Starting Chemo October 2009

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Shelby so sorry to hear that you are in the hospital.  I had 7 days of Neupogen shots after each of my 6 chemo treatments.So I have to agree with Michele - those shots were a pain but they really did the trick for me! 

    I'm not watching the game today - going for a mani/pedi with my 16 yo DD. 

    Then I'm going to root around in my closet and try to figure out what clothes I'm taking on vacation with me.  Having just 1 boob really affects warm weather clothing choices!  Some days I feel like I should just empty out my closet and start all over again.

    Did you all have chemo clothes?  I did - bought some loose yoga style pants and loose tops.  I'm sick of them now! Don't want to were my chemo clothes anymore either!

    Maybe I'll just take an empty suitcase and do some major shopping when I'm in California!

    I hope you all enjoy your day!

    Marie

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    yes Marie I bought chemo clothes... as my stomach is usually too bloated for my "pre-cancer" clothing.  I did try to mash in my jeans for awhile in the beginning almost sorry I stopped as I am now up about 12 lbs since this all started.  I look forward to getting back in my old clothes.  I hope it happens ~  I say SHOP in Cali Marie ~  Enjoy your mani/pedi with DD.

    :)

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  • suz45
    suz45 Member Posts: 796
    edited February 2010

    Wow its been a while! I just spent the whole evening reading about 15 pages. So happy to see so many finished there chemo or almost done at least. Its a good feeling to have another step done. Ive had you all in my prayers daily.

    Im almost jealous of you that can have immediate reconstruction or are in hormone therapy..... but then I think again and realize we are all on the same road just taking different journeys.

    I start my rads tomorrow for 28 sessions then I will have a double masectomy on April 14. I am running away with dh to Playa del Carmen for a week in between the two tx. He has found us a really nice 5 star resort to play in and get away from Cancer. Lol, a little hard to do when your bald, puffy (20lbs) and have a sunburn on one side of your upper body. But I will smile and buy a hat with braids already in it.

    But seriously, I had a full body CT scan done after all the chemo and got the results this week. ALL NODES are now clear, I had 2-3 under arm, 2-3 in my neck and 1 mammory that was cancer.

    I cried when I heard this as I thought it had spread. The 8 tumors in my right breast have been "dramatically reduced" and they figure rads will toast the rest. I cant even begin to express the relief I feel. I really thought the cancer won this time..... NOW I KNOW I can beat it again. I think this is why I have not posted so much. I didnt want to bring anything negative here and I thought I was done.... but Im back and have come back spittin.

    So I cant give a proper callout, but will say you are all so strong and incredible! I love you all and send hugs. I believe in hugs. Love Suz

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  • suz45
    suz45 Member Posts: 796
    edited February 2010

    MarieK,

    When are you going? Before or after rads... My biggest concern is covering my radiation burn area and of course the hair issue. My rads will be high (up to the collarbone) so It will be hard to cover.

    As for hair.. I have none still. Last time (07/08) I was wigless by the end of my 15 rads.... Not so much this time.... I wonder if it gets worse the second time around. I still dont have hair and I finished chemo Dec 31,09

    As I gained so much weight Im pushing myself to at least fit a certain size before we go away. I hope 10 pounds will allow me to fit into enough dressy clothing. I dont want to buy anything at this size... then have the masx... buy more... then recon.. buy more. It just gets weird and expensive.

    Love ya all, Suz

    Hugs

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    SUZ ~ this is wonderful news !  I am so glad you are getting away with DH and someplace tropical none the less.  You have reason to celebrate.  You will get to that finish line after your mx and rads, we will be there to cheer you on.  Don't post because you feel negative sometimes we have all been there, and yes some's journeys are surely rougher then others.

    Hugs ~

    Alicia

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  • azdiva
    azdiva Member Posts: 201
    edited February 2010

    Hi Ladies!  Good game, huh?  Although I got really tired and slept through most of the 3d quarter.  Loved the Betty White Snickers commercial . . .  and the house made of beer . . . wish I had consumed some beer!  HAHA Only coffee for me.  Here's the funny picture for the day.  At my sister's house.  Kids, friends, food.  Everyone wants the good seats on the sofa.  But they are taken by me, my 95 year old Grandpa, and my 69 year old Father - all of whom slept through a lot of the game!!  Oh, and by the way, evidently greasy Superbowl food does what no laxative can, and I am somewhat over Chemo Constipation!!  YAY!!

    I have been thinking a lot about where to go from here.  I'm sure that is on everyone's minds now that we are moving to different stages in our treatment.  I am really struggling with the idea of being on more drugs for 5 + years.  Drugs that are going to change the way I live and how I feel.  I am 44 years old and I don't want to live like I'm 80.  But I DO want to live!!  The way I see it, I have a few options (other than the do nothing else, which I've kind of ruled out).  

    (1) Oophorectomy with no other drugs.  My tumor was only 50% ER+, but it was Grade 3.  Supposedly surgery cures us, right?  The rest is insurance?  I had close, but clear margins.

