Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

dlb823

I think I have chemo brain today!  I just for the 2nd time wrote and lost a sizeable post. So, here goes again...

Deen... I am trying to figure out why you are having neo adjuvent chemo when you are scheduled for a bilateral mx and are hormone+/Her2-.  Is it b'cuz you're BRCA positive?  (I'm asking out of curiosity, not based on any medical knowledge.)

As far as the neuropathy, it's a common SE with Taxotere, which is one of the chemo drugs I've been on (TC).  From what I've read here, it seems to be common with the Taxanes or Taxol-derivatives.  Not sure which other ones, but I'm sure you'll get more input from others.

Lisa... I have been thinking about you a lot, and I wanted to ask you if there's any possibility your hubby could talk to a clinical psychologist who deals specifically with bc?  There's just so much fear associated with bc, plus your hubby has just experienced another life-changing event -- the birth of a daughter, which is a huge new responsibility.  I can see how the stresses are mounting on him, and if he possibly doesn't have strong role models to lean on, he would probably really benefit by having someone very experienced with situations like yours to talk to.  I'm guessing your husband is fairly young, and I think even strong, mature men need a lot of extra support in a time like this.  Just something that occured to me as I was thinking about you.  Most larger hospitals with breast centers have someone like that on staff, and if he were maybe to accompany you to an appointment, I think a skilled psychologist would naturally include him in the conversation, draw out his feelings and concerns, and be able to give him some great practical advice to deal with the pressure and fears.  Just an idea...

There's also a book I'm going to check into for you.  Can't think of the name or author at the moment (chemo brain again!), but it was written by a guy for bc husbands, and uses sports lingo to explain a lot of what we're going through.  I haven't read it, but it was highly recommended to me by a psychologist @ UCLA.    

Praying especially for Stacy this a.m, for Jeannine for tomorrow, and for everyone else here...    Deanna

Anonymous

HI ladies.. i know i have been missing in action for a month.. my granny was here and i was trying to enjoy life a little.. but i ended up in the hospital the first part of the month due to a cyst. so i have chemo tomorrow and the week of thanksgiving.. i am so happy to be about done with this whole thing.. i am having both breast removed in jan. my doctor thinks that will give me a better chance.. i wanted both removed anyway.. but i get december to spend time with my family and go home..  wishing all you ladies the best

Roya

Misty, still peach fuzzies here......but soooo glad it's there!! I just keep rubbing it!!!!

Bette, my doc says that the neuropathy is one of the last S/Es to go away and will probably be there for a while after the end of the Taxol txs.  Just know that it WILL go away!!!! Just hang in there!!!!

Stacey & Jeannine, I am praying for you and sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

Lisahugs, praying for sooooo many blessings for you and your baby!!!....and for your quick recovery!!!

g94u67

Hi Friends,

Tomorrow is my lumpectomy surgery and I'm ready!  My surgeon is chief of surgery and operated on me back in 1992 so I'm not nervous.  I have to be there @ 6:00 a.m. tomorrow and DH is taking me. It's outpatient so I should be released tomorrow afternoon.  I'll post as soon as I'm able.

BetteLou:  I thought hard about the lumpectomy vs. mastecomy and both of my Dr's felt my breast could and should be saved. This is a very personal decision but I think had I chosen a mastecomy I would feel really depressed right now. Go with your heart.

Lisa:  I'm STILL praying for you girlie.  You've been on a rough road. Take it one day @ a time.

Thank you Deanna, BetteLou and Misty for your prayers.  You're ALL in mine constantly.

Thinking of you too Stacy for a quick recovery.

Prayers & Hugs everyone,

Jeannine

lisahugs1

Hello Ladies,

Got results from genetic testing. Both genes tested negative,,,which is good. I didn't ask much about this just because I had decided on the double masectomy anyways.

Deen,thankyou. I pray I am always in His will for my life. I know that with pain there is growth,,so of course there's going to be pain in all this. 

