Starting Chemo in December 2013

DJJ

Lisa, I'm still taking Ambien. My hands still get hot at night (but not as much!) It's still working for me. I don't know how I will wean myself off of it. My doctor says it's not addicting but in my mind I'm addicted. I like getting knocked out at night :-) I'm getting a master's in Cyber Security. I had to take a break from classes for chemo. So I'm taking three this semester. Grrrrrr!

Is anyone else's radiated boob still tender? How long is this supposed to last? It's been four months!!

kjfromca

Hi ladies

Oranje - Good diet & exercise advice. I take a break from the diet during holidays and vacations ....lol. ..... I get horrible charlie horses up my foot and calf sometimes (Seems to be the right side), more frequently and more intense than before chemo. I thought that it was probably due to lack of Potassium.... never thought it could be from tamox. I am glad to hear that you are taking up swimming again. I remember how much you looked forward to it when we were going through chemo and rads.

DJJ - Although I didn't have a lumpectomy, my bs and ps told me it takes months for our breast to recover from the rads. My bs told me to make sure to stretch and massage the breast area to get the blood flow going to it. Rads tightened and screwed with my stretched out chest wall, I can only imagine what damage it did to those of you who had lumpectomies. Masters in Cyber Security - Sounds like a good occupation with lots of job opportunities.

Kim

Jodi040812

I lost a friend today:(. She was a true fighter and her spirit will always be with me! Please say a prayer for Amy Avant and her 4 children. Her youngest is 4 and oldest is 18. I am trying to celebrate her instead of letting my own fears get in. This is about her wonderful life. Thankful to have met a inspiratoon during my battle.

We are strong! We will fight and we will win December chemo sisters!!!

Hugs!

Crazywabbit

so sorry for your loss,Jodi.

I am starting to get anxious about next weeks mammo and US. I was never a medical wimp before but now I just dread every ache and pain. The "what if" looms all the time.

chicopeach57

My radiated breast has shrunk some more, there is now at least a cup size difference. The other one just naturally looks deflated like Michelle's with the air out. When I met with Kim she gave me the encouragement I needed to look into reconstruction, so on Dec. 9th I'm having a reduction and lift. I am looking forward to having a better look. The radiated boob is still tender, might as well have surgery on it now, don't think it will get much worse. My PS wanted to wait at least another month, understands I need it done in this insurance year though. Hopefully the skin will do okay.

Met a two year survivor tonight, talked about the worries at scans and over every lump and pain. Guess that is par for the course.

Today is diagnosis anniversary my emotions have been up and down.

RHGSR

My radiated boob makes me feel like I'm Magda from "There's Something About Mary". My PS called yesterday. We canceled my December surgery. He wants me to be off steroids longer than what I would be. I'm really bummed. I'm so happy for you ladies getting your final surgeries. I hate to admit I'm a little envious too. It's hard to move on knowing I still will need surgery next year.

Jodi - I'm so sorry about your friend. I love your attitude of celebrating her life. But I know it's hard not to think about our own situations at the same time. I just lost a friend last week to ovarian cancer. My first friend to lose to this crappy disease. My prayers are with you and your friend and her family.

Kim - there's a lady at our co-op that has studied nutrition and she had been talking with me a lot. I'm hoping to get some help from her.

Any of you heard of plexis slim ? What about the benefits of Tumeric? Do any of you use essential oils?

Holli

jbokland

Today is my cancerversary! One year from diagnosis and life altering changes. I chose to celebrate the entire shit-storm in photos!

http://show-vid.com/view/ccacaax4

Crazywabbit

JB and Jody, today is my 1 year anniversary of diagnosis also. The day that changed my world forever. My stats are almost the same as yours except I had both ILC and IDC.

DJJ

JB and crazywabbit, Yesterday was my one year diagnosis too.  I thought it would be a sad day but I was too busy.  I was busy at work and when it popped in my mind I thought "oh yeah, F##k cancer." Then I left work early and went to my new house to meet the cable guy and duct cleaners and I scrubbed the bathrooms thinking about how I would arrange my furniture when I move in next week and then I would think "oh yeah, today is one year, F##k cancer." Then I came back to the house I'm moving out of poured a glass of wine and talked on the phone to my new rock hard chest guy and when I went to bed I thought "oh yeah, F##k cancer!"  No matter what happens in the future living our lives to the fullest is the real way we beat this bugger!!!!!

jbokland

Crazywabbit

so agree with that JB.

