TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

LaughingGull

Happy Tuesday to all!

hapa, I am happy to hear you made your decision. I also had tons of anxiety about the surgery and it did end up being less of a big deal than I anticipated, I am sure it will be the same for you. Granted, my mastectomy was unilateral not bilateral, so I had a healthy and strong side that I could lean on to move around. But recovering quasi-normal function and range of motion was a matter of weeks and they went very fast. I started wall-crawling exercises and physical therapy early on and it paid off. When I learned I was going to get a mastectomy my initial feeling was that going flat would be better for me to avoid extra surgeries, recover mobility and function quickly etc, but having to wear a prosthetic thing in my bra at all times to look even sounded like a pain in the butt. So I decided to go with reconstruction after talking to the PS. Truthfully if I can exercise and look normal when dressed with a normal bra I cannot care less about the look of my boobs -I wouldnt care if I had a piece of wood in there. Good luck dear and keep us posted. I went paddling the other day and thought of you, I will probably go again today and will think of you again.

I also wanted that I concur that Shellabela looked great in short hair!

I am on vacation presently for a few weeks with my extended family. I attended my sister's wedding last week and I am feeling great. Recovered from oophorectomy three weeks ago and just started on Arimidex last week. I will try to post a pic later today.

Best to all,

LaughingGull

LaughingGull

I wanted to ask, are you girls doing the 13-hour nightly fasting thing? I started to do that now while on vacation, hoping to help overall health and weight control and possibly reducing the chances of recurrence. I am posting the link below for reference.

13-hour nightly fasting article

LaughingGull

Here is the pic with my husband the day of my sister's wedding

coachvicky

Beautiful pic, Laughing. I love the way your DH is looking at you.

Vicky

Ingerp

Laughing you look beautiful!! How many weeks PFC? (Yes--I'm obsessing a little. Now that I've started to see a few wispies I'm getting impatient to get enough hair that I can ditch the ball caps.)

Re: intermittent fasting, I started that about two years ago after a conversation with my RO. She was talking general health stuff--all of the reasons other than weight loss that it's beneficial. It was easy for me to skip breakfast. (And FWIW, between that and upping my time at the gym, I lost 35 pounds in about 10 months.) I went back to breakfast through chemo (my tx center suggested I have something in my stomach) but am slowly getting back to it. Also, I'm the opposite to you--one of my treats whenever I'm on vacation is to have a piece of toast in the morning. :-)

Emalyn

Beautiful picture! Thanks for sharing

MACTAZ

I’m just beginning my BC journey and am confused about timing of tests and treatments. First, on Aug 14 got the call that my biopsy came back with HER2+, ER+, and PR+. I had two tumors, one was 1.2cm grade 3 and the other .9 cm grade 2. Both tumors in same or close to same quadrant so perhaps multifocal. I am scheduled to see the oncologist on Friday 24th. I have been reading a lot of info about pre-surgery targeted therapies but how and when do you find out if it has spread to nodes or other organs?

Would appreciate any info, thank you.

Ingerp

Your BS might do an ultrasound and have a good guess as to whether or not there is lymph node involvement but you won't know for sure until after your surgery (mastectomy or lumpectomy).

xYoungandScared

MACTAZ - I had a physical exam to feel for any swollen lymph nodes. One lymph node was hardened, and they ordered another ultrasound specifically for that lymph node to see if it had a defined/normal looking hilum and cortex through the imaging.

Mine raised some flags with the hilum, so they did a guided core biopsy, which came back positive for cancer. I then had a PET CT scan, which confirmed that there was "activity" in that lymph node (and this lets you know if there are any other concern areas in distant organs). During surgery, they will have to remove the sentinel lymph node (since that's where it tends to go to first), and the breast tumor(s), as well as any other lymph nodes that tested positive for cancer.

MACTAZ

Thanks for the info. It helps to understand what others have had done, I know my process might be different but the more info I gather helps in the conversations and questions to onco.

hapa

LaughingGull - thank you so much for that, I feel better already. You look wonderful in your picture. I felt the same way about wearing a prosthetic, plus I thought it would just be unbearably hot in a Phoenix summer, so implants it is. I do the intermittent fasting as the benefit seemed pretty big and fasting is pretty easy for me. I also skip breakfast in the morning. I would prefer to get in an early dinner instead but it just doesn't fit in with my schedule.

Ingerp - I feel you on the hair thing. I think I'm up to eight little hairs now. I obsess in the mirror every night.

