Starting Chemo March 2015

DavisD

Eileen, Carrie and Lee-I'm sorry you are dealing with those damn tissue expanders. I definitely remember hating them and never being "without discomfort" to say the least. I had them in 2011 following the right side mastectomy and ended up with them for about six months because I kept getting UTIs right before the surgery date.They wouldn't do the swap surgery with any kind of infection. Long road Hang in there and attend to any symptoms of a UTI way before your surgery date. As for the helpful tips.. right

DavisD

Sharon-I forgot to tell you I love your slider and what a fantastic view!

Carrie37

Allison, speaking of weird things after surgery. On the night of my surgery in my morphine haze I asked to use the restroom and was given the commode. Fine with me because I had no business walking. Anyway....I sat for (no joke) 20 minutes trying to pee. Nothing. I was so uncomfortable. The nurses finally did a straight catheter which sucked but was so helpful! God bless those nurses!! Seriously, nurses are my new heroes. So surgery really does a number on our bodies!

Diane, I think you said you believe I am a nurse but I am not. I am a counselor in a high school. Used to work at a homeless/domestic violence shelter. Very humbling indeed. My whole world view changed.

eheinrich

I only have a TE on the left. I haven't been filled at all yet. I don't want to even think about bouncing.....

Not a fan. But I tend to be really good at staying ahead of the pain - well at least I try to.

DavisD

Carrie-sorry I got the careers mixed up. That's very cool that you're a counselor though...not sure where you are? Do you have many homeless kids/I know HUD doesn't count them as homeless if they have a roof over their heads even though it isn't with their own family and they don't have a permanent home. We have close to a thousand kids in this situation but the statistics during our Point in Time count don't reflect because of this definition. I work in the wealthiest county in the country (on and off for several years but always top 3) so it's shameful that so much poverty exists. All kids do not have equal opportunities. I admire you for working with kids, it takes a special person. I mostly work with single, mentally ill adults which I can deal with...kids, break my heart.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday! Lots of excitement here with the Pope in DC....staying as far away as possible with the crazy traffic!

Pic of me and the hounds just a few months before diagnosis...my how things have changed! Pleasant memories of fall..

Jackbirdie

Diane- such a lovely photo of you and the pups.

Lee, Carrie, Eileen- I feel so bad for the pain you are having. It just sucks. I feel awful for all we have to go through to get to a point that doesn't even approach pre-bc life. Sending love. I hope time heals this pain.

ninjamary

Diane - the pooch on the left looks like he smiling!

Regarding nurses and MO's ignoring us on side effects I totally agree. I swear if I was throwing up during chemo they would have said it's all in my head and that it isn't a side effect of the chemo drugs I was on. Even when the MO and nurse knew of my complaints regarding neuropathy they ignored it (for over two months). No offer of physical therapy. Every time I talked about it it was like the first time they heard it. I had to demand a physical therapy script. BTW...when I last left here I was going to write my letter to the head of my cancer center. The script arrived that same afternoon and PT called me to schedule a consult on Monday. So no letter ever sent, but it is documented. I hate to by lazy, but PT is 2 floors up from rads. It's a one stop shop. Any other good PT places were about 30 min drive from the hospital.

I'm finding radiation easy. I've finished 16 sessions so far. No complaints about my treatment. I like the doctor's and nurses much better than up in MO. They take time, know my case and are finding it hard to explain why I'm breezing through with no symptoms yet. They keep asking me "are you sure?" "please contact us immediately if you have any problems, that's what we are here for". I wish I could transfer the whole staff up to medical oncology. When I do write my letter (because I will) I will have to give praise to RO.

Trvler

Mary: The radiology dept is how it SHOULD be. It's hard when you get crappy treatment one place. But I am happy the rads people are doing a good job. And I am glad you are still writing the letter. I have thought of writing a letter to my place but I just don't have the energy to do it.

I am very happy today because I have eyebrows. The thing everyone says about them coming in fast is true. It was almost like yesterday I had none and today they are there. Lashes are kind of there but harder to see.

IndyGal35

Mary, I feel the same way about my RO and her team! The therapists are so good, and everyone really listens. Isn't it amazing how truly good care can create a positive outcome? I'm on 15/25 today. Other than some pink spots and mild tiredness, I'm doing well with rads.

eheinrich

Allison!!! Eyebrows?! Congrats : )

Trvler

I know! I am so excited. lol

Carrie37

I'm happy to hear you're having a good experience Mary!!

DavisD

I was having a decent day at work when the MO called me with results from the CT scan. She said they found some lesions on my liver and wanted me to get an MRI. She said "I'm not convinced we need to use a needle yet" I know it's most likely some kind of benign lesion but she didn't try to reassure me and of course I read into that. I felt like someone slapped me in the face. Can't I just have one test be a "you're good to go" without any follow up???? Truthfully I'm scared...it feels a bit like when I was sure the tumor was benign since I had a mastectomy and then the call came. I know I'm being dramatic but I don't want to tell anyone but you all because you understand.

Jackbirdie

Diane- you're not being dramatic. Anybody would be scared shitless to get that call. We do understand though. One shit sandwich done and another is served. Nobody orders 2 sandwiches!

You just need to try to breathe and Ativan your way through this. And stay with us. Right here with us. How soon can you get an MRI?

DavisD

Thanks Katy! I tried to call before leaving work and I was 3rd in the q so I just decided to wait until morning.

Jackbirdie

I am attaching the mojo drip as we speak. Maybe something nice will happen this week to balance things out a bit. Although balancing out an MRI is not an easy business.

