Class of 2010

dutchgirl6

Hi peeps, I am no closer to knowing when I start chemo, but my day was not uneventful.  I woke up to red blotchiness around my breasts, basically where my bra touches my skin.  I have been on antibiotics since developing cellulitis after my first surgery, so I figured that it was a yeast infection.  Then, when I got home from work tonight and got changed, I noticed that I was spotty all over, particularly on my left arm.  Off to the walk-in, only to be told that it was an allergic reaction to the antibiotic!  So now I am on antihistamines, hopefully it will clear things up or I will have to go on prednisone, and I don't want that.  If it's not one thing, it's another.

I hope the rest of the class is doing well.  Linda, I hope that you find out soon about your rads, especially since there seems to be a window of opportunity for best results.

Good night all, sweet dreams

Teka

Hi! Lindagarside,

I had My lumpectomy on February 4th, and will soon start with 12 weeks of chemo, then 5 weeks of radiation.   Did a Doctor give You this information about radiation treatment?

KatieMom

Linda - you are making me nervous with the 12 week stat.  I am 11 weeks out now and nowhere near rads.  Time waiting is making me more nervous ( I'm sure none of you know anything about that feeling ).  

Jeannie  (Jakhope) I am worrying about you.  How are you holding up?

Katie 

etk02038

I am 10 weeks out and haven't started yet. I go tomorrow for what I think is the simulation. I hope they start me the following week.

Dutchgirl, I hope your reaction clears up.  

LINDAGARSIDE

Hi everyone.  Both my surgeon and the oncologist and radiologist advised me that it is best to start radiation within 12 weeks of surgery unless you are starting chemo.  Chemo comes first and then radiation (if radiation is still warranted after chemo).  I guess the chemo will find/kill any loose cells initially as it goes all through the body...

Certainly don't accept my understanding as anything gospel here, pink peeps!  OMG...I'm not that clever...honest.   This is just what I've been told.

Katie...if you are going to have chemo...and I think they are not sure for you yet...maybe that is why they are waiting.  You are not at your 12 week mark yet...but certainly like myself are starting to get close.  Probably a good idea to give Dr Next a call and ask for some sort of clear direction because you'll want to start rads pretty quick if chemo is a 'no'....or are they waiting for you to give them your position on this?  I'm sorry, I can't remember...and I've got to fly right now for an appointment...take care everyone...

jakhope

Hello my fellow Peeps, 

I can't believe I have not been on for five days.

 I lost my Mom today at 1:00 PM. I went to her at 6:00 AM this morning and was going to move my Rad treatment to 1:20 and by 12:45 the Hopsice nurse said it would not be long. I asked her to pray with us and I kissed Mom and held her and talked in her ear that I loved her and it was OK to go, and we would be OK and she gently took her last breath. I am so thankful for this as I feel it was the best gift I could ever give back to my mother. I had my last full breast treatment at 3:00 and start my last nine boost treatments tomorrow. My breast is red and itchy but I am moving on.

My Onco Dr told me to cut back on the wine too. I don't start the Arimidex until april. I asked him if I drink will I die with this drug? He said it is the liver he is worried about and medication. I will take my chances on my liver, but I will not give up my wine.At least a glass a night. The size of the glass is another story!

I am tired and ready for sleep. i will try and catch up on the postings I have missed.

Be well my fellow peeps.

G{ Jeannie here

LINDAGARSIDE

GP...you've been missed.  So happy that you were able to give your dear mom some real peace and support as she died in your arms.  What a gift.  I hope I can do the same when it is time for my own dear mother.  You've been an amazing daughter and I'm a strong believer in the after-life.  I am sure your mom is watching over you now...free of pain and proud of her girl.  You rock pinky!

Dublin4

Jeannie,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom. 

Ezscriiibe

 Lindagarside said:  it is the first time since all of this started for me that I actually had a moment of "OMG"...what on earth has happened to me??  Interesting experience.

I know the feeling, Linda. All I can say is, we will adapt. That's just what we do.

Ezscriiibe

Jeannie, you and your  mom are in my heart.

KatieMom

Oh Jeannie - my heart aches for you.  So hard to lose a mom.  I have been thinking about you.  What a lovely last few minutes you had.  I wish I had been there at the moment when my mom "slipped off the raft" (her words).  All my love and prayers for you.

Katie 

KatieMom

Linda - I am waiting on the results of the oncotype.  I did find out that it was approved by the insurance today and will be 2 1/2 weeks before results.  The authorization for the BRCA is still pending.  Oh well.  

Met with the contractors tonight and the new kitchen will be starting construction in the next week or two.  Yahoo!!!!!  I am excited.  It will keep my mind off...  well, just my mind off, I don't even want to hear or think about the words recnac tsaerb. .

Katie 

LINDAGARSIDE

Hi Katie,

If you are 2 1/2 weeks shy of 12 weeks from your surgery...and nobody is yet organizing rads for you (you did have a lumpectomy, didn't you?  If you had a mx then of course you're probably not going to have radiation...but I thought you had a lumpectomy?) I would be on the horn to your oncologist and ask what's up doc?

yahoo on your new kitchen....I myself have some new cupboards that need to be installed...but we're not the carpenter types and so we're waiting for one of the kids to offer to do the work...or a handy friend.  Failing all else, we'll hire someone. LOL.  What are you getting done?  Everything?  cupboards...floor...counters??  That is quite exciting.  We've been in our house for almost 2 years...and it's quite nice but the person who painted our kitchen did a poor job...they put latex over oil paint and so of course it is all peeling off.  Our kitchen is in shades of ivory and salmon pink.  LOL.   My sister from Nova Scotia was out in the summer and she studied my kitchen and advised me to paint it a light grey...to pick up the grey in the slate floor and make a nice contrast for the cupboards.  Problem is, it will take so much work to peel all the new paint off I just can't face it.  I've got the undercoat and the desire...but no energy.  LOL (again).  Are you doing most of the work yourself? 

You want to hear a funny story?  We have two cats and they are getting older...Charlie and Tex.  They are great cats...two brothers who don't look much alike.  My husband is quite close to them...and so am I...but hey...they're CATS.   Anyway the other day, Tex pooped in both of his good shoes (new ones that he got for work).  We figure Tex was trying to give us a message.  I think the message is that he doesn't like the new kitty litter (different brand than usual).  LOL.  It's a good thing Rod checked his shoes before putting them on....ughhhhhhhh!!!   Funny hey? 

etk02038

Jeannie, so sorry about your Mom but glad you were there for her. You are in my thoughts.

Katie, good luck with the construction. We had our kitchen done about a year ago and was so pleased. It will take your mind off other stuff.

Linda, funny about the cat...they do have their way of talking to us.  

irish47

Hi to all,

Jeannie, I am glad that your mother's passing was so peaceful.  You need to mind yourself now and have lots of downtime after the stress of the past few weeks.

Met with the medical oncologist yesterday and no chemo for me!  He said chemo would only give me a 2% increased chance of no re-occurence. But he said the decision was mine; some people say to him that if there is even a 1% decrease in risk they would go for it.  Perhaps if my tumour was a more aggressive grade I would also go for it but I am happy with my decision.  He also prescribed Tamoxifen and very nicely listened to my reservations about it.  He said it would decrease my risk of re-occurence by about 5-7% which is worth thinking about.  He did agree that the side effects are more severe in premenapausal women so we agreed on a plan.  I am to  wait until two weeks after I finish radiotherapy then take it for a month and go back and see him then. 

Meanwhile will have my consult with the radiation doc on Friday and hopefully get started on that soon. BTW Linda, I was told within 12 weeks of surgery the 'optimal' time to have radiotherapy but that a few weeks sooner or later wouldnt make a huge difference. I was 7 weeks post op yesterday.

KatieMom

Linda - funny about the cats.  I don't do cats.  Never really got along with them.  We do have two dogs and my DH is very involved in the world of frisbee dogs.  The kitchen is the whole 9 yards, new cabinets, counters, sink, island with cooktop and built in ovens  The appliances are purchased and sitting on the back porch.  We were going to go with pre-fab cabinets from Lowe's but the construction guy said he could do them much better for less money.  I'll take that!  Going with corian countertops.  We have them now, but we will have new and colorful ones.  It is going to be a huge mess, and I'm sure you ladies will hear me whine, but I can't wait!  

Off to work second graders are learning about fossils...

Katie 

irish47

P.S.  edited my profile and finally got a photo uploaded! (only 3 attempts, my kids would have taken 2 seconds..)

LINDAGARSIDE

Irish!  Great news, re: no chemo.  I made the same choice for similar reasons.  I like the way you describe your oncologist...he sounds quite wise, patient and understanding.  What more could we ask for...besides not having cancer of course. 

I asked again about the radiation and the radiologist said that 12 weeks is considered the optimum time that they would like to start rads but are not overly concerned if it goes a little past that.  My breast surgeon and oncologist indicated a solid "12 weeks" but you are right...there seems to be some wiggle room.  Personally, because I figure these standards have been set as a result of intensive studies...I'd be more comfortable being on this side of the 12 weeks if at all possible!

Katie...your kitchen sounds like a dream!  Did you say "ovenS"...plural?  Who are you?  Betty Crocker or Martha Stewart?  Hey, settle down.  I have a hard time cleaning my one oven on my old stove...in fact I don't even clean it.  I keep buying those foil liners and put them on the bottom so nothing bursts into flames (I've had that happen before).  Don't like cleaning ovens as I hear the fumes from oven cleaners are quite toxic.  Wouldn't want to get cancer, right?  LOL!!! 

KatieMom

Oh, Irish nice to SEE you!  

Yes, Honey, you heard me right, ovenS.  I will have a regular oven and also a convection/ micro  combo all built in.  Refrig is getting its own built in spot and the cooktop has 6, count them, 6, gas burners!!!!  Hanging pot rack, all drawers instead of cupboard on the bottoms.  I agree about cleaning ovens, very toxic...  .

Katie, She Who Loves to Cook! 

Ezscriiibe

Next meeting's at Katie's house!

My daughter would be so envious. She's working on her bachelors in culinary right now. When she was in the cooking phase, we got to have some fabulous "test" meals and desserts!

 

etk02038

Great news, Irish! I have reservations about Tamoxifen also since I have had endometriosis and fibroids. 

Katie...the kitchen sounds wonderful.  

LINDAGARSIDE

I vote for going to Katie's for dinner!  Katie...what's your favourite thing to cook?  Maybe we could all share our very favourite recipee and rate each other's?? I like doing that sort of thing.  My husband is right now re-heating a mango/chicken currie I made the other night...it was pretty good if I must say so myself.  LOL.  But my favourite thing is vietnamese and/or chinese food.

Oh, because I've had a hysterectomy already (had one when I was 31 years old) the specialist was not concerned about uterine cancer and other connected problems that are typically associated with tamoxifen.  Because tamoxifen can actually strengthen your bones...for me it is a good thing because I have frequent falls due to tinnitus/dizziness.  I'm just a lost cause, aren't I?  OMG...I'm ready for the home.

jakhope

Hi to all my Peeps,

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I went today with my son to make the funeral arrangements. I was glad he could come with me. My husband came home tonight too. I am so glad he is home. Tomorrow we have to go and empty Mom's room at the nursing home. She had not been gone an hour when they told me I had a day or two to get every thing out. Big business! I will be glad when tomorrow is done. Mom's funeral will be March 26th when my siblings will be here.

I went for my first boost today and they said sorry, but today is x-rays only. Darn I was put off another day!

katie- your new kitchen sounds wonderful and something to look forward to. Ok, dinner at katie's!

Linda- your dinner mango- chicken currie sounds devine. any more leftovers? 

Irish- congrats on the no chemo!

Good-nite to all you peeps. Have a better day tomorrow than you had today.

GP Jeannie here

KatieMom

I am still finalizing the menu, but I was thinking about pork tenderloin in an apricot glaze with home made applesauce, green beans and salad with home made brownies, ice cream and chocolate sauce for dessert.  I will need to know exact numbers so please RSVP .  I do have THE most elegant pink china, settings for 12.  Can somebody else please bring the appetizers.  Oh, and wine WILL be served.  Well....

elen

KatieMom ... don't suppose you want to send some via fedex to Florida?

Jakhope .. I feel your pain re: the nursing home ... my grandfather died right after Hurricane Ivan when the place didn't even have power or water .. and we had 24 hrs .. 

Heard today that I will definitely have chemo.  There was some doubt as I only had mm in my sentinal and one other .. but will start when the drain comes out from the surgery.

But, here's my question of the day. I have had the drain in for well over two weeks .. the fluid is still coming and coming and coming.  Surgeon says it's "just one of those things" ... anyone else have the experience of the fluid just not seeming to slow down? (He wants it to be below 15cc before he takes out the drain .. I'm running about 55-60 per day)

elen

Re: Cats

I have a cat and my fiance brought a dog home the other day.  The cat has never . and I mean NEVER -- in eight years -- had any interest in a "bed" of her own.  Stan bought a doggie bed for the puppy .. I have not seen that cat anywhere other than that bed, the litter box or the food dish since the puppy came home. She refuses to let the puppy in it .. it's too funny.

jakhope

Hello all-

Mom's stuff has been moved out of the Abbey. I am so glad today is done.

I had my first boost today and have 8 to go. My skin is very toasted and boobie very pink. They drew with a marker the area they will be radiating now. Terry ( my husband ) said it looked like Kazakhstan, which as he explained , is not a small area. Michele- I know you will know what he is talking about!

For any starting radiation, I am sorry if I am repeating myself, but my greatest funny find was when I went to target to get new bras a bigger size, the ones I found were perfect as they were soft, covered a larger part of my skin, that was being radiated,and had a no wire, satin, under support, not realizing until I got home they were nursing bras. Even better, I can open the hook and lather up!

I am back to work tomorrow and Saturday. I told my brother, if nothing changes, we can celebrate the night he gets in on the 23rd.It will be my last treatment day.

Hugs to all and may tomorrow be a better day than today.

GP Jeannie here   

jakhope

Katie, When is our dinner party? What appetizer shall I being? I will bring extra wine just in case.

Ezscriiibe

What would be cool would be for us to all make one dish, or treat, or dessert, and fed ex it to each other. But like I send one to Linda, Linda sends one to Jeannie, Katie sends one to all of us (Just kidding!), Katie sends to Elen, and so on and so on, and then we all plan to do it for the same weekend, and then we all share online how great our meal was!!

Probably a little farfetched and requiring planning and logistical skills that I don't posses!

Oh well.

Elen, I'm sorry that you'll be doing the chemo, but then again, it's really not all that horrible. At least it hasn't been for me or quite a few of the members of the February 2010 chemo group. Granted, there really is no way to tell how the side effects will hit you until you are actually into it, but it is very doable, even the part with the hair loss. I couldn't believe it that I was almost in a panic that the hair was not falling out because I thought, "Oh my god! It's not working!" Then, lo and behold, I walked into my second infusion nekkid headed. Which, as a matter of fact, is not as horrible as I thought it would be either!

Two pieces of good news from this week. My lymph node biopsy was not needed because when they went in to do it (with the ultrasound) they could not find the swollen lymph nodes. So they sent me back to get a CT scan of the area and were going to try to do a CT scan-guided biopsy. But when they did, they discovered the lymph node has shrunk so small it was almost invisible. THAT means it is not due to cancer. So they are going with it was just still swollen from the lumpectomy, which is what I thought it was anyway!

The second good news is that ONE of the 2 lesions that showed up on my liver is, indeed, a cyst. The MRI was able to confirm it.

However, there is a smaller lesion on a liver "lobe" (WTF is that?!) that they cannot confirm is a cyst at all and is still very suspicious to them. 

So I am scheduled for an ultrasound of that area next week. From there they might do a biopsy.

Crazy to be hoping for cysts, eh?

Teka

Ezscriiibe,

Not crazy!