-
Hello from WHATNEXT!
Hello WHATNEXT community! We are Nicole & Nia Maya, Advocacy & Recruitment Specialists here at WHATNEXT. We wanted to pop in to introduce ourselves and give a quick update regarding our revamp. We've been working hard behind the scenes to build back a vibrant, supportive, and inclusive community! Please take a minute to…
-
Spring & Renewal
Spring is here. A time of growth, hope, renewal and promise. Anyone around? I would love to hear from some of you as to what promising things are happening in your journey. Progress made? Remission? Just starting out on this journey but you now have answers and are ready to move forward?
-
Guiding Lights/Shining Stars
I posted recently to ask people to come back and share a memory of Greg- our former fearless and powerful leader. Greg was certainly not the only person I admired on this site. Though we can certainly keep his memory alive and remember the great influence he had, I am hoping that we establish a rebirth of this site with…
-
A Look Back
In a short few weeks, it will be the 4th anniversary of the ONLY time I have been called back to have follow-up imaging done after a mammogram. It will be the 4 year anniversary of the day the word "cancer" became a part of my life and my body. I don't know a woman alive who has been called back for imaging, or asked to…
-
Survivor Guilt
It's probably one of the most "useless emotions" ever, but I think it does plague many of us. For those with Stage 0 and Stage 1 cancers that were "easily treatable" our journey may be a lumpectomy with a short period of radiation, a single mastectomy and then nothing more- no radiation or chemotherapy. We feel so…
-
Where is everyone?
Is anyone here? How is summer going for everyone? It is quite hot here on the South Carolina coast. I have no particular news to share about myself. I would love to generate a little discussion here and get people talking. Do you have any special plans as summer starts to wind down? I mean, it's still right in the middle…
-
Breast Cancer Support
Welcome to the discussions regarding breast cancer. This forum "WhatNext" was created years ago and then sort of fell into a "deep sleep" for almost a year. This forum can offer a lot of support and community as you navigate your journey with breast cancer. All of us have different paths, and I am here to tell you that…
-
Mutant genes CHEK2 and ATM
I have had two bouts with breast cancer. Because of the mutant genes, I started with preventative testing. After the first Ct scan they found a tumor on my left kidney. It was malignant. The gene testing saved my life. Has anyone had experiences with gene testing ? Did you get one or more of the cancers the genes represent?
-
Procedure or Surgery | Mastectomy
The emotional part was harder than the surgery
-
traumatic breast cancer
Stage 3, HER 2 +
-
Oh No | Just Diagnosed
I really really just thought it was swelling from the COVID vaccine. You can’t feel it during a regular self exam or on mammogram, but if you turn slightly you can feel it and it’s huge! How could I have missed that
-
Celebration | Remission
Today is 4-26-22 I have been cancer free since my mastectomy in Dec of 2013. I will be 9 years free of cancer by Dec of 2022 I am currently on Aromasin I also have to have Prolia shot to prevent further bone loss. My first Prolia shot was in Jan of 2022 I am doing pretty and I am very thankful for being healthy and well
-
TNBC (triple negative breast cancer) dx 11/15...
TNBC (triple negative breast cancer) dx 11/15/10 stage 2A grade 3 (T2 NO MO) Tumor - 3.6 cm grade 3, ER/PR Negative, HER2/neu Negative, nuclear grade of 8/9
-
I’m here to celebrate 10 years of survival wi...
I’m here to celebrate 10 years of survival with Inflammatory Breast Cancer! My journey has been amazing. I have never felt this good and did not expect to be retired and living in my cabin on a lake in northern Wisconsin enjoying every single day as a gift from God. I am 65 years old and loving my life. I had to endure the…
-
Had a double mastectomy dx bilateral breast c...
Had a double mastectomy dx bilateral breast cancer. A,so a died flat reconstruction. Wow. The first two weeks were rough but now at 8 weeks out I am good!! Listen if they say it will be hard, cause it will be...but not for long. Still unsure of my post treatment as they are doing the oncotype exam test... praying for no…
-
Does a lumpectomy *fill in?*
I had my lumpectomy in January of 2019. As a result my left breast was smaller and had a kind of whithered appearance, especially on the side close to my arm because I had some lymph nodes removed too. I have three scars in that area, one under my arm pit. Lately I have noticed my breast seems to have *filled in.* It is…
-
Procedure or Surgery | Double Mastectomy
My mastectomy at first went well. Then again with doctors this surgeon took my drainage tubes out too early and did not prescribe antibiotics. I then got a terrible infection in my left breast that became very infected. I ended up in the hospital for strong antibiotics and another surgery now my chest looks awful like I…
-
Reconstructed surgery
I am going through reconstruction surgery. I still have my implants in. What I would like to know everyone thoughts on the pros and cons on which implants I should get silicone or saline ?
-
On which side was your breast cancer?
A group I belong to recently asked this question. Out of 60 of us, the majority is on the left side. I also noticed this during chemo. My cancer was in my left breast and left axilla. So, I was wondering how many here also had their cancer in their left breast. Have any of you seen an article or research about this.
-
st
I am 8 years out from invasive ducal ER/PR positive breast cancer. I just found out St. John’s Wort contains phytoestrogens. Should I be taking SJW?
-
Had thoracentesis caused by breast cancer in lung. Will liquid come back?
Had thoracentesis caused by breast cancer in lung. Will liquid come back?
-
Fibromyalgia post bilateral mastectomy
Fibromyalgia post bilateral mastectomy
-
Decisions Decisions
I have really been struggling lately about a decision I need to make. I am now two years and a couple of months out from my initial diagnosis. I am just under two years out from my mastectomy. My prosthetic is supposed to be able to fit with any bra and I feel like it still slides around, so I still wear only my mastectomy…
-
Two years out from initial diagnosis. Almost ...
Two years out from initial diagnosis. Almost 2 years out from single mastectomy. Tired of my prosthesis and having to wear such covering clothes for fear of it either sliding around or because my bra with insert always seems to show if I have a v-neck shirt. I just want to feel more "normal" and any time I talk to people…
-
After the sonogram, the hotshot radiologist l...
After the sonogram, the hotshot radiologist looked at me and said, “well I have good news and bad news. The good news is you got your mammogram. The bad news is you have cancer. “Just like that. I was so shocked I didn’t know how to react in his presence. But I cried all the way home.
-
Pill Blackmail
So, I missed an appointment with my oncologist (actually with her PA) and now my medical *team* will not refill my prescription for Anastrozole until I re-schedule. I am FURIOUS and considering changing doctors! The missed appointment was actually their doing, but that is a long story. The point is, I am scheduled to see…
-
Side Effects | Need for Oral Surgery & extreme neuropathy-like hand pain. Then Blood Clots
I initially had a bilateral mastectomy because this was a recurrence on the right side. I started with Exemestane and Zometa but had to stop it due to a need for oral surgery and due to extreme neuropathy-like pain in hands. Switched to Tamoxifen which after only 1 month caused blood clots.
-
Procedure or Surgery | Breast Reconstruction (Implant)
It took the full six weeks recovery and longer to feel truly comfortable.
-
Procedure or Surgery | Surgery
Nipple sparing mastectomy, pre-mastectomy & reconstruction. This was essentially a mastectomy before the "real" mastectomy.
-
Decision Point | To remove all or part of breast.
I was unsure of whats to come.
-
Fear CAN Be Funny
So, I just had the worst sinking feeling when I left work today. I went to drop the mail in our downstairs mail slot at work and suddenly discovered that Oops, my Foob is NOT THERE. So I did what anyone with a FOOB might do. I thought I was going to throw up. I thought "Where the heck could it be?" I didn't remember not…