2011 Sisters

justmejanis

Thanks KRomano.  I am not too worried about rads, seems pretty straightforward.  I am sure that will go fairly easily.  How are you feeling today?  Hope you are doing well!

Good morning to everyone.  I have to go do fasting blood work this morning for my cholesterol and diabetes.  Yuck.  I have not been good.  I go to my doc on Thursday and expect to get a tongue lashing.  I am having such a hard time getting back on track and eating healthy.  I have been naughty.  Actually I love fruits and veggies and salads and many good things.  It is the bad snacks I have really had issues with.  So..wish me luck!

rjbaby69

Well, ladies, I'm off to see my surgeon this morning.  Hopefully the drain tube will come out.  I am so sick of this thing!  Ugh!  Everything else seems to be healing nicely.  Some soreness still but I guess that's to be expected.  I will also see my onc today at 11:00 a.m.  I will find out then what kind of chemo, how long, etc.  A little nervous about this but my step brother called me last night and assured me I would like this doctor and he is very good.  My step brother has a blood disorder (don't really know what it is) and he sees the same doctor.  He said he told the doctor his little sis was coming and to treat me right!  How sweet!

At any rate, wish me luck.  I will let everyone know what my fate is as soon as I get back.

Hugs to all of you!

justmejanis

Luck RJ..lots and lots of it!!!  Will be thinking of you today and hoping it all goes well.  Sending plenty of healing hugs to take along with you!

Merlinda

CT#3 day 4; just like clockwork, the aches and pains have begun.  The next 3 days are going to be so back.  As the numbers of treatments have increased, likewise have the severity of my symptoms.  Oh well, lfe goes on, yesterday we drove 350+ miles to San Francsco to drop our youngest son off at college.  We are supposed to attend a couple of parent orientations... yet to be determined as my pain level will help me make that decision.  Going to be a looooong drive back to Southern Calfornia.  Just one more CT left, then the Mexcan Cruise and then 6 weeks of radiation treatments.

TinaT

Good luck to everyone this week with appointments, tests, rads, chemo, and surgeries (whew!).  Sounds like a busy week!!!

mommarch

Can you have mammosite rads, That is what I had it was pretty simple, only side effect was some fatigue

madpeacock

I had my breast MRI this morning and will get results when I meet with the surgeon next Monday for final planning, assuming nothing else shows up from this test. Plan to call the office today to see if my receptor results are back yet, so may have a couple more pieces of my puzzle to look at!

survivor11

Just found this forum and just like all of you I am an IDC 2011 sister. Had my BMX on May 10th have been having regular fillings of my TE and just finished chemo two weeks ago. Looking forward to exchange with port and ovary removal in Sept. Currently spending my time having my labs checked and trying to resolve the anemia and weight loss I experienced during chemo, and alot looking forward to some hair rergrowth.

Good luck to all this week.

justmejanis

Welcome Survivor.  You sure came to the right place.  You will make great friends here and learn anything and everything you need to know about breast cancer.  I am awfully sorry you had to join this club, but there are plenty of shoulders to cry on if you feel the need.

So welcome, and please make yourself at home!

KRomanoFight

Janis, doing ok.  Still feel tight.  It seems like the shower helps with that.  But I am sore.  I didn't go back to work today as I had planned.  Not sure if I'm ready for that.  I did start walking a bit though.  One day at a time.  Back to the surgeon on the 31st to follow up!

RJ, good luck today with the drains and the onc.

Madpeacock, good luck with the MRI results.

LovesChristmas-Barb

Welcome Survivor....though I'm sorry you have to join us for this reason. I'm glad you're through chemo...hopefully, you'll be back to feeling better soon!

survivor11

Thanks for the welcomes. Nice to have a place to vent since most of us spend our time trying to protect everyone other than ourselves. Have felt mentally really strong through most of this and now that I'm getting closer to the end, I find that I have terrible nightmares that somehow we missed something. Anyone else feel that way?

rjbaby69

Hello Ladies.  I'm baaaccccckkkk!  LOL!  Welcome to Survivor.  You have found a wonderful group of ladies that will help you, scold you, encourage you, and love you.  They are really a great group.

