December 2012 chemo group

kslansky

Angel, I had a UTI and it did not postpone treatment. I would think that as long as her levels are good, she be able to have treatment as scheduled.

Hope she feels better soon!

Sandra60

Nicole - that conference sounded great . So glad you were able to attend !

I wll check out one for our area here in Sacramento .

Low grade fever today like I've had on about day 10-13 - my body is making those WBC and likes to hear up to do it I guess ! Just thankful this is the last time !



Hope you all enjoy your sunday !!!



Sandy

PeggySull

I just wanted to share that after a long 4 months of dose dense chemo, I had my last chemo infusion today!



I feel such a lift in my spirits even though I still have a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction to go through.



Reading this thread of December 2012 group has been a way of maintaining my sanity. I will continue to read it because I feel so attached.



Thanks to everyone for trusting each other with our honest concerns, successes and vulnerabilities!



Peggy

MTJulie

Yay, Peggy! I am so glad you are finished! I think knowing I didn't have to go back made my last one easier. We can do this!

Nicole503

Congrats PeggySull!!!!!  I hope there is a celebration planned for you! 

There was a woman getting her last infusion the last time I got Taxol and her friend threw her a party, complete with boobie cupcakes!   Her only question for the pharmacist was whether or not she could finallly have a drink!!! 

Wishing you well with your BMX.  When are you having surgery?

Bren58

Congrats Peggy! It's nice to see that we are all getting closer to that finish line.

FriendGwen

Congratulations Peggy!!!!

Sandra60

Congrats Peggy. - you are a warrior and what comes next will seem easy !

Sandy

Nicole503

I'm curious if any of you who are coming to the end of treatment are getting a "Survivorship Care Plan" from your providers?  I learned about these plans at the Komen breast cancer issues conference I went to last weekend, and I'm curious to see if they are being implemented.  Basically, they are a planner that helps you summarize your treatment while it is still fresh so that you can refer back to it if issues arise after treatment. It can also help guide you in your post treatment care. 

This is an article about survivorship plans if you are interested:  http://www.cancer.net/survivorship/survivorship-next-steps-take-after-treatment

Just curious if anyone is getting these?

Bren58

Last TC tomorrow! Looking forward to getting this phase over with!

Nicole I will let you know if I get a Survivorship Care Plan from my MO.

jenjenl

So happy for everyone, congrats for all those have finished and moved onto the next part or ending their journey.

Completed treatment number 5, i hope it is as kind to me as it was last time. I can't believe it's 21 days until I am done with chemo and moving onto radiation shortly after - things are starting to move quick. Thanks for all your support

beckstar18

Nicole, I haven't heard of the Survivorship Plan, but Thursday is my first follow up since my last chemo so I'll ask my MO about it then.

Congrats Peggy on being finished with chemo!!

MTJulie

I had an appt with my MO yesterday and nobody said anything about a survivorship plan. Even though I still have to do the radiation, I feel like I am sort of left hanging after the chemo is done. What am I supposed to do now? It is like 12 weeks of chemo is done, now go live your life like nothing has happened. My husband is acting like that too. I don't know. It just feels like it should be a bigger deal. A survivorship plan seems like a good idea. I did get a prescription for tamoxifen. Guess I will start that.

Nicole503

MTJulie -  What I learned at the Komen Breast Issues conference is that survivorship plans are not widely used - yet.   Many women feel exactly like you describe "left hanging after chemo is done".  There are periodic visits with your MO but eventually you transition back to a primary care doc who may or may not have access to your breast cancer treatment records.  That is why the survivorship plan is important.  

I'm planning to print some of the resources off the website and initiate a discussion with my MO at my next visit.  I still have two Taxol treatments left but I can see the value in having this kind of plan so I will initiate it.

kiwikid

Nicole we have a national program which gives every diagnosed woman a pack that includes an info booklet, a diary and a journal. The diary has different sections for treatment, surgery, specialist appointments etc etc. here's a link if you're interested, it's one of the best things http://www.breastcancer.org.nz/AboutBC/Diagnosis/Step-by-Step



Xx kk

PeggySull

Topic: Transitioning from chemo to surgery: Minor turf wars?



First, thanks all for your celebrating with me. But I do want to run something by you. After I was tentatively diagnosed with IDC, I had grilled every radiologist I could grab in the breast radiology center, asking if it were them, what surgeon would you go to. I got some push back because of possible conflict of interest but my surgeon's name came up more times than any others. I had convinced myself that I wouldn't need chemo (based on nothing but wishful thinking.)



