Calling all TNs

mags20487

good old cording...have had it in both my arms.  And it was a precusor to lymphedema in both arms.  My left side is full blown and the right just flares from time to time.  PT can be very effective in releiving the pulling of the cords.  Make sure that you find a lymphedema therapist that can help you understand your risks of LE and hope to help prevent it.  Once there it does not go away.  Le leads to other issues like cellulitis which can be life threatening in some cases.  Be careful!!

having the worries...headache all week in the same spot and vision problems.  hoping the vision thing is due to the Hyperbaric treaments and the headache is from the pollen in the air.  Hate worrying all the time!!  Pet scan is in 2 weeks...yipee more waiting for test results

Maggie

liv-

wishing you all a fantastic refreshing inspiring smiley happy loving and a wee bit of indulgence & for those who wish to partake in a huge bit of indulgence...enjoy!!

much love

liv

onvacation

Merry Christmas to all!  I hope you find joy and peace this holiday season!

Tazzy

DH & I are off to see The Hobbitt this afternoon... become a bit of a tradition with us at Christmas to go see a movie on Christmas Eve.

I want to wish each and every one of you and your family, friends a wonderful safe Christmas.

Thank you all so much for being here - you ladies rock !!

Hugs & love xxxx

jenjenl

I am still so exhausted and incredibly sore from round 1 of chemo, I was able to wrap all the xmas presents though so happy about that.  Think I have a cold...lot's of sneezing and running nose.  Happy Holiday's to all

russell33

Hi new friends, I have a question for all of you that you may know something about this.  my mother's side of the family has no breast cancer.  I just spoke with my dad whom I have never had a relationship with, to find out about his families history.  His mother did have breast cancer and died at 58.  Not sure what kind.....and I quess one of her relatives had BC also.  So my dad talked to his sister and I quess she has some sort of problems with her breast but not CA.  She is going to call me after the holiday to give me more information.  I read all this stuff about how it's your mom's family that they are more concerned about.  I will call my oncologist to update them after I talk to my long lost Aunt I've never spoken to.  Should be interesting.  Happy Holidays.  Hugs to all of you.

JAN69

Russell - I think "they" are interested in father's side of family now.

Jenjen - Watch your temperature.  I was told in no uncertain terms, that if temp goes above 100.5 to call oncologist immediately.  That's not a very high temp.  Please rest and let others take over for you.  They'll be happy to do it and you'll have the energy for the fun stuff.  I'm a control freak, but there comes the time to just give in. 

To all my TBCA sisters, Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night.  Jan

russell33

I hope you feel better.  Happy Holidays to you.

SherylB

russell33, are you still having as much discomfort? Did you call your doctor today? Just thinking about you. Merry Christmas.

Sheryl

SherylB

Hey Maggie,

Just thought I would tell you that I grew up around the Melbourne area. Graduated Satellite High School in 1974 and Brevard Community College in 1983. Have relocated to the Gainesville area but have really fond memories of the Melbourne area as it was home from the time I was 8 until about 30.

Sheryl

mags20487

wow Sheryl..we pass through there often as we have friends up near lake city.  We go shopping at the oaks mall when I come to visit.  Small world...met another forum "sister"  who is also from Melbourne. 

Go Gators!!

QueenKong

To those asking about tumor shrinkage with neoadjuvant chemo, I found a very noticable difference after 2 treatments. At the third appointment with my oncologist for my third treatment, it was non palatable. That was with AC, pretty dense dosage.

russell33

Hi Sheryl, Thank you for thinking about me.  Merry Christmas.  Yes, I did go see a PA yesterday and she said it is normal.  Not to much fluid and no sign of "cording".  She gave me some more pain meds which I don't like to take but if it helps I'm up for anything.  I just hope it feels better before chemo starts.  I hope you have a great day.  Anne

Sjesse12345

QueenKong - thanks for the info, wow non palatable, that's awesome, I'm going in for my second treatment tomorrow and hope I soon start seeing some changes too. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

LuvRVing

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

Sugar77

Merry Christmas ladies!

HopeFaithCourage

I'm sick too! Feels like the flu. Husband has it too. I have an appt. Y tomorrow with onco. I'm coughing, my lungs hurt, and i feel like I've been hit by a truck. Temperature was 99 so i think I'm ok. If I'm not sick and this is a side effect this is awful. Had a wonderful Christmas. Small, but with four kids even a small Christmas is a huge accomplishment. Everyone was behaved and grateful. Can't ask for any better than that. Happy holidays!

jenjenl

Hopefaithcourage...I got a cold too on Monday and fought it hard all day xmas.  My nose hurts so much and I think I now have nose sores.  My temp was 99.8 at the highest.  My back is just killing me.  I would just like a break.  I am SOOOO happy xmas is over.

