Sept 2012 chemo

Neta69

Forever, Congratulations on your last chemo!

Cindi, We missed you! Happy to hear you are almost done with Taxol. Hang in there and stay in touch.

Amy, Hoping all goes smoothly with your surgery this week.

Jojo, Hope the weekend gave your skin a chance to recover a bit. One week done.

I finally lost some weight last week! I have a feeling I'll have to work really hard at it.

I went skiing with a friend yesterday! Was a bit nervous and have sore legs today but it was great!

jojo2373

Yeah Neta, I have promised myself to try harder this week.

Mariposa123

Oncologist just wrote me and said no more chemo.  Oh well, it was worth asking.  I then spoke with my surgeon's scheduler and she said my surgery has been moved to feb 26th!  Uggh.  I started crying and getting super upset.  I think she felt bad.  She said that she would see what she could do to get me scheduled for the 20th and would call me later.  The 26th is six week past final chemo.  I think someone on this thread talked about feeling like she had a time bomb attached to her chest.  That feels so accurate to me.   Plus, I have already scheduled people to watch children etc! 

 I have been starting back on my anti-cancer diet and have lost a couple of pounds in the last week.  I get so depressed thinking that this new way of eating will be my lifetime diet... not just something I can do for a little while.   I feel like it is yet another thing that cancer is robbing from me.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

 

Hopex3

JoJo...Do you have rads every day?



Neta...Good for you for going skiing. How fun! Where do you live that your so close to the mountains?



Mariposa...I'm hoping you get your surgery changed to the 20th. Waiting is so hard!

I'm going back on the anti cancer diet as well. But if I want a cheeseburger and fries every now and then, I'm eating it.



I'm getting hooked up with a nurse practioner that deals in survivorship next week. She will go over nutrition, fears and feelings, acupuncture (if I want) so it should be interesting. Since I'm done with treatment, I feel kinda kicked to the curb and ask myself, what do I do now. So hopefully, this nurse will give me some perspective on my new life.

I go back to work on Wednesday. Not sure if I'm ready as I'm really tired.

kelleyb

Mariposa - sorry you didn't get the answer you wanted.  At some points I guess we have to trust and move the ball forward with acceptance.  I'm not even done with chemo and some gals are whizzing through rads, though we started at the same time!  I've lost so much time along the way, it gives me that kind of stress at times. I waited a month after chemo for surgery, only to have that plan change.  It's unnerving.  

What is the anti-cancer diet?  I need to get on the ball about weight loss, it's going in the wrong direction.  

I had a PET scan this morning.  They promised to send the report over today to my oncologist.  This was not something I expected to have since we already decided to go to more chemo.  Please let there be nothing new outside the breast and lymph nodes.  Last year I had some activity around the sternum, which they screened out with a bone scan, but it's scary anytime they take a look inside.  Though I am for tests, so now I need to suck it up!

jojo2373

Mariposa, so hopeful they can move your date up. You plan your life, thoughts, hopes around the date and then it gets shattered. Not fair.



Hopex- yes rads are 5 days a week. Had 6 of 33 today. Will be very interested in how you feel about the survivor program.



Kelleyb - Praying for no new hot spots on the scan!



Amy, hoping the 13th is a go!



I read a article that said a glass of red wine each day during rads helps with the healing. Cheers!

Mariposa123

Uggh.  They told me I could have the 20th, but I would have to go with a different plastic surgeon.   I said okay- changed plastic surgeons without even thinking about it.  Then my breast surgeon's nurse called and said she would work with whoever I chose, but that she was very much more comfortable with the first surgeon (no info as to why).  I saw a video with the new surgeon, who looks really great - but doesn't believe in reconstructive surgery with radiation following (and I have read that others feel like reconstructive surgery with rads is never a good idea)  ... so after changing all of my appointments, I called back and decided to keep my original surgeon and move the date to the 26th.  Feeling like a mess.

Oh well... now I have more time to get myself ready for surgery.  Have to tell everyone the new date and hope they can help a week later.  All of it sucks.

