Class of 2010

etk02038

#7 down for me..so far so good but getting red. The nurse gave me some cream. No pain or burning feeling though. Tired but it could be this dreary weather all I want to do is sleep.

Retreivermom...I walk dogs for my job and the retrievers are always my favorites. They are such happy guys.

Off to help Dad take care of Mom tonight a 50 minute drive each way then bed! 

sumby

Hi ladies, I have been on this forum for a while but this is my first time on this particular topic ''class of 2010'' and i feel i need to update you on my progress.

I had an ultra sound guided biopsy on 26/12/2009 and the result came out as suspicious. It was advised that i should have a lumpectomy done to confirm the initial form. I therefore underwent a surgery to remove the lump on 04/01/2010 (3 days before my 27th birthday!) the result came out on 16/01/2010 and it was confirmed that I had IDC grade III.

My story/treatment got a bit complicated after that. I'm a Nigerian and my surgeon was of the opinion that it would be better to seek treatment abroad as my condition is rare for people my age and my country isn't that advanced in the treatment of breast cancer...and so my WAIT began...

I spent abt 2months trying to get a referral to a doctor in the UK/Get a UK visa/Make some initial payments and all(You really don't want to know how much it costs to treat BC esp if u r a self paying patient, i almost envy u guys on insurance!) and the wait was the worst time of my life.

I had one round of chemotherapy (CAF regimen) done in the interim..... felt a bit of the SE of chemo(nauseousness and fatigue) and cut my hair in fear of it falling off.

I finally got to the UK 19/03/2010(Thank God!). I had series of tests done (ultrasound, mammography,MRI and CT) all in about a week. Then the result came out and they found another lump in the same breast so it was advised i had a MX.

I had my surgery yesterday 30/03/2010 (left breast MX and Axillary node clearance)...waiting for the pathology report to be out, i'm really hopeful for clear margins and clean lymph nodes....i'm also still awaiting the ER/PR and HER2 results.

It has been quite a long journey though i know it's a long road ahead but I'm happy for the progress I've been able to make in the last two weeks and for the 3 F's(Family, Friends and this Forum).

This is a short update of my cancer story...will let u know about developments

Teka

sumby,

Welcome!

Pickles

Irish and all of you in treatment- Your strength is inspiring! Peace and Healing thoughts to you all!

artsymom

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for the words of wisdom.  I am getting an ice pack as soon as I get off of here Linda! I didn't know about that at all and seems common sense but I think that flew out the window with a few other things lately, lol!

Dutchgirl6 and Elen thank you for your words of encouragement too regarding healing time. I try to push it away and get my mind off of it but sometimes it hits like a tidal wave.  

I am so glad to hear Irish that you have no SE's!  Encouragement for everyone with upcoming chemo.  

I have found that 5 mins on my exercise bike is almost better than pain medication but not quite as convenient.

I am so grateful to hear from everyone on this site and am in awe of the strength of the Peeps. I'm not sure Linda what Peeps means either???

Elen you are very right about this not fitting my schedule. After being a teacher for 20 years and living a life with bells and strict schedules for some reason I thought I was going to be able to schedule everything that happens.

Teka - Sketchy and I had a great snuggle this afternoon and a car ride in the sun. He is such great company. 

Have a great evening or morning wherever you may be. 

Teka

artsymom,

Sketchy is a good buddy!

LINDAGARSIDE

Sumby...welcome to our army.  We are all strong fighters and we all share our strength with each other...and I can see you already have demonstrated a lot of strength and courage in your personal fight.  Let's hope your burden feels a bit lighter for joining our ranks.

You make me realize how lucky we are to have insurance.  Yes, we pay our premiums through our tax system but it is a small price to pay and I for one do not complain about our health system.  It is working very well for me, that is for sure.

Artsymom...PEEPS...LOL...it stands for "people"...ha ha.  I didn't know that either.  I had to be told.  So, we're all on different places on this learning curve.  I'm on such a steep curve I fall off from time to time.

