POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Positive Women => Topic started by: etherize on August 19, 2011, 03:50:57 pm
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Hello all,
I am trying to find out if there are ANY women out there with HIV AND breast cancer. After 16 years living with AIDS (and 29 with HIV!!), I've finally got my T-cells up to 700, and I'm managing OK with all the usual symptoms of brain fog, lipodystrophy, fatigue, diarrhea, etc. Also have some depression/anxiety.
Then two days ago I get a diagnosis of breast cancer. From what I've read, they are unclear as to the link between breast cancer and HIV but at this time don't seem to feel that people with HIV are at any greater risk of breast cancer than HIV-negative folks.
But I am 54, white, post-menopausal, use HRT (vaginally) and I've never been pregnant, etc. So I've got a few risk factors, the most important being age and gender, of course.
I don't know what stage the cancer is yet. But I know that treating cancer will not only be hard in itself, it will make fighting HIV that much harder.
I've always been in the minority in the AIDS community, and now with breast cancer, I'm in the minority again since I also have HIV. I'd love to find just one woman who is dealing with both! ;)
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Etherize, I don't have breast cancer myself. I just wanted to let you know that I am so, so sorry you have another thing to deal with. Please keep posting, and let us know how you're doing. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts, a lot.
Betty
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I don't have any personal experiences to add but I wanted to let you know I will keep you in my thoughts. Stay strong and keep us updated.
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Thank you ladies for replying! I never got an email about replies, so assumed there were none.
I've now had a lumpectomy and am waiting to find out my chemo treatment plan. I'll also have radiation and anti-hormone therapy. Needless to say I'm scared. :(
I have a weird rash on my arm post-surgery and a little bit of pain in my chest, right at thymus-gland location, so I'm wondering if my weakened immune system is just struggling to heal from the surgery or fight something off.
Thanks again for your kind thoughts; they are appreciated. :)
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Hi Etherize,
You and I are close in age and a number of other traits, but I've not experienced breast cancer.
I've had a needle biopsy and a scoop biopsy, a younger sister with in situ ductile "pre-cancer" (which we call cancer -- it is or it isn't) and my aunt succombed to it -- so, I am regular about the mamograms. And, I'm a former smoker, no natural children, etc.
There's got to be someone who's got HIV and breast cancer with whom you can compare notes. Further, there's probably some literature you can draw info from.
I'm sorry I didn't see your thread when you first posted. Reads as if you've got a good attitude and are up to the mental fight involved in therapy. That's a huge ingredient.
Em
Although from 2002, this article may be of interest to you (possibly your doc as well) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12094539