Kelleyb: I will be thinking about you and hoping that all of scans turn out clear.  It is so hard to have everything take so long and to trust in this process.  And it is hard when things get delayed.  I remember at the conference I went to, Dr. Pegram said that breast cancer was like snowflakes... no two are alike.  Which I was just amazed by.  No wonder all of our treatments are so different.  So, I guess you are right, at some point we just have to let go and trust in the process (which is not easy for my over controlling personality)

The anti-cancer diet sucks.  I love fat- meat and sugar... which are all not really good for our survivorship.  This is a good link with ideas about an anti-cancer diet (only I am staying away from soy because I am estrogen positive.  I know there is some controversy around soy - so I am just staying away).  

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/family-nutrition/anticancer/12-dietary-changes-will-lower-your-cancer-risk

Hopex:  Good luck going back to work on Wednesday!  I hope that you are able to rest these last couple of days.  I think it is probably a good idea to go back midweek -so you can have short work week, and hopefully you get a long weekend for president's day!  Survivorship sounds hard.  The place that I go to my support group has several groups.  I am in the young women newly diagnosed group (going through treatment)  but there is also a young women surviving group that meets once a month.  They seem to have a great time together- going out for dinner, having parties, etc.  Maybe you can find something like that in your area.

Okay... I am exhausted today.

 

kelleyb

Woo-hoo!  Got the call - my PET scan looks good.  I start FEC & herceptin Wednesday morning.  

Mariposa - it is a running joke at my oncologist office that we always seem to end up with Plan C.  I am starting to become ok with the uncertainty and frequent change of plans that seem to be part of my "snowflake" journey.  All in the service of living and moving on to the survivor stage.  

Thanks for posting the anti-cancer info.  I need to do something about my resemblance to Melissa McCarthy, much as I find her hilarious.  I've read the studies - a higher BMI and bad nutrition do play a role in long-term survival.

jojo - My specialist in Philly said that due to the lack of complete response to chemo I will likely have rads twice a day. Yowza.  So much for working through rads.

Hope - best wishes as you return to work.  

My aunt Janette drove up from Charleston, SC to be here to help me recover from surgery.  Turns out that though my mom knew on Friday that I would not have the surgery she deliberately did not tell her sister until she arrived Sunday.  WTF mom.  Janette brought me a wonderful surprise - three dolls that belonged to my grandmother, with whom I was very close and took care of when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  They are pristine in the original box with all documentation.  I have to say, I am so over my mom and her "can't be bothered" response to my cancer.  Last year I made the decision to move 3 miles from my mom so as to be nearby and take care of her but she rarely comes by to see me.  I so envy those who have close and loving relationships with their mothers to lean on during this journey.  Oh well, I've got Matt, my dad, friends, and my four beloved dogs which is a lot.

Foreverchanged72612

Mariposa: the waiting is very difficult, isn't it? Between 4 and 6 weeks after chemo is all good, though. I know I felt so frustrated that they had never been upfront with me about my surgery options with time frames. They simply gave me the "bmx only" option and the "bmx + tissue expanders" option but they never told me that option bmx meant greater freedom in choosing the dates and that bmx plus tissue expanders would be difficult to schedule because of the two surgeons' schedules. I, too, had scheduled care for me and the kids before they moved my surgery date. I don't know if my parents are going to be able to switch their flights. BUT, with the extra time we were given, we'll be able to work out and get our bodies into the best pre-surgery shape, right?

Neta: way to go!!!! You are an inspiration.

Umm, I'm not doing very well in the exercise department. I don't know if it was because it was my last one or not but I was on a high afterwards. I didn't feel sick at all. In fact, DH and I shared a poutine. Mon dieu!!

Cocobean

Kelly- great news!



Mariposa- sorry to hear about the delay, hang in there and try not to stress to much, easier said than done, I know. I know we are in the reverse situation, but I was delayed starting chemo after my surgery and its frusterating when you think you have the details worked out and planned and BAM everything changes...just try to breathe.



Amy- sending you lots of good vibes and prayers as your date approaches.



Forever- congrats on last chemo



Neta- skiing awesome! Love your new pic....how many weeks are you PFC?



I have been posting and reading on the daily exercise thread, helps me stay motivated and love hearing about how much people who are further along can do!



