Starting Chemo July 2012

_Ann_

Susan that's such good news about your heart functioning. My chemo anniversary is the 11th. Just two years ago I was so terrified and about through the roof with anxiety and just a couple weeks away from losing my hair. Don't miss those days one bit! Now life is pretty much normal. Not the same life as before but pretty peaceful and enjoyable. Have not gained back the robust health I wanted but it's all manageable. Also about to celebrate my 2 year wedding anniversary, which is a much happier thing to commemorate.

Maddie57

Susan - what fabulous news!!! I am sooo thrilled to hear your LVEF is up. Happy Birthday to you- what a present. Please don't try the herceptin again - you don't want to go back to cardiac failure.

mssunshine71

Susan, Happy Birthday!  I started chemo the 19th 2yrs ago.  Still in reconstruction.  So hard to decide the lesser evil!  You are a nurse as well as I.  My mom quit chemo d/t a bad blood infection on her 4th out of 6th treatment.  She is on her 5th year and finishing her hormonal treatment.  Very healthy.  If you were having major cardiac issues from herceptin you have to go with your heart on this one.  I wish you all the best!!!

Maddie57

mssunshine7 - how lovely to hear from you. What good news about your Mom. Good luck with your reconsruction.

mssunshine71

Thanks so much Maddie57

SusanHG123

A happy holiday season to my July 2012 Chemo Sisters. I reread a few pages--and wow--another year!

I still vote for a get-together someplace with hot and cold running maid service and cabana boys.

I have missed activity in this group. Would like to know how members are now...

Much love and peace

~susan

natL12

To SusanHG

I hadn't been on the page for several months...Happy New Year to you.. Let's hope it's a good one for all of us who started cancer treatments in 2012. I'm healthy, happy, and have had good check-ups. Still have some issues with neuropathy and restless legs syndrome, but even that is getting better. Nat

SusanHG123

Hi Nat! So good to see your name. And read happy, healthy, and good check-ups! Neuropathy and restless leg--must be part of the deal. I took Neurontin @ increasing doses for some time after Taxol and Taotere. Finally realized-with my MO--it was as good as it will get. I still have times when I have to drive one-handed. If I use both hands and the extreme numbness hits-it is almost steering to the curb with my elbow.

My recent bone scan matched my previous! Still searching for pain control. I took a break from the estrogen sucker--but there was not much change. I have read recently the break my need to be as long as 90 days for all drug to clear. I took 2 weeks then 30 days.

We hit the magic 3 year mark very soon!

Much love

mssunshine71

I haven't checked the boards in months as well. So glad to hear you are both well!! I had my final surgery, exchange to implants about a month ago and all went well. New Year and new beginnings to all!!

SusanHG123

mssunshine. Excellent news-final sugery that went well! Another step away from the past 2.5 years. Hope your surrounding life is good as well.

virginiab

I'll report in, too. I'm happy, healthy, and looking forward to my 3-year mammogram in May, I've had some issues with pain, presumably from the Femara. At this point I did a year of Arimidex and will finish a year of Femara next week. I'm doing my best to hand in there with the anti-hormonals and am hoping my present pain issues will either just fade away on their own or I'll learn how to manage them as time goes on.

SusanHG123

Hi Virginia,

So good to hear your are happy and healthy. Best wishes for a clear clean mammogrm in May. I can relate to pain and Femara. If you have any tricks to decrease the pain-please share!

virginiab

i've been experimenting with using a combination of Tylenol, Claritin, and Motrin. It works a fair amount of the time, but not all the time. My basic plan id to take 2 extended release tylenol and one 5 mg claritin every 8 hours, then supplement with motrin when needed. The 5 mg Claritin comes in the form of their "Reditabs," fast-dissolving little lozenges. I haven't been able to find a generic version of them. They are supposed to last for 12 hours, but don't last that long for me.

I'm also taking glucosamine/chrondoiton tabs and also turmeric in capsule form. Some days go pretty well. Others, like today, are pretty frustrating. I've got a call in to my doctor about it as I'm thinking of taking a break from the AIs and starting fresh again in 6 weeks.

SusanHG123

Thank you Virginiab. I used Claritin when I was getting Neupogin and Neulesta--but have not since. I will get some today. I have tried Excedrine in the morning and Motrin or Tylenol later. I am trying to completely avoid the narcs--don't help much anyway.

