**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

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  • pickle
    pickle Member Posts: 1,409
    edited April 2009

    Well Gina I'll chime in with my "boob" size .....34 B on a good day! Not a nice round firm 34 B...I'm talking floppy.....I'm 48 ..2 kids and believe me ...my breasts were never spectacular to begin with. Padding and underwire was my saviour. I had a left mastectomy and haven't been wearing a prosthesis or anything yet....I was so small busted that you can't really tell I'm missing one if I wear a layer a t-shirt with a hoodie. Summer's coming so I'll need to get fitted for a prosthesis because it's noticable with just a t-shirt on. I asked the surgeon about doing them both but he said we're just going to deal with the left right now and that I could look at reconstruction down the road....then he told hubby I could get them enhanced and balanced....nice! Not sure what I'll do down the road. I kind of wish they had  taken the other one at the same time  because I have the fear in the back of mind that ...what if this stupid friggin cancer wants to rear it's ugly head on the other side.

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  • didle20Diane
    didle20Diane Member Posts: 404
    edited April 2009

    Beth, I am with you, I really don't feel like going down this road again with my right side but I also took my surgeons advice to get the one done first and am glad that I did.  My mast was OK but healing took longer than I thought it would.  I am completely lopsided and have the prosthesis that looks OK but how the heck am I going to swim this summer with my kids?  Grrrr...

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  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 556
    edited April 2009

    Cyndi... So sorry you have been tired but very glad your sister is coming in to see you.  AND... extra happy for you that your daughter is competing in the State Finals.  HUGE accomplishment.

    GTYforeveryoung... Didn't have a chance to welcome you... so, welcome!  I can't imagine how hard it must be to have an 8 month old right now.  My hair fell into the usual pattern.  Started shedding heavily at exactly 2 weeks. 

    Diane... I hate you have a fever.  No, that didn't happen to me.  I feel fortunate.  Hope you bounce right back off that wall... as in SOON!

    Beth... I had a lumpectomy, but I too fear that it will come back on the other side.  I think we all fear to a certain degree the future right now.  I know I do.  I try very hard to concentrate on the here and now... chemo... then rads... then Femara. 

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  • kellerka
    kellerka Member Posts: 49
    edited April 2009

    I was a 36 B almost C before all this. The first lumpectomy I thought was OK without reconstruction. I could have lived with it. Except they got the IDC out with good margins but found ILC in the margins. Went back for another lumpectomy and there was more ILC and DLCS. So there goes that boob. I decided I could not do this again and ILC is so likely to show up in the other one down the road I did a double with immediate TE reconstruction. It has made the chemo harder but I will be done (I hope) months sonner. Like June 1st I'm thinking I'm out of treatment. No radiation because both nodes sides were negatiove.I guess I'd rather be down harder than longer. What choices we have!

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  • Luv2sing
    Luv2sing Member Posts: 145
    edited April 2009

    didle20diane - Congratulations!! I believe you win the Boobie Prize (LOL)!!!!  Sorry, couldn't resist the temptation to get that one in Laughing.

    MicheleS - I would give my pay check to see the look on her face ... I'm hoping things get better for you.  Sending you a ((BIG HUG)).

    gymmom8 - I'm concerned about how I'll feel after Tx#2.  I already feel like poop from the 1st tx and now it's time for the 2nd.Frown  Hope you're feeling better soon.

    To Everyone - I continually pray for our strength, understanding and love to increase through this journey.  Kissess

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  • sakura73
    sakura73 Member Posts: 467
    edited April 2009

    Diane - hope you are feeling better now and Cyndi yay for being ready to go with the wig! Best to be prepared. 

    Marvil I remember reading of you fainting and feeling so sorry for you. We can form the Fainter's Club - and let's hope no one else has to become a member!

    Bunny  - congratulations!

    kellerka - glad your boyfriend is staying close by, but hope you didn't have any freakish Emend reactions.

    I am feeling much better today and am planning a quick trip out shortly to be briefly at a friend's hen's night. Don't want to stay too long because I think I may distract all those there who know of of my recent history as the Incredible Fainting Woman.

    Much strength to all having treatments today. 

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  • Janet0527
    Janet0527 Member Posts: 141
    edited April 2009

    What a day.  Today was day 9 after tx 1 of AC, and after Neulasta on day 2 and Neupogen yesterday, I now understand what bone pain is.  It sucks.  Tylenol helps, but not enough.  I had practice today for my weekend ballroom comp, and I just couldn't dance full out - when I tried to run through one thing full out with music, afterword my body felt like a tuning fork.  Yep, a tuning fork - you know how you hit it and it vibrates?  That was how my legs felt, and I swear I thought people could actually see my whole body vibrating like some cartoon character.  Yeeeow.  We'll see what happens during the real deal - I'm hoping adrenaline will kick in and I will be fine.

