Starting Chemo March 2015

KBeee

BMX removes about 99% of breast tissue. My one tumor was exactly at the spot of my orginal tumor, which had clear margins, but may have had a cell or 2 left behind apparently. It is considered a local recurrence. Then, surprise, surprise, they found another one just under the pec muscle about 4 inches away. They sent that one to Mayo for testing...they thought it was a node, but it tested negative for lymph tissue...and negative for breast tissue. Was just more IDC growing in the soft tissue. Very, very rare. That is considered a regional recurrence. Pathology is different this time too. My body apparently just likes to make cancer (strong family history...both sides and an at-risk occupation, so I am the exception, not the rule, so don't let my situation spook you). I am still node negative though. Hoping this type of chemo, plus rads, plus ditching my ovaries and doing an AI gets rid of it for good this time. My type of recurrence happens in about 0.1% of cases with my pathology. Statistically speaking, the next 999 of you are safe.

SueH58

Karen, it's remarkable how upbeat you are about it! Very inspirational!

wpmoon

I'm struggling this week. I want to run away from my life, or hide from it. I'm so ready for this to be over.

eheinrich

wp - I'm so sorry you're having a rough time. It will be over soon. I'm sending you big hugs and all the good energy I've got.

IndyGal35

Whitney, I feel the same way. I wondered how you were feeling since you are a week ahead of me. This round has kicked my butt and left a footprint the size of Texas.

I'm looking forward to fluids today. They always make me feel better when the nausea makes it hard to stay hydrated. It's amazing what a liter can do for my pep. Think your MO may be willing to try it?

IndyGal35

Here's a little blurb about myself since I'm up in the middle of the night.

DH and I got married when I was 18, and he was in the military. He did a tour in Korea, and we lived in Tennessee for 2.5 years. He got injured and went into the National Guard in 2002, so we moved back to Indianapolis. I finished up my B.S. degree, and he got out of the Guard a few years later after exacerbating his prior injury.

My degree is in clinical laboratory science. I worked as a generalist (chemistry, hematology, blood bank, micro) in hospital labs for several years before specializing in microbiology. Eventually, I converted to laboratory IT. It's nice, because I can still keep up on technology and research, but I have some flexibility and creativity options that I never had in a clinical setting.

DH and I have been married 16 years, and we have three dogs. Our collective passion is travel, and we are also homebrewers. (Dear me, I miss the flavor of a thick, dark porter.) We were trying to adopt a precious little girl prior to my diagnosis. Red tape and a family dispute have made the process painfully difficult. We are still hopeful, but we are considering other options if it doesn't come to fruition.

We also like antiquing, and I collect old postcards from our Indy neighborhood. We are avid animal lovers, and I'm looking forward to volunteering at our rescue events again as soon as possible. (Puppy kisses cure a world of ills!)

ninjamary

Thanks for sharing Indy. Love puppy kisses!

Carrie37

Thanks for sharing Indy! Before BC I was a beer drinker/lover. My DH has been known to homebrew but I've never tried. I'm sorry about the delays in the adoption process.

Whitney, sorry you are having a bad day. This is all really just totally unfair. Hang in there. Gentle hugs your way.

Trvler

I also wanted to send hugs to you, Whitney. I wish I could make you feel better.

wpmoon

Thanks ladies! Sorry to bring down the atmosphere. Chemo 4 kicked me on my butt, physically and emotionally. I'm just so ready to be done with it all, but I have a long road ahead of me. I made the mistake of looking at threads of people who've gone through radiation, and that looks so painful and exhausting. I don't want to do it.

ninjamary

Whitney,

What radiation pain are you reading about? I understand we can develop a burn and that by the end of radiation you are more tired. I can't imagine it being harder than chemo (especially AC chemo) since it's only targeting the tumor area.

BBwithBC45

Whitney, I'm sorry you're feeling so down. All of this can be very overwhelming. I've been told a few times to take things one at a time, as they come, not to look at the whole road ahead. Easier said than done, but possible. Just try to concentrate on today only, little chunks of time at a time. Hugs.

DavisD

Whitney and Indy I feel much of the same...just ready to be done with the whole BC thing. Tomorrow I'm back in the chair for round 4 and I don't want to go, but I don't want to die so I'll go. How morbid! I started having these mini panic attacks thinking of what the future may hold. I will try harder to stay positive and live in the moment (just wish an infusion room wasn't in the coming moments) good night all

Beachbum1023

wpmoon, I finished 33 rads, and it is doable. Everyone has a different reaction, trust your care team but be vigilant watching for side effects. For me the fatigue was the worst part. But I had already had DD AC/T, surgery, and was pretty ragged out from all of that and working as well. But listen to what your body tells you it needs. Hydrate, eat, and sleep and you will get through it. It is what we do. Good Luck!

Meme117

So sorry some of you are not feeling well - hugs and 😘!

Diane I hope tomorrow goes well for you.

Congrats E on the job and Hawaii, what a trip to look forward to.

Katy I hop e your feeling better!

