STAGE 1, GRADE 3, ER-, PR-, HER2+

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited June 2009

    Deb,

    You have a great attitude which will carry you far and make it more tolerable.  Do you not have to go on Adriamycin?  Everyone's situation is so different.

    I pray you have an uneventful journey here.  I sure had no idea what to think but it has been manageable for me so I pray that for you.  Taxol seems not bad and Herceptin the same.  I am currently on my last treatment with Taxol and Herceptin tomorrow and then on to Herceptin once every 3 weeks for about a year.

    Let us know how you are doing and if you have any questions.  There is so much help on the website.  I think the hardest part was the shock and fear initially but then the information settles things down a bit.  There has been so much done with Herceptin that has given us great hope.  God Bless You.

    Love,

    Char

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited June 2009

    Thanks, Char! I don't know yet about all the details. I think it is going to be a Taxol relative called Taxotere, which supposedly is easier on the heart. I'm glad you're getting near the end of the trough treatment. Best of luck to you and G-d bless you, too.

    Deb

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited June 2009
    Hi oldstudent...welcome and I am sorry you had to meet us this way.  There is a thread in the chemo forum for TCH. It is very informative and helpful if you have any questions about your treatment.  
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  • mallensark
    mallensark Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2009

    Dear Deb,

    Best wishes for an unstressful year.  I, too, was given TCH (Taxotere,Carboplatin,Herceptin). It was very tolerable.  The hardest part was the nulasta shot which I had to give myself the day after the treatment to build up the white blood cells.  That gave me a numb feeling all over but only lasted for about three days.  I think the worst part of it all was the fatigue that lasted for weeks.  Just keep in mind that there is the day of recovery and that you will once again feel like yourself again.

    It helps to know that you're not in this alone.

    Love,

    Michelle

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2009

    Michelle,

    Hang in there with me.  I have been busy spring cleaning my house with the family since I was so behind.  It seems like years behind with different projects that needed cleaning up.  We are still in the middle of it.  But I wanted to drop you a line.

    I have been feeling much better since last treatment of Taxol and Herceptin, not sleeping so much at all.  Will start Herceptin after next week.  What a trip this all has been.

    It sure is a mind trip at times, now think of recurrence but that is so bogus a thing for me to do and have to stop my mind from travelling down that road.  

    How are you?  You sound good.

    Love,

    Char

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited June 2009

    Hi, all! Saw a second onco, who suggested a slightly more aggressive treatment--adding in the adriameicin. It is to be AC twice a week for 4 cycles, then TH followed up by a year of Herceptin and radiation in there somewhere. I decided to go with her suggestion because I trust her and because my mom recurred after many years and she had not undergone any chemo, just MX and radiation. Tomorrow I get the mediport put in, then chemo to start July 10 unless they get a cancellation so I can start sooner. I DON"T want to get on a Friday schedule and ruin every single weekend of the summer!

    Hope everyone is well and Char, hope you had fun at Hot Sulphur Springs.

    Happy 4th of JULY!!!

    Deb

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2009

    Deb,

    The port was uneventful for me and I pray for you.  So you have chemo 2x a week?  How long is your chemo treatments for as far as months?  Keep us posted of how you are doing.  Where do you live and what facility are you going to?

    Hang in there and you will get through this, honestly.  So many of us have but a bouncy ride for a while.

    Char

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  • mallensark
    mallensark Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2009

    Dear Char,

    I hope all is well with you.  Just wondered if you received my message sent to your e-mail address.  Hope you and your family enjoy the holiday weekend and you have all your cleaning finished.

    I look forward to hearing from you. God's blessings.

    Love,

    Michelle

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2009

    Hi Deb and all Ladies,

    Happy July 4th.  We're thinking of you Deb as you begin chemo soon.  You'll get through it.  Keep us posted.

    Haven't heard from some of the other ladies and hope you are all doing okay.  Let us know.

    Love,

    Char

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2009

    Hi, Char and all! Had mediport placed on July 1. The procedure was not at all bad and we were able to go to 2 cookouts this 4th of July weekend. I feel a bit like Captain Picard when he was assimilated by the Borg (apologies to all the non-Trekkies out there), but pain has been minimal. Only complaint is that when I drive the seatbelt really annoys the area. Any suggestions?