    (2) Oophorectomy with Tamoxifen or Femara.  This scares me because of all of the side effects I've heard about both drugs.  BUT, people are more vocal about complaints than compliments, so maybe I just haven't heard from the many who haven't had the side effects?

    (3)  Tamoxifen plus Lupron.  I guess this gives me an ovary option.  Although, will I ever need/want them again?

    I suppose there are other variations, but you all get the point.   

    What is it that makes us FEEL like ourselves?  Is it estrogen?  I don't want to give up the person I have been, the person I worked really hard to become!! I don't want to live with this weight gain and poor eyesight and non-existent libido and fatigue, etc. etc.  When does it STOP?  5 more years?  And when it does stop will I just be a shell of the person I was last summer before this all started?

    HA!! I bet none of you thought you would get an existential discussion from me so early in the morning!! I think I may start a new post just putting the options out for consideration by the general population.  Maybe the drugs aren't so bad?  Maybe I can try them and just quit if it becomes too much?  Maybe I am just being a BIG BABY and I need to suck it up!!  

    Ah well.  I will sign off for now, and give this some more thought over another cup of joe.  Have a good morning!!

    Love

    Laura 

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Suz45, good to see you back...such great news about your CT scan...I can't wait to get the all clear...until then I guess I live in fear/panic.  But wait if you go away next week won't you miss some of the Olympic mayhem?  Can't blame you for getting out of Dodge.

    Alicia, good luck today...you go girl...can't wait to hear it is over.

    Laura, I am with you on the options thing.  I have a few and am afraid that I will make the wrong one...will post the list later to get some friendly input.

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited February 2010

    Laura, you voiced my thought patterns exactly!  I just don't know what to do.  For a while there, I was just going for the ooph, and be done with it.  But then I asked those same questions you are asking.  This is a tough decision!  I know I'm not having any more kids, so that's not it, but there's much more to it than that!  Then of course you get those other people in your life telling you what to do - like they truly understand!  This is not something I want to figure out at the age of 36!

    Suz, hooray about the CT scan, and have a great time on your vacation!  You deserve it (as do we all!).

    I'm still stuck in the hospital.  WBC is up to .7, but ANC is down to 50.  I don't know how that's possible.  I think they made a mistake myself.  But, the doc hasn't come by yet, and I don't know if he'll let me go home or not.  It's worse because I don't even feel sick any more, yet I'm still in a damn hospital bed because I'm not allowed to walk around the hospital!  I told them I refuse to wear a gown anymore, and I refuse to pee in the little hat that they had in the toilet.  No more for me!  Let me go home!  I'll let you know what happens when the doc gets around to seeing me.  I feel like I'm in solitary confinement.  And hubby is at work, so he's not even here to distract me.  Ugh.

    Hope you all are doing well, and feeling as good as possible.

    Peace to all!!!

    ~Shelby 

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  • suz45
    suz45 Member Posts: 796
    edited February 2010

    Lol, No Michele I will be here till April 3, Im leaving between radiation and surgery. Rads start today and surgery is scheduled April 14. As for the Olympics hmmm Im gonna be pretty psst if I cant get parking at the vancouver cancer agency parkade. I only plan on going toa few free concert events.

    Laura, This is my second round so I can let you know what I chose and how it feels. I was triple neg and had a lumpectomy with 21 node removed... found out after the fact that Im BRCA1 possitive. I did 4Xac then 4X paclitaxol in Dec 07. Then had 15 rads and after that an oopherectomy. Thought I was done with cancer, but not quite.....

    I still get hot flashes but not near as bad as they were at first. On the sex side Ill be honest, I have to really try. Its truly a use it or lose it situation (vibrating sex toys are a lifesaver) tmi, but this came from my cancer sex therapist. Sex was painful as chemo threw me into menopause...dryness was only a part of it, plain and simple it hurt. It was just starting to get better when I got cancer again.

    Well Im done with chemo (again) and am working on the rest. Its easier this time as I know what to expect and how to deal with it. I guess being triple neg and brca1 took a few options out of the mix for me.

    Hugs I hope you find whats right for you, Suz

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    So her are my options for the next five years......

    1. Tamoxifen...with all its SEs...

    2. Tamoxifen plus 'LHRH" injections once a month or every three months....can't find to much on the mystery LHRH injections...

    3. Mystery LHRH injections plus and Aromatase inhibitors...and SEs like hot flashes, muscle or body aches, mild nausea, diarrhea or constipation, feeling of illness, weakness and fatigue, bone thinning...(sounds a lot like chemo all over again, for 5 years)

    Why can't I have the margarita injections and forget this whole thing is happening?

    Any one else have options like mine...

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Marie, your diagnoses is close to mine, what has your doc said about hormonal treatments after?

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010

    Suz45, nice to see you back here again. I heard today that aloe rubbed liberally onto the irradiated area along with corn starch along the fold line under the breasts does wonders to minimize the burning.

