Starting Chemo May 2008
Comments
-
okay. hold off on the romantic music, folks. predictably, we have backslid. of the 97 commitments he said he had that would prevent him from seeing me before this saturday (and i hadn't even asked), one was -- wait for it -- "roasting a chicken for a dog." Gee, thanks. way to make a girl feel special. I let that one hang in the air for awhile and then chirped, "okay, good luck with that! buh-bye!"
-
I call the side of the suitcase opposite the shoes!!!!! tee hee
Eddie~ I have resorted to headbands because both sides of my head has cowlicks right at the ears.
Dana~ So glad to "hear" your voice. Hang in there babe! I promise to not make your suitcase weigh too much LOL
Much love daulin's... we are all still sickie here. I'm tempted to change my name to phelgm
-
I am, admittedly, a weak person. I simply cannot resist posting this pic and the related website. It was pointed out to me by someone on FB:
Here's the source: http://dailyotter.org/ Yes, that's daily -- as in, a new picture posted every day. I'm loving it.
otter
-
)jeanne
-
too cute! I'm going to have to check out the otters now :O)
Rock! hows the hand holding going???
-
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
-
Thanks, Jen--you too! Hugs to all...
otter
-
Dana!!! It made my day to log on and read your note. I am sorry that you have been going through so much crap & excited that your going to escape it all in Kauai. Sand between your toes & umbrella in your drink - perfect! I pray for you each day and hope for a healing liver and better days!
Kristy - Congrats on your daughter getting that scholarship - that is a big damn deal!
Eddie & Sue - NO idea what to do with my hair either. It use to be shoulder length and a bunch of work. Now it is short and super easy to take care of . . . . but trying to find the right cut . . . which is why I have not posted pics here or on FB.
I have missed you all. Trying to train for a marathon, started yoga, spinning, and fall broomball which may explain why I am DAT (and why I have not posted in awhile). I may have chewed off a bit more than my body is ready for.
Linda - How is your training going???
Love you all.
Jean
-
Hello to ALL...and greeting from a flipping cold Colorado Springs. Yesterday and today the temps have been in the high teens. Just a little snow but enough to cause black ice and a 60 car pile up on the only interstate that runs through the Springs. We always have snow by Halloween but this is ridiculous. So today I stayed in my flannel jammies, had the fireplace going since 7 am, knocked out a paper for my class that is due next Sunday (boy do I hate APA style).
Gals, I've been reading regularly but not posting, obviously. Transferring to a new position 4 weeks ago, starting college classes to advance my degree, having the house painted and carpet replaced have left little spare time. I've been pleased to see the progression back to normal lives for most.
Dana - great "seeing" you again.
Eddie - thanks for posting the note from Zach.
I have a question for those of you who have had expanders (Jean and Roxi and who ever else). While your expander was inplace did you have decreased range of motion of the surgical side? It took a long time after my mastectomy but the. ROM had 90% normal, minimal tightness. It has been 6 weeks since the expander was placed and I still have significant discomfort and tightness in my chest resulting inwhat I think is a moderate decrease in the ability to move my left arm in certain positions. The expander now has 500ml in it. I'm thinking that will be enough. Now it's perkier than my real boob - so much so that I'm contemplating getting a push up insert for the right side. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a complaint. It will just take some time getting used to. Funny because I almost got used to the lonely boob, crooked scar, numb chest and fake migrating boobs.
What's the latest on the gathering at Sue's porch? Guess I need to get back on FB also.
Great catching up with everyone!
Love,
Robin
-
Been checking in and reading - just lots going on, but in good ways. My sister is here for a week and this was our weekend in between competitions. The girls have tomorrow off, but not me - boo hoo!
Robin - I don't know what kind of a computer you have, but the newest version of Word practically writes in APA style for you - wish that had been out when I was writing a doctoral paper!
Stayed up too late last night and up too early this morning...no wonder I'm D.A.T.!
-
Robin - I had my expander in for a year before the swap surgery and it never felt comfortable! I was so happy to lose that and get the implant in - much better! I found that the after the last fill, I lost range of motion in the surgery side as well. So much, that I went to PT for 6 weeks for it. Radiation also tightened the skin a lot, which added to the range issues. My expander was only at 250cc, but that was still bigger than what I was.