    Perhaps dancing a little wouldn't have been such an ordeal if I hadn't started my day at 5:30am to commute downtown for over an hour to be on site, after my irrationally inflexible client refused to let me work at home today.  Two people I work with weren't even in the office today, and I sat at my desk by myself, meeting with and talking to nobody, doing stuff I could have done easily anywhere.  Grrrrr.

    Alyad, you wrote "I see the cats laying in the sun and think- that's it, they have the right idea."  You are so on the money, and they do have the right idea.  I have gotten right down on the floor with my dog in a patch of sunlight and fallen sound asleep. 

    Carol, you wrote "I am planning on scattering my shaved hair on the lawn for the birds to use in construction of their love nests."  That's the funniest thing I read today.

    I'm gonna work on less bitching and more humor, but I've moved too swiftly this week from feeling almost normal to having a range of annoying side effect and feeling like crap, so I'm cranky.

    Wishing all a good weekend.

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  • gymmom8
    gymmom8 Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2009

    Janet - Hi. Where are you in Maryland?  I am in Olney.  I know how you feel about the bone pain.  I don't think I would be able to dance with it though.  I also understand the swing to the crankiness.  There is such a wide range of emotions.  Just when I think I'm feeling better, something else hits me.  Now I am up with an awful cough/cold.  I hope it goes away before tx3 on Tuesday.

    Hang in there!

    Cyndi

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  • Ricki13
    Ricki13 Member Posts: 80
    edited April 2009

    sakura73  - how terrifying that must have been for you and your family!  Hope you are doing much better now.  I'm in Sydney and attending a private hospital for chemo but so far no offer of an overnight stay!  I hope they can find you some good alternatives to Emend.  Like Gina, I tend to find sleeping through the nausea and the ick the first day or two is the best way to handle it (ginagina - hope you're feeling better too!) but for my treatments someone from my family or my best friend will always stay over the first night just in case (I live alone too and as intelligent as my cat is I doubt she has the dexterity to dial 000!). I'm glad your dad is there with you now. 

    Ladies on the boobs discussion.  I had a lumpectomy (1.5cm tumour) and a re-excision ten days later because of some rogue stuff found in the margins.  2 months since....my 38 full C boob now looks like a lumpy B....and it was my small one to begin with so by comparison my other boob is huge!  My tumour was on the underside of my breast and I'm told the scar is good but it does mean my boob looks a bit deflated as it hangs.  As time goes on I'm not sure I shouldn't have had a mastectomy and just started again.  Like many of us, I have radiotherapy to go after chemo which may damage the skin so I think by the time this is all done I'm going to submit myself for an Extreme Makeover!

    In general news, was feeling good early this week so went in to work Wed and Thu for a few hours.  Last night I fell in an exhausted heap with a shocking headache so I told them to call me if they need me today.  Chemo fatigue is like nothing I've ever known.  On a whole different level from 'tired'.  Planning a fairly quiet weekend and will try to get back to my desk on Monday.  There's no pressure from work, only pressure from myself to have a few normal days in the midst of all this insanity!

    Take care everyone.

    R xo

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  • McLouLou
    McLouLou Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2009

    I had second chem on April first.  So far, so good.  This time I started taking one sennacot s in morning and night two days before chemo, and will continue until I stop taking the anti-nausea meds.  I have been trying out ambien for sleep.  I take a half around 1 or 2 am.  It has been cutting into my discussion board time Undecided .  I have to catch up on the posting for this past week!

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  • McLouLou
    McLouLou Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2009
    Second try at photo insert.  Hmmm... when all else fails I will try reading the instructions posted by crusader1, jdeking and webwriter... Later
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  • DonnaDio
    DonnaDio Member Posts: 905
    edited April 2009

    Mom of Boys...Do not feel bad or hard on yourself!!!! I have not even started my first treatment ( WED will #1) and I cannot even keep up with the action here!!It is  ok to read and be supported!!!

    Hugs,

    Donna

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  • DonnaDio
    DonnaDio Member Posts: 905
    edited April 2009

    When one starts Decadron, especially the night before treatment,, is there a better time to take this RX for sleep purposes?  I plan to take a Ambien CR that night and they also prescrived Lorazapam in my protocol of pre meds.Also Take Zyrtec the day before treatment also.

