I just returned from Martha's Chanukat HaBayit which is the ceremony one has after affixing mezuzahs (don't know the correct plural- mezuzim?)to the doorposts to a new place of residence. Of course Martha's mom told her that this is how the Nazis know where you live but she ignored that. But it was an interesting ritual. It turns out that her new neighbor is a woman who lived with us many years ago-one who I didn't get along with then- but someone who seemed thrilled to see me nonetheless.
It remains cool and sunny-a nice day to run. I saw a bird that I couldn't identify-orange with black wings. I can't remember what the head looked like. It was just slightly larger than a finch but too small to be a Baltimore Oriole. Possibly an orangish looking scarlet tanger? I try to remember as many features as possible when I see an unusual bird but forget them as soon as I have access to a field guide. In my yard, I have two pairs of cardinals and the males always seem to be dueling with their loud songs. I have at least 3 robin families. I haven't heard the chimney swifts in my chimney but they definitely circle around the house. Plenty of food for them this year with all the bugs.
Naomi is at her friend's baby shower. How quickly do they grow up! We went shopping for her yesterday. From her registry, it seems that she is planning to nurse, a rarity among very young mothers. Good for her.
In cancer news, they seem to have found some new drugs that target an enzyme particular to BRAC1 cancers that may work for other TNBC too-PARP inhibitors. http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN3044166420090531?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
In Quebec, they just discovered that there is a greater than 10% error rate in testing hormone receptors in breast cancer so many women there did not get the proper treatment. Hopefully this is not true for the rest of the provinces (I have readers from Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta)!!! Also a new study shows that antidepressants interfere with Tamoxifen increasing the recurrence rates in women taking both drugs. No Tamoxifen for me though.
A website I found useful is from a TNBC survivor Pat who currently is writing a book on TNBC. She provided many links to studies-http://hormonenegative.blogspot.com/2009/02/surviving-triple-negative-breast-cancer.html that some might find useful.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
How I keep busy
I haven't forgot about my blessings. They are many and I am keeping a list so I don't leave anything out but I will leave that for another day.
We've had nice cool weather here this week-good for gardening and running. I finally finished making my container gardens. I love watching things grow. Unfortunately the weeds have been growing too. I filled up the huge vegetation recycling bin Thursday with unwanted growth.
For those of you on Facebook, Shanna posted another video of Oliver dancing. Very cute. They will be here Wednesday for Naomi's graduation. Naomi has been difficult. This is the second month in a row that she went way over texting and as warned, we took her phone away for a week. Tomorrow she is going to a babyshower for her classmate who won't turn 18 for another few months. She's keeping the little boy.
So for May, I've run 100 miles. For the past 6 years, this has been my goal but the broken arm, then hypothyroidism and then CANCER got in the way. It has become much easier than a month before but I am still very slow. As the weight goes away, hopefully I will be a little faster.
We've had nice cool weather here this week-good for gardening and running. I finally finished making my container gardens. I love watching things grow. Unfortunately the weeds have been growing too. I filled up the huge vegetation recycling bin Thursday with unwanted growth.
For those of you on Facebook, Shanna posted another video of Oliver dancing. Very cute. They will be here Wednesday for Naomi's graduation. Naomi has been difficult. This is the second month in a row that she went way over texting and as warned, we took her phone away for a week. Tomorrow she is going to a babyshower for her classmate who won't turn 18 for another few months. She's keeping the little boy.
So for May, I've run 100 miles. For the past 6 years, this has been my goal but the broken arm, then hypothyroidism and then CANCER got in the way. It has become much easier than a month before but I am still very slow. As the weight goes away, hopefully I will be a little faster.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Cancerland memories
It's been more than 5 weeks now since I've been out of treatment and almost 9 months since I have entered Cancerland. I've blogged faithfully but much of time has been a blur to me. I do have a few distinct memories however.
1) The feeling of dread right before my mammogram appt. I suddenly had the realization that up to that point of time, I'd been lucky but I knew I was about to find out that I'm not immortal. I had no symptoms nor could I feel the lump (hopefully soft lumps have better prognoses than hard ones-I've read accounts of them 'softening" as they disappear) but I was not surprised when I was told that I probably had cancer.