All in all, I got the majority of my range back. I also had the "other" side adjusted for gravity issues as well. The non-surgery side feels fantastic. The surgery feels good, but can get tight on occasion . . . guessing a results of the rads.
Overall - thrilled with the outcome.
Woke up to 3 inches of snow in MN - crazy! 60 degrees by the weekend.
Jean
-
Jean-thanks for the expander info. I feel better knowing these changes were experienced by someone else, and are temporary. Can't imagine keeping this time in for a year - at times it feels like a foob that's out of place, I get the urge to pull it down into place an remember it's in internal foob and it's stuck it place.
3 inches of snow, huh? The ice that covered C. Springs over the weekend melted off today, our week is supposed to be warmer also.
Cristine - we make a copy (legal copy) of office 2007. I'm using 2003 on my PC. We bought 07 for our college student daughter. No one thought Mom would be needing one of licensed copies. The new bimester starts next week so I'll get it installed over the weekend. Thanks for jogging my memory about something I already own.
-
Hello, all. Been supremely lazy lately. YAY for being thrilled with results of recon! I am too, except for the "Wound Healing Issues" I am having with my right nip....and the fact that I am scheduled for another revision surgery on December 11th. I guess it's actually pretty common to need one more, but I thought I was signing up for two surgeries, not three...*whine*...oh, and the fact that when I whine to my dh, he says, "It will be nothing compared to what you've already done"...when what I really want to hear is something along the lines of "don't worry, my Queen, you will be pampered and waited on hand and foot (whatever that means)".
I haven't called you yet, Dana, I think I may try tomorrow...I told you I've been lazy. Over the last few days I re-read our entire thread. I highly recommend thiis activity as it helped me to acknowledge and feel some "leftover" (unprocessed) emotions about this whole journey. It also helped me to realize, again, how much you all mean to me and how much of my progress on this journey was due to your support and friendship. It is different now that most of us are not in active treatment anymore, but it's still very, very good. Please keep checking in every once in a whiile.
Cris, rock, otter,Jen, Eddie, Jean, Angels, Roxi, Noelle, Robin, Dana, Karin, Jackie, Adrienne, Kerry, Kristy, Linda, Julie, RanD---I love and miss you all. Got to get over to FB to see what's up with the reunion, I can't wait.
I don't know if I will walk the 3day as I planned to this year as what I thought of as a no-brainer source of contributions has failed to materialize (the economy?) and I don't know if I will make the minimum fundraising goals. Also I havven't trained as I should--been doing the regular walks but not the distances....and I am soooooooo unmotivated it is sickening!! I think I am in the post-treatment I-don't-know-how-to-feel-and-nothing-feels-good phase. I've been taking Zoloft for a year and am taking tamoxifen, I am sure it is related to those. I try cutting the Zoloft down but it ups those ugly hot flashes almost immediately...exercise does help, and I know that, but see previous statement about my lack of motivation..it's all I can do to force myself to walk a few days a week and get my housework done every day. I think maybe I am lonely.
Well, this turned into a ramble! I miss our times together and hope the reunion really happens.
Love you all,
Sue
-
Okay....just got back from an incredible weekend...please go to blog (google my name) if you wish to see all about it. It would be the most amazing thing in the world if we all did this together next year. It is called Circle of Friends and we would rock at it. Seriously. Love you all. Dana.....Hawaii ... yes.
-
Hey Sue - if when they revise that nip again, where will the tissue come from? Too early for me to decide if I'm going to add the headlight to my new boob when it is restored. And I agreed about the reunion - hope it happens also. Turns out DD is hoping to complete her schooling a semester early so a college graduation may be in the works mid May 2010.
Eddie - when I googled circle of friends it came up with a number of sites and I'm too lazy to read throught them all to determine which one you are referencing. Please give a link to the site for myself and other who would like to click and have the site appear. Thanks!
Today I will be putting the finishing touches on my paper and getting it submitted to my instructor. Yesterday the book for the next class arrived - it's about nursing research. This afternoon I meet with a rep from the college network as I am planning to go through them to prepare for co-requiste courses. I can study the necessary materials, test out of the courses, obtain the credits and save a butt load of money. WOO_HOO!
Keri - tell me about spring/or summer what ever you have going. The EARLY cold snap (18 degrees) over the weekend leaves me longing for the summer we never really had so I desire to live vicariously through you! Besides, I love reading every thing you write.
