**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009
Comments
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Hey Everyone!
Francine - the pictures are beautiful!
Dayla: Glad that your surgery went well.
Chris: Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Everyone - Congrats to all who have finished rads and are on the road to healing. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Thank you for your support, encouragement, laughs and insight.
Hugs & Kisses, Raymon
Diagnosis: 1/23/2009, IDC, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 3, 1/7 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- -
Dr Nathan is leaving? I have a follow up appt with him in dec. oh well. I can't say I was that attached to him.
I actually had two surgeries the other day- the revision for the dog ear on my hip - left me with a new incision about 5 inches long- it itches some and now has some bruising, but isn't keeping me from doing anything except laying on my left side. I also had a cholesterol deposit on my eyelid- little unsightly yellowish blob- so I had that removed, hence the steristrip- I just trimmed it down a little- I have one or two stitches- it seems like overkill and is really irritating.
Christy are you going to go with Dr Hoos?
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Hello everyone!
So sorry I have been quiet lately. I needed to step away from the boards for awhile because I was having some really anxious moments after all my treatments ended, and just needed a little break. I hope you all understand. That may sound a little odd, but the real anxiety for me started things wrapped up and I was left to think "what next?" all the time. The worries about recurrences set in quickly.
But I think I have it mostly under control now. I started Arimidex the other day after healing up from an oophorectomy. Bad hot flashes since starting it, but nothing else. Seems tolerable so far.
I also wanted to pop back in to bring a website to everyone's attention: http://www.grassrootshealth.net/#
There has been significant research with very promising findings on the use of D3 in preventing and treating many forms of cancer (along with other diseases such as MS). It's an impressive scientific panel guiding the public information, including the CEO of a comprehensive cancer research hospital in my area of Western New York. Please consider taking a look at the website.
Hugs and warmest wishes to all...especially those still in treatment. My thoughts are with everyone, every day, even if I am not showing up on the board too often
Nadine
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...that's Vitamin D3, sorry for the ambiguity!
Nadine
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Hi all,
Nadine - I can relate complete to your worry about recurrence. I find myself worrying about the same thing at times and am also learning to keep it in check.
Beth - I'm happy to hear about your scan results. Good news!!!
I'm kind of bummed. I was supposed to meet other BC survivors in the DC area for lunch today,but couldn't since I'm getting over a bad cold. Hopefully I can make it the next time... It would have been great!
All - I did the Susan Komen Walk in VA Beach last weekend and am attempting to post some pics. The weather could have been better but I didn't mind. Any day at the beach is a great day for me..
I never posted a picture of myself... This is me and my nephew at my brother's before surgery..
I loved this chair at the walk....
a look at the crowd....
the wonderful view of the beach during the walk
My finish and Neptune at the end of the walk... a GREAT DAY!!!
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Hi,
5TimeWinner- Thks for the link on Vitamin D. My husband and I both take about 2000 units each day. My oncologist also told me that vitamin D could help prevent a recurrence. So why not take it.
I had read the other day on this board about a women who worried for four years about getting s recurrence and forgot to enjoy her years before it did happen. Nadine..live your life to the fullest now and enjoy yourself.
Beth..what great pictures. Looks like a really great event.
Hugs,
Francine
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Hello everyone, It has been awhile since I have been on here. I am doing well and am seeing the last of all the tests they wanted me to do coming up. I have a biopsy of my thyroid tomorrow. On Nov 12 I have a CT scan to make sure the nodules on my lungs have not changed. The bronchoscopy showed the one they biopsied not to be cancer and no cancer cells in the lung wash. As long as these 2 things come back OK (which I have every reason to think they will) I am done except for the herceptin which continues until next Match, Of course I will still have some checkups along the way. Annual physical is due next month. It was annual mammograms that started all of this. I consider myself to be cancer free and hope to be that way forever. If it comes back again then I will just treat the new cancer. I am feeling good except for the bad knee which we are trying a series of 5 shots on to see it can help. I have done 4 and no major decrease in pain yet. I have started femara in the last 6 weeks, so it could contribute to the joint paint in my knee. I can't tell. I am having hot flashes and night sweats all over again. On to a more fun topic. My husband an I are planning a 10 day cruise to the Panama canal, costa rica, Aruba and the Bahama's in March. We will get back just in time for my very last herceptin treatment. It sounds like a good way to celebrate to me. I am glad to see some of you back on here. Hugs Annette
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Hi Pickle - thank you for thinking of me. As a school district employee, I have the summers off. It has been a very busy year and I am on the computer most of the day (I work in the office). I do try to skim through 3 discussion boards that I participate in and do not really respond too often. I do recommend this bc website to any newly dignosed women I hear of, since it really has been a great way to deal with emotion and get information on everything that with our diagnosis. I'm always glad to read your posts. Have a great week. - Patti
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Nana: Good luck with those tests. And....the cruise sounds great. I am planning a cruise in March too. Where are you going out of and what cruiseline?
