Calling all TNs

kidsandlabs

I found this site from another thread. Just had treatment 5 of 6 today, waiting for the SE to kick in :-( My MO is setting up my BRCA testing in Jan/Feb. very nervous about that.

5thSib

OBXK -- I get a Neulasta shot after each treatment. They told me to take Zyrtec twice a day for 5 days starting the day of the shot. I have not had any issues with the shot. You might ask about that if they haven't recommended it already.

TifJ

Hi ladies! I haven't posted in a long while, but wanted to stop in and say hello. Welcome to all the newbies! So sorry you are here, but these are the best bunch of girls in the world! I am trying to live life without thinking about the FC, but we all know that is completely impossible! I have a 3 month onc checkup next week so that reminded me I haven't been on here for awhile.

Luv- glad you had a good trip to Vegas and I hope the new combo works well for you.

Bak- so sorry you are feeling so low right now. I don't know if I could make that decision either. I love my kids more than anything, but alone time sure would be healing. I'm sending you good thoughts whatever you decide.

Missing Inmate and Hope. Praying they are well.

have a wonderful holiday ladies!

Cocker_Spaniel

To all my friends and loving supporters on this thread.  Because I will be heading off for two weeks in the caravan  after work tomorrow with my old feller and my girls and their families I would like to wish each and every one of you the best Christmas ever.  May you have nothing but happiness and joy with such little side effects you won't notice then.  Eat as much as you can, doze when you want to and have a little tipple if you feel like it. Have a very very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

For more meaningful posts, pay a visit to our sister pages : -http://www.facebook.com/WordsToInspireTheSoul http://www.facebook.com/InLovingMemorypage" width="317" height="398" />

OBXK

Annie - I hope you have a wonderful time! We will miss you

Maybe you'll bring your laptop and sneak away to a coffee house that has wifi !!!

Safe journey - love you, K

Hopex3

Cockerspan...Enjoy your special time with your family!

Merry Christmas,



Erin

EnglishRose75

russell33: If you just type December 2012 chemo group in the search area, it should come up. I'm not sure if anyone has set one up for January yet (not sure when you start) but if they haven't already, I'm sure someone will soon. Try this link too.  Not sure if it will work.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/796653/3341373

Annie:  Have a great trip! "See" you when you get back!

jenjenl

day 3 and have felt like crap since tx.  This may be more challenging than I expected.

LuvRVing

Annie - have a wonderful trip and a fabulous Christmas.  I'm curious - just where does one go on a "caravan"?  Whatever it is, I hope you have lots of fun!

JenJen - are you drinking plenty of fluids?  I can't stress how important it is; soups, fruits, puddings, ice cream all count toward your goal of 96 ounces a day.  And go for small frequent meals - you have to treat this almost the same as morning sickness.  If you are getting the Neulasta shot, be sure to take claritin (or zyrtec) for a few days afterwards.  It will help with the bone pain.  I hope you are feeling better very soon.

jenjenl

I am trying to get the fluids down it's hard I just want to sleep but my body won't let me sleep.  Going to have soup and sprite for lunch, then pudding...good idea.  I just feel weird all over like this isn't my body.  TOO many drugs and chemicals.  UGH.

Tazzy

Have a great time CS.

Luv: hope you feel better after tx soon.

Hugs to all xxxx

QueenKong

russell33 - It's a personal decision which treatment regiment you take. I was never given a choice and find it interesting you were. Were others. They put me straight on AC-T. I did the four weeks of AC. They did a muga scan and I thought I was strong enough though everything I get a pain there I worry.

EnglishRose - reading about your "full whack" treatment. I'm wondering how and why treatments are different in the UK/EU. I would be interesting to see a cross study of various regiments for different parts of the world.

Mags20487 - Getting a wound vac should help you with that. I've read they are very helpful. How are you doing today?

Minxie- good luck with that alone time. I have a 7 yo too. I can't imagine she not wanting to go. It'll be good for you and you will miss everything, that's the whole point of going away. Why are you going through it again. Sorry for not following.

Cockerspaniel - Have a great trip!

Jenjen - It's good to know you started the treatments. Try to get some exercise in, it helped me during the AC. 

I'm home recovering from surgery and afraid to go out anywhere and catch one of these bugs going around even though my daughter is home from school today with one of those very bugs. She has a bad cough and running low grade fever. I feel like I can't escape sometimes. My boob looks horrendous, like a sac full of blood. I keep wondering if I did the right thing. So horrible to second guess. I have no idea what to do after this, still waiting for the pathology. For those who don't know, I had neoadjuvant chemo which was interupperted after the 5th treatment with pneumonia. They put me in for surgery (lumpectomy on the right breast) on the 14th. I have pain in my armpit incision and in the breast and I don't want to take more pain meds. I finally got a decent bra I can wear in the mail but it's ugly. THey only had white.

I'm thinking about what they will recommend and what I want next. I wish it all would just stop. It's not going to. I am taking my own advice and stay strong. I say that but waaaaah!!!!  

I wish I had longer to prepare for xmas and my B'day is coming soon. 

OBXK

QueenKong - so sorry you are having such a time with your post-op. Does Tylenol give you any relief?

Hope the little one feels better soon too.



