Starting Chemo March 2015

eheinrich

Yay! I'm being brought in next week or so for an in person interview. I'm very excited!

SpecialK

On the transition from Herceptin that had been given with weekly Taxol - they will now move you to Herceptin every three weeks so have to give you that first big dose. I would suggest that you have the Herceptin run slowly - up to 90 minutes. Those who had been receiving Herceptin with Taxotere and Carboplatin will have no change, but again I would receive it slowly. Too quickly and some experience some intense bone pain I definitely did. Slowed down the next infusion and didn't have it again. Herceptin also can cause a runny nose, maybe more noticeably in the 21 day dose. I also had low grade headaches toward the last few, but other than that it is pretty tolerable. I was one who also had the Big D and once I was done with chemo I added a probiotic and that problem was solved.

pboi - the Herceptin doesn't finish faster in the larger doses, you just get it less frequently if you had been doing it with weekly Taxol. It is for a year total whichever way it is infused. There are actually some people who continue with weekly - which I think is nuts - that is 52 trips to the chair - no thanks! I had 6 with chemo, then 11 without.

Looking forward to the rest of your life is different after this experience, but it doesn't have to be less fun. You will gradually come to détente with the fear and learn to live more in the moment - that is all any of us had all along, we just didn't think about it that way previously. Be aware that this is a process, it doesn't happen overnight, and some need the assistance of some counseling to get there. Treat yourself with kindness, spoil yourself as you start to feel better, do things that bring you pleasure and surround yourself with those you really care about. I find I am more choosy about how I spend my time, and I don't waste it if I can help it. I say no more easily now. In many ways my life is more authentic now even though I was already stopping to smell the roses before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Take it slow, you'll get there.

Jackbirdie

Doctor Eileen! That is wonderful news. I am pulling for you! This would be so good for you! Curious what you "wore" for the interview.. Did you go for the boxers or did you dress up a little to put you in the corporate mood? How about brows? Commando or hat/scarf? I'm serious.

You are a power packed pixie indeed! 4'11" of pure woman power!

ksusan

Great news on the interview!

shaz101

carrie I'm sorry she did that. People just dont think sometimes. I hope all the lovely well meaning comments make up for it.

Katy, have a wonderful time with your visiters. Push yourself but don't tire yourself out! Their visit is coming at the perfect time for you. But just remember you are only just recovering.

KB I've joined your new thread. Thanks for starting it, its very timely.

Have a wonderful night everyone. Im just about to go to rads number 5. So far its easy peasy!

Jackbirdie

thanks, as always, Special for the very sage advice. Really helpful

shaz101

eileen congratulations. I have everything crossed for you 👍

Jackbirdie

Sharon, thank you and wishing you a wonderful weekend off. You've done so well handling this first most difficult week of rads. Very proud of you. Also very pleased you found a partner in your mum to kick start your fitness program! Well done! I know it will be wonderful to be in your own bed tonight

KBeee

Cartie, youur friend sounds like a drama queen and your post generates attention for her. Pretty lame of her.

Carrie37

Very helpful Special...thank you!

Carrie37

I know my friend meant no harm really. I guess I just annoyed that she didn't think before she did that. Oh well

Jackbirdie

Carrie- my first reaction when I read your first post was that any "friend" who hasn't even FUCKING SEEN YOU since dx has no right at all. At All. To share your information. She is like Kbee said a drama queen acting like an insider with inside information. She likes watching train wrecks but won't learn cpr. What an ass. You did not over react. You reacted. Big difference. I would have a hard time continuing to call this person a friend.

When I read Special's post it reinforced the idea of choosing how and with whom we spend energy going forward with more care than ever. I wish I was better at FB privacy settings to help you, but the horse it out of the barn. Try not to waste any of your beautiful positive energy on this asshole. It reminded me of the post I think Sloth shared about one's location in "the circle". If I did anything, I would find that post and "SHARE" it privately, or even publicly, and hope this moron gets a clue. She is so far away from the middle of the circle (that would be you), she needs a freaking megaphone.

I will try to find that FB post I'm talking about and reshare it so you can easily find it.

As you can tell, I'm FUMING on your behalf

Meme117

I've been MIA but have been reading just couldn't get a post in. Had pre-testing today for surgery and had to wait over an hour due to no paperwork from BS office. Then had to take a class, an hour, about what to do after surgery. Four professionals talked about fitness, diet, stress, and lymphedema. I was tired starting my day and by 4 I was exhausted. Other than being tired my SEs this time have been quite few. My face broke out awful thinking from new nausea med, my nose has been quite sore and my right eyelid is swollen. I mentioned my eyelid to MO and she this maybe blocked tear duct but I researched online and seems more like fluid retention or allergic reaction.

