Calling all TNs

Babs37

melissa- I did IV but if I were to do it all again (and I hope will never have too) I would go with a port. After 4 AC, 12 Taxol, blood test almost every week during that period, that makes for a lot of needles and my veins are shot. Almost all of my chemo was done in my right hand. Some nurse were not good in finding a good vein so it hurted and near the end of treatment, good veins became harder to find.

On the hair loss thing, I was prepared with a nice wig, scarves and hats before starting my chemo. Before loosing all my hair, my son and my husband shaved my hair together. I felt it would be less traumatising  for my son to participate and see the change with me, then to see his mom come out of the bathroom one morning totally bald. I wore mostly my scarves. In the beginning, when you loose your hair, your scalp is very sensitive and I couldn't stand my wig. I think I wore my wig 2 times in all. I was much more comfortable with my scarves. My hair started to grow back during Taxol . 

JAN69

Melissa119   I had a port and was glad I went with it.  Not a problem getting it placed, and a breeze getting  it removed.  Best wishes for your treatments, no matter how you get them.

Cocker_Spaniel

Good morning Ladies

Don't worry everyone the cleaning bug only lasted one day, I'm back to gazing out the window again lol.

Heather hope your new job goes ok today.  Must be exciting for you meeting all those new people.  Thats right I remember you saying now that hubby was a Baker. Chemo brain. Hope he gets a job soon.  Is the town you are living in a big one.  

Karen - I too have to get my weekly blood drawn today.  Did you put the sock on to warm so it made your veins come up.  

That is terrible about your poor mum with neuropathy. Must have been dreadful for her. 

So sorry you have to sell your holiday home.  I won't be able to see it now when I come. How often do you get hurricanes and do you need to board up windows etc. 

So you have witches in your family aye.  I just knew there was something lol.  Actually I have skeletons in my family.  Apparently my long long lost grandfather killed all his kids.  Guess thats one way of getting out of paying for the weddings lol.

We have a TV program on, on Sunday nights. Its called Junior Masterchef and I am blown away at what those kids can cook.  They are aged from 8 yrs to 11yrs and this week they were cooking in Disneyland. Those kids just had a ball. I took my two girls there when they were 5yr and 7yrs and it was fabulous. You are so lucky to have something like that in America.

Kathrynn - oh dear now everyone knows you have a man in your house. You will be getting a reputation. WTF.  Had any good wins lately?

Well, back for the 5th taxol tomorrow.  I hope I don't wet my knickers this week lol.  Better go prepared or do a Karen and throw then in the trash.  Actually I'm getting  a bit fed up with it now and feel like I've had enough.  Still seven to go though and then rads.  It's never frigging ending.

I do wish Inmate would let us know how she is going. Must be really tough for her.     

Have a good day ladies.  Keep well, keep happy and keep smiling. Annie       

Titan

Shout out to Inmate...miss you girl!

Wow...our family histories are coming out here aren't they...that's so cool OBX..a descendant of a witch..but was she really one?   And Annie..got some violennce in your  history too...?

I don't have anything exciting in my past...my dh's family is originally from Wales...not sure where my side is from..no one seems to know...I think I may be part Irish and German...past family names are Moore, Siegfried and Hershberger....does anyone dabble in genelogy here?

kathyrnn

Melissa, this is the great thing about this thread. You find out that we all made different choices along the line. There is no right or wrong, just what is best for you.



Navymom - you made me laugh remebering one of my go rounds at the hospital. I was never given the option of a port. They insisted on using my non-affected side. (they didn't know if the lymph nodes were affected). After I had my MRI and and th LN looked clear, I brought it up again. They told me the same thing and added oh BTW, after surgery you'll probably never be able to use the arm on the affected side for BP's or blood draws. I swear my head must have spun. After surgery. I'm never gonna be able to use the veins on the affected side and you're planning to destroy the veins on the other arm!!!!!! ( I don't think SO! I don't plan on surviving this freaking disease, to end up dying from a heart attack because no one can find a vein for an IV). I assure you I won that battle.



The other thing I had to fight constantly was my IV placement. I made them start with my hands and gradually work up my arm to save the larger veins for the A/C (16 treatments in all). My veins are fine after treatment, and because they removed minimal LN, I'm allowed blood draws and BP's on my affected side.



Begin to think now what you want to do about your hair. (it sounds like this may be a hard thing for you). Whatever choice you make, go out now before treatment and select hats, scarfs, or your wig. It's harder to face it when you're feeling lousy. I went with a Shave The Head Party with all my sister-girlfriends (we had a blast! ) and wigs in every color and length. (one tip, if you go for a synthetic wig, shorter styles don't become split and frizzy as quickly as long styles do)

riley702

Thanks, Titan.