    I had my first consultation with a radiation oncologist today. The visit lasted 2.5 hours. They were very thorough in taking my history and reviewing my records. Very efficient and friendly and pleasant too. I go back on Wed of next week for mapping and will have simulation at a later date. I don't have a start date yet, the rad onc said that they usually start 3-4 weeks after end of chemo, and they want to check that blood work is OK first.

    My medical oncologist wants me to start Tamoxifen before radiation. I asked the rad onc about this and she said one issue would be if I have SEs, they won't know whether to blame the Tamoxifen or the rads. She said most people like to do one thing at a time. I would prefer to have rads over before dealing with Tamoxifen . I'll see if I can get medical onc to agree to that.

    Has anyone else here started on Tamoxifen before radiation?

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited February 2010

    HI ALL

    Im starting to come out of the chemo cave SHIT this one hit me really hard  no nausea just everything else starting to feel a bit human now least i went out with a bang 

    .Every one seems to be doing great read the last few days worth of pages all i can recall is sexy cozies great news on mamos and test results  Shelby nearly going to escape from hospital and some are going on holidays this has taken me nearly 30 mins to write oh my son bought a puppy wrottweiler  still no name any suggestions ? he is soo cute ill go now talk tomorrow i should be out of my cave a bit more then luv

    JOJO JUST

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Mary & Michele - I have been prescribed Tamoxifen for the next 5 years.  My radiation onc doesn't want me to take the Tamoxifen while doing radiation and my medical onc says whatever the radiation onc suggests is fine with him. So I won't be starting until after.

    I have a friend that has been on it for the last 3 years and she says that so far she hasn't had any side effects.

    I see my medical onc on Thursday and I'm going to ask him about removing my ovaries and uterus instead of taking Tamoxifen and see what he says.  I'll let you know.

    Marie

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Shelby sorry to hear that you are in hospital - hope you are released soon!

    JoJo good to hear from you.  Just hang on!

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited February 2010

    Hi gals, I made it out of the hospital, hooray!  Doc wanted me to stay an extra day, but my awesome persuasive skills convinced him to let me go.  Thank goodness, I think I would have gone stark raving mad if I had to stay there another day.  Whew!

    Jojo, good to see you, I'm glad the SEs are slowing down a bit for you.

    Michele, have you found out what LHRH is?  Is it the same as Lupron?  I'd love to know, because I could handle that for a while, shots every three months, right?  But if you have to do it along with Tamox...I'd probably rather just do the Tamox.

    Marie, keep us updated on the hormonal thing.  I'm trying to figure it out myself...

    Peace to all! 

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  • njdalex10
    njdalex10 Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2010

    I started my chemo in October.  Am going to have my 7th treatment tomorrow and then in 3 weeks just one more ... after this I go on to surgery and then radiation ...

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Welcome, njdalex to our group...seems like you are almost over the hump...many of us are walking that path with you...keep up the good work.

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited February 2010

    I second the welcome - it is nice to meet you!  We're here cheering you on!

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Suz I'm sending you a PM.  I'll be at the BCA this afternoon for my radiation planning session.  Maybe we will overlap?

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    Njdalex ~ sorry you have to be here, but Welcome.  There is a lovely bunch of ladies here to support you on your journey.  We are in this together, and will come out victorious.

    :)
    Alicia

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  • Hopbird
    Hopbird Member Posts: 387
    edited February 2010

    MARY............PLEASE GIVE ME MY Kiss --I'M DONE, I'M DONE, I'M DONE!!  Well, until I go in next week for my first "hit" of Herceptin without chemo.Wink  That's OK, Herceptin doesn't seem to do anything to me, so in a couple of weeks I should be coming out of the "fog."

    Suz, great news.  Of COURSE you can beat this.  As for clothes, it may not be your normal style, but maybe some nice spa-wear...you know, easy fitting, comfy, and adjustable.  They've really improved the style on some and they don't all look like running suits.  Not my normal thing, but I bought a couple of outfits before chemo, looks nice, fits whether you're up or down a few pounds, and SOOOO comfy! 

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010
    Hopbird Kiss congratulations! Doesn't it feel great to be finished the ol' chemo. After my final treatment last week, even though I had SEs, I was able to float above them because I was so happy to be finished.
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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    HOPBIRD,  Yah you....congrats. for being done...

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  • Hopbird
    Hopbird Member Posts: 387
    edited February 2010

    It DOES feel good.  I'm even coming down with a stinking cold, still in SE fog, and SOOOO happy!  Thanks for celebrating with me!

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited February 2010

    *Does the happy dance with Hopbird*.....

    Hiphip hooray! 

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    WOO hoo Hopbird !!!  SO happy for you ~ YOU did it !!

    :)
    Alicia

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  • Hopbird
    Hopbird Member Posts: 387
    edited February 2010

    Alicia....weren't you supposed to finish yesterday?  And thanks! 

    And Shelby...happy to do that dance with you any time!! 

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  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited February 2010

    Congrats Hopbird!

    Working five hours a day and loving it!

    Simulation for rads on friday w/ a start date 2/22 w/ Arimidex simultaneous

    (am I repeating myself?) (again?)

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    Yes I too AM DONE with chemo !

    :)

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