March 2012 chemo

kltb04

Yay! Surgery is done. Take it easy and keep us posted.

IndigoMont11

Wellllll, I am still looking for the number of the Taxotere truck that hit me. :-( I didn't feel nearly as bad yesterday as today, and my tx was a week ago. I managed a little work this a.m. but that was that. Been in bed most of the day. Called doc and heard what I thought I'd hear - 99.6 is not a fever, and to keep drinking water. I can say that the body aches and stomach cramps are better but crap, I want it to be better than this!



Sorry for whining.

kltb04

Indigo



((((hugs)))) whine away.

KCB

Lost: good to hear from you!

Indigo: crap on feeling crap.

Alice: good job with yr PICC. Glad it was uneventful.

Kam: my first mammo was the diagnostic as well. Age 43 at the time. I remember hearing somewhere that a lump grows approximately 1cm/6months... I don't know where I heard that and it might be untrue...

Hugs all.

MichelleMassey

Hello all! Took a while to catch up on everybody. Things have been busy around here.



Lost-hope all is well with you. Sending healing and comfort prayers your way.



Indigo-sorry you're feeling bad. And there's nothing wrong with whining. That's why we're here. And we all know we have those days.



Alice-glad you made it through the PICC line. Hopefully things will go smoother with it.



Kam-there's no one in my family ever who had cancer. I was 44 when I had my 1st mammo and was also diagnosed. I'm BRCA negative I just found out. The only reason I went in was due to breast pain. I was 3.5 cm at dx.

lanagraves

Hi everybody. Trying to catch up. Lost - hope the surgery went well. Thinking of you. Alice - glad you got the PICC line done. Indigo - whine away. That's what we're here for. As to family history and young age, I'm in the same boat with several of you. I'm 38 and had my first mammo in February (which is when I was dx'd). No family history, no risk factors. Haven't had the BRCA testing done yet, but I plan to. Tumor was almost 4 cm when they found it, 4 positive nodes (two with palpable tumors in them).

QuinnCat

Thank you all for your responses.  I have to say I'm very surprised.  They say the average age of BC is 61, but this group is clustered around 40 and nearly all, your first mammo.  (Ofcourse, having a stats background, I'm perfectly aware that maybe only you "youngsters" are answering my question!  Also, I'm sure there are theories that computer web forums can be skewed to a younger average age.)  Here, I AM high risk (BRCA2+) and dx'd at 57.  If it's any consolation to those getting their first mammo, my BC was not picked up in the mammo 2 years previous to my dx and my breasts are NOT dense, so could have been seen, if visible (I do suspect there are different standards among Radiologists and plan to get a copy of my 2009 & 2011 mammo, to compare myself).

Lana - what made you get a mammo 2 years before the recommended age?? Did you feel it first then ask for a mammo?

Lost - to your excellent recovery xxo 

kltb04

Hi everyone...nothing going on here - I am SO lazy these days.  Sitting watching CNN - so sad.

Kam-  that is a good point - that the web forums could be skewed to a younger age.  I did have a nurse tell me at my MO's office that I was the youngest patient that had right now.  My BS told me she is seeing younger patients more and more and that she had a couple of girls in their 20s. While I wish that I could have been dx earlier, in reality, had I been diagnosed last year at this time, we didn't have the insurance we have nor the income so finances would be much more of an issue than they are.  We still live on a reasonably tight budget but I am able to stay home, not worry about work and bills, etc...(last fall, DH left his long time company, went to work somewhere else, wasn't happy, and his old company wooed him back with a raise).  So maybe things worked out for the best.

lost - hope you are recovering comfortably as possible.

 lana -hope work is going well. 

Michelle - good to see you and hear all is well.  Yay on BRCA negative!

KCB - I think it all depends on the grade, etc as far as how fast it grows...I had gone a few months before for an issue in the opposite breast and I can't recall if she did a clinical exam on both at that time (different NP)  But since mine felt like a "ridge" or even the "tail" of tissue, I don't know if the NP would have even felt it as a lump.  The BS told me that finding it a few months earlier wouldn't have made much difference though.