Okay, here's my game plan.  Drain came out!!!!  Yippee!!!  Surgeon said I was healing very well and everything looked good.  I am still a grade one.  The tumor he took out was 2.9 x 1.7 cm.  He said it was about the size of a quarter.  He wants to see me in one week to make sure things are progressing as they should.  I felt really good when I left his office.

Then on over to the onc's office.  I had prepared for a very long wait.  That didn't happen!!  Waiting room was full.  When I got there, of course I turned in my forms and she fixed my chart and told me to meet her behind the double doors.  Okay.  What?  Already?  That was to draw blood.  And I thought I was really getting somewhere fast!  LOL!  The nurse has the same first name as me so I thought that was cool.  She did an awesome job and I was sent back to the waiting room.  Okay, I'm thinking now the waiting begins.  I wasn't even finished with the morning paper before my name was called.  Couldn't believe it.  My daughter and I went into this little room and a secretary assistant filled out my medical chart on the computer while asking me some questions and stuff.    I guess we were there about 15 minutes when the doctor walked in.  I immediately liked him.  He had a very good bedside manor and took me through the chemo plan step by step.  I will be have the regular chemo cocktail minus the bad red stuff?  He said that most doctors do not use that part any more because it is too hard on your heart.  I will have 6 rounds 3 weeks apart with me having to come in the day after chemo for a shot.  He asked me if the surgeon had talked to me about a port and I told him yes and I understood about that.  Well, I am going to have a port put in on August 31 at 9:00 a.m.  Then I go back to begin chemo on September 8.  After I am finished with my chemo, I will follow with 6 weeks of radiation.  The chemo part will last 18 weeks total.  The radiation will be another 6 weeks and then we will follow with 5 years of tamixifen (sp?).  I will also have to have scans again after chemo.  And pretty regularly after that with scans slowly tapering off with time.  So, there we have it.

Did find out today from my nurse navigator that the Breast Center where I've been going has free wigs for women that are going through chemo. It's right in the same building just a different floor. Figured I'd check it out at my next visit.

I am going to have to call my insurance though.  I understand that when I meet my out of pocket expenses, then the plan pays 100% on everything else.  I think my out of pocket expenses are 1500.00 and I'm pretty sure I'm almost there.  The bad thing about it is the out of pocket expenses start over on January 1.  So I'm hoping to have most of the chemo done by then.

So as far as I can tell, I'm receiving the standard chemo, rads, drug treatment as most everyone else.  He told me NO spicey, hot food such as chili, bbq, mexican food, peppers, etc.  No more Taco Bell for me after the 8th.  Better get my fill in quick huh?  LOL.

Hope everyone had good results on all their appointments today.  I feel really positive and am in a good place right now.  Things seem to be coming together quite nicely.  I just hope chemo goes as well for me as it did for some of you.

HUGS!

justmejanis

RJ...so glad you got a plan in place so quckly.  That is wonderful....because waiting is just miserable.  Glad to hear that you liked your Oncologist as well.  That makes a big difference.  Take advantage of that free wig if your insurance doesn't help.  Hey, get your fill of Taco Bell for sure!  You still have a couple of weeks.

I start rads tomorrow, should be pretty easy for the next 6.5 weeks.  I am glad to finally get this started.

Hugs to everyone,

Janis

michelleo13

rjbaby69, it's great to have a plan isn't it? Interesting that your ONC said most doctors are not doing the red devil any more. On our Aug 2011 chemo group, about half of the 60+ women are receiving AC, including me.

KittyGirl2011

Hi All,  Hey RJ-It must feel sooooo nice to have the plan in place.  Welcome Survivor but sure am sorry you need to be here.  BC sucks but here you have a lot of wonderful sisters to hold your hand, hear your scream, and give you a hug when you need.  RJ hope your doing better today.  I does get better with each day. 