But I got the name of an oncologist (just in case) from two friends of mine and then found out he had a great rep in the bc world. But I still went straight to the surgeon. He had gotten the path reports that showed I was triple negative. Then he broke the news to me that I would need chemo. After I cried I sort of pre-empted his sending me to a different onc by asking him what he thought of the one I had chosen. He said the onc was very good but I could tell by his body language that he anticipated I would ask him for a referral. Perhaps because I was crying so much I didn't look like the pro-active person I am. He had worked with this onc before so all seemed fine. However, he told me to make an appointment with him one month before the anticipated end of chemo. I did.



When I saw the onc last week, with one more chemo ahead of me, I told him the plans the surgeon and I had made and the anticipated date of surgery. He was sitting at the computer entering some data from our meeting when I brought this up. He seemed really taken aback at first. Then he asked me to describe the plans in more detail. He approved of my choices, but like the surgeon he seemed a little surprised that I was being pro-active. I had asked him one time if he and my surgeon ever talked about my case. He had said yes, of course.



The onc told me to get blood tests done for him in three weeks and then to come back to see him in two months. When i said goodbye to the more active part of my treatment with him, he was smiling and shaking his head. I started to realize after that I had also broken down in tears twice in his office during the months of chemo and threw myself at his mercy. He probably thought I would be looking to him for the okay for surgery, etc.



The whole situation made me think: I know it is the onc who will provide my after care in the months to come. Does that make him head of the hierarchy? Was my surgeon pre-empting him? When you don't get all your treatments under one roof (like a university) are there sort of mini turf wars between the surgeons and oncologists, even if they respect one another? Or, should i have been less independent?



When I was first diagnosed at the radiology center and found out what treatments might be recommended, i was feeling powerless and needed whatever autonomy i could muster so i researched and chose the members of my team independent of each other and then ran their names by each member of the team. I did this with my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon for my upcoming reconstruction immediately after my bilateral mastectomy planned for April 2nd.



This isn't urgent, I just wondered if I'm the only one out there who has had similar experiences.



Peggy

Sandra60

congrats Bren on your last TC ! You will find it much easier to tolerate knowing you will not have to endure another ! Thank you too for all the help and advise you've given us .



Nichole - nope - all I got was a certificate from the nice nurses in the chemo room and my pic taken wih it so they could put it on their bulletin board . I am very disappointed with the lack of wholistic medicine with my current provider .

I am reading two books right now I would like to recommend - they both focus on diet and nutrition and one of them on environmental factors you can control . The first is Anti Cancer by David Servan- Schreiber MD ( a survivor btw ) and A dietician's Cancer story by Diana Dyer - 3 time cancer survivor and Reistered Dietitican !



Jen - so glad you are almost done too - you are a true warrior too and the finish line is in sight !

Anonymous

Peggy~I'm sorry, I don't have a good answer to your question.



I'm am being treated at a comprehensive breast center. I'm so blessed. My BS & Mo work so closely together, that when I'm leaving an appt. with my BS he's already on the phone with my Mo. They have a staff meeting once a week....the Mo, BS, nurse/prac, nurse, researcher, and pharmacist. They go over each case individually, and all my info is in their computer. Even the infusion nurses know my case thoroughly.



I guess you have to go with your gut. If you feel confident that you've chosen the right doctors, then don't stress out by second guessing yourself.



Blessings

Paula

Bren58

Paula, I am not being treated at the same center for everything. My RO and MO are the same (local) hospital but my BS and PS are at a university Hospital an hour away. I too went thru a lot of asking questions and appts before deciding on a BS. I still have to see the RO and BS before I make my final decision about what to do next. Fortunately all the docs have worked together in the past and respect each other, but I did have to push a bit to get more info before deciding on a BS.

The head of the heirarchy can sometimes be a turf war. I know the original BS I was considering thought he would be, even though I would hardly ever see him after surgery. In my csase I am considering my MO my primary since I will be seing him for many years to come.

Hope that helps.

beckstar18

Peggy, my MO is the head of the hierarchy in my treatment.  I saw my BS first, and he actually referred me to my MO, but once I started seeing her she became my primary provider.  And her office sends all reports/labs to both my BS and PS.  All of my surgical appts and reconstruction schedule have been done with the "blessing" of my MO.  

Bren58

December chemo sisters - just wondering how all of you are doing.

