I like that suggestion of the two-week rule. I haven't heard it before, but am just learning to navigate through all of this right now. Some days I'm not worried at all, and other days I'm positive that headache I have is not just a headache. Thanks!
It’s difficult to achieve vigilance without hypochondria. It’s been almost seven years since I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. During that period, I’ve had an embarrassing number of tests to reassure myself that my back pain is just arthritis and my headaches are just sinusitis.
These days I use the “two-week rule.” When I first notice a symptom, I make a note in my calendar of when it started. If the symptom is still there two weeks later, I feel justified in calling my doctor and perhaps pursuing diagnostic tests. In the meantime, I can relax because I’ve put it on my radar and I have a schedule in place for following it up. It’s not a perfect method, but it really does help. And it’s surprising how many aches and pains and bumps and rashes disappear in two weeks. For those that persist, a doctor’s visit is a reasonable response. After all, for many of us, it was our vigilance and follow-through that saved our life.
I am a knitter. So I knit when I could. In fact, I love knitting so much, that when I was preparing for the mastectomy and they told me about recovery and all of that, I actually asked the doctor about how long after surgery until I could knit again? Funnily enough, that's when I learned my surgeon also was a knitter (and a quilter) and so she completely understood why I was asking! Related: during chemo at some points the neuropathy in my hands made it too difficult to knit. And I remember being extra upset about it all during those times!
I also watched a lot of light, funny, etc tv shows and movies. Nothing sad. Nothing depressing. Nothing heavy. With netflix, I was able to find shows I liked and watch them from episode 1 to the end. Many a tv marathon was had!
I also became addicted to the facebook game Castleville. A silly addiction, but fun and definitely good at taking my mind off of things. =)
I am a knitter. So I knit when I could. In fact, I love knitting so much, that when I was preparing for the mastectomy and they told me about recovery and all of that, I actually asked the doctor about how long after surgery until I could knit again? Funnily enough, that's when I learned my surgeon also was a knitter (and a quilter) and so she completely understood why I was asking! Related: during chemo at some points the neuropathy in my hands made it too difficult to knit. And I remember being extra upset about it all during those times!
I also watched a lot of light, funny, etc tv shows and movies. Nothing sad. Nothing depressing. Nothing heavy. With netflix, I was able to find shows I liked and watch them from episode 1 to the end. Many a tv marathon was had!
I also became addicted to the facebook game Castleville. A silly addiction, but fun and definitely good at taking my mind off of things. =)
It's hard to tease out what's being caused from what, but this medicine, I think is adding to my fatigue (which I'm still having a ton of just since treatment started period). I've also noticed it's playing with my moods. Basically it seems to take my emotions and magnify them. So I rarely just feel "okay." I'm not happy, I'm super happy. I'm not sad, I'm in tears. I'm not anxious, I'm on the verge of panic attacks. Also, I'm much quicker to anger. I rarely have felt angry in my life, and now I'm angry once a day! Although, it's still relatively new (I'm only in my second month of taking it) and it does seem to be tapering off a bit (thankfully!). The other thing is I'm having trouble sleeping, which started a few weeks after I started the medicine.
That said, I originally started with tamoxifen and had to go off of it because the side effects were beyond anything I decided I was able to live with. And the fareston is much kinder to me. And I feel these side effects are ones I can tolerate. Phew!
It's hard to tease out what's being caused from what, but this medicine, I think is adding to my fatigue (which I'm still having a ton of just since treatment started period). I've also noticed it's playing with my moods. Basically it seems to take my emotions and magnify them. So I rarely just feel "okay." I'm not happy, I'm super happy. I'm not sad, I'm in tears. I'm not anxious, I'm on the verge of panic attacks. Also, I'm much quicker to anger. I rarely have felt angry in my life, and now I'm angry once a day! Although, it's still relatively new (I'm only in my second month of taking it) and it does seem to be tapering off a bit (thankfully!). The other thing is I'm having trouble sleeping, which started a few weeks after I started the medicine.
That said, I originally started with tamoxifen and had to go off of it because the side effects were beyond anything I decided I was able to live with. And the fareston is much kinder to me. And I feel these side effects are ones I can tolerate. Phew!