RHGSR

Love you ladies!! Love your attitudes and your outlooks!! I'm proud to be part of the December 2013 chemo group. I almost missed out as i started chemo on Dec 30, 2013. I learn so much from each of you everyday. You have all enhanced my life. Thank you.

Holli

Jodi040812

hey Holli! You are not alone with the surgeries. I have two more fills to complete, and then we will figure out when to do the trade. I am trying to plan it during my school's spring break in March. Good thing about being a teacher is my insurance runs july to June. I got time to figure it out. He wants to get the ball rolling to finish them by June. What does it matter? I am going to meet my deductible every year regardless right lol! Unmotivated ha ha:)

I had a good day yesterday. I am proud of myself for the way I handled the past year. One year down:)

Lisaj514

love you ladies too, also proud to be part of this group...but shh, I high jacked this group. I'm a jan chemo girl, but I liked you girls so much better. Was dx in oct but didn't have surgery until end of November, then had to have another surgery early dec, then second opinion end of dec and finally started chemo in jan. So glad I'm here with all of you.

You recent 1 yr cancerversaries..congrats, you're all doing great, we've come a long way baby!

Had a chest X-ray last week due to continued dry cough and feeling of slight chest pressure. Cough started during AC, diminished but never went totally away. Bothersome but not limiting my activity. MO said results show no cancer (!!) but there is something in lungs, elevated or something, also something like fibrosis and looking slightly like copd. She said its from the cytoxan, not the radiation as it is in both lungs. Anyone hear of lung issues with cytoxan, googled it and didn't find much. I know adriamyacin can cause cardiac issues, but cytoxan? She is referring me to a pulmonologist. I had to leave a meeting to take the call so did not get all the info. She is sending me the report. Any same symptoms or hear of this? I know holli you've had severe lung issues, how are you now

Still sleeping so poorly. Lately Feel so anxious at night that I can feel my heart pounding in my chest and so I can't get to sleep or I wake in 4 hrs when the sleeping pill wears off and then my mind wanders to every topic on earth. Effexor didn't help but didn't try for very long although it did take care of the hot flashes. I function pretty good during the day despite this.

Michele, hope you are healing well.

Jodi, glad your cancerversary went well, you SHOULD be proud of yourself

Jb, that photo journal was absolutely beautiful. You are amazing

Holli, thank you and right back at ya

Take care my lovely girls, hope you have a good rest of the weekend

Jodi040812

Question- anyone here have or is going to get a FLAP? My BS told me with my rads I might need one. I think he might be right since my right side is so tight and I still need two more fills.

jbokland

I am scheduled for a lat flap on Dec 4. I understand it's getting to be the standard of care post rads.

kimie06

I just love EVERYONE in this group, every stinkin single one of ya !!!! I am going to pop by in a bit just hitting the road with some girlfriends for a little shopping !! xo

RHGSR

Lisa- yea no cancer!! Isn't it funny how our perspective changes? I'll take burnt lungs over more cancer any day.

hmmm... Never mentioned cytoxin to me regarding lungs. But my CT back in October when I went to hospital showed stuff in both lungs in addition to the radiation burn (that wasn't there at initial radiation pneumonitis diagnosis). They treated me for pneumonia. I had a chest X-ray last week when I went to the ER (have I told y'all about my swollen uvula?) and he said it showed scarring from pneumonitis and bronchoscopy. I didn't think to ask if it was on the non radiated side too. I'll put on "my list" to ask my docs about cytoxin at my next appt. I'm glad it isn't effecting your activity level. That's a good thing.

Jodi - I hate that you have more surgery next year too. I guess we can stick together and just keep swimming.

Lisaj514

holli, swollen uvula? Wha? More crap?! I'm taking tumeric (doctors best, best CurcuminC3 complex- tumeric with black pepper), supposed to keep inflammation down, and also glucosamine condroitin. My feet and leg pain is better. Don't know if it's from that but it can't hurt

RHGSR

I know right!!?? I'll post my blog about it in a bit.

I'm taking Tumeric now too. Was told I need a mineral supplement (super healthy lady at out co-op has studied all of this). If I found out what the name is I will share.

Anyone use essential oils? Something else I'm trying to learn more about.