I go for a consult to see about what chemo pills I have to go on,,,after rads'???  They scheduled me for an apt. after I wouldn't stop calling with questions LOL.

I WANT MY NEW BOOBS   I think I might not get 3d nipples LOL. Just maybe tattooed ones   This is funny to me,,,but I never liked the darn things poking out anyways LOL

Tonya36

Jeannine...good luck today.  I will be thinking of you.

Stacey...I hope you are doing well after your surgery.  Please let us know how you are.

Lisa...I am so sorry for all you are going through right now.  God is in full control and he will guide you through all this and show you the light at the end of the tunnel.  You and your family will be in my prayers.

Bette...I am sorry you have been sick.  I know it is disheartening to stay home from work but it might just be what your body needs and YOUR HEALTH is more important than anything else right now.  If work cannot understand that then God will open another door for you.  Just take care of you right now.

I know I have been away for awhile.  I have went back to work at least 30 hours a week so that I don't have to cobra my insurance.  By the grace of God this Taxol has been MUCH EASIER than the EC.  I still have some se's but I am not in a major funk and as sick feeling as before.  My Mom has been in the hospital for the past few days.  She lost control of her body and her legs wouldn't hold her up.  Her arm was flailing around like a fish out of water and she couldn't use it.  And she was very confused.  I was at work and sent an ambulance to her and come to find out her blood sugar was 1250.  Nope thats not a typo it was 1250.  I thought everyone in the emergency room was going to pass out.  She has been on insulin by iv and they now have it down to 92 and in check but it has done a number on her body.  She is now having to walk with a walker and she still is somewhat confused.  She may have to go to rehab today.  Anyway she is doing some better.  We are waiting on mri results and I am praying that there is nothing else wrong.  I have her dog and she doesn't really like my dog so its crazy while I am at home.  Just been a mess but luckily I am on the Taxol now instead of the EC so I can handle it.  If this had happened earlier I don't know that I would have had the strength. And I definitely could not have been at the hospital with my low blood counts.  Tell me God doesn't know what he's doing!!!

You all have been on my mind.  I hope you have a good day. 

God Bless,

Tonya

mommy3abm

Hey all!  Surgery went well...outside of a 50 minute delay.  We were at the hospital at 8:30 am had the hook wire at 10:40 and didn't get to surgery until1:15.  Looooonnnngggg day!!  Thanks for the well wishes and prayers.  More later...

Good Luck Jeannie!

Stacy

Roya

Stacy, I am soooooo glad that all went well for you!

Roya

Jeannine, I am thinking positive thoughts and praying for you.

Blessings all

Anonymous

Taxol #2 today. I was surprised, but relieved that they decided to give me chemo despite last week's illness. All my counts were fine. So I am still on schedule to complete chemo on December 3! Now I have to weather the SE's and pray that they are not as bad as last time.

Stacy: I am so happy that this part is over for you, and that it went well.

Hugs to all

Bette 

Misty1

Hey Girls,

Stacy, so glad everything went well.  What is the next step for you?

Bette-you'll be done in less than a month-good for you!!

Lisa, congrats on the negative genetic testing.

Jeannine-waiting to hear how your surgery went!!

I went for my pre-op with my PCP yesterday and had the bloodwork done.  So, now I just wait for the implants exchange in two weeks.  My DH and I are celebrating our 15th anniversary tomorrow, and I have my 41st b'day on Saturday.  41 has got to be better than 40!!!!!!!  Anyway, funny how these special days mean so much more than they use to mean.  No hair yet, but my DH says that what did remain is growing and getting thicker.  Looks like I am going to be wearing this wig for a long time to come!!

Hope everyone is well!!

~misty

dlb823

Tonya...   Good to hear from you and know that you're doing better.  I will add your Mom to my prayer list.  It sounds like you've both been through a lot.

Stacy... So nice to see your post today, and looking forward to hearing more when you're up to it.  Continued prayers for fast healing and a good pathology report!