I was diagnosed April 26. And underwent surgery on May 18. We knew from the original biopsy that a mastectomy on the right side had to happen first. And so I was put on the schedule right away for that. At that point, it was up to me to decide if I wanted to also do a mastectomy on the left side. My doctor talked to me about the options and pros/cons to doing the left side. Then I went for an MRI. The MRI showed something on the left, but we weren't sure what it was. At that point, I could have opted for more tests to see specifically what was going on, but for me, it cemented what I was already leaning towards: a double mastectomy. Since I opted for that, we decided not to do any further testing.
So, overall I had about a month, but I knew in less than 2 weeks what I wanted and we were just waiting for an OR to open at the hospital.
As a side story: when we got the schedule, my doctor's office told me I had two choices for surgery: Friday, May 13 or Wednesday, May 18. Without missing a beat I said "Oh, I want the 18th." The nurse commented that she wouldn't have surgery on Friday the 13th either. And I laughed! I missed the fact that the first option was a Friday the 13th, but my birthday is May 16 and I didn't want to be sick/sore/or possibly still in the hospital on my birthday! Cancer, I knew, was going to screw a lot of things up for us, and I wanted to hold onto that day myself.
As much time as you need to make an informed decision about the approach you want to take. The cancer took a while to get there, so you can take some time a few weeks to make a choice. See another MD. Read about and look at implants saline and silicone. The cancer isn't going to explode, and your not going to die if you become educated about what you have and what to do about it. All will be well. Medicine for breast cancer has made enormous strides. Settle down and figure out your personal journey.
My cancer was discovered by accident. An accident I am truly grateful for. I went for my yearly check-up with the gynecologist. My old practice's office had shut down, so I was actually meeting a new doctor. Of course we went through my health history and she noticed that I had written my mom had breast cancer, and the doctor started to ask me specifics about my mom's cancer. I couldn't really answer them. I didn't know which side, I didn't know what stage. I told her my mom had surgery and no chemo or radiation and beyond that I didn't know anything. The doctor, after figuring out I had not much to offer finally asked "Are you and your mom estranged?" I chuckled (because I talk to my mom daily) and explained, I was 10 at the time. I wasn't really told much. And my mom doesn't talk about it now and I've never asked. Which led to saying my mom was 30 at the time.
At this point, my doctor told me I needed to have a baseline mammogram in the next 6 months, since I was 31. And that I should have really had my first mammogram at 29 as apparently recommendations are to start them at an age one year before your mom's age at diagnosis. But then she hesitated. And said, but you're so young, I'm not sure how often to mammogram you at this point. Given my age, she didn't really want me to start them yearly, so she advised me to meet with a breast specialist to get a plan in place. Then she did my exam, proclaimed that everything was great, I was pretty healthy and could come back in a year.
So I went home, and called the specialist and made an appointment. I remember going to her office the next week and the doctor said "So, what bring you in today?" And I told her "Honestly, I don't know! I don't have any concerns and neither does my other doctor. Basically I'm here to get a plan from you about how often to get mammograms." So we went over health history and then she started her physical exam. And that's when the questions started. The right side is significantly larger and heavier than the left. Has it always been that way? No? When did the changes start? Oh, look, your nipple is pulling in a bit ... has that always been that way? No? Okay, when did that start? It feels like you have cysts, have you ever had an ultrasound? No? Okay, Let me whip my machine out and check for you. And in all these questions, especially when I was telling her it hadn't always been that way. That what she was asking about had started about a year ago, I just knew, something wasn't right. I left her office with orders to get a diagnostic mammogram by the end of the week - basically she told me to get in ASAP.
I went home and cried. And cried. I was terrified to make that mammogram appointment. But I did, and I got in three days later. I had the mammogram. Then I had to go get more pictures. Then I had to go get a few more enlargement pictures (at least I think that's what they called them). Then I had to stay and get an ultrasound. Then the doctor wanted to come in and check the ultrasound. All of this within about 2 hours, and ending with: You need a biopsy. It's probably calcification, but we need to be sure. Oh and btw, you've got some cysts in there you should think about removing.
