New IBC Sister's Sister

HerSister

Wasn't quite sure where to post this, as so many areas of the board seem to apply (IBC, HER2+, Metastatic Breast Cancer).

I just wanted to take a moment to say to everyone here that has been diagnosed... you are incredibly strong, inspirational women (& men too, if any are here)!!

My sister began her first chemo treatment (carboplatin, taxotere) on Good Friday (I figure that's as good a day as any, if not better to begin chemo), so we are 3 days out now & she has basically regretted starting.  So, I am here to arm myself to be support for her, to better encourage her to remain in treatment.

I pray for healing for my sister & now will be praying for healing for everyone here!

God bless!

ibcmets

For me, chemo was easier to deal with than surgery. I went through 8 months of taxotere, cytoxin & adriamyacin.  The worst for me was of course losing all my hair, bloody noses all the time and extreme fatigue.  It greatly reduced my ibc, eliminated my 3.5cm tumor and got me stable.  I also have spinal bone mets and have been on zometa monthly which has healed my bones.  They are stronger and not active any more.

Your sister will have scans probably every 3 months the first year to check status.  Keep encouraging & supporting her.  Thanks for the prayers.

Terri

HerSister

Hi Terri,

Thank you for helping me to feel welcome here.  I've read somewhere here, that this forum is also for people w/ loved ones w/ BC, but I guess I kind of feel like an intruder as I'm only experiencing a fraction of what you all are and secondhand at that.  My heart goes out to everyone here!

My sister is on her way to get her 1st Herceptin treatment, and is scared.  She's afraid of more side effects that will make her feel sick or hurt more (the leukine really did her in, yesterday - it was also her first shot of that) and of course, she's afraid of it damaging her heart.  This is all so new for her and she's one that prefers natural alternatives, doesn't trust doctors and goes years w/o taking any kind of drug at all, unless absolutely necessary.  While I too, prefer the homeopathic route, I'm 99.99% sure this is one of the times that you need medicine.  I'm not 100% sure simply because when she tells me that she's made a mistake taking the chemo & she sounds so horrible & is miserable, I start second-guessing the decision too, because it is so hard to know she is suffering.  My heart is broken.  And, unfortunately, we've read so many *promising* alternatives, but how do you know which one will work???

I know everyone is different, as I've heard of some women say that their mastectomy was not as bad as chemo.  My sister cries at the mere mention and thought of the future surgery.  So, my guess is that will be worse than the chemo for her.  Other than the obvious of losing one or both breasts, she's also terrified of general anesthesia.

I am so glad the Zometa has helped you!!  I don't have all the specifics yet, to incude in the bottom of my posts as most everyone else has.  Right now, she's a stage III but has not yet gotten the results of a PET CT Scan she had done last week.  She's only mildly ER+ or PR+ (can't remember which, but I think it was estrogen), so they will give her a blocker just to take all measures.  She is Her2+.

Thanks again, Terri!  God bless!

With prayers,

Marianne 

leisaparis

So sorry your sister has to join our group, but thank you for being her advocate(sp). Sometimes when we get the news it's so overwhelming that we don't think we can go on. It is the help from family & friends like you that make it all better to deal with. Ask anything you want. We are here to help no matter who is asking the questions. Please let your sister know that it does get easier. I, myself, was like her. No drugs of any kind unless it was the last resort. I was in excellent health until I got cancer. A little overweight but nothing to get worried about. Never went to the dr. Always took home remedies. But, for IBC, I believe these drugs are necessary. I know I'm still alive because of them. I hope your sister starts having some better days soon. Good Luck & God Bless.  Leisa

AlaskaAngel

Hi,

Yes - breast cancer support sites have lots of actively posting family and friends of bc patients. I happen to be a hybrid myself, as you can tell from my signature, but also, I share your sister's perspective about treatment in general, and tend to be chemophobic. IBC is such a minority among bc patients that not until recently has any real research been done on it, and what resarch has been done still is very limited. Given that some but not all versions of it are very aggressive, it can be too easy to lump them all together and just shoot every chemo cannon at it. My sister (who is the one with IBC) is doing fine. Feel free to ask any question, none are silly.

AlaskaAngel

HerSister

Hi LeisaParis & AlaskaAngel,

Thank you both so much for welcoming me!

Leisa - you were right about the getting easier part, she's feeling really good now & has her appetite back.  Her voice even sounds happy again!  Basically like her old self, before talk of cancer, chemo, etc.  I know she'll have more 'bad' days, but as long as there are some 'pretty good' days along the way.  Heck, I think we'd settle for 'decent' days!  It's so refreshing after last week (her first week after her first chemo/Herceptin/Leukine)!

God bless!

Marianne