Congrats to those who finished!! And big congrats to Lee so happy for your path report!!

Meeting RO for first time tomorrow am.

Sweet dreams breast friends

IndyGal35

Sorry for the delay, Allison. Since my path came back well, I'm going to press for one final PET after radiation for my own peace of mind. The SLNB results were negative, but the original PET showed "some" nodes glowing at a 3. I read that this is the cut-off for possible cancer and also that dense, fatty breasts can cause lymph nodes to glow at a 3 even if they are benign. Maybe K can weigh in. Either way, I don't think I'll ever feel truly cancer-free, but constant clinical proof helps to relieve my mind, and I'll be constantly asking for that proof.

Doing ok 9 days post bmx. Still too "juicy" to get my drains out, but I'm hoping to get them out at my BS appt next Monday. Pain is better daily now. Taking about 2 Percocet a day. Got my first outpatient TE fill today. I'm up to 300 mL in each side now. (I'm a solid B with cleavage already!) They're inflating quickly for radiation, but the soreness is manageable.

The only way I can describe it is that it's like getting your braces tightened...if your teeth were in your fake tits. So weird.

Italychick

major bummer, I thought I was going to escape most of the eyelash issues, but no such luck. Bottom right lashes number about 6 just out of the blue. I see teeny tiny lashes growing in, but pretty sure the others will fall out before new ones are ready. On upper lashes, 2-3 bare spots. Left lower lashes appear to be hanging in there. Maybe I can do a Stanley Kubrick clockwork orange look.

The After chemo issues are getting old. I hope I never have to go through this process again.

IndyGal35

Oh. My.

I would almost pay money to see your Ultraviolence alter ego, Theresa. The thought alone is awesome

Italychick

and to add insult to injury, I just plucked like 200 face hairs - that's attractive not! And hair UNDER my eyebrows, wth?

I'm about to just pluck out my eyelashes and get it over with, fricking crap!

And hair on head growing back, except for a spot right in the front in the middle, there are like 5 hairs there.

Leg hair back, armpit hair back, pubic hair, coming back, and I'm sure anal hair if I looked - so not going there!

SpecialK

Indy - there are more variables than one might think with PET results. What is measured is FDG avid uptake of the sugar/radioactive tracer that is injected prior to the scan. It is measured during the scan in SUVs - or Standardized Uptake Values which range from 0-15. The amount of uptake can be influenced by a number of factors, such as infection, inflammation, degree of growth intensity (grade) of what is being imaged, balance of lean to fatty tissue of the patient, size of mass(es) and their ability to uptake within the time parameters of the test, etc. An SUV is subject to bias, can vary from machine to machine, and is not an absolute measurement. Aborderline result of 3 doesn't provide a lot of useful info, which is unfortunate.

Trvler

Molly: Try forwarding it to the airline directly first.

littleblueflowers

italychick, I feel the same about my remaining eyebrows as you do about your lashes! I just had to pluck the under eyebrow hair and now want to pluck or trim the 6 long stragglers in my remaining brows. Just so my brow pencil goes on smoother and all....dumb things g to obsess about, but it's making me nuts! Well that and the roids,.....

KBeee

italychick, the after-chemo facial fur is annoying, but temporary. I know you are supposed to leave it alone, but I will admit I shaved it last time, and will again, which may not be wise. I am usually a rule follower, but the face fur bothered me a lot for some reason, so I made it disappear

ksusan

Wow, Theresa, doubleplus ungood.

I hadn't heard to leave the post-chemo face-fuzz alone. What's the thinking there?

molly1976

oh man, I'm relieved to see that post-chemo facial fur is a thing. I've been staring at myself thinking, "did I have this before??" Fortunately it is super light blonde so hard to see if you aren't up close examining your face for hair re-growth.

I've had two Herceptins alone and have had zero side effects. I also started Tamoxifen today. Only 4 years and 364 days to go!