I am having a massage later today. The last one I had was with a person who had certification in cancer care. But--I left in so much pain i could hardly drive home. I talked to the new therapist quite a bit on the phone--so am hopeful. My dear friend Maddie--from the thread--has been giving me ideas also. Including massage.

Will let you know.

natL12

To SusanHG - Just being nosy....in what way did the massage cause a lot of pain?  At the cancer site, or in some other way?  Nat

SusanHG123

Hi Nat.

I was having bone and joint pain and explained to the therapist. She was certified in cancer massage and said she understood my situation. I actually stopped it during. Everypart on my body hurt but especially my long bones and shoulder joints.

The one I had Saturday was better. I was clear with the therapist as to where I was in treatment and the SEs I had. I did not hurt after-and scheduled another in 2 weeks.

Maddie57

Hi Ladies,

How lovely to hear from you all!!! Happy new year. I am so glad everyone is still well albeit with some pain issues. The massages really seem to help with pain. I would not recommend having one post chemo. I had one 2 weeks after my last chemo, and it was very painful. If the masseur had spoken English, I would have told her to stop!! As it was I stuck it out, but when I checked that night all the capillaries in my back had burst!!! Seems I should have waited a bit longer.

Maddie57

Oh - forgot to tell to tell you the funny part about the above story. I was on the Greek Isle of Rhodes 14 days post chemo as I said. I was wearing a mastectomy tankini. The lady wanted me to take my top off. Even before this, I do not go topless on the beach. The only people who have seen my breasts are my husband, and now every Tom, Dick and Harry in the medical profession. Anyway there was no way I was taking off my top to show the whole crowded beach my mutilated nippleless chest. Would have given them a horrible shock. She was so insistent, that I tried miming the fact that I had a mastectomy. Much chopping motions with the hand over the chest! She did not understand my excellent mime. I then tried drawing a one boob chest in the sand. No luck! I thought to hell with this and gave it up as a bad job. I just pulled my top up a bit and lay down, and she had to get on with the bits she could reach!

mssunshine the implants are so much more comfortable than the tissue expanders. I am so glad it went well.

mssunshine71

How is everyone? its been months since I've checked in. Thank you for responding. I hear you all with the pain of the femara. I am on Tamoxifen and my joints are painful every day. I alternate ibuprofen with tylenol #1. I just found a lump in my reconstructed breast that did not have cancer. Kind of freaking out but feel it is most likely fat necrosis. every twinge i have had so far has turned out to be nothing. (very great-fully so). I know I should get it checked to at least ease my mind but there are a few reasons I have not. Afraid it will be nothing and just the concern will raise so many tests again that I cant take time off for. Even more afraid that It will be something and can't even fathom going through that again! At least I can vent here. Have not told anyone else yet. Still deciding what to do....

SusanHG123

I can so relate. But I think everyone who has gone through what we have worries every day.

Have it checked please. For your safety and peace of mind. And let us know what the doc says. I will follow your lead wiht fat necrosis. Is it smushy? Or hard? Painless or painful. What location in your breast? Warmth?

and let us know. We are on your team.

Much love

mssunshine71

Hi Susan,

thank you for your warm thoughts. The lump is hard and round. Approx six o'clock on my left breast. I don't have any feeling in the reconstructed breast so I don't feel it. I just found it by chance. No warmth or redness as to suspect infection and no fever. I have, however had a cough I cant seem to shake for over 3 weeks now.
Another issue I have is I am in the middle of switching doctors because quite frankly I can't stand mine. I put the request for the new Doctor in and haven't heard from her yet. I don't know now if I should go to my previous Doctor since he has my history or call the new one to ask if she will take me.
I worry that if I go to the old one he may have received the transfer request and will be not so nice about it. I know it sounds silly but even making an appointment with him is so stressfull I am considering waiting. I know I have to think of my well being but if this is a new primary cancer it probably won't change much in a week.
Am I crazy?

SusanHG123

MS

Please let us know when you have been seen medically.

mssunshine71

Hi Susan,

I thought I posted yesterday but I don't see it.
I saw my doctor yesterday and had an emergency ultrasound today.

I will keep you posted...

