Chemo May 2013

Ukkate

just wanted to check in with you all. It's been a really exhausting week, not sure why....

Have any of you scheduled your annual mammogram yet?  Now that my port is out, I can go get that on my right breast. 

My dad is visiting from nj this weekend. It's great to see him. I just wish I wasn't so damn tired. 

Pattysmiles

Ukkate, enjoy your visit with your dad.  How nice!    I had double mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction.  I've been told no mammos for me...just manual exams.

Losing my eyelashes again....last chemo was in July. Sigh.

Pat

carla53

MomofSam congrats on your 17 lb weight loss.  That's substantial. 

Kate had my mammogram in February.   Left side only.   Was relieved it was fine.  Wishing you energy coming your way.  Enjoy your daddy.  It's so special that you can visit. 

Pat uck about the eyelashes.   Boy that chemo is something else again.   8 months later and it is still affecting your body.

Still on the mends here.  That tram flap  surgery was a hum dinger.  Almost able to stand up straight.  Walk  2 or 3 blocks with a rest here and there.  Make my own meals.    Dropped the pain pills several days ago.  Advil here and there.  Feeling blessed that I can just relax and heal.  No children to take care of.  Disability helps cut the financial stress.  (Thank you Lord)  and my husband has been taking care of himself and has done a little housework  (it's a miracle).  House is messy but oh well.  Friday will be 3 weeks and even though I'm not up to par, I'm a heck of a lot better than I was on day one.

A good week to all.

Carla

carla53

one more thing.  Regarding hair.  For awhile I looked like mr clean and now I look like Christopher Walken.  

Carla

Pattysmiles

Carla, the 3 week mark can be a depressing thing with this surgery.  Sounds like you have beaten the odds!  Keep going for those walks.  Stay away from housework.  Glad hubby is able to help a little.  Christopher walked? Ni will have to look up a pic, Ivenever been good with stars.

Pat

carla53

Pat I like your suggestion of keeping away from housework.   I am sure I will heal much quicker if I heed your advice.  )  when you look up Christopher Walken I believe you will recognize him.  He is such a character.   He has different hair styles.   The one that I'm speaking of us about 2 to 3 inches long, wispy,  and straight out as if a finger was put in a socket.  

Carla

Pattysmiles

lol, I just googled him.  Hair gel, invest in gel!

Teresa_G

Today is the one year mark for me finding my lump that began this journey for me.  No such luck that it could have been an April Fools joke.  I should have my yearly mammo this month but am waiting until May, that is when my new insurance takes effect.  And yes I will only need a mammo on my left side.  My hair looks good, I had about 2 inches over the ears but have decided to keep it short for at least the summer.  I got a REAL haircut Saturday and took the hair back up over the ears.  I love that I still have wavy hair instead my old super straight hair.  I put some gel in it, brush it and go.  Can't get much easier than that.

carla53

Haven't mastered the hair gel, but I believe that is probably the best fix.  Teresa sounds like you have mastered the hair gel.  Excellent. 

Carla

Ukkate

Carla, glad you're healing okay.  I'm STILL sore from my Lipo and it's been over 1 month now.  Teresa, I'm debating a haircut but I think I'm going to push through and keep growing....It looks pretty terrible though...

I still haven't scheduled my mammo - I will call tomorrow.  IT's been a really rough week I had a sort of "smack down" from my boss on Tuesday morning.  Then our new renters for our NJ house backed out so we are faced with it being empty for a month or two which we REALLY can't afford, then I ended up having to drive my daughter's friend home at 9pm on Tuesday when I was ready to collapse because her mother wouldn't come and get her. And then on Wednesday, my 7 year old went missing for 2 hours.  We had to call the police - I really thought he had been taken.  It was TERRIBLE.  I came home from work and couldn't come back - I was such a wreck.  I think I'm having "post traumatic shock" from the past year to be honest.  I'm very weepy much of the time.  Haven't had any sort of vacation since the summer of 2012 and I think I'm just plain exhausted, run down, and mentally fragile...

So anyway....that's been my week!  And to think I was looking forward to April.  April 10 is the anniversary of my Mastectomy.....it's amazing how fast a year can pass....

Pattysmiles

aw Ukkate...you deserve a break.  Hope things turnaround.  My lipo was 2/26...I still feel it if I break into a light jog (to get out of the way of a car). Some spots where they went in for lipo are sore.  The anemia has cleared up though.

Wishing you the best.

Pat

carla53

gosh Kate.  That is above and beyond a tough week.  Getting hit on the financial front harshly.  And then worse then that, believing the most precious person in your life may have been taken.  It's all very emotional stuff.   And fragile is right on the button.   I feel fragile sometimes too.  We've all been through a lot this last year.  At first it's shock. But o.k. I'm going to be tough and beat this thing. Then all the different treatments and surgeries.   It's exhausting. (And painful) It's enough just to handle bc let alone everyday life. I am so glad your son is o.k.  That is the main thing.  And I pray for a much better remaining April for you and your family.