Had my first mammosite treatment today in the AM and second one 6 hours later.  The first one took longer with setup, WAITING (ugh), CT scan, but it went pretty fast once I was all hooked up (7 minutes).  Then met with the ONC and he has put me on Arimidex for the next month to see how it goes.   Also had a blood test for thyroid,  the CT scan found a multinodular goiter.  Doc didn't seem too worried but just wanted to check it out.  US scan tomorrow for that too.  Afternoon session went easy, in and out.  Back again tomorrow so I'll let you know how things go.  Kitty

justmejanis

Kitty I will be going on Arimidex too.  Not sure when he will start me.  Soon I guess!  I am glad it all went well today.  I'll be right there with you tomorrow.  Maybe we will glow together a little further down the road!

rjbaby69

Janis you are right.  I finally feel like I know where I'm going and I can once again plan things to do around my chemo appointments.  The only thing that's really bothering me is the missed time from work because I seem to just get further and further behind.  I know this can't be helped and I can only do what I can, but I have always been on top of things and this part is making me feel out of sorts as far as my job goes.  Fortunately I do have sick leave and that does help financially.

Breathe!  And one day at a time!

Hugs!

rjbaby69

Kitty:

 So far so good.  Still very sore but nothing I can't handle.  I did take the evening off from my night job last night and that helped alot.  I was sound asleep by 7:30.  I was just so tired.  Got up this morning feeling better so I know I must have needed the sleep.

Hugs!

rjbaby69

Michelleo:

I am ashamed to say that I didn't even know what the "red devil" was.  I am assuming from your post that it is AC.  Is this correct?  I didn't really ask and I should have but I don't know what I'm receiving other than the standard chemo without the red devil.  He did say that when I came for chemo, the nurses would go over all the drugs and details with me and give me lots of literature to read.

I guess I'll be learning alot at my first chemo session.  I am really bummed about the spicey food though cause my chemo goes right through chili season.  And I do love me some chili on cold nights!  Ugh!

HUGS!

justmejanis

RJ.....thanks for the cheerleading.  I am not worried about radiation, have not heard a lot of bad about it.  I leave in an hour for my first appointment.  Not thrilled with wearing no deodorant thoguh.  It just seems wrong!

I am glad you got some rest....it makes no matter how early you go to bed!  You have to listen to your body and not push too hard.  Take care of YOU.  I understand the stress with your job.  I am currently unemployed so don't have to deal with it.  Prior to moving here I always worked and it would bother me too....but, again, take care of yourself.  The job will be fine.  Pace yourself and don't overdo!

I am sorry about the hot and spicy stuff for you.  I have an awesome soup recipe that is chunky, and thick and divine.  Let me know if you would like it.  It is very mild but unique and you won't regret making it!  It has ham and chicken and veggies and cheddar cheese, sour cream.....YUM!  Okay now I am hungry, but way too hot to make soup here just yet.

Take good care, please.  Many hugs!

jenn333

Hi ladies -

Well, seems my optimism following MRI results may have been misplaced.  The radiologist (actually head of radiation for the Breast Care Center) wanted to perform 3 biopsies following my ultrasound yesterday.  He told me that he thought at least 2 of the 3 were suspicious for cancer.  He did say he saw no evidence of lymph node involvement though.

So, looks like I may be heading for a mastectomy/immediate DIEP reconstruction instead of "just" lumpectomy/radiation/tamoxifen.  Should get the results tomorrow at the latest.

Hopefully the "mild atypia" comment from the original FNA path report on these masses means it's not anything worse than what I already know about in the one tumor we know is IDC but if there's one thing I've learned so far through this journey is that it's full of surprises.

Hope everyone else has been getting better news this week.

michelleo13

Rjbaby, yes AC is Adriamycin/Cytoxan. Adriamycin is commonly referred to as the "red devil".  It's a bit overhwelming at first and you don't know what questions to ask so don't feel bad! Interesting about the spicy foods. My ONC didn't specifically tell me to avoid any foods.