2) The bitchiness of the radiologist who told me about my tumor. It was late in the day and I was a chore to deal with. Every question I asked exasperated her as how could I be so stupid. She has the suckiest bedside manner bar none. With her was a resident she was training. You'd think she'd have better behavior. I wish I remembered her name. All I remember is her bad perm and even worse attitude. I know it is mean to wish cancer on anyone but she'd be my top candidate to get it and I would want her to find out with the physician sighing the whole time as she receives such devastating news.
3) The paper punch sound of the gun extracting little pieces of vermicelli from my breast. The biopsied pieces looked like strings of fat-benign. But a few days later, I find out their true evil-Grade 3-the worse grade given due to a combination of fast growth and cells undifferentiated.
4) Finding out the tumor was triple negative. I had just assumed I'd have my mom's cancer. (ER+, non-aggressive) Chemo for sure. Instead of a 3 month ordeal, I was in for at least 7 months.
5) Reading about TNBC on the internet. Reading things like no targetted treatment-very poor prognosis, etc. Ended up thinking that instead of a few months of inconvenience, I was in a battle for my life that I didn't think I could win. I was filled with dispair. People's empty promises of 'everything was going to be all right' just made me lonelier.
6) Peeing bright blue from the sentinel node dye. The sentinel node procedure really has saved women a lot of misery. They take out 1-3 nodes instead of the whole bunch (usually around 20)so I would be spared lymphedema. And the nodes were clean-good news but the rogue cells could still travel in the blood stream to spread 50% of the time with a tumor my size and grade. My regimen of chemo would kill them 50% of the time leaving me with an overall 70% chance of survival (could be killed by cancer in the next 10 years 25%, by some other means 5%)
I later find out that the database used to generate these sad numbers isn't perfect and my numbers should be better. Still scary. Even being told that you have a 95% chance of surviving means that in 1 in 20 cases, you lose.
7) Trying to run after my surgery without damaging my breast. I actually ran holding it still and stopping if someone drove by.
8) Have 2 wires placed for the re-incission. I was not fully numbed so the deeply placed wire hurt like you wouldn't believe. My tumor had doubled in size in the month between diagnosis and surgery so I had bad margins. Also a new tumor was found and lots of suspicious calcifications. After the first surgery, my breast was roughly the same size but after the second surgery, it became 30% smaller than the left, but no cancer cells were found this time.
9) The terror of having the Adriamycin syringed into my iv line-letting myself be poisoned. Ten weeks of altered tastebuds-could no longer stand chocolate, sweet things or coffee. Salty, cheesy things-good. I never threw up but seemed to be queasy constantly no matter what I took. This lasted until about my second Taxol treatment.
10) The sadness of losing my hair. On Day 16, my scalp was burning and my hair felt heavy. As I combed it, large amounts of it ended up in my comb. By Day 18, almost all of it was gone leaving just a few stray strands. I had cut it shorter so the weight wouldn't hurt my head so much and it wouldn't tangle but even when it was only 2 inches long, it still tangled and hurt. I looked so pathetic-like a sad, old man. I still only have less than an inch of hair.
11) Trying to exercise. I actually ran the day after the first AC and didn't feel differently. But as time went on, I was able to run less and less and soon walking made me out of breath. I went into hibernation for 4 months going out for bball games but mainly staying home. Steve took care of food and most of the housework. I just lay around like a beached whale.
12) Having Steve shoot Neulasta into my belly a day after the infusions at $4000-$7000 a dose so my white blood counts would remain high. This worked less and less as time went on and they are still low. I never had an infection however.
13)Taxol induced neuropathy. The pain of every muscle fiber feeling inflamed in my thighs and finding it impossible to get comfortable. Heavy doses of meds ameliorated this but sent my liver enzymes out of whack.
14) The strange feeling of having it feel that your fingernails could fall off any second. The nailbeds tingled. Just yesterday, I lost 2 toenails though running probably caused this along with the Taxol. I kept my fingernails though they had 4 distinct Mees' lines on them-only the last Mees' line is still visible as the damage has mostly grown out.
15) Losing my eyelashes and eyebrows 6 weeks AFTER my last chemo. I kept telling myself-at least I still have those but no, they fell out. I wanted to just hide. Pencilling them in just doesn't look right. They are mostly back.
