Starting chemo January 2009?

BevR: re: the weight loss, you are so right, hope it happens to all of us.  Heck, I'm even working on trying to psych myself out to do that even if it isn't true

Diane, saw those studies, from what my Onc said they've all known it was ciruclating but until now the data hasn't been solid, so hopefully people have been quietly changed.  I agree, I'd be p.o'd, but thank goodness somebody thought to research it and find that out!!

 Seriously, here's hoping the SE's stay mild for all of us.  I think we'll need to stay in touch to cheer each other on with this 

Hi Jewels:   Happy June!!   We made it this far -- one day, one month at a time!  Yeah us!!

I am 6 weeks out and officially have 5 o'clock shadow on my head !!!!  Yippee Yaahoo!  Still covering the dome - mostly cuz it is still pretty darn cold here.  Am wearing the buffs more - they are so much more comfortable than the wig.   No question people know something is up when they see me...now that I feel better, I have more energy to handle the questions .  And I like my "look" in the buffs - kind of a badge of courage.  Reminds me of what I have conquered thus far.

I "gifted" my med onc today by signing up for the bisphosphanate study.  He was so excited that I would consider it. (We were both disappointed that my oncotype DX score was too high for the TailorRx study). I passed my dental exam and had my teeth cleaned ( that felt great!).. Think all that yucky biofene really paid off.   So, a few lab tests, a physical exam and I am ready to be "randomized" (almost sounds obscene).    I will start the drug in about two weeks.   

Patti and Phyliss:   Hang in there -- It is JUNE!  Soon you'll be on the other side.  

Ew.  bad news about Tamoxifen and anti-depressants.  I take Lexapro.  I need to read that.

I am about 12 days past my last infusion and I feel so good!  For those of you still having Taxol infusions, the week after my final one was rough but I have really bounced back the last few days.  I got out of bed Tuesday morning feeling fairly limber and loose.  I had no bloody nose.  I have been able to work full time this week so far with no remarkable difficulty at all.  If my job were interesting I can't imagine the energy I'd have. : ) Last night I put on some funky music and danced around for about half an hour.  I could not have done that a week ago.  I broke a sweat!  It felt sooo good.  You'll be there soon!!!

The rad oncologist called.  I told him my understanding was that rads were controversial with mutlifocal cancers.  I asked if that's because tumors may also have developed in the nearby chest wall.  He said, "no".  He clarified (?) that the controversy with low stage multifocal cancers is whether to have a lumpectomy with rads vs. a mastectomy without.  He said he called my patholists and my margins were clear by 5mm,  I had not known the width of the margin.  It was good to hear.  He said that because my tumor was less than 4cm and I had less than 4 nodes involved, rads are not recommended.  Does this sound consistent with what you all have been told?  I have been skimming through abstracts and articles on-line and without spending much time on it yet, various studies seem to come to different conclusions on this. I have seen a few which say rads my decrease local recurrence but do not improve survival in general.  Other studies seem to say rads improve survival in all cases.  It was an OK conversation...too brief.  He said he'd meet if I wanted.  I am sooo tired of treatment.  I know you know what I mean. I am tempted to turn a blind eye and say, "OK, doctor says no rads".  I can't do that though.    

Still, life is great.  My hair is slowly starting to look like something.  BF did something around the house without being asked, dishes no less.  It is 2:34 A.M. and all is well.  The dog has gone potty and it's back to bed for me.  Good night and sleep tight Jewels.

lisalisa - let me know what the gyn says about removing ovaries... I too have to find someone and have that consultation... I plan on having them removed in the Fall.... will you share what you find out?  I know no matter what the reality is of that surgery it has to be a piece of cake compared to a bilat and chemo....

Hi ladies. I'm hanging in there. Counting the days till my last treatment. 9 days to be exact. I have a consult with the breast surgeon tomorrow. A little anxious. Don't know what to expect.  

Getting ready for my daughters' graduation Sat.There's 800 graduating. Can you believe that? They go to the largest school in the state and our citys population is a little over 50,000. Her party is Sunday and I'm getting bummed because the temp is only supposed to be in the 60's. We rented a canopy, table and chairs but no tent. It better not even rain. I have no room in my home for 40 people. I'm praying for nicer weather.