I will have a radiation treatment tomorrow and then no more until Tuesday due to the Easter long weekend.  I was told today that they make "allowance" for the absence (not sure how)...so I will trust that is what is/has been happening for me.  No real side effects yet...or at least none to speak of really.  I meet with the Dr tomoorrow and will be asking about the peau d'orange comments on my reports.

 OK everyone...over and out for now.  Rest well my pink peeps!!

Dublin4

hello...go this morning to get my blood work checked to see if I am bouncing back OK from round #1.  I still feel pretty good.  Have a little fluid build up on the left TE and they tell me that is totally normal and my body will learn to readjust.  It is better this morning then yesterday so maybe they are correct.  Got the pixie hair cut yesterday and my sons hair is now officially longer then mine.  Hate the wig.  Love my baseball hats with pony tail that my neighbors sister in NJ got me.  She owns a specialty shop for cancer patients .  So I am sure that will be my go to hat once the hair comes off and until it comes back.  Can't wait for the end of May to be done with this part!!!!

Best to all!

lauriez

Hi everyone. I've been following along all of your posts several times a day. This sight is helping me so much! I have wonderful co-workers, family, and a few friends (those are coming out of the wood-work , however, it is not the same as you lovely ladies. I have lots more to say on that subject (reactions etc of those who now "know") but I'll leave that to a later time! I haven't been able to post many responses to you gals, still getting to know who is who. I keep forgeting who has what even though it's posted in the signature line. Can you have "chemo brain" before you even chemotherapy? A better name for it I guess is "I recently found out I have cancer brain".

Finally got results from my MRI guided biopsy on Monday. Looks like it's going to be a mastectomy for this girl. The two other areas are 1.3cm and 9mm. My surgeon said both are DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), but there is a microcellular invasion outside of the duct in one of these sites. That's a little confusing....If there is cancer outside of the duct, I thought that means it is IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma). The two sites in addition to the original mass (4.7 cm) are too far apart to do a lumpectomy. So anyway, the good news is she said this will not really have any implication on my life expectancy, but unfortunately does have implications for my breast. It "gotsta go" (my words of course, not hers:) Now, reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy or later. Decisions, decisions. I'm not sure what I want to do and I need more information. I have an appointment with her today at 11am. Hopefully with the information I get from the Dr., in addition to what I've read (Dr. Love's Breast Book) will allow me to make an informed decision. She said that if I want to wait for reconstruction, I can still have the mastectomy on Friday, April 2 (was scheduled for a lumpectomy on that day). WHOAH! Too fast for me to decide, although I am very anxious to know my lymph node status.

I didn't cry today at the news. I'm glad I kind of had a heads up that it was looking like I would need a mastectomy. Better than a huge shock. I don't think it has sunk in though.

I hope no one takes offense to my posts by interpretting them as "flippant". That's just me-sick sense of humor, it gets me through tough things. If anyone has any advise for me regarding reconstruction now vs later, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

etk02038

Hi Sumby and welcome...I can't imagine having to pay for treatment along with all the usual stress of having cancer. Good luck with your path results, I hope you don't have to wait too long...to me that was always the worst part.

lauriez...That's my understanding also if there was anything outside the duct it would be IDC. Although I have isolated tumor cells in the sentinal nodes and they consider that negative. Maybe it's just too small to be considered true cancer cells or they are outside the duct but atypical and not cancer? I would try to get a better understanding from your Doc. 

KatieMom

Welcome Sumby.  I promise to never complain about my insurance company again.  I have been known to whine quite loudly about the waiting time for authorizations etc.  No more.  You are in my thoughts, Sumby.

I finally go for my simulation today.  Don't know when I will actually start with rads, Monday? I am winding up the last couple of days of spring break here.  I got a lot done on the parents' house and am now making cute Easter cupcakes for the kindergarten party tomorrow.  I am so domestic!!  

Hope you are all weathering it.  Just keep swimming just keep swimming... 