Carla

carla53

Kate and Pat. I didn't realize that fat grafting had such a lingering effect. I thought maybe sore a few days or a week.  My eyes are now open.  Is there anything that we do or take because of bc easy???? I think not.

Carla

Pattysmiles

Carla, fat grafting is a gift.  All gifts have a price...that's how I see it. 

I don't know anyone that ever had lipo (where the far is removed), the grafting is where they place it.  Lipo is the "discomfort".  This too shall pass.

I used to pray for patience al the time, then I got cancer.  I had to learn to be patient through all the diagnosis, treatments and recoveries.  Patience is something I surely won't pray for again.

Pat

Ukkate

I thought getting breast cancer was a pretty shitty thing to happen, but the thought of losing my child made breast cancer seem like a fun stroll in the park!!!  I guess life is all about perspective....

So I am about to be done with treatments, two more herceptin.  How can we know for sure that there's no lingering cancer cells?  I just feel like I should push for a full body scan or something before I get "released into the wilderness"....it's so scary......

MomofSam

Kate - what a time!  Hope things turn around for you soon.  I can only imagine how you felt thinking your child was gone!!!  I have a 6 1/2 year old and would have been devasted.  My heart goes out to you.  Hang in there!

carla53

Kate congrats on being done with herceptin soon.  That's a biggy.  When you are done, let's do a cyber toast. In regards to lingering cancer cells,  only God knows.  And He's not talking....well He's talking, but not not about that.  On one hand  I get a bit nervous about it sometimes too.  On the other hand, I thank the good Lord for my life, my family etc., not sweat the small stuff and stay in the moment.  Having bc has been a good learning experience for that. (Still working on it)

Pat. It is a gift. .....it's funny and scary how God can answer our prayers sometimes.  Gotta love Him. ))

Carla

Teresa_G

So I went to my Oncologist on the 24th of March, this was my three month check up for Anastrozole.  I thought I had told you about this but I couldn't find it anywhere.  He told me to stop taking my pills for 4-5 days and see if my aches went away.  Then start back on the pills and if the aches came back to let him know and he would switch me to something else.  I now have a Saturday night job that requires me to be on my feet for 7 hours.  After I have driven home and stiffened up I can barely get myself in the house and to bed.  I love this job so I continue to do it.  Saturday the 29th was my 5th day off the pills and I was still having some aches so I didn't start again.....I knew that this past Saturday (April 5th) would be a longer night on my feet, 9 hours so I waited another week before starting back on the pills.  I survived the job Saturday with aching but not as bad as usual.  While I have been on the pills my sleep isn't very good and I am always tired.  Last night I got two hours less sleep before work and woke up feeling great.  My coworker says I've been "on one" today.  I feel great with less sleep.  I have to admit I still haven't gone back on the pills.  I feel better and am happier and not so tired and dragged down, my aches are still there but so much better.  Do I really have to go back on the pills?

Pattysmiles

Teresa, maybe they can try you on a different pill?

Also, make sure to drink a lot of liquids (why not? Can't hurt! Lol) 

And, some Vitamin B is good for energy.

Wish I had some good insight. I'm on the Tamoxifen, I am more tired than usual, but I think the winter has done me in, and my late feb surgery too.  I had found going to the gym helped a lot, the more I moved the better I felt, but I haven't been "cleared" for the gym yet, so I'm out of sorts.

What does your oncologist say?

Pat

Ukkate

Teresa,  I am experiencing those same sort of pains - when I have a DJ gig I'm on my feet for about 6-7 hours and I"m in so much pain after.  I can barely walk up my driveway.  I wonder if it's a lingering affect from the chemo. I was blaming it on herceptin.  I pretty much blame everything on that.

Patti - I'm super tired too and exercising doesn't seem to be helping me that much

So today is ONE YEAR since my Mastectomy.  Crazy to think "this time last year...".  I finally made my mammogram appointment and I have to see my breast surgeon on the same day.  I haven't seen her since my post op visit almost a year ago.  It's like everything is starting to wrap up now..

Did you see that Samantha Harris was just diagnosed with BC?  It's seriously an epidemic now.  I wish they would be more forthcoming on their hormone status etc...

I made my first hair appointment.  I'm going to get some professional color and perhaps a little trim.  I actually am really looking forward to it - my hair is SOO terrible right now so perhaps it'll give me a teeny bit of self confidence back....

TGI-Thursday everyone!!!!

MomofSam

Teresa - I'm like Pat...on Tamoxifen.  I too, find exercising has really helped my energy levels.  I still find myself yawning through the day, but at least I'm feeling better due to getting some exercise.