16) The annoyance of waiting in the rad waiting room not knowing their system. I would be furious when people who I know had later appointments went in before me. Having to lie absolutely still while they took all of these pre-treatment x-rays. The eeriness of knowing you are being bombarded by tissue destroying radiation. Such a primitive treatment. Having my one arm pit turn almost black from the treatment. The skin has since peeled off and it just looks like I have a tan.
Yep-these are mostly negative memories but I do have plenty of blessings too that I will write about in a later post.
1) The feeling of dread right before my mammogram appt. I suddenly had the realization that up to that point of time, I'd been lucky but I knew I was about to find out that I'm not immortal. I had no symptoms nor could I feel the lump (hopefully soft lumps have better prognoses than hard ones-I've read accounts of them 'softening" as they disappear) but I was not surprised when I was told that I probably had cancer.
2) The bitchiness of the radiologist who told me about my tumor. It was late in the day and I was a chore to deal with. Every question I asked exasperated her as how could I be so stupid. She has the suckiest bedside manner bar none. With her was a resident she was training. You'd think she'd have better behavior. I wish I remembered her name. All I remember is her bad perm and even worse attitude. I know it is mean to wish cancer on anyone but she'd be my top candidate to get it and I would want her to find out with the physician sighing the whole time as she receives such devastating news.
3) The paper punch sound of the gun extracting little pieces of vermicelli from my breast. The biopsied pieces looked like strings of fat-benign. But a few days later, I find out their true evil-Grade 3-the worse grade given due to a combination of fast growth and cells undifferentiated.
4) Finding out the tumor was triple negative. I had just assumed I'd have my mom's cancer. (ER+, non-aggressive) Chemo for sure. Instead of a 3 month ordeal, I was in for at least 7 months.
5) Reading about TNBC on the internet. Reading things like no targetted treatment-very poor prognosis, etc. Ended up thinking that instead of a few months of inconvenience, I was in a battle for my life that I didn't think I could win. I was filled with dispair. People's empty promises of 'everything was going to be all right' just made me lonelier.
6) Peeing bright blue from the sentinel node dye. The sentinel node procedure really has saved women a lot of misery. They take out 1-3 nodes instead of the whole bunch (usually around 20)so I would be spared lymphedema. And the nodes were clean-good news but the rogue cells could still travel in the blood stream to spread 50% of the time with a tumor my size and grade. My regimen of chemo would kill them 50% of the time leaving me with an overall 70% chance of survival (could be killed by cancer in the next 10 years 25%, by some other means 5%)
I later find out that the database used to generate these sad numbers isn't perfect and my numbers should be better. Still scary. Even being told that you have a 95% chance of surviving means that in 1 in 20 cases, you lose.
7) Trying to run after my surgery without damaging my breast. I actually ran holding it still and stopping if someone drove by.
8) Have 2 wires placed for the re-incission. I was not fully numbed so the deeply placed wire hurt like you wouldn't believe. My tumor had doubled in size in the month between diagnosis and surgery so I had bad margins. Also a new tumor was found and lots of suspicious calcifications. After the first surgery, my breast was roughly the same size but after the second surgery, it became 30% smaller than the left, but no cancer cells were found this time.
9) The terror of having the Adriamycin syringed into my iv line-letting myself be poisoned. Ten weeks of altered tastebuds-could no longer stand chocolate, sweet things or coffee. Salty, cheesy things-good. I never threw up but seemed to be queasy constantly no matter what I took. This lasted until about my second Taxol treatment.
10) The sadness of losing my hair. On Day 16, my scalp was burning and my hair felt heavy. As I combed it, large amounts of it ended up in my comb. By Day 18, almost all of it was gone leaving just a few stray strands. I had cut it shorter so the weight wouldn't hurt my head so much and it wouldn't tangle but even when it was only 2 inches long, it still tangled and hurt. I looked so pathetic-like a sad, old man. I still only have less than an inch of hair.
11) Trying to exercise. I actually ran the day after the first AC and didn't feel differently. But as time went on, I was able to run less and less and soon walking made me out of breath. I went into hibernation for 4 months going out for bball games but mainly staying home. Steve took care of food and most of the housework. I just lay around like a beached whale.
12) Having Steve shoot Neulasta into my belly a day after the infusions at $4000-$7000 a dose so my white blood counts would remain high. This worked less and less as time went on and they are still low. I never had an infection however.