Hope everyone had a great weekend!!
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Going to say it again... I LOVE it when you gals post pics! The cruises sound wonderful... I've only been on two, but they were both great fun.
As for my own update, I'm busily trying to educate myself on diet, supplements, etc and frequenting the Natural Girls thread. I'm also reading books related to the subject. Other than that, I'm just a'working away and concentrating on growing hair. My youngest plays a college sport out of state, so we've made a few treks to see him. Each day, I feel a bit better... and, for that, I'm grateful.
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Love the pictures!
Dayla hope you are recovering well.
nanaA how did the biopsy go? I have just started taking iodine to make sure my thyroid is working okay.
nadine I too am all about Vitamin D these days. I take 2000 units/day, like Francine.
The other thing I am increasingly all about is natural progesterone. (mom of boys I am haunting the natural girls thread too!) Have been reading the Dr Lee book "what your doctor will not tell you about breast cancer" and can honestly say that I now understand how I got cancer, and how long it must have taken for it to grow. I don't mean that I know why I got it, or that I blame myself, but I can now look back and recognise what was happening in my body was the early signs of my hormones getting out of whack. I had way out heavy periods back in my early 20s and can see that I must have been estrogen dominant even then. Then I went on the pill to control the periods and that would have just reduced my progesterone even more. In the last couple of years I did wonder whether the pill was causing or contributing to things like hair on my face. And all of those things are signs of progesterone deficiency, and without progesterone estrogen can run amok. Which is what happened to me.
So I am now working up the courage (a) to tell my onco that I am definitely NOT going to take Tamoxifen and (b) asking him or my fertility doctor about a prescription for natural progesterone cream. I know they are both going to freak. But I feel good about the Tamoxifen decision. It is such an individual thing and for me it is not the right thing to take. I am sure of it. I am taking I3C instead and with that and the progesterone I am sure I can get as much benefit as Tamox could have given me.
Spring is finally here in Melbourne and today is a beautiful one. I feel happy because I have all these tiny new eyelashes sprouting, and only 8 radiation treatments to go! I have a little aching and itchiness but still no burning. I am really lucky.
Much love to you all.
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The biopsy went OK. Won't have definite results back till next week, but the nodule they worried about with the dark center turned out to be just a cyst with blood on the inside which was giving it the dark look in the middle, so not a problem, they also decided to biopsy one on the other side of the thyroid part of what the radiologist called a goiter to make sure of it also since I was there doing the other one. It was a little painful but not bad. The worst part is I kind of held my neck stiff all day to protect those 2 spots and neck was tight and sore at end of day. I took a pain pill before going to bed and it relaxed and slept well. I think result will be fine.
ChrisC - I think we have decided on a cruise to the Panama Canal on Holland America that leaves on March 5. It goes to the bahamas, aruba, into the panama canal and turns around at the big lake in the middle and comes back out the same side and then goes to Costa Rica on way back . We did a cruise to Hawaii a couple years ago with Holland America and were impressed with the cruise line. With still doing herceptin every 3 weeks the March 5 one fell just right to not have to postpone anything to do it, and the weather for getting to Fort Lauderdale should not be too bad. The cruise line sends us sale notices, so the next time they send us one, we will book for that date. By then I will really be ready for some warm weather. I think Illinois is in for a cold winter.
Sakura only 8 more rads to go. It is wonderful when they are done. I just finished 5 weeks ago. It was alot easier than chemo, but I am glad not to have to go to the clinic every day. Just hang in there and they will be done. You will heal quickly, although you will still get a twinge every now and then to remind you that it is still working and you are still healing inside.
Hugs to all Annette
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Sakura: I am off to buy some Vitamin D as well....
