April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

melb44

Kbee - thinking of you today - hope you get an all clear soon!!

Went to the hospital and got my radioactive injection - I go back for the scan at 11:00 then I have my breast radiation at 1:00. Hope I get some answers today.

GingerChi

Karen and melb....praying for you both to get negative results!!

Karen, I was thinking of your mom and wondering how things are going. Will keep her in my prayers as well....hope her surgery goes smoothly!

Renee....Hoping for NO celiacs! Congrats on clear GI results!!

Lynne, I am much the same way with exercise. It wears me out to the point the rest of the day is a struggle. Its getting a little better...I started taking a multivitamin and that may have helped.

Scarlett, my cancerversary isnt until Feb. Typically, crappy anniversaries don't weigh me down, and I'm not dreading it or dwelling on it. But... no idea how I will feel then. I can only hope it doesn't throw me into a funk. I do think PTSD is a key player in all of this. I don't think its fully hit me yet since I'm still going for Herceptin infusions and seeing the MO every month.

Gkto, its great to hear from you..so glad you're doing well! Hope the port site heals up quickly!

I went for my latest heart echo last week. My ejection fraction started out at 65% prior to treatment.....its at 55% now. Per the nurse, they will hold Herceptin if it gets below 50%, but will monitor and resume if it rises back up. Its always something!

Ugh! Weird Uncle Mort ...we've sliced and diced him, shot him up with the Red Devil, Taxol and other toxic cocktails....not to mention burning his ass to a crisp in some cases. Time for him to get the heck out!!!

I'm slowly getting ready for Christmas. Hope to wrap my shopping up today. A package from Amazon that I needed days ago got delayed in UPS land. Hope it arrives today since some of those gifts have to be mailed.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a special time with your family and friends!! Wishing us all better days ahead in 2016!!

KBeee

Finally good news from a biopsy. Radiation fibrosis and scarring. I am not excited that fibrosis has started so soon, but it sure beats the alternative!

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers! I sure appreciate every one of them!!!!

littleblueflowers

HELL YEAH KBEEEE!!!!!!!! Thank you universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

melb44

Yay Kbeee I am so glad to hear your results!!!

I had my bone scan this morning. They did a full bone scan then a second scan that included the spine area where they saw something on the CT in the ER. Said they won't have results until tomorrow, I got the nurse over in radiation to check whether there were any results this afternoon and they were not there yet. The waiting is hard....

Positive_spirit

Melb44 - hoping it comes back clear.

Kbeee - You go girl!

lovlilynne

Ugh, Melissa, I was hoping that you would get the news same day like some of the others here who had scans. I'll be waiting to hear back from you tomorrow with the good news.

KBeee

Mel, please keep us posted. I hope we are on a roll for good news. Yes, the waiting is cruel. The weather channel at night provided me the only means to fall asleep these past couple of weeks

Jackbirdie

So very happy and relieved girl you Karen! You deserved this break!

AndreaC

Hi all!

Lynne, activity really wears me out too...especially hanging out with my 3 year old grandson - he is a bundle of energy! I nap after every visit. I haven't been exercising because I'm still recovering from my hysterectomy although I feel okay. But six weeks is the magic number...

I have been fatigued for the past two years, what with three surgeries, anemia, chemo twice and radiation...I forget what "normal" is. Hopefully I will find out! I am feeling like an old lady here.

Oh, the Christmas party for DH's work was a lot of fun but I got a cold just before it...I almost skipped it but was glad I went.

Kbeee, I am thrilled for you! Melb, I am thinking nothing but positive thoughts for you.

Andrea

KBeee

Andrea, I feel like 4( going on 85 some days! 2016 needs to be out fountain of youth..... Or maybe just our fountain of settling into our new normal, growing out some new hair, making our own scheduled rather than living lives for our next appointment. Here's to a healthy 2016 for all of us.

Thank you, thank you, thank you got your kind words, positive vibes, love, prayers, and support these past few weeks. I am very grateful for all of you! You seriously keep me sane

Rpayton

we are on a roll Chemosabies with good news. My celiac was negative. This Italian girl can still have her bread and pasta! Thank you God!!!

Anyone else still waiting on test results my prayers are still going for you each night!

