**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Anonymous

I haven't posted in a few weeks as I sort through my mess.  11 days after my surgery I finally got the whole story on my pathology.  It seems that the chemo did not affect my tumor at all.  So after I go in this Thursday for more surgery to clear up my margins, I will do  dose dense Adriamycin X 4 starting August 28.  Crap, just when my hair was really starting to come in!!  I guess that gives me the dubious distinction of being the last March Warrior to finish chemo.

I can't believe I had 4 months of chemo that did nothing.  BUT, at least by having my chemo before surgery, we were able to see that it did not work so we can try something else.  That must be my silver lining !

Dawnmrn1

Deb!  I am so sorry to hear your news! Glad to hear of the silver lining, this may have saved you!  Keep up the good attitude, you are in my prayers! Hugs, Dawn

Dawnmrn1

Deb!  I am so sorry to hear your news! Glad to hear of the silver lining, this may have saved you!  Keep up the good attitude, you are in my prayers! Hugs, Dawn

Dawnmrn1

Sorry for the double post, gotta love the internet!

Anonymous

Dawn :  No problem with the double post, it bears repeating anyways  - thanks.  I have had so many strange twists and turns in my BC journey that I'm beginning to think it must be divine intervention.  I may have to start going to church again.

sakura73

NYDeb I am so sorry to hear i have lost my crown as the last one to finish (due 8 Sept) because it so sucks for you having to go back there again. But as you say, at least now they can target your new chemo more effectively.  I did AC (though not dose dense)  and it was manageable.

I too have had so many strange and terrible and wonderful things happen this year that I suspect the intervention of the divine! I will be remembering you in my prayers.

Alyad

NYDeb, I'm SO sorry that you have to go through chemo again! So Red Devil only huh?  I hope that it will work where the others did not. At least with the dose dense it will be over sooner. We will still be here with you as long as you are going through this!

I start radiation on Monday.

pickle

NYDeb

Deb....so sorry to hear this news. I did AC x 4 and although it wasn't dose dense, I really didn't have a hard time with it. I took the anti nausea meds for 3 days each time. I didn't get sick just slightly nauseous. I didn't get any mouth sores or really anything nasty. Each chemo took a realtively short time compared to some of the other cocktails I've read about. I hope the experience is as uncomplicated as mine was. We will all be with you every step of the way.

Thinking of you and sending big hugs.....you really are a warrior!

Beth P

ccbaby

Deb....I am so sorry that you have to go through this again.....The next go round will definitely do the job. I will be thinking about you.

sakura73

I woke up yesterday with a terrible cold. I think I was getting complacent - on AC I took care to eat well but on Taxol I am just in ordinary habits and I must have got run down. I am an utter snot factory, it is disgusting. 

Rang the onco who is filling in for mine, because (a) I wanted to know whether I can still have chemo tomorrow and (b) I don't want to take my bad cold into a room full of other people with compromised immune systems. He was decidedly unhelpful and did freak me out a bit by asking if I was having chemo for "early stage breast cancer" (I said I think so - no one has ever precisely told me whether it was early or not) and then saying that if so there is a need to press on with treatment. So one week off would seriously affect the prognosis? That makes me feel unhappy. 

My thoughts are with all those recovering from surgery. I have a 5  month check up with the breast surgeon tomorrow. My arm still often feels heavy and tingly, but I am learning to live with it without freaking out that I am getting lymphoedema.

Interesting to hear the different experiences people are having with hair.  My eyelashes are growing fast, thank God. And the hair on arms legs and down below is very fine and pale so far. Meanwhile my head is increasingly fuzzy. My DBF is sad about it - he liked my bald head! But I am so glad to feel hair on my head.

Alyad hope first radiation goes okay. 

pinkdove10

Deb- love yr positive attitude.  A POSITIVE NEGITIVE!!!

I went thru dense Ac and Tax.  It is not bad. Just keep yr +ve attitude and u will sail thru.

Hugs

Uma

bethr

NYDeb - I'm so sorry to hear your news but on the other hand I'm very inspired by your wonderfully positive attitude.  I'm hoping and praying that it all works this time! 

My best to you all for a great week!

Beth

didle20Diane

Deb, I am so sorry you have to go through chemo again.  UGH.   We will be here for you until you finish up. 

hugs

Diane

didle20Diane

dayla, good luck with rads.....may it go by fast!

Anonymous

sakura-  Yea, I reluctantly ask you to relinquish your crown.  I hope you kept it polished for me! My DH likes the brazilian bikini wax anyways.

Dayla - Red devil it is. From what I've read it is a bit tougher, but I'll get through it.  Good luck with your rads.  Everyone says it is a piece of cake compared to chemo.

Beth -  Inspiring?  Not me, this board, all of you women, that's what is inspiring.  So many with young children and situations far worse than mine.  Here's a quote worth repeating.

" Be thankful for what you have in life.  For, if you took a group of people and everyone put all their troubles on the table to exchange.  You would probably take yours back . "

Uma - absolutely, a positive - negative !!

Truly, thanks to everyone for their well wishes

jdeking

Deb - I am sorry about you having to do more chemo, I wish it had done its job the first time! I know you will get through it with flying colors, as you are super strong and positive! At least it is a quick infusion (15 minutes!) and you should tolerate it well.

