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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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Breast, Chest and Truncal Lymphedema

Ladies, I urge all of you to read this article. Notice from the title there are other...

Posted by judyfams

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Breast, Chest and Truncal Lymphedema Ladies, I urge all of you to read this article. Notice from the title there are other...

Reply: Radiation Burns

Please see if you are a candidate to have your radiation in the prone position (face down)...

Posted by judyfams

6 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Radiation Burns Please see if you are a candidate to have your radiation in the prone position (face down)...

Guidline Suggestions after Breast Cancer Diagnosis

BREAST CANCER GUIDELINES I. Diagnosis II. Find a Breast...

Posted by judyfams

BREAST CANCER GUIDELINES

I. Diagnosis
II. Find a Breast Surgeon and/or Plastic Surgeon, and/or Radiation Oncologist
A. Mastectomy (skin and/or nipple sparing mastectomies)
with possible reconstruction at the time of surgery or post operative.
There are different kinds of breast reconstruction using your own
muscles, tissue and skin such as TRAM flap, DIEP flap, SIEA flap,
and Latissimus dorsal with an implant. Reconstruction can also be
done using implants. If that is what you are considering you
might also want to consult with a plastic surgeon prior to surgery to
know your options.
B. Lumpectomy is another option and with this option you have radiation. You might want to consult a Radiation Oncologist prior to surgery to know your options.
1. One option is known as internal radiation (also called brachytherapy) and can be done at the time of the lumpectomy or within a few weeks of the surgery. This is also known as Accelerated Partial Breast Radiation. This is done using a balloon type device that is put in the lumpectomy cavity which allows the radiation to be delivered to the site within catheters. This usually is done twice a day for 5 days. Even though radiation takes place after chemo (should you need chemo), if you wait to consult the radiation oncologist after you finish chemo, you will probably not have the option of doing brachytherapy and will only have the option of external beam radiation.
2. External Beam radiation includes IMRT — Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and 3D-CRT — 3 dimensional conformal radiotherapy.
3. The standard external beam radiation is the one that takes place every weekday for five to seven weeks. Most external beam radiation is done in the supine (face up) position. Definitely ask about having radiation possibly done in the prone (face down) position.
III. Find a Medical Oncologist
A. Chemotherapy is usually done (if needed) after surgery and prior to radiation (adjuvant), sometimes it can be done first (neo-adjuvant) to shrink the tumor. The oncologist might recommend a DNA test be done on the tissue from the tumor to see if you would benefit from chemotherapy. The name of that test is the ONCOTYPE DX test and it determines the % chance of recurrence of your specific type of breast cancer over the next 10 years. You should discuss this with your oncologist to see if this test is feasible for you and if your insurance company will pay for it.
B. Hormone Therapy is prescribed by a medical oncologist if your breast cancer is estrogen/progesterone positive or HERS2 positive
IV. There are many decisions and choices that you may have to consider if you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I would strongly recommend that you discuss these options with your surgeon, plastic surgeon and radiation oncologist prior to your surgery, to help you make the right decision for you. Not all breast cancer patients are candidates for each of the above mentioned options, and not all surgeons are trained to perform these new procedures. So you need to educate yourself so you can ask your doctor questions about these procedures and their ability to perform them. Also these are the treatment procedures as of 2010 and are always changing - so do research to remain up to date on new breast cancer treatments.

JudyView Thread

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Reply: Hello to all.....

I had chemotherapy - 6 rounds of taxotere/cytoxan and finished in Sept. 2010. I decided...

Posted by judyfams

12 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Hello to all..... I had chemotherapy - 6 rounds of taxotere/cytoxan and finished in Sept. 2010. I decided...

Read News Article on Breast Conserving Surgery and...

I highly recommend that you read the article listed in the lower right hand corner of this...

Posted by judyfams

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16 of 24 found this Tip helpful

2 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Read News Article on Breast Conserving Surgery and Mastectomy I highly recommend that you read the article listed in the lower right hand corner of this...

Financial help for obtaining antiestrogen drugs

From the book "After Breast Cancer - A Common Sense Guide to Life After Treatment" by...

Posted by judyfams

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Financial help for obtaining antiestrogen drugs From the book "After Breast Cancer - A Common Sense Guide to Life After Treatment" by...

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