I wish I could respond to all your posts but I have no idea what you ladies are talking about. Thats why I feel like the last one left. I wish all of you a good weekend.

for those of you who are having oopherectomy or considering it, did you have genetic testing and test positive? (sorry if i've missed that info about you previously). one doc said that because i'm postmenopausal, i wouldn't have an oopherectomy even if i tested positive (sound fishy to me). others have disagreed with that. i'm going to a genetic counselor to get this figured out! my mother and grandmother both died of breast cancer that spread to the bone, but they were diagnosed in their mid sixties. 

I am having genetic counseling next week.  I believe there is no breast cancer history in my large extended family, except my only sister had it.  She had ILC in situ when she was 35, the precursor to the sort of  cancer I had (ILC) whihc is somewaht rare.  Since she was so young and the dx was close to mine, I wonder if he'll recommend the test, but with no other cases he may not.  

As for follow-up, I will have blood tests every three months while I take Tamoxifen.  No scans will be done unless I have a symptoms.   

My onc told me that chemo can put pre-menopausal women through permanant menopause but it doesn't always.  I will know after a year of stopping chemo.  If I have not had my period by then that means I have gone through permanent menopause and will switch from Tamoxifen to AI.  I am 41.      

Wow lisalisa that sounds like a lot of surgery.  Good thing you found someone so thorough who can take care of everything that needs to be done.  Do you have an OR date?

Hey Lisalisa, wow, but I totally understand why you are doing this.  We have to fight the beast at every angle.  Hope the doc can squeeze in the surgery when you need it as well. 

Year of the Hat.  I am multifocal as well and everything you have talked about circled around the same issues i hassled over, except the radiologist recommended and the 2nd opinion recommended radiation for me because I had a tumor close to my chest wall.  I completely understand how you feel: tired of the tx and the appts and tired of being mired in the "what ifs".  It's gotta feel good that your radiologist and everyone else is on top of your reports.  I can understand how good it must feel to be done with chemo tx and and your BF did the dishes!!!  NOW that is a call for a TOAST!!!!!!!!!!  Let's toast!!!   I wish my 16 year old would do some dishes., she acts like she is going to melt when I ask her to.  SHEESH!!!

kmmd: how about a nicely framed photograph of the two of you and a note of gratitude.  The words will mean more than anything....she sounds wonderful.

Question : for those of you who've had genetic testing, how far into your family tree do they need to know about - and is it all kinds of cancer the ask about?  Except for my brothers, I have kept this quiet -- wondering if I have to ask all my aunts. uncles, cousins etc, about the medical histories -- seems that would be a bit awkward. 

Lisa: You are one tough lady - you will get through surgery with flying colors!   and most importantly, peace of mind.  

I did a little retail therapy today after rads -- 2 pairs of shoes and a pair of sandals.  Actually, I needed them ---- really------ seems my current selection of shoes all aggravate my neuropathic feet.   I was so excited to find some that fit well and didn't hurt...and look good.. was imagining I would end up with granny shoes....    I'm too young for that!!!!!

Take Care Jewels...

Alo---That is a good question.  I don't have enough hair yet.  I keep peering in the mirror, and that doesn't seem to help!! LOL  I am getting a bit nervous.  What I do have is white and fuzzy.  There is just a hint of the darker hair; wish there was more of that.  How much hair do you have ?????

Alo -- I had my hair colored last week, & everything was fine.  Both my onc nurse & hairdresser said it was OK.  It felt very liberating to cover all the gray (and brown -- I've been a "bottle blonde" since I was 17, and just couldn't get used to seeing myself dark brown!!).  A small step towards returning towards the old me!!  I now go hatless/wigless 95% of the time...just wear the wig when going out for special occasions (date w/ hubby, parties, church, job interviews). 

I have a good covering of fuzz all over.....it's very uneven.  I have an appt. to get it evened out next week so it looks more like a GI Jane crew cut....saw a lady on the beach yesterday and she had her hair that way by choice....she looked stunning!  She had her's dyed black.....she said she uses a clipper with a 3 blade on top and 2 on the sides....I'm going to see what I can get done next week. 

I think I'm going to get it dyed brown with some semi permanant color....mine is so colorless right now.  It it had color I know I would look like I have more hair!...What's the worse that can happen.....I'll go bald...so what!!!