I had Taxotere instead of Taxol; is that less usual? I did have the Taxotere with the first 4 rounds, and the A/C the last 4, so that's.. good?

I had a port from the get-go and was very happy about that. It sure made chemo and lab draws easier, although they did put in the worst spot for catching on my bra strap (don't have to worry about that now) and snagging on my purse strap.

Mom has done some geneaology, esp. now that some records are online. Her father was born in France and came over with his parents when he was 4. He married the daughter of German emigrants and Mom has traced them back to Germany (Freckenfeld) in the 1690s. Dad's side of the family is more of a mystery. We know they're also heavily German, but we don't know where the branch that carried my surname came from. Either English or perhaps Anglicized Germans. Hmm, I'm seeing a trend here...

Kathy, I only had 2 lymph nodes out, but I still won't let them do blood pressures, sticks, or IVs on that side. I'm stubborn, which I've been told is a German trait,  although I don't believe any one group has a monopoly on that. Am I right, ladies?

Sugar77

My brother and sister and I bought our mom a year subscription to Ancestry.ca for Christmas but she didn't want it.  However, she did do a free two-week trial and traced my dad's side of the family back to Ireland a few generatons ago. My mom's family is from Scotland. 

kathyrnn

OBXK - please let me know if you come up, I'd love to meet you.



Cocker - "You will be getting a reputation. WTF. ". * Pats Cocker's head, fondly, puts on best poker face* How sweet that you would make the assumption that I don't already have one (ROFL). Be well tomorrow and hang in there.



Riley - if I remember past discussions on here, Taxotere is usually only used for people who have an adverse reaction to Taxol (insurance companies don't want to pay the increased cost for it) but may actually be more effective (anyone who remembers please pipe up) . "Monopoly on stubbornness". Haven't spent much time with a Polish family I assume, heheheheheheeh.



My Mom did some genealogy, but she already knew the only secret. Her father made moonshine during Prohibition.

Cocker_Spaniel

Ladies

Can you answer a question for me. If I am the only one on active treatment (I think I am) apart from Inmate am I allowed to stay on this board or do I have to go onto another one where people are still going through treatment.  Not sure what the regulations are.

Annie

riley702

You stay right right where you're at, missy!  (EEk! I've turned into my mother! When did that happen?)

Kathy, maybe I really did luck out with my clinical trial. Taxotere was part of the protocol. On the other hand, I got 8 rounds of Avastin, and who knows if that was of any use at all? It's a total crapshoot.

Teka

I feel this thread is for Stages 0-4, regardless where we're on our BC journey.  

Cocker_Spaniel

As the dogs have had some special time on here lately I thought it time the cats did.  This tickled me.

 

Teka

gillyone,

No it's time for me to move on.   Way overdue.  

Everyone,

Enjoy the summer!

kathyrnn

Cocker - I think Riley answered you question perfectly. There are quite a few here in active treatment. (fretting about Inmate, Clowngirl and Minxie at the moment) Soon you'll graduate, and become one of the old-timers who offers advice to the newbies. This thread is for all TN's no matter where they are in the journey.



Teka - I hope you'll reconsider and be back soon.

DorMac

I'm still active - one week past 3rd CT treatment of 4. Last one on June 19th. No rads scheduled. Been pretty lucky with the SEs so far.

As the "mommy" of 4 cats - I laughed my arse off over that picture, Cocker. 

I have always been pretty amazed by the people who come back to this site long after they are done to share their experiences and post some positive vibes for the ones that are going through it. Although I'm sure most of us would love to put it out of our minds once we're done, I hope I will remember to come back and help out the "newbies", too.

Doreen 

Lovelyface

Teka, I will miss you until you come back.  Yes, please do consider coming back.  I have enjoyed talking to you.  You are a part of this amazing group of women.

Lovelyface

Mags20487 - thanks for asking about my thyroid situation.  While I am waiting for the doc's office to call me about my authorization for a second biopsy, I received my report from the first biopsy.  The report pretty much says that the test was inconclusive, however, there is one sentence which worries me a little  "The specimen contains watery colloid and scattered clusters of bland follicular epithelium showing varying degrees of oncocytic change."  What does Oncocytic change mean?  Does it have anythiing to do with  - as in oncology?"  WTF?  On a good note it says "features of classic papillary carcinoma are not identified'.

Somehow I am very calm and uncaring, not sure where this attitude is coming from.  

Lovelyface

Dormac - ha! ha! ha! ha!  That was very funny, when you said that you wished you had missed all the posts about chocolate cake.  I am sorry, I was the culprit who started talking about cake.  In my defense, I must say that I got that word "Cake" from someone else's post.  Is it possible that we could get an eating disorder by being on this forum?  I know when I read about food and deserts, my imagination gets very strong, at least 10 pounds strong.

