOCTOR!
Sherri is right, you would be tell’n us to get off our butts and go. Take care of you. You are the only you we have and we expect you to be here for us.

Love you dear be well
Mac

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 1:34:15 PM by rigidridr

Hi Joyce,

I am a Chiropractor and I suggest you do a more holistic path then Surgery. Surgery should be a last option. Are you in shape? Is your body out of condition. If you have instability in your back and your core muscle are week it will cause you pain. Go find the best Chiropractor you can find. You can use a Thoracic support so that you can walk futher without pain. It will also help when you stand. Let me know how it goes.

Kathleen

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 3:00:20 PM by cupcakegirl

Go to the doctor! You can alway say no to surgery. We can’t have you getting sick you are one of our biggest supporters. So go get fixed, we need you!

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 5:59:05 PM by angelwthwingz

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Joyce's Stats

Posts:	21
Photos:	24
Events:	0
My Supporters:	23
I Support:	61
Comments:	99
Views:	15023

joyce's Cancer Blog (21)

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