Starting Chemo March 2015

Lovemylab

Thanks everyone! I am so happy to be done w chemo. Herceptin til June but that I can do. My daughter is beautiful, but kind and smart as well. Applying to vet school next summer so fingers crossed. I have two other smart and beautiful daughters as well ....they give me a lot to live for so I have to beat this completely!

KBeee

Congratulations Lovemylab! Soooo happy for you!

Lovemylab

thanks Karen

Carrie37

congrats lovemylab!!! So happy for you and others finishing up rads! 🎉💥🎈🎊🎉🎊🎈🎉💥

Carrie37

So no ice then! Thanks SpecialK. 😊 I am home and dealing with uncomfortable drains. Ugh, so unbelievably annoying. Just staying drugged until I can get them out. I have no shame in that right now. I think I maybe someone who doesn't get much relief from pain meds. Still, it is better then it was a few days ago so I am grateful. I guess I have nipples. They weren't sure that it would work so I really didn't think I would have them but now I do and I'm not so sure how to feel. Will they be erect or flat all the time? Strange. I haven't looked at anything on my chest yet. I'm not touching it! My husband is being wonderful. My favorite nurse and I couldn't do it without him. I see my BS on Friday and my PS on Saturday. I guess a few more lymph nodes were removed. They found my tumor marker and she seemed puzzled by the surrounding tissue. About 2mm in size and "could be the marker and scar tissue. Could be the marker and some remaining tumor. Or it could be some new tissue. They are looking very closely at that sample and everything else." Alrighty then. She truly doesn't know what it is so I hope for answers on Friday. She said the pathology should be in by then so I'm thinking positive thoughts!! You all know the other nagging thoughts are there too. Thanks for always being there. You are the best! Hugs to you all.

Carrie

Lovemylab

Hugs Carrie. Sorry you are going through this!

SpecialK

carrie - I put a lot of paper tape over the drain tubing where it exited from the body - it seemed to help with the odd errant tug when moving around, so minimized pain - and also helps stabilize for stripping. I had nip sparing and mine are flattish, but I have to say I was happy to see them when I was un-bandaged. Mine don't do anything, or feel anything - although this differs from person to person, they are just sort of decorative at this point. When you can shower I recommend that - I found I could get more relief from a warm shower and some Tylenol than from narcotic pain meds. I felt better at a week, than incrementally week by week - felt really good by five weeks, then had to have ALND surgery - it felt a little Murphy's Law at that point, but I got through it - lol!

wpmoon

WOOHOO Maureen!! So happy for you!

I, too, would love to know when sleep improves. I have been sleeping horribly throughout radiation. Yesterday, I dozed off for 20 minutes and drooled all over the place, and that was probably the best sleep I've had in the last 2 1/2 months. So Sad.

Sue - I'm so glad your techs were awesome! And happy she reminded you of me. I've got a fire under my ass to turn this negative life experience into a positive. Working on a video submission for Young Survivor's Coalition about advice to other young women facing breast cancer. For once in my life, I'm doing my damnedest not to let fear stand in my way of DOING something.

Went to the Monterey Bay aquarium with my best friend today to celebrate my birthday a little early. Here are a few shots.

wpmoon

This guy was hilarious. He was cleaning the windows on the inside of the tank, then saw us and mimed to us to take pictures of him. Then insisted we take selfies with him. Before I took this picture, he kept telling me to wait while he "fixed" his hair, checked his face, etc, then asked if he looked okay. I look goofy because I couldn't stop laughing. Highlight of the day.

jumbledbamboo

did my Herceptin chemo today. Meet my new doc more formally. She really out me at ease. Seems she thinks I just feel bad from chemo. Even with the transfusion. I go for lymphedema pto tomorrow. That makes 3 already. Happy to get this going.

Trvler

Love the pictures, Whitney. It sounds like a wonderful day.

molly1976

Gorgeous, Whitney. I moved away from California ten years ago (LA area) and was just thinking this morning how much I miss the sunshiney beach.

Sue, I really noticed that I felt like myself again about two months after the end of chemo. I'm 3 months out now and am more irritated even than I was before with people asking "how are you feeling?" Can't I just be a normal person now? When do people stop quizzing us on how we're doing?

slothabouttown

Monterey aquarium is one of my favorite places! Thanks for the pictures! I lose track of time there, I could stand and watch the otters or the jelly fish for hours.