I wonder too about the survivorship aspect of things, I will be on Herceptin until sept, so will see my MO and nurses every three weeks....it will be strange. Right now I am mostly trying to focus on getting through rads, 11/33 completed so far and trying to build up my strength and energy...I have major anxiety about going back to work, I teach 7th grade and I really miss it, the studetns, my colleagues, but am also nervous as well...I have been off since I started chemo. Won't be going back until April, but kinda thinking about it a lot. Good luck to those of you returning to work soon or already back...any advice?

Cherioo

Kelly great news... Jojo how's rads going ? I am counting down with you



Marioposa thinking of you. Everything will be ok



Amy - hope your cold is gone

bearcub

Mariposa and Forever I pray your waiting for surgery goes quickly. Mariposa you are so right about the watching what we eat is now a forever thing...not just a few week diet. I feel now that I am on tamoxifen the same thing, foods or drugs that interact. I just had a nasty cold and had to be careful what I bought for relief.



JoJo one week down, you can do this. If you are pinking up do the saline soaks 2-3 times a day, it draws the heat out of the breast.



Amy I am thinking of you, you will soon be on the road to recovery and a step closer to the end of active treatment.....I will say a prayer.



Kelley wonderful news on the clear scan.



Neta you look great and wow a day of skiing would be fun!



Cindi you are almost done chemo, and on to the easier stuff....rads. I will be here five years from sept 2012 for our reunion.



I tried putting up a picture of my hair growth, could really only see if I took a picture from the top as it is so white.....it is coming along and if I am brave maybe no more hats in a few weeks!!...



Everyone have a great week!

Cindi74

Thanks all.  Have kept up with reading all the posts. Just didn't have much to say.

jojo, I start 33 rads on march 20.  Will be following to see what you learn and how you are doing.

Amy, prayers.  Keep us postted.

Cherioo,  I'm near Altamonte Springs Florida. I know no one near who is bc now.   

Mariposa123

KelleyB:  Yippee on the clean scans.  I know you must be relieved.  Such is our life now, our hearts skip a beat with every test.

Cindi:  It is so nice to hear from you again:-)  Congrats on finishing up with chemo soon. 

Bearcub:  The hair looks awesome!  I don't have nearly as much hair as you, but I am thinking of going without hats in few weeks too.  I am just tired of hats and wigs.  I only want to wear a hat because I am cold. 

Neta:  Your hair looks awesome too- and it must have felt so nice to get away! 

Amy:  I know your surgery is coming up fast.  Thinking about you and can't wait to hear that you are recuperating:-)

Thanks everyone for all of the encouragement.  I am not the most flexible of people, so this has all been very challenging.  But, I will adapt and survive:-)  I am one of those people that will have a crazy emotional tantrum, then breathe and be fine.  I just hope that the surgery for the 26th happens without any further issues!  Pre-op appointment is on Thursday.

I was wondering from everyone what are the supplements you are including in your anti-cancer diet?  The things I am taking for sure right now include - tumeric, vitamin D, bunches of b vitamins, vitamin c, chia seeds, flax seeds, and alpha-lipoic acid (for the neuropathy).  After surgery and radiation, I am hoping to add a baby aspirin.  What are you all taking???

EnglishRose75

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted for a while, so thought I would check in.  Congratulations to everyone who is finishing up, and keep going, those of you who still have treatments to get through.

After finishing rads, I decided to have some sessions with a clinical psychologist who specialises in working with cancer patients.  I've never been to any kind of counselling before, and my worries are probably no more or less than anyone else's, but my view was that having treated the body, it would also be a good idea to pay some attention to the mind.  This has been one stressful experience, and I wanted to see if there were techniques I could learn to help me to move on in a positive way.  I personally have found it really helpful, because she knows exactly what to say and what not to say.  Like for instance, if one more person says "you're going to be fine" (who the hell knows) or "stay positive" (added extra pressure, thanks very much), I might actually scream at them.  What I have acknowledged through my time with her is that I can tie myself up in knots, trying to solve a problem where there is no solution (i.e. will the cancer come back, no-one knows the answer to that), or I can choose the moments when I can bear to think about that and when I can't.  We've been talking about how to manage my thought processes--like for instance, why is it now that the happiest moments now can bring on such sadness.  Of course it's because in a happy moment, sometimes one's mind immediately leaps to "Oh my God, this is what I would miss if the worst were to happen." We've talked about the way in which I can recognise those moments and actively tell myself to pause and not go there, to appreciate the present, and to contemplate the worst case scenario (which we all probably do at some points) at moments when I feel mentally robust enough to deal with that reality.  Anyway, it's all fairly deep stuff, but interesting and incredibly useful.

