Starting Chemo March 2015

eheinrich

Not for a party of one. Also I can't enroll until the day of my "qualifying event" of 6/1 - the day I lose my coverage on Alan's plan. That better not lead to a coverage gap.

Italychick

You can do cobra just in case, can't you? The new insurance stuff is so messed up

eheinrich

I want to stick w/ Kaiser. My MO, surgeon, psychiatrist, GP are all there. I can't start over w new docs.

Meme117

Thanks for the airport info, I'll check into it.

My bone scan shows all good, normal levels. Now for cat scan tomorrow. Not looking forward to drinking that horrible stuff.

Had a reiki session this week and went to yoga, truly helps my pysche. My Gilda's Club offered a free glass art session today which was wonderful. Met some great women also survivors, one has had BC three times. If you have a club near you I highly recommend checking it out.

Trvler

I looked it up and it says you are 268% of the poverty level. You qualify up to 400%. Is California's different? I can't remember. It is Covered California?

Also, I was listening to Healthcare connect yesterday and I thought of you. They were discussing that people are waiting until they get sick to sign up and faking life events so now they are requiring proof as in marriage licenses, divorces certs, etc. They said they amount of time it takes to review these documents for the applicant can be a problem.

TerryMarie

I posted last week about finishing Herceptin, im taking Anastrozole ( Armidex ) and side effects bugging me are a runny nose occasionally and strangely, for months now..the tip of my nose, the nostrils feel like they are burning. There is no redness or marking, just a burning feeling. Not sure if its leftover taxotere side effects or what. Also bone issues, my gawd, my lower back, knees and now my hands. My fingers feel locked up in the morning and I have pain in my right hand going from the thumb up thru my wrist. I have a feeling its the anastrozole and Im stuck with that for another 4.5 yrs Sometimes its difficult to walk after sitting for any period of time. Problem is, I had bad knees before all this and degenerative disc disease in my lower back, its all so much worse now. I feel disabled because of this but from what ive read , any possible medication has it own list of side effects. What a pain.

Trvler

I think that joint stuff is a common SE. Is there another brand you could try?

KBeee

Joint issues are side effects of all of the AIs though some people can tolerate one better than another.

TerryMarie

Not sure about another brand to take, I think as youve said, the joint pain is common, I just hope it doesn't get any worse.

I know Herceptin also causes this and since my last one was last week, I'm hoping after a while things won't be as rough.

eheinrich

Allison - I'm concerned about a gap in coverage. I wanted to do everything early so it would be seamless. If I have to supply divorce papers, that's understandable but leaves me with a potential problem. Ugh. In terms of a discount when I put in my info they first told me that I qualified for $100 discount. When I submitted an amended app (I have since figured out) I lost the subsidy because my employer does offer insurance above the "acceptable level". Whatever. I'll pay what I have to pay because I don't have a choice. Money is stupid (or I guess lack of).

In other parts of the world, everyone cross your fingers that demolition/recon on the lake house goes quickly. We need a kitchen for our get together.

molly1976

Allison, I'm a couple days late to your question but my cancer breast has never really stopped hurting, and my RO said some women have pain for the rest of their lives. It's sometimes achy, sometimes sensitive to pressure (like if I'm lifting weights and it's pressing against the machine), sometimes zappy, etc. All over the place. But supposedly that is normal. It's not just in the lumpectomy area, either, so I do think part of it is due to the radiation.

Trvler

Thanks, Molly. Oddly, the pain seems to have gone away. Which of course means nothing. That's what my original BC would do. Trying not to worry about things. Just freaked me out.

Eileen: Is getting insurance through your employer an option until you can get on the ACA?

TerryMarie

I still get pain in the lumpectomy breast , sometimes i know its leftover from the surgery and other times i know its from the radiation because of where the pain is.

Rads were finished the end of July and my breast is still blotchy, the rad onco was surprised by it , he said its usually gone within a matter of weeks and its been over 8 mths. I guess we all heal in our own sweet time. The pain from the radiation is intermittent and under the breast. It never lasts and is certainly bearable.

Carrie37

Allison, I get zingy pains in my radiated side too. Mine mostly hurts after fills but I know you don't have TE's. Maybe if it comes back and keeps bothering you then see your MO sooner? Mine will last a few days and then go away but when it happens it hurts like heck! I am always a little muscle sore feeling because of the TE's. When I asked my PS if that will go away with the exchange he said "ideally." Ugh.

jumbledbamboo

I'm going through the joint pain and have.been for a while. I take arimidex. It makes my fingers stiff also. My right ring finger gets stuck and I have to physically move it with my other hand. It feels very strange.

KBeee

Aber, Sounds like trigger finger.