HopeFaithCourage

Just what we needed. We got through our first chemotherapy and then got a cold! Hope we can both get rest today. My house is so disgusting i can't stand it may have to stay that way. Peace sister.

russell33

I hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas!  Sorry to the ones that didn't feel good with colds, flu and chemo symptoms.  I love the Holidays, but I a have to say I am glad Christmas is over.  Now just have to figure out when I am going to clean my messy house.  Hope everyone has a good week and here is to a better New Year for the ones who have been going through treatments and for us newbies a Happy New Year also.  Hugs to my new friends:)

DorMac

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Here's wishing that 2013 brings shrunken tumours, effective treatments, no mets, no new diagnoses, no Se's and good health and loving and supportive family and friends to all of you!

Doreen

LuvRVing

I so sympathize with all of you struggling with colds and the need for housecleaning.  There is a service called "Cleaning for a Reason"  http://www.cleaningforareason.org/

You apply, your oncologist faxes them a note stating you are in treatment, and if they can match you with a service in your area, you get cleaning once a month for four months for free.  Yes, free.  Now, I know that once a month is not enough to keep a place clean, especially with children.  But it will surely help. 

I had the first of what I hope is a very long run with Carboplatin this morning.  Because I'm getting it weekly, the infusion takes 30 minutes and I should be relatively side-effect-free.  Let's hope.  And let's hope it works, I need something to work.

JAN69

Luv - Hope springs eternal in the human breast.

Jan

Hopex3

Luv: praying this works for you!!

Titan

Luv...oh yeah..I sincerely hope the carboplatin kicks this stuff...please!

HopeFaithCourage

Cried like a baby to my 17 year old daughter early this morning.

placid44

Sjesse,



About your question on tumor shrinkage during neoadjuvant chemo: I had 4 cycles of dose dense neoadjuvant AC and am finishing 12 cycles of taxol (2 remaining). I did not notice much shrinkage on AC, which made me very nervous. Then I only had about 40 percent shrinkage at 6 weeks into taxol. But the key for me (and some others who have posted on this topic) is that the chemo was killing the tumor even though it was not shrinking much. Even though a lump remained, it was nearly all dead tissue inside. Dead tissue (ie not cancer) is just as good as shrinkage. The MRI I had after 6 taxol cycles showed a lump the radiologist said was like an apple - the only cancer was on the outside "skin." Now after 10 taxol cycles no one can feel the lump. However, we won't know until the surgery and pathology report whether all cancer is gone - pathology is more accurate than MRI or palpation.



I don't know about your case. There are instances of tumors not responding to certain chemo drugs. But I wanted to let you know about the "dead tissue" phenomenon as a possibility as you go through chemo. My breast surgeon had said it could happen.



Best of luck,



Jennifer

Hopex3

Placid..my surgeon said the same thing about dead tissue. The tumor is actually encased in a little "shell", and when she pulls the tumor out, it is shriveled up dead tissue. I hope this will be the case for all of us!!



Jenjen and HopeFaith: hope you two are feeling better. I caught a cold early on like you have and it took three rounds of antibiotics to get rid of it. Then the antibiotic gave me a yeast infection. That was fun!



In the big girl chair now for my last chemo. Here comes the lorazapam. Goodnight!

Sjesse12345

Well, second treatment is in the books.  Went yesterday and it wasn't too bad, even with the anti-nausea meds was pretty nauseous the rest of the day but managed to eat some scrambled eggs and drink LOTS of water.  Was very tired too and let myself sleep in this morning.  Got up feeling all right though, no nausea just a little fatigued. 

placid44 and Hopex3, thanks for your explanations, of course I obsessviely checked this morning and no changes, I know I need to be more patient, it's only been 24 hours.  I've noticed that both you ladies did Dose Dense chemo, I am on 21 day cycles of FEC right now, if there are no changes by my next Onc appt. I'm going to ask her about Does Dense, not sure if that is doable with the FEC though or what the proticols are in Canada. 

On top everything else going on my stupid dryer broke down on on the 25th, ugh.  I have a guy coming over to fix it this afternoon, hope I'm not waiting around most of the day.

To everyone going in today, hope everything goes well.  Minimal SEs and all that good stuff, take care of yourselves.

jenjenl

Hopex3 - congrats on your last session, what a great way to start the new year