Jenn333, hoping for good results for you. I was in a similar situation and of three areas biopsied only one turned out to be cancer. Fingers crossed that you'll be the same!

justmejanis

Oh Jenn I sure hope you get great results. There are so many hiccups along this way and hoping this is just that, and nothing more.  It could just as easily turn out to be nothing.  Sending happy thoughts!

I had my first radiation today and it was quick and painless.  My tech, Maria, gave me some gel to apply to the area 3x a day.  It went a lot faster than I imagined.  Very easy. 

TinaT

jenn333:  Aw, so sorry to read your news.  I know it's little consolation, but you have to think about what your long-term course would have been had they not made this discovery now.  This feels very familiar for me, that's why your MRI post really caught my attention.  When five areas showed up on my MRI I thought surely that was a good sign that they were all "nothing".  In fact, 3 were benign fibroadenoomas, 1 was ILC, and 1 was DCIS.  Between the US biopsies and the MRI biopsies (they couldn't see them all on US) I thought it was "just" ILC and I too had decided on lumpectomy/radiation/hormone tx.  Ultimately ended up with nipple sparing BMX and am going the silicone implant route.   

Again, I'm sure this is very disheartening, but please hang in there!!!

rjbaby69

Janis I agree about the deodorant!  Just seems so wrong doesn't it?  I don't worry about the rads as much as I do the chemo.  I just don't want to be sick.  I have got to work and plus I drive a school bus too.  I worry about being able to do that part of my job.  There's no way I would ever jeopardize the lives of my kids just because I have to work.  They mean too much to me but at the same time, they need me to be there.  Buses are better if the regular drivers are there most all of the time.  In fact, one of my students asked me today is I was going to be their part time driver.  Really hurt.  Just had to explain that I had some surgery and testing that I was going to have to do this year and I would be here when I could.  And yes I'd like to have that recipe.  If I can't have chili, at least I can try some good ole soup!  It sounds really tasty.

Michello if I'm not getting the "red devil" then what do you think I will be getting?  What is the standard chemo without the "devil"?  I was surprised about the spicey foods too but he said the chemo would weaken the lining of my stomach.  Of course, I guess I could go ahead and eat all that spicey stuff, but I'm afraid I would really pay for it.  Not willing to be sick unless I have to be!  LOL!

Jenn hoping you get good results.  Thinking about you girl!

Hugs.

justmejanis

rj....so sorry about the driving the bus and the emotional impact.  Try hard not to worry and only do what you are able.  Of course you would nevr jeopardize your kids!   I hope so much you are able to be strong enough to keep doing it.  If not, don't beat yourself up, okay?  Try to remember you have cancer...and it needs some attention right now.  You'll beat it, but you have to jump through a few necessary hoops first.  Everything is temporary.  You'll be fully recharged in a few months.  Allow yourself a little bit of of a break, okay?

The soup has lots of ingredients (although easy) so I will send you a PM with the recipe before the cold comes!  It does include a few drops of Red Hot sauce...you can adjust that of course!  I know you will love it.  My favorite...although not exactly calorie free! 

Hugs......

michelleo13

Janis, the soup sounds awesome! I'd love the recipe too!

RJBaby, most in our Aug 2011 group who are having 6 treatments 3 weeks apart are getting TC or TCH. It is my understanding that TC replaces the red devil part of AC with Taxotere. TCH includes Herceptin, which I don't think you'd get because you're HER2-. Your ONC's office should be able to confirm what you're getting if you want to read up on it ahead of time rather than waiting for the day of your first treatment.

justmejanis

Michelle...absolutely!  I will dig it out in the next few days and get it to you.  Easy ingredients, but all put together it is so rich and wonderful!  It makes a lot too, so you can freeze some for later.

Merlinda

Ordered my final Neulasta injection today.  Final CT in a couple of weeks!