ThePrincess

I'm so glad to read I'm not the only one with zingy zappy weird pains after radiation!!!! ESP where my lumpectomy and SNB scars are!

Lovemylab

Photo from morning hike!

Maureen

KBeee

That photo is beautiful!!!

I get a lot of pains along scar lines too. I see BS on the 18th. We'll see what he says.

I get Prolia that same day. (Insert nervous teeth chattering here

TerryMarie

Amber, that's exactly what happens to me with my fingers, my cat jumps on me in the morning and I pat her to get my fingers moving, they feel like i need to physically bend them, its a bizarre feeling. I'm taking turmeric with bioperine every day to help with inflammation. Haven't been on it long enough to say whether it works or not but there's a lot of information online about the benefits for fighting a lot of issues including cancer. I figure its a better option for me than taking anti inflams that will eventually hurt my stomach.

jumbledbamboo

i just started tumeric again. I hope it helps. It's supposed to help. Lymph system too so that's a bonus!

ksusan

I'm having a variety of joint issues that I think are due to Tamoxifen. Pretty bad knee pain, finger and thumb "clicking" in the morning. I've added gelatin back into my supplements and added glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM. I'll increase my turmeric, especially now that I've found a consistent local source for fresh. I do like the idea of taking a shark supplement, since my surgery/chemo metaphor was about a nurse shark eating urchins (cancer cells). Nurse sharks hang around in shallow waters, generally leave people alone, and sneak up on prickly stuff at night to eat it. They are described as "indolent," as was my tumor based on KI67.

jumbledbamboo

thanks for the additional information. I have so much joint pain from the osteonecrosis I wonder if more supplements will help. I will check with my many docs. Its better than nothing though. I take piles of pills. I'd love to add more organic things

jumbledbamboo

I checked my notes the cells were primarily aggressive

...Can you tell me more about ki? Mine was17% of cells score 1 with nuclear pleomorhosm of 2 and grade 2 and 3

SpecialK

jumbled - Ki67% is separate from grade although can be associated with a high mitotic count as it is another way to measure cell proliferation since it is a measurement of antigen that is increased during cell division. Generally the result, even though expressed as a percentage, is considered high or low. Less than 10% is low, over that is high. Grade is comprised of three components nuclear pleomorphism (shape and size), mitotic count (rate of division), and tubule formation (how much of the tissue looks like normal ductal tissue). Each of these is given a score of 1-3, which is then added together for a score of anywhere from 3-9. A total score of 3-5 from all three categories is grade 1, 6-7 is grade 2, and 8-9 is grade 3. Sometimes you will see a percentage along with grade - this is often a staining percentage, but different from Ki67.

Jackbirdie

🙋🙋🙋-just dropping in to say hi. I had my (now monthly. ugh) MO appt to monitor the liver enzymes and they barely budged. Down a few points. At least not up. But after so many months off Tamoxifen and being consistently elevated, he ordered a US of the liver. I didn't think he was THAT worried.

He says the AIs can also cause elevations in 3-5% of patients. It's higher with Tamox, but maybe my liver doesn't like either. We talked about watching waiting more, and alternatives like milk thistle. He said he'd rather just do the US. In particular he said you have to take large-ish quantities of it for it to be effective, and too much can be toxic. And since no studies have been done (that he knows of) to figure dosages, he's not advising it. I hate to goagainst his wishes. I think after the results of the US are in, perhaps I'll ask him about working cooperatively with a naturopath.

He says he wants to rule out and wants me to have peace of mind. Says worry is bad for our bodies. So at least it's not invasive. But so sick of all of this. Next Tuesday.

Trvler

Ugh, what a pain. I have been wondering how you were doing, Katy.

Jackbirdie

thanks Allison. Otherwise I feel a bit better. The depression that blanketed me in the darkness all winter has lifted somewhat. Maybe also because I stopped Tamoxifen. I started quilting again. Always a good sign.

It is raining cherry blossoms today....

And look who's taken up door to door solicitation!

pboi

Hi Katy...glad to hear from you! Cute pic of Tutti. Door to door solicitation...haha!

I'm doing ok overall. Hair is growing, sleeping better, exercising more, getting more energy back. But do still have good days and bad days, things pop up and then I wonder. Reflux is bothering me and I wonder is it something else? Messes with my head...ugh! So trying to keep my head out of the hole. I've seen people say it can take up to a year or more after treatment to feel "normal" again, wonder if it's true. I'm definitely not there yet. Maybe halfway there?

PB

ksusan

My sleep has been a bit better the last few nights. It would be wonderful if this turns out to be a trend!

I have a nail polish question since I've only used it on vacation in the past. I've put a clear lacquer on my toenails, which are still pretty brittle and have air pockets. Should I remove it periodically and reapply? Normally I'd just take it off after vacation. Thanks.