January 2016 Chemo!

Cathytoo

buttaflydiva...CONGRATULATIONS‼️ Keep going til you reach the treatment finish line

zinny

Paxton - so sorry to hear about the shingles and shame on the MO! People get confused because chicken pox is super contagious via airborne droplets ( i.e. if you are in the same room with someone with it and don't have immunity you have a high chance of getting it by breathing the same air) but when the same virus comes back as shingles, it is not in your whole system, but just in that nerve area, so is only spread by contact. She should have learned that in med school, but it was probably a long time ago and she forgot (lol!!) You are not a leper, and as the CDC says, only contact with blisters could lead to spread so your legal assistant is safe as long as you don't let her touch your spots - but she is likely immune anyhow. In all seriousness, good hand washing should protect everyone around you. If you start the antiviral prescription within 72 hours of the rash starting, it can shorten the course of the shingles a bit. The nerve pain can be a bit of a bugger. Sorry

<I am a paediatrician, so I have to think about chicken pox a lot >

Valstim52

fightergirl i'm 3 months pfc and 3 weeks from end of rads. my leg ache and knee pain klcked in high gear a week ago. so much so that they did a US to check for a blood clot. problem is I have torn meniscus and other injuries to that same knee from pre BC. They warned me it would show up but I was hoping. I can't handle a knee replacement right now, so my ortho will do cortizone shot, and i'll keep taking my muscle relaxant. oh well. I knew I would be left with something.

i envy you girls moving to ai's and hormonals. I feel being TN i'm thrown off the cliff . Ofcourse i've cleaned up my diet and am taking supplements like Holy Basil and tumeric with black pepper and green tea.

Valstim52

Paxton, so sorry about your shingles and sorry to say I worked with them after the initial pain was taken care of. Sending gentle hugs.

Paxton29

Thank you, everybody! You have all made me feel much better than my MO did lol. I was particularly upset she wouldn't examine me because about two weeks ago a pink spot the size of a raisin showed up on my right "breast" a/k/a skin over the tissue expander, right where the nipple would be. The PCP (who I had never seen but really like) looked at it and, like my PS, couldn't say what it was but is going to call my MO and talk to her about it. Oh cancer, you're such fun--the party's never over, is it? The spot has stayed the same size and I have no other symptoms, it's just a discoloration but of course I'm scared to death.

buttaflydiva, I have not noticed any significant SEs from Tamoxifen. I do have an extra 1.5 pounds that I don't know if it's related to Tamoxifen or just the horrible humidity--I can barely get my rings on in the morning and I feel somewhat bloated. I did discontinue it a couple days ago since I can't take it 30 days before surgery so that may shed some light. I started it in early July.

Frill

Hi, everyone! Well, I finished chemo Aug. 4, moved back home Aug 8, and was in the hospital Aug 17. All I can do is laugh. I had great numbers all through chemo, never had Neulasta, but in the last week I've had it I don't know how many times, along with 2 blood transfusions. I was driving back to go to the hospital anyway, and had woken up with a slight fever, but something seemed not right. It wasn't not right all right. I drove 4 hours, got my port accessed, did my blood work, (had back to back appts the next day), then toodled over to the cart to go to the main building. The driver made me get in a wheelchair. I'm thinking, "Well, I'm kind of tired, this 50 lb backpack and purse crap I lug around are heavy. I'll deal with another ride."

Four hours or so after being checked into the ER, my bp takes a nose dive, my arm is red like I've got cellulitis, I'm septic, my WBC is 70. All during this I'm laughing with my sister and have no CLUE. I literally gained 20 pounds in 4 days from all the fluids I've been given. The doctor said they pushed 4 liters of fluid while I was in the ER because of my blood pressure. Then the fever starts climbing, eventually hits 103. I'm watching Vikings, leave me alone.

It takes five days to find something that might be wrong. All the blood cultures were negative. They found a seroma from my MX - tiny. Once it drained, my fever magically went away. Lol, I forgot about the rash. I get to ICU at 2:30 am. At 5 am they give me some antibiotic (I'm on four right now) and I get the super rash like I got after my first Taxol. The NP comes in the next morning and almost falls over, starts yelling at the nurse - who knows nothing because she wasn't told anything. She just walked into a cherry, and dealt with the cherry. Me, I'm just watching Vikings. I had to look up and say something, because really, between 5-7am someone should have said something. Rashes are not a priority in ICU.

