Starting chemo January 2009?

Hi guys - I am home! It was so nice to sleep in my own bed and not be woken during the night to have my temperature taken, antibiotics given or blood taken! Part of me did kind of expect to have breakfast left outside my door this morning but I guess cooking is something I'll just have to do myself. DH is away until Friday and I have a friend staying at the moment. Unfortunately, DH, who is currently in Korea on business, has picked up a nasty flu - he has been throwing up, has a temp and is aching all over. Before I was released from hospital my doc said if he has full-blown flu and is still unwell on Friday that we can't be in the same house!! He's been gone two weeks and I really want to see him but if the doc says it's too risky for me then I guess I can't. The good thing is that I have another blood test on Thurs morning and if my neutrophils are up then my oncologist (who I see Thurs afternoon) might be able to give us the all clear to be in the same house. You have to laugh - it's so ridiculous!

Was reading about people looking at your reconstructions. I'm so pleased with mine I show everyone (my PS joked with my husband that I'd become an exhibitionist). The tram flap procedure is fairly new in the city where I live as the PS that does it is the only one here who does it and he's only been here a year. So lots of docs and nurses haven't seen one before and they are amazed at how natural it is -- apart from an absence of a nipple (which I'll get when I'm through chemo) it looks just like the other side. I think I've put some weight on since the op but it's put on weight as well -- I guess because it's my own tissue. I'm excited about getting the nipple and aerola tattoo.

Meet with radiation oncologist tomorrow as well as my regular oncologist so will be interesting to find out if I'm having radiation and compare notes with you guys who are also having it. I have heard that can affect the reconstructed breast so it doesn't look so good but if that's the case there's not much I can do.

Will find out from my main onc whether chemo goes ahead on Tues or not. I''m keen to just get it done but doc at hospital said they may delay since I've been sick. Because I haven't felt sick that feels odd but will see what my onc says. I guess it'll depend on what the neutrophils are doing. I have high hopes they'll be above 2 by Thursday (they were 1.0 yesterday).

One last question....has anyone noticed any eyesight problems with chemo? I've noticed my eyesight has deteriorated recently. I was going to make an appointment to see the optometrist but a nuse commented it might be the chemo but she wasn't sure. I hadn't heard of it as a side effect but if it is I'll hold off getting a prescription until I'm through chemo. I'll ask my onc but just wondered if anhyone else thought things were looking a bit blurry!

Love to everyone - isn't it great that we are getting through all of this, slowly but surely. Can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel...

KM47: eyesight yes.  My Onc and NP said NOT to see an optometrist because it will get better when I've recuperated from chemo and then I'd have gotten a useless new pair of glasses

I had TC, don't know what you're on, but week 8 after my last dose, just like they warned me,  the brows and lashes fell off  like leaves off the trees in Sept. 

kmmd - I am due to start Tamoxifen next year -- the reason for the delay is I am on Herceptin for a year and they give Tamoxifen once all other treatment is done. I haven't asked too many questions yet because it's so far away but I am going to ask my oncologist about the test to find out if I will be a high metaboliser or not when I see her tomorrow since I've read a bit about that lately but it's never ben mentioned to me.

Thanks guys for the info on eyesight. For some reason I hadn't thought to link it with my treatment.

Also thanks for the info about the eyebrows and lashes....looks like I might have been being overly optimistic!

K.

I am starting my Tamoxifen on April 20th.  They told me I could wait a month after my last AC to recover before I start it.  My oncologist told me that chemo was almost "optional" for me but that the Tamoxifen (in my case) was way more important than chemo.  But, at the same time, he said we will have to see what side effects I get and whether it's worth it for me.  He said he will absolutely support me if I decide to stop taking it due to side effects.  I think the side effects would have to be pretty serious for me to stop it.  My personal opinion is that people overplay the risk of uterine cancer and they get scared off easily.  My oncologist said in his 20 years of practice, he has only seen 3 cases of uterine cancer after breast cancer and they may or may not be related.  He also said not one of the women died from the uterine cancer.  It is very rare, and of course that doesn't mean much if YOUR the one who gets it, but I think we have to really put it into perspective, it is very well documented that it DOES decrease your risk and yes, there is side effects and risks with all drugs, but I am willing to take it because I need to throw everything I can at this beast.  I'm only 33 so I have a lot of years left to 'get cancer' again, so I want to be sure it's GONE

HI Jewels,

I will definately take tamoxifen or and AI.  Here's my reasoning-- I've had screening mammograms since I was 30 ( I'm 51 now) -   my mammo radiology tech invited me to stop by and look at my mammograms anytime --- a few weeks ago i did.  