Jeannine... I know you've been on everyone's mind today.  Hopefully, today's surgery was as smooth as it could be, and your pathology report will indicate clear sailing for you.

Misty... Congratulations on the 15^th anniversary and Happy Birthday!  And I agree with you - special days are all the more special after what we've all been through!

Lashon, Lisa, Bette... So glad that you each had some good news to share.  You've had some extra rough challenges, and I hope some of them are smoothing out for you.    

Thinking of you all, and always appreciating the support we have here...   Deanna

Anonymous

Feeling good so far one day past Taxol # 2. With #! the full SE's hit on days 5-6, so I am cautious.

It feels so strange to be home in the middle of the day! I am concerned about the financial challenges to come, but am confident that God will provide. I turn to His promises in the Bible when a bill arrives and panic sets in. He is certainly working in and changining my life right now.

Tom is off to the doctor with anemia and shortness of breathe. I will stop and pray for him now. I love him so dearly so I am concerned for his health.

Jeanine, Lisa, Lashon, How are you doing?

Blessings to all,

Bette 

g94u67

Hello Friends,

Surgery went well.  And like Stacy it was a long day! My surgeon must have performed 10 surgeries. They got out all the tumor & lymph nodes(saw the films and it shrunk dramatically). They are testing the lymph nodes and now the concern is how many were positive.  I can't worry though. It's in the Lord's hands.

So happy you're doing well Stacy.

Sorry to hear about your mother Tonya.  I'll keep her in prayer.

Thank you all for your wonderful thoughts and prayers.  What would I do without this site?

I'll be off chemo until December (yea! then Taxotere).

Prayers & Hugs everyone,

Jeannine

Roya

Jeannine, I am so glad that your surgery went well.

mommy3abm

Hey girls!  Got a call from my surgeon with the path report from Tuesday's surgery.  It was good.  Tumor had shrunk more than 60%.  There was no lymphatic or vascular involvement with the tumor...YEA!!  Good news, we had figured no lymphatic involvement as my nodes were clear back in July when I had the SNB.  Clear margins too!  Just a tad sore today, but life as "normal".

Good to hear from you Jeannine.  Taking a shower today was awesome!!!  Oh, the simple pleasures.

Special Prayers to you Bette, Lisa, LaShon.

Misty - will be thinking about you and your new boobs!!  One of mine looks kind of silly right now after the lumpectomy.  Flat on top regular on the bottom.  Oh well!  I am happy to be fighting it off!

Roya - hugs to you.  Sounds like you are doing better.  How is the fatigue?

Alibug - looks like I will be joining you in about 3 weeks for rads.

Hi Deanna!  Hope all is well with you and your family.

Hugs to you Tonya.

Blessings to all!

Stacy

Anonymous

I had 2 scans yesterday that showed improvement!!  I just spoke to the nurse, she said the cancerous activity is still there, and it is still stage IV, however it is getting better.  The scan in June showed 3 definite lesions on my liver, but they can see only 1 spot now... I was hoping for none, but hey... 1 is better than 3.  The breast and lymph areas are still active too, but we knew already that they had shrinkage.  The scan also showed some bone activity (which I did not have before) but they do not think it is cancerous.  So they are not going to do a bone scan, she said it's just not necessary, they know what it is.  I was concerned about bone pain, but she said that too is the Neulasta, so I'm not going to worry about the bone issue.  I had the results sent to my specialist in BR also, and will be speaking to him within the next few days, hopefully he feels the same.  I have treatment 5 next week, I'm past my halfway point!! 

Good luck to everyone with each step you are taking!  My prayers are with you!

Roya

Great news Stacy!!!!!!What a Blessing!!!!!

Chelli, congratulations on being halfway done with  your Chemo!!  and thank goodness that there is improvement!!!!