Mariposa, my supplement list is roughly the same as yours.  The turmeric information that I've been reading is really encouraging.

Hope everyone has a good day

jojo2373

Bearcub, tell us more about saline soaks.



Cheerio, Going well. Saw the RO and got order for blood work. Hoping to be less tired, how about you?



Mariposa, I also take 5000mg biotin for my hair growth.



Happy day to all!

Foreverchanged72612

Big thanks to Mariposa for helping me change my avatar. It's the three me's: brunette, bald and blonde!! Hope you're doing better, Mariposa.

I, too, would like to hear more about this post chemo diet some of you are on. I will add this to my "new normal" list.

Bearcub: wow! Your hair looks great. What growth!! And I second Jojo's question: what are these saline soaks again?

Jojo, Cherioo and anyone else on radiation: how long do the treatments typically take? I will have to travel two hours each way to radiation so I am currently weighing the options for travel. There is a monthly bus pass from the closest city to me to the one where I'm getting treatment. It's about $600. I certainly won't be able to drive every day.  Depending on how long each treatment is, I could potentially be away from home like a regular work day. Thank goodness I'm on leave from work to do it!! I could rent a furnished apartment and stay there during the week but then DH would be alone with the three kids and a furnished apartment is around $1000. There's a cancer residence for people coming from out of town, too. It costs only $20 a day including three meals a day. There aren't many spots so I will phone today to see what their availability is.

Amy4978

Thanks for all the prayers and encouraging words! All of you are amazing... I think I am prepared as one can be, physically and emotionally... I will def keep all of you posted for sure! My hubby said he would hop on and write a post for you all. Today I am heading to the ps to have a map drawn on me. Fun stuff! Tonight we will be sleeping in a hospital hotel its walking distance to the hospital and since I have to be there at 630am I will be arriving in my pj's! Much love to all of you...



Mariposa.... I take biotin, VD3, turmeric, prenatal vitamin... I will keep you posted! Your right on my heels sister....

Amy4978

Hipphipp horray! My PS said I can shower with my drains in!

Hopex3

I'm nervous about meeting with my onc today. I had bloodwork done yesterday and can see my results online. My platelet count has gone way up!! It has been in the normal range all the way through treatment. Of course, I looked it up and it could mean liver cancer, bone marrow cancer....so I'm freaking out. I meet with her in three hours!

bearcub

Hi everyone,



Recipe for saline compresses, I was given by the Rnurse.



Heat one litre(4 cups) of water to boiling, remove from heat

Add 1.5-2 tsp. of table salt. Stir until dissolved

Pour solution into a clean container( I used a jar)

Cover and leave out at room temperature to cool

Make a fresh solution each morning



To use



Wash hands with soap and water

Place gauze or clean washcloth in a bowl

Cover gauze or washcloth with the room temperature saline solution

Lay wet gauze or washcloth over treatment area for 10-15 min. Remoisten if required

Discard gauze after use, or throw washcloth in laundry

Gently dry surrounding skin

Repeat 2-3 times per day



Hope this helps, it really did help me.

bearcub

Hope I think your counts are out of whack from the treatments and your body will settle down. Try and breath, cancer just sends us all for a loop, we just have such a hard time trusting our bodies again.



English Rose thanks so much for sharing some insight on seeing a therapist, and how it has helped you.



I know there was some chatter on here about the Canadians and rad treatments, I am canadian, had 16 treatment plan. I also did do chemo and am her2+, My tumour was a stage 1 but grade 3. Someone on here thought if you did chemo and had her2+ that 16 day plan wasn't a option. My RO told me the 16 days was plenty. (I was quite shocked but pleased about that)



Have a good week everyone, and Amy we are in your pockets tomorrow ..