So a week later I was back at the hospital to get a biopsy. And the following week, I was hit with the news it came back positive.
The total time period of all of this: first visit with gynecologist was April 1. The news of the cancer was on April 26.
My cancer was discovered by accident. An accident I am truly grateful for. I went for my yearly check-up with the gynecologist. My old practice's office had shut down, so I was actually meeting a new doctor. Of course we went through my health history and she noticed that I had written my mom had breast cancer, and the doctor started to ask me specifics about my mom's cancer. I couldn't really answer them. I didn't know which side, I didn't know what stage. I told her my mom had surgery and no chemo or radiation and beyond that I didn't know anything. The doctor, after figuring out I had not much to offer finally asked "Are you and your mom estranged?" I chuckled (because I talk to my mom daily) and explained, I was 10 at the time. I wasn't really told much. And my mom doesn't talk about it now and I've never asked. Which led to saying my mom was 30 at the time.
At this point, my doctor told me I needed to have a baseline mammogram in the next 6 months, since I was 31. And that I should have really had my first mammogram at 29 as apparently recommendations are to start them at an age one year before your mom's age at diagnosis. But then she hesitated. And said, but you're so young, I'm not sure how often to mammogram you at this point. Given my age, she didn't really want me to start them yearly, so she advised me to meet with a breast specialist to get a plan in place. Then she did my exam, proclaimed that everything was great, I was pretty healthy and could come back in a year.
So I went home, and called the specialist and made an appointment. I remember going to her office the next week and the doctor said "So, what bring you in today?" And I told her "Honestly, I don't know! I don't have any concerns and neither does my other doctor. Basically I'm here to get a plan from you about how often to get mammograms." So we went over health history and then she started her physical exam. And that's when the questions started. The right side is significantly larger and heavier than the left. Has it always been that way? No? When did the changes start? Oh, look, your nipple is pulling in a bit ... has that always been that way? No? Okay, when did that start? It feels like you have cysts, have you ever had an ultrasound? No? Okay, Let me whip my machine out and check for you. And in all these questions, especially when I was telling her it hadn't always been that way. That what she was asking about had started about a year ago, I just knew, something wasn't right. I left her office with orders to get a diagnostic mammogram by the end of the week - basically she told me to get in ASAP.
I went home and cried. And cried. I was terrified to make that mammogram appointment. But I did, and I got in three days later. I had the mammogram. Then I had to go get more pictures. Then I had to go get a few more enlargement pictures (at least I think that's what they called them). Then I had to stay and get an ultrasound. Then the doctor wanted to come in and check the ultrasound. All of this within about 2 hours, and ending with: You need a biopsy. It's probably calcification, but we need to be sure. Oh and btw, you've got some cysts in there you should think about removing.
So a week later I was back at the hospital to get a biopsy. And the following week, I was hit with the news it came back positive.
The total time period of all of this: first visit with gynecologist was April 1. The news of the cancer was on April 26.
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Some days I'm not worried at all, and other days I'm positive that headache I have is not just a headache.
Thanks! It’s difficult to achieve vigilance without hypochondria. It’s been almost seven years since I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. During that period, I’ve had an embarrassing number of tests to reassure myself that my back pain is just arthritis and my headaches are just sinusitis.
These days I use the “two-week rule.” When I first notice a symptom, I make a note in my calendar of when it started. If the symptom is still there two weeks later, I feel justified in calling my doctor and perhaps pursuing diagnostic tests. In the meantime, I can relax because I’ve put it on my radar and I have a schedule in place for following it up. It’s not a perfect method, but it really does help. And it’s surprising how many aches and pains and bumps and rashes disappear in two weeks. For those that persist, a doctor’s visit is a reasonable response. After all, for many of us, it was our vigilance and follow-through that saved our life.
I also watched a lot of light, funny, etc tv shows and movies. Nothing sad. Nothing depressing. Nothing heavy. With netflix, I was able to find shows I liked and watch them from episode 1 to the end. Many a tv marathon was had!