Lab, congrats on finishing up! Where are you? I work at a shelter that has a teaching partnership with the vet school at Oregon State so we work with all the vet students there. Any chance your daughter will attend OSU?

Carrie, I'm glad you're home and on the mend. Baby steps but you'll get there and we'll be cheering for you.

Jumbled are you getting MLD with your lymphedema PT?

slothabouttown

Molly ugh, I hear you. I've had people ask how I'm doing and when I say "great" or "super" they scrunch up their faces and look at me closer and say "really?"

Seriously? Then I start to worry that I must not look normal or maybe I'm giving off some Cancer vibe or something? What if they see something I don't? It doesn't take much these days to send me over the edge .. ..

Msmath

Carrie I had nipple sparring BMX back in January. The cancer side nipple is always erect and seems smaller. I think it is because they really cleared the back of the nipple during surgery. The other side is facing down most of the time. I do notice that when I get out of the shower there is a little difference even though I do not feel anything.

Whitney I love the pictures I am glad you were able to have a great day for your upcoming birthday. I think it is wonderful that you are creating a video to share with others. Good luck with that.

Lovemylab

Hi sloth, Jen is hoping to get into u of Minnesota, Madison Wi or Iowa as we live in St Paul MN so those would all be in state tuition or reciprocity for it. Oregon st would be 62 K per yr for out of state. She is hoping to avoid that amount of student debt. Looks like a great school on the website.

Katy, I hope you are having a better day today. Great weather here today in MN and I am still on steroid high from pre chemo steroids yest and last chemo high for sure.

Leighrh

Congrats Lovemylab!!!!!!! It's OVER!!!! I hope you have minimal SE's for your very last time!!!

I am still here lurking around.. Taxol # 11 Tomorrow!!! 8 more days and I am done! Still swimming.... but at this point I am just trying to keep my head above water

Sloth.. I have the opposite reaction to people.. I am so sick of people telling me how great I look and how I am doing soooooo great!!! LOL! I feel like I need to remind them that this shit sucks!!! It's the WORST!!! This fake face and hair are hiding it well apparently... is what I really wanna say..:)

SueH58

Whitney - SO JEALOUS! I have a friend who lives in Monterey and I want to go there so bad. She has a membership to the aquarium and goes often. What a wonderful way to spend your birthday!!!

Molly - Hmmm, I guess since I will now undergo radiation that my 2 month marker will be pushed back. I have been so tired the last couple of days, yet get in bed and can't sleep. I've been very busy during the day, but mom called today and when I told her I haven't been sleeping she said "you need more exercise." Thanks, Mom!

Lovemylab - Go Badgers! I am in Wisconsin and my daughter got both her bachelors and masters there. Her fiance is from St. Paul and got a teaching degree there as well. She absolutely loved it there. Good luck with the admission process. She's obviously very bright.

ninjamary

Sue - I have been sleeping like a baby this past week! I was finished on 07/31. It was 3 weeks out for me. It's crazy that I go to bed and wake up at 6 am. The head sweats are pretty much gone too. Life is good!

Whitney - fantastic pictures.

Jackbirdie

Ninja- great news. So glad you're feeling so much better!

Whitney- what a great post on so many levels. You look great. I live that place too.

Sloth- I've been reading and processing the several very useful and thoughtful things you've said over the last couple of days. So helpful to me. Thanks. The flip side of your humor is indeed something to be reckoned with.

Sue- I hope you start feeling better soon. I know you will, it does take some time though. Hugs.

Carrie- still sending mojo. Sorry about the bad advice on the ice and glad Special, as always, was gracious enough to step in with her knowledge and experience.

Hope everyone has a nice day. I'm still struggling a bit with the events of yesterday, but will try to center myself quietly today. Thanks for all the support. It meant everything.

Italychick

ugh why is it I can go along just fine and the minute I sit in the breast surgeons office I break out in a cold sweat? I hate doctor offices. Especially waiting to see what she says about the no radiation part

pboi

Sleeping has been a problem for me throughout chemo, rads, and probably hormonals too. I use Ativan to sleep, which works ok for a few hours of sleep, but I'm tapering off them slowly now because I don't want to stay on them forever.

Don't know what will happen to the little sleep I get as I continue to taper? Do any of you use sleep aids?

