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Breast Cancer Community

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judyfams

Joined: 04/21/2010

My Story:

I was diagnosed with Stage 1 IDC and had a lumpectomy and sentinenal node biopsy on 3/25/10. No cancer found in lymph nodes, lumpectomy had clear margins and cancer was HERS2 - and ER+. Onco score came out at 20 - low intermediate number and I elected to have chemo. Finished chemo on 9/8/10. Finished 33 rounds of external beam radiation on 11/24/10.

On a personal note I am a retired science teacher who is actively involved in being a volunteer tutor in biology and chemistry in a local high school, and a local women's shelter. I live in northern NJ. and have a son and a daughter who are both married and have 3 grandchildren. I am divorced and live with my 2 cocker spaniels.

I also love to read historical fiction and mysteries. Additional hobbies include knitting, crocheting, doing needlepoint and I have even made two quilts.

I am also trying to do volunteer work with cancer groups as I feel strongly about giving back to this community. The diagnosis is so frightening and those of us who have traveled that road really owe it to our sisters to extend a helping hand and a strong shoulder to lean on!

I have put together a fact sheet that has a thumbnail sketch of the possible cancer treatment options that I would like to give as a handout to groups I speak to. I am working on contacting groups I could speak to. I feel this fact sheet should be given to women before a possible diagnosis so they can have some idea of what their options are. I believe that this kind of knowledge beforehand is a powerful tool.

If anyone would like a copy of this fact sheet, please email me and I will send it to you
.
My email is: judyfams@verizon.net

The best thing about life is looking forward to the future!!!!!!

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Reply: Eat Broccoli (or Bok Choy), Beat Breast Cancer?

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20120403/eat-broc...

Mary, The benefit for estrogen positive breast cancer comes from eating cruciferous...

Posted by judyfams

9 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Eat Broccoli (or Bok Choy), Beat Breast Cancer? Mary, The benefit for estrogen positive breast cancer comes from eating cruciferous...

Reply: Eat Broccoli (or Bok Choy), Beat Breast Cancer?

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20120403/eat-broc...

Haylen, There is also a soy free DIM product made by Nature's Way. Judy

Posted by judyfams

9 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Eat Broccoli (or Bok Choy), Beat Breast Cancer? Haylen, There is also a soy free DIM product made by Nature's Way. Judy

Reply: Eat Broccoli (or Bok Choy), Beat Breast Cancer?

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20120403/eat-broc...

It has been known that eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, brussel...

Posted by judyfams

9 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Eat Broccoli (or Bok Choy), Beat Breast Cancer? It has been known that eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, brussel...

Reply: Daily asprin for cancer prevention and treatment?

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20120320/daily-aspirin-m...

Actually I read an article last year that said that taking a baby aspirin 3X per week...

Posted by judyfams

5 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Daily asprin for cancer prevention and treatment? Actually I read an article last year that said that taking a baby aspirin 3X per week...

Reply: New Studies About Benefits of Avastin for Breast C...

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20120125/avastin-...

Ladies, Please be sure to read the entire article. It is 4 pages long, but very easy to...

Posted by judyfams

2 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:New Studies About Benefits of Avastin for Breast Cancer Ladies, Please be sure to read the entire article. It is 4 pages long, but very easy to...

Breast cancer Survival - Femara better Than Tamoxi...

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20111021/breast-c...

This article was published on Oct. 21, 2011. It states that studies have shown women who...

Posted by judyfams

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3 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Breast cancer Survival - Femara better Than Tamoxifen This article was published on Oct. 21, 2011. It states that studies have shown women who...

Reply: MD Anderson study of brachytherapy

http://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/news-releases/2011/apb...

Michelle, Thanks for the article - very interesting. After reading it I was wondering why...

Posted by judyfams

2 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:MD Anderson study of brachytherapy Michelle, Thanks for the article - very interesting. After reading it I was wondering why...

Reply: Wanda Sykes discusses her breast cancer on Ellen

http://blogs.webmd.com/breaking-news/2011/09/wanda-sykes-...

Jenna, We are in total agreement about what women should know before they are diagnosed so...

Posted by judyfams

http://blogs.webmd.com/breaking-news/2011/09/wanda-sykes-...

Jenna,
We are in total agreement about what women should know before they are diagnosed so they can ask their MD the correct questions.
I for one never heard of brachytherapy until after I finished external whole breast rads. I think I would have been an ideal candidate - but could not ask questions about something I never heard of!
So now I am on a mission to speak to women before (and if) they are diagnosed about possible treatment options. I have put together a fact sheet that I give out, and update as needed. My feeling is that when you hear the phrase "you have breast cancer" you go into brain freeze and paralysis and that is not the time to calmly talk about the different treatment options.
That hapenned to me and I went on all the websites ACS, Susan K., Livestrong, CCCof America and could not find a simple factual flow sheet about options. That is what started me on my research and I have since found all this info. as well as researching books like Susan Love - but wouldn't it make decisions simpler for women if they had an outline and thumbnail sketch so they could ask their doctors about whether or not they are candidates for these procedures.
It was my research that led me to find I could have rads in the prone position! Whoda thunk that??????
From some of the questions we get - you can see how these women are terrified, anxious and sometimes unable to cope after being diagnosed. They do not even know where to begin!
So it is up to us warriors to help these ladies fight this battle so they have all the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves!
You are so right that women don't know that this diagnosis changes your life forever - and most celebrities make it sound so easy - diagnosis - some kind of surgery and viola you are cured and life is wonderful!
Sorry about this - but I do feel strongly about educating women before any diagnosis - and the lucky ones will be able to put my fact sheet on the bottom of their birdcage!!!!
JudyView Thread

Posted byjudyfams

11 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Wanda Sykes discusses her breast cancer on Ellen Jenna, We are in total agreement about what women should know before they are diagnosed so...

Reply: Wanda Sykes discusses her breast cancer on Ellen

http://blogs.webmd.com/breaking-news/2011/09/wanda-sykes-...

Ladies, I listened to Pat Battle (NBC local reporter) talk about her having breast cancer...

Posted by judyfams

11 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Wanda Sykes discusses her breast cancer on Ellen Ladies, I listened to Pat Battle (NBC local reporter) talk about her having breast cancer...

Reply: Wanda Sykes discusses her breast cancer on Ellen

http://blogs.webmd.com/breaking-news/2011/09/wanda-sykes-...

My only objection with these celebrities saying they opted for bilateral mastectomies is...

Posted by judyfams

11 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Wanda Sykes discusses her breast cancer on Ellen My only objection with these celebrities saying they opted for bilateral mastectomies is...

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