Happy birthday to you, Misty!.

lisahugs1

Not so good today. The pain where the tubes were removed has been alot today. I pray there is no extra fluid in there anywhere.   I've got alot of anxiety about my husband and this pain.  I took 2 pain pills which has not helped the anxiety or the pain??? I will be monitoring my temp.

Anyways,,,I am soooo proud of everyone for doing life on lifes terms. I feel for everyone going thru more than just this.  I will be happy when this is in the past and I just have the scars and new boobs as evidence.

Again....today not such a good day. Sorry to be such a poop   Your all great

Misty1

Stacy-Great news!!  So glad to hear about the good results.  Continue to recover this weekend.

Jeannine-Glad your surgery went well, too.  Hoping for a low number of nodes!!

Lisa-sounds like you have had a rough time.  Hope your pain gets better soon.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

~Misty

TXBadboob

Hi, everyone

    Deanna- yes, I am BRCA+, unfortunately, but I had already decided to have a full masectomy because lobular carcinoma tends to be bilateral, and I don't want to go through this again.  My tumor grew so big so fast that they were concerned about it spreading, but the surgeon took fluid from a node and it was negative, and my PET scan didn't show anything in other parts, thank God.  I'm getting an ultrasound today to see how much it has shrunk.  I can tell it has, though.:)  Then I have a week and a half w/o chemo, yeah!  Thanks for the info about the neuropathy, I hope mine goes away soon.  I notice you don't talk a lot about what's going on with you, but I pray for you and again thanks for being here.

  Stacy and Jeannine- congrats on your successful surgery

  Lisa- hope everything goes better for you, it's hard sometimes, I know, and family doesn't always cooperate like we wish they would. 

  We put my mom in a nursing home Tues and Tues night she had a stroke.  I have been having to go to the ER and hospital a lot so I hope I don't catch anything.  My mom is paralyzed and it's heartbreaking to know she can't communicate and wants to so bad.  She's only 66 and has terrible health problems.  I wonder why God puts all this stuff on us at the same time, but He's always there for us and keeps us strong.  My family has really stepped up more than usual and it means a lot to me.

  Bette- Still praying for you, hope Tom is fine.

  Roya- I can't wait for the peach fuzz!  But it is nice not to have to shave my legs and underarms:)

  Chelli- Getting better all the time!  Keep goin"!

  Wishing the best for everyone!  Deen

Anonymous

Tom's ECG was slightly abnormal, so he has to get a stress test and wear a halter monitor. His blood pressure was high too. Keep praying for this man who is the love f my life.

On the good side, he doesn't have to work today and is coming to see me. It's been a week since we kissed good-bye, so I am awaiting his call.

I am much stronger after a week off work, but I got my last paycheck today and it was much less than usual having only worked 6 days this pay period. Things are going to be lean, but the Lord provides. All I needed for today was food, and a lady from church just dropped off a bag with dinner and some groceries. So my needs for today are met, and for that I am thankful.

Bette 

dlb823

Hi, all ~  Stacy & Jeannine... Hope you are both feeling better today.  I know how surprisingly bruised you can be in the first week, but it must be absolutely great to have your surgeries behind you!

I was at UCLA with my DH yesterday, meeting with my PS and also the head of UCLA's rads dept.  Rads are still a big question in my mind -- not "standard of care" for my situation, but, recommended by a small percentage of institutions/docs, like ULCA, which take a more aggressive approach.  My DH is very much against my doing rads, as are some others in my family with advanced knowledge in that area.  To make matters a bit more complicated, even though the local rad onc wanted me to get my Stage 2 Diep flap surgery completed before rads (which I'll do locally vs. UCLA which is 3 hrs. away), my PS yesterday said, no -- he wants me to finish rads first, and was going to call the local rad onc to discuss.  So, just a lot of info' and opinions to sort through, and try to decide what's best for me.

Chelli... So happy to hear that some of your liver lesions seem to have disappeared!  That's great news!!