13)Taxol induced neuropathy. The pain of every muscle fiber feeling inflamed in my thighs and finding it impossible to get comfortable. Heavy doses of meds ameliorated this but sent my liver enzymes out of whack.
14) The strange feeling of having it feel that your fingernails could fall off any second. The nailbeds tingled. Just yesterday, I lost 2 toenails though running probably caused this along with the Taxol. I kept my fingernails though they had 4 distinct Mees' lines on them-only the last Mees' line is still visible as the damage has mostly grown out.
15) Losing my eyelashes and eyebrows 6 weeks AFTER my last chemo. I kept telling myself-at least I still have those but no, they fell out. I wanted to just hide. Pencilling them in just doesn't look right. They are mostly back.
16) The annoyance of waiting in the rad waiting room not knowing their system. I would be furious when people who I know had later appointments went in before me. Having to lie absolutely still while they took all of these pre-treatment x-rays. The eeriness of knowing you are being bombarded by tissue destroying radiation. Such a primitive treatment. Having my one arm pit turn almost black from the treatment. The skin has since peeled off and it just looks like I have a tan.
Yep-these are mostly negative memories but I do have plenty of blessings too that I will write about in a later post.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I'm back!
One of the cancer patients who took LiveStrong last session wears a T-shirt saying "I'm back" for her workouts. I like it. The other last session participant who has bone mets hasn't been there for a while. Hope she's OK. Everyone in our class except the colon cancer lady has had hair loss. We compare hair growth like the 6 year olds in my Brownie troop compared tooth loss 24 years ago. Mary thought her growth had stopped but I pointed out that since it is coming in in curls, it just makes it look shorter. She said her hair was straight as could be before this cancerfest. Marilyn says now mine is longer than hers but says she can't wear her wig as her new hair, a different color sticks out. Lyle, the man, has the longest hair and said he won't cut it again. It's very thick for a 60 year old man. Losing his precious hair he said was the hardest for him. My hair is still too short to see if I'll get chemo curls. I've been running out in the sticks (we are at the edge of town)so less people will see my baldness. Also I have expanded my range as my endurance increases-new record for the year today. Yay me.
So am I really back? Not completely even as I can do more running and weight lifting. I certainly don't look or feel the same. This facing one's possible early death has been really hard on me. Fortunately I really don't think about it so much and live in the possible fantasy that, except for check-ups, I am done with this.
Naomi was to pick up her cap and gown today. She called in tears saying they won't give it to her until she forks over $57 for a textbook that she allegedly checked out 2 weeks ago. It was a first year Spanish book-she took the class in 8th grade. I was furious leaving messages with every administrator (noone ever answers their phone) about their faulty system. Anyway, I had paid for this silly gown already-how can they withhold it? Finally the book depository lady relented and released Naomi from her 'obligation' as numerous other kids were of accused of the same crime-taking out a Spanish book.
Finally we have hot water although the installers aren't completely finished with us. So many things need to be replaced. Good thing my sweat glands still aren't functional. Such a weird side effect-one not mentioned in all the literature but other people have noticed it in themselves too.
So am I really back? Not completely even as I can do more running and weight lifting. I certainly don't look or feel the same. This facing one's possible early death has been really hard on me. Fortunately I really don't think about it so much and live in the possible fantasy that, except for check-ups, I am done with this.
Naomi was to pick up her cap and gown today. She called in tears saying they won't give it to her until she forks over $57 for a textbook that she allegedly checked out 2 weeks ago. It was a first year Spanish book-she took the class in 8th grade. I was furious leaving messages with every administrator (noone ever answers their phone) about their faulty system. Anyway, I had paid for this silly gown already-how can they withhold it? Finally the book depository lady relented and released Naomi from her 'obligation' as numerous other kids were of accused of the same crime-taking out a Spanish book.
Finally we have hot water although the installers aren't completely finished with us. So many things need to be replaced. Good thing my sweat glands still aren't functional. Such a weird side effect-one not mentioned in all the literature but other people have noticed it in themselves too.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Second guessing
I realize second guessing is futile; you can't go back in time. But it is very hard not to when your life is on the line, did I do the right thing(s)?