I also became addicted to the facebook game Castleville. A silly addiction, but fun and definitely good at taking my mind off of things. =) I am a knitter. So I knit when I could. In fact, I love knitting so much, that when I was preparing for the mastectomy and they told me about recovery and all of that, I actually asked the doctor about how long after surgery until I could knit again? Funnily enough, that's when I learned my surgeon also was a knitter (and a quilter) and so she completely understood why I was asking! Related: during chemo at some points the neuropathy in my hands made it too difficult to knit. And I remember being extra upset about it all during those times!
I also watched a lot of light, funny, etc tv shows and movies. Nothing sad. Nothing depressing. Nothing heavy. With netflix, I was able to find shows I liked and watch them from episode 1 to the end. Many a tv marathon was had!
I also became addicted to the facebook game Castleville. A silly addiction, but fun and definitely good at taking my mind off of things. =)
That said, I originally started with tamoxifen and had to go off of it because the side effects were beyond anything I decided I was able to live with. And the fareston is much kinder to me. And I feel these side effects are ones I can tolerate. Phew! It's hard to tease out what's being caused from what, but this medicine, I think is adding to my fatigue (which I'm still having a ton of just since treatment started period). I've also noticed it's playing with my moods. Basically it seems to take my emotions and magnify them. So I rarely just feel "okay." I'm not happy, I'm super happy. I'm not sad, I'm in tears. I'm not anxious, I'm on the verge of panic attacks. Also, I'm much quicker to anger. I rarely have felt angry in my life, and now I'm angry once a day! Although, it's still relatively new (I'm only in my second month of taking it) and it does seem to be tapering off a bit (thankfully!). The other thing is I'm having trouble sleeping, which started a few weeks after I started the medicine.
That said, I originally started with tamoxifen and had to go off of it because the side effects were beyond anything I decided I was able to live with. And the fareston is much kinder to me. And I feel these side effects are ones I can tolerate. Phew!
So, overall I had about a month, but I knew in less than 2 weeks what I wanted and we were just waiting for an OR to open at the hospital.
As a side story: when we got the schedule, my doctor's office told me I had two choices for surgery: Friday, May 13 or Wednesday, May 18. Without missing a beat I said "Oh, I want the 18th." The nurse commented that she wouldn't have surgery on Friday the 13th either. And I laughed! I missed the fact that the first option was a Friday the 13th, but my birthday is May 16 and I didn't want to be sick/sore/or possibly still in the hospital on my birthday! Cancer, I knew, was going to screw a lot of things up for us, and I wanted to hold onto that day myself. As much time as you need to make an informed decision about the approach you want to take. The cancer took a while to get there, so you can take some time a few weeks to make a choice. See another MD. Read about and look at implants saline and silicone. The cancer isn't going to explode, and your not going to die if you become educated about what you have and what to do about it. All will be well. Medicine for breast cancer has made enormous strides. Settle down and figure out your personal journey.
I went for my yearly check-up with the gynecologist. My old practice's office had shut down, so I was actually meeting a new doctor. Of course we went through my health history and she noticed that I had written my mom had breast cancer, and the doctor started to ask me specifics about my mom's cancer. I couldn't really answer them. I didn't know which side, I didn't know what stage. I told her my mom had surgery and no chemo or radiation and beyond that I didn't know anything. The doctor, after figuring out I had not much to offer finally asked "Are you and your mom estranged?" I chuckled (because I talk to my mom daily) and explained, I was 10 at the time. I wasn't really told much. And my mom doesn't talk about it now and I've never asked. Which led to saying my mom was 30 at the time.
At this point, my doctor told me I needed to have a baseline mammogram in the next 6 months, since I was 31. And that I should have really had my first mammogram at 29 as apparently recommendations are to start them at an age one year before your mom's age at diagnosis. But then she hesitated. And said, but you're so young, I'm not sure how often to mammogram you at this point. Given my age, she didn't really want me to start them yearly, so she advised me to meet with a breast specialist to get a plan in place. Then she did my exam, proclaimed that everything was great, I was pretty healthy and could come back in a year.
