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Sunday, November, 22, 2009
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Featured ContentPJ Hamel On NPR!

Stage 3 - what should one expect once chemo and radiation therapy is complete?

Stella
Stella
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Stage 3 w/5 nodes removed. Staying positive and very optimistic!

10/17/08
Stella
Topics:After care
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Answers (1)
PJ Hamel
PJ Hamel
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PJ Hamel is happy to be alive. As always.
Author, breast cancer survivor

Writer, mother, wife, volunteer, and survivor: PJ Hamel joins the...

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Hi Stella - What comes next depends on your specific diagnosis. You may take an aromatase inhibitor if your cancer is hormone receptive and you're post-menopausal; or you may take tamoxifen if it's receptive and you're pre-menopausal. If it's HER2-positive, you'll probably take Herceptin. Any of these drugs are taken for years post-treatment, probably 5 years minimum. In addition, expect to see your oncologist and your breast surgeon every 3 months immediately, then every 6 months after that, then once a year, probably for 5 years. You'll have a yearly mammogram if you haven't had a bilateral mastectomy. And during all of this - you gradually recover and start to ger used to "the new normal." Good luck - PJH

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