About 1 in 100 breast cancer cases are men

[txdon]

It looks like Glenda is recovering well, Thanks for the update.

 

[bindian]

Harv,
Thanks for the update. More prayers a'comin'.
hugs, Brandi

 

[sodamo]

Great update, Harv.
She looks great with her new apron.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

 

[Sigarms]

If your wife is like my wife, the expanders will be a pain in the butt and she won't be able to get rid of them fast enough.

Drains will be the first nice thing to go.

I'm curious, is your wife supposed to go on tomoxifolan (sp?) afterwards? My wife has issues with that medication, and she was told she was a rarity (having the body not like the drug for various reasons). Found out that two people at our vets office couldn't handle the the same drug.

We've found that cancer can be a big money machine in the medical industry.

Prayers for a speedy recovery for your wife. You aren't alone.

 

[Bird]

I'm curious, is your wife supposed to go on tomoxifolan (sp?) afterwards? My wife has issues with that medication, and she was told she was a rarity (having the body not like the drug for various reasons). Found out that two people at our vets office couldn't handle the the same drug.

My wife had a "lumpectomy" (partial mastectomy) on 9/25/2003. She had radiation treatments afterwards, but no chemo treatments. She then took a 10 mg Tamoxifen tablet daily for more than 2 years. Her oncologist (whom she still sees twice a year) changed her prescription from Tamoxifen to Aromasin 25 mg tablet daily for a few years, then back to Tamoxifen for the last 4 years, but a 25 mg tablet daily. She's had none of the side effects that are mentioned on the Internet and the paperwork that comes with the medications.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

If your wife is like my wife, the expanders will be a pain in the butt and she won't be able to get rid of them fast enough.

Drains will be the first nice thing to go.

I'm curious, is your wife supposed to go on tomoxifolan (sp?) afterwards? My wife has issues with that medication, and she was told she was a rarity (having the body not like the drug for various reasons). Found out that two people at our vets office couldn't handle the the same drug.

We've found that cancer can be a big money machine in the medical industry.

Prayers for a speedy recovery for your wife. You aren't alone.

Thanks for the support, everyone. We lost two of the four drains last Thursday and are hoping for the other two to go away this coming Thursday.

My wife's cancer appears to be in 4% range. It's Her2 positive, PR positive, and ER negative. We will get the pathology report on the surgery Tuesday when we meet with the surgeon. Then Wednesday we meet with the oncologist, Thursday the plastic surgeon.

I was on a tear to find out the details of the surgery until I resolved myself to the fact that it is what it is. And whatever it is we will deal with it the best way we can.

Wednesday we should have an idea of the treatment the oncologist is going to pursue. We've already agreed to wait until after Thanksgiving to initiate it.

I'm thinking about doing a blog from the male caregiver's perspective, what do you all think?

 

[wroughtn_harv]

My wife had a "lumpectomy" (partial mastectomy) on 9/25/2003. She had radiation treatments afterwards, but no chemo treatments. She then took a 10 mg Tamoxifen tablet daily for more than 2 years. Her oncologist (whom she still sees twice a year) changed her prescription from Tamoxifen to Aromasin 25 mg tablet daily for a few years, then back to Tamoxifen for the last 4 years, but a 25 mg tablet daily. She's had none of the side effects that are mentioned on the Internet and the paperwork that comes with the medications.

Bird the side effects are what scares me the most right now. My wife hates nausea more than anyone I've ever known. I guess some of the side effects of those alcohol abuse events in my youth pretty well toughened me up against nausea. She's never had anything like that happen to her and she has real issues with even a mild episode of nausea.

 

[sodamo]

"I'm thinking about doing a blog from the male caregiver's perspective, what do you all think?"

Harv, I think that is a great idea. Years ago, my wife was in a terrible car wreck, spent 5 months in hospital, still in a wheelchair and hospital bed when she did come home. Being retired, it was my privilege to become her primary caregiver. This was long before blogs were popular, but looking back I can see how beneficial one could be, a great way to share and get information. Best I can do now is happen upon some photos (usually with our pets at the times) that serve as a reminder for us to revisit those days. I can see where the blog thing could be even better and also a good log of events. Best of luck to you both and have fun with it.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

 

[sodamo]

Bird the side effects are what scares me the most right now. My wife hates nausea more than anyone I've ever known. I guess some of the side effects of those alcohol abuse events in my youth pretty well toughened me up against nausea. She's never had anything like that happen to her and she has real issues with even a mild episode of nausea.

Harv, apparently side affects can vary a lot with different people. My wife had both radiation and chemo in addition to the radioactive seed procedure in the hospital after surgery (she has endometrial cancer, complete plumbing removal). She drove herself to and from most of her radiation and chemo treatments by her own choice, about 22 miles each way. I was concerned, but knew better than to argue. She also had a nausea prescription she took only as needed, worked for the most part.

A funny story she likes to share: Her hair didn't start falling out until she was well into radiation. She wasn't concerned and never did the head shaving or wig thing. So anyway she has an appointment for exam with her gyn, same one who suspected she might have cancer and set up her referrals. So anyway, he does his exam and in the course of conversation matter of factly asks, "Sophie, have you thought about checking with a doctor about you hair falling out?" She looked right at him and replied, "Dr Hirata, you do remember I'm in radiation for my cancer?" He began apologizing profusely that he forgot. Actually a pretty good testimony to how well she was doing.
Now he just sees her once a year for all her female tests.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

 

[sodamo]

Harv,
Just want to commend you for the way you are supporting Glenda. It's a blessing just being able to.

But one thing I learned way back from the days of my wife's accident and later with the cancer was that it was important we both be present at important appointments. We learned early on that we sometimes heard different things, sometimes not in agreement. We learned that we usually had different questions, usually mine could be something she was more reluctant to ask. Sometimes her response to a query would be minimal and I would make sure the Dr heard the detail I felt he was probing for. Fair play though, she goes to my appointments too One thing my wife's orthopedic surgeon told us about two days after he put her back together was my most important job was to be her advocate, that together we were in charge of her treatment. A couple of times since, I've felt compelled to repeat that with a new doctor, they always agree, even the one I "fired".

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet