Class of 2010

shopper

thanks linda for your kind words.   i had 2 really awful days.  i live alone so that makes it worse.  finally called a friend to come over because of my severe abdominal cramps.  she brought dulcolax which finally worked in the middle of the nite.  and relief... so i am back to the living today thank God.

LauraM

Teka - yes... just a Typo.  Will go back and read your earlier post.  Thanks!

Teka

LauraM,

OK!

irish47

Hi all,

 good to read the updates from everyone.  Third rads treatment today and so far so good.

Katie, hope you are feeling less frustrated. You should come and teach in Ireland btw, the schools broke up here today for not one but  two weeks holidays!

C.

Teka

shopper,

Pleased to hear that you're feeling better after chemo treatment.

LINDAGARSIDE

Hi Irish...can I ask you after three rad treatments...are you looking pink or red?  Were you somewhat pinkish before it started?  Thanks.

artsymom

The sun is shining here today. Hope everyone sees a little of that warmth today. 

Went to the md and she said my nipple soreness is due to chaffing rather than bacterial infection. Likely because it isn't pointing in the same direction (lol).  Anyone have any creams, etc. that they used to help?

KatieMom

Cora - I would LOVE to teach in Ireland.  Two of our teachers (of 16) will be in Ireland starting tomorrow for the week.  I am so jealous.  

Thank you all for understanding about my complete frustration with  doctors, schedulers and appointments with people who know more than we do.  During the week of Spring Break I have 2 dentist and (I hope) at least one rad onc appt.  I will be happy to have dental work and rads behind me, then I will start worrying about tamox and the next mammo, and every little pain I encounter.  

Katie 

irish47

Hi Linda,

No pink or red, my boob looks exactly like it always looks (well after the surgery that is). I hope you are not worrying about the peau d'orange or whatever its called,I know it is a sign of inflammatory BC but am sure that would have been diagnosed by now? Hate to think that you are fretting.

Katie, would love to know out of interest where in Ireland the two teachers are spending the holiday?

KatieMom

BRCA negative.  I had to pester the doctor for it and they wanted me to come in to get the result.  I told them I would be happy to if it were positive. He assured me I didn't need to come in and it was negative.

Cora - both flying into Dublin, then I don't know, I was too jealous to ask

Katie 

Teka

bertie03,

I hope it went well with breast care nurse. 

retrievermom

I've been on the Feb chemo group posting, and just got caught up here.  Can anyone who has gone from chemo to rads tell me how much down time they had between the two?  Is there a "standard" time before starting rads?  If you went from one to the other, did you feel this recuperative period, however long it was, was appropriate?

My third chemo round went well initially, then downhill.  Now, a week later, I'm more myself.  The last visit with the onc, he repeated his sobering assessment (grade 3, triple neg), which I have not talked with my son about yet.  When I was first dx, my son had a very "they say they can fix it, they will fix it" atttude.  

Met a lady last weekend who was recently dx.  She said her docs told her everything's going to be fine, we'll get you through it, etc.  I asked if she'd read her path report, and she didn't realize she could even get it.  I didn't want to be Debbie Downer, but encouraged her to find out as much as she can.

Just wanted to share one more thing.  My DH and I always get a kick out of my (female) surgeon's name:  Dr Tittensor.  Really!

Teka

retrievermo,

Some doctors are all Gloom and Doom!   All the more reason to think positive about breast cancer treatment.

Pickles

Wow, I've been reading for three hours and it feels like 20 minutes. Thank you for sharing your stories, Time to add one more.

I am 2 1/2 weeks post surgery. Left breast Mastectomy with immediate latismus dorsi flap reconstruction. 3.1 tumor ER/PR - Her2 +++ waiting for word on joining a Clinical Trial for my Chemo treatment. I completely understand the frustration of DRAINS! And being bound up from all the drugs in my system, By the way, Miralax has become a favorite brand!

Sorry there has to be a Class to join, but happy to find you all!



Pickles

bertie03

Hi all agian have got my pathology report and maria my wounderful breast care nurse explained it all to me so i will try to explaine it to you all. Iam stage 11  as some cells were in one lymth node my dcis was measured at 5cms which they are not worried about and the one place that it broke out into my breast was measured as 5mm. They removed all of my lynth nodes under my arm as a precaution and there were 21 but only the sentinal node had some cancer cells in it th rest were clear. There was a 1cm margin with no cancer cells all the way around wich is good . Came back negative for ER & PR but positive for Her2.Am now waiting on an appointment with the oncologist but it is looking like chemo for 3-6months and herceptin for 12months. maria my breast care nurse said that she spoke with my surgeon he he is really positive he got it all but you just  never know do you. So noe i am waiting to find out what sort of chemo i will have.

Irishtess

Count me in!  Got my Dx on St. Patty's Day - what a bummer!  IDC plus IDCS in L breast with cancer cells in lymph nodes.  Surgery on April 14, then chemo, then rad.

Pickles:  I agree totally - didn't sign up for this class, but love the classmates!

Dublin4

1 down and 3 to go...so far so good...just a little off.  Get a SHORt pixie cut on Monday and first fill on Tuesday. YEA!    Good thoughts to my mates! 

Teka

retrievermo,   A puppy does help pass the time while you get through chemo.   I'll need my kitten.

Pickles,   Welcome!

bertie03,  Good News!