Please know I am thinking of you and care. For you, your health and your sanity in the coming days.

xoxo

And a warm embrace

K

Italychick

Diane, so sorry to hear you are on the roller coaster ride again. I am sending you energy that they are benign, hemangioma or something similar. Is this your first scan, or were you scanned before chemo? And could doctors use a little more tact? They could also be related to chemo too. Big hugs, I am with you there in spirit

Italychick

Allison, woohoo for eyebrows!

Does anybody know when we start looking like a poodle with chemo curls? My hair seems thicker and a little coarser right now, and I'm wondering if it is getting ready to start curling. I would say my hair is about an inch and a half to two inches long

eheinrich

Diane - so sorry. No one needs anther shit sandwich topping. Definitely not being dramatic - and if you were to be here is the place to be so.

Theresa - I am also about that length. No curls here. I think it varies person to person. I have 9million cowlicks. Not expecting curls.

DavisD

thanks for the hug Katy.

Theresa-I wasn't scanned before chemo. this CT was done because insurance wouldn't approve PET scan. What did you mean when you said they could be from chemo? I've buried my head in the sand with regards to all the side effects.. thanks for the support!

Italychick

Diane, chemo really hits the liver. Lesions in the liver can be scarring from chemo, from fatty liver disease (being heavy at any point in your life or related to too much sugar, it is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), from alcohol, or just benign hemangiomas that are blood blister clusters that are not cancer. I'm just throwing out a lot of things that could show up in a scan that are not cancer. And fingers crossed, and toes and eyes, they are just benign findings! My breast doctor didn't want to start scans too quick because she said too close to chemo all kinds of benign findings can show up.

On a positive note, my dental hygienist was diagnosed with bile duct cancer, severe case. They put her through chemo, removed 80% of her liver (yes, 80%), and her liver has mostly grown back and she now has no evidence of disease.

My daughters friend, the swim team guy with metastatic melanoma, completed 11 of 14 rounds of his first heinous chemo treatment. He is scheduled for 104 chemo treatments. A week later, his diseased lymph node that was 4 centimeters is now 2.5, and his doctors are ecstatic! I keep hearing more positives associated with chemo treatment!

I never wanted to do chemo, but I am loving hearing about positive stories.

Please let us know as soon as you find out anything, I will be thinking about you every day

BBwithBC45

Diane, I'm sending positive mojo your way too. May you get the MRI asap to put any worries to rest

shaz101

Diane. F@CK. I'm so pissed off for you. Like Theresa said it's probably due to treatment. But the worry must be enormous. Thinking of you and sending positive and calming vibes.

Meme117

Diane I ditto everything everyone said. Huge hugs to you! My thoughts and prayers will be with you, let us know when you're going.

Re the herceptin, I feel like it wears on my heart. I felt out of breathe today which I haven't in a while, treatment was yesterday. Waiting for echo results. My hair doesn't seem any longer and my eyelashes are too tiny to see though I still try to put on mascara.

Italychick

Maryellen, weird, I felt the same way yesterday. I couldn't tell if it was heart function or free floating anxiety, which I occasionally get and it makes me feel like I need to gasp to breathe. My echo is tomorrow, so maybe I have anxiety or something. But if my heart function does depress, I think I'm done. My maternal grandmother and a great aunt both had pacemakers put in when they got older, and I so don't want to end up there.

Of course, I didn't want cancer either....

slothabouttown

Diane, I am so sorry to hear that you've been handed something else to worry about. I'm glad you feel supported in this forum. Everyone here will be thinking positive thoughts that you get an all clear soon.

DavisD

Maryellen and Theresa-I've had the same issues with my breathing so bad last week they did an xray of my chest. Got the same response as with other SE,,can't be the radiation says RO, can't be Herceptin says the MO. I've just decided to treat it as "subconscious anxiety" ha ha, so keep the Ativan coming!

Sharon, BB, Maryellen, Katy, Eileen and Theresa-Thank you so much for your kind words and wisdom! It means the world to me. Theresa- I found the info about chemo causing scarring etc particularly comforting and I feel like a weight has been lifted after reading your post. I'm so grateful you are part of this group, you share such positive and important information.

I'm going to call to schedule the MRI as soon as I get to work but most likely I'll have to wait for CIGNA pre authorization which takes a few days....just want to get it over with. I'm feeling much more positive today and my radiation burns are continuing to get better!

Have a great day all! I love you guys.

DavisD

slothabouttown-I forgot to thank you too....thanks lady!

Trvler

Diane: I am happy that Theresa was able to give you info that made you feel better. I can't do that but I wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and hoping all is good.

When I had my heart issues, they scared me into thinking it was not chemo related or cancer related but I had never had any of those issues before and I am now 100% convinced it was because of those.

I have an appointment with my backup oncologist today. I am a bit nervous because I still worry about the final path results and the dr in NOLA seemed really worried but that must be my interpretation. Or maybe he was just concerned they would take out all my lymph nodes and he didn't necessarily want them to. Anyway, he gave me his cell and told me to have them talk to him, which was nice.

By the way, has anyone seen Special K lately?

ninjamary

Diane positive vibes coming your way!! I know chemo is tough on the liver. I got a talking to from my MO about that at one visit.

Allison - OMG on the eyebrows. Mine are coming in like crazy. I didn't even bother with the pencil today. I have stubby eyelashes. I put on mascara yesterday just because I could. It was a waste of mascara, but it was nice to get that make-up tool out again.

My hair is coming in thick and curly (like before) It looks pretty good all wet because it is still on the straight side. I used conditioner on it today. I was nice to pull that bottle out of the cabinet too. I think I'm going to using spiking gel also.

While waiting for the radiology therapists to get me I was watching some tv show and Jamie Lee Curtis was on. First I love that woman and second, she rocks that gray pixie cut.