Luv - I think of you, everytime I fill my water bottle! Keep reminding everyone, it works. I think the English use caravan for RV/ camper.



xxxooo

LuvRVing

Those of you on steroids and in active treatment...you can negotiate with your oncologist to cut back on those nasty 'roids.  I took just one 6 mg tablet on the day of treatment when I was doing dose-dense A/C and I was fine.  No sleeplessness or any of the other SEs.  If you experience a lot of nausea, they can help.  But it may be worth your while to try a much lower dose and see how you do.  You can always add them back in if it doesn't work for you.

gillyone

A touring caravan is one pulled behind your car. A static caravan is more like a trailer, it does not move and is often on a site with amenities. Some are very posh. Some have them in holiday places and visit. Others tow their caravans to a holiday place.

russell33

Hi Yananma, thanks for the info.   I hope I am making the right decision.  How has your first treatment going if you don't mind me asking.  Any awful symptoms yet?  I start my  1st treatment on January 8, which I may have mentioned in an earllier post.  Best of luck to you too.  Happy Holidays.

Oh, I forgot to ask why you decided to have a mascectomy?  My doctor didn't think I needed too.  I go back and forth about that decision too.

Titan

Cocker..hey lady,..you still around?  since the world is supposed to end...figure it would happen in NZ first..let us know ok?

wow..I never had a choice with my treatment...dose dense ac and t...and then rads...I did mention cutting back on the roids etc. but they never never considered it with me...

not sleeping is perfectly normal you guys with chemo...I hardly slept but I was never tired either...weird..just buzzing all the time...however......when I was finally done with chemo and rads I slept all the time...in fact..I stil need alot of sleep...

NjeanRN

Erin, hi! Yes we are in the same boat literally! I had read somewhere that chemo irritates the breast tissue do maybe that's why you're having Breast pain? I kept thinking I felt more lumps throughout chemo but my BS and MO both felt nothing.

I can't believe the difference in what people get. I don't take any oral steroids, I just get walloped with a large dose with my infusion. I hate how the steroids make me feel especially 2 days later when I crash.



Sandlake- thank you for the well wishes, I was very happy to get that news.

I wish everyone well this weekend and thanks for sharing all of your stories!

kidsandlabs

Day 2 after treatment SE are starting to kick in. Usually doesn't start till day 3. It's going to be a long day at work.

HopeFaithCourage

I only needed nausea medication twice yesterday and took some this morning.i certainly feel better when i drink more. Crystal light hits the spot. I've been awake for hours which is annoying. I have seven puppies to find homes for today. My daughter is not being responsible so I'm going to have to. Makes me worried since they need a good home. They are still very young but are walking and eating soft food. Perhaps being Christmas e will help.

browerl

ok ladies I have a question.  I had a bmx 4 weeks ago(after chemo no cancer found) and I have gone to the plastic surgeon twice to have the expander's filled.  When I went on Wednesday he did not put any in the left side (the cancer side) because it still has a lot of fluid in it and it is a little irritated. After I left him I went and had physical therapy.  By the time I got home that side was hurting really bad and continued into last night so I started really feeling around and I found a hard unmovable mass about the size of a walnut.  Now of course this is freaking me out!  What do you think scar tissue, maybe?  The last time a found a lump it was not good.

Hopex3

Browerl: I have heard others saying this same thing and it does turn out to be scar tissue! But I would have it checked out just to have peace of mind!

borntosurvive

For those of you having sleep troubles - ask for a mild sleeping pill or go and get some Melatonin from the local pharmacy.  They both help.  You will feel a million times better if you can get a good sleep.  Drink lots and taking a Claritan will help with bone pain.  '

HUGS xo

minxie

Anyone see the news about herceptin and HER- ?

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/7282

It seems that lots of HER- women have HER+ stem cells, and herceptin knocks 'em dead.

Is anyone planning on asking their onc to consider adding Herceptin to a preventative regimen?

OBx, just to try and clear up my confusing story... I was diagnosed in '08 withTN IDC in rt breast, had lumpectomy/chemo. Then diagnosed with DCIS is rt breast 6 months later. Had BMX with lat dorsi recon. This involved wearing tissue expanders in both breast fro several months, until remaining tissue was streched enough for implants. TEs feel like bricks . When I had my local recurrence in rt breast this spring, they took out the implant and removed about half the remaining breast skin. So, I need expanders to stretch out what skin is left so I can get a new implant, hopefully in May. So That's what I meant by "here we go again..."

I think I may take my little guy with me. He's the best cure for loneliness I know

And have fun on your trip Annie!

LuvRVing

I just sent the link to the article and the abstract to my onc.  I hope she sees promise in this!

journey4life

Minxie, how was the recurrence found in your rt breast? My understanding is that with implants, we don't get mammograms. Is there some diagnostic tool for detection/screening? 

minxie

Journey, I found the lump. Just the way I found the first one, and in the exact same place too. It was growing over the implant and right under the skin, so it was quite noticeable. I tried to convince myself it was scar tissue, but it felt round like a lump. Sigh.

I went to my onc, who sent me to my original BS, who did mammo and us/biopsy. It was declared TN cancer the next day. They did an MRI as well to make sure there were no other surprises. And then I had surgery and radiation.

They can do  mammo with an implant, but I don't think for a chest wall recurrence or something under the implant it would be that accurate. I think an MRI would be the way to go if you had concerns.

browerl

called the doctor this morning and they sent me right in for an ultrasound (on the hard mass I found)  the radiologist did not see anything conclusive but recommended that I follow up with the breast surgeon.  With next week being the holiday the earliest I can get in to see her is next Friday.  That will make for a long week.

Cocker_Spaniel

Hey Titan seems like I got a reprieve of some sort but if the world does end I'll let you know first!!!! lol

russell33

Hi yananma, I spoke with my oncologist today and decided for sure to do  the TC.  I start on Jan.8. I hope to get more updates from you so I know what to expect.  I know everyone is different but it will still be nice to know how you are doing.  Merry Christmas:)