To have the op or try alternative

Glad you are still keeping an eye.

Dr sounds good.

I was warned that my oncologist regularly runs 2 hrs late, so I took a book.

Hi ,

I've just bumped up your post as it may be of interest to a new member .

Hope you are doing well xxx

Dear Chloecat,

I have just found your message as above and would love to know what happened in your treatment plan and to you, after this last message of November 2013? I completely relate to your stance and really hope you conquered the C in your own way and that it all worked out... I am a new member of this and have just posted my own message similar to yours - as in finding less non invasive ways than mastectomy - under my username indiespirit. I really hope you see this and that you may reply. All best wishes 

Hiya Ladies (and Gents)

Well, tomorrow I have my mamms and Ultrasound.  Must remember to make sure that the mamm radiographers don't squash me hard. I really will do mischief to them if they do!!!!!

On another note have suffered a minor stroke.  Lost the vision in my right eye - a right (eye) retinal artery occlusion.  However  sight does seem to be coming back - although slowly - as my body starts to find new pathways to correct the problem. This was down to high blood pressure - readings ranging from 213/102 to 197/98 - which I had said was not the cause but obviously it was!  What do I know!  On BP tablets of course and seems because I had been slipping on my diet I am back on the statins.  Spent 12 hours at the hospital as they did an eye scan, and due to the high blood pressure also said I should have blood test, as well as go to Casualty to be given urgent treatment - Amlopidine for the BP.  Didn't work.  Thoughts were to take me into hospital but eventually let me go home with prescription for Ramipril and Clopidogrel.  The sroke was just in the eye, nowhere else.  Lucky!!!!!!!!

On 20th July was seen by the Stroke Unit where I had ultrasound of arteries in neck - all okay, MRI of head - no evidence of any stroke in the brain (that's if I have one!!!!) past or present and an electrocardiogram - lady consultant was highly delighted with this one.  Diet: No Red Meat, No Dairy, No Salt.  Consultant wants my Cholesterol to go down from 6.1 to 4.0 with the LDL's less that 2.0 which at the time of the blood test were 3.3.

Now as if I haven't got enough to deal with!!!!!!!!  But let this be a warning to all not to discount high BP readings.  I felt perfectly fine and healthy but as with BC there is another silent predator in the wings. 

Will come back with update on the mamms, US and consult when all complete.

Love to you all.

6.1 isn't high! 

The range used to be 6 until the manufacturer of statins realised most people would be on their drugs if they made the top of the range lower! 

Read the great cholesterol con by Dr  Malcolm Kendrick 

So sorry to hear about your mini-stroke Chloecat. If it's any comfort, I know 3 people who've had them and they're all fine and living full and energetic lives with no permanent effects from the stroke.

As for statins, I was never as anti them as some people are and took them when I was given them. . My total cholesterol was 6.something and at last test a couple of months back has gone down to 3.2. However, apparently they have a protective effect in relation to cancer, reducing the risk of recurrence quite a bit, according to recent research. That's made me decide to keep taking them. I don't know if it also applies to your situation, but they'd be neutral at least if not helpful. 

Keep powering on.

Hi kacang

Thanks for your reply.  Read the article you 'linked in'.  Raises some very interesting thinking I need to do.  Really did not like putting a load of synthetics into my body which is why I stopped taking them in the first place.  Felt that taking Letrozole (or the Anastrozole when I did) was more than enough synthetic in my body.  Will, however, continue to take the BP and cholesterol tablets until I get resolution of my sight.  Positive thinking no less!

Love to everyone

So sorry to hear about your stroke.  How did you get on yesterday?  Was thinking of you.

Hi Skylight

Thank you for asking. 

Had the mamms on both boobs.  Was really only interested in the right boob so didn't ask to see the left boob mamms.  From the quick glance I saw of both craniocordal and mediolateral scans on the right boob most of the microcalcifications and calcifications have gone.  Couldn't see the lymph node with cancer as at this size - .33mm - they don't often get seen, radiographer said.  Original site of the tumour still there with ductal signs of it - hence the 7.8mm x 6.2mm size.  It is never seen as a 'lump' per se but as an 'erupting volcano' with 'lava sliding down it'.  You can sometimes see these on mamm pictures on the internet.  Additionally had the setting on the lowest (lightest) - which was 3 - which you need to get any proper definition of the mamms (otherwise they will be blurred, asked the lady radiographer on this).  I didn't feel as if I was 'clamped' hard just slightly 'pressured'.  I'm just not sure whether mamms on maximum setting would give any clearer pictures!  To me, on my quick glance I think I am doing bl..dy good!  Thanked the lass for being so considerate.

Ultrasound - angle of the screen did not allow me to see what she saw.  However I can do a good thorough check once I order copies of the scans and pay for them.  Had a good chat whilst she was working.  Constant interruptions from people coming in though.  Was a lengthy US as a result.  Radiographer said scans showed - as she put it - 'vague' pictures.  Didn't ask her to clarify...  She looked up my old scans for confirmation of where it is!  She also had a look at an area just outside the armpit at the top towards the right boob where my old bra had pinched and caused me pain and inflammation.  Unknown as to what she thought of that or what she will report.  You could say that I am clinging on to the 'vague' bit she quoted from the US but from the clearness of microcalcs and calcs on the mammogramme I am fairly hopeful for my consult on the 17th.

Will come back on that after the consult.  All my love and support to everyone on this rollercoaster.

Hello Chloecat

So sorry to hear you had a minor stroke and that it affected your  right eye, although very  happy   to hear all was well in the neck arteries and brain.  In 2008, I had a macro aneurysm in my right eye, which I know is not the same, but it was like a laser light show going on in my eye and a little frightening.

The major contributory factor was high blood pressure over a period of time.  I was already on two blood pressure pills anyway.  However, i was very lucky and only have a small area at the bottom of the right eye that has a little grey area.  The bleeding in the eye resolved over a period of ten months as the blood was absorbed back into my blood stream.  Apparently it just missed my central vision so I was very lucky.  In fact my reading is better in my right eye than my left eye...ironic!  There was a lot of bleeding because at the  time I took low dose aspirin, which created a bigger bleed.  I do not take it any more.

They added another BP pill making three, but it keeps my blood pressure very low!  You are absolutely right about about BP.  It is so important to get BP checked regularly or get a cuff and check it yourself, preferable when resting with your feet up so it is a realiable indicate of if blood pressure is healthy at rest.

As for me, I am fine, two years past my operation and partial reconstruction back in August 2015.  Had a scare three weeks ago as had a problem with it, swollen, red etc.  They were very quick and had mammogram US and they expedited the results for the following day, it was an infection.  Antibiotics cleared it up.  I have lymphodema in the reconstructed boob from the radiation, but manage this with massage..

My cholesterol is 6.7, but due to the never ending controversy about statins, I do not take them.  I am in Helen's court over this one, but I think it is up to every individual as to what they feel is better for their health.

Take good care of  yourself and I wish you a full recovery in your eye.

With many best wishes

Heather