Calling all TNs

Honeytagh

Greenae

I wish every thing goes smoothly for you and then we all celebrate our many cancerfree years.

Hugs

Hanieh

Tobycc

Han, did you start already?

Kath

anotherNYCGirl

Eileen, - I had very low counts while on chemo. I was careful, washed hands a lot, ate home, tried to avoid crowds (although i still went shopping when needed, etc) and was also told to call dr or go to ER if temp went over 100.3. I was given a 'red card' for ER which would show that my immune system was compromised and I would have been isolated from other ill patients. Thank goodness, I didnt need the ER or the red card! Hoping you do as well, too!

Shari, - hope you are feeling better and stronger each day!

Arlene, - did you have a port put in? or are able to get infusions through vein? (you may have posted and I missed it?) Wishing you an easy chemo journey!

Hugs to all

Honeytagh

Hi Kath

I have already finished chemo and rads. Actually it s 5 months since my last chemo and 3 months since my last rads. Happily my hair is growing back nicely.I had had lumpectomy before all these. Now against my oncologist s idea I refused to have dipherline injections for five years as I found no data approving it. Yet I m not completely sure I am right in my decision.

Here I want to tell all going through chemo that these days will be over soon and we can continue with our lives.

eileenpg

Han tagh=Why did he prescribe that? No one has even mentioned that to me.

Thanks for all the concerns about my WBC counts. As I said I was told years to they may never recover. So,I'm just super careful but, I am living my life

Honeytagh

Dear eileenpg

That is also a big question that my oncologist s answer could not convince me. As I told before may be he is conducting a study on me.

And don t worry about your WBC count. My family doctor who is realy knowledgeable told me not to worry too much about my low WBC count as considering other measures of my blood this low WBC can take care of my body though we should we extra vigilant about our health.

eileenpg

I love you Han Tagh!!

Honeytagh

Luvmydobies

Eileene, I'm sorry if I missed this but has the doctor mentioned any safe supplements you can take to try to boost the white blood cells? I read somewhere that folic acid, garlic and green tea can help. I'd mention this to the doctor before trying though if you haven't already. I assume you need to be careful about eating certain fruits, veggies, lettuce, etc like we did during chemo. My Onc told me not to eat fruit you couldn't peel and to eat canned or frozen fruit, and make sure to wash veggies really well due to bacteria being on them. So I mostly ate bananas, oranges and cantaloupe and frozen steamed veggies to avoid contamination. My husband would even wash the outside of the fruit with antibacterial soap before cutting into it. So sorry you're having this issue! HUGS!!!

eileenpg

Luvmy dobies= I was told to do really good mouth care. Which I have always done. Other than that neither of my MO had any suggestions.  MY RO is totally against supplements. However, I may read up on folic acid. I am super careful with my diet. I do not share food and no salad bars or those barrels at the food store. I also have to watch my salt intake as I had that side effect from taxotere. I gained 17 lbs of fluid. Finally back to my old self. Took 12 weeks to shed.  Whenever I eat salt my left foot and ankle sweel up. CHEMO IS SUCH A DRAG!!!!!!!!!

Luvmydobies

Eileen, I'm just sorry you're dealing with these after effects! We just never know what these treatments do to our insides. They're harsh for sure and it just takes some longer to recover. It doesn't mean anything is wrong. It's just another annoyance to deal with. Ugh! I'm praying your cell counts go up soon!! Hang in there dear, and we're here for you always.

ALHusband

Cocker I knew the studies on Metformin were underway...and my wife IS on it. I just wondered if there had been and feedback yet that it's working or not working or anything else. I guess not yet.

anotherNYCGirl

My onc was aware of some drs prescribing metformin, and said that it has shown good results in the lab, with rats, but did not want me to start on it because of possible side effects. (Although the side effects that she mentioned didnt seem so bad!)

eileenpg

Another NYCG= My MO said the same thing. I opted not to go on it due to SE.

