**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

pickle

Hi MaryNY, Sorry you have to join the group but you will find a lot of useful information and support here. I knew from my niopsy that I was dealing with multifocal. My breast surgeon didn't give me the option of lumpectomy. He said that mastectomy was the only way for me to go. He said when you have 2 tumors they have to assume there could be more, therefore taking the whole breast was necessary. I don't have any regrets about it and I didn't second guess him. It made sense to me. As it turned out the tumors sizes totalled almost 5 cm. I can't advise you on what route to take as it is a decision that you and your surgeon need to make together. Did you ask her about lumpectomy vs mastectomy in the case of multifocal. Ensuring clean margins is sometimes difficult with multifocal but it probably depends on the tumor sizes. Good luck with your decision and keep us posted. When is your surgery date?

Beth P

MaryNY

Thanks Beth.

My surgery date will probably be in two weeks. The last time I met the breast surgeon was just after I got a depressing MRI report. BS asked me to have MRI just in case there was anything else. She said always best to know as much as possible prior to surgery. I was devastated when the MRI reported four additional suspicious masses. One was right beside the confirmed tumor and so similar in description (spiculated) that they figured high likelihood of malignancy and termed it a "satellite lesion." BS ordered biopsies of the other three suspicious areas. At that time she discussed mastectomy with me. But then the biopsies came back negative. So as far as the MRI is concerned, the cancer is confined to the twin lesions in the upper outer quadrant of my left breast. I now realize that MRIs can give false positives but they can probably give false negatives too. Did you have an MRI prior to surgery or did the two tumors show up on a mammo or ultrasound?

My confirmed tumor and the twin (probable tumor) are very close together -- just 1.5 cm between their centers according to the MRI. Maybe yours were further apart? Apparently two or more tumors in the same quadrant is termed multifocal so in some cases I suppose they could be quite far apart so a lumpectomy might not be feasible.

pickle

Hi MaryNY

i didn't have an MRI but my tumors were too far apart to make lumpectomy feasible and successful. It sounds like yours are close together so lumpectomy may be a viable option. I can't comment on false poitves or negatives with MRI as I am not familiar with it. Keep us posted and come back with any more questions. There are many gals on here that will chime in as well.

Beth P

ccbaby

Thanks for all of the great advice. I called the onc office and talked with his nurse about my swollen glands. She said that since I don't have a sore throat or fever, to just keep my appointments the same and when I go in to see him Monday before my chemo treatment, he will evaluate me then.

PattiB

Hi Mary - I had a 3.3cm tumor and an 8mm satelite tumor beside it.  My surgeon said Lumpectomy was feasible considering breast size and the tumors being next to each other.  I am a C cup.  My MRI came back clear except for the known tumors.  Well wishes and blessings as you make these important choices.  Best wishes to you.

didle20Diane

Mary,  I had an MRI and it showed 3 other spots suspicious which turned out to all be negative so there are definitely false positives.  I wanted the mast either way because of my age and not wanting to go down the same road if I didn't have to.  Too scary for me even though I know I have beaten this beast.

Good luck!

Diane

bwbly

Drat!! Chemo delayed until infections clear up. Saw onc again today and gave away more blood. Got even more antibiotics. Still running afternoon fevers. Feel really good in the mornings, then like a pile of dog doo in the afternoon/evening.

I'm just bitching because I'm tired of feeling bad, I think. See onc again on Tuesday for follow-up and to see if and when we can reschedule chemo. Really sucks that my 1st AC tx did such a job on me. She said I'll get a reduced dose when we start up again, so maybe next time will be better.

Bunny

MaryNY

Hi Patti, Beth and Diane: Thank you for your input. I was really stressed out about making a decision yesterday. Then the BS called this morning and said the PS said that due to the large amount of tissue that would need to be removed in a lumpectomy, in his opinion reconstruction wasn't really feasible esp in view of the fact that a second surgery might be needed if the BS didn't get clear margins.

So I've decided on a mastectomy with reconst both for aesthetic reasons and, more importantly, for peace of mind.  BS said that with a mast, the chance of recurrence would be 1%, whereas with a lumpectomy it would be about 10%.

I feel comfortable having made this decision and having your responses and those of others to my quesions elsewhere, along with reading other people's similar experience all helped me come to this decision.

maryhh11

Hi All!

I am back in action again.  I was sidelined for 3 months due to a chemo related colon infection.  I began chemo again today, switched to TC x 4.  I also go back for a Nuelesta injecttion (I am not sure of the spelling)  tomorrow?  Anyone have any tips for me regarding tomorrow's injection?

My tip for you all - take your temperature regularly!  Call your onc when you have even a slight fever.  I ignored feeling warm and ended up in ICU.

