Crazy Sexy Cancer in Seattle

Hi Deb, I have not found anyone in WA who has IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) There are others on this site, but I have not found anyone locally.  I am at Swedish too.  IBC is different, chemo comes first, then surgery, hopefully my surg will be in Oct.

My chemo on Tuesday did not go as planned... I was admitted as scheduled, but I had 2 adverse reactions, it took 20hrs to get all the Taxol in, and another 2hrs to get the Herceptin in.  I spent over 36hrs in the hosp.  This was my second taxol, and I am having the worst pain that starts the day after chemo and lasts 3 to 4 days.  It's joint and muscle pain. Nothing seems to work on easing the pain.  I am going into my 5th month of chemo... One more to go~ I'm gona have repeat bone, MRI and PET scans at the end of Sept, I sure hope all this chemo has done the job!!!  Much love to all of you!

Jessica - Your post wasn't on when I sent mine a couple of minutes ago.  I'm sorry you had such a tough time with your chemo.  It sounds awful.  I have a friend who had Taxol and Herceptin and also had some bad reactions.  She's finally done with it all now and greatly relieved that's over.  I'm glad you only have one more left, although I'm sure it's hard to see it as "only one more" at this point.

Take care

Heidi

Ladies,

I had my last chemo.  Kind of anticlimactic.  No bells rang, no confetti fell from the ceiling, no balloons appeared, but I did get a nice big hug from the nurse!  I sort of feel like my body is mine again.  

Hope everyone is doing well.

Peg

Rovergirl,

I joined this site today.  I have lived in the Seattle/Tacoma area for the past 16 years and love it.  Last Thursday, I was diagnosed with DCIS and IDC in the left breast. The pathology report from the initial biopsy shows one area at 4 mm and the other at 5 mm.  I don't think I can go through with a mastectomy and the doctor said that lumpectomy is not a good choice because I have two lesions in two different quadrants of the breast (and I am a B cup).  I am interested in participating in a clinical trial. I read an article the other day were they treated these type of cancers with chemotherapy and radiation. I am planning on obtaining my second opinion at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.  Do you know if the patient even has a choice in the treatment plan?

Tammy Marie, I also had 2 tumors in one breast in different areas and was an A/ B cup.  I had a mastectomy.  Honestly, it was the last thing I wanted to do but this is what they strongly recommended.  After it was over, I thought I'd be upset, but I was relieved.  I am also being treated at Swedish with Dr. Rinn.  There are others on this thread being treated at SCCA and they have been very happy with the level of care there, too, I think.  The decision making process -- as Heidi Sue and others have said -- is the most difficult part.  It will all get easier.  Getting the second opinion at SCCA is an excellent idea.

Peggy

TAMMYMARIE.....I definitely agree with the other gals about you needing to be free to make your own decision.  I had four different opinions before I decided where I wanted my treatment.  One thing to keep in mind is the location.  Someone recommended to me that just in case I needed to make more frequent trips than planned, I might want to be as close as possible.  I am really glad I made that decision even though I did not need to go more often than my scheduled chemo treatments.  Since you live in Tacoma, have you looked into the Cancer Care Treatment Center in Renton?  It is a beautiful facility and I almost went with them, but too far of a commute.   Patti

http://www.cancercenter.com/seattle-clinic.cfm

After a quick check of all the posts, I couldn't see that we had settled on a date for our get together, but most people seemed to be available on Sept 16, and some not available on the other dates.  Is that what we want to set as the date? Or did I miss a decision somewhere?

Hi all,

I've been busy with summer camps and out of town visitors so haven't been on the site much. Welcome to all new folks; sorry you have been diagnosed but glad you are here among such wonderful support. 

My mom is having a lumpectomy under local soon w/o SNB so should recover quickly. I'm on tamoxifen and feeling good. 

 Peggy--congratulations! I would have arranged a ticker-tape parade if I had been thinking! 

TammyMarie--the decision making is the most difficult part and once you've made the decision you'll be so relieved. I had a cluster of tumors and my surgeon offered taking out just that quadrant but I decided on mastectomy since they would have to take out so much. I really agonized about the decision up until the surgery. In the end, they found a lot of DCIS in the rest of the breast so I'm glad I went with the mastectomy.  Good luck with everything and keep us posted.

Is anyone going to the Survivor Celebration on the 20th (the cruise) ?

Did we decide on the 16th for get-together?

Jean

Sounds good to me.  I'll put the info on the "Get Togethers" thread.

Hi Everyone,

 I'm sorry I will be out of town on the 16th so will miss another opportunity to meet you all.  I went in for chemo yesterday with a fever and got diagnosed with pneumonia and my chemo cancelled.  Today I'm supposed to go in for more tests.  Rats.  I was feeling crappy but thought "this chemo is really catching up with me".   I feel like an idiot, especially since  I'm a doctor.  Denial is a powerful thing!

Hope we can plan another get together later in thr fall

Heidi 

Hi everyone,

it's been awhile since I've been by, I've been reading the updates.  Welcome to all the new visitors, and congrats on all who are done!  I'm finally done myself!  I never thought it would end!  Now it's just a matter of the next phase.  I have not been feeling all that great.  I think the beating has finally caught up with me plus Chemopause.  I've been to a couple of doctors for follow ups and they all seem to think it's the same thing, this is just not the same body anymore. 

Has anyone else felt more lousy after finshing treatment than while going through treatment?  I'd be interested to hear your stories.  So much of this seems like it is menopause in addition to the toxins and getting nuked until your skin falls off.  I want to sleep but can't, I'm dizzy, and then get hot flashes along with nausea.  It pretty much sucks all the time.

Unfortunatley I will not be able to attend the 16 and will miss yet another get together.  Uck!!!

I hope everyone is doing well, you are all in my thoughts!

xxo,

Tina

Heidi Sue -- So sorry you are having to deal with pneumonia!!  Oh gracious, take care of yourself and I send you big hugs.  As for your friend a year past it all, our onc. did tell me it takes a long time to recover from the tx.  Get well soon!  I will be thinking about you. 

Tina -- good to hear from you again.  I am done w/ chemo (2 wks. ago) and still don't feel terrific but okay.  My DH took me and the kids on a 4 mi. hike and then I slept for 2 hours!  I've been amazed that people excercise through all this.  Anyway, I hope all your symptoms mellow out.  Go easy on yourself and be sure to get lots of rest!  

Hope to be there on the 16th.  Take care everyone.

THANKS TRACY, YOU ARE AWESOME!!!  I hope to be able to do it next year!!

Hi everyone!

Thanks Heidi and Madge for your encouragement.  Congrat Madge on finishing Chemo.  Heidi hang in there, it will be over soon.  I hope you are feeling better and on the mend.

I am feeling better, I think my hormones as well as my body are just wacked out!  Hopefully all will be right soon and we can all look back at this someday and laugh.  Got my first hair trim since it has grown back, the cowlicks are still in control but I hope it will start to grow faster now that some of it has been cut. 

Unfortunately I won't once again be able to make the 16th but I hope everyone who attends has a blast.  Hope to make the next one.

Have a great weekend everyone.  There is going to be lovely weather!