TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Omaz

Congrats to those finishing herceptin!  It is a milestone!

I also had aloxi in the premeds infusion.  nmoss -  do you get aloxi?

 

ArleneA

Hi Laides:  Congrats to those finishing and close to finishing Herceptin.  Guess, I won't reach that milestone since they will be taking me off of Herceptin but I'm remaining positive.

Chemo #3 this week.  Of course, once you are feeling back to normal, they zap you again.  I will be asking my oncologist this week about 4 vs 6 treatments...sure can't hurt to ask.

Commpazine seems to work, so far, for any nausea.  I have a prescription for Zofran too but haven't needed it (yet).

Did any of you get the roseacea (sp)?  I had it for several weeks after #2...gone now and hoping it doesn't return after #3.

Arlene

lago

Arlene I was diagnosed with Roceaca 2 months before my breast cancer diagnosis. I use Metrogel (prescription) once a day. Never had a break out, even on chemo since that initial break out last April. Initially I was using it twice a day. One thing though, the Metrogel works great but will not remove the redness. My nose is a little red but most people don't see it. I supposed I should powder my nose to get rid of it.

ArleneA

Thanks Lago...you are a wealth of information.  I'll ask my onc Thursday about it.  I don't mind the red since it is right on my cheeks but the bumps are nasty. 

Arlene

lago

Arlene don't wait. I'll only get worse. Best to get treatment right away.

Wealth of information… not by choice

nmoss1000

Hi ladies, I am back to the land of the living ! Thank you for all of your advice and encouragement. I went to the onc today and got the Emmed and a lower dosage of steroids for next TX. I sent my DH for watermelon last night an I am able to drink water and hold down food again. Congratulations to those on their last TX . it gives me hope that there is a finish line.

lago

Yeah nmoss! I so hope next time is easier. I think the Emmend will make a huge difference.

ArleneA

Glad you are better NMoss and that the Emend is working.  We were all worried about you.

Lago:  My rosecea is pretty much gone but I fear it will return after next chemo so thanks for the suggestion for the medication which I'll ask about this week.  Maybe that it isn't even rosecea since I also have a rash on one of my arms....like maybe the chemo is attacking something - maybe some precancerous skin cancers - who really knows.

Arlene

kriskat

Congrats noose on the emmend-I hope u get immediate relief next time u need it!!

SpecialK

Arlene A - I get red cheeks and flushed from the steroids.  When I only got steroids on the day of tx my face would get red for a couple of days.  Now that I am on steroids longer (for a rash after #2) I am red and flushed longer.

ArleneA

SpecialK:  If it isn't one thing, it is another, huh?  Was your rash bumpy on the cheeks? It lasted nearly 2 weeks.  I do the steroids (like most here, I believe), 8mgx2 day before, day of and day after and however much they give in the premeds. 

Thanks, Arlene

SpecialK

Arlene A - it definitely looked different on my cheeks than everywhere else - I get the whole face with more red on the cheeks and chin and upper chest.  I got it with only steroid day of tx but when they increased it on the last tx it did last longer.  It looks kind of like a splotchy sunburn.

ArleneA

Good description, 'splotchy sunburn' - sounds like the same thing.  Thank you!

ArleneA

Morning everyone:  Did I kill the blog? 

No news here is good news and hoping that everyone is doing well.

After tomorrow, I'll be 50% complete with chemo.  Today is the beginning of my steroids which I hate....I don't like the jittery feeling and more heart palpitations.  At least my at home dose is pretty low.

Have a great one everyone!

Arlene

SpecialK

Hey Arlene A,

I am steroiding (is that a word?) with you today, getting to that half-way point will feel good. I am glad I read this because I might have forgotten to take mine - for the first 3 tx I didn't do the at-home steroids.   After #3 I finally felt there was an end in sight.  I am sorry you have to feel bad right before as well.  I will be thinking about you while in the chair tomorrow!  Right now I am considering a shopping expedition for one more look for a dress with camoflage on top and some shoes that won't squish my fat feet for the wedding n Saturday that I will hopefully be able to crawl to.  Bright spot - my son is coming home tomorrow for the first time since Christmas.  I am so excited!

achpurple

Making sure I ate something with my steroids helped with my palpitations.

Omaz

I had to take the steroids on a full stomach!

TonLee - How are you doing??

ArleneA

Hi Ladies:  I took my morning steroid with a full breakfast and so far, so good.  No SEs yet. 

Good Luck Special K finding a dress and shoes...I know you'll have success and how exciting that your son is coming home.  Hooray!  Which treatment are you at now Special K?  I should remember but blame it on chemo brain.    Actually, I haven't experienced that (yet).

Arlene

lago

Arlene I never got chemo brain. Not everyone get it. Actually I don't think it's the norm but it is very real for those who get it.

TonLee

I'm good Omaz, thanks for asking.

I've been busy this week running to appointments.  I had another fill Tuesday....not much the PS wants to go easy.