SusanHG123

Please do.

thoughts and prayers

PaEaglesFan

I don't post often, but I think of this group almost daily. It seems there is always something that comes up that reminds me of those dark days of chemo. Even if it is just something as silly as being able to pull my hair into a pony tail now lol. My 3 year anniversary is rapidly approaching and that means another mammo. BUT, now I only have to go for them annually which will be nice. Only one major worry session/year.
RE: fat necrosis: Since I elected to have a lumpectomy, I had a nice sized dent left behind from surgery. A year later I had a reduction done on the other side and the surgeon injected some of the fat into the other breast to help even it out. It looks better shape wise, there is some discoloration that looks like a bruise and I also have a hard lump (where the fat graft was done). Some times it's even a little tender, but I think that's because I rub it a lot. Breast surgeon told me that could help break up the hard tissue.
Hope everyone is doing well and ready to enjoy some nice weather. I didn't think spring would EVER get here and now that it is, I don't want to be cooped up inside!

mssunshine71

Good To hear from you PaEaglesFan

I called my Doctors office today since it has been 5 days since my ultrasound just to find out he is on holidays until the 27th!!

Funny, he didn't mention that. I am starting to really worry. As we all know, the wait is the worst!
My armpit is now swollen and tender on the side of the lump and I have since found a second one. Maybe its in my head.

I work with a Doctor who is in the same office as my BS. She said, (before I knew my Doc was on holiday) to let her know if anything has been done early in the week and she would personally speak with the BS to set up an appt. to have the lump(s) removed.

I don't know if I should go over his head but I am a ball of nerves waiting while he is on vacation.

What would you do in this case?

mssunshine71

I called my doctor's office today.  They said test results are good and there is nothing to worry about!!!!  I am doing the Happy Dance as we speak!!

SusanHG123

Ms Sun! YEAH YEAH and more YEAH! Good news is always the BEST news. Do the happy dance, jiggle, and cartwheels!

PA Fan. I don't have any breasts-but I do have hard knots on both sides. I rub with coconut oil-or lotion-or whatever. No change. But--If you are worried--have it checked!

Much love

Maddie57

Hi Ladies- how nice to hear from you all. mssunshine- Yeah!!!!!! So glad it was nothing. Why is your armpit swollen and tender then, did they say? Fat necrosis is always a big issue with fat implants. For that reason my BS is not keen on them. Pa eagles - so glad to hear you are still well - ponytail and all!!! Aren't we lucky.

My 3rd year anniversary of my mastectomy comes up in July. After that I will breath easier, as I reckon with my aggressive tumour if there was any spread it would have reared it's ugly head by now. I started chemo after my mastectomy - trust me to be the odd one out. Big hugs ladies- you have a special place in my heart

SusanHG123

Hi ladies,

Tomorrow is my 3rd anniversary of starting chemo. Oh my! What a weaving winding road this has been. I expected to have immediate bilaterals and perkie new breasts and 4 months of chemo and done! What a joke on me! The three year mark is a big one according to my MO. Then the five year mark.

I cannot remember if I posted this already--i still have chemo brain I guess. But, I had a new port placed the end of March followed by 6-weeks of IV iron. My labs went to pot or squat or nothing. At the end of 6-weeks I was back up in a bit of a normal range for some. Had a repeat 2-weeks later-and heading south again. I started-prior to the IV iron-with 3 iron tablets a day and even ate red meat. Nothing. I also started an intense B12 injection therapy with the IV iron. Had a referral to an internal medicine doc who has now punted me to a GI doc. I have had 2 colonoscopies in the past-4 years ago and 10 years ago-both for bleeding related to those darn 'rrhoids. Then my labs were normal though. Having bleeding again--but the same as in the past. My MO moved out of state and I will start with a new one soon. I like him--but not as much as mine. The MO talk bone marrow biopsies. I do not really want to do either. I have had so many tests the past 3 years. Every time I get sent for a bone scan or PET or brain MRI I live in fear. I am crazy tired though. It got better with the iron-but am back to crazy tired.

I hope this finds our group well. I know many many suffer with pain from the estrogen suckers and estrogen blockers. I have not found a good plan to stop the pain other than stay very busy focused on something else. My hair is really thinning again-darn it. But, my skin looks good! My hairdresser is selling an amazing line of skin care products that requires medical management. I had to buck up for the cost-but after only 3-weeks my skin looks and feels so much better.

Much love to the women in our group. I hope those we do not hear from are well.