Here I am

Legomaster225

Brightness, you might want to see if there is a Looking Good Feeling Better class near you. It is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and is geared toward makeup and hair solutions during/after chemo. Ours had free wigs and you get a large bag of high end makeup and application tips. That is all great but what I really enjoyed was the 2 hours with women who were in the same situation as myself and how open we talked about what we were going through and suggestions on what helped others get through some of the side effects

http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/

Brightness456

Thanks everyone. Legomaster, thank you for the info. I looked them up and there is a local chapter! I spent yesterday mostly dealing with house stuff, as that continues to move forward during all of this. I got a call about my appointments next week, so that's all set up. I'm meeting with an MO, an RO and a BS.

The very best news though is that my genetic test came back. 23 items, all negative! That means that although my daughters are still at somewhat higher risk because I got BC young, it isn't likely that all the women I love will have to face this someday! I broke down and wept tears of relief and release from the fear that I'd been holding back. Now it's only me that has to face this. I wish this wasn't happening to me, but the thought of my daughters, granddaughter, sister and niece enduring this was beyond my capacity to accept. So now I focus on doing what makes me as strong as possible to face this fight..

Jbakerwebb

first of all.....it's ok to have your pity party. Live it, breathe it, grieve it, cry, scream, kick and punch pillows. However, you can't stay forever! I believe God hand picked me to be diagnosed with IDC stage III and go through chemo and horrible radiation. I've been able to show others that not only can we get through this but, for me, that God is how we get through things like this. I mean what are our choices?? I was diagnosed April 10, 2016, had 2 surgeries (because clear margins weren't found after first surgery) 8 chemotherapy treatments (adriamyacin and paxlitaxol), lost my hair, gained 15 pounds and 37 skin destroying radiation treatments.

With a new lease on life and being grateful for everything in my life I started exercising 3 x per week and feel better now than I have in years.

It's one day at a time my pink sister. You can do this!!

Jacki l

Gingernurse

How do I ice my toes and fingers for my first round of chemo? I start next Thursday.TCHP

Brightness456

Don... I'm not sure what's involved in icing fingers and toes. Maybe just put them in bags of ice? My MO feels confident she can help me avoid side effects so it may not be necessary for me. Also, any place you ice is a place chemo can't get in, so I suppose there's the potential you could have recurring cancer cells in your fingers or toes later, although I've never heard of anyone getting it in those spots

NotVeryBrave

I didn't ice fingers or toes. The only problem I had was a big dent across my fingernails from the first round when my cuticles kind of fell off. They also became very weak. Still are but those dents just grew out about a month or so ago so there's still more chemo damaged nails to grow out. And I'm still on Herceptin.

I would recommend sucking on ice chips during the chemo drugs (TC). That really helped my mouth feel better with less oral SE's.

You might want to check out a prior chemo group like June Chemo or join July's. It's good to be with those going through it at the same time, but previous groups have already been there and you can learn from them.

Brightness456

I have an update. After meeting my new MO locally last week (I really like her), she asked that I meet another team that only focuses on breasts at a university hospital for a full consult. The team and tumor board reviewed my case. Eleven people looked at or physically touched my breasts today. None of them felt my tumor or any swollen nodes. My lumpectomy is scheduled for August 10.

The new team is questioning my numbers. It's all a bit confusing and I'm tired and going off memory, so I may still have this a bit mixed up, but I'll try to explain. My ER/PR was considered - at <5.5, but I'm more kind of on the border of - or +. I believe they said if it's 0-1 it's considered -, but if it's 3-4 it is considered +. Also, the new team doesn't test the specimen in the same way (I can't remember all the details, but my daughter wrote them down for me to review later). Also, I was originally told by the first BS I saw that I was her2-, then at the end of that appointment, the fish analysis was complete, so I was told I was her2+. Additionally, according to the pathology report, another test indicated an unequivocal result. So the new team doesn't seem convinced that I'm even her2+ at this point. Also, I was told by the original BS that my tumor had grown from about 7.7mm at the time of ultrasound to 1.2cm at the time of MRI, but based on a new ultrasound done today, it has actually only grown minimally, and is now 8.6mm, some of which may be attributable to still healing from the trauma of the biopsy, so the KI67 number of 96% is likely not accurate. Also, some places don't even consider the KI67 number to be accurate in general, so it may or may not be correct. All my blood work came back good.

So basically, the new team wants to do the lumpectomy for the tumor and remove a papilloma as well as do the SNB (there does not appear to be node involvement thus far), then send everything for testing before making a treatment plan based on more accurate pathology.

So to summarize, the picture is likely at least a little better, but won't be clear until after surgery. I feel so much more confident now that the plan will be appropriate for my health. This team today was really professional and consistent across the board. I'm still scared because cancer is scary, but at least now I feel like I'm in competent hands.

Both my daughters were supportive today and I think they could tell by my questions and comments that I actually have a grasp on what is happening and that I have actually been educating myself rather than just over reacting about possible side effects etc., so I think they feel better about me too, at least for now.

It was a long day, 10 hours, so I'm going to try to get some sleep. I am so thankful for the help I've received here.

NotVeryBrave

That sounds like an excellent plan! Good to hear about your family support as well.

Having confidence in your team and treatment plan makes all the difference!

mustlovepoodles

That sound very encouraging!

Legomaster225

Gingernurse- I held bags of ice, frozen water bottles or even gel packs during fhrminfir my fingers. For my feet I used therapy socks that I got on amazon for about $25. They had gel packs and slipped in like a sock. We would change out the gel pad to keep it cold. I also sucked on ice chips or a popsicle. I also used tea tree oil mixed with olive oil on my cuticles. I had no issues so I think it helped

Brightness456

I posted in the chemotherapy section, but didn't get much response so I'll try here. My new doctors said my numbers from my pathology biopsy didn't seem correct, so they're going to start fresh with the lumpecomty pathology to determine my treatment plan. Two doctors mentioned that they aren't convinced I'll need chemo. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I am curious. What kind of numbers would indicate no need for chemo? I thought breast cancer always meant chemo.

It seems my ER/PR numbers, my KI67 number and my her2 status are all in question. Also, they did a new ultrasound and said my tumor did not grow as much as it appeared in the MRI. I know I'll need the lumpectomy and radiation, and I don't want to get my hopes up that I won't need chemo, but I guess I kind of do hope formthat anyway....