Went for my CT and marks for radiation too.  My RO doesn't tattoo..just uses perm. marker with some sort of clear tape over them....I go Friday for the Xrays to make sure everything is good (not hitting anything major)..START RADS ON MONDAY!

Ugh.

Dreading it.

I will be expanded the first few weeks of Rads, and the CT, markings, and Xrays all re-done everytime....but that was the agreement my RO had to make with me to get me to start before being fully expanded.

After all this...it better work out...or I will be so disappointed.

As for the LE appointment.  My insurance has already approved it..called to make the appt and they said I have to get a "Doctor's Prescription" for it. I've never had to do that before....and it pisses me off because it means I have to make an appt to go back to my Onc. just to get it....Grrrr...at this rate, I'll never get in.

SpecialK

Arlene A - #5 tomorrow, and I am sure you have enough on your mind not to rememeber where I am in the process! It is not chemo brain!  Kind of weirdly excited - it means that in 3 weeks I will be DONE!  I have several dress options that don't yet have shoes for, and shoe options with non-appropriate dresses here at home so I have to have a fashion show in my closet and see if any of them will work - if not, shopping expedition today.  I am trying to stay away from black which I know this bride is sensitive about - but I may have to go that route.  I am so excited to see my son - this twice a year thing is really hard!  I knew my children would grow up, and we raised them to be independent and do their own thing, but they are still my babies and I always sleep better when they are all under my roof!

lago

Tonlee are you sure your onc can't just fax over the prescription? You BS or PS could do it too. I got mine from my PS. Glad to hear you're OK. Was wondering where you were too.

achpurple

TonLee - I start my rads on Monday also.  Did CT last Friday and got my markers and tape as well.  Go this Friday for final xrays, then start Monday for 20 tx not the original 30 I thought I had to get. 

ArleneA

Oh, SpecialK....you are almost finished.  How exciting and I know what you mean about having your kids under your roof.  My daughter is only 4 hours away and it is like across the country and now that she is expecting it is even more difficult.  With my chemo and her work schedule, I haven't seen her since Christmas and we are thinking of moving back to Florida so then it will be cross-country.

Ladies:  Since I will also have Radiation and know nothing about it - what does marking mean?  I guess when I get closer, the Radiologist will tell me all about it but it would be nice to know ahead of time.

Thanks, Arlene

SpecialK

Arlene A - where in FL?

TonLee and achpurple - good luck next week for rads!

ArleneA

SpecialK:  We came here from Melbourne so that is where we shall return to and I'm actually from Miami.  Are you using Moffitt for any of your treatments? 

SpecialK

My docs are all from Moffitt but my BS and his younger brother just recently formed their own practice right accross the street from Moffitt.  They do ambulatory surgery on the campus of USF diagonal across the intersection from Moffitt at the Morsani building.  My AND was done there but my BMX was done across the street the other way at UCH (I work in the Blood Bank there) because my insurance required it be done as an inpatient.  I had surgery at Moffitt in 2008 to remove a golf ball sized mass from my calf.  That was handled by the Sarcoma department but that mass was a B9 nerve sheath tumor.  My husband is from Miami - he grew up in Keystone Point in North Miami, went to NMSH and then U of Miami.  He left in 1982 to go into the Air Force but kept FL residency all these years.  His last military assignment was MacDill AFB here in Tampa, then retired from active duty and stayed in his same job as a federal civilian. 

ArleneA

Small world SpecialK. I have a friend who is a  PA at Moffitt in the Gastro dept.  Everyone I know using Moffitt and their doctors have been really pleased.

Good luck tomorrow with #5.  I can't wait until I am there.  I'm hoping SEs are minimal with #3 and #5 for you. 

Arlene

SpecialK

Moffitt is the bomb-diggity, but I have to say the first time I walked in there it was an oppressive atmosphere to the uninitiated!  I was seen in Sarcoma where many of the patients are missing limbs and still don't have a great prognosis.  I went back just a few weeks ago for the Look Good/Feel Better thing in one of their conference rooms and now it is just old hat (no pun intended!)  It is a beautiful facility and they are doing great work there.

Good luck tomorrow - I will be send you positivity while in the chair!

TonLee

Thanks SpecialK!!

Achpurple, I found out he will be doing 25 plus 6 boosts.  I thought he said 40 treatments in all, but must have misunderstood him.  I told him I'd decide how long I wanted to use the bolus and if I wanted the boosts.

I signed a consent form that basically said he is most concerned with the cosmetic outcome...that he's going to fry me....makes me sick.

Lago, I asked if that would be ok...the lady on the phone said "No.  We have to have the original order in hand  before scheduling." 

I think she was in mega bitch mode because I asked first thing if they LE Specialists were LANA certified.  She said, "Well of course they are.  They have to be."

Um, ok...but lots of "physical therapists" aren't and that's how they advertise...sports medicine physical therapists.

Oh well...just one more errand to run ...