<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Marti's Journal RSS Feed</title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/marti/journals/rss</link><description>Marti's Journal RSS Feed</description><item><title><![CDATA[Another Little Milestone]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/marti/journals/8138</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/marti/journals/8138</guid><description><![CDATA[Today I had a trip to "Yellow Daffodils", a fairly local (30 miles from my home) establishment for women experiencing the breast cancer journey.  I was fitted with three bra's that I liked and got my first breast prosthesis. I also got a special prosthesis for swimming as I swim almost daily during warm weather plus use a hot tub all year round. It felt neat to walk out feeling all balanced out and without a camisole and one flat side. I have been going braless since my mastectomy 3/28. They also  seemed to have a really nice selection of wigs, hats, and scarves ( which I fortunately do not need). They also had mastectomy swimsuits but I did not see any I really liked. I also purschased "pockets" which can be sewed into swimsuits or bra's you already have to hold the prosthesis. I cannot sew but my wonderful younger sister and two nieces are a whiz at sewing, so I am sure they will help me. Of course, the bra styles I preferred were upgrades over what the insurance will pay for but I am a survivor and I deserve upgrades. Today was a great day.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Happy about Low OncoDx Score]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/marti/journals/8077</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/marti/journals/8077</guid><description><![CDATA[Sharing my good news. I saw my oncologist yesterday to get
the results of my OncoDx test. This test is specifically for
for woman like me with early stage invasive breast cancer
who are estrogen receptor positive and node negative. My score
 was a wonderful low 6. So today, I took my first Arimidex. This
 is a hormonal treatment for breast cancer not to be confused with 
hormone replacement  therapy This is an aromatase inhibitor only
 appropriate for  post menopausal woman (like me)that will block
 aromatase,  an enzyme needed to convert androgens produced in one’s
 body to estrogen. Arimidex actually lowers the amount of 
estrogen that means there is less estrogen to fuel the growth of
 estrogen sensitive cancer cells like my kind of tumor. I will have
 to take this medication for at least 5 years and possibly longer. 
There are of course some nasty side effects that can occur
but I am focusing on the positive. Most people are familiar
with Tamoxifen that is also given for breast cancer. Tamoxifen
is an antiestrogen that can be used both for premenopausal and 
postmenopausal woman. Please keep me in your prayers that I can
tolerate the Arimidex. After reading stories of how much many of you
have endured, I know how lucky I have been, Thanks]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mart's storey]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/marti/journals/8006</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/marti/journals/8006</guid><description><![CDATA[My story started when I was called back the day after my yearly routine screening mammogram  on 2/21/08. The radiology department asked that I come back for a diagnostic mammogram and ultra sound of my left breast. The additional imaging confirmed a small solid mass and a biopsy was recommended. I met with a surgeon and a biopsy was set up for 3/11/08. I had a wire guide  placed by ultra sound prior to the biopsy surgery so the correct tissue could be removed. The pathology report was positive for invasive ductal carcinoma, the tumor size being  1.2cm, grade 1/slow growing, but did not show clear margins. I opted for a lumpectomy and  sentinel node  biopsy on 3/19 with radiation to be scheduled after  I healed. I had also signed for axillary lymph node dissection if the frozen section on the sentinel node had been positive.
 However, again the  pathology report did not show clean margins, although the node tested was negative for  cancer cells.. Further lumpectomy would compromise the breast circulation.  I had a mastectomy on 3/28/08 which did indicate clear margins. Pathology also indicates I am ER and PR positive; HER-2 negative.  On Friday, 4/7 I will have a bone scan and CT of the chest and abdomen; on 4/14, an MRI of the brain for staging before I meet with an
 Oncologist to decide if further treatment is needed.
I have one practical concern. I still have a drainage tube. When I saw the surgeon yesterday, I  was told to keep lumpy areas at each end of the incision draining,,,like How? I do massage these areas toward the center of the incision but they do not go away.
My other concern is that I wonder if a single negative sentinel node was enough to be sure there is no node involvement.]]></description></item></channel></rss>