Here is an interesting article on detecting breast cancer.
Doctors offer advice to help women detect breast cancer at an early stage
Posted 4:14 pm, October 2, 2015, by Alexis McAdams, Updated at 04:59pm, October 2, 2015
Doctors offer advice to help women detect breast cancer at an early stage
Posted 4:14 pm, October 2, 2015, by Alexis McAdams, Updated at 04:59pm, October 2, 2015
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2015)-- One out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but there are not always symptoms. Doctors say knowing your body and doing a monthly self-exam can save your life.
“If you detect a breast cancer before it is actually palpable, we call that stage zero or one. Survival is excellent. It is going to be 90-95 percent or more,” said Dr. Erica Giblin of St. Vincent Woman’s Center.
Some women experience uncommon symptoms like discoloration, persistent breast pain in one spot, or changes in the color of the skin. Those are some of the more uncommon signs that you could have breast cancer.
“Some women will notice a dimple starting in the skin and it starts to pooch in almost like a divot. That is abnormal. That means the skin is being pulled down by something inside of the breast…they need to see their doctor,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doing a monthly self-exam can help women find breast cancer.
“You take your fingers, the pads of the fingers and you start pushing gently on the breast so you can test the tissues that are superficial right beneath the skin. Then you push harder so you can feel the deeper tissues of the breast,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doctors say mammograms are also extremely helpful in finding breast cancer at an early age because they can detect cancers before they are actually palpable. For those that do not do a monthly self-breast exam, doctors say the opportunity for cancer grows.
“By the time most women palpate their nodule, it is greater than two centimeters. What does that mean? It puts you at stage two breast cancer,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doctors say taking action now protects your health.
Click the link below for the full article
http://cbs4indy.com/2015/10/02/signs-and-symptoms-of-breast-cancer-that-can-help-woman-detect-the-cancer-at-an-early-stage/
Saturday, 3 October 2015
Breast Cancer Recurrence
It has been two and a half years since I was first diagnosed with er+ pr+ her2- breast cancer in my right breast. Most of my treatment was well over. I was still on hormonal treatment, including my monthly zolodex injections and tamoxifen tablets daily. I was stage 2b with my first diagnosis and the chances of recurrence were supposed to be slim. I was still on three monthly visits with my medical oncologist and surgeon. My life was beginning to feel almost normal again. I had just started to relax. I stopped fearing, everyday, that every ache in my body was cancer. After two and a half years I was finally feeling calm again.
My G.P(general practitioner) suggested that I have a mammogram and ultrasound as he didn't have any records on file since September last year. He figured I was due and should have the left breast checked as well because "sometimes cancer can return in the opposite breast". Now, I owe my doctor a second time as the mammogram picked up a cancerous lump in my left breast.Again, I thank my doctor for being so thorough as he has probably saved my life for a second time.
Two weeks ago I had a lumpectomy on my left breast and lymph node removal with all clear margins. This time I won't be having chemotherapy but I will have radiation therapy again, starting in a few weeks.
My G.P(general practitioner) suggested that I have a mammogram and ultrasound as he didn't have any records on file since September last year. He figured I was due and should have the left breast checked as well because "sometimes cancer can return in the opposite breast". Now, I owe my doctor a second time as the mammogram picked up a cancerous lump in my left breast.Again, I thank my doctor for being so thorough as he has probably saved my life for a second time.
Two weeks ago I had a lumpectomy on my left breast and lymph node removal with all clear margins. This time I won't be having chemotherapy but I will have radiation therapy again, starting in a few weeks.
Wednesday, 30 September 2015
Recurrence
How do you react when Breast Cancer returns?
How are you expected to react when Breast Cancer returns?
Shock?
Scared?
Do you just go through the stages as you did the first time?
Do you react differently this time?
You know what you are in for this time, so is it easier?
Feel free to answer these questions and any others you can think of. I will have my answers tomorrow. I was rediagnosed just a couple of weeks ago.
How are you expected to react when Breast Cancer returns?
Shock?
Scared?
Do you just go through the stages as you did the first time?
Do you react differently this time?
You know what you are in for this time, so is it easier?
Feel free to answer these questions and any others you can think of. I will have my answers tomorrow. I was rediagnosed just a couple of weeks ago.
Sunday, 5 July 2015
Breast Cancer Treatment - The nasty Zoladex Injections
What is Zoladex??