KBeee

so glad to hear celiac was negative!!!!!!!

melb44

We are in a roll ... I got good news too. No evidence of mets in bones. So relieved. :

Congrats on the no celiac Renee!!

Jackbirdie

Renee- fantastic news. I am so glad that Italian girl doesn't have to give up pasta, Stromboli, or cannoli! Wow. Making myself hungry. If only I could whisk myself off on my magic carpet to the Philly Italian neighborhood where all the butchers and bakers and pasta makers are all in a couple of blocks radius.

Have an image in my head of homemade sauce bubbling on the stove with one if those ubiquitous pink boxes tied with twine next to it in the counter (cannolis inside).

Melb- thinking of you. Strong mojo coming your way.

Edited to add: Mel! We cross posted! So very happy for you!

KBeee

Yahoooooooooooooo Melb!!! Great news! I think we need a round of margaritas tonight!

lovlilynne

So, when I saw MO in Nov, she said to schedule mamog for Jan (even though RO said she would rather have 6 months between end of rads). Ok, whatever, next decision is where to have it. I used to always go to a hospital/bc center on the way to work because it was convenient, and that's where they found my bc. But, they are not linked up to my current doctor's record system, so I would have to have manual copies made for distribution. Next choice would be to have it at the hospital where I've been getting all my treatments, which is affilated with MGH, but does not have the same record system either, so my imaging from MGH last year would not automatically come over, but MO said it would only be an issue "the first time".

It seemed to me that it would be best if I had it at MGH, but I didn't want to go to Boston. But, there's a MGH imaging center in near-by Waltham - same location where I take my daughter to see her endocrinologist Yay. So, I called them yesterday, and the scheduler said she couldn't set up the appointment, and had to forward me to someone else where I had to leave a message. Next thing I know, I have a message on my phone that I've been set up for a mammo in Boston, then appointment with BS after.

My question is WWYD? I thought I was just going for my routine mammog, and now it's turned into a big deal, and my MO didn't say that I needed to be seen by BS, so I didn't think I needed to. I was going to call them back and just ask for a mammog in satelite center, but do you think I should see BS again?

Lynne

lovlilynne

Karen, thinking of your mom today. I didn't realize that she had chosen to have a mastectomy. Did her pathology indicate this, or was this because of recurrence?

Melissa, where are you? I had hoped to hear back from you regarding results. Sending positive thoughts.

Lynne

lovlilynne

Oops, crossed posted. Melissa, I'm so relieved, I'm sure it can't compare to your feeling of relief. And, even though it was stressful, what a nice thing to know going into the new year!

Positive_spirit

great news brings everyone some relief....thanks to those of you with good results from scans and biopsies.

Lynne, the breast surgeon has a different process for assessing breast health and the mammogram won't be a complete exam on its own. I also have to see my MO and BS, but no mammo since the boobs were eliminated

littleblueflowers

yaaaaaaaay Mel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡!!!! I'm so happy for you!

Yayyyy Renee! Pasta time!

Positive I didn't realize you had a double. Did you do recon?

KBeee

Lynne, The mammo may show scar tissue and such and BS can verify if those are in locations of surgery, etc, so it sounds logical to me that they would want you to follow up with him/her afterwards. My BS has always made it clear that he will see me for the assessment of lumps and such, and for clinical breast exams, and that my MO will address "the rest of the stuff".

My mom had a unilateral mastectomy in 1992, so today she's having a mastectomy on the other side for the new cancer. She never had reconstruction before, so she's having TEs placed on both sides so she can later have implants. My dad called a little bit ago and said everything went well and she'll be going home in a couple hours. She's not the picture of health (but thinks she is) so I am concerned about her being released and not kept overnight, but she's pretty stubborn (which is where I get it from), so she'll do what she wants, no matter what they recommend. Glad surgery went well though.

Positive_spirit

Yeah Mel!!! YEah Kbeeee!!!

Littleblue - yup, skin-sparing, nipple-sparing bilateral mastectomy with direct reconstruction. No one can even tell that these are not my real boobs. Seriously, I have shown them around especially at retreats, when people were looking for a BS and PS, to the doctors, etc. But they do feel a little like plastic paper is inside of them - especially on the sides. And the nipples point right out, so have to be careful with bras otherwise people will think I am constantly stimulated (the nerve)!

lovlilynne

Thanks for the answers re BS - I know that BS had said to follow up with her, but then MO seemed to be saying "get a mamo anywhere" so I didn't think it mattered. I hate when there is all this confusion. Guess I'll be going to Boston in early February - great, can't be worse than the blizzard I drove in to see them last year.