    My sensitivity to meds in general is my personal issue.. if someone would get drowzy on a med, it would be the oppostie for me usually!

    Thanks in advaance.

    Donna

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  • McLouLou
    McLouLou Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2009

    Freedom

    How about that?  I inserted my first picture.  Thanks to previously posted instructions from crusader1, jdeking and webwriter.  I call this picture "Freedom"!  It feels great.  No more scraggley pieces of ucky hair sticking out from my hat or wig.  I do sleep with a Planet Buff, however, to keep the head warm at night.

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  • McLouLou
    McLouLou Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2009

    This is my funky hat option: 

    Funky hat option

    And this is the sassy wig option:

    And this is my devoted son who also shaved his head Laughing :

    Devoted son

    Yes, the picture thing is easy once you get the hang of it.

    I'm off to the health club for a bit of exercise.

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  • annadou
    annadou Member Posts: 221
    edited April 2009

    Hi

    Im Anna -living in Greece-start chemo on the 7th April- Dx 15 march IDC grade 2 4/21 nodes er+pr+ her-.

    Love to talk to anyone about to start chemo.I get 4xAC every 14 days then 4xT.

    Am very apprehensive-cant find support like you guys seem to have in the USA

    Hope to hear from someone

    xxx 

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  • marshall2000
    marshall2000 Member Posts: 110
    edited April 2009

    RACHEL:  So sorry to hear about youor fainting and head injury experience, I am so glad that you have a supportive family tht is able to come and stay with you.

    GTyforeveryoung: My hair stating coming out on day 13 just like the doc told me, I cut it short a few days later, and on day 18 it mostly fell out in the shower, so i shaved it down to stubble. I tried the wig, it feels fake, i have been wearing bandanas, and to tell the truth, i am actully comfortable being bald, i wear some serious eye make-up and do the lips, and I have actually been getting a lot of compliments, sincere ones, not the smarmy fake ones, it's pretty cool.

    laurie41: I hear you on the chemo brain issues, crazy shit there. I was looking for my sunglasses the other day, was getting quite pissed off, no on e was at home to help me look, then I walked by a mirror, and there they sat, right on top of my bald head, what a goob i am sometimes.LOL

    gina: Glad your back and feeling rested, recharged, and ready to go.

    mob: sorry you are tired, don't worry about keeping up, respond when you feel good, that's what i do. i read everyone's posts and even if i don't respond to everyone alll the time, i know that everyone here knows we are always thinking of them and praying or hurrahing for them whichever is needed at the time.

    bunny: You ever heard heard the expression "piss or get off the pot" my granny used to say it when someone was driving too slow in front of her. well in your case it was "shit or get off the pot" LOL hope you find that amusing. Every time i see your screen name i think it says BUBBLY, because that is what your picture is You look like a very bubbly person. Congratulations on your new grandson! Have fun with him.

    Carol: you talked about scattering your hair for the birds nests, I hoped you saved the pubes so they can have true LOVE nests.hee hee

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  • IowaDiva
    IowaDiva Member Posts: 76
    edited April 2009

    Cyndi and Diane:  So sorry you're having a bad time.  This chemo stuff wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the stupid SEs. 

    Janet: I am so jealous of your ballroom dancing!  I love to dance (any kind, as long as twirling and pirouettes are not involved...damn motion sickness), but I have laid off for the past year.  I got way too caught up in my kids' activities and dramas.  Before I knew it, a year was gone.  I will definitely get back into it once I'm done with treatment.  It just makes you feel good, doesn't it? Listen to your body, but never stop dancing!  

    Anna:  WELCOME!!!  I'm sorry you have to join us; but since you're in the BC Boat, we are very pleased to be your long-distance support network!!  Greece?  Wow.  I've watched too much Mamma Mia and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but Greece sounds beautiful and peaceful.  Are you an American living in Greece, or are you a native?  

    Mom Brag Alert:  Speaking of dancing, to see my youngest daughter dancing at the workshop we attended last weekend, plus for other videos to be added later, go to youtube and search on the user name minndiva (I lived in Minnesota for a year, and I still use that moniker from time to time).  I posted a few combos that she was in.  This is the girl who wants to be a dancer (or a pediatrician) when she grows up.  She is 15.  My older daughter (17) is in one of the videos also.  