Leighrh

Sue.... I too was FUN before all this, but you know what, now that I think about it.... I turned a lot of things down that I could have done, prob because DH is not as fun as me..... LOL he is but he much prefers to stay home than go out and do. And my thought is after all this, I am not turning things that I want to do down!!!! Obviously it's been slapped in my face that life is too short not to go and do whatever it is that you want! I have a bucket list of all the things I didn't get to do this summer, and I have told DH that next summer we are doing everything I write down! . I too enjoyed lots of food and drink, but in the last year or two before diagnosis I discovered that I really love exercise so I had cut out a lot, but I would still go to the brutal Saturday 2 hour class at my gym so I could justify the 2 or 3 beers I was gonna drink that night LOL. I still love food and drink and I am not gonna give it up! I don't think indulging here and there with beer and wine or good food is going to make my cancer come back. If I am wrong so be it! I will be more conscious of the foods I eat and try my best to eat clean and chemical free the majority of the time. I too have 2 trips planned for next year. Disney for the kiddos in Feb and Mexico in May for Adults only!!

Carrie, I am sorry about your friend..... some people obviously do things for attention and love ppl to think they are such good people when they ARE NOT! I have a SIL who only thinks about herself and how things bennifit her..... she has only checked on me once since all this, but she put a go fund me page on FB for me....... I immediately asked her to take it down and she acted like I was being ridiculous......she was saying.. everyone does it, just suck it up and take it.... UMMMM NO!!!!!

Carrie37

Leigh, we had friends try to do that too. Poliety told them no thank you. I think you and Katy are right, some people just want to be seen as some "hero" when, in fact, they are the furthest thing from helpful. I did confront her, she acted motified and deleted the post. Then proceed to apologize about 15 times. I finally told her to stop apologizing and move on. I guess that is the new me because the "old" me would never say anything to her. Keeping that circle close

molly1976

I had a facebook friend I barely even talked to in high school (and definitely not since) start messaging me asking questions and offering support. It was really weird. I think sometimes it makes people feel important and helpful to have someone with cancer in their lives.

IndyGal35

Yep. I agree about living the good life. I'll eat organic and healthy, but I have even more reason to celebrate good food, drink, and friends now. I will do it OFTEN!

I also agree about the people that swoop in at the last minute and want to act like they've been some big cancer champion for you when they've barely even called to check in. Isn't there a psychological condition named for that similar to Munchausen's?

Italychick

wow, I'm not glad everybody else has the facial fur, but relieved it is a chemo side effect. I've also noticed that with my hair growing back I have long sideburns. I was thinking after all this crap I am going to look like wolverine!

I had a friend be fairly absent during chemo, but she lost her mom to cancer when she was 16 which traumatized her. So I figured that was the reason. For two years until she turned 18 her brother took care of her and her twin sister, and they were always a step away from foster care. I confronted her about it last weekend and she said no silly, we are good, I just gave you your space because I know how you are. So we went shopping, breakfast, etc. and she is right, I don't want emotional pity parties or somebody giving me the sad look and quizzing me all the time. My husband has gotten snapped at several times because he keeps asking how are you feeling or are you doing okay in this super serious tone of voice. Finally I told him cut that crap out, quit asking. If something is wrong I will tell you, but if I don't, assume I am handling everything okay. Kind of mean, I know, but my way is just get through something unpleasant and move on.

I guess what I am saying is that people try to help the way they know how, and it isn't always appropriate. I consider myself blessed everyday to have Ben my boss and Cheryl my riding buddy who get me, and just get silent and listen when I rant. And I still can't believe they stuck with me three days a week for FIVE months for bike rides, going as slow as I needed to go and encouraging me, telling me I was doing great. I will never forget their support. Some people get it, but others just try to do the best they can think of.

And I will never forget Katy with the cookies, or the bracelet, or all of you who listen to my garbage almost everyday. Those cookies were huge for me! Seems like cookies are a silly thing, but she sent them when I was ready to crack. Love you Katy!

Trvler

Leigh: I could have written your post. My husband is also a homebody and so am I but he carries it to the extreme. I don't have a lot of extra social energy right now to do stuff with cancer and trying to keep my kids on track, but come next year, I also am going to DO STUFF with our without the hubby. I am not a big drinker but I do like a drink when we go out now and then and I am not going to stop. I try to eat healthy, but I am not one to scrutinize every label and chemical. I feel like there is so much confusing information out there that I wouldn't know what to eliminate anyway. I would LOVE to spend a week in NOLA trying to put weight back on before surgery!

Trvler

Am I the ONLY person who, when I type a long post and make a mistake and hit the backspace, it goes really slow? It drives me nuts.