    Chemo to start no later than this Friday (earlier if they get a cancellation). Have been in a shopping frenzy for dry skin lotion, special mouthwash, anti-biotic bandaids. My son is going to be my entertainment coordinator--he's making me a list of funny movies I can get from Netflix to watch when I feel yukky.

    Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

    Deb

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2009

    Deb,

    I read all the "side effects" stuff and had a bin of food and supplies by my bed prepared for it all so was so surprised I didn't need to use a lot of the stuff.  They have come a long way with the anti-nausea infusions, etc. but some people have it harder for sure.  I pray you will do just fine overall.

    I don't know about the seatbelt issue but maybe you could put a pad over your port when you drive or a washcloth over your shirt in that area to pad the area.  Maybe ask your dr. ??

    Will be thinking of you Friday.

    Love,

    Char

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2009

    Hi, all. Didn't start chemo on Friday. Two oncos talked and decided to biopsy spot on the breast that showed up on MRI as "suspicious". So early this a.m. had MRI guided core biopsy. Now awaiting results then either on to chemo, or on to MX followed by chemo.

    Still staying positive. Mediport still a bit sore, ironically because I have a skinny upper body and there is not much soft tissue there to cushion it. Surgeon says my body will get used to it. There are a few advantages to having a few extra pounds, I guess. Too bad all of mine went SOUTH! LOL

    Talk to y'all later.

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  • mallensark
    mallensark Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2009

    Dear Deb,

    Just know that this time is the hardest you will go through.  I remember all the doctor visits and tests and was horrified.  When friends and relatives called me all I would do was cry!.. And sometimes that was the best I could do.  But you will make it through all of this as much as it seems hard to believe right now. All you can do is go with the flow and have trust and faith.

    My thoughts are with you.  Please keep in touch...we care.

    Love,

    Michelle

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2009

    Hi Deb & Michelle & Other Ladies,

    Michelle is right.  This is the hardest part, the unknown and the unravelling of it all.  But once you get on a course of action, it eases up and you are on to your "recovery".  

    Know we are "here" for you to walk beside you.  You will get through it.

    Love,

    Char

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2009

    Hi, Char and Michelle and everyone. Finally doing something! Got biopsy--DCIS with microinvasions. Choice of chemo then surgery or surgery then chemo. Went with chemo first, which I started bright and early this a.m. I got rid of the onco I wasn't crazy about and Friday talked to the new one and he is much better at explaining things, and I told him that if there are options that have pros and cons, I'd like him to include me in the discussion of these pros and cons, even if it is very technical. He did so and we totally understand each other.

    Probably/pretty definitely will have mastectomy AFTER finishing A/C and T/H. Will talk to surgeon after A/C and she'll help me sort out all the surgery and reconstruction options. First chemo took a long time and was boring because they very carefully made sure that there were no adverse reactions (none, YAY!) and very carefully made sure there were no glitches with the mediport (so far, so good, YAY!) and very carefully gave me follow up info.

    Had lunch--Indian vegetarian buffet, which might have been a bit aggressive, but so far so good. Just a touch of heartburn (are we allowed to have Tums with A/C?) Got into bed to watch a fun movie, but ended up taking long walk with the dog after about 3/4 of the movie. Ate half a plain bagel. Need to drink some more H2O. Friend brought nice dinner over. Hoping to be able to sleep a bit tonight, but prepared with sudoku and light reading if it doesn't happen.

    One down, three to go!

    Hope all of you are doing well. Thank you so much for your online handholding. It really helped.

    Love, Deb

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2009

    Deb,

    That sounds really good.  My oncologist/nurse told me to drink lots of water the day before and about the day of, and I think 1 or 2 days after chemo to rid the toxins in your body and not let them build up.  Check with your doctor on this.  You sound good and I pray it will go this way for you.  DCIS is good too and it is less invasive.

    Tums probably is no big deal but check with doctor.

    Your attitude sounds really well.

    Love,

    Char 

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  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited July 2009

    Deb,

    If you were given Decadron (steroid given to help lessen organ damage) before your chemo, you may not sleep well tonight.  Interference with sleeping is a side effect of the decadron.

    Best of luck with the chemo.