Angels are watching out for us!

pinkdove10

hey guys

I just got the last chemo yesterday and i am feeling grrrrrrrr8. Though the Se are sstill there, they feel minor as compared to my jot.  one step done.  onto the next one it rads

will meet my onco to get details next week and then lets see when it starts.

Luv2sing

Good Morning Everyone!

I think I'm behind again .  Can't sleep, so I'm getting ready for Taxol #4 today.  Thanks for support and encouragement.  Happy Birthday to those I missed!  Good luck and good wishes Francine!  Congratulations to the newest folks finishing up and good (healing) thoughts to those about to start rads.

I finally got photobucket to cooperate, but my hair has grown a little more since the pics were taken.  I probably will take one over the weekend and upload it.  Those of you planning fun for the 4th, be safe and enjoy yourselves!  I'm still fighting SEs and will be begging the doc for something to control the pain other than Ibuprofen (which isn't working).  Took off from work for two days because I couldn't take it anymore and had a family situation to handle as well.  Here's some interesting info ... I gained 12 pounds of fluid over a two week period, I was  miserable, feet were swollen and painful ... blah, blah, blah.  Last Friday, my onc told me to cut off one day of steriods, stay away from sodium, etc, keep my feet elevated as much as possible and increase my water (was already drinking a ton).  From last Friday to this past Monday ... I LOST 10 POUNDS OF FLUID!!!!!!!

Happy to say my feet are as painful, but I have to keep them elevated or they start to swell.  I'm watching every salty or processed thing and sipping on water right now.  Because I was a tad bit stressed this week my glucose levels weren't what they should have been, but I'm working on that too.  I plan on just resting the entire holiday weekend and head back to work on Monday.  I now prop my feet up on a trash can and my CPU at work to keep them from swelling.  Still walking like an old woman, but at least I'm feeling better.

Okay ... here's my last try at posting the hair growth ... this picture was 6/19 during Taxol.  My DH swears my hair will be to my knees at this rate (LOL)!  Everyone have a great day and a wonderful weekend, in case I can't check back in.

buddy1

Maryhh  I am so sorry you had such a hard time.  But I am glad things are better now.  Was your chemo delayed 3 months? due to the infection?  Are tehy makeing any up or do you just start where you left off.  How many treatments had you received before you got your infection?

gymmom8

My calendar now seems filled with appts. 

I had a CT scan on Tuesday at the radiation oncologists and was given temporary marks with sharpies.  They said to not let them wash off and covered them with tape to keep them in place.  I mentioned that I was going on vacation and would be swimming so they have me scheduled for my "tattoos" on the 10^th, just before I go away.  I am taking my kids to visit my sister in Texas for our only vacation of the summer.  The doctor and nurse were so nice about it.  They want me to enjoy myself before radiation begins on the 20^th. 

I also picked up my compression sleeve and glove on Tuesday.  Luckily I'll only have to wear them during exercise and flying.  Unfortunately they gave me the wrong glove.  I let them know it didn't feel right but they had me keep it anyway until I saw my PT the next day.  On Wednesday, the PT confirmed the glove was the wrong compression and she called to get me a different one.  The glove company and the PT's office are in complete opposite directions and not very convenient to get to so I am frustrated about that.  

I saw my oncologist on Thursday.  She knew I have a lot of questions and thought it better to sit down with me then try to email/phone.  I am scheduled for a CT scan with contrast due to findings prior to chemo.  We are hoping chemo zapped them as well.  She also scheduled me for a bone density.  Never had one of those.  I will also go in for more blood work to check my menopausal status and hormonal therapy situation. 

Now I'm going to go back and catch up on my reading!

Cyndi

maidmarion

Hello

Been a while since i posted...I have been reading though..just not enough hours in the day at the mo', back at work now an' all.  

Well four weeks out of my last Chemo and I started Arimidex on Tuesday thinking OK on with the next 5 years! Then yesterday I got a call from my Onc who says that the last blood test taken Monday when I saw her says that my Tumor markers are slightly elevated, which they were before Chemo, and that she wants me to have another PET and CT scans done on areas that were in question before surgery etc, I had a slightly bigger than normal node in the right side of my neck, and a nodule on my adrenal gland which they said was more than likely benign. it totally threw me into panic mode! I hated each procedure the first time round, bit claustrophobic.  Hopefully it won't be anything guess she is just being cautious, so I am going to do some retail therapy with friends today to keep my mind of it!

Happy Fourth to all...I will be at celebrations even though I am a Brit! I will be celebrating my Son's birthday that day.

Julie 

Mom_of_boys

 

Wishing everyone a great 4th!