    Second AC treatment today.  I was so very blessed to have minimal symptoms this cycle.  The 1st week was kind of crappy, mostly due to a persistent headache that wouldn't fade with Tylenol, ibuprofen, or Excedrin.  I even tried leftover Vicodin.  Damn thing just wouldn't go bye-bye.  So that'll be my first question when I see the onco before the treatment today.  Most of my second week was great, though, starting with the dance workshop.  I felt almost human!

    The hair, she is gone.  Well, almost.  Taylor (my youngest daughter) used scissors to cut it, as we didn't have a razor that would work.  I will post a pic later today.   

    I hope everyone has a wonderful day!  

    Hugs, 

    Carol

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  • bethr
    bethr Member Posts: 259
    edited April 2009

    Well,  I'm on day 7 after my first treatment last Friday.  I can now say with no doubt that earlier this week chemo was officially KICKING MY ASS!.  I felt better yesterday, and today as well, hopefully, this will get better until the next treatment  (1 down, 5 to go).  It was much harder than I thought it would be.  AAAAUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

     But just wanted to thank all of you for your wonderful positive posts.  I read them everyday and hope I can contribute something positive in return...   may be next week   (smile).....

     Have a great day all!

    Beth

    And ANNA - Welcome!  I spent alot of time in Crete and absolutely loved it there.  Greece is on my list for my next dream vacation!  And it may take place after I get through this!!!  Welcome!

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  • Janet0527
    Janet0527 Member Posts: 141
    edited April 2009

    Cyndi - I'm in Laytonsville.  We're practically neighbors. =)  As for dancing through the bone pain, today will be the real test - I have 9 heats today, each about a minute and a half, and 7 tomorrow.  My legs are hurting today, big time, so I see it as a challenge and a test of my strength.  If I can do it, I'm telling cancer that I will not succumb to all the turmoil it is trying to cause in my life.  I can't exactly explain it, but for me, the mental victory outweighs the physical price.  Lol, ask me Sunday if I still feel that way. ;)

    Anna - The beauty of the internet is that you can be around the corner or around the world, and it doesn't matter.  I'm on dose dense AC, too - about one tx ahead of you, as 4/8 will be my second.  Hang in there, and hang with us here. =)  I was in Greece for my honeymoon and again on my 10th anniversary (just before my marriage started disintegrating - woops)... we were in the islands and spent alot of time on Santorini.  Gorgeous, though I was disappointed on the 10 year return trip to hear loud music from a bar cascading across the cliffs all night in Fira, disrupting the peaceful aura.  Still, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.

    Carol - Dancing, yes.  If you love it, you *must* get back to it, kids, cancer, whatever.  I was dancing when I met my husband in the mid 90s - I was in my early 30s.  Over the years I let it slip and stopped for a decade.  In 2005, we picked up ballroom dancing as a couple and shortly thereafter found salsa dancing.  The husband has since fallen by the wayside (though he's still in my life and very helpful and supportive), but the dancing, well, I should never have stopped the first time, because now I'm 45, trying to keep up with people in their 20s and early 30s - it's like I jumped back in where I left off, but with an older body.  Lol.  Dude, I just watched a couple of those youtube videos - your daughter is wearing light/white pants with a dark belt?  She's awesome! 

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  • didle20Diane
    didle20Diane Member Posts: 404
    edited April 2009

    Janet, way to go dancing after chemo!  I am having a not so good day 3 but after my meds kick in I am going to get off my butt and get moving.  This is what helped me for round 1.  It is raining here which isn't helping my mood.....we are also neighbors, I live right near Dulles Airport in VA.

    Good luck to all today and may we all have an awesome weekend!

    hugs,

    Diane

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  • bwbly
    bwbly Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2009

    gina, i had lumpectomy on my 36DDD with a lemon-sized cavity left behind. Can hardly tell, except for all the healing that's still going on.

    Bunny

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  • bwbly
    bwbly Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2009
    marshall2000 LOL you're too funny. I have to say though, that I'd MUCH rather be sitting on the pot than praying to it all that time.
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  • Luv2sing
    Luv2sing Member Posts: 145
    edited April 2009

    Anna - Just wanted to say "Hello" and so funky we all had to meet this way.  The closest I've been to Greece is via my cousin.  He was one of the medical physicians working with the Olympics and sent me lots of pictures, they looked awesome!!! 

    I'm a little hyped this morning (starting taking my meds for chemo today), so I'm taking advantage of some unexpected energy and doing a few things around the house, finishing up some homework (working on my MBA) and then I should still have time to shower, moisturize and put my feet up before my appt. (1:30). 

    Kisses to you all and try to have a wondeful day!!!