Lynbob

Thinking of you today Perky {{hugs}} Hoping you are doing well after surgery. I was a double D and the night before my surgery I bundled up all the bra's and took them to Goodwill

Elen, I think it is amazing the reaction a BC diagnosis will bring out from family and friends. It is tough. And since my mastectomy people think the cancer is all behind you and you are fine, like nothing every happened! What??  

Dublin, good luck on your fills. Depending on how much and how my muscles reacted I would use a heat pad on my back/shoulder blades and ice on the front/incision area. Ibuprofen was my friend and if that didn't get I would go back to the pain pills from my BS. 

Welcome to the group Sumby {{hugs}} The admittance stinks but friendship and support here rocks!

Prayers and hugs for all who are doing rads and chemo. {{hugs}}

Teka

I am now 8 weeks Post-Op, and had #1 AC dose dense with B or P by way of chemo port.   Take care all!

artsymom

Hi Lauriez, I totally get the 'brain on pause' thing. My kids always call it Dori brain, from Finding Nemo, and last night Katie Mom, my daughter started singing, 'Just keep swimming" to me while we were making supper and I was feeling less than good.  That is a super movie for many reasons. I think of those good years when the kids were little and we always watched every new animated movie. 

Linda, you are so right sometimes the learning curve makes a left turn and I'm turning right.  I will never look at the Easter Peeps the same way again!

I hear what everyone says about people's reactions to the cancer. Now that I've had the lumpectomy many people think my "stuff" is over. lol Not quite but then maybe their learning curve is quite a bit steeper.  I am finding that there are those that run the other direction and those that embrace what I have with open arms.  Stopped in at work yesterday cause I just miss those kids so much and one of the teachers literally ducked into another classroom leaving me alone in a dark hallway.  I felt like yelling down the hallway, "don't worry you won't catch it I'm not contagious." but then I remember how I felt awkward around people with cancer too.  The unfortunate side is that cancer is becoming so prevalent that more and more people are gaining a frame of reference from it than in the past.  In our small town of 10,000 and our small local school chapter there have been 4 female teachers diagnosed with bc over the last 4 years. I know the numbers are too high in all walks of life and all types of cancer. I really think there are less and less families being affected directly by this disease. However we'll just have to develop mob mentality to fight that dragon and the energy of that force is ever evident on this site.  Thank God for the internet, thank God for bc.org and thank God for our Peeps!

May everyone have a wonderful Easter/Spring break! 

elle40

Sumby - Welcome and bless you. This is a challenge on its own and even more so with no insurance and having to travel.

Lauriez - Anxious to hear your comments/reaction from those who now "know"...there are always a few entertaining comments and I have received several myself but it makes me much more cognizant of how I react and what I say to others in certain situations when you don't always "know".

 TX #2 went well yesterday with a little swelling in my arm/hand from fluids last night; back to the night quite "normal" feeling due to all the meds but not too bad and definitely doable; nuelasta shot today and so far, so good.

Happy Easter Pink Peeps!

cathyqk

Hi all-

Sumby-- welcome from me also.. your story really touched me. What a tough road to travel.. Hang in there sister I think you did the right thing getting UK medial help and you will be fine. Financially maybe not..  And I hope you can get help with that.. There's no justice in having to worry about money in situations like this.. But don't get me up on my soap box!!

 KatieMom- well done on your spring break progress and good luck with the radiation stuff!

I visited with my onco today and was told I start chemo next week! I sad NO! my Mom visiting from ireland and myself have fun to be having.. and so I got a stay until April 16th.   So Mom and I and my son are taking a road trip to San diego and Palm Springs.. play some golf and do some lollygagging. before the treatments start.  There are 6 treatments one every 3 weeks.. thats 18 weeks.. and so I'll be done in August / SEP!! That sounds like forever!! 

My friend and hairdresser is ready for me though,, when the hair goes, wig will already be on hand..

Wow. Another wild step on this road. With amazing friends in my surrounds and also here online..  I will make it!

You ladies all have a wonderful Easter! 