Friends - have a wonderful Wednesday.
Kristy - I think it was you I saw with a recent BD on FB. HAPPY BD! Hope it was good.
Robin
-
I talked to Dana!!! And her voice is, well, BEAUTIFUL. Can;t wait to meet you, Dana!
Sue
-
Sue and Dana ---Very glad you talked!!! When are you getting together?
I just read here on BCO that the Taxanes/ Taxotere doesn't have any effect on the type of tumor I had. Not happy. Went through that shit thinking it would provide some insurance against recurrence. For what?? Hair loss, chemo brain, muscle pains etc, etc. I know I was offered and accepted the recommendations thought best for me at that point in time. And I know I can't change it now, and I have my hair back and I don't have cancer now. But crap...it just upsets me. And I think of what drugs like Gemzar did to Dana and I am getting pissed off. But Dana - you should that nasty beast who was boss, and you've talked to Sue recently so I shouldn't even be complaining.
Just had to get this off my chest.
-
Robin, you and I had nearly the same type of tumor -- mine was 1.8 cm, ER+ PR- HER2- but Grade 2 instead of Grade 3. And, you and I both had Taxotere & Cytoxan, if I remember correctly. Don't worry. The BCO "analysis" of the report you mentioned is STUPID STUPID STUPID. Did I say that loudly enough?? STUPID!
Here's the statement in the BCO analysis that makes me shiver (in anger):
"This study found that taxanes reduce the risk of recurrence of only certain molecular types of breast cancer. So using a taxane to treat the other types of breast cancer doesn't offer any real benefits."
STUPID. And, just plain wrong.
For its analysis, BCO "borrowed" material that was posted as a press release on the MedPage Today website: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASCOBreast/16341
The MedPage Today press release came from the ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium, which was held last week. One of the papers presented at that meeting dealt with an analysis of the effectiveness of adding Taxol (paclitaxel) to the standerd chemo regimen of Adriamycin/Cytoxan. In other words, did adding Taxol to AC really help (compared to AC alone), and were there some groups of patients who benefitted more than others from the addition of Taxol?
To compare the benefits in different "types" of BC, the researchers used "tissue microarrays" to perform histochemical testing of the tumors (ER, HER2, Ki67, cytokeratin 5/6, and epidermal growth factor receptor). They used the reactions to classify the tumors ino one of 5 main categories: Luminal A (usually ER+ HER2-), Luminal B (ER+ HER2- but faster-growing than Luminal A), core basal, HER2+, and "aggressive" ER- HER2- nonbasal subtypes.
The study found that women with the slowest-growing type of BC (the Luminal A subtype) did not get any additional benefit from adding Taxol to AC. In other words, AC worked just as well as AC/T did. The same was true for a small number of the ER- HER2- nonbasal tumors, which also did not benefit from the addition of Taxol to the standard AC regimen.
All the other groups, including the Luminal B subtype (ER+ HER2- but faster-growing than Luminal A), did benefit from adding Taxol to the regular AC regimen. Taxol was more effective in some groups than others; but some of those groups were pretty small.
I think there are two, maybe three important things to note from all of this.
One is that the study examined the effect of adding Taxol to the standard chemo regimen -- Adriamycin & Cytoxan, to see if the combination worked better than just AC itself. The study did not look at Taxotere; and it did not examine the effectiveness of a taxane by itself or as the Taxotere/Cytoxan combo you and I got. So, the statement in the BCO analysis that "using a taxane to treat the other types of breast cancer doesn't offer any real benefits" is just plain wrong.
The second thing to note is that the researchers did not look at PR expression in the tumors they studied. They used ER and HER2 expression, but not PR; so we should not necessarily assume their "ER+ HER2-" category includes our ER+ PR- HER2- tumors. Unfortunately, tumors that are ER+ but PR- are usually considered faster-growing and more aggressive than the more common ER+ PR+ tumors. So, maybe yours and mine would have responded to the added Taxol in the study. After all, even though the "Luminal A" subtype did not benefit from added Taxol, the "Luminal B" subtype did; and Luminal A and Luminal B are both ER+ HER2-. I don't know whether ER+ PR- HER2- tumors are Luminal A or Luminal B.