Irishtess,   April 14th will come fast, and surgery will start you on the path to happier days.

Dublin4,    Glad to hear that you're doing OK.

artsymom

HI Everyone,

I have had a bad day/night with some swelling.  When does this swelling become a concern?  Any help I would greatly appreciate it.  The swelling is mainly above my incision and into my arm pit.  I had 10 lymph nodes removed besides the lump.  I wore a tighter shirt yesterday and think that may have started it all.

Katie, I am also a teacher.  What grade do you teach?  Are you teaching now?

artsymom

Welcome Pickles!

artsymom

Shopper - How are you doing? 

Teka

Artsymom,

I went back and read your past posts, and unable to find which breast.   You still have drain?     Remember, to prevent (Lymphedema) No blood tests, blood pressure, I.V., or injections into arm on same side of lumpectomy and lymph nodes surgery.   Be very careful lifting.   Take it easy, and rest.   You should never hesitate to call doctor or doctors if you feel there is a problem.   When I had my 2nd chemo port surgery, OR Nurse put a pink Lymphedema bracelet on my arm, and I still had to stop anesthetist from putting blood pressure cuff on wrong arm.   Hospitals!

Teka

hereandnow,  

Hope you're doing OK!

elen

Haven't written for a week or so ..

Got married last Friday .. started chemo three days later.  Spent two days wondering if I could possibly do this to myself on purpose three more times .. but much better today.  Look to the end result I guess .. (Poor Stan spent his honeymoon cleaning carpets, clothes, towels, blankets, bathrooms --- hope the next round of anti-nausea meds work better.)

Re: green hair. That is too funny... when my children were in middle school they had "uniforms" that consisted of tan pants and white or yellow shirts.  The last day of eighth grade, they waited until I left for work and they both wore red shirts -  (along with most of the other eighth graders) and got sent home.  (The next year, the "uniforms" were voted out by school board)

Irish .. I agree ...seeing everybody at different stages makes me believe that this part may be over soon ... makes me think forward to the day .. twelve weeks from now .. when this part will be over and I, too, can be planning for radiation instead of more chemo. (Whoever thought I'd be looking forward to radiation???)

Teka

elen,

What are your chemo medications?   Congratulations!

elle40

Welcome to all the new pink peeps...this forum is great for support and information.

 Just as expected my hair started coming out right around the 13 day post chemo #1 so I decided to have fun with it and gave myself a Mohawk for a few hours then cut it real short. I go for treatment #2 this week and hope to get through similar to the first. I've continued working, been drinking LOTS of water and have been walking or running at least 30 minutes 5 days a week to stay active/energized. I too am focusing on getting through this and realize that very soon will be halfway through the chemo and before I know it, starting radiation.

 (TC X4 every 3 weeks)

lauriez

Hi everyone-I've been following along with everyone's posts/progress. I had a breast MRI on Monday. My surgeon said it looks like there's this "tangly thing" that goes from the mass to another suspicious area which may be DCIS. I am scheduled for a lumpectomy with SNB on 4/2, which she wanted to cancel, until we knew more. Next step, MRI guided biopsy on 3/29/10. Since I was able to schedule and have the MRI biopsy fairly quickly (and should know results the next afternoon), I asked if we could keep the surgery date as planned, for the lumpectomy. If that tangly thing is all cancer, I'll be having a mastectomy instead, which will be scheduled later. I called the "nurse navigator" at the Cancer Pavillion I am going to and asked about post-lumpectomy stuff. She gave me some info (she's awesome, by the way-I feel sooooo lucky to be hooked up with such an awesome staff at the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavillion in Grand Rapids Michigan!). Anyhoo, sounds like it's activity as usual after a lumpectomy and even after an axillary node dissection (which they will do if the test they perform on the sentinel node is positive). So, my friends, who has had a lumpectomy and axilllary node dissection? What was your post-op course like? I'm planning to return to work the following Tuesday, 4/6 if I have this done on 4/2. Is that feasible? BTW, I'm a nurse and work in a cardiac catheterization lab, in prep recovery. I can try to minimize my lifting if needed.

KatieMom

Artsymom - I teach second grade in Los Angeles Unified School District.  I have a great school and good kids, but VERY indulged, wealthy and extremely art centered / alternative lifestyle families.  Makes a different kinda challenge than the downtown schools people think of when they think of LAUSD.  

Laurie - I had a lumpectomy Dec. 11 and then noe biopsy - sentinel and axillary on Jan 29.  I took a week off work with both and honestly didn't need it with the lumpectomy, but the nodes hurt more.  My surgeries were both on Fridays and I think I could have gone back to work uncomfortably  by Wed, but doable.  BTW I am 49 years old and pretty tough, pretty good with pain and certainly not "wussy" about it.  I'm just saying...

Katie 

Teka

elle40,   Any sickness from chemo?

lauriez,   I had lumpectomy and biopsy of 2 sentinel lymph nodes on February 4th, and post-op visit with surgeon on February 11th.   My breast and underarm were numb the 1st week.   Then the feeling came back, and I was glad for pain medication.   You plan to return in less then a week?  

lauriez

Thank you! As this next week unfolds, I will keep that in mind. If I do have the lumpectomy on 4/2, I'll maybe try to trade with someone the next week to work Thursday and Friday Instead of Tuesday.I work 12 hour shifts, that may be something else for me to keep in mind that following week.