Allydp

I just started Metformin about 3 weeks ago. I have no side effects except it's giving my migraines. It doesn't help that my allergies are kicking in, but the Metformin is definitely more the culprit. I pretty much always have a headache and about an hour after I take it, it turns into a full blown migraine. Not fun, but I'm trying to push through and hope it's a temporary thing. I'm taking 500 mg with dinner and trying to work my way up to 500 mg 3 x day then eventually 850 mg 2 x day.

SA8PG

Ally

My expanders are sadly both out. Infections happened within 1 month of each other. Dec bmx, Jan right side infection, Feb left side infection. I'm flat right now but going to Physical therapy to try and soften the scar tissue that is forming while I heal.

On the topic of Metformin: you had a pcr and onc still wants you to take it? Can you tell me more about this since I also had a pcr. Should I be inquiring about this??

Eileen praying for your counts and wisdom for your onc. Sending lots of love and hugs to you.

Shari continuing in prayer for you as you rest & heal.

Arlene thinking of you as you prepare for chemo. You are in all of our thoughts. You can do it. Medicine in, Cancer crushed and destroyed!!!! ☺️

Allydp

SA8PG - I am so sorry about your complications. I hope physical therapy helps with the scar tissue and you can get back on track soon. Based on the studies, I went to my onc about the Metformin. She said the excitement about it is starting to slow as the data isn't as promising as it once was, but okay'ed me to take it. She wouldn't prescribe it though (I don't think she wanted to manage it), so I had my OBGYN who's acting as my PCP right now rx it. I did have a PCR, but I feel like any insurance can't hurt. If these migraines don't let up though I won't be able to take it.

eileenpg

SA8PG,Ally,luvmydobies=Thanks for all the kind words. I look at this as if this is my worse side effect I can live with it.

Honeytagh

Hi everybody

As I was reading the posts, I was wondering whether Metformin can help tnbc.

And I have another question too. Are double mastectomy and ovary removal regular prophylactic strategies for all young bc patients? Here in my country my doctors do not recommend them and they believe as I had no family history my lumpectomy, chemo and rads were all needed for treatment.

Honeytagh

Hi Allydp

you are also young with bc like me. Were your prophylactic surgeries your doctor ' s recommendation or you yourself asked for them?

Cocker_Spaniel

Alhusband  all I am aware of is that the metformin trial did not yield the positive results against  the recurrence of breast cancer they were hoping for but that now they are going down another track of targeting obese women with breast cancer who probably should be on this anyway if their haemoglobin is higher than acceptable,  although diet and exercise can reduce their chances of diabetes alone.  The  Phase II trial has commenced so hopefully something positive will come from this.  

Allydp

Han - the only reason I had my ovaries removed prophylactically was because I tested positive for the BRCA gene. If I had tested negative, I would have definitely kept them. Medical menopause is no joke. I would not go through this unless absolutely necessary. Have you or are you planning on being tested for the genes? Those who develop TNBC at a younger age are at a higher risk for carrying them, so I would highly suggest asking to be tested. As crappy as menopause it, I'm grateful to have reduced my ovarian cancer risk. If you'd like any info on the different panels that test for it, let me know. I'd be glad to pass it along!

Tobycc

Got to finally ring that bell and read the poem today!!! good bye chemo, hello slow and steady weight loss! Total: 2 pounds a month= 16 pounds. Yeeks, this gift really gave

But this gift also killed my cancer cells. I am blessed and full of thankfulness.

Lets continue kicking together!

Kath

anotherNYCGirl

Congrats Toby!! So great to be done!

Meadow

Toby yay! so very happy for you

eileenpg

Yeah Toby!!!

Tobycc

Thanks to all! Did any of you gain weight? or just lose?

Meadow

Toby, I was a gainer! I was kinda envious of the 16 pounds you lost, but I know for some women that is not a good thing so I did not want to say...Jealous!. I gained about 6 pounds that I want to get rid of but they really want to stick with me!

Tobycc

Meadow, meant to say I Gained 16 lbs in 8 months, and I hate it! Lost the big weight two years ago.

I know it will take time

Hugs

Meadow

oh I got you...I just"heard" it wrong! yes, still got my extra.