Holli

RobinLK

Holli, I don't use the oils, but a friend of mine swears by them! I went to an online meeting about them. I will post link here. The event says public, so I am hoping you can view it. Essential Oils <----Link

Had head MRI at ER last night. Have not been feeling well for a couple weeks. Stopped Actonel and many of my issues disappeared. Dizziness and head pressure was not gone and was getting worse. MRI was clear, it is a side effect of trying to titrate off Effexor. Needless to say, took half dose last night and half dose this am, symptoms are gone. Have I mentioned I hate SEs?

Love to all! Congrats on the milestones, the moves, the houses being put on the market, the healing, the surgeries, the ends of treatments....

Edited due to lack of proof reading!!

Jodi040812

Robin- glad you are feeling better! I know that had to be scary!

Ladies- I am clueless on all the supplements y'all are talking about. I am taking nothing but tamoflixen. I did read about D3. I just have no clue what to add or take. Multivitamin should be at the top of my list.

Got my Last fill today on the good side. The radiated side did not get a fill- too tight like I said. So, Dr wants lat flap in January/Feb. I just am on the fence. He said I'd be out of work 2-3 weeks. That is the problem:(. When they wanted to do the tummy thing, my out of pocket was $5000. I thought recon was covered. Wondering if I had it done at MD if it would be completely covered.

missy6758703

Hey ladies! Whew, this surgery has left me EXHAUSTED!!!!! I went back to work today and by 4:15 i could barely keep my eyes open. Maybe should have just started with a few half days but just going to try and make it through.

We talked about doing the tram flap for my reconstruction but i chose not to because my PS said i would be out of work for at least 6 weeks and I honestly just couldn't afford that so i chose the implant route. Jodi i don't take anything either but the tamoxifen and my blood pressure pill and 2 stool softeners at night....oh and i have been taking effexor for the last few weeks. I'm not sure what i think of the effexor....supposed to help with the hot flashes but it's 6 degrees out right now and i am on top of my covers, just my undies on, window wide open and ceiling fan on high and i'm roasting! haha!!! Quite the visual, huh???

I just wanted to check in and say hi.....been sort of MIA last couple of weeks, just haven't had the energy to type but I have been reading the posts! Much love to you all...........

Michelle

jbokland

I started on tamoxifen (aka canceraway) in the end of August. The hot flashes are settling down a bit. Funny, we went camping last weekend and I was freezing one night. I was praying for a hot flash to warm me up and nada! Nothing!

I don't sweat...never have. Hot flashes are uncomfortable. My skin prickles like little cactus needles. Weird!

missy6758703

I don't sweat either.....your description of the skin prickles is dead on...it's like a deep itch or something! I must have finally cooled off during the night as i woke under the covers and the window shut! For right now its a good thing i sleep alone, fairly certain another person would not be able to handle these temperature extremes in my room!

Hope you all have a great Tuesday.....time to drag myself out of bed and head to the office for the day.

Michelle

RHGSR

jbokland - didn't you say you knew about diffetent medications?

Has anyone heard of:

Red Panax Ginsing Extractum

The neighbor gave some to my dad and my mom is worried it might effect his blood pressure.

Thank you!!

Holli

Crazywabbit

hip hip hurray, my mammogram (3D) and ultrasounds were OK today. The lump I was feeling is scar tissue. I am set up for a PET/CT scan Dec 3 to further evaluate my persistent cough. The cough has improved but not gone away with Nexium the past 4 weeks. I was feeling positive this morning when at the market I bought myself flowers in anticipation of a good report. Glad it paid off. Got set up for my Breast MRI in 6 months also.

Having a glass of wine to celebrate. Wishing everyone else good reports.

jbokland

Holli

Your mom is correct to be concerned. Like prescription meds, herbals can be just as powerful and cause adverse effect and drug interactions.

It can lower glucose levels, increase blood pressure and effects your blood clotting mechanisms.

Btw. If you want a good, free resource to look up any drugs, herbals or drug interactions, use drugs.com. They use our data and drug information!

keepthefaith

Hi ladies, haven't been on in a while. Glad to see the good reports, test results and photos, etc.

Colonoscopy today...UGH. Trying to drink the last half of my "prep" solution...won't ever want Gatorade again.

I was blessed with a new GS on the 7th! A few wks early, but beautiful and healthy.

Hot flashes have pretty much diminished and I am finally sleeping well for at least a few nights a week. I guess that's progress.

Sending healing thoughts and hugs to all! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Mikesgirl17

Hi ladies. I have been off the board for a while and thought I'd check in. My sister had her skin melanoma removed yesterday. They found several more spots that need to be removed. She is scheduled for a PET scan on Monday. Please pray that they find no new cancer. Love you all!