~Jan~ 

ChrisC433

Doc changed surgery to July 14th.  Said he wanted me to get full benefit of last chemo and wanted time to heal.  If I get surgery too soon the recovery time takes longer??

Also, he changed from lumpectomy with full node dissection to lump. with sent. node mapping. MRI showed no hot spots in nodes now.  He'll check 3 while on table, if positve, take them all.  If negatvie only take about 7-10.  He didn't want to take more than necessary.  I hope he is not being too conservative.

Going to NY to visit son this weekend.  Trying not to worry about it too much.

Hugs to all,

Chris

bethr

HAPPY FOURTH ALL!!!!   Hope yo you all have a great weekend!

7timewinner

Happy 4th, everyone!

Wishing you all healing and peace~

Nadine

pickle

To all my American ladies.....Have a wonderful 4th of July.

Best wishes

Beth P

crusader1

Hi All,

Home from the hospital yesterday. I must say this surgery, my fifth was the hardest of all. I guess cutting in both the front and back makes it harder. I have three drains but  go back to the PS on Monday and hopes he removes at least one. I am very stiff and find it hard to move easily.

Trying to go lightly on the percoset .

A funny story for all my baldy friends. I was standing awaiting assignment to a cubicle for undresssing etc prior to my surgery, wearing a red cap and a sweatsuit when a nurse said can I help you SIR....DDDDDDDDDUHHHHHHHHHHHH

A not so funny story. After the surgery a nurses aide came in to check on my dresssings. I had bandages on both breasts as the surgeon worked on my good breast also. Well this idiot said to me I had done to myself what you had done. I said what was that. She said breast reduction. I said nothing back to her but was so upset. Did she not see my baseball cap on my head. Don't they train these hospital staff.

Another  story  my first   roommate had about fifteen visitors come into our room including three young children. I said to my husband enough get me a new room. The rest of the stay was uneventful.

Today my friends came over with lots of prepared food. Really helps my husband care for me. I hate being dependent.

Thanks everyone for all of your good wishes.

Happy Fourth to All.

Hugs to all,

Francine

pickle

Francine; Glad to hear that you are done your surgery. Too bad you had a few idiot encounters.....we could all write a book on the stupid things people say. Don't go lightly on your percoset .... ride it out in la la land for a few days...lol. Bless your friends for their kindness.

Hope you feel, better soon.

All the best

Beth P

ccbaby

Hi Girls...I go in for my LAST chemo tomorrow morning and I cannot wait!! I am so anxious for the week to be over! Hopefully chemo is the hardest part of this. I will continue with Herceptin til March.  Also, I will start rads in 4 weeks, then finish out my reconstruction. When I had my first chemo-herceptin almost 4 months ago, I thought that would seem like an eternity til now, but it actually went by fast, thank goodness!

Dawnmrn1

Francine!  Welcome back, I hope your pain subsides!  There always are people who put their foot in their mouths! Thankfully, you did notstay in the hospital long!!!!After my Sx I couldn't wait to get out!  And I'm a nurse!!!

CCbaby!  good luck tomorrow, it is much better on the other side!!!!

Hope everyone had a great Fourth!!!!   Dawn

sakura73

Bunny sorry to hear about the chemo delay. How frustrating!

Maryhh welcome back. 

Luv2sing what steroid dose are you on? I have 20mg the night before and 20mg the morning of. I do feel like I suddenly put on weight but I don't think I can blame the steroids. I am hoping the onco will tell me to reduce the dose after tomorrow's taxol #3 as I have (touchwood)  have had no allergic reactions so far. Am finding the hand and foot pain pretty nasty but  your swelling sounds horrible. Take cae of yourself.

maidmarion nice to see you here! Hope the PET and CT scan solve all problems by showing everything is clear.

ChrisC433 if the first 3 nodes are negative why will they take out more? I had a sentinel node biopsy first and 2 weeks later a clearance since my sentinel nodes were positive. If I could have avoided having more nodes out I would have, because the recovery is slower and the lymphoedema risk much higher. I am sure your surgeon has his/her reasons but those nodes do serve a useful function so don't let them go unless you have to!! Just my 2 cents, of course.

 Francine it is good to see you back here. Sorry to hear the nurse was such an idiot. I do think that even in the caring  professions there are lots of people who just don't know what to say to people who are obviously having cancer treatment.

