Calling all TNs

ALHusband

Chemotherapy in multiple doses.

At times it caused tingling in some of your toes's.

When it was over, some of you got roses

Biut there's no sweeter gift than fat necrosis.

ALHusband

Chemotherapy in multiple doses

At times it caused tingling in some of your toes's

When it was over, many got roses

But there's no sweeter gift than fat necrosis.

slv58

Love it! Thanks for the smile Al!

eileenpg

Love you AL and congratulations on your wife's 2 years out. Keep the years rolling!

t100angel

Howdy ladies! This is day 6 after AC2 and I'm starting to feel more energy and brain power today. Hair loss is well under way. Took a shower and pulled a handful of hair out of the drain. Going to shave it off Friday. Does the tender scalp lessen once you cut the hair super short?

Starting to get the appetite back, but still taking nausea meds.

So glad to have gotten the portable air conditioner for my bed room. The temps have been in the 80's and that is more than this chemo body can take.

The best news of all is that my son who is in the Navy in Virginia will be taking leave to see me. He arrives on the 13th. The American Red Cross was wonderful to help communicate with his ships command to get the leave arranged. If any of you have children in the military, contact the ARC to facilitate leave so they can be with you.

Here's to all of us keeping our (clean) chins up and fight this fight each day!

Msmath

t100angel thanks for the info about the ARC. My son just graduated from high school last week and leaves for basic training the end of this month. Although I only have 6 mor treatments to go this information gave me some peace. My goal is to be back to my new normal by September to go to his Graduation from basic.

Glad to hear your appetite is coming back.

ninjamary

Angel - my tender scalp was gone when I had my head shaved. I didn't bother with the pixie cut as I had very curly hair.

Oddswinner

ALHusband, awesome! Seems to be shrinking my tumor, I guess surgery will tell all. Good luck to you both. Glad you're on board with your wife healing. A lot of husbands aren't can't handle it. Mine finally came on board this last time when he saw how sick I was from the chemo, only took 3 months LOL. Nevertheless, he's got me now. All is good, as long as we fight the good fight and keep on being good warriors!

breastcancerhusband

Hi All

Its been a while since my last post! Life has been quite manic with a new born and a toddler and of course a darling wife undergoing chemo!

I'm pleased to say that my wife has now finished chemo. She completed four rounds of FEC (3 weeks cycles) and 12 weekly rounds on Taxol with a 4 week break to give birth. She tested negative for mutations in BRCA 1 and has a variant in BRCA 2 that is not pathogenic and was not the cause of her cancer. So that's it. Treatment is over and done with, she will have a reconstruction at some stage, but for now the doctors consider her to be NED and she has made the transition from breast cancer patient to breast cancer survivor. God only knows what the future holds now, but we are going to take each day as it comes and try to put the fears out of our minds and enjoy our young family.

I personally want to thank everyone on these boards that has offered words of love and support. Its amazing how complete strangers in cyberspace have helped so much with their kinds words. I'm going to try and post when I can and keep you lovely ladies (and gents) up-to-date with the latest research and offer my own support where I can.

Having just watched my wife go through something at the age of 33 that I never imagined would happen has been hard, but she has got through this and so will those of you going through this now. Stay strong and don't let it beat you.

Lots and lots of love, hugs and prayers to you of all. My thoughts are with all of you.

Tom

xxxx

LillieRose

Oddswiner, I meant to reply to your other post! That is great the Cisplatin is working you lucked out! As I told you I got the Taxol arm and they are actually taking me out of the trial.... My tumor hasn't grown but hasn't shrunk is 9 weeks

I start AC on Thursday... Then I'll have surgery. Hoping the taxol did something and the AC will finish it off and show some shrinkage... It's scary.

My MO said if I don't have a great response we will use the Cisplatin.

It's really overwhelming and I am just hoping for the best outcome possible.

ALHusband

Oddswinner. We made a deal when she was diagnosed. I would take care of the research, the doctor hunting, the insurance, the administrative "stuff"...and she would concentrate on healing and getting better. That's how I came to this thread instead of my wife Kathy (she hates computers!) . In my mind I got the easy job! I've kept my end of the bargain...and so has she! So far the plan is working! This group has accepted me into the fold despite the fact that I am not the patient and not a woman.  I have learned so much from these amazing ladies!

Oddswinner

LillieRose, I hope that what you're on works and actually after surgery, they will be putting me on taxol or AC, not sure yet to kill anything left over, then rads. If it doesn't work for you, I hope they do the Cisplatin, but I will tell you there are side effects, nausea for at least a week, I now have constant ringing in my ears and my pinkies and some of my feet are numb, hair is thinning, and other little things, but the shrinkage is worth it all. Good luck, will keep you in my prayers.

Oddswinner

It's amazing what you are doing, yes she has the hard part, but you're sharing it all and that is wonderful, there are a lot of men out there that can't handle it, or in my hubby's defensive, after 3 years of back surgeries (3 in 3 years), he has a problem with anxiety, so we had to work on that too, in order for him to help me. I'm the computer geek, and the research nut, so I do it. But he takes care of the house, the dog and hugs or an ear when I need it. Keep up the good work!

simplelife4real

Lilly, I had taxol then ac like you. Taxol didn't seem to do anything for me after the first 6 weeks, but AC really did a number on my tumor. I didn't get a pCR because I had a tiny amount of cancer left in two lymph nodes at the time of surgery after chemo, but there was nothing left of the 2.5 cm tumor I had in my breast. I hope the AC works well for you....I think there is a good chance it will.

LillieRose

omg! Thank you so much simplelife! I have not been able to find anyone who did taxol first to ask advice from! That really eased my mind a lot! I can't thank you enough!