Going backward in time,  Oct 2008 - very obvious calcifications seen on digital mammogram     Oct 2007 - same area -- suspicious on two views - they called me back to do several other views -- all normal.                                                                                                                          1987- Oct 2006 - normal no suspicious areas.  

In Nov of 2007 I started hormone replacement therapy- for hot flashes, insomnia and menopausal dementia (that's what I called my inability to focus).  From what I have read about HRT and BC, the HRT did not cause the cancer - however, in the 11 months I took it, it did change the density of my breasts ( that is very obvious on the mammograms) and studies have shown that increase in density creates an environment ripe for bc.   Given the fact that my cancer was ER+/PR+, I believe the daily ingestion of estrogen and progesterone literally fed the tumor.   So, blocking the hormone receptors in my breast tissue with tamoxifen or an AI only makes sense to me.....   Right now, my onc is leaning toward tamoxifen because of it's low se profile.  What he said about uterine cancer is  if it happens, it is rarely spreads outside of the uterus and treatment is a hysterectomy.  Not to say that is simple or easy --- but it is not as life-threatening as it sounds.

I haven't read much of the hormone boards, and I don't mean to sound judgemental, but I think once you get all the way down the road of bc to the hormone blocker phase, I wonder if people who have complications or SEs are more likely to post..... those who have no problems, prob don't have the need to seek out info or use this as a support group ---  very different from the chemo/radiation phase where the fear/anxiety and need for support are so universal among all of us.

lisalisa: thanks for starting the May 2009 Rads thread -- I'll be there.

KM47: YEAH!!!    Like they say in the movies, " There's no place like home" .  Hope your DH get's better before his long flight home. 

Grandma Patti;  hope you are feeling well and enjoying that new babe.

And my vision is weird --  sometimes it's crystal clear and sometimes it's fuzzy - that, coupled with the tearing makes it a challenge.    Plan to ask when to have my eyes checked after chemo.

I have been wary of Tamoxifen.  I think I am just tired of treatment and want to walk (run) away from all of this in 7 weeks.  I am having chemopause now and if I take Tamoxifen for 5 years I imagine that will be it for me as a sexually reproductive being.  It is very hard for me to face having that aspect of my sexuality ripped away unexpectedly, just like having my boobs removed in an afternoon.  The extremity and shock of it makes me sad and somewhat despondent. 

Having said all that, I have not decided yet about Tamoxifen.  Just like with the chemo treatments, I imagaine I'll have a more solid understanding of what it does to my body once I am taking it.  I'll be discussing it with my doctor closer to the end of my chemo treatments.  I am fairly sure I will start on schedule with it and will re-evaluate once I see how my body responds and when I have more information.  I do not believe he ever told me how much it decreases my chance of recurrence, so I have homework to do.  

I feel a little better than I did yesterday, just some neuropathy and aches.  I took a bath with baby oil which feels good on my dry skin.  A gush of love overcame me sometime yesterday evening and I have been a sentimental fool.  Everything is loveable today.  Every song has deep meaning to me.  I was looking at a brochure for kids starting a first year at college and I started to cry.  I don't even have kids.  See, that's a lot of hormone I would be missing!

Take care jewels.  Feel good.

Nancy 

  Hello everyone! It's been a long time since I last posted.I'm usually a very talkative person but on these boards I find myself being quiet and reserved. I don't like to give into my emotions but lately I feel sad and tearful at times. There have been quite a few young people (ages 40's-50's) in the obituaries lately in my area and it's affected my mood.

  I have kept up on reading all your posts. My best wishes to all who are finished with the chemo phase and who are continuing on the next leg of this journey. My thoughts and prayers to all of you who are going through difficult times-- hospitalizations, family illness etc. Regarding the birth of a child- how wonderfully comforting to hold a baby and have such hope and promise for the future.

  I finished my chemo ( 4 TC) on 3/27. I go on 4/13 for mapping and will start radiation on 4/20 for 35 treatments. I already had my mind made up to start Arimidex and was going to start on 4/20. Well I got my bone density scan report back yesterday and I have a high risk for fractures so now I have to rethink Arimidex since fractures are a risk with it. I had a total hysterectomy a few years ago so that is why I was leaning towards the Arimidex. I have to wait to see what the doc says about the bone density report.