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  • marshall2000
    marshall2000 Member Posts: 110
    edited April 2009

    bunny: no shit! pun definately intended, nothing worse than having to worship the porcelain sp?bowl. eeewwww

    gina: I forgot to chime in with the booby size. I am a 38D

    I  originally planned breast conservation lumpectomy, but am having second thoughts in a big way, think i am going to call the breast surgeon and talk to him, i am starting to realize that i don't want to ever have to deal with all of this again. Has anyone else done this, planned a lumpectomy and then changed their mind and went for bilateral mast. I just want to make sure that I have every chance of no recurrence as possible, even though I know chemo and lump supposedly have the same outcome, i am just having second thoughts.

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  • didle20Diane
    didle20Diane Member Posts: 404
    edited April 2009

    marshall200 I got an MRI and there were other suspicious areas (turned out they were benign) but my decision was to have the mast from the get go.  I already had my kids and I really didn't want to revisit this later since I am under 50.  Good luck with your decision.  Mine down the road is should I have my other breast removed.  My feeling is yes, my surgeon will do whatever I want.  Obviously they will be monitoring us every 6 months but I really don't want chemo again....EVER.

    Diane

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  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 553
    edited April 2009

    Marshall2000:  I know how you feel.  I have a lumpectomy scheduled after chemo and as bad as this  is...I'd rather never have to deal with it again.  Having bilat. mast. means I can't get it again...right?  I'm thinking if I zap it ALL now and have no recurrence in 5 years I should be out of the park.  BUT then I have to start worrying about the other breast!  Hard decision.  Doc pushes lumpectomy.  So far I've been following his advice!

    Chris

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  • PattiB
    PattiB Member Posts: 421
    edited April 2009

    Diane - So sorry you aren't feeling good.  Good to hear they are changing your premeds for chemo.  I just was told by my NP the decadron does bump up the WBC count during meeting at round 2.  I thought it was just for random SE's.  Every time your learn something new about why your getting this that and the other.  Today I cut down the decadron to 4mg/2xday.  Finally got the Ambian prescription so at 12:30 I decided to give it a try slept til 8:30 and only woke to pee 1 or 2 times (can't remember which) so I'm feeling like I did sleep at least, but I'm still a bit tired - noticing that more this round.  Hope that's the only SE this go round!!!  Feel better soon - keep usposted when your up for it.  This computer stuff is time consuming!

    GTYforeveryoung - Your diagnoses is very similar to mine except for tumor size and stage (which was related to tumor size).  Curious did you get an oncotype score?

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  • PattiB
    PattiB Member Posts: 421
    edited April 2009

    DidleDiane - Good to hear from youSmile - How are your Feeling today!!  You must have been writing as I was!!! Good to see your words today.

    Luv2Sing - Good luck today at Chemo!!!Innocent

    McLouLou - So sorry I can't see your picturesFrown

    Marshall2000 - Right there with you about the wig Yell - I feel much for comfortable in the buffs (I have been wearing pirate style)  The agreement is I look better with my ears showing (more 60's biker then chemo patient).  I tried hats/caps with my friends and just as I suspected I have never been into them either - that was the agreement buffs/not hats.  Yesterday I went to my elementary school, the nurse gives me the $3000 shot (I'm to afraid I'll mess up).  The kids were going to and from - I did get some interesting looks from them but not any horific ones - on 1st grader asks me "why don't you have any hair" So I just said the medicine I was taking makes it fall it and he just shrugged and walked away.  I'm guessing I will eventually ditch the wig even at work and go with the buffs, but not right away yet.

    - I think Bubbly too.Cool

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  • theredheadamy
    theredheadamy Member Posts: 43
    edited April 2009

    Marshall,

    I originally had a lumpectomy that showed clear margins in surgery and in SNB.  Two days later, pathology returns with SNB as positive (more than 1/2 the node filled with cancer), and "while we are in there, we'd like to get better margins on the lump.  In the meantime, my BRCA test had not come back, so I opted to wait until those results returned---Came back BRCA 1+, so off everything came, including ovaries and uterus.  I am also triple negative.

    I was a large 38D--prob more of a DD.  I don't miss them.  They will never be the same, even If I have reconstruction down the road, so I am trying (only in this past week, prosthetics).  As didle says, I don't ever want to do this again, and the possibility was too high for me that it would return, so I am moving forward with what I 've got, and so far it's just a speed bump in my road of life that I never want to see again.  :)

    Have a great weekend everyone

    Amy 

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