Cocker_Spaniel

Teka - don't go anywhere please.  You are so important on here and give such bloody good advice I would be lost without you.  Please stay.  I won't ever mention the f.... royals again, promise.  Annie 

Cocker_Spaniel

Oh hell, I think it was me who started the discussion on the chocky cake as well.   

BernieEllen

Teka, please stay.  I left for a while but it's lonely with no one who understands.

Cocker_Spaniel

Kathrynn - nah girl. I love reputations they make a person and as you say you may already have one.  Tell us about it please.  No poker face on this chick. I have terrible trouble trying to keep the grin off mine when I read your posts. Annie        

lisadi1963

I'm having my surgery today! I don't know if this sounds weird or not, but I'm looking forward to this step in my breast cancer journey. To me it gets me one step closer to being back to "normal". I loving coming to this forum. You guys make me laugh and there is great advice.

Have a great day everyone!



Lisa

Cocker_Spaniel

Lisadi1963 - Good luck with your surgery. Your going to be just fine, its just a little blip in life.  Glad you like being with us its good to laugh.  Thinking of you and sending hugs. Annie      

caroline71

I was diagonised with triple negative on the 19th April I started my 1st chemo TC on last Tuesday 29th May which takes 7 hours to get I sffer terrible with hot flushes over the last 3 years and still do only now a little worse I am new to this site and find it great I live in Ireland Co Tipperary I am getting my treatment done in Limerick I am having 6 seesions of chemo once every 3 weeks and get Nuestrla Injection 24/48 hours after my chemo then I am having a Masetomy on my right breast also 35 seesions of Radium would any of ye have advice on getting a double Masetomy as they found a lump on my left breast but it is benign I am considering in asking can I have it done I know I cant have a reconstruction at the moment maybe down the road but when my surgeon said that I know thats a no the tumour is 6cm and very aggresive
Good day to you all god bless Caroline I am 40 years old 

LuvRVing

Hi everyone!  Just a quick check-in to say we are home from our trip, and I still have lots of stories to tell.  My intention to post on my blog every day was valiant, but we were on the go from morning to midnight every single day, so I fell behind after about the second day!  I'll have time to write more now that we are home.  And I'll eventually have time to go back and read everything I missed here (which is a lot!). 

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying every day!

Fighter_34

Melissa-I felt the same way. I cried more about loosing my hair than my boobs. Now I am the reverse I worry more about my boobs since my hair is back. Trust me it will all come together again. But no worries you hair will come back in most cases better. Nothing like fresh undamaged hair. Start making up a game plan to get yourself through treatment. Target has so many cute scarves experiment and try on some new lip glosses. The point of the post is that you will get through this. So many before you and I have.

Another note I was overweight so I focused on my weight while in Tx. So it took the focus off my hair. My thoughts were while my hair is coming back I want my weight to disappear. (((HUGS)))

I vote for freedom of speech ladies. A smile and hug to us all.

TifJ

Welcome back Luv! So glad you had a good time!

Had another 4 month appt. with the BS yesterday. She is recommending one more left side 6 month mammo in Oct., then I can go to every year if all looks good! I have mixed feelings. I like the thought of not having to do it as often, but scared of what can happen in the course of a year.

Fighter- any suggestions on the weight loss thing? I am trying to lose about 15 pounds to get down to 130. It is mostly in my tummy-I am tired of the "muffin top"!!

Hope60

Melissa - Welcome, I'm glad you found us.  This is a great place to come for advice and support.  We even have some laughs, too.  I had dose dense (every 2 weeks) chemo....AC x 4 and then Taxol x 4.    I found Taxol to be much easier than AC...I think most but not all of us did.  Somebody upstream had a good idea about switching the order, if your doc is OK with it and it works better with your schedule.  I didn't have a port and my veins held up fine.  Chemo isn't a picnic, but it's definitely do-able, and you will come through with flying colors.

Cocker Spaniel - you MUST keep posting here, because I depend on your posts for my daily laugh

Heather - I hope your first day at the new job went well.  

Have a good day everyone!

Hope60

Melissa - I forgot to mention the hair loss.  Yeah, that was tough....I cried when it happened....but then I got used to it very quickly. I guess I was so focused on getting through the treatments that the hair didn't seem so important.  This may sound nuts, but sometimes I appreciated being bald....it got me out of the house a lot faster   If you think you'll want to wear a wig, buy it before you lose your hair, so you have it when you need it.  And keep in mind that it's just temporary.....your hair will grow back.  Wishing you good luck with your treatment.