Calling all ladies in their 20's

NannaBaby

KK11 - I had flushing too, not sure what it was from. My guess is hormones. And I had issues with my blood pressure and heart rate.  It usually went too low and I'd faint and feel dizzy.  I got a head CT scan it was so bad once! I was losing my balance too.  Damn chemo!  Make sure you write down all your sside effects to discuss them with your onc.  Sometimes it's your fluid and electrolytes that screw up your heart rate and bp.  Some patients need IV fluids at home.

 I had my first routine mammo today.  OMG did they squeeze be good! I tried my best to position myself so they can get as close as possible to the chest wall. Will get results Aug 12 when I see my onc.

Melanie_Ann

kk- My normal heart rate used to be about 58-60. I'm a runner so it was typically the same. Once I had surgery, my heart rate was anywhere from 80-90 for about 5 months. It just now started to fall into the low 70s again. Mine was probably anxiety along with everything going on with treatments. I would definately talk to your doctor about it though.

Nanna- Wow that's a long time to wait for results! Well I would think so anyways. I hope it's all clear! 

NannaBaby

Ya I guess it's a long time for results.  I could get them sooner.  But, I hate to go into town so often.  I'm seeing my family dr. on Thursday, maybe she'll have the results by then.  Whatever... I'm not worried.  Staying positive! Surgeon or onc. will call if there is something suspicious.

Did I ever tell you ladies that I found a new family dr.?  She is great! Fairly new grad.  I am so happy I found a female dr.! My last male dr. was an idiot! He totally dismissed my lump concern back in Sep 2009 and because of him I couldn't get my lump checked sooner!  I probably would have been a stage 1 or 2 if he would have aknowledged things!  My new dr. is also a benign breast disease specialist! She works at the breast clinic part time where my breast surgeon works at! Woohoo! I get my chest felt up by a competent dr.!  I feel safe and well taken care of

Has anyone heard from Library Jenn? I am worried about her! I really hope she found a chemo that works!

NannaBaby

It's my 30th B-Day tomoro! Feeling old and looking forward to getting really old! LOL  I am sticking around this thread though You are my ladies!

kk11

Nanna - Happy early birthday! As for waiting for your mammo results, I assume they'd probably call you in sooner if there was anything wrong. Glad you found a doctor who is so extra competent!

Melanie_Ann - I am not a great runner, but was training for a 5k before all this hit, so I was in fairly good shape. I guess it's normal for the heart rate to go up then. I will definitely mention it to my doctor though. How are your radiation treatments going? How many more?

 I haven't seen anything from Library Jenn either. Hope she's doing ok!

As for me, I'm on day 22 and in the process of losing my hair. Is it better to just shave it, buzz it, or let it fall out on its own? It's quite the pathetic sight having my hairs fall all over the place. I thought I was ready for it, but guess not. It hasn't been easy. I'm sure that's also contributing to me being so jumpy. 

shiramg

nanna, HAPPY BDAY! xo

Melanie_Ann

kk- I buzzed my hair and when I would get in the shower, I would furiously rub it. Most of it fell off then. I didn't want to shave it and cut my head...But that might be an option if you doh't want hair all over the place. It is difficult to lose hair. I was pretty ok with it for a while but now that treatments are over I'm ready for my hair RIGHT NOW! I think it's going to take awhile. IT's been about 9 weeks and you can only see it if you look real close. BUT I'm just trying to be patient. Hang in there!

Nanna- yes, positive thoughts! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

I haven't heard from Jenn. =( I hope she's doing well! 

Melanie_Ann

Oh and my radiation treatments are going well! I have 12 left. I think my skin is holding up fairly well. It's starting to get a little bit itchy but I've seen others with worse so I'm thankful for how mine looks so far.

kk11

Melanie - 12 more! That's great! You'll be done on August 5th then right? Hopefully your skin continues to hold up for those last 12.