Anonymous

Bren~~I finshed AC on Feb. 8th, and I get my 4th weekly Taxol this Friday. So far the SEs are so much easier. I have joint pain for a day or so that comes & goes. Last night I had ankle & shoulder pain that lasted for about 20 minutes, but went away without me taking anything. I only lose my tastebuds for a couple of days now, but I'm still tired, but not to the degree I was with AC.



My neutrophils were low last Friday. They were 1.1. Had they been under 1, I'd have had to postpone treatment, so I'm praying and asking others to pray, that GOD will supernaturally elevate them.



I have it figured out, that if I stay on schedule, I'll get my last chemo on May 17.



How are you doing Bren? Are you just on Herceptin now?



Blessings

Paula

Bren58

Paula, I will pray that your neutrophils will come up and that you will be able to stay on schedule. I am glad that your SE's are easier on Taxol. I finished TC last week and will start herceptin only on April 4. I have been more tired after this last TX than after any of the other ones. Of course now that the chemo part is over I want to feel better NOW, but know I need to be patient and that it will take time.

kslansky

I finished up chemo last Monday! The joint pain and fatigue were my main SE' s. I have surgery scheduled on April 4 (central mastectomy with axillary dissection). I'll get a few weeks to heal than on to rads. So far so good! MO & BS feel that Chemo has done its job!

beckstar18

Bren, my next Herceptin is Apr 4 so it seems we will be on the same schedule for that

FriendGwen

Hi ladies. I have my final chemo on Thursday. I didn't drink enough water this past weekend and had wine instead! By Sunday evening I was sure I was getting a UTI. I drank a bunch of water and by Monday was much better. Saw the MO's PA today and she said its from the chemo. I hadn't realized how important it is to stay hydrated throughout treatment. Once I feel better around day ten I tend to drop the good habits.

I'm so looking forward to Spring and warmer weather! I need to move my tired body and drop this winter chemo weight!

Nicole503

Hi Bren58 ~ Thanks for initiating the check in!  I've been wondering how our December sisters were doing as well.  Seems like most of the group has graduated from chemo.

I will join the graduation march on April 4th with my last Taxol. I was reflecting this morning that it is worth celebrating this last day of a hard winter.  While I'm not done with treatment, I feel like the worst is definitely behind me ~ it's nice to have a season change to be able to tuck some of the hard times into "last season" and move on.  I am crazy looking forward to spring and the season of renewal. (Hopefully starting with my hair!)

FriendGwen ~ I join you in a big push this sprng to drop the winter chemo weight!  My rate of weight gain has accelerated on Taxol and it is a super big bummer.  I don't know whether it is the Taxol or the fact that I've been put into chemopause and my metabolism has gone into early retirement????  At any rate, it is going to be a more austere spring for my dinner plate for sure!

Hope you are all well!

Bren58

Congrats kslansky and Gwen on finishing chemo! Nicole April 4 is right around the corner! Steiner we will both probably finish herceptin about the same time in November.

I know when we started this chemo journey we were all scared and apprehensive, but we have or are making it through! We have all probably learned a lot of lessons along the way. We have made it through even the darkest chemo days and I think we all realized we were are a lot stronger than we thought!

Happy Spring everyone! Make sure to keep in touch as the rest of us finish and we all regain our strength, and our hair!

FriendGwen

Bren - you are quite right. I have to admit I am way stronger of a person than I ever thought. My journey is far from done what with radiation, tamoxifen and a life time of looking over my shoulder but not letting it rule me. But I'm pleased with how I've handled surgery and chemo so far and hope I can continue that way. But in many ways the hard work remains. So far I've been a passive patient. Once I get through rads I know I have to start the hard work of serious exercise and a clean diet. Those are two things I can do to actively discourage cancer from returning. So yeah I'll keep returning to these boards. I've gained a lot from reading the posts from the regulars on the exercise boards whose treatments are complete. They're an amazing group just as all you ladies are!!

Annnd... I just had a steroid hot flash and pulled the scarf off!

jenjenl

I am about to finish chemo on 4/2...yay and I need some advise on radiation.  I don't "technically" fit the criteria to have radiation - small tumor .7 mm, 1 node that was an intra-mammary node no axilla nodes positive. 

They say it's a soft call and I can in the end make the decsion. In a way I want to do rads to ensure i was as aggressive as possible but at the sametime worried that if I have a local recurrance I can't use rads again and other draw backs of rads.

Can I get some feedback or advise?