Nana: Glad tests went well...good news for you! I will check into Holland. We've done the East. and West. Caribbean 5 times now, did Bermuda twice. It would be nice to go somewhere different. My DH would love to see Panama Canal. Thanks!
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Good morning my fellow Warriors!
Sorry I haven't posted for a while on this thead. I'm just lurking, not much to say really. I'm glad everyone is doing ok.
Pickle - Glad to hear that you scan came back clean! YAHOO!!
Francine - Your pics of Turkey are beautiful. Looks like you had a fantastic time.
NanaA - I'm on Femara as well. I don't get joint pain, but my legs are a little stiff after sitting for a while. Sometimes I feel like I'm 90 years old. But once I get up and get mobile, the stiffness seems to disappear.
As for whether or not I think I'm cured. All depends on what day you ask me really! Today, no. Yesterday, yes. Even though I'm on Herceptin until July, I am having some very anxious moments. I really thought that they would pass by now. I received a phone call today from my mom who told me that my cousins wife, who have been fighting BC now for the past 5 years, is not doing so well. She has been in the hospital now for the past month. When I was first d/x, she called me and offered so many words of encourgement. Now it is only a matter of time for her. It makes me so sad to hear that she is not doing so well. She has two sons, one is 14 and the other is 5. She was d/x shortly after her youngest was born. I haven't had the courage to go see her. She only lives about 20 minutes away. Now I feel selfish. At the time, my reasoning was because if I saw her, it would only make me depressed and I would come out of there thinking the worst for myself. But stupid me, not thinking that this woman needs support. She needs to know that she is loved and we will help her husband look after her children. How could I have been so selfish!! Now it may be too late.
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Kim,
It is hard facing other women that are in the midst of the battle. You don't want to be reminded that this could be you someday. I do think you will feel so much better if you visit with her and offer support. You know that battle she is fighting. You have inside information! I think you will both benefit from a visit.
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Kim... I'm so very sorry. Life can be very unfair.
Nana... Congrats!
Chris... one of our cruises (to Alaska) was with Holland. They are much more formal and steeped in tradition than others, but we absolutely loved Holland!
Sakura... I haven't told my onc yet about my decision regarding Femara either. After I read my current health book, the next book on my list is Dr. Lee's book.
Vitamin D3... yes, we should all be on this supplement!!!
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Hi,
I am on Arimidex with really a minimal of side effects. I know I am lucky.
Kim it would be nice to see that woman who is in need of support. I can imagine it will be hard on you but very beneficial to her. My 98 year old friend just had a stroke and I will try visit her in the hospital tomorrow in the hospital. I know it will be sad but I think she will appreciate it and I know her family will.
Yes Vitamin D is good for all of us. I take 2000 units each day.
Hugs,
Francine
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Hi,
Been a bottom dweller for about a week. I started my chemo last Thursday, 3 weeks post surgery. The Adriamycin kicked my butt. Mostly, the foobs ache. I went to the PS the day before chemo and mentioned that they were a bit on the huge side. He said they were the same size as before, "D". I told him he must have had beer goggles on that day. He assures me that the swelling will eventually go down. I told him I feel like an engourged breastfeeding mother. He laughs at me a lot.
Beth - so glad your scans came back clear. that must have been such a relief.
Francine - I love the pics of Turkey.So nice that you and your DH enjoy traveling so much.
Kim - It's never too late to lend your support to your cousins wife. I'm sure it would mean the world to her. But mostly, you need to do it for yourself.
Question, does adriamycin always come in a "push". The needle they used was much bigger and for the first time, they blew a vein. I just want to make it through three more, but I'm getting to be such a baby about getting stuck.
I need to get outside and get some fresh air. enjoy your day.
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Hi NYDeb, so sorry to hear that red devil has been having its wicked way with you. I had it through a normal infusion - it was in a black IV drip bag, and went in over 15 minutes or so, but I think from reading the boards that in your part of the world it is pushed by a nurse with a needle rather than just dripped in. Hope you are indeed able to get out and have some fresh air.
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Deb, My red devil came as a push too. Scary watching it go in
Just think 1 down, 3 to go and then PFC membership awaits you!
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Deb, My red devil came as a push too. Scary watching it go in
Just think 1 down, 3 to go and then PFC membership awaits you!