So I went home, and called the specialist and made an appointment. I remember going to her office the next week and the doctor said "So, what bring you in today?" And I told her "Honestly, I don't know! I don't have any concerns and neither does my other doctor. Basically I'm here to get a plan from you about how often to get mammograms." So we went over health history and then she started her physical exam. And that's when the questions started. The right side is significantly larger and heavier than the left. Has it always been that way? No? When did the changes start? Oh, look, your nipple is pulling in a bit ... has that always been that way? No? Okay, when did that start? It feels like you have cysts, have you ever had an ultrasound? No? Okay, Let me whip my machine out and check for you. And in all these questions, especially when I was telling her it hadn't always been that way. That what she was asking about had started about a year ago, I just knew, something wasn't right. I left her office with orders to get a diagnostic mammogram by the end of the week - basically she told me to get in ASAP.
I went home and cried. And cried. I was terrified to make that mammogram appointment. But I did, and I got in three days later. I had the mammogram. Then I had to go get more pictures. Then I had to go get a few more enlargement pictures (at least I think that's what they called them). Then I had to stay and get an ultrasound. Then the doctor wanted to come in and check the ultrasound. All of this within about 2 hours, and ending with: You need a biopsy. It's probably calcification, but we need to be sure. Oh and btw, you've got some cysts in there you should think about removing.
So a week later I was back at the hospital to get a biopsy. And the following week, I was hit with the news it came back positive.
The total time period of all of this: first visit with gynecologist was April 1. The news of the cancer was on April 26. My cancer was discovered by accident. An accident I am truly grateful for.
I went for my yearly check-up with the gynecologist. My old practice's office had shut down, so I was actually meeting a new doctor. Of course we went through my health history and she noticed that I had written my mom had breast cancer, and the doctor started to ask me specifics about my mom's cancer. I couldn't really answer them. I didn't know which side, I didn't know what stage. I told her my mom had surgery and no chemo or radiation and beyond that I didn't know anything. The doctor, after figuring out I had not much to offer finally asked "Are you and your mom estranged?" I chuckled (because I talk to my mom daily) and explained, I was 10 at the time. I wasn't really told much. And my mom doesn't talk about it now and I've never asked. Which led to saying my mom was 30 at the time.
At this point, my doctor told me I needed to have a baseline mammogram in the next 6 months, since I was 31. And that I should have really had my first mammogram at 29 as apparently recommendations are to start them at an age one year before your mom's age at diagnosis. But then she hesitated. And said, but you're so young, I'm not sure how often to mammogram you at this point. Given my age, she didn't really want me to start them yearly, so she advised me to meet with a breast specialist to get a plan in place. Then she did my exam, proclaimed that everything was great, I was pretty healthy and could come back in a year.
So I went home, and called the specialist and made an appointment. I remember going to her office the next week and the doctor said "So, what bring you in today?" And I told her "Honestly, I don't know! I don't have any concerns and neither does my other doctor. Basically I'm here to get a plan from you about how often to get mammograms." So we went over health history and then she started her physical exam. And that's when the questions started. The right side is significantly larger and heavier than the left. Has it always been that way? No? When did the changes start? Oh, look, your nipple is pulling in a bit ... has that always been that way? No? Okay, when did that start? It feels like you have cysts, have you ever had an ultrasound? No? Okay, Let me whip my machine out and check for you. And in all these questions, especially when I was telling her it hadn't always been that way. That what she was asking about had started about a year ago, I just knew, something wasn't right. I left her office with orders to get a diagnostic mammogram by the end of the week - basically she told me to get in ASAP.
I went home and cried. And cried. I was terrified to make that mammogram appointment. But I did, and I got in three days later. I had the mammogram. Then I had to go get more pictures. Then I had to go get a few more enlargement pictures (at least I think that's what they called them). Then I had to stay and get an ultrasound. Then the doctor wanted to come in and check the ultrasound. All of this within about 2 hours, and ending with: You need a biopsy. It's probably calcification, but we need to be sure. Oh and btw, you've got some cysts in there you should think about removing.
So a week later I was back at the hospital to get a biopsy. And the following week, I was hit with the news it came back positive.
The total time period of all of this: first visit with gynecologist was April 1. The news of the cancer was on April 26.
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