I did end up buzzing my head yesterday, on day 23, after I spent much of Tuesday picking and vacuuming up hairs off my clothes and furniture. I am doing much better with it than I expected. I think the anticipating was worse than the reality, though I'm not sure I'm up to leaving my house bald (I apparently have a nice shaped head, but it's VERY WHITE!). I have 2 wigs, though I'm not sure how much I'm going to want to wear them during the summertime. I'm leaving my head uncovered while I'm at home, but I should probably sit with my wig for short periods of time to try to get used to it. 

Melanie_Ann

kk- I had 2 wigs and I wore one of them once and I think the other one maybe 10 times (but it was my real hair) So don't stress about it! I think bald is beautiful!

njbhwgirl

Good Afternoon Ladies;

I wanted to let  you know that LIbrary Jenn is no longer in pain. I was a friend from her May 2010 chemo topics. Another member seen it on facebook. I am so so sorry to tell you this but feel you needed to know. I am so so sad. I met her through this site last year and she was just a wonderful mom and person. She fought hard and never gave up. I pray for her family and especially her little boy Connor. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.

x-raygirl

jersey ~ I just popped over to this board to see if anyone posted about Jenn.  RIP Jenn, we will all miss  you and will hold you in our hearts forever!  Daiva

NannaBaby

I can't believe Jenn lost the battle! I am devastated   We were in contact since our diagnosis back in May 2010.  We are the same age and stage 3. And had almost identical treatment.

It is difficult to hear sad news.  It seems like this whole experience is too surreal!

Rest in peace Jenn. You faught hard and never gave up!  You will be missed. Hugs to your precious son and family.

TreadSoftly

Im absolutely devastated to hear the really sad news too.....

Jenn may you rest in peace.  Your beautiful son and family are in my thoughts and prayers. xx

kk11

My heart just skipped a few beats when I read about Jenn. I'm in total shock - was really hoping the new drugs were going to help. I didn't know her long on here, but I am praying for her family and friends right now. RIP Jenn.

Melanie_Ann

Praying for her family.

shiramg

i pray for her family.

ladies, i am not digesting this news well.  i just had a real freak out and called my mom and freaked her out.  jenn was just posting a few days ago.

NannaBaby

shiramg - I understand how you feel.  Jenn's news was a total shock!  I cried a lot this past week  

 I'm going to Cuba in a couple days for a week!  I hope I will be comfortable in my mastectomy swim suits!  So far I'm fine at home, it's just when I bend over it flops down and you can see my scar :S  I almost need a turtleneck swim suit! LOL 

RebekahR

Hi everyone, I am so sorry to hear that someone just passed from bc. im not sure that my mind and heart comprehend the severity of what this really is. ive been in shock since i found the "lump" but my heart just smiled when i found this forum. I have been aching to talk to women my age that have and are going through this. never in my life have i felt so unrelatable and helpless. everything has happened so quickly. 

the doctors are wanting me to have a bilat mastectomy or at the very least a mastectomy pending brca1/2 results. I was opting for a lumpectomy but lets just say my boobies are pretty small and so in relativity my 2 cm tumor with a large enough margin would leave me nearly half chestless. has anyone here had a double mastectomy that can give me a little insight? that is what im leaning towards because i hoping to never deal with this again but it has been the hardest thing to tell the doctors that is my decision... 

Melanie_Ann

Hi Rebekah,

I can't givea any advice on the mastectomy. I had a lumptectomy. But I just wanted to say welcome. We're here for you!

I have lots of knowledge though on chemo, radiation and lymphedema though if you have any questions about that. 

silviazara

Hi Rebekah, almost 2 years ago I was making the exact same decision. I had 2 tumors in one breast and very small breasts after breastfeeding. I opted for double mastectomy. I could not imagine going through all the future mammograms and possible biopsies on regular basis. It was a difficult time, but I would do it again. If you have any questions just email me. Good luck with your decision.

Mandy85

Hi ladies, am gald that I found a froums that is for ladies in thier 20's. I am 26 years old, diagnosis in June 16 with incision biopsy, later found out to be BC.  Just got my MRI done yesterday, waiting for result. Next appointment with doctors is this Thursday.  My family and fiance are very supportitve to me. When I diagnosis, I have post a forum asking question in the just-diagnosis forum, for I do not know there is a forum for ladies in thier 20's, glad I have found it.

