Are you a breast cancer survivor?

Question

If so, for how long? Are you taking any medication (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Lupron, etc.) now? Do you have any lingering or continuuing side effects from your treatment? How are you feeling emotionally?

I appreciated you all sharing your stories. I realized, however, that I cannot choose a best answer with a question like this! All of your stories are inspiring. Peace to you all.

Answer 1

You answered my question previously about Tamoxifen. I was diagnosed stage 1 but have family history of Aunts & sisters with a much more aggressive cell type. I went through 4 chemo treatments & have 2 more weeks of 6 wks of radiation. I have a rash on my chest that is pretty itchy & my breast/underarm is pretty tender, esp. when trying to sleep. My oncologist has suggested when done with treatments that I go on Tamoxifen for 5 yrs. but have heard so much about side affects I want to talk to him more about other options. I asked him if I could take a break for a month before going on more drugs. Just want to give my body a break if it doesn't hurt anything by doing so. He didn't think this to be an issue. I'm also concerned as to when I should start up with mammograms again? Soon after radiation as I'm already 6 mos. from the last one. Are you doing an annual CT scan, MRI? I haven't yet decided if I will as my oncologist indicates this can just be cause to look at every little thing that they see. Which you want to a degree but not be neurotic either. Overall, my state of mind is good. Tired of wearing my wig but my hair is just now starting to grow back. I've just started going out more with friends, doing things that I really enjoy now that my energy is back. My next big step is getting back into working out & my goal is to eventually become a machine, physically as much as I possibly can. I know now more than ever before if my body has sustained the chemo drugs, it can be pushed to the limit in a positive way physically. Hope you are doing well & God Bless!!

Answer 2

My mom is a breast cancer survivor, three years so far. She has been on tamoxifen for 2.5 years and will be continuing the therapy until the end of the 5 years. She has switched oncologists a few times and one wanted to put her through Lupron - her new MD says that was a HORRIBLE idea!! The side effects sucked (bone pain, short term memory loss) and why in the world would you pay thousands of dollars to go into menopause? New MD says if they choose to go to the induced menopause route (so she could use Femara.. which also caused bad side effects) he would rather zap her ovaries with radiation rather than put her through Lupron. They have decided not to do an elective hysterectomy (Tamoxifen reduces recurrence of breast cancer but can cause endometrial cancer) but will be screening and watching carefully and will deal with it if it happens. Tamoxifen seems to cause some memory loss but maybe Mom is just getting old (though she was pretty young to develop breast cancer). The new oncologist is bugging her to get her kids (my sister and I) tested for the genetic mutation because breast cancer is so prevalent in our family but my sister and I have chosen to just be proactive and get mammograms earlier and regularly - if caught early, breast cancer is totally treatable. As for how she's feeling emotionally, my mom is a tough cookie: she says life goes on and she is so glad that they caught it early, and she will just keep living each day that she's given.

Answer 3

My (younger) sister had breast cancer when she was about 43--they did a radical mastectomy (with reconstructive surgery while she was still on the table--a very long surgery). She didn't have radiation but did a course of chemo which made her sick (lost her hair and when it grew back it was all white) and after that she did about 6 months on the next generation after Tamoxifen (something that didn't have the negative side effects) (she said whatever side effects there were were so miniscule compared to the chemo she can't even complain about them). She's been cancer free for over 10 years now. She refused to go for any therapy, which is where I think she made a mistake, she never would talk about it all except to say she didn't want to sit around with a bunch of sick people whining about their ailments. She has lived, since her surgery, as though there is no tomorrow, spending everything she and her husband make before they make it, traveling and buying a lot of stuff, going into serious debt.

Answer 4

I am a 16 year breast cancer survivor. I had a mastectomy, followed by 6 chemo treatments. I had no further teatment since my tumor was non-estrogen dependent-no Tamoxifen, in other words. I have had no recurrence. Other than the cosmetic results because I did not opt for reconstruction, I had no lingering effects from surgery or chemo. My tumor was stage II. I sometimes regret my decision to have a mastectomy as opposed to lumpectomy and radiation but I was 48 at the time and married and felt no loss of sexuality due to the loss of my breast. Supposedly, the results of mastectomy and lumpectomy and radiation are similar but 16 years ago, my first reaction was that I wanted that lump gone! Apparently I made the right decision for me.

Answer 5

My wife had a lumpectomy three years ago. When she came out of surgery, she had a stroke and was paralized on her left side. She quit smoking and recovered from the stroke, but is weak on the left side and the doctor reported her to DMV and they took her drivers license. She had radiation for 33 treatments which made her breast sore. She mostly recovered from the radiation now. Because of the stroke she has to take anastrazole which is very expensive and aggrenox, expensive because of the blood clot induced stroke. She gained 40# and takes prozac, spiranolactone, atenolol and lovastatin for other things.
We belong to a good HMO that has the best cancer survival rate in the country. It isn't cheap though. They did a lot to help with therapy etc.
The good thing is she quit smoking, which contributed to the whole mess in the first place.

Answer 6

extra often than not through fact breast maximum cancers is quite widespread meaning a lot and a lot of this is around and extra human beings get that then any of the others. even nonetheless anybody has caner interior them it relies upon on what triggers it to truly launch itself and breast maximum cancers releases it self extra fairly than others im no longer incredibly specific what motives breast maximum cancers to return yet i comprehend that smoking motives lung maximum cancers and what no longer

Answer 7

Check out the website Breastcancer.org. they have a chat room that you can ask that question of the women in there all have or had BC.