Starting Chemo March 2015

Trvler

I wonder how that works, too, Molly. I kind of doubt they bill the whole amount. I tend to think that is so we will look at the larger amount and think we are getting some kind of deal with the insurance, but I am a cynic.

BBwithBC45

Time for another step for me tomorrow - going in for the exchange surgery. I will be glad to say bye-bye to the tissue expander, but also a little anxious about how I'll react to the implant.

Trvler

Good luck, BB!

DavisD

I'm having a flare of my autoimmune disease; swelling in hands, neuropathy in my feet and hands intermittently, unable to focus, light headed, ears ringing, major fatigue. I guess it couldn't be Herceptin, right? Can't see my rheumatologist until the 14th so I'm just trying to manage. I don't know anyone who can do anything, it just has to pass..I did get authorization from CIGNA for the MRI on Thurs. Will be glad to get the liver lesion issue out of my mind.

Sorry I'm too tired to read much tonight but I scanned and it was so nice to hear the chatter and insightful discussion. I just want to stay connected so I'm sending my best to you all. Staying positive

SpecialK

BB - good luck! Rather comically - I was just scheduled yesterday for a Dec 10 installation of a new tissue expander - can't believe I am doing this again, but I am excited! After 18 months of one implant and one flat side, I am willing sacrificing my 32nd wedding anniversary by spending it in surgery, lol!

Davis - hang in there! Hope the flare subsides ASAP

Trvler

Diane: Don't worry about us. Take care of yourself. Hugs. I hope it gets better soon.

K: You look like you could BE 32.

SpecialK

trvler - lol! Thanks, but there is a reason that avatar photo is taken from far away, haha! I was 32 when my first child was born.....almost 28 years ago...., so, if we do the math, this is my last year in my 50's - eek! But, taking into consideration what the last five years have entailed - I am thrilled to say that!!!

Jackbirdie

BB- in your pocket tomorrow! Mojo drip has started. Hugs. Keep us posted.

Diane- so sorry about the autoimmune flare. You just don't effing deserve this. I wish you a peaceful evening. Wishing with all my might! x

Carrie37

Prayers and thoughts are with you tomorrow BB. Keep us posted when you can!

Diane, I'm so sorry you're having a flare. Not fair! Thinking of you

Italychick

best of luck tomorrow BB, will be thinking about you and hope all goes well.

Diane, sorry about the flare, hope you feel better soon! Take a nice long Epsom salts bath soak, and be gentle with yourself!

I am totally trashed after having the three grandkids (1, 2 and 4) here all day. But lots of play. Running around, laughing, doing art projects, so a great day!

Jackbirdie

Tutti up the tree

Here's a little Jack and Tutti for anybody needing a fix or asmile.

Meme117

I hate the neulasta commercial, really who is their target market? Since dx I see so many cancer commercials, annoying!!

Hugs Diane😘

Best wishes BB!

Has anyone done acupuncture? Read an article about the benefits to help with hot flashes.

I hate going in for radiation everyday, it sucks!! I asked about turning up the radio and found out its a CD player, so old school. Tech said I could bring my own cd to play as they had no current music. So I'm making a playlist - please let me know one of your favorite songs to add so I can think of you all as I get zapped.

pboi

Good luck tomorrow BB!

Diane...so sorry about the flare up. Hope you feel better soon.

PB

ksusan

I like the Social Distortion cover of Ring of Fire if you're looking for loud new wave. If not, Cash is acceptable.

eheinrich

BB - so glad you are getting your TE out (I hate mine - a necessary evil and all that, but not my favorite). I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.

Hugs Diane.

littleblueflowers

Ksusan! Love me some Social D!!! What a great band..

I like "What you did in the dark" (light it up) by Fall Out Boy, or for all purpose cancer misery, Highway to Hell by AC/DC always makes me laugh.. (but I have a twisted sense of humor)

Trvler

I thought radiation was very short?

Visited my MO yesterday for the first time since surgery. As my NOLA BS suggested, she is pushing me to have more lymph nodes removed. He doesn't want me to. I am actually changing MO's and I met with that lady last week and she didn't think I should do it. He wants me to meet with the radiation oncologist before I do it. She already consulted the BS and the RO at HER hospital and they all want me to do it. I swear it's like they are trying to drum up business for this surgeon. Admittedly, my BS says it's gray area. But he says the risk of lympedema compared to the outcomes are not worth it, in his opinion. (I had micromets in two nodes after chemo and good margins.) Not excellent.

Leighrh

Just some disturbing news to share... Last night my boys started back their baseball training with the travel team we play with..... There is a Dad on the team that we hung out with all this summer and he is very good friends with my MO. We were just chatting last night and he told me that my MO told him last week that two weeks ago he set a record...... He saw 21 new cases of BC in 1 week!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know that this is widespread, but hearing that floors me! That's just in Baton Rouge and the surrounding area!!!! Before all this started for me I had no idea ..............It just infuriates me more about all this October AWARENESS bullshit! Everyone is freaking aware!!! Its time to find out why this is happening to so many people!!!!!