Huh, Lorraine, I didn't realize that you had recon. Direct recon too - that seems rare as far as what I've read in the March and April groups. What do you mean plastic paper?

Ok - I have to ask, I can only ask it here - I've been wondering if you still have feeling/sensation after recon? I mean, I know that a boob job leaves you with sensation, but seeing as the mastectomy takes out all the breast tissue, and usually the nipple, what is left for feeling? I never got to the point of asking this with BS. It's funny when I think of when she said I had option of mastectomy or re-excision for 2nd surgery, she never mentioned what the mastectomy would mean as far as what it is and what the impact is. I think I was meant to choose then on the phone (and I did - for the re-excision), but how can you choose when there's so much information you don't have about it? I guess I'd have found out if I had chosen MX, but still makes me wonder now, I guess it doesn't matter.

Karen, glad your mom is doing ok. Hope her recovery is easy.

Lynne

littleblueflowers

kbeee, your mom sounds like she's a fighter! So glad she is recovering well! May I ask, when she had her first mastectomy, did they do a skin sparing one? I'm curious about the process of delayed recon for myself down the road...

Rpayton

Mel great news!!! Relief!!!

Kbeee keep us posted on your mom. Her spunk has kept her going and must be a fighter!

Lynne I continue to see BS regularly every 2-3 months and she orders all my testing and gives to my MO.They have great communication, close working relationship even though she is an independent. I get next MAMM in Feb. I think it is best to see BS as they know way more and can stay on top of it better. Good luck!

Addie29

awesome news to Renee ans Melb!!!!

On the topic of recon- I have my implants ans hate them! The right side looks wonderful. Round, not high on my chest, soft and almost natural looking except for some rippling when I raise my arm. The left side looks horrible. Almost square like when I bend over, super tight and still high on my chest----I saw my ps and he didn't want to address the issuenfor anotheR 10 months- I wasn't happy with that so I'm asking for a 2nd opinion. I miss my old ps- but he left for TX so he's not an option to see obviously. I know my breast will never looks like they did before but between my left and right there is like 1/2inch difference in size and it drives me nuts.

KBeee

Jen, 20years ago, mastectomies were much different. They took breast, all lymph nodes, and the whole pec muscle. That was routine. PS said it was no problem; recon can be done anytime. She did not have rads. If skin is really bad from rads, sometimes implants will not work as well and they have to do flap surgeries

DizzParkMom

Lynne, I had a skin sparing (but not nipple sparing) bilateral mx with immediate diep flap sx. Sorry to say that there is zero breast sensation left....complete numbness around entire area. Also have numbness in center around belly button and another 'stripe' of numbness along my belly where flap was donated. So...lots of numbness. It's only been 8 weeks though, so there is always some hope that the skin nerves will re-educate themselves, but all the 'real' breast sensory nerves are long gone.

Jen, although it's been a long, tough 8 weeks...I am at the point where I can recommend considering diep if you decide to go for delayed reconstruction someday. I didn't think diep was an option for me because of my smaller stomach size, but if your willing to go smaller (handfulls) they can do amazing work. If you're interested, check out the diep threads.

I am so happy to hear about all the good medical news!!!!! It's about time for us to all take some deep breaths and enjoy the approach of the new year and a new start. I am wishing you all the best in 2016!!!

littleblueflowers

Kbeee, wow. That is interesting about surgery 20,years ago. Also very encouraging. I'm thinking 5 years or so until I'm interested...might as well not waste time in the hospital during g the high reoccurance window!

Dizz, I will look into it. Did you have to gain weight before hand?,so glad you like them!

Addie, so sorry you don't like yours. I hope they settle down. I'm debating about prosthetics....have an appointment next week to get fitted. Now that everyone is used to seeing me flat, not sure if I will be comfortable in fakes.

Yaaaaaay for good news for everyone. Whew. What a ride. Let the peace continue forever!