Finally, the authors used fairly sophisticated histological techniques to classify tumors into "Luminal A," "Luminal B," etc., subtypes. The press release says there is no need to use such sophisticated methods; all that's necessary is ER and HER2 staining. That is not necessarily true. I've read papers that have pointed out that the classification into hisologic types "Luminal A", "Luminal B", "basal", etc., is more complicated and can't be assumed simply from the ER and HER2 reactions.
So, the bottom line is that the BCO analysis was wrong; and the researchers weren't talking about you and I anyway. And, anyone else here who got a taxane as a part of her chemo regimen (AC-T, for instance), probably got the taxane because her onco thought the tumor was aggressive enough to warrant adding the taxane.
<sigh>
I wish I could work on this some more. Oh... here. I found a link to the actual abstract of the actual paper that was presented at the ASCO meeting. It's always better to read what the researchers presented, rather than what some journalst thinks they said: http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=70&abstractID=40158
Sorry that link is so long. We're traveling and I have to sign off now. I'll come back to this tomorrow, if I get a chance.
Hugs and love...
otter
-
Otter, only you would post that involved and immediate reply to one of your sisters who was under a scary wrong impression...you continue to awe me both with your knowledge and intelligence and for your heart for caring.
Love and hugs to all from
Sue
Left MX 4/2/08 6 X TAC finished 8/7/08 28 rads finished 10/13/08
-
Otter, you are what we in Tasmania call a real fecking UNIT!!!! Thank you, because I had a little trip-up when I read Robin's post. I'm glad I don't read all that stuff now. Spring is trying to...spring! here. But all we get is rain, rain rain. It's raining now. But I had a big milestone today, girls! I had a big walk late in the day..beautiful (pre-rain) weather. When I got home I knew it was going to rain, so I decided to mow the grass out the back. I haven't been strong enough to be able to start the mower since January last year and I DID IT!!!!!
I've been so tired for so long but hey! I'm back on the mower!!! XXXX -
YAY!!! Kerry's back on the mower!!!!!!
-
Here's to mowers! and otters! and crisps! (you're GOOD, otter. GOOD. and thank you ever so much for translating and sending that micromets article for me. i didn't realize how much that was bothering me until i got your analysis. i calmed down just seeing your name in my in-box!)
love you all heaps.
-
Otter - Ever the friend and teacher! Thank you for that clarification. I posted in anger, never a good thing. Kerri Lamb - I am sorry for causing a little trip up for you, and will take the BCO analysis with a grain of salt until I've further researched the matter. It was the first time in months I had read any of their info.
Kerry - on the move on the mower! Wonderful news!
DH is preping our tractor for winter storage and pulling out the snow blower. The blower is a walk behind, takes a lot of work but without it we would have been stranded multiple times.
Love to all and wishes for a great weekend.
Robin
-
Happy Birthday to Jean!!!
otter
-
Just caught up and blowing by!
Otter - You astound me, as always. BRAVO!
Packing and getting ready to take Katie to Monterey. She has a competiton tomorrow, but today we go to the Aquarium!! Kelly gets a special weekend with Dad, so she is good with that. Please send good thoughts for a confidence-boosting performance!
Read an article today about the "overly pink" phenomenon...although I am not as reactive as I was last year, it was gratifying to see the word being spread (basically, read the fine print before you buy to "support the cure").
Happy Saturday!
-
Otter - Wow! Now that is what I call a post of great information! Thanks for the birthday wishes as well.
I turned 44 today and started the day with a 5 mile run in the sun. It is a beautiful day here for the first time in 2 weeks. Going to dinner with family and friends.
Kerry is on the mower - YEAH! Another noteworthy milestone.
Love you all!
Jean
-
Happy 44th Jeano! Have a most excellent dinner!
It's nice here today, big improvement over 18 degrees and icy roads last weekend. The dog and I took a leisurely two mile walk. I admire you stamina and ability to run - all of you who can.
-
Happy 44th Jeano! Have a most excellent dinner!
It's nice here today, big improvement over 18 degrees and icy roads last weekend. The dog and I took a leisurely two mile walk. I admire you stamina and ability to run - all of you who can.
-
HI all,
Otter, you rock
Robin, jus google Eddie Westerman's blog and you'll get there. It was a wild weekend and we should all do it together next year. Yea for mowers and Texas meetings and birthdays and LIFE!
-
Happy Birthday Jean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you still planning on being in ohio next month?
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team