Ingerp

hapa here's to our inner gorilla showing up sooner rather than later.

Jstarling

Laughing; great picture! Princess; I had my Herceptin suspended after 4 TCH, but was able for number 6TCH. I had my first Herceptin only this pastMonday, a little breathless for my walk this morning, but my flow rate did snap back to 55 after a five week break. MO will continue Herceptin (many echocardiograms) for as long as I can during the year long treatment window. Good luck, I was so happy that the flow rate did indeed come back.

LaughingGull

Thanks all!

Ingerp, not sure what you mean by PFC but I had my last chemo on March 22nd, this was Taxotere + Herceptin + Perjeta. My hair was already this long by the end of June, I already had a haircut since. I am going to keep it short for a while.

Ingerp

Laughing that’s yet another acronym I’ve picked up on this site—Post Final Chemo. I asked on another thread where someone had posted a pic with adorable short hair and she was 12 weeks out. I’m keeping my fingers crossed I can ditch my baseball caps then—that’s exactly when I take off for WDW. :-) (And really you ladies look lovely with the short hair. I could see me keeping mine short for a while too but I gotta see how it looks when it comes back.

Taco1946

I'm going to rain on everyones parade about hair. I finished Taxol the end of March (2017) and didn't go bareheaded until late Sept. And now it's thinning again because of the AI's! I hate it more than when I was bald! I too am in Phoenix and can't imagine a wig with the hot flashes.

Homemadesalsa

Laughing Gull you look like Jackie Kennedy in that photo. Very stylie. Love it.

Just had another Herceptin/ Perjeta yesterday, and then another Echo. Turns out that the local hospital where I've been getting the echos doesn't measure "strain," which evidently is the standard of measurement for cancer patients. Finally I got an echo tech who told me this... who knew? My LVEF is at 57 from previous one at 60. Echo tech says it's not statistically important, but it does make me wonder (worry) a bit. Been on HP since late March- first 4 with Taxol, so will continue (if my heart allows) until next March. I live at altitude (6100') and am an exercise fiend, am not feeling any adverse effects (yet). Seems like, at least at this point, the benefits

And I finally got some relief from the nasty HP rash with a prescription creme from the MO (triamcinolone). Does it seem to you all that the MO and ROs are too closed in their scope of practice? I wish the RO had been able to say, during my 33 rads, "oh, that's Herceptin rash- try this creme." But instead he said, "it's not radiation rash, so I have no idea." Harrumph. Onwards and upwards.

SpecialK

homemadesalsa - I think its important for each type of doc to "stay in their lane" and deal with the specific side effects from their familiar area. Specialists are usually reluctant to treat a side effect caused by the other doc's treatment, just in case they don't know what they're doing and do/say/prescribe the wrong thing - I am also willing to bet that more than a few rad oncs know nothing about side effects from targeted therapy. On the echo thing - it is a subjective test also - meaning one tech might measure one way and get 60 and another might get a 57, so minor fluctuations are not as critical as a 10 point drop, or a loss of 10%, or a drop below 50. If you are finished with chemo and still sporting a 57, you're doing well - might be the biking!

j_bluesky

Hello ladies,

I am a newbie triple positive. Had my first treatment of TCHP last Friday. It's done a number on me. Severe stomach cramps for days and now a rash all over my chest and back. I planned on working, but do far that looks out of the picture for this week. I hope next week I'll be feeling human enough to get out of the house and back to work. Add to that, I'm a single mom of a 10 year old and school started today. Thank goodness for family nearby willing to help with rides, etc. for her.

Anyway, just saying hi!

hapa

Surgery is done. They were able to save the nipples but not my lymph nodes. Path report Friday or Monday.

Suburbs

jbluesky, I will go first. We are very sorry you have to be here and hope you find the support and information you need here. TCHP is brutal. One down. Hurrah! You arethat much closer to the finish line. Feeling rotten is normal. I had infusions on Wednesday and went back to work Friday or Monday. Drink as much water as you can and walk. Both will help in the long term. I drank Gatorade too, a beverage that I don’t even like. It’s great to know you have family nearby to help with your son. Hang in there. Keep us posted

ElaineTherese

jbluesky,

Didn't do TCHP, but my boss allowed me to work at home for three days a week during chemo. I'm not sure if you're able to do that, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Be sure and take advantage of all the help that is offered. People want to help; just be happy that you have a strong support network!