I went bald to the gym for the first time last Friday - the head scarf thing was getting me down because they got so hot and sweaty, and anyway it would have been obvious to everyone why I was wearing one. So bald it was, and it did feel so much nicer (a good thing because  the personal trainer was making me do things that were downright unnatural! I thought I was going to collapse on the cross trainer at one point). I did feel people looking at me and then carefully looking away, if you know what I mean. I went bald in the changerooms too, and apart from one woman who clearly struck up a conversation with me so she could show some support (the conversation wasn't about my baldness, but you know how you can sometimes tell that people are wanting to show their sympathy?) again people looked and then  did not look. It felt okay.

The personal trainer, who is a pert and perky 20 something, said something which I decided to just find endearing. She clearly wanted to say something positive about my being bald (of course she already knew I was, but had only ever seen the scarves till now) and so what she said was "It is so cool that your head is bald because you can see where the sweat  forms on the scalp! When you have hair you can't do that!!". Hmmm. That's what I call reaching for the silver lining.

buddy1

Does anyone have feet and ankle swelling while on taxetere?  I am wondering if thats it, sincs it's been 2 weeks since chemo and I am due again Tue.  The swelling just started today.

ChrisC433

Sakura73, I believe he is thinking that if the first 3 are negative he will only take up to 10 (no more) since I did have a positive node when I had the biopsy back in Feb.  He wants to save as much as he can without putting me at risk for it being in any nodes.  He was taking all of them before I had chemo so this is a plus! Thanks...

Hope everyone had a great fourth.  I went to visit my son in NY.  Actually went shopping with my future DL and found a dress to wear to the wedding.  It was on sale from $290 to $80!!!!  I love it and it looks so classy.  What a bargain...

Hugs to all.  Hope SE's are few, those finishing up - Congrats, those having/recovering from surgery-speedy recovery, and those on to rads....can't wait to catch up!!

Chris

Luv2sing

Crusader1 - So sorry to hear what happened, hope all is better soon.  Some people just don't know what to say regardless of the situation.

Congratulations and good wishes CCBaby!!!

Sakura - For the Taxol tx, I take 20 mg of Decadron and 150 mg of Ranitidine the day of and then 8mg of Decadron for two days after tx .. which are weekly.  Prior to that the dosage was higher during A/C part of the tx.  This doesn't include anything I may get during the actual tx and I have a terrible reaction to the pre-meds.  Since I lost the fluid right after taking her advice, I attribute it to the steriods and some of the processed meat, noodles and sodium that helped to increase my swelling.  I've been following the same advice and the swelling has gone down in my feet and ankles and I'm back to my pre-chemo weight.  However, the pain has not improved and has actually gotten worse.  I'm finding it very difficult to stand for even a short period of time, am getting short of breath quicker and even have pain while sitting.  The worst pain seems to concentrated on my right side, mid-section of my back.  The tingling in hands and feet drives me nuts, the hot flashes are worse and I'm having a harder time smiling when it hurts ... but it could be worse, so I'm going to continue sucking it up and moving forward. 

Buddy1 - I'm on Taxol and "Yes" have the swollen feet and ankles, but keeping them elevated, watching my sodium intake, cutting back the steriods and increasing my water has helped immensely. 

Just popped some pills and getting ready to hit the bed.  My onc did say if the pain pills she currently put me on are not doing the job, she would change the Rx.  I just want the pain to stop.

Healing thoughts and good wishes to all and have a wonderful week!!!!!

Dawnmrn1

Raymon!  I feel so bad about your SE!  You are a smart woman, and you are doing the right thing to control your swelling,hope ypu get the pain under control!! Hugs, Dawn

jdeking

Hi all!

Welcome back maryhh and maidmarion!

Congrats on surgery Francine, hope you are feeling better, and sorry about the idiot encounters!

Rachel - Way to go for working out bald! I am still trying to work up the nerve to go to the gym 'topless' because I agree it is pretty miserable to sweat that much in the buffs/scarves. I really appreciate your story!

Buddy/Raymon - I too am fluid-filled. I saw my onc for follow up on Thurs and had gained 13 lbs in 3 weeks!! All fluid build-up apparently. I have noticed that my legs and arms have been very "puffy" and getting indented very easily. I will follow your advice Raymon and load up on more fluids and cut the sodium. I had developed a bad salt habit with chemo, since that was about the only taste I still had working. I will cut that out now!

Is anyone having the CYP2D6 test for metabolizing Tamoxifen? I asked my onc for it (he said I was the 1st pt ever to ask, and the lab struggled with the orders as they never send that one out). My tumor type is historically slow to respond to tamox, so I figure I would rather know beforehand if I will even get any benefit from it. I am not due to start for about 7 weeks, so hopefully the test results will be in by then.

7timewinner

Buddy~

 Yes, I was on Taxotere and did have some swelling of feet, hands, and overall for the first week or so after a treatment. It usually went away by the next one, though.

Cheers,

Nadine