  I went back to work on Monday after taking 9 weeks off for the chemo phase of my treatment. Thank heavens it was an easy 2 days so I could ease back into work. I missed my friends but not the work. I'll be there 32 years in June and we just had a merger last year so things are constantly being changed. It's hard for us "oldtimers".

  I have not lost my eyebrows or lashes so I hope they stay where they are! Also I have not had any visual changes. I am so thankful to be done with the chemo. The week after that last dose with the side effects seemed to last so long.

  I was going to go to the casino today to take my mind off things but last time I went my money only lasted 2 1/2 hours. I don't know if I want to throw my money away today. They are always advertising on TV and the radio about the casino and then I get excited about going. Those advertising people certainly know how to get you!

  We had snow flurries this morning but now the sun is out. It's chilly though- only 38. I still have leaves to clean up. I love the trees but in the fall and spring we have alot of cleanup to do.

  My husband is going to lose his job by the end of the year. The plant where he works shipped all their work up to their New York plant so it's just a matter of time until it closes. So I guess I'll have a house husband! Like the vows say- for better or worse, richer or poorer!

I've got treatment #6 of T/C coming up in 3 more weeks.  I, too, have been told that arimidex and zometa will be in my future (post-menopausal for long time).  I've got mixed feelings about the zometa due to the fact several years ago I was diagnosed with osteopenia and took fosamex but had to discontinue it due to GI problems.  I haven't truly prepared myself through research to be able to sit with onc. and address concerns.  With the studies showing effectiveness of Zometa and bone mets, I would like to try it.  Meanwhile, neuropathy is beginning to rear its ugly head--- just slightly--- some numbness in feet and traveling numbness in legs????  Onc. says  begin B6 and B12;  bottles say one a day.    What is the word from around the country???  Is this the treatment?  dosage?  Yikes, this is grueling..... 

Although I have rarely posted, all of you have been so helpful in so many ways:  the honest expression of the fears, feelings we all share; the humor and strength which is so inspiring; the helpful information which often times I haven't received from my onc/or nurse.  All of you hang in there!  You are each so very special to me........

DDLATT--so sorry you have to postpone the chemo.  i hope the oncologist is able to help you continue tx or come up with a different plan .  Geesh!  I hate this!!!!!!

I am having #5 of my TAC tomorrow. Looking forward to getting it over with but dreading how I'll feel. I have not bounced back from the 4th one as I did the others.....still having lots of fatigue.

But then.....only one more. No rads for me but Onc and I started discussing the next step--AL. I've got to read more and do some research.

Don't know if I'll be reading or posting anything for awhile......

Lisa....noooo!!!!I am so sorry!!!!! I hope the chemo is not delayed!  I know how big and emtional the build up is for the last one.....hang in there and lets hope the new drugs kicks it!!!

Lisalisa--What a down and out bummer.  There is always something!  I hope for the best.

Hey everybody... I've been away for a few days.... mustered up the energy to take my son to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.... which was VERY cool....and you would not believe how tiny Mick Jagger's pants are.... lol... it's 5 hours from here so I was hesitant to do that car ride but I did it and managed to walk around a museum from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. without incident (and then do the Science Center the next day).  I was determined to have a few laughs with my son and husband and I'm happy to say it was a success.

For all of you getting ready for radiation.... in my experience, it's a breeze... so no worries.... I did 33 rad treatments in the summer of 07... it was a non-event really except for the hassle of driving there everyday for an appointment that lasted all of 3 minutes..... compared to chemo.. it's a walk in the park...

KT57 - look how cute you are!  It's cool to see actual pictures of people after talking with them for so long..... btw, I like Adam and Danny and Kris on Idol.. I think Adam or Danny will win...

Re: Reconstruction.... I envy you all who had it at the time of surgery... I opted out and wonder now if it was the right decision.... at the time I was not willing to wait to line up a plastic surgeon, I just wanted the cancer out of my body... even though the thought of another surgery makes my stomach turn... I can see myself looking into it at some point... but I have this weird feeling about it now.. .like how can they do it.. the skin feels so tight.. like if they put in expanders.. won't my mastectomy scar just burst open?  How can the skin stretch, even a little... my fears about that may stop me from pursuing... can anyone relate to that or am I weird?

Patti - congrats on little Aislynn!!  KM47 - so glad to hear you are home!  LisaLisa - crap!  No pun-intended, I'm not going to pretend that doesn't SUCK!!  Hope you get to stay on schedule!!!