Zoladex (goserelin acetate) Implant 3.6 mg is used in men to treat symptoms of prostate cancer, and in women to treat breast cancer or endometriosis. It is also used in women to prepare the lining of the uterus for endometrial ablation (a surgery to correct abnormal uterine bleeding).
If you are on zoladex implants as part of your treatment then you will be familiar with the not so wonderful side effects. Let's start with the more serious side effects-
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
back pain, severe numbness or tingling in your legs or feet;
muscle weakness, problems with balance or coordination;
loss of bladder or bowel control;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
pain or burning when you urinate;
blood in your urine or stools;
feeling like you might pass out;
trouble breathing;
pale skin, easy bruising;
nausea, loss of appetite, increased thirst, muscle weakness, confusion, and feeling tired or restless;
high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss);
sudden numbness or weakness, sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision or speech; or
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling.
Less serious side effects may include:
hot flashes, sweating, headache, dizziness;
mood changes, increased or decreased interest in sex;
vaginal dryness, itching, or discharge;
impotence, fewer erections than normal;
breast swelling or tenderness;
bone pain;
diarrhea, constipation;
sleep problems (insomnia); or
acne, mild skin rash or itching.
Yes, yes and yes. and let's add to that list tiredness.
What is it used for ?
Zoladex prevents the production of certain types of hormones in the body. It is used to treat prostate or breast cancers which are sensitive to hormones. It is not suitable for children or for treating cancers which are not sensitive to hormones. Zoladex is also used in women who are having surgery or other procedures to treat uterine fibroids or other uterine problems. Zoladex is also used to treat endometriosis or as part of a programme of fertility treatment in women.
Zoladex is an implant – it will be implanted by a healthcare professional. The person responsible for giving you your medicine will make sure that you get the right dose.
Some people will have zoladex injections every twenty eight days for two years. Others, like me will have them evry twenty eight days for five years.
Zoladex (goserelin acetate) Implant 3.6 mg is used in men to treat symptoms of prostate cancer, and in women to treat breast cancer or endometriosis. It is also used in women to prepare the lining of the uterus for endometrial ablation (a surgery to correct abnormal uterine bleeding).
If you are on zoladex implants as part of your treatment then you will be familiar with the not so wonderful side effects. Let's start with the more serious side effects-
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
back pain, severe numbness or tingling in your legs or feet;
muscle weakness, problems with balance or coordination;
loss of bladder or bowel control;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
pain or burning when you urinate;
blood in your urine or stools;
feeling like you might pass out;
trouble breathing;
pale skin, easy bruising;
nausea, loss of appetite, increased thirst, muscle weakness, confusion, and feeling tired or restless;
high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss);
sudden numbness or weakness, sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision or speech; or
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling.
Less serious side effects may include:
hot flashes, sweating, headache, dizziness;
mood changes, increased or decreased interest in sex;
vaginal dryness, itching, or discharge;
impotence, fewer erections than normal;
breast swelling or tenderness;
bone pain;
diarrhea, constipation;
sleep problems (insomnia); or
acne, mild skin rash or itching.
Yes, yes and yes. and let's add to that list tiredness.
What is it used for ?
Zoladex prevents the production of certain types of hormones in the body. It is used to treat prostate or breast cancers which are sensitive to hormones. It is not suitable for children or for treating cancers which are not sensitive to hormones. Zoladex is also used in women who are having surgery or other procedures to treat uterine fibroids or other uterine problems. Zoladex is also used to treat endometriosis or as part of a programme of fertility treatment in women.
Zoladex is an implant – it will be implanted by a healthcare professional. The person responsible for giving you your medicine will make sure that you get the right dose.
Some people will have zoladex injections every twenty eight days for two years. Others, like me will have them evry twenty eight days for five years.
Monday, 29 June 2015
Saturday, 27 June 2015
Thursday, 25 June 2015
Emerald dream. Beautiful Lady.
Emerald dreamBy CASEY NEILL
CRANBOURNE North mum Tracey Ryan just has one thing left on her bucket list – finding a cure for breast cancer.
The 50-year-old has terminal cancer and just returned from a three-week trip to Northern Ireland – the place where half her ashes will be scattered – to say goodbye to relatives.
“It was absolutely unbelievable,” she said.