Amy4978

Hopex.... Breath! Lord knows i have been... Cancer sucks! It messes with our mind body and soul... You are healthy!

damiana9

Mariposa- I am sorry your tumor didn't disappear, I imagine that would be quite upsetting.  And then with surgery being changed around- ugh!  So you are planning on having a TE put in, and then rads?  Or are they doing direct to implant during surgery?  My PS won't touch me for a minimum of 6 months after rads is finished- I have a filled TE, but can't get anything else done with it.  All this waiting sucks!

Amy- good luck with surgery tomorrow.  My radiation appointment lasts about 5 minutes.  Maybe 5 minutes more because of changing clothes and waiting- it is FAST...  Once a week I see the rad onc after my rads, and on those days I am still out of there in less than an hour!

I am not nearly as tired as I was last week on rads! yeah!   And I have actually found the energy to redecorate my bathroom and get some major cleaning done that hasn't really been done since september!   Oh yea- and the big one is that I resubmitted my application to grad school for next august!  Nothing better screw it up this time!

Cherioo

Amy, good luck tomorrow. Prayers are coming your way. You will do great. Regarding radiation... I am usually in and out 20 minutes . Treatment last 10 minutes . I drive a total of 45 miles a day which is nothing. Get some great rest tonight we look forward hearing from you .

Mariposa123

Damiana:  I really have no idea what the plastic surgeon is going to do to me!  We talked for ten minutes prior to chemo, and I haven't seen him sense.  And at the ten minute meeting, i was completely out of it and can't remember anything he said.  Anyway, I am meeting with him on Thursday so I will find out more.  I was thinking about switching to another surgeon, but he doesn't  believe in doing any reconstruction when there is radiation.  I think that would make me so unbelievably depressed... so I opted to keep my later surgery date:-(  Glad you are getting your energy back!  and good luck with the grad school application!

Hopex3

Amy....Good luck tomorrow!! Sending you lots of healing, pain free vibes!



Saw my onc today and she told me to relax about my high platelet count. ,she said they are

All out of whack because of surgery. I will go back in a couple of weeks for another blood test.

She also is having a clinical nurse call me Re: the metformin clinical trial. Not sure what I think of that

Or even if I qualify. Better do some research unless any of you have information?



Hope everyone is having an ok day!

patriciahurtado

Amy..........i know that you will do great ...you're a fighter!!!........im right behind you...

yesterday wasent a good day..i went to pick up some paper work from my MO for my husbands job so he can take medical leave on my days of recuparation... well the coordinator started to talk to me about surgery and we can satrt setting up a date .....which i really froze cause i have a Doctors appt. on 2/18 i wasent specting to talked about it that day....i just got really scared and she kept on saying how she understood how overwhelming it is and rubbed my arm.....really i wasent overwhelmened ...i wasent prepare i was just picking up papers......so i left and told her that i would be back on the 2/18,........then i go to work and get this called from my onco and she tells me that i need to start working out and that not to eat sweets cause my sugar level is high and that i might have diabetes ....??? really.....really......every time they do blood work im not fasting so thats that have anything to do why my sugar level is high????can some one tell me.......then at work, out of no where i start to bleed from my nose........so as i was driving home had a melt down and just cried all the way home and was mad cause i have never had any health issues in my life i dont even remember ever bleeding from my nose when i was young and now diabetes......really.....i have my days that i feel that i have nothing...and it feels good but yesterday i was afraid of dying.......and my anxity level was crazy............i have 2 more chemos to go to ...so happy but scare cause surgery is right around the corner and i dont know what to do??? is not that i have an option but i wanna just cry all day.... i am scare ......i hope by the time i have surgery i will be ready...i love you my sisters for support but i wish we can go out to dinner and just talk about it...

PatinMN

Hopex3, I saw my MO today and asked about Metformin.  He told me that the trial is closed to early stagers (I'm 1a) and that he wouldn't prescribe it separately because there wasn't data to support its effectiveness.  I guess I am OK with that, although it sounded from what I've read like it might be a really helpful drug.  There is a whole thread about Metformin somewhere on this website, although it must not be very active - at least I haven't seen it lately in the "active threads". 

Amy - I hope everything goes perfectly tomorrow!

How did this page get all out of whack?  Or is it just my computer?

Foreverchanged72612

Patricia: are you on Taxol now? I got a bloody nose every week from that stuff.