Msmath

BB hope all went well with your exchange. I had mine almost 2 weeks ago. I'm heading back to my PS today and hopefully will have my drains removed. I have had a rough couple of weeks emotionally. I thought it would be so different once I had my implants in but it has been very hard on me.

molly1976

"Everyone is freaking aware!!!" Yes!! I want this on a t-shirt.

slothabouttown

Allison,

Are your MOs approaching your case differently because of the ILC? I feel like my surgeon was more aggressive with the lymph node removal than any I've read about on here. He told me early on the ILC was a "bad actor"(words that will stick in my head forever.) Now I keep reading about how ILC is so different, harder to find and treat, not as responsive to certain drugs as IDC, etc. I'm curious if that's coming up in your case. I asked my MO if there was anything about my treatment that was different because of the ILC and she said no. FWIW I had one positive node with SNB that had some extension. On the second pass through he took 27 and all were clear. I like the peace of mind from that but the lymphedema worry was the trade off I guess.

Jackbirdie

Allison- I'm sorry about you having to struggle with this decision. In a way it reminds me of the uncertainty we felt when first dxd. So much conflicting information played out on a stage of fear. I have no suggestions except keeping talking to us and try to breathe, you will have to get very quiet with yourself to hear your inner voice with all that conflicting noise going on.

Jackbirdie

MsMath- just wanted to say how sorry I am with the ongoing struggle. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for which things cause us the most emotional discomfort. And it sneaks up on us like a hunter in the night. Hugs going out to you. Try to be patient and kind with yourself. Time will take care of some of your pain. But you must be a good patient for yourself. Ok?

Jackbirdie

So sick of the stupidity. It's everywhere. And so is bc. Leigh, it is horrifying. Bring on the teeshirt.

Italychick

Leighrh, that is terrible, the 21 new cases in one week. I keep seeing articles, forums etc. talking about how the "increase" is because mammograms are detecting DCIS earlier. And then I see doctors fighting over whether to treat DCIS in early stages or not since it can resolve on its own. So I guess what I am wondering is have cases increased, or are cases being detected that wouldn't have before, and would never have killed the patient, if you know what I mean?

Having said that, if I get my mammogram on Friday and they see anything, I don't care if it is a fibroadenoma, hyperplasia, whatever, that surgeon is going back in there and cutting that tissue out. No biopsies, nothing, just get the shit out of my body. Cells that have run amok that are removed are no longer a threat is how I feel. My body, my choice.

Jackbirdie

Theresa- good questions...I have wondered if it is simply the gross population increase in the "target" age group. Except the numbers are on the rise in young women too. Really scary. I had never heard that dcis could resolve on its own. I had always assumed the best you could hope for was that it didn't break out to the next stage. Like a ticking time bomb.

It's all very scary. I'm still scared and I've done just about all I can do. For now.

Thinking of you on Friday. Will they give you instant feedback or will you gave to play the waiting game?

pboi

Allison...so sorry you are having to make such difficult decisions.

Radiation doesn't take very long, maybe 15 minutes for me on most days but by the time you get in there, get in the right positions, get your treatment...you're usually able to get a few songs in there.

Ms math... Emotionally I have a hard time too, it comes and goes. Hang in there and I hope you feel better soon.

Leigh...21 new cases in a week...wow, just wow! That makes me so sad!

Yes we are all aware! Wish this would stop, bothers me so much it's everywhere! It's technically not even October yet. It's going to be a long month...sigh. I want that shirt too!

PB

SpecialK

I also have not heard that DCIS can resolve on its own, only that there are cases that do not spread outside the duct and become invasive, but there was a Norwegian study that purported to show spontaneously resolving cancer, but DCIS was not included so the data can't be extrapolated to support that. Also the methods used sounded pretty suspect to me, it was a mathematical equation with screening - not a study that biopsied known cancers that were left intact and then disappeared. Much like prostate cancer, in situ breast disease has varying degrees of aggressiveness. I have read that if you autopsied a number of elderly men many would have undiagnosed low grade prostate cancer, and many elderly women would have undiagnosed low grade DCIS.

Jackbirdie

I had heard that about prostrate cancer. Makes sense about dcis too. I guess as we get older, there are many possible undiagnosed maladies, in a race to be the victor in the take- out race.

SpecialK

jackbirdie - often I think there is just relatively benign stuff hanging out because aging bodies have less effective immune systems. In the case of those autopsies, the people died from something else and the prostate and breast findings were incidental, and so non-aggressive they would never have necessarily become a cause of death. This is yet another reason that seeing diagnoses of younger women with breast cancer is somewhat alarming - many types of cancer - breast included - are thought to be somewhat a disease of aging, for the reason I stated above. The incidence of breast cancer, and chance of being diagnosed with it, increases the older women get. The chance of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer at 30 is 1 in 227, but the chance for a 70 year old is 1 in 26, so a ten fold increase - this is according to SEER data. In fact, the single biggest risk factor for breast cancer is age.