Can't remember everything from the posts😁 but who else has the eye issues? My sight seems to have gone from being near sighted to far sighted, I can't read too much, every letter is a bit fuzzy. MO says icould be the taxotere and maybe allergies to try eye drops. My blood work is good but liver functions elevated so dropping the perjeta to a lower level. Also need my 1st EKG since chemo started to see how heart is doing. And now let's add tooth pain, anyone else? Started a couple of days ago, gonna have to start antibiotic before going to dentist, oh the joy😣

rleepac

Haven't had time to catch up on all the posts today but wanted to say I'm not feeling good

I can't get nausea under control and the fatigue is worsening. I might need an iron infusion or transfusion because I'm pretty anemic right now.

It's all ok though. I have Mr. Sprinkles...my snuggle kitty...

Bekah

SpecialK

rleeac - what is your Hgb?  If you need a transfusion make sure they give you in type, leuko-reduced, irradiated, CMV negative units - you will probably require two.  It is a long day as they may take up to 4 hours each to infuse.

Eye issues are pretty common when on taxanes - especially profuse watering, or Taxo-tears.  You can end up with scarring, but the majority just have a lot of watering.  This is actually due, interestingly, to extreme dryness.  Make sure to use lubricating drops, not the ones that get the red out, they make it worse.  This SE goes away, but can take up to a couple of months.

slothabouttown

Bekah Mr Sprinkles looks like he's large and in charge! This whole thing sucks but it would suck a lot more without our cats and dogs and their never ending willingness to snuggle.

Tomorrow I have my radiation consult. I'm looking forward to hearing more about that plan. Katy, I hope you're feeling better every day-same to anyone who started this week with SE struggles. I'm trying to avoid the Norovirus. It seems to have invaded the west coast and my co-workers are dropping like flies. I just keep showing up and washing my hands like I've got OCD. If it hits within 20 feet of my desk I've decided I'll take that as a cue for a mini vacation!

Italychick

Bekah, get a vape unit or some marijuana. It does wonders for nausea when all else fails. When my sister was dying of AIDS, it was the only thing that kept her nausea under control and allowed her to eat. Worried about you, little sister!

Italychick

slothabouttown, no kidding. That virus wiped out everyone at work, my whole family. I got it, but only the intestinal part, never puked. That would have been terrible, to avoid puking during chemo and then get an intestinal flu. My daughter threw up for three days and had to take medication - Zofran. Stay away from anybody sick. It is highly contagious

rleepac

Special - thanks for the info on transfusion. Last week my hgb was 9 but it's been dropping every week. My Ferritin is <5. I think a transfusion may be in my future but maybe not this week? I've had gastric bypass surgery and I don't absorb oral iron.

Teresa - I would try marijuana but I have a professional license and I work on a Fed installation so I would lose my license and my job

Sloth - yes! Mr. Sprinkles is very large and in charge! He always knows when I do t feel good.

Bekah

SpecialK

rleepac - mine got down to barely above 8 but I managed not to fall below - they won't usually transfuse until Hgb is 8 or less.  Try to eat some red meat if you can - I kept mine just above transfusing levels by doing that in the week before infusion (I was on Taxotere every 21 days) and it kept me high enough.  How many Taxols have you had - are you weekly or DD?

rleepac

I'm weekly Taxol and I am scheduled for #4 thisThursday. I know they don't like to infuse above 8 but he said he might do it anyway since I don't absorb oral iron. Meeting with him Thursday.

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shaz101

katy how are you going?

Whitney, I get overwhelmed when I look ahead. I have to bring myself back to today. I can do today and so can you.

Bekah, I was hoping so much that you would be better on the new chemo 😟 thank you for checking in.

I had my picc dressed and flushed today. Now it won't stop stinging! Has anyone else had that?

I went to the optometrist when I was in hospital and he said my eyes are really dry and to use eye gel as its thicker from the chemist and to make sure it doesn't have preservatives in it.

shaz101

welcome Kornelia! So sorry you are here Ann so very impressed and honored that you have read through all our posts. Feel free to pop in anytime. If you have any questions please ask, we have some very knowledgeable women on here.

shaz101

indygal, loved reading your bio. Boy you were young when you got married.i love traveling too, and I'm planning on doing a lot more as soon as I can.

Its great hearing about everyone's life, we are all so different but have bonded so well. I'll write my bio soon.

shaz101

so-she-did

Completely sleepless night - ugh! Steroids suck!

Trvler

I like that, Sharon!

Diane: I am like you. I think the whole heart thing which might have been a tumor but was a blood clot just about sent me over the edge. I haven't slept well since then. I am going to try some meditations to help calm me down.

BBwithBC45

If all goes well, I will be "graduating" today - I'm going for my final Taxol, and from then on it will be Herceptin only. I hope it doesn't look like I'm bragging, I'm just happy I finally got to this point.

Taxol # 11's SEs hung around longer than previous infusions. I was in a lot of discomfort even yesterday, so I expect the final one will keep me down for a while too, but at least from then on it should start getting better.

I have my TE revision surgery scheduled for June 1st.

Hoping for a good day for all of us here.