Lisa... So sorry you're having pain. A mast is a rough thing to go through, no matter what else is going on.  Just know that I and many others here are very concerned about you and lifting you up in prayer. 

By the way, for Chelli, Lisa, Deen, and anyone else who may have joined recently or missed it earlier, I have a list of about a dozen names & addresses for many of us on this board.  If you would like to PM me yours, I will be happy to add it, as well as send you the original list.  Absolutely not required, but nice to have for notes and cards outside of this board, if you're interested.  Phone # and/or email address is optional. 

Continue to take good care everyone... And if anyone has any great insight into the benefits vs. potential side effects of rads, or knows of studies that actually give some hard statistics, I'm all ears.  Of course, I will read some of the rad threads on this site to see what I can find.

Deanna

alibug05

25 more rad sessions to go!!!!! Yep I have the countdown on!!!!!!  Still don't feel any different so I hope that keeps up!!!!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!  Loves to all..............

Misty1

Alibug-good for you-sounds like you are breezing through the rads!!

I met my good friend for lunch today.  She bought me a beautiful gift for my b'day-a pink canvas bag filled with 40 pink tulip bulbs.  I came home and planted them around two of my trees.  I saved six-one to give to my mom, sister, brother, and my three best friends.  I will tell each of them to plant this to remind them each spring of the incredible support they have been giving me!!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

~Misty

Misty1

Bumping us up!

Corinne6

Hi everyone, it has been a while since I was on here. I have just been so nauseated from all the chemo. It lasted for 2 weeks. nothing seemed to help. I am better as of yesterday. Ugh!!! I cannot wait for this to be over. My next is a week from Mon on the 17th. Anyhow, I continue to pray for each and everyone of you even in sickness. Has anyone heard from Kimberlynn? My heart just goes out to her and the loss of her son. Can you imagine going through all what we are going through and loosing a child. That would be so hard.

Chelli: When I first started out with all this I was told that the bone scan showed an area of "concern" I then followed up with a PET scan and it showed nothing. Sometimes bone scans can pick up arthritis so don't let the bone thing scare you, yet.

Stacey and Jeannine: Congrats from me too. I hope and pray your recovery is so fast.

BetteLou: how is Tom feeling now? any news?

Misty: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

We found a new horse and hopefully will be delivered the end of the week. BEFORE my next chemo!!! It is great therapy for me and the kids to ride. Was truely a great loss to our family when we had to put our horse down.

Looking up to the Lord for encouragement and strength.

Wishing you the best week for all of you

- Corinne

DesertRider

Hi Corinne, I'm really feeling for you in lots of ways. First - I've had horrible times with headaches & nausea after each treatment. Only thing that helped  - a little - was being outside - preferable watching my horse graze at the stable. But most days I couldn't even stand being in the car to get there. I was so sad to hear of your horse and am happy a new one is on the way. Our DX is similar - did you get TC chemo?

Jeannine and Stacey - thinking good thoughts about both of you as you rest & recovery gently. Take care of yourselves.

Misty - your tulips sound beautiful and gave me a good idea for several dear friends who've been there for me.  

A good week to all,

Gail 

Hood1980

Happy Belated Birthday Misty!  Deanna-It sounds like  you have one of those gray areas to decide upon - to do rads or not - no correct answer.  I will pray that the Lord will lead you in the right direction!  I'm sure He will be there for you!  God Bless!

lisahugs1

Hello ladies,

my mother in law has been here the past 3 days. Its been wonderful. I have actually gotten to just sleep.  I haven't had this since before baby was born (over 3 months ago).  Thankyou Jesus.  God IS good.

Anyways,,,things are calm.  I am dedicated to move as soon as my treatment is done.  I want to go by my mom now for sure (had been considering for yrs).  But now I really think its important,,,especially now because I find it hard to trust my husband.

Anyways,,,thankyou Deanna.  Still pushing along...

Please pray I can get these new boobs right after rads.....:)