Dublin4

went to the doc(s) yesterday.  Onc doc said my wbc are low but while within the normal range.  So I guess I am doing OK.  We talked about my se's or major lack off and he said everyone is effected and reacts differently.  He told me that I should expect the same type of reaction each time with some small changes.  I thought it got worse each time?  any feed back on that one?

Went to PS who drained off a little fluid and explained that is very very common.  He said that the sometimes the TE and the muscle have not closed totally and a small pocket forms holding fluid.  It will resolve itself.  breast health nurse said same thing...OK....lets hope....anyone else had that or experienced it?    Happy Easter to all....

Teka

Dublin4,

I hope your Doctor is 100% right about you having the same type of reaction each time with some small changes.   Less is better!

Dublin4

Me too.   That is not what I been reading, but I had a very uneventful first round.  He said that my fatigue would increase but did not think the other side effects would be bad.   I REALLY hope he is right.  I am feeling good right now.  Not holding any fluid any longer and blister on toe almost healed so I can resume walking again.  

Pickles

Happy Easter!



Cathyqk- sounds like we'll be starting Chemo around the same time, good for you to get some quality time in with your Mom before you get started.



Dublin- you are keeping my anxiety at bay...I know people react differently to Chemo but it is good to hear your SE's are manageable! I just had my drains out last tuesday, I have a little fluid building up towards my back will let you know what my PS says Tuesday.



Hope we all get to enjoy some sunshine this weekend!

artsymom

Hi Pickles

I too had the fluid build up around the drain.  Did your side feel like a water blister, all pins and needles?  I tried 5 mins on the exercise bike every couple of hours and it helped and then my DH did a manual lymph node drain that we got off of youtube and it really helped.  That and a bath with espom salts.  Feels better one day and then not so much the next and then good again so I think it has much to do with what I'm doing and what I'm eating. I read to stay away from salty foods but had such a craving for chinese food I cheated and boy did I feel it yesterady.  

Are you doing chemo before radiation or no radiation at all?

Happy Easter! 

cathyqk

Hi all!

Dublin-- I am so happy for you that your SE's are almost non-existent! Keep on trucking and walking and it sounds like you will sail through this! Two things though.. what is the chemo combo you are on (sorry if I missed that) ... and what is TE? I see that its something associated with MX.. but confused as to what it is exactly.. 

Pickles  -- excited to be starting on the same schedule as someone.. what combo are you going to be getting? And when is your day 1?

I picked up all my prescriptions yesterday for oral meds I have to take before during and after each round.. Yikes!  

Anyway.. I think I'm ready and I'm hoping to be like Dublin!! 

Pickles

Artsymom and Cathyqk-



My oncologists office is physically moving across the street from hospital next weekend, everything is a bit topsy turvy over there. My next appt (thurs) will tell me exact start date. Probably around the 12th.



I'll be TCH x6 every three weeks and may be adding Avastin if I am randomized for it in the Clinical study I am part of. Will continue H and Avastin, if chosen, for a year.



TE stands for tissue expander. The PS places it under your chest muscle or (in my case) between chest muscle and newly moved lat. Dorsi. Muscle, to help expand the area before inserting a permanent implant. The PS "fills" the TE slowly, over more than one visit, with saline until it is the correct cup size. Fills can be painful, but not everyone has pain.



I have an appt with PS Tuesday so am waiting for him to drain it...I'm too chicken to try myself! DeFinitly have the pins and needles and it feels tighter under my arm than usual. PS said no baths, only showers...I've been eyeing my big bag of epsome salts since early March, as soon as I get the okay I'll probably soak for a week! I miss my tub!



It's been rainy and cold here so my excersize consists of "laps" around my kitchen island...my cats think I'm completely whacked...but they do seem to enjoy watching me;)



Thanks for being here! It's so nice to be able to hear from others in this same fight! Will let you know when my first chemo starts...I'm sure I'll need some anxiety intervention from all of you!

Dublin4

I am DC or TC apparently it is called by both names.  4 rounds....1 done....3 to go....I am hoping for minimal se's as well.  But only time will tell. 