Yes, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

coachvicky

Welcome Jbluesky.

Like the others have shared walk and drink water. You may not feel like doing either but both will help you get over the rough spots. I had TCH but not the P.

If you need an Rx for your side effects, tell your Oncology Team and get those meds. Do not suffer if there is an Rx you can take. I took a boatload of Zofran (ondansetron) for nausea. My Primary Care he had never an Rx for that much Zofran. So? I did not throw up. He got the point, LOL.

Best wishes. You can do this and will be stronger on the other side. Great that you have family support.

Vicky

LaughingGull

Hi all

Jbluesky, I didn’t have TCHP so I can’t help there but I wanted to say welcome. One done, thats one important step on the way to recovery. It’s great that you have family support. 

Hapa, congrats on your surgery. One step at a time. You will be paddling again soon. I got six nodes removed, and you?

TreysRib

So glad that chemo is over and I only have 3 more Herceptin infusions. I started taking Anastrozole back in January. I have had relatively no side effects ... nothing to complain about. This week I started experiencing significant nausea. For those of you that are on Anastrozole, did nausea symptoms start this long after beginning the drug? I have left a message for my oncologist but wanted to check with those that are in this fight with me. If it is unrelated then I have to start the journey of figuring out what could be causing this. I have just ordered a big bag of Gingins to help with the symptoms. I don't want to be on Zofran because it causes constipation and I am normally predisposed to constipation. Ugh.

Jstarling

Jbluesky, Welcome, I recently completed 6 TCH treatments and now am doing Herceptin only. Radiation begins soon. It is tough but do take Zofran or other drugs to help mitigate side effects. Take care of yourself and accept offers of help. It is a long road but you will be amazed by how strong you really are.

Suburbs

TreysRib, 3 to go. So close to the finish line. Usually, the nausea would be more common during chemo. Also, nausea can be due to acid reflux. Omaprazole can help with that. It may make sense to check with your doctor as there are other anti-nausea meds. Hope you get relief soon.

rosegeranium

Greetings to this amazing group. I am new here. 3 weeks past a mastecomy and awaiting my first meeting with my hem-onc doc in a few weeks. Since my tumor was ER+ and HER-2+ (and Grade 3) I am expecting some rigorous chemo and Herceptin and am definitely anxious re both side effects and recurrence. My cancer hospital (UCSF) is 90+ min away, but there is a treatment center close by where I might be able to do my treatments. Any positive info re getting through combined therapy would be much appreciated.

LaughingGull

Hi Treysrib

Treysrib: I started in anastrozole last week and I have been looking into side effects; nausea is among them but I would get it checked anyway since it started suddenly months into it..

Welcome rosegeranium. Sorry you are here. Side effects will be different depending on the particular regime they put you in. I found chemo was hard but not as hard as I expected -but I am a worrier. You can do this. Are you otherwise in good health? For me light exercise helped a lot while on chemo. Was your surgery pathology report encouraging? No lymph nodes involvement? You can find there clues to prognosis.

JaBoo

Rosegeranium, good for you to have found this group in the difficult situation.... I'm also new here, currently in chemo. But I can already say the help here is tremendous.

Shelabela! What a beatiful woman you are! The short hair looks great on you, and the rest.... I'm struggling with my English here. Nobody would guess what you've been through!

LaughingGull, I am amazed, you look fabulous in the picture. As somebody said, you look like J. Kennedy. The short hair is very good-looking on you.

SpecialK, thank you for your hair pictures post-chemo. The second picture half a year later - you look so beatiful and relaxed, wow. The hair indeed looks nice, as you said - like intentional style.

Homemadesalsa!! Bravo to your MTB race, that's unbelievable!! I've read about it here and in the exercise thread. What an achievement, what an inspiration. I really feel the urge to start biking again. (My MTB got suspended 2 years ago due to my back+hip problems.) Unfortunatelly I couldn't read the article, it says I'm accessing from Europe therefore I am denied any access due to the (f*#-stupid) GDPR. If you could send me a print-screen (just a jpg), I would very much like to read the article. And thank you too for your beautifull picture, your sporty short hair looks great and very fitting for a MTB-biker.

All in all ladies, I am truly gratefull for your pictures, you have no idea how much those mean to a scared, bald and nauseated girl in the midst of chemo! That's just a figure of speech - of course you know how much it means, you've been there too... Although nobody could guess from any of your pictures. Thank you