Chemo timing: Should have started as early as possible with this very aggressive tumor I had. Delayed by 2 surgeries and the onc saying I should have a chemo-free Thanksgiving off-handedly saying delaying 2 weeks wouldn't make a difference. Of course no proof that it wouldn't make a difference.
Right chemo(?): I received the current 'standard treatment' for TNBC: Dose dense 4xAC, 4xtaxol. If one looks on the TNBC foundation pages, this is what women in my position are given. But was it the most effective? Current literature suggests otherwise. See http://www.abstract.asco.org/AbstView_65_35150.html and http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20090429b.jsp . In summary, for TNBC and/or her2 neg cancers, Adriamycin doesn't do squat unless you have this TOPO2 defect, which is associated primarily with her2 positive cancers. Also the old regimen of cytoxan, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF)was more effective for overall survival than the current TAC. Why did they switch? Because for breast cancer in GENERAL, TAC gave better outcomes, but for TNBC specifically, not so much. What might be better? Carboplatin or cis-platin. Numerous papers abound saying its effective in BRAC1 breast cancer (almost all TNBC). Not all TNBC are BRAC1-probably not me (no history and I am 'old'). If one has a large tumor (loosely define as 3 cm or larger depending on your breast size), they sometimes give you chemo before surgery to see a) the chemo is effective b) to shrink the tumor so it won't be such a large portion of your breast. On the TNBC forums, I noticed several women whose tumor didn't shrink with Adriamycin but did once they switched to carboplatin.
Breast 'conservation' or mastectomy: So I was told that overall survival is the same whether I had a mastectomy or lumpectomy + radiation. This is true for BC in general but is it true for TNBC? Who knows? If I had the BRAC1 gene, they for sure would say mastectomy but is my tumor different than the ones that the BRAC1 women get? I sure hope it is!!! Also, my decision was made when I was told I had a small tumor. By the time they got around to removing it, it had doubled in size (linear dimensions which of course mean its volume went up 8-fold) and doubled in number so I needed 2 surgeries. By this delay I went from Stage 1 to Stage 2 with an increased poor prognosis. Also numerous cases I read from my blogging friends along the lines of this: it's a good thing I agreed to a mastectomy because they discovered this additional tumor-sometimes in the opposite breast. But in my favor, hopefully, these hidden tumors were mostly in young women with dense breasts that can hide all sorts of stuff.
I am taking a day off from running but will go to LiveStrong and use different muscles. I still have a numb area in the soles of both feet. Peripheral neuropathy due to Taxol? Running injury?
Early sign of MS or brain tumor?
Still no hot water. Hopefully the installers can fit us in today.
Chemo timing: Should have started as early as possible with this very aggressive tumor I had. Delayed by 2 surgeries and the onc saying I should have a chemo-free Thanksgiving off-handedly saying delaying 2 weeks wouldn't make a difference. Of course no proof that it wouldn't make a difference.
Right chemo(?): I received the current 'standard treatment' for TNBC: Dose dense 4xAC, 4xtaxol. If one looks on the TNBC foundation pages, this is what women in my position are given. But was it the most effective? Current literature suggests otherwise. See http://www.abstract.asco.org/AbstView_65_35150.html and http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20090429b.jsp . In summary, for TNBC and/or her2 neg cancers, Adriamycin doesn't do squat unless you have this TOPO2 defect, which is associated primarily with her2 positive cancers. Also the old regimen of cytoxan, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF)was more effective for overall survival than the current TAC. Why did they switch? Because for breast cancer in GENERAL, TAC gave better outcomes, but for TNBC specifically, not so much. What might be better? Carboplatin or cis-platin. Numerous papers abound saying its effective in BRAC1 breast cancer (almost all TNBC). Not all TNBC are BRAC1-probably not me (no history and I am 'old'). If one has a large tumor (loosely define as 3 cm or larger depending on your breast size), they sometimes give you chemo before surgery to see a) the chemo is effective b) to shrink the tumor so it won't be such a large portion of your breast. On the TNBC forums, I noticed several women whose tumor didn't shrink with Adriamycin but did once they switched to carboplatin.