Thanks Pickles for the TE explanation.

Mom2aej

Has anyone here also had their ovaries removed along with their MX's? I'm still waiting on my BRAC testing to come back but at this point it is to determine if the ovaries stay or not. I'm 40 years old and have not even begun menopause yet. If they come out will I be given hormones? I know some will depend on whether or not the cancer is Hormone receptive as well.

Right now I feel stuck in limbo. I meet the PS on thurs and will get more information on the reconstruction side of things, probably a DIEP. Until I can meet with him and I get the results of my BRCA back, I really cant get the surgery scheduled but at this point..... I have made up my mind and just want to get it all scheduled to I can plan the 30 other things that need to be planned around this.

 My kids are on spring break this upcoming week and I finally got their birthday stuff figured out. Just need to call parents to arrange things as I didn't get a chance to get invites out. 

Anyways... HAPPY EASTER to all out there. For those in the NY metro area, Its supposed to be a perfect day.

retrievermom

Thinking of you who are about to start or who have just started.  Wishing you minimal and/or manageable SEs, and lots of support from those around you.  Water, water, water till you pop.

Good day here.  Just a little extra energy feels remarkably good.  Did laundry and cooked a turkey dinner.  The food even tasted normal.  My DH is glued to the Duke game, and I'm harrassing him by pretending to root for WV.  My hairstylist friend came over this afternoon.  Someone at the salon had seen me getting my hair buzzed and knitted me two hats.  I don't even know her.  

Hoping it doesn't snow tomorrow.

Round 4 on Thurs.

Teka

HAPPY EASTER!

cathyqk

Thank you Dublin and Pickles.. I feel empowered.. OK so I now know what a TE is and I feel for anyone who needs to endure that.. strong women ye are indeed.. and that goes for any of you with TE's on the agenda..

And TC (or DC).. that's my poison too.. 6 rounds.. So even more delighted to ear how ell you are doing Dublin  

Enjoying a lovely Easter.. Hope you all are also!

Dublin4

cathyqk,

I don't want to jinx myself but it was very manageable, not wonderful, not what you want, but doable.  I felt a little foggy a few times and tired like I did after I would run (sore legs) on the 3-4th day.  Then mostly back to normal. My doc said that I may not have bad se's but to plan on the fatigue being cumulative.  I drank a ton of fluids (I did before any of this stuff came up in my life) and it seemed to help.  The doc told me it does not need to saty in your system but just go through your system. 

So hopefully this week and next will be failry normal and then back at the end of next week.   We just have to do what it takes to ensure that this thing does not come back.  Have a great day. 

artsymom

Hi Pickles

So you were told no baths? I was too but broke down the other day and had one complete with epsom salts. Felt better too so I guess I was ready for the tub. Not near as hot as i usually like to have them though cause usually I am like a lobster but read somewhere that it isn't a good idea anymore. The pain and tingles, burning under my arm really seems to be connected to my activity level. I was out and about with a friend on Thurs and felt like crap all day Fri, went shopping all day Sat with my family cause I was feeling better and then yesterday felt like I had the flu all day and the swelling was just plain crazy. So today I woke up with less pain, less swelling, etc. so I have to make myself take it easy today and limit my activity. Just not what I've been used to in the past. When I recovered from surgery, etc. before as soon as I felt a bit better I was off, not so much now.

Sure hoping you don't have pain with your fills.  You are a bit ahead of me for chemo so I'll be following your lead girl. I sure pray that you do well with it and that it is better than even expected. I sure appreciate when that happens with a test, etc. It is like a gift. I don't understand the terms and abbrev's yet for chemo and have to do my homework with that.

We have had mainly sunshine but the temps haven't been super. Yesterday was cloudy but since I didn't feel great I putz around the house and got rid of some clutter. Clutter is definitely the enemy with me lately.

Hope you had a super Easter and loved the image of you making laps and your cats watching and their heads tracking you!  lol!

Have a great day.