I don't drink caffeine, and am trying to increase my exercise hoping it will help...

PB

Jackbirdie

T- I'm in your pocket. Hugs.

Trvler

Theresa: I have been thinking about you. I have a bald spot in the exact same spot you do! Completely understandable you would feel that way in the BS's office. I hope you are done by the time I finish this.

Katy: I hope you are having a better day.

Ninja: I am so happy you are doing better. I know you were having rough time for a while.

Leigh: I can't believe you only have one week left. That's awesome!

I am very frustrated because New Orleans needed my pre op testing and hospital records. I asked that they send them overnight last Wed. They called yesterday and said they didn't have them. Apparently the Fedex was signed for last THURSDAY and they can't find it. They are not exactly inspiring confidence.

pboi

Theresa...thinking of you too. Hope the waiting isn't too long.

PB

Jackbirdie

Just shouting out to Eileen! 📢📣📢

Thinking of you as you prepare for your visit to the boob factory.

We are with ya, sista!

Check in when you can, but know we are there even when you don't.

Jackbirdie

AND.I am invoking the 24 hour birthday rule.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WHITNEY! (Tomorrow- but let's start dancing and eating cake now!)

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿

You are an amazing, inspiring, beautiful girl. Here's to MANY MORE happy birthdays which I know are yours to come.

Italychick

Ok, meeting with breast surgeon done, feeling relieved. Thanks for the positive thoughts! No more surgery. Good, bad or indifferent, I will summarize my "scan plan" since all doctors seem to be different, but I am comfortable with what mine is doing. And I love it when other people share with me too - it helps me focus my own follow-up more. Just ignore if it's too boring, but I am very interested in what others are doing - it really helps me.

1. All follow-on scans will be done by my breast surgeon, per my MO. That surprised me. I like my breast surgeon better, so I am happy with that.

2. First scan will be in October, and will be diagnostic 3D mammogram that will be my new baseline mammogram since she said that after surgery they will have nothing to use as a comparison. I am probably doing a PET scan at the middle of November, but she said that is up to me, if I need it for peace of mind, it will certainly be approved. She will do a scan and follow-up plan to minimize the impact of radiation and other things on my body. As an example, one of the things she will not be doing (unless I recur) is putting any two different tests any closer together than at least 6 weeks.

3. No MRI until at least a year has passed since surgery. She said doing an MRI too soon leads to all kinds of false findings that then have to be followed up on due to inflammation from surgery and chemo. Same thing with blood tumor markers, they can reflect inflammation and not necessarily cancer. She said doing an MRI too soon after chemo results in false areas to have to do follow-up on. Doing an MRI too close to surgery and chemo is not viewed as productive. So I will have a follow-up MRI, probably in February.

4. She convinced me to do the BRCA testing. She said if I don't want further surgery, she doesn't blame me, but if I am BRCA positive, it will just change her approach to the level of my ongoing scans and testing. So I'm okay with that. She told me that finding a genetic abnormality doesn't mean I have to do anything, but some things can also be impacted by dietary changes.

5. No mastectomy since radiation wasn't done. She said I have good statistics, she will monitor me and catch anything if it comes back early. So don't panic. She also explained the whole mastectomy process to me, said don't view it as this big bad thing, most women get it done, heal wonderfully, and move on to normal lives. Then I got an in detail description of the process, which made me feel way better than anything I have read online. So if I do end up there, I'm not afraid of it anymore.

6. She told me with ongoing monitoring I should have no reason to panic. If anything comes back it will be caught very early and dealt with. So don't live my life in fear, just enjoy it.

7. Said the most important things I can do for myself is exercise, reduce stress as much as possible, and eat healthy.

So of course, the first thing I want to do tonight is go home and drink some Jack Daniels for stress relief haha! Not really. Haven't touched alcohol since diagnosis.

Jackbirdie

T- great stuff. Sounds very wise. And practical. Made me feel better about my situation too, strangely. I know our cases couldn't be more different, but the follow up has more in common than not. I'm so glad your Doctook so much time with you, explained everything so well, and encouraged you to start living (not that you weren't already). I think a short reunion with Jack might be in order. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎈🎈🎈🎉🎉🎉

Italychick

Katy, your dog Jack, my dog Jack, or my grandson Jack? Haha - Jack's surround me. But seriously, looking forward to our March get together - hoping we can pull it off!