“Words can’t describe it.
“I didn’t want to come back, actually. I could have stayed there forever.
“I think we flooded Belfast airport when I was leaving.
“There were a lot of tears had by everyone.”
Tracey made the trip thanks to the people of Maldon in central Victoria who paid for her flights through a fund-raiser organised by sister-in-law Tess Ryan.
Tracey attended family birthdays and even a wedding.
“It was good to see them, I missed them like crazy,” she said.
She climbed a rope bridge up a steep embankment during a day of sight-seeing.
“We had to keep stopping and the lungs were playing up so I had to get my breath back,” she said.
“I had complete strangers going ‘we’ll carry you down’.
“It was worth even non-breath and pain.”
How did she get through it?
“A lot of drugs – and a lot of stubbornness,” she said.
Tracey was happy to come home to her husband Andrew, teenage son Leigh and pregnant daughter Erin.
“Leigh got a lot taller and Erin had got a lot bigger with the baby,” she said.
Erin’s baby is due on 22 August – Tracey’s first grandchild.
“If she’s like her mother she’ll go early,” she said.
“I was a month early with her and I was 12 weeks early with Leigh.
“It’s one very spoilt grandchild already. I can’t wait to hold that little bundle.
“I’ll spoil it while I can.”
Leigh’s 18th birthday in September is another milestone she’s hoping to reach.
Tracey was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2010 and it’s since spread to her spine, ribs, lungs and liver. Doctors say the disease will soon claim her life.
She wrote a bucket list in 2012 and has since watched Erin get married, skydived, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and received a makeover from Westfield Fountain Gate and Myer.
“Leigh goes ‘mum we have to find you some more bucket list stuff to do’,” she said.
“I’m going to have to come up with something.”
Tracey will continue to do her bit to find a cure for breast cancer. She works with Pink Hope, Breast Cancer Network Australia and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and directs Young Pink Sisters, a charity that fellow breast cancer sufferers set up to give back.
“I don’t want anyone else or their families to have to go through this,” she said.
CRANBOURNE North mum Tracey Ryan just has one thing left on her bucket list – finding a cure for breast cancer.
The 50-year-old has terminal cancer and just returned from a three-week trip to Northern Ireland – the place where half her ashes will be scattered – to say goodbye to relatives.
“It was absolutely unbelievable,” she said.
“Words can’t describe it.
“I didn’t want to come back, actually. I could have stayed there forever.
“I think we flooded Belfast airport when I was leaving.
“There were a lot of tears had by everyone.”
Tracey made the trip thanks to the people of Maldon in central Victoria who paid for her flights through a fund-raiser organised by sister-in-law Tess Ryan.
Tracey attended family birthdays and even a wedding.
“It was good to see them, I missed them like crazy,” she said.
She climbed a rope bridge up a steep embankment during a day of sight-seeing.
“We had to keep stopping and the lungs were playing up so I had to get my breath back,” she said.
“I had complete strangers going ‘we’ll carry you down’.
“It was worth even non-breath and pain.”
How did she get through it?
“A lot of drugs – and a lot of stubbornness,” she said.
Tracey was happy to come home to her husband Andrew, teenage son Leigh and pregnant daughter Erin.
“Leigh got a lot taller and Erin had got a lot bigger with the baby,” she said.
Erin’s baby is due on 22 August – Tracey’s first grandchild.
“If she’s like her mother she’ll go early,” she said.
“I was a month early with her and I was 12 weeks early with Leigh.
“It’s one very spoilt grandchild already. I can’t wait to hold that little bundle.
“I’ll spoil it while I can.”
Leigh’s 18th birthday in September is another milestone she’s hoping to reach.
Tracey was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2010 and it’s since spread to her spine, ribs, lungs and liver. Doctors say the disease will soon claim her life.
She wrote a bucket list in 2012 and has since watched Erin get married, skydived, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and received a makeover from Westfield Fountain Gate and Myer.
“Leigh goes ‘mum we have to find you some more bucket list stuff to do’,” she said.
“I’m going to have to come up with something.”
Tracey will continue to do her bit to find a cure for breast cancer. She works with Pink Hope, Breast Cancer Network Australia and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and directs Young Pink Sisters, a charity that fellow breast cancer sufferers set up to give back.
“I don’t want anyone else or their families to have to go through this,” she said.
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
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