Alirght, I at least need to clean the kitchen and unload the dishwasher.  Definitely not going anywhere.  Actual temps of 104 with heat index of 108 - yuck!

Myleftboob

So sad watching the news about the shootings near Denver.  We've just experienced a rash of shootings near Toronto over the last few weeks.  Mostly gang related mind you but of course the innocents get caught in the cross fire which is the sad part.  They could snuff eachother out all day long as far as I care. 

Not as hot hear today unless you're sitting in the sun.  Got some weeds picked at least, I figured better get it done today because its supposed to get hot again.

I hope everyone has a nice relaxing weekend free from SE's!!!

IndigoMont11

Yes.... I've been listening to the news most of today because it is pretty much all that is on the local stations.  My family and friends as far as I know are unaffected - we live on the other side of town from Aurora.  But so many, too many, hurt and killed.    Keeping the victims, their families and the first responders in my thoughts and prayers. 

onvacation

Yes, the news from CO was heartbreaking - what is getting into people these days?!

On the when you were diagnosed - I was 50 and they found it on my yearly mamogram.  I get one every year since I was 38 and there was never a concern.  I think what surprised them is that I was triple negative and it wasn't hormone related, which I guess is more common specially at my age.  It breaks my heart that so many of you found them so young! 

MichelleMassey

Ok ladies, here's a question off topic. Have any of you on Taxol started getting acne? I've never had acne in my life and now I look like a teenager!just when you think you can't get any freakier looking.....

lostinmo

Hi all, thanks for the support!  I'm home from the hospital now and things are not going to bad. I hate the drains, for me they are bulky and in the way. My arm in numb underneath from just above the elbow all the way up. I didn't get to talk to the BS afterward yesterday. I think she was way behind schedlue for the day as she had to help another surgeon and put her behind.  DH said she came out and talked to him for about 15 seconds to let him know I was out of surgery. Something was said about the nerve under my arm but he can't remember if she said they saved it or that they couldn't save it.  Guess time will tell or when I see her this week.  The pain isn't too bad but I'm not letting it, taking the percocet when it starts about every 8 hours. I don't think that's too bad I could take them every 4.

Indigo- hope your feeling better!

About age I'm 45 found the lump myself had never had a mammo (my bad). No history in the family.

Can you tell I'm bored?

Just read about what happened in CO heartbreaking news. I just don't understand some things.

Done rambling 

MichelleMassey

Lost-glad you're home and doing well! Check another step off your list. Keep us updated and get some rest.

IndigoMont11

Hi lostinmo! So glad you are home! Sounds like you are doing the right thing, relaxing and taking your pain meds. My upper arm was really numb after my surgery too, and a lot of it is permanent, but there's been some improvement.

Oh, yes, I feel much better today. Finally!



So far I still haven't heard that any of our friends were involved in the horrible shooting, but there were so many, I'm afraid the stories are still coming out. I hope they can dismantle the explosives in the shooter's apartment soon.



Gentle hugs to you!

Myleftboob

Lost

When I had surgery and the drains were in I didn't exactly know where they were place until they were removed. One ran right down the back of my arm almost to the elbow.  There was alot of numbness and I was told the feeling may never come back.  For the most part it has but not totally.  It doesnt affect range of motion or anything and I rarely even think about it until I get an itch.  When I go to scratch it then I realize that there is still a bit of numbness that will likely never go away.

Once those drains are removed you will feel like a new woman I promise.  They suck big time but they're doing what they're supposed to.  A friend of mine had a LX and they never placed any drains. Within a couple of days the back up of fluid was so bad it looked like someone took a baseball bat to her.  When she visited me after my MX she asked if she could have a look (she's an ex nurse) and was totally shocked that there was zero bruising.  Hang it there baby!

lanagraves

Lost: Glad you're home!