Rachel - sorry about your cold, that is such a bummer! But bully for you still going to the gym. I have been good about going as well, though I still have not been brave enough to go topless. I do have about 1/4 inch of mostly white hair now. Maybe in another month...

My onc suggested I start a diet. I did so well not gaining weight through chemo, but ballooned after the last treatment. I think I was eating out of relief, and enjoying how things tasted. I put on about 15 pounds in the last 7 weeks. Some of it is probably water weight, as I too have been puffy around the legs/ankles. So I have to do Lasix for a few days to see if that helps.

I asked him about the pregnancy issue - he agreed that I should wait at least 2 years. He saw me get a little teary, and ammended that we'll see how things go.

Dayla - good luck with starting rads today! It has been fairly easy so far (I have done 19 of 34).

kim40

Deb

So sorry to hear the news that you have to do chemo again!  I admire your positive attitude.  We are all here for you.

Dayla - good luck with rads.  It is really easy, just gets a little tiring after a while.  I have one left.

Take care all.

crusader1

Deb,You have great attitude. I am sure this too shall pass quickly. We will all be there cheering for you.

Good Luck..Dayla..From what I have heard after chemo you have been thru rads. are a piece of cake.

Hair is growing slowly.

Hugs to all..

Francine

bethr

Deb...

I love your quote...  And yes, you're still inspiring.... (smile)   We're all right there with you..  Fight the Fight!!!

My rads start August 12th..  I went back to work yesterday.  It was so nice to see everyone again.  

Have a great day all!!!

Beth

sakura73

Janine fertility issues are the ones which always make me cry! I have cried in the fertility doctor's office so many times since this cancer crap started but never yet in the oncologist's office. I know in the grand scheme of life 2 years is not so long, but it feels like an eternity to me. But we'll find a way.

NYDeb my tip for the red devil is to suck on ice through the infusion. As others have said it is only about 15 minutes. I sucked ice like a demon out of hell and I never got mouth sores.

pickle

NYDeb: I put the quote on my fridge today. I love it! 

nasharayne

NYDeb: so sorry you have to do chemo again but, you're right it's good to find out now. Also loved the quote, I'll have to think of it when I get down.

crusader1

Hi All,

So nice to see many back on the board at a time when one of our Princesses  needs us..

What a great group of women..

Hugs to all,

Francine

Dawnmrn1

Hi Friends!  It's so good to hear from all of you!  Hope you are doing well!  I'm 1/3 thru rads, I'm doing well except for pain in my legs and stiffness in my arm!  I guess I'll take it and follow NYDebs quote and be happy I don't have it worse! Have a great summer!  Dawn

pickle

NYDeb: Thinking of you. Good luck tomorrow. Sending positive thoughts for good results and quick recovery.

Hugs

Beth P

reeney77

just got my bloodwork back during my preop for exchange surgery. my platelets and wbc counts are low but not low enough to be of concern. anyone know if this is normal? i'm 9 weeks PFC.

didle20Diane

reeney, my counts are all over the place and I am 11 weeks PFC....I stopped asking about them.  were yours that much lower than the normal range?  I am going to ask at my next visit the end of the month.  I would feel so much better if all looked like it did pre BC.

good luck with your exchange surgery!  I made my first appointment with a plastic surgeon to see what my options are.  I am so sick of doctor appointments as I am sure we all are but I guess I need to get the ball rolling.

hugs

Diane

7timewinner

Aw crap, Deb... I really wish you didn't have to go through chemo again. But we are all right here, still cheering you on!!!

Reeney...good luck with the surgery...let us know how it goes, OK?

13/33 rads done, and making plans now to have ovaries removed laparoscopically (sp??). AND, just had a thyroid biopsy today because an MRI indicated that I may also have thyroid cancer, uggh. But that's an "easy" fix, so no worries if it is.

Hugs to all,

Nadine

pickle

Nadine: 1/3 of your rads done so your on your way to the finish line. Gosh I hope your biopsy comes back B9.

Hugs

Beth

NanaA

I wonder how many doctors they can possibly refer us to.  I got to thinking that since I was diagnosed with bc I have seen a gastro doc, a pulmonary doc, pain management doc, rad onc, medical onc, my pcp, and they have me being scheduled to see an ortho doc.  Also done some PT. Have I missed any departments.  Of course also have had MRIs, CT scans, Echocardiograms The check in ladies on the main floor know me so well they don't even have to check all my info any more.  I will have to see the eye doc when I am finished with rads, because I have the start of cataracts and chemo may have affected them.  I sure am tired of going there every day and sometimes twice a day.  I finished #8 of 37 rads today. I am looking forward to not being recognized a the clinic sometime in the future. With herceptin it may be next spring, although only once every 3 weeks sounds pretty good right now.  I have to admit rads has not been bad so far and the PA in there says with growing up in Phoenix like I did an tanning easily, I probably won't have too much problem with burns.  I am not counting on that because just the time you think you know how something is going to go, you get surprised by something new.

Wishing you all a good day tomorrow with your treatments no matter what they are.  Annette