Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. As a health care provider it's a very good reminder. I am so glad you are ok, your contributions over here in cyberland are very valuable as I'm sure they are IRL❤
Thanks for sharing your experience Paul; I appreciate your willingness to do so, so openly. I liked the way you wrote this piece too, step by step - it helped to bring to life the practical side of your experience.
This was a fantastic article. Among other things, I must applaud you for writing with humor and spunkiness.
The people who treated you sound great.
I was a bit concerned about a few things.
I hope I don't sound like a worry wart. I don't want to upset or excite you. But I want to address a few things -- for your health and to make people stand up and pay attention to public health.
1) You said:
"Test results for the genetic test were late. They arrived after the surgery and showed that I do not have the Genes related to about 30 types of cancer."
I wonder: If the test results had come in sooner, could you have been spared a double mastectomy.
2) They took out the lymph nodes on the affected sign. They always do this. The lymphatic system is a subset of our immune system and infectious matter and cancer cells often go there. Of course, sometimes lymph nodes are "taken over" by infectious matter or cancer cells. I am curious, and you might want to ask them: Did the lymph nodes contain cancer cells. This can give you a sense of how far the cancer had traveled. You may ask them what their examination of the lymph nodes showed.
3) You said you will be on tamoxifan. I have heard of it and am familiar with its use for breast cancer patients
However, you said something that I did not know about tamoxifan: You said it was related to estrogen receptors. Ask them: Could this mess up your hormones, e.g., could this increase estrogen or decrease levels of testosterone. Also: Sometimes, tamoxifan can increase the risk of liver cancer, and I just read that blood tests, to check on the liver, should perhaps be done a little bit more often. EVERY DRUG HAS SIDE EFFECTS.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT PERTAINS TO ALL OF US:
I have read that nowadays there is an increased incidence of
A) brain cancer
B) Testicular cancer
C) colonic cancer in young people
D) low sperm counts
E) Gynecomastia
F) Hypogonadism
G) autism
AND
H) Birth defects of the penis, in particular an increase in a condition in which the piss slit, for the release of urine (and later sperm) is situated at the base of the penis instead of the head of the penis. This will PRECLUDE normal urination and intercourse when the child reaches sexual maturity.
And this brings me to a huge, HUGE HUGE concern of mine: Are we being subjected to more and more environmental toxins and carcinogens that are wrecking havoc on our health.
I read a few articles which suggested that we are being subjected to estrogen poisoning. It's like this:
A) Birth control pills contain estrogen and/or derivatives of estrogen
B) For decades. women have been taking b control pills
C) Women excrete excess estrogen in their urine
D) There is more estrogen in the water supply. I read a study which showed that there is a huge and growing incidence of male fish, in the great lakes, which are becoming sterile and less and less male
Defending the environment is about a lot more than keeping nature looking pretty.
Some plastics are implicated in cancer. Other plastics have attributes similar to female hormones. High levels of female hormones are implicated in breast cancer. Are toxic plastics responsible for more breast cancer in women and men
I wonder: Is breast cancer becoming more prevalent among males.
Thanks for your concern, support and reply, David.
-"I wonder: If the test results had come in sooner, could you have been spared a double mastectomy". I discussed this beforehand with the surgeon, and decided the benefits of removing both breasts would be the choice, in terms of possible future cancer growth and symmetry.
-The lymph nodes that were tested had no cancer in them.
You bring up a lot of points. I'll have to do a little research on my own. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. As a health care provider it's a very good reminder. I am so glad you are ok, your contributions over here in cyberland are very valuable as I'm sure they are IRL❤
Thank you for all your great comments, Donna!
This is very informative for others; a true service. I am glad you had a positive experience and outcome!
Thanks so much, Emma. How are you doing? I still have to read your posts.
Husband had it, now 10 years clean.
Thanks for the comment, Holly! Glad to hear your husband is still healthy!
