Anyone from Alberta? Edmonton? Fort McMurray?

cantgetanswers

i am from fort mcmurray, i have posted blogs all over this place.....not sure if i have posted in the rite places....

Ellendou

I am from Alberta, up by Grande Prairie.

cantgetanswers

hello ellen, how are you?....have you been havin troubles with the canadian medical services?

Ellendou

No i have had no problems at all, excellent service couldnt ask for better. Have you had problems?

cantgetanswers

yessss alot of problems.

Onelife2012

Hi there, I am in Red Deer, Alberta

Monica1971

Hi - I'm in Edmonton.  July 27th will be 1 year post-diagnosis......what a year!  How is everyone doing?

Albertan

I am in calgary.  am Getting jacked around now in oncology system.  Went for first oncology visit post-op (had a mastectomy), got told by intern I needed chemo/herceptin, then oncologist came in and said no, I didn't need anything, then got phone call 5 days later from nurse saying that when it went to a committee, yes indeed, I need chemo and herceptin (because it's ER-/PR-HER2+ with clear nodes and clear margins) but can't see oncologist now til Nove 19 because she's out of town. 

I am upset and confused and will be asking LOTS of questions on the 19th. 

Danie

Hello all

I'm from calgary

Comfort hugs,

Danie

honeybunny96

Hello everyone, new to the "club" and I'm in Calgary.  Will be good to connect with someone, as I sort of feel like I'm off in left field alone

shoppygirl

Hi Melissa

I am from Calgary. How are you doing? Have you started treatment?

honeybunny96

Hi shoppygirl... I had my bilateral mastectomy on May 29, and thought that was all I was going to need with how early we caught it.  Got the pathology back and then find out the buggers started to travel into the nodes.  So now I start chemo on July 12.  What about you?  

shoppygirl

Hi Michelle

I too had a double mastcetomy on Feb 28th. Had 2mm of cancer in a node so I guess that is considered a micro invasion. I have completed 4 of 6 rounds of chemo and then will have 15 rounds of rads as the tumor was very close to the edge of my breast. Also have a lovley 6mm lung spot that they are watching. They think it is a scar from a old infection and from doing my research it looks like half the free world has one! Who knew!

Morwenna

I'm in Calgary.



Had Mx and chemo, now half way through rads.

honeybunny96

Hi morwenna, nice to meet you. Hope things are well and looking up.

Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock

Hello, I am new - to just about all of this! Need to make a decision to do Chemo or Not? I know it was hard for perhaps all of us; but what was the one thing that put it all into perspective for YOU. My surgeon, Dr. Ryan McColl, was able to remove the entire tumor in my LB and a good margin of tissue and 3 nodes. No cancer in nodes or margin tissue. Just talked to the Oncologist, Dr. John Walker (Edmonton) here in Red Deer today. I am feeling overwhelmed at this point.

Moderators

LB-at-1-o-clock, welcome to Breastcancer.org, although we're sorry you had to find this awesome community.

You might want to post your question in the Chemotherapy - Before, During and After forum too, to connect with more members who have dealt with the same decision you're dealing with.

Best wishes!

• The Mods

shoppygirl

LB

I am sure that your oncologist will be able to help with your decision. They will be able to tell you your recurrence rate although it is only a guide. From what I have been to it is not always the size of the tumor and if it is in the nodes but the grade as well and sometimes your age. 

I had two tumors, one 9mm and the other 2cm. I had under 2mm if cancer in one node so a micro invasion.  My tumor was grade 2.  However as am only 42 and have 2 kids still at home I decided to be as aggressive as possible.  I had to know that if this beast ever came back I could honestly say I did everything I could to be here for my children. I had a bmx and 6 rounds of chemo.  I also had 16 rounds of optional rads.  It was quite unpleasant but very doable. There was not one day that I had to spend the day in bed because I was sick. They give you so many pills to help with all the side effects. I know it is a big decision but at the end if the day only your feelings and thoughts on this matter. 

Btw, you have come to the very best place for advice and support!  This site and the ladies on it are awesome!  

Good luck 

shoppygirl

Btw  by your stats it looks like you are triple negative. You may want to post there as well as I am sure those lovely ladies can offer some advice too.

Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock

Thank you for your comments, I appreciate it. I will also post to the forum as suggested by the moderator. What is Triple Negative?

Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock

Found out what Triple Negative was today, sorry I asked!  Had Chemo Ed. today, booked all my Dental appointments and then Radiation Oncologist on Jan 8th; Chemo to follow all that.

Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock

Jan 16th is my Chemo start date. 4 Cycles / 3 weeks apart. Then Radiation for 16 - 25 days depending on the Planning CT Scan that will be done by the RO. I am not a paranoid person but am gearing up to be a semi-paranoid in regards to germs in the upcoming weeks. Do any of you go outside the home during the chemo cycles? I am off work so I really do not need to go out. I am told that day 7 - 14 is the lowest of immune during cycle. I was told NOT to wear a mask. What are your experiences and preferences? Do you isolate or stay active with others? Curious.

shoppygirl

Carren. I completed 6 cycles of TC at the Tom Baker in Calgary. Initially I was very paranoid about germs but by cycle 3 I pretty much just went on with normal life. I also took time off work and I did use hand sanitizer frequently.  Also it was not flu season when I was going through treatment like it is now.   I did go shopping during the day when it wasn't so busy.  Both my kids were constantly sick while I was on chemo and I was totally fine. One thing I did do was always have cleaning wipes in my purse for my hands and surfaces and also a thermometer to check my temperate. Often I would just randomly feel very hot and would be worried about having a fever as that is a very dangerous thing to have during chemo. 

Good luck to you.  

Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock

Thanks - shoppygirl - good to know. I have some wipes and will pack my thermometer, good advice. I do not have kids at home but my husband works at a drug store aka sick people around, even ON the graveyard shift. I work at one too, that is why I have the time off work, PLUS I do a lot of heavy lifting. I will pick up some purse size hand sanitizer. One less worry.

Today is not a stellar day -  feeling scared; unusual for me. Must be the anticipation mixed with anxiety and waiting - which I am not good at - for Thursday. Tomorrow is another day. I am learning more about myself - I can be anxious AND positive - but not positively anxious. lol Humour - my best defense since denial, justification and procrastination are no longer available. LOL

shoppygirl

Yes I understand the issue with working in retail as I am a Retail Sales Rep for a dairy so I knew that I would be exposed to many germs with my job. Taking time off was definitely the right thing to do. Chemo can be very scary, we have all felt that way. Fortunately for you, there will only be 4 cycles and probably  for the first one you will have hardly any side effects. For me I was fine until cycle 5 and then things really went downhill! Oh and if you do have a tendency to get constipated easily, make sure that you have Senakot on hand. For me the constipation was the worst part!!!  It has been almost 6 months since my last chemo and although I don't feel 100%, I feel pretty good!!  

Hugs to you! 

Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock

Hi Everyone. Just posted on another site but wanted to let you know that the first Chemo treatment day was on Thursday. Some SE's with Dexamethasone - chills/flushing and now have fatigue along with boredom. Not a good combination. Now a reallly shopper, but I have reverted to going out and doing SOMETHING. However, I feel like sleeping in my truck sometimes. So come home. Perhaps I should take on my cats' lifestyle and just give in and snooze. I hope it gets better. Do you think exercise will help, like maybe walk around the block?  Oh, and thanks for the advice onthe Senakot - I normally have no problem but just to avoin ANY problem I am taking it - good thing too! LOL Sorry if that was TMI.

shoppygirl

Carren

Glad you made it through the first treatment. The side effects with the Dex are very normal. I always found the first weekend after treatment the worst for side effects. As far as walking during chemo, I did it all the time and it helped immensely. Don't push yourself too hard but I always felt better after. Hopefully the weather is cooperating in Red Deer. It is beautiful in Calgary. 

Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock

Today was beautiful outside so went for a short walk - 40 minutes via the grocery store. Still pretty icy out though so uneasy about having to walk on the actual roads - drivers being what they are. Last Dex yesterday; today is better, still a bit ansy though - nervous energy?

clarrn

Also from Red Deer thought I'd say hi.  Still in that lovely pretreatment stage! PS consult on Jan 29th.  Anxious to get things moving!!

shoppygirl

Clarrn

Welcome!  Good luck with everything!  

Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock

Good to have you onboard clarrn! Red Deer has an amazing new Cancer Center. The people are super nice and willing to help in all ways. The Breast Cancer group are there to help and support - keep in touch with them FOR ANYTHING you have questions about. I found out that NO question is wrong/stupid; knowledge is power for you. Keep on this forum and be encouraged. If you see a ol' gal with short blonde hair and pink highlights - that's me! LOL My roots are growing in but I am banking on hair loss before it gets TOO bad.