Hello. I am new so not sure exactly how this works but was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma as well as another type of Adjuvant breast cancer. I am stage one and fortunately after 6 nodes were removed, there was no cancer left. I went through brutal chemotherapy and has such a crazy work schedule that I never had a chance to really deal with it. My daughter, 19, is taking it very hard. I try to be optimistic and I am OK for now but my blood level for the CEA is high so now I am going for a colonoscopy. I am scared since I just don’t want a metastatic recurrence, I know that sounds silly but has anyone had a similar experience with the CEA? Thank you.

OK. Here’s the decision that I have to make, which is causing me a lot of anxiety and stress. I had a mastectomy on July 15th, when they also removed three lymph nodes. As of the pathology report dated July 23rd one of the axillary sentinel lymph nodes tested positive for micrometastic tumor (four foci seen). Now I am scheduled for another surgery where the surgeon will “inser port catheter with fluoroscopy and right axillary lymph npde dissection with nerve block for pain control” She will insert a prolonged central venous access device into a major vein. The alternative is not
Operating and using venous access in the arm. I am very scared of this surgery because of the sensitivity and importance of the lymph nodes, thus increasing the pain and healing, and the potential of risks, and possible long term affects. I could wait to meet with the oncology dr. and have more tests to see if cancer can be detected elsewhere yet, and just start chemo. Or should I just get the surgery, even though there may be no more cancer in any other lymph nodes. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks

I just finished my last ”big” chemotherapy regimen last Tuesday, but I still will have to get Herceptin chemotherapy once every three weeks until April 2011. I guess I’m concerned and nervous about being HER2 positive. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer with NO lymph nodes! Excellent! My oncologist is extremely optimistic that there’s nothing for me to be concerned with and that the use of Herceptin will allow me to live a normal, cancer-free life. I guess I’m just scared about the dreaded word, ”recurrence”. It’s still all pretty new to me and I’ve really tried to remain positive throughout this entire ordeal, but I’m still scared. Can anyone shed some positive light for me? Thanks.

My friend Mary Ann is fighting infections from her chemo treatment. She thought she was going home and once again has another fever. She has stage 4 breat cancer.

I had stage III-a breast cancer on rt side. Had a mastectomy, went thru chemo and radiation, and then breast reconstruction. I have been on Femara for three and a half years. I am on Social Security and would be in the donut hole for prescription drugs if I had filled my last Femara prescription with Kaiser Permanente,, my insurance company. Instead of paying $1500 for a 90 day supply, I googled ”registered Canadian pharmacies.” When the website came up there was a place to put in the drug name and the cost each registered pharmacy charged was shown. I was able to purchase 200 pills for $159. Others may want to check this out.