This site isn’t medical advice –
it doesn’t tell you what you should or should not do. It is just
things I have
learned and am still learning. Please pass on what you have learned too so we
have
a place that our classmates/friends can come and get information if they are dealing with
something
in their lives too. I am going to start this and you can e-mail me bjtodd@cox.net
and let me know what you have learned through your experience with any challenges.
Also
if you have any questions or want to just share. You can let me know what
I can post and
what you don’t want me to post. I have learned a lot through
my experience with my son
having a brain tumor and seizures. Then now with me experiencing
breast cancer. These
are just thing I have learned by researching the internet.
We do have some doctors from
our class that can also maybe let us know of things of important,
so maybe they can let us
know if something new is out there for us to look into.
They might know of a trial studies
going on somewhere in any area of medicine.
Things I have learned about breast cancer.
1. There are different kinds of breast cancer. They are also feed in different ways. All
breast cancers are now routinely tested at the time of diagnosis to determine whether
the
tumor is receptor positive or negative
for estrogen and or progesterone receptors (ER/PR r
eceptor
status). The test is done on the breast cancer biopsy or tumor specimen. If a breast
cancer has measurable receptor sites present, then it is called estrogen- and or progesterone-positive,
or simply hormone receptor-positive.
If the breast cancer does not contain measurable receptor sites,
then
it is called estrogen/progesterone or hormone receptor-negative. Breast
cancers that have not been tested for hormone receptors are referred to as unknown receptor
status.
a.
Positive – feed by estrogen and progesterone - Hormone therapy for breast cancer blocks hormones
from
being used by cancer cells to stimulate their growth. The hormones estrogen
and progesterone circulate in the bloodstream. They can attach to breast cancer cells
and stimulate
tumor growth. Estrogen is the major
promoter of cell growth in hormone dependent breast cancer. The
goal
of hormone therapy is to deprive the cancer tissue of estrogen,
resulting
in halting or slowing of cancer cell growth. Unlike chemotherapy, hormone therapy,
also called endocrine (EN doe krin) therapy, does not kill the cancer cell. Hormone
therapy
acts by either blocking estrogen
from reaching cancer cells (receptor blocker) or reducing the production
of estrogen. The specific hormone treatment chosen depends on many factors including
whether the tumor has the protein features, called receptors, needed to use these hormones to spur growth. Tumors that have
these receptors are called receptor
positive; those that do not have the receptors are receptor negative.
a. Drugs given for positive
i.
Tamoxifen – this also has been shown to help with bone loss. Click on link below
and it will give you others. If clicking doesn’t work just copy and paste in a web search.
ii.
Go to this site and it will tell you other drugs.
http://www.drugs.com/cancer-breast.html
b. Triple Negative
breast cancer - This isn’t feed by estrogen or progesterone. They say that exercise and low fat diet
may help with triple negative.
I
think one thing I can’t stress enough is to keep in prayer. This really has been a very easy time for me because
of the Lord holding me in his arms. Those that know me know this isn’t my natures so I know the peace that I have
is because of our Father holding me so close. Another things I can’t stress enough is to research. Not only
will it let you know what is out there but will let you know what question to ask. Here is an example of a few questions
I ask ….
1. Will you do a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy? (sentinel lymph
nodes are under your arm and are the first node to receive waste from the breast.
2. Do you think I should have radiation if I chose a lumpectomy?
(there are different kinds of radiation … there is the Mammosite Breachytherapy – which is around 5
days and you go twice a day …. http://www.mammosite.com/physicians/radiation-therapy/about-mammosite.cfm…. Savi
is just a different end but is the same system as Mammosite.Then the traditional radiation treatment is around 5 to 6 weeks and around 30 to 35 sessions.
Mammosite Breachytherapy is also used in some Prostate cancers.
3. Will I take medicine after the surgery? If so, what do you
think the difference is between Tamoxifen or Bisphosphoonates of Raloxifene?
4. Is the tumor estrogen fed?
5. Does a biopsy and messing with the cancer cause it to raise its
ugly head and start spreading or growing faster?
6. When
would be the soonest that I could have to surgery to remove the tumor?
7. How long after the surgery would it be before I start the radiation
if that is what you think I should do next?
8. How
long will it take to recoup after the surgery? Lumpectomy ____ Mastectomy ______
9. What should I expect after removal of the cancer?
10.
What do I do after the
surgery?
11.
Is it a fast growing
tumor?
Think of what you want to ask and
write them down and take it with you. You might want to also take a tape recorder and ask them if they care if you tap
what they say so you can go and listen to it again if you want to. I went in with my right breast. They wanted to do
another Mammogram (which I had 6 months earlier) and an ultra sound. They saw something and wanted to check it out so
they set me up for an MRI. It came back that the right side was OK but they saw something in my left breast. Now
remember I didn’t go in for my left side. Then they wanted to do an ultra sound core needle biopsy. They
did six on the left side and four on the right side. Now, if you are like me this sounded really scary … again
the Lord was holding me very close … it really was a breeze … they only made a small cute and went through the
same
site
for the six on the left side … then another small cute on the right side. They deadened it and I really didn’t
feel a thing. It sounds like an electric stapler but it didn’t hurt. I someone is going to have to go through
something like this and wants to talk to me just e-mail me and if you want I can call you back on the phone. It really
helps at times to talk to someone who has gone through it.
Brain Tumor
I
have also dealt with my precious son having a brain tumor and the Lord brought me the Cleveland Clint in Cleveland, Ohio.
We went to Dr. Gene Barnett and the Lord used him to do a miracle. This was 16 years ago.
Dr. Gene H. Barnett
Cleveland Clinic
Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center/ Desk R20
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio,
44195
Phone
(216) 444-5381