I cannot believe I've been in the hospital - now almost exactly a week. Who stays in the hospital a week anymore? Someone who's really sick, I guess. I was more concerned about my day of doctor's appointments that got cancelled because of this crap. They told me that procedures would be done over the weekend, blah blah blah.

I was supposed to meet with my RO and have my simulation. Now idk if this business affects the start of that, or what.

If grades were being given for going through cancer treatment, I'd certainly get a big fat F. Lol. I start out almost dying in November during the MX (which was supposed to be BMX and TE placement) and now AFTER finishing chemo, this.

All I can do is shake my head and laugh. Seriously. And go back to watching Downton Abbey.

FLBuckeye93

First, I'm so sorry Frill. That just stinks. I hope you start feeling better soon.

Second, I also have foot and knee pain. My hips hurt after sitting for too long. Though it was the Arimidex, but it started after chemo and rads, but before taking the Arimidex. I thought it was just me getting old!

The doctor has me on Prolia every six months for bone loss. It's supposed to having some cancer fighting abilities, too.

Valstim52

Oh Frill what an ordeal, and it sounds like it's not over. So sorry you are going through this.

Cathytoo

Frill...OMG‼️ I'm speechless. Hope you're home soon with all this behind you

LoveMyVizsla

Good grief Frill!

Smurfette26

Oh no Frill. Big hugs beautiful.

Paxton29

How miserable, and scary! I hope they get it all figured out, and SOON.

JCS28

Frill, I am so sorry! But I am so glad to hear you are on the mend and that you have Downton Abbey!

Maya15

Frill and Paxton, so sorry for what you're going through.

My doctors really didn't discuss the lingering effects of chemo before I started. My MO saysthe joint pain and fatigue are normal because "you've been on strong stuff, and you're still on strong stuff" (Perjeta especially) but that's not very encouraging because I have 7 more months of infusions to go. Right now I can't go up more than one flight of stairs or swim more than 1 length of the pool without putting my feet down.

Myraknits

Frill, so sorry!! You've got the best attitude to get through all this!

Maya, I feel like my old self again until I try to do something like treadmill or walking in general. I've got Herceptin till next Feb so I guess this is the new normal. My heart palps kick in going up a flight of stairs. This accelerated aging is for the birds...

EstelaLorca

Omg frill that is awful, I've been hospitalized twice after chemo. Pleural effusions developed as a side effect from taxotere. I definitely struggled and wish I had your attitude. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Valstim52

hi all

in the hospital waiting on MRI. Had stroke symptoms bought in via emergency room

2 nites ago. This never ends.

Smurfette26

Sorry to hear that Val. Hope you are managing some rest. Thinking of you.

LoveMyVizsla

Oh no, Val! Keep us posted.

Paxton29

Val, I hope you're doing okay and that it wasn't a stroke. Let us know when you can.

Cathytoo

Val...hope you are OK. Give us an update as soon as you can.

jensgotthis

Sending good thoughts Val

zinny

Val and Frill, so sorry to hear the SH!T you are going through right now. Frill, your sense of humour will save the day. Sending positive energy both of your way(s.)

Maya15

Val, thinking of you. Keep us updated when you can.

Valstim52

hello all. still in hospital. had a mild stroke. lots of therapy and doctors. good news i've every scan known to man and no cancer. sorry my dd is typing for me.

val

jensgotthis

yay for no cancer but a big boo for a mild stroke. Hope your therapy will have you back to your happy self very soo

zinny

Val, much strength to you. Thank goodness it is a mild one.

Myraknits

Val, sending you love me hugs. Now time for healing

Valstim52

Thanks so much everyone. Who knew that a stroke and not cancer is great news. What a life we lead once we have BC. DD is typing for me. Yes I hope I will recover from all of this.

I had a terrible pain in my lower left arm, then started slurring my speech. Dh called 911 and it was a blur. No high blood pressure or heart problems, so it was a surprise. A vein blew out in that arm, and that's why I had the pain, it was on my masectomy side. they had to make sure there were no tumors pressing on something causing the symptoms. though scary at least it ruled out cancer.

I feel a little weak on that left side, and will have therapy. Ugh.

LovesToFly

Ugh sorry to hear of the stroke Val, but yeah for no cancer.

Hope you are feeling better asap frill.