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Deb,
Glad to hear that you are moving on, only three more to go.I know you will make it .
Hope you enjoyed getting some fresh air.
Francine
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Deb, Francine... thought you two might have something to say about the Yankees.
The rest of you... I need reports on how you're doing... don't make me have to find you!
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GO PHILLIES!!! Just had to add that for the PA people!
I feel worse now than with chemo. At least with chemo I knew I had 3-4 bad days and then would feel better. With this Arimidex...it just goes on and on. Every joint I have is stiff and aches. My carpal tunnel is out of control...surgery set for Nov. 20th. I think I have lymphedema under my armpit. Not sure where to move fluid to..nodes under collar bone were zapped to. PT called me last night to see if I wanted to come in again...I think it might be a good idea!
Bone density test done Tues. waiitng for results. Might be getting Zometa.
Just as a side note. I have been in contact with the lady that does trials at my onc's office since June. Left at least 8-10 messages. Talked to nurse, etc. The lady is on maternity leave so they put me through to the director. Guess what...the trial is now closed! I kept saying to move on this so I wouldn't miss the opportunity. Met with onc on Monday and gave him an earful!!!
Done complianing....how is everyone else doing??
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Good Morning Ladies
So nice to see so many checking in.
Kim: So sorry to hear about your cousin's wife. It is not too late to see her....a friendly face and a warm hug will probably do you both a lot of good. I understand the fear you have and you are definitely not being selfish but I would hate to see you regret not going. It would be very reassuring for her to know that there are loved ones around that will look out for her children. Can you find out what her kids favorite meal is. Maybe make a lasagna or something for them for dinner.. Sometimes when we don't know what to do or say...lending a helping hand will be appreciated and it will make you feel good too. Sending big hugs and lots of strength your way.
Deb: You are funny.....I can understand why you have the PS laughing. You have such a great outlook. I got the red devil too. It was pushed. Ask them about a drip....and maybe ask them to slow it down a bit even if they have to push it. So glad you will soon be done.
Rachel: You are almost done....can you believe it! I know it's been a long haul and so glad it is almost over for you. Did you talk to your onc and fertility doctor about you tamoxifen decision. My son is an embriologist at hospital's fertility clinic and they are using tamoxifen for some women as part of the fertility process. I'm not certain why but I thought that was interesting. I have been taking tamoxifen sine July 1 and other than some joint stiffness everything has been good so far. I know that your situation would be different as you are much younger than me and I know you would have done your homework to reach an informed decision. I would be interested to know what the onc and fertility doc say.
Nana: Glad your biopsy went ok and I'm sending prayers and positive thoughts for a B9 result.
Beth R: loved the pics. Thanks for sharing
Nadine: Thanks for the link ....interesting. I understand the need to step away. I think most of us have experienced the recurrence fear....always in the back of my mind but it is getting better each day and for that I am very grateful.Wishing you continued good health,
MOB: What made you decide against Femara? I am also taking 2000iu of vitamin d but I don't think it's D3....what is the difference?
Does anyone know about clinical trials for biophosphinates to prevent bone mets? Is anyone's onc giving them anything for this? I have heard of some gals (stage 2 & 3) getting a drug for prevention but I can't think of the name of it.
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Pickle: I think it is the Zometa trial. I was told that it closed out. BUT if you get a bone density test that shows bone loss, the onc can order it and insurance will pay...
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Chris: Thank you. I had a bone density last month and it was all normal. I think Tamoxifen is supposed to be helpful in preventing bone loss. I am going to look up the reults on the Zometa trial.
Rachel: I e-mailed my son why they use Tamoxifen in fertility treatment and this was his reply:
"It is for Cycle down regulation. We stop the body from making/using the hormones it produces so we can contol their cycle with drugs and tamoxifen is an estrogen inhibitor so it works well"
Anyway I'm not sure that this info is useful to you but I found it interesting that it is being used for other things.
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Pickle... I'm on D3. Not sure what the difference is. I'm just doing what I was told.
Chris... My insurance paid for a Zometa infusion when the onc put me on Femara.
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mob get your licks in while you can on my poor Yankees. Cliff Lee was phenomenal. But, remember, it's still best of 7!!
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How about that... what's his name again... gee, let me think... oh, yea... UTLEY?
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