This whole thing has been hard enough with a new baby and then this taxol crap... I have had my limit so your reassurance is much appreciated!

Did your tumor shrink a little with taxol? I've had like 6mm but it's been 8 infusions now and my MO wants more so I'm moving to AC. She said I can always finish the taxol after surgery if they feel it's beneficial.

LillieRose

thanks oddwinner! I'm hoping the AC kicks butt and I'm done after this... I have zero side effects with the taxol! I feel awesome actually... So maybe that's the reason I have no shrinkage... I'm sorry the Cisplatin is tough but I'll take anything to kill the cancer! Rest up and stay healthy! I'm at DF on Thursdays maybe I'll see you!

Tobycc

Am in TN working on "Hunter Haus"- no service there yet, and cabin we are staying in is limited. Enjoying Gods beauty, and working on the house.

Simple, that is simply wonderful, glorious news, and like many others said, I like the sound of FAT

Hugs to all fellow TN sisters

Kath (whose hair is still coming in chemo curly)

t100angel

I did it. My hair started to fall out, caused my scalp to hurt, so yesterday I got a buzz. Feels so much better now. A local natural soap/lotion store helped me come up with a oil infusion to put on my scalp to help calm it. Working great!

My son arrives Sunday from Virginia. He will be here for 10 days. I'm excited to see him!

ninjamary

Angel - you go girl! It feels so much better once it's shaved. I miss my hair now (not used to having actual beads of sweat on my scalp) but I must say getting ready in the morning is a breeze!!!

megomendy

Yes, that clinical trial that was posted a few days ago looks very promising. Now I want to try and get my copper levels tested and maybe on that medication.Might email my MO later this week and see what she thinks.

eileenpg

Angel=You are too pretty for words. Have fun with your son.

NavyMom

Angel: Love your picture! Sending you hugs from one Navy mom to another. Enjoy your visit with your son and please thank him for his service for me.

My boy has been depolyed since January and is not due back in the states till September. UGH!!! Waiting is so hard.

MSMath: What branch is your guy going into? I am holding you close to my heart as you watch him leave. Its been over 6 years years for mine. Truly the best thing he could have done for himself. He has grown into a strong, smart confident man.

Good morning to all...hoping everyone has a peaceful day.

Msmath

NavyMom my son is going into the Army. Trying hard to soak in these last few weeks with him. I know it is the best thing for him. Just hard to say goodbye to my little boy knowing the next time I see him he will be a man. I'm hoping to have some hair growing back by then. My hair loss was hardest on him.

simplelife4real

LillieRose, I'm glad I could ease your mind some. My tumor did shrink by about 50% on taxol, but it did all the shrinking in the first six weeks. The second six weeks, it just stayed the same size. On AC mine went down the first week, but then went back up to the same size it had been for six weeks, On the second and third and fourth infusions, it went down a little each infusion and didn't come back up again. A week after the last AC infusion, I couldn't feel it at all. I hope AC works as well for you. It made me very tired, but I actually asked my MO if I could have a fifth infusion because I could tell it was working. She said "no" of course, but I figure that it didn't hurt to ask!

Angel, congrats on taking the plunge and shaving your head. Isn't it such a strange feeling to see yourself without hair for the first time? You look great. I'm sure you are already discovering the advantages of being hairless.

Wishing everyone in treatment an easy time of it.

t100angel

I'm doing great as far as attitude, but the stamina is much slower to return after AC2. Next chemo, AC3, will be on the 16th.

I'm starting to notice that my memory is sluggish at times. Figured it was the start of chemo brain.

For those interested, I am happy to share a small bottle of my oil mix for my scalp. It's hemp oil with nettle extract and calendula extract. It has almost no smell and I felt less discomfort as soon as I applied it. I bet it would work on dry hands and feet too. The nettle helps calm irritated skin, and the others provide moisturizing. Let me know if anyone is interested.

Navymom, my son will be 30 next month and he signed up for 8 years, with almost two done now. I haven't seen him since he shipped off to his first assignment last July. He wants to be a lifer! I'm so proud of him for making this choice.

Oddswinner

Just like your name, you look like an Angel.

JAN69

Hi Friends, I lurk a lot, seldom post. I wish I had something to contribute, but I'm just rumbling around in my own little world.

I'm about to fire my 3rd oncologist. And they all deserved it too. But now I've about run out of options in the town where they practice. I think I'm still NED, but I don't feel comfortable with their assessments. So here is my question: I've heard and read about dogs sniffing people who might have cancer. Do any of you know about this and where I might find such dog? I'm serious. Looking for a new oncologist at UCLA, about a 5 hour drive from here.

Wishing everyone best wishes, no matter your stage and treatments. Jan

Suladog

Congratulations, fat necrosis is great to hear

sureCat

I am 62 and almost made it to 5 year mark for HER-2 positive.  I am recently diagnosed with triple negative. The right breast was removed in 2010. They plan to start chemo soon. Does anyone take L-Lycine? I took it before and don't remember the daily dosage. Can anyone help me with this?

Cocker_Spaniel

Jan69 great to hear from you again.  Here I was thinking you had that great book, lazing in your shady glen and doing absolutely nothing and what do I find, you wanting a dog to sniff you lol.  Seriously Jan are you  having problems and why have you fired all of your oncologists?  I have heard of dogs and cats being able to tell if a person has cancer but I wouldn't know how to go about finding such an animal or whether it is really true.  Just joking, but I suppose you could try customs or border control, they have great sniffer dogs lol. Seriously, do you have a breast cancer organisation in your mountain town who may be able to help.