Thanks for sharing your experience Paul; I appreciate your willingness to do so, so openly. I liked the way you wrote this piece too, step by step - it helped to bring to life the practical side of your experience.
Thank you Rebecca. I wrote this as a kind of public service post. Hoping that guys and gals check themselves, and/or get checked.
I was so lucky that it was early stage! You never know what life has in store, even if you think you are in good shape.
Thank you for sharing Paul! It’s an important story and I’m pleased at the ending. Stay healthy!
Thank you, Kelly. I truly appreciate your comments and support!
A brave revelation, Paul, as well as a cautionary tale. Thank you!
Thanks Brad. Hopefully everybody will do self exams!
Thanks for sharing your story, hope your health remains stable!
Thank you Mark! Yours too!
This was a fantastic article. Among other things, I must applaud you for writing with humor and spunkiness.
The people who treated you sound great.
I was a bit concerned about a few things.
I hope I don't sound like a worry wart. I don't want to upset or excite you. But I want to address a few things -- for your health and to make people stand up and pay attention to public health.
1) You said:
"Test results for the genetic test were late. They arrived after the surgery and showed that I do not have the Genes related to about 30 types of cancer."
I wonder: If the test results had come in sooner, could you have been spared a double mastectomy.
2) They took out the lymph nodes on the affected sign. They always do this. The lymphatic system is a subset of our immune system and infectious matter and cancer cells often go there. Of course, sometimes lymph nodes are "taken over" by infectious matter or cancer cells. I am curious, and you might want to ask them: Did the lymph nodes contain cancer cells. This can give you a sense of how far the cancer had traveled. You may ask them what their examination of the lymph nodes showed.
3) You said you will be on tamoxifan. I have heard of it and am familiar with its use for breast cancer patients
However, you said something that I did not know about tamoxifan: You said it was related to estrogen receptors. Ask them: Could this mess up your hormones, e.g., could this increase estrogen or decrease levels of testosterone. Also: Sometimes, tamoxifan can increase the risk of liver cancer, and I just read that blood tests, to check on the liver, should perhaps be done a little bit more often. EVERY DRUG HAS SIDE EFFECTS.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT PERTAINS TO ALL OF US:
I have read that nowadays there is an increased incidence of
A) brain cancer
B) Testicular cancer
C) colonic cancer in young people
D) low sperm counts
E) Gynecomastia
F) Hypogonadism
G) autism
AND
H) Birth defects of the penis, in particular an increase in a condition in which the piss slit, for the release of urine (and later sperm) is situated at the base of the penis instead of the head of the penis. This will PRECLUDE normal urination and intercourse when the child reaches sexual maturity.
And this brings me to a huge, HUGE HUGE concern of mine: Are we being subjected to more and more environmental toxins and carcinogens that are wrecking havoc on our health.
I read a few articles which suggested that we are being subjected to estrogen poisoning. It's like this:
A) Birth control pills contain estrogen and/or derivatives of estrogen
B) For decades. women have been taking b control pills
C) Women excrete excess estrogen in their urine
D) There is more estrogen in the water supply. I read a study which showed that there is a huge and growing incidence of male fish, in the great lakes, which are becoming sterile and less and less male
Defending the environment is about a lot more than keeping nature looking pretty.
Some plastics are implicated in cancer. Other plastics have attributes similar to female hormones. High levels of female hormones are implicated in breast cancer. Are toxic plastics responsible for more breast cancer in women and men
I wonder: Is breast cancer becoming more prevalent among males.
Thanks for your concern, support and reply, David.
-"I wonder: If the test results had come in sooner, could you have been spared a double mastectomy". I discussed this beforehand with the surgeon, and decided the benefits of removing both breasts would be the choice, in terms of possible future cancer growth and symmetry.
-The lymph nodes that were tested had no cancer in them.
You bring up a lot of points. I'll have to do a little research on my own. Thanks again!
I am so glad that the lymph nodes did not have any cancer cells !!
That's a very good sign. That shows it was CONTAINED.