tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post3351923434330942008..comments2024-03-02T09:19:37.866-05:00Comments on not just about cancer: the opposite problemlauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14533311678025418958noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-64357811937925505832008-12-23T19:18:00.000-05:002008-12-23T19:18:00.000-05:00In my case I had a mammogram and 6 months later I ...In my case I had a mammogram and 6 months later I had Stage III breast cancer. My surgeon reviewed the mammogram and said there is absolutely no tumor visable. Really scary stuff. I found the tumor through self exam about 3 months after my mother's death. No doubt she is still watching over me. Treatment about to start.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-60072870898681589322008-11-29T10:04:00.000-05:002008-11-29T10:04:00.000-05:00Laurie, I saw this on one of the big national netw...Laurie, I saw this on one of the big national network morning tv programs. They brought up the point that there was a lot of MISSING factors in the study. Like what were the pre-existing risk factors? Since cancer can happen to anyone, how does one create a study to show that cancer goes away? And the women who didn't have any screening at all, how do we know they had cancer that went away?<BR/><BR/>The study's conclusion was seriously flawed and miss leading. I just wonder how many young women will hear about it and not push to be screened?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-79086789444999994852008-11-28T04:58:00.000-05:002008-11-28T04:58:00.000-05:00interesting post , thank you for bringing that res...interesting post , thank you for bringing that research to our attention.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-53776051211102201522008-11-26T21:58:00.000-05:002008-11-26T21:58:00.000-05:00Laurie,I'm so glad that you found that rebuttal to...Laurie,<BR/>I'm so glad that you found that rebuttal to the study because the findings of that study bothered me, too, but I couldn't articulate why. <BR/><BR/>I'm all for early screening. About five years after my first diagnosis of breast cancer, my annual mammogram found calcifications. The biopsy found a small (3mm) tumor. After the bilateral mastectomy last year, it was discovered that there was cancer throughout the whole breast - not a tumor, per se, but "tendrils" of cancer through the lymph channels and ducts. Then, about 6-8 weeks after surgery, I had a rash in that right breast area of skin that wouldn't go away. A biopsy found that there was breast cancer cells in the skin. A CT scan found small, bb-sized tumors in my bone marrow in my spine, ribs, iliac, sacrum, etc. That's when I started oral chemotherapy. I asked my onc how long those little bb-sized tumors had been there and his reply was "months".<BR/><BR/>IF I hadn't had the mammogram that showed calcifications and IF the biopsy hadn't found the little 3mm tumor, and IF I hadn't been vigilant about the skin rash, the cancer would've grown and spread to other organs. I think that I'm doing really well, with low tumor markers and stable disease, precisely because of early screening. The cancer hasn't had a chance to get into my bones - it's only in my bone marrow. We caught it fairly early, in other words, and it was aggressive. I think I've been spared really more aggressive treatments with worse side effects because of early detection.<BR/><BR/>A year later, I'm doing well - I'm happy, back at work, and starting to prepare myself for reconstruction surgery in February. <BR/><BR/>I agree - that study is meaningless, for now, and will be until they can say which cancers will go away and which will kill someone. <BR/><BR/>You know, I'm going to put a link to your blog entry along with my reply . . .Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-10527408455788905542008-11-26T20:50:00.000-05:002008-11-26T20:50:00.000-05:00This report has irked me since i heard about it. I...This report has irked me since i heard about it. I'm obviously against unnecessary treatment. But you are exactly right, how the heck do you know. And given that, wouldn't you want to try everything at your disposal (that makes sense for your situation)? The arrogance in the medical community is driving me nuts. Physicians need to listen to their patients. Recently, a friend discovered after dealing with colon cancer that it has moved to her liver and to her lungs. But SHE was the one to have to press her doctors for the tests. Outrageous.debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10191591754450607544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-19176084509287307612008-11-26T17:24:00.001-05:002008-11-26T17:24:00.001-05:00Thanks, Laurie, for putting the recent research re...Thanks, Laurie, for putting the recent research reports into perspective. I've been thinking that, perhaps, I've had unecessary treatment with more to come. But, as you've so pithily put it, how do we know (more importantly, how do the medical people know) which cancers will disappear and which will grow?<BR/><BR/>Reminds me of one of our sons who asked his step-father, a book publisher, "why don't you just publish the ones that are good sellers?" Yup!<BR/><BR/>Love,<BR/><BR/>B in TAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-30138090754708905672008-11-26T17:24:00.000-05:002008-11-26T17:24:00.000-05:00Thanks, Laurie, for putting the recent research re...Thanks, Laurie, for putting the recent research reports into perspective. I've been thinking that, perhaps, I've had unecessary treatment with more to come. But, as you've so pithily put it, how do we know (more importantly, how do the medical people know) which cancers will disappear and which will grow?<BR/><BR/>Reminds me of one of our sons who asked his step-father, a book publisher, "why don't you just publish the ones that are good sellers?" Yup!<BR/><BR/>Love,<BR/><BR/>B in TAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com