Kam: I felt some lumpiness and mentioned it to my ob/gyn at my annual checkup. He wasn't terribly concerned but sent me for a mammo just in case. The rest is history.

onvacation

Lost, glad you are home and ok - yes the drains suck!  I still have a little numbess under my arm and on part of my back, but it isn't as much as when I had the surgery.  I had a lumpectomy and some nodes removed.

lostinmo

MLB thanks for the tip with the numbness. It's really just weird feeling. I was told I had to shave with electric razor from now on so I don't nic myself.  I don't seem to have a lot coming out of the drains. Only about 15cc at a time and I've only emptied them once so far. The nurse wasn't getting much more than that either.  I hope this means they might get to come out sooner than 10 days.

IndigoMont11

Lostinmo - I hope so too, that the drains can come out soon. It is possible - I had three and they took one out I think only five days after my surgery. The other two came out less than a week later.



I bought an electric shaver too. I did use it two or three times before chemo. Hopefully you aren't having to shave just yet, though!

lostinmo

Indigo no shaving yet. That was just on this list of things they told me. Along with not letting any one draw blood or take blood pressure in that arm any more.  I'm sure there were others but she told me right before they took me back so I'll have to have them go over it again.  I told my DH that I was going to go all natural and never shave again.  He didn't it very amusing. LOL

KCB

Lost: glad you're home!

Triplem: yes to acne, though mine is from taxotere... Lovely.

TrailGirl

Lost... Glad you are doing well. I'll be following your posts since I will be up soon for surgery.



As for DX... I found the lump in December of 2010 and immediately called my gynecologist. After a mammo and ultrasound she said it was fibrous and not to worry. A few weeks later I let her know that it was growing and it hurt to raise my arm. Another mammo and ultrasound. Once again, she said it was nothing, but mentioned a needle biopsy in passing. I jumped on it and said lets do it. So we are in March of 2011 now and the needle biopsy came back NEG! I still felt like something was wrong but how could I argue with a doctor, a radiologist (2 actually), and a neg biopsy. I ended up calling the doctor again again and again because it was growing very large. I told her to just take it out. She said that it was so big (basically my whole breast...yes I have itty bitty's), that there was nothing inconspicuous to take out. So again, I told myself to settle down and live with it.



I continued to chat with my doctor through their online system when ever something new came up, like nipple retraction, but it was always "nothing". Finally in January 2012 I went in for my yearly check up. She called me the next day to say that there has been a significant change since the last time she examined me and wanted to send me for yet another mammo and ultrasound. The radiologist immediatly said i needed a core biopsy and then the fateful call from the doctors office that she wanted to see me first thing in the morning. DX was February 2012. But it should have been December of 2010. Am I pissed, yeah, you betcha. I'm thinking that I wouldn't have lymph node involvement if she would have caught it sooner. But I can't move forward if I always look back and wonder.

QuinnCat

triplem - funny you should mention acne.  Maybe chemo does "rejuvenate our skin."  In your case, your skin has been sent back to your teenage years - lol.  Seriously, my gf just told me today that the one GOOD SE of chemo is that it does rejuvenate our skin (I didn't ask her how she knows this, but she's the kind of woman that researches things).  Now, I'm 58, with very few if any wrinkles anyway, but I've had 2 people tell me how good my skin looks in the last week.  Could it be true?  Maybe it's like a chemical peel of sorts??

QuinnCat

Trailgirl - that must be so frustrating!  Did you ever get an explanation why the first biopsy came back negative??

MichelleMassey

KCB-yes very lovely isn't it? Are you using anything that helps with it? I'm trying Olay pro x for acne. I've only used it 3 times so don't know if it's working yet. If it gets any worse you're going to see me on proactive commercials!

MichelleMassey

Kam-chemo has done the exact opposite on me. I never had dry skin or pimples now I have both! Even my mom said "how terrible, you always had beautiful skin". This is one of those f$@/ cancer moments!

TrailGirl

Kam... The only thing my doctor kept saying was that she didn't know why that first test came back negative. She looked pretty distraught, but not as distraught as me.

TrailGirl

Kam... The only thing my doctor kept saying was that she didn't know why that first test came back negative. She looked pretty distraught, but not as distraught as me.

onvacation

Trailgirl - wow that is wrong.  You knew there was something wrong and you kept pursuing it. I would be pissed, but all  you can do is move forward and not dwell on something you can't change.  Of course, doesn't it make it easier.  ((((HUGS)))))