Breast 'conservation' or mastectomy: So I was told that overall survival is the same whether I had a mastectomy or lumpectomy + radiation. This is true for BC in general but is it true for TNBC? Who knows? If I had the BRAC1 gene, they for sure would say mastectomy but is my tumor different than the ones that the BRAC1 women get? I sure hope it is!!! Also, my decision was made when I was told I had a small tumor. By the time they got around to removing it, it had doubled in size (linear dimensions which of course mean its volume went up 8-fold) and doubled in number so I needed 2 surgeries. By this delay I went from Stage 1 to Stage 2 with an increased poor prognosis. Also numerous cases I read from my blogging friends along the lines of this: it's a good thing I agreed to a mastectomy because they discovered this additional tumor-sometimes in the opposite breast. But in my favor, hopefully, these hidden tumors were mostly in young women with dense breasts that can hide all sorts of stuff.
I am taking a day off from running but will go to LiveStrong and use different muscles. I still have a numb area in the soles of both feet. Peripheral neuropathy due to Taxol? Running injury?
Early sign of MS or brain tumor?
Still no hot water. Hopefully the installers can fit us in today.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Endorphins
Aside from giving me healthy lungs and muscle tone, running gives me endorphins. They seem to be of two varieties, short-lived that disappear within a minute of stopping and ones that last for a few hours after. The short-lived ones taking 2 minutes to kick in let me overlook post-surgical pain, early pregnancy breast pain, menstrual cramps, bra burn, shorts burn, too tight shoes. The first two minutes of running aren't fun and I dread them but then I get into a zone. When I ran my first marathon, I really pushed myself and I was probably way undertrained but I managed to make my goal and was very happy to see that finish line. I walked through the chute for about a minute and then I was struck with over-whelming pain and fatigue that my good mood couldn't stop. Those short-lived endorphins had faded. But I continue to feel relaxed and good about myself for a few hours later.
I've been running alot and I seem to be smaller. The weather has been cool in the morning-perfect for running. I've been adding to my gardens and solar light collection. My seedling experiment was a disaster so I ended up buying the plants that I tried to grow from seed. I think only the morning glories will have survived.
So a low key weekend. We had a barbeque at Josh's and I've been seeing friends on the other days.
Our crisis du jour is a kaput water heater. No hot water until tomorrow! I will have to sponge myself clean I guess.
I've been running alot and I seem to be smaller. The weather has been cool in the morning-perfect for running. I've been adding to my gardens and solar light collection. My seedling experiment was a disaster so I ended up buying the plants that I tried to grow from seed. I think only the morning glories will have survived.
So a low key weekend. We had a barbeque at Josh's and I've been seeing friends on the other days.
Our crisis du jour is a kaput water heater. No hot water until tomorrow! I will have to sponge myself clean I guess.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Dude, where's my white blood cells?
Shanna and Naomi 12 years ago before Shanna's prom. Naomi: age 6. Now Naomi towers over her.It was Naomi's last day of high school yesterday though a project remains unfinished. I get a break from overseeing homework for a while so less stress for me. Yay! The graduation ceremony is in 10 days. Shanna is still planning to drive out to it but won't stay here-she's staying with the in-laws.
In connection with the chemobrain study, they sent me the result of my blood work. Less FSH. High FSH levels are associated with hot flashes but they gradually stop after a while. Thankfully I haven't had much trouble with hot flashes since I threw the Prem-pro away thinking that it gave me cancer. My red blood count climbed, not as high as before but above what they were when I was pre-menopausal but the white blood count sunk lower than it was on chemo. True I skipped the last Neulasta and maybe radiation screws up the white count but it should have returned. Monocytes are high though-inflammmation? infection?
Running still is fairly easy. I worry about stress fractures if I increase too much. Also part of the sole of one foot is numb-residual Taxol induced nerve damage? Or running injury? But as it is numb, no pain.
One of the moms came over for a pleasant evening on the patio before those pesky mosquitoes came out. It hasn't rained in 5 days but all the rain before has made these things really annoying. I had to cut short my walk in the woods today after running as they were so bad.
More readings from the TNBC page: An article saying that bis-phosphonates (such as Zometa, Evista, etc) cut down on recurrences for hormone negs more than for hormone pos--just the opposite of what I read before. Small patient population so I will ignore it.
More annoying: some article about triple negative bc in general saying that only occasionally does chemotherapy work-most of the time it doesn't so too bad for us. I won't even cite this article-it is from the 'popular press'. Hopefully the newly diagnosed do not run into this type of article because it will depress them.
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