Starting chemo March 2013

jbdayton

Janscores - I am also doing the TAC regimen but am one cycle behind you.  I did want to note that I just had round 3 last Tuesday and am glad to report this round was much better.  I think each round I am a little better prepared.  My mouth, tongue and throat have been a real issue but this time started the magic mouthwash and the salt/baking soda the day before infusion.  Of course ate ice throughout the treatment and this time at least my tongue is not like ground beef.  Still no taste buds but not the cracks.  I also started the Claritin 2 days early and will continue to take one each day through Sunday.  Bone pain is minimal this round.  I dreaded this treatment as much as you but now that I am at day 5 I am feeling so much better about the next 3 treatments.

I also have to decide on surgery following chemo, leaning toward dbl mast even though I know my team would like it to be a lumpectomy.  They did say it will be my decision though.  I just don't want to have to do this routine again if something comes up in the other breast.  There were microcalcs in clusters that they did not biopsy and if it is pre-cancer the chemo will not attack them.  This is what keeps nagging at my conscience.  Of course we will get more info after the imaging is done following chemo.  Jan, I will keep you in my thoughts.  Hope your tumor shows a remarkable reduction?  I got great news on Tuesday.  Mine went from 4.5 x 4.5 to 3.5 x 1.5.  It has flattened out and he said it pulled away from the chest wall and is no longer attached.  He also said the tumor was oversized at the first measurement due to biopsy swelling but still had the nurse note "remarkable reduction".  Those words surely help when facing another treatment.  Hopefully your case is progressing as well.  Be sure to let us know your results.

TxSockMonkey thanks for the feedback about gravity.  One more issue to consider.   

Love to all and have a great weekend.  God be with you.

Jeannine 

JLow

Had my last chemo treatment yesterday!!! So excited that this is behind me.  Now on to radiation.

jbdayton

Way to go JLow.  Good luck with the radiation. 

liffeybloomer

Good for you JLow! I have 9/12 more Taxol to go and then on to radiation too (with Herceptin every three weeks, but that won't be bad).

janscores

So happy to see the light at the end of the tunnel!!  I was so down for a couple of weeks there.  I appreciate all the responses. 

In the past two weeks, I have been given great news!  The 4 chemo treatments that I have had so far have almost killed all the cancer!!  It barely showed up on the ultrasound!  Woo Hoo!  Still have to do two more rounds of chemo but I can get through that based on the other bit of good news that I got . .

I met with a plastic surgeon this week who told me that he will be able to do my breast reconstruction at the same time as my other doctor does the mastectomy!!  That was such good news to me since I was originally told that I may have to wait to do the reconstruction until after I finished the radiation.  My surgery is now scheduled for mid-July.

I will go in for a 4 hour surgery to remove my breasts and reconstruct them with tissue from my belly.  The plastic surgeon said it will be like getting a breast lift and slight reduction as well as a tummy tuck.  He made it sound awesome.  But I know it won't be as glamourous as that. 

I just need that bit of uplifting news to get through these next two rounds of chemo.  I don't have to tell you guys how hard it has been.  The doctor had to prescribe me some anxiety medicine because I was starting to have panic attacks.  But I haven't had to take a pill yet - not since I met with the plastic surgeon and had a lot of the "unknowns" answered. 

Prayers for you all!!  We will get through this season in our lives and be stronger on the other end.   

jbdayton

Janscores really wonderful news.  So glad you now have some of your questions answered as to what is next. 

I am doing #4 this Tuesday.  The onc did a physical measurement before treatment #3 and said the tumor had shrunk by about 60% so I know the elation you feel.  Don't know when I will be checked by ultrasound but I think when done. 

Just curious did you have to talk them into taking your good breast?  My onc says they would still like to do a lumpectomy.  I am not comfortable with that. I want to take them both and do DIEP reconstruction.  I had a grade 3 tumor that grew quickly and did not show on my mammogram.  I want to try everything to prevent doing this again down the road. 

Hope your last 2 rounds are more tolerable with the light at the end of the tunnel.

God bless you.  Jeannine 

janscores

Jeannine, my doctor told me from the very beginning I would need a mastectomy. I was never told I had an option. It was totally my choice though to have both removed. I have heard too many stories of regret from ladies who only had one breast removed.



I have to admit that I didn't ask all the detailed questions. I have put my trust in the doctors. I do know that my breast cancer was never really a tumor and was also not detected with a mammogram. They described it like grains of sand - a mass (some kind of plasm) that spanned an area of about 7 to 8 centimeters!!! Huge but it responded well to the chemo.



I was told that it was inoperable before chemo because it was so close to my chest wall. It was also in a couple of lymphnodes. Anyway, I would have loved to just have a lumpectomy, I think. I guess I would be second guessing that too. I would never want to go through this again.

jbdayton

Just got home from walking the 5K Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Houston.  Had a great time.  Both my girls, their spouses, my granddaughter, my husband and a few friends walked with me. The weather decided to cooperate and did not rain.  Hope everyone has a great mothers day tomorrow.

Jeannine 

sandersmomma

Hello partners in chemo! I finished my 8 rounds of chemo on July 2. My hair has started to grow back and i see eyebrows and lashes emerging! I felt better for awhile, but now I am back to feeling really tired and weak. Is this normal to still be so wiped out?