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2009

    Hi, all! Had first A/C on Monday a.m. It went very well. Have been energizer bunny from steroids. Drank lots of water, sucked ice chips during chemo, which I think helped a lot. When I took bandaid of mediport yesterday it took the dermabond with it and I think I pulled the incision open last night just a smidge, so I'm going to have them take a look this a.m. if they can squeeze me in.

    Some heartburn but ginger stuff and briochi helping. Bit of sleeplessness but not too bad. Hopefully days 4 and 5 after chemo won't be too bad, at least this first round. Planning to work a bit from home in a.m. and see a movie with girlfriends in afternoon. Tomorrow have MD app't then have to work a few hours in later afternoon AT THE OFFICE. Ugh. Sometimes the job is worse than the health stuff. (Husband and I own the biz, so we are suffering through the recession.)

    Anyone here ever take Taxol/Herceptin treatment at infusion center away from home? want to go away with hubby in Nov. for our 25th anniversary to Hawaii. Thinking  of doing chemo in Honolulu while he attends a conference for work. Then  we'll bly to Big Island for a week at a resort. If doctors will let me do it and swine flu is not an issue with flying, what do y'all think?

    Hugs and have a good week to all.

    Deb

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  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited July 2009

    I have never done taxol/herceptin away from home but have done herceptin several times.

     My daughter lives in Maryland so I arranged for a local oncologist's office to provide my herceptin when I visited her throughout the year.

     I needed to find the oncologist that I wished to use in Maryland and to arrange an appointment with the oncologist ahead of time.  My oncologist provided me with medical records to send ahead of time (two weeks as per his office's instruction) for his review.  The day of my herceptin infusion, I saw the oncologist who did an examination, reviewed my records with me, and then wrote the orders for the herceptin.

     Because I would be going in throughout the year of herceptin, the Maryland oncologist had me as a patient and I needed to see him again 6 months later before I had more herceptin in his office. 

    I imagine you will need to do a similar routine to have treatment while on vacation.

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2009

    Thanks for the info, Sassa. Maybe it is unrealistic to try to plan it. I know they want to monitor the heart pretty closely on H and the immune system and platelets pretty closely on T.

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  • mallensark
    mallensark Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2009

    Dear Deb,

    Whow!  I am so impressed by your attitude and determination to not let this get you down.  Keep up the positive outlook.  I also had heartburn and I did take one Tum at night for the third thru about the 6th night.  Sometimes that didn't help so I would take my grandma's old family remedy...Baking soda in water.  That took the heartburn away everytime.

    Stay tough and active.  My doctor said walking everyday was one of the best things I could do.  So I walked about a half-hour when I could.

    God bless you and stay in touch.

    Michelle

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2009

    Hi Deb,

    How is it going for you?  Let us know.

    Char

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2009

    Hi, Charlene & Michelle! Hope all are well. The boring waiting! Not doing dose dense, so the three weeks between treatments go slowly when you want to get it over iwth.

    Have been doing very well. Keeping busy. Travel agent is on vacation so haven't gotten the trip plans in place. There is supposed to be travel insurance that lets you cancel and get your money back no matter why you cancel, no questions asked. That's what I want to get.

    Went to a winery yesterday with husband and brother&sister in law. We had a great time and needed to relax from a tough work week. (we are small biz owners in recession--I don't love my job right now). While we were at winery, the old  minivan my son has been  driving decided not to start for him. My daughter went and rescued him and they had it towed to a repair shop. I was really glad to not have to deal with it.

    Next tx is a week from tomorrow, A/C #2. I only had one bad day after #1 and I wasn't even sure it was the chemo and not a 24 hour bug. So, I'm ready to go. I read on this site that vitamin water helps, so maybe I'll buy some of that for the electrolytes. I've been a bit "hyper" since the first A/C, even after not taking the steroids and I wonder if that is a SE.

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited August 2009

    Hi Deb and Ladies,

    I didn't notice "hyper" from AC but this is all such a change in everything, you could be a little hyper.  Check with dr.  

    So glad you are doing well.  It builds up in your system but I think with your attitude and everything you are on your way and will do fine.  I am on Herceptin for a year now but looking back, it does go fast overall.  

    Take care and keep us posted.

    Char

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2009

    Well, hair today, goon tomorrow. It just started falling out today. Darn. Why did I waste $$ on a haircut last week? Don't know yet if I'm going for the big shave, playing with it myself (what, am I going to RUIN it???) or letting my daughter hit it with scissors.

