Starting Chemo March 2015

Trvler

Yes, I believe they always do it in for a lx. It's when you have a mx that it's not always a given.

eheinrich

I am completely open in terms of scheduling for March. I'm going to assume I will have a job so I'm thinking 3 day weekend. Although we can be flexi to accommodate schedules.

Jackbirdie

That is awesome Eileen. I think that would work great.

Sue- I feel so bad about your mom not supporting you. Tutti feels bad too she wanted me to send you some special pictures showing you how clever she is.

SpecialK

Radiation after a lumpectomy is a given, whether nodes are positive or not. There is a greater likelihood of margin issues, and radiation of the wound tract is important to clear potential malignant cells left behind as the tumor is extracted from the breast. Stats indicate that lumpectomy with radiation roughly equals a mastectomy in terms of OS and DFS. The type (IORT, brachytherapy, PBR, WBR, Canadian Protocol, etc.) and aim points (axilla, superclav, etc.) of radiation after a lumpectomy are somewhat more negotiable.

SueH58

I promise this is my last whining session, but mom had cancer 30 years ago and I would think would be a bit more empathetic. I know she's tryiing to be positive, but thoughts like this are irritating: "You know, your Aunt Ruth had a wig because it looked so nice on her and she didn't even need one;" "When Rita had chemo she had so much energy!" (yeah, steroids?); "You went out and bought all that stuff for mouth sores and didn't even need it" (do you think that because I used them I prevented sores?).

OK, I'm done. Thanks for listening. I'm thinking a latte at Starbucks would be therapeutic and much more productive..

SueH58

That little Tutti always cheers me up. She is getting so big!!!

Thanks for sharing.

SueH58

Special - my tumor was up against my chest wall but pulled off without sticking. Do you know if I'll require different/specific radiation because of that?

SpecialK

sueh58 - I would assume they would radiate the chest wall due to proximity, even if you had clean margins since you would require rads anyway. They incorporate all of these factors into the sim planning. They do a CT to plan the aim points and then they create a program so that each day you have rads there is consistency. Here is a blurb from BCO linked below. Have you had a RO consult yet?

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/ty...

SueH58

Yes, back in April before I knew I was having chemo . I know I'll have rads, and need to get back with him now that I'm finishing chemo.

ninjamary

Katy - love tutti pictures. I'm admiring those hardwood floors you have also! Someday I will get ours refinished. They are called antique which sounds oh so pricey, but in reality they are really old and look pretty beat up. It's slightly embarrassing. I have a print on my wall that says "Excuse the mess, but we live here"

Jackbirdie

Ninja- haha made me laugh. Actually, Ithink these are faux wood of some kind but seem of good quality. I'm just grateful I didn't have to rip up somebody's old nasty carpet! Nasty! Actually as I've mentioned (ad nauseum) I'm grateful for a lot of things here. The biggest problem is a very annoying barking dog. Every time I or Jack goes in the back yard. Owner says.... That's what dogs do. Bark. A-hole. A trained, civilized dog does not. And if it does, a civilized owner would call it back into the house. Ugh.

BBwithBC45

Hi Ladies. I'm popping in. I'm always keeping up reading what is going on with everybody, just rarely posting.

I saw my PS today and I was excited to learn that I will have my exchange surgery in a month. I will be nervous for the surgery, of course, but happy to get rid of this TE which is digging into my armpit and causing none of my clothes to fit.

Trvler

The floors look really nice.

Permission to use this on the note I leave for the guy whose dog barks ALL the time just behind us?: "A-hole. A trained, civilized dog does not. And if it does, a civilized owner would call it back into the house."

Jackbirdie

Allison- lol. Permission granted.

SueH58

Ah, geez I love you guys...

KBeee

SueH, I think my mom and yours are long lost sisters. "Why did you shave your head? I never lost all my hair." "What do you mean things don't taste good? I was hungry and things tasted great". "There's no reason we should not come and stay for 3 weeks. You do not know what you need. Bi know what you need." ......... Reason #8,462 why she should not stay for 3 weeks." My blood pressure is consistently 30 Points higher when my parents visit. I love them dearly but cannot deal with stuff like that during chemo.

Jackbirdie

Look what just arrived at me new house. All the way from Australia! That Shaz is one clever gal. Thank you from the bottom of my heart my dear. The flowers are fabulous but the thought and act behind it swells my heart.

shaz101

katy, I'm so pleased they arrived and they're not dead! Stunning, vibrant colours. You deserve them and so much more. You have been a rock for me and many others though out of never ending serving of shit sandwiches. Enjoy, and thankyou for your call this morning. Is always so nice to hear your happy voice.

I'm very lucky to have my mum to support me. Andrew has stuck his head in the sand the whole time and my sisters say that they will help but there is no follow through. One of them I haven't seen except at the beginning when she had a mamogram at my insistence and then told everyone about her cancer scare!!!

Have a lovely evening ladies, im off to rads soon. Feels so good to be rid of the migraines (I try not to say that word out loud, as it can often trigger one! ) thinking of each one of you.

wpmoon

Beautiful flowers, Katy! Sharon, that's so sweet of you!

Just realized today that I'm down to single digits with how many rads I have left. Can't wait for this to be over!

ksusan

Awww.

Trvler

Just saw this posted on the NOLA FB page:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21377284

Trvler

Sharon: Ugh on your sister's 'cancer scare'. I am SOO happy you don't have a migraine right now!

KBeee

Allison, as little orphan Annie would say, "tomorrow , tomorrow, we're done with chemo tomorrow, it's only a day away!!!!!!!!!!" 😁🎉🎀🎁🎉🎉🎉

Trvler

Can't wait to. be.done!!!

SueH58

Whitney, how much longer til you have to go back to work? Do you feel stronger and more ready to tackle life?

wpmoon

Allison and Karen - YAY for last chemo!! WOO HOO!

Sue - I go back to work the first week of September. I still go up and down with how I feel - some days good, some days bad. This weekend was bad. I'm frustrated that some chemo side effects are lingering, like the bloody noses, and I wish the chemo weight would come off as easy as it came on. I still feel pretty lost. I'm happy to have a job to go back to, and a good paying one at that, but it's not my dream job. In fact, I still don't know what my "dream job" is. So, as cancer life calms down, the problems in my real life are sneaking back in. One thing at a time.

Jackbirdie

Allison, are you done this week? So sorry if I missed the bell ringing due my self-absorption this week!

And yes! Karen !!! Last Taxol !!!🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔👏🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Jackbirdie

Sending out vibes and mojo to Bekah..... Come in please? I know you had a ton of tests and stuff. Hoping all is ok

jumbledbamboo

Popping in! I am on my herceptin chemo now! Disappointed that iit is not as easy breezy as I thought it would be. but after TCHP it is not as gnarly. Ooph is September 4th. Mom is coming to help and I pray she plays nice with my DH. They don't exactly get along. She's rude and he's blunt.

Jackbirdie

oohhhh...bad combo, Jumbled. God luck with all you have going on. Hopefully the H will get easier. And surgery just around the corner. Ooph! Indeed! Nice to see you again