Kate - Celebrate that 1 year mark   I wonder about all the hormones too - they say birth control pills don't really cause cancer, but I wonder...I was on them since I was 15 due to irregular periods.  Enjoy your hair appointment!  You will totally feel human again

Teresa_G

Thanks for the responses. I am taking B6 and B12. So my feeling great yesterday was short lived. I work up really dizzy this morning. I made it to work but was late because I had to move slow and careful. I have a slight pain in my forehead but not really a headache. I got done with what I had to do at work and came home and laid down. Not as dizzy but not feeling well. 

I have told my oncologist that I haven't gone back on the pills like I was as supposed to yet. 

carla53

Teresa after 3 or 4 weeks I stopped taking Arimidex.  What it did to my head was too much.  I just couldn't think.  Worse than chemo.  Body pains too but my brain.  Within 48 hours my brain started functioning better.  Can't remember how long re the rest.  Told my onc and she was very sweet about it.  She suggested I stay off for a month then try tamoxifen.   Told her I was going to try holistic.   Again she was sweet but mentioned that who knows, I might be cured but maybe not. Who knows and that's the problem.   Who knows.  Really wanted me to go on the tamoxifen.  (As any onc would )   Teresa I've read each person that stops arimidex can differ in the time it takes to feel better. Hoping you feel normal soon.  

Carla

Teresa_G

I'm using doTerra essential oils, I'm a distributor.  So for cancer I use Frankincense.  I use Deep Blue and Aroma Touch for the aches and they definitely helps but they are still there.  I wish someone would just that those are enough.  But of course regular doctors can't do that.  There is a nurse here that works and The Huntsman Cancer Center here (I didn't go there) that she wishes she could stand at the door and tell people to not come in and do chemo but that they should go get some Frankincense instead because it works much better with no side effects and actually makes cancer go away naturally.  My friend that does the oils with me her husband has some skin cancer on his face that is now gone.  If only I had known this stuff a year ago.  

I posted a new picture on here from last night. 

carla53

Gosh Teresa. Never heard of using frankincense.  How is it used?

Thanks-Carla 

MomofSam

Okay ladies...should I be freaking out?  Just had a f/up mammogram done yesterday and the assessment came back as ACR BI-RADS Category 3 - Probably benign.  Said f/up should be another diagnostic mammogram in 9 months...

Pattysmiles

Momofsam, what is ACR?  Is this something that can be biopsied?  What does your breast surgeon say?

Maybe get a second opinion if you are not COMPLETELY satisfied.

Btw, if anyone comments "but you just finished chemo so it can't be cancer" RUN!  After my chemo when I did my double mastectomy they found LIVE cancer in my breast as well as the "scorched by chemo cancer cells".  So chemo is not an end all.

Theresa, I would love to hear more about frankincense.

Pat

Moderators

mammogram results

momofsam, not sure if this is helpful but follow link above to info about ACR categories. The Mods

MomofSam

ACR stands for the American College of Radiology.  They are recommending that I f/up in 9 months for another mammogram rather than the typical 6 months since I just had a mammogram at the end of January.  I f/up with my oncologist next week so it shoudl be an interesting visit.  In my on-line reading, found out a category 3 BI-RADS reading suggested a 98% probability that it is benign in nature and that typical f/up is to follow with mammograms to see if anything changes.  Here's what I found out:

Category 3: Probably benign finding – Follow-up in a short time frame is suggested

The findings in this category have a very high chance (greater than 98%) of being benign (not cancer). The findings are not expected to change over time. But since it’s not proven benign, it’s helpful to see if the area in question does change over time.

Follow-up with repeat imaging is usually done in 6 months and regularly after that until the finding is known to be stable (usually at least 2 years). This approach helps avoid unnecessary biopsies, but if the area does change over time, it still allows for early diagnosis.

Let's hope that is the case.  Just a bit disconcerting considering I'm still on herceptin and it's the side that had cancer.  I was hoping it would have been 100% normal!

Teresa_G

http://www.everythingessential.me/HealthConcerns/Cancer.html#page=page-2 

The above link touches on the use of some of the essential oils for cancer.

http://www.mydoterra.com/teresagunn/

The above link is my DoTerra page where you can shop for products if you're interested.  I haven't been doing the oils for very long but I do now have a lot of them.  I am a distributor for DoTerra and they are amazing with what they can do and they are all natural, no side effects!  I'm just not a pushy saleswoman, the oils sell themselves and if people are interested I share with them.  If you want more information on any of the oils please feel free to contact me.  My email address is tgunnsmail@gmail.com.  Anyone can become a distributor for discounts, I am currently up to 20% of each purchase and should soon be up to $25% off.  Anyway I will step down off of my soap box and let you ask questions if you have any.