    Got to work tomorrow, then some cooking for company and, folks, I am volunteering at an event Thursday where both the President and the Governor will be appearing. (Yeah, the real U.S. President!!!) Go figure.

    OMG, what am I going to do about my half in, half out HAIR??? What do you wear to an event like that? I guess business attire. I don't even own a camera.

    Family coming in for weekend, next chemo on Monday, but at least I'll have the memories (of the hair and the President. .  .)

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  • mallensark
    mallensark Member Posts: 22
    edited August 2009

    Dear Deb,

    Don't get tired out!  Lots of excitement going on in your life.  Take care of YOURSELF.

    I know the feeling about the hair.  Mine came out in clumps in the shower so I got out cried and cut in off to about an inch long.  As that started to fall out I went to the hair care place at the hospital and she shaved it.  I never looked in the mirror from that point on until recently when I felt hair of about half inch.  Now it's about one inch.  I wear turban type hats purchased from the hair care center at the hospital.  I put a scarf around my head on top of it.  I am thrilled when I actually get compliments from people when I'm out.  So maybe you can try that.  I never liked wearing the wig.

    Have fun and enjoy.

    Love,

    Michelle

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited August 2009

    Hi Deb, Michelle and Ladies,

    That was one of the hardest moments - the shedding of the hair.  It was monumental when it kept coming out and I looked so different.  I waited until it was really thin and sparce and felt ready to go get it shaved off at a salon.  Some women do it themselves.   I didn't want my husband to do it.  But I chose a wig I received at the hospital cancer care place that has been on my head forever.  At night I wear the turbans but, for me, the wig has worked and looks rather real.  It is the one you see on this site.  So whatever you are comfortable with.  My hair is the length of Michelle's, about an inch, it must take a while to grow back as it seems that way.  

    I agree with Michelle - take it easy if you can because your body is going through a lot.  You probably have trouble slowing down but take time out when you can.  As the treatments go along, there is a build up in your body and it takes its toll.  So be good to yourself.  You can catch up on everything later when you're done with this phase. 

    Love,

    Char

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  • oldstudent
    oldstudent Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2009

    Hi, Char and Michelle! I threw myself on the mercy of my hairdresser, who shaved it while I hummed "na na, na na nah nah, hey hey, goodbye!" She trimmed the wig for me and I wore it to the rally. I was complimented on my lovely hair (!) and I got to see the President from about 30 feet away!

    Today I sat around and relaxed and drank iced tea and played with the computer. I was happy because I found out I could get my pre-chemo blood test today instead of tomorrow. (Guess I'm too literal. When they said 2 days before chemo, I figured that meant it had to be Saturday. They said Friday is OK.) This means I can sleep in tomorrow instead of chasing around looking for an open Kaiser center.

    Just got back from dog walk. Lovely afternoon, but we are expecting some very hot weather for the weekend. Bought the dog a new toy, so we can play indoors. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Stay cool.

     Love, Deb

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  • charleneg
    charleneg Member Posts: 69
    edited August 2009

    Hi Deb and Michelle,

    You have a great sense of humor, Deb.  You make lemonade out of lemons and that will take you far.  

    So glad the wig looks great.  I have had lots of compliments on my wig so it has made the journey more bearable.  Michelle, is your hair coming in gray?  Mine is and before it was a little gray and I colored it but now it is almost all gray.  It makes me want to stay with the wig but maybe I will color it again with a natural color kit - no chemicals.

    You are doing very well, Deb.  Keep us posted, we care.

    Stay cool you guys.

    Love,

    Char

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  • mallensark
    mallensark Member Posts: 22
    edited August 2009

    Dear Char and Deb,

    Hope you both are doing well and keeping up the good spirits.

    Yes, my hair is almost all gray.  Even though I colored my hair before, I know it wasn't THIS gray.  So same here Char, I think I will go to the natural food store where they have, like you said, something natural for coloring because this color isn't gonna work for me,,.YAK!  Right now it's only about one inch.  I think the problem with the wig is it didn't fit right.  It seems too big.  I took it back to the hairdresser and she sewed it in a little but it still feels funny plus it's too hot.  I really enjoy the turban and scarf.  I bought many different colors of scarves so it's like part of my outfits.

    Have a great weekend.  Love you guys.

    MIchelle 

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