Melanie_Ann

Welcome Mandy! I was also 26 when diagnosed last December. I hope your dr. appointment goes well. I find it helpful to write down any and every question I might have. It's helpful when trying to remember all of the information that comes your way. There are no dumb questions! I'm glad you have such great support.

hdangelbaby

Hi all!

I have been lurking lately because I have been so busy and tired from being back at work. But I do come on daily and check on things.

I used to post alot more when I was off and undergoing treatment.

Just want to say, that all us young women are amazing for enduring this hell.. and I always had a fun saying "well, better go through it now, and get it out of the way so I can enjoy the rest of my life!"

lol..

Just wanted all you ladies to know, I had my mammogram, ca 27-29 test, and an alkaline phosphatase test, and I found out today that I am:

CANCER FREE!!!!

wooooooohoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

Melanie_Ann

That's exciting news! Congratulations!

kyroheal

Hey ladies,

I just wanted to get your opinion on something. I'm 27 years old, diagnosed with triple neg BC in April. I'm currently going through chemo (AC + T) and will be done around October. I had a lumpectomy but I am thinking about getting a bilateral masectomy. The thing is, I really want to do radiation (I find it very effective). Is there a way to go ahead with my rads in November and then do the masectomy, or would I have to do the masectomy first?? I just don't really understand the order of things.

Thanks

Sandy

Melanie_Ann

I know that when my surgeon and I talked about radiation vs a mastectomy, she said it was easier to do surgery before radiation. She said that radiated skin is really hard to do surgery on and that it is more difficult to heal, but she said it can be done! I ended up having a lumpectomy anyways, not a mastectomy so I don't really know. I hope you find peace with whatever decision you make but it's not a bad idea to get a 2nd opinion, or even a 3rd one! Good luck!

vinade45

  Hi Ladies,

  Was happy to stumble upon this forum.  I found a lump on my left breast back in June when my daughter and I were getting ready to go to the beach.  My doctor was telling me it was probably a fibrous mass so I thought nothing of it when I went to get an ultasound done~ then it lead to a biopsy~ then by June 21 I was diagnosed with BC.  Two days after my birthday (Jul 19~ woohoo Happy 26th B-day) I had a lumpectomy done on my left breast. Got the results today~ my margins were good. 1/9 lympnodes with cancer~ I guess that isn't too bad.

Now I'm just waiting to talk with my oncologist on when to start chemo : (

Still don't know how to tell my daugher (7yrs)

She is with the grandparents for the summer but I'm sure she is going to notice mommy with no hair when she comes back to start school : (

kyroheal

Thanks Melanie, I am so torn....I know whatever I decide, I cannot look back!

Hi Vinade, welcome to the group, you will find alot of support here.  I am quite similar to you, I also had a lumpectomy and also negative for all the receptors. I am doing chemo now (4xAC + 4xT), started end of July and will be done around October. I will have my 4th out of 8 in a few days. Honestly it will fly by...it's not easy but doable. It's tough having to tell children, I can't imagine beacause I don't have any but you can say it in a way that treatment is a good thing and will make mommy get better. Goodluck with everything. let me know if you have any questions

bimmer2011

Hi ladies!  It has been awhile and I have been meaning to get on here but summer has been so busy!!  I am beyond sad to read the news about LibraryJenn and just can't believe it.  I send all my love and condolances to her family through this difficult time.

Nannababy happy belated 30th!!!  I hope that you have/had a great time in Cuba.  My fiance and I have been to Cuba twice and love it there.  We have only been to Veradero though.

Welcome to all the new ladies! 

Well I dont kow if it is good or bad but I am almost done radiation (next tuesday) and then I am done all active treatment.................did anyone have any scans or mri's once there treatment was complete??  I dont have any appointments and was just wondering what the norm is?

Hope you are all doing well on this crazy journey!!