Starting Chemo Aug 09

Wow, see so much in just a few posts.  I'm glad to hear some are done and others almost done. Those going into the next months, hang in there, you will make it.  My thoughts will be with you.

Navy: yes I did have the TAC,  I won't miss it one bit. 

After my blood levels get back to normal, it's off to get the port out. Then a visit to the dentist again, and then we schedule the bone density test.

A new "normal" is a good way to put it,  but I'll take it!  Better than the alternative. 

I do hope everyone tries to have a pleasant holiday, I'm not really into it as much this year.

I used to go all out, but this year, I'm wishing for just a Peaceful one.  Less is more for me now.

Take care all,

Linda

We'll definitely keep you company Patty!   I hope we can all keep in touch after everyone is done treatment!  It's nice to be able to stop in here and know that everyone knows what you are going through and how you feel.

Congrats Navy Mom!!  Last one today!  Wow!

Hi ladies,

It is so good to hear that so many of you are done with chemo.  Hang in there Donna with the radiation.  Jenn, just tough it out, it is alnmost at the end.  I have that weird folded piece of sock sensation with the leftover neuropathy-perfect description, and the fatigue goes away fast. 

I will still probably have the full 4AC of Chemo to do after I recover from the surgery.  I am hoping to have the path report for Dec 17 and will know then.  Maybe no chemo or rads!?!?  Live in hope!

Every day is better after the surgery but now I am starting to get all the nerve pain, in the lymph node area as well as on my chest.  Hoping to have the dreains removed tomorrow but not optimistic.

My Mom left yesterday which makes me sad but my mother in law will arrive today so that will be nice.

Take care all!

Hello ladies, sorry it took me so long to respond, it seems like all I do these days is sleep.  This last one has been like wow, I am much more tired after the last chemo, it is unexplainable.  Went to work today, but was really useless, all I wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep. 

I do have some neuropathy, I didn't get it until the 5th one, it isn't constant.  I am starting to notice it now after the 6th, I feel way more than I did and I hope it doesn't stay.

With Herceptin, the only side effects I have had is an occasional nosebleed.   I won't go to every 21 days until Jan.

Lilah..sorry!  Here I am thinking I've got no chemo brain...and like duh.    Sounds like you are doing the right thing with the MX, but I can understand how hard it must be.   All positive thoughts coming your way from me.

It was YoYo who was getting her drains out...today I think.  I hope it went well YoYo!

Smore, hang in there girl.   I didn't do TCH, but on the AC the fatigue definitely got worse each cycle. There were days when one hour up and around meant one hour on the sofa to recuperate.  Sleep is good!  Just keep focusing on that LAST TX which will be here soon!

I'm mid-week after Taxol #3 and have nothing to complain about.  YEAH!

Patty

Congrats Navy!!!!!!

I want to share my gripe that I posted in the November Rads board just in case one of the Amazons has any suggestions, It is regarding my radiation boob, sorry in advance gripe contains graphic hanging boob problems:

I don't think that my male RO gets it!

After 7th treatment my boob is already pink, mostly underneath which I was already told was going to be a problem since my 42 DDD's hang. I am so confused on how to slow this down. RO told me not to wear a tight bra, well I only own tight bras and having boobs as big as mine I have never experienced a "loose" bra??? My RO gave me a cream called Biafine to put on 3 times a day which I've been doing since day 1 with no results. Today I looked for 100% aloe at Walgreens, none found, I bought some aloe burn gel that has some lidacaine in it for pain I guess??? Do I keep the boob lubed with cream or dry underneath??? Thought of trying a maxipad underneath to keep cream on boob but sweat off??? I am VERY confused. Any suggestions? RO said at night to lay on back nude to get air under boob, but even on my back I still have a fold, also incision is getting darker? Help! Donna

Patty -- aw so sorry you have 9 more to go, but glad that you're handling it so well (so far) -- may it continue to be so.  And oh I hear ya on the bald!  I keep forgetting I'm bald and then see myself in the mirror and think: OMG I'M BALD!  Too many years of long hair I guess.  I do love my wig though.  It looks better than my real hair ever did. 

Jenn -- sorry HR is still being a pain. I think you will be happy to get back to work... so I hope it happens for ya next week.

Donna -- sorry I have not had rads and so have no answers for you... but wanted to send you hugs and good wishes for an improvement soon.

Cheers,

Lilah

Ok, so I went to see my Onc today after rads. This appt. was supposed to be to get my PET scan results. Well surprise! my insurance company said once again the PET scan was denied, stating no proof of cancer after surgery. My Onc wasn't happy to say the least but her rants and raves contained things like don't they know you are "very high risk" for reoccurance! Don't they know your type of cancer is "very, very aggresive". These were all things I did not want to here from my Onc after I had all that chemo and am in the middle of getting radiation! She said can you get different insurance? I thought yeah sure I bet BCBS would love to have me, a breast cancer patient as their new client. When I first talked to her after my surgery, she told me that I had an 80% chance of no recurrence within a 10 year period if I did the chemo and rads. So I wonder has the number changed? Of course I didn't ask her because my jaw was laying on the ground! I am a triple negative, grade 3, stage 2A patient, can't I hope and assume that they got it all and it's not coming back or is that very naive of me. I know we have to be very diligent in monitoring our bodys but I thought after chemo and rads I could at least breathe a breath of relief. Do you think it's just because she is a chemotherapy onc. and being a triple neg there is no more treatment for me other than the chemo I have already had and the rads I am currently doing? I am now very confused, I will be getting a pelvic and chest CT instead of the PET scan, apparently the allmighty $$$$ controls which scans you "need". I hate our healthcare system!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's cheaper for them if I just would die!

Jenn3- LMAO, about the new boobs, I guess it's about the same as a new haircut that the DH's never notice. My mom had prosthetic boobs and for some reason I kept them after she passed, probably because she used to tell me all the time how expensive they were. Well when my 17 year old daughter was getting ready for the prom I realized she was a little more endowed on top than usual, and discovered she was making good use of her meme's foobs!

Donna - sorry to hear about insurance hassle.   My Onc specifically told me that he didn't see a need for PET or CT scans on me.   He said "We go fishing where we think there are fish", meaning, I guess, he isn't worried about mets since I have no symptoms or concerning blood test results.  So maybe that's the thinking of the stingy insurance company too?  The new proposed healthcare legislation, if passed, would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions...which we all have now BIG TIME.  'Course I don't think it addresses how much they can charge us because of the pre-existing condition..cha ching.  Probably best to hang on to the insurance we have!

Jenn - congratulations on your new foobs!   Also good luck going back to work.  I think once you get back in the swing of things you'll be glad you're there.   I'll be thinking you about you in the Chair tomorrow...me too.   #4 for me, #10 (?) for you?

MaineCoonKitty - almost done!  I hope the SE's remain minor.   

Patty

Hi all,

 I got home from my surgery Wednesday night.  Can't wait for the staples and drains to come out.  Hoping to get at least two of the drains out Tuesday when I go in for my follow-up.   I can only sleep in one position so it is drving me nuts.  For some reason the right side has very little bruising but my left side looks like someone really beat me up.  Now that I don't have boobs my stomach is looking really big.  I will really have to start working on that once the surgeon says its okay to excercise. 

My sister came up for Thanksgiving and stayed for my surgery which was really nice.  However, she broke my cardinal rule (The two of us can't be sick at the same time).  She needs to have surgury on her ear becasue it now has a hole in it.  The rule exists because my mom can't be in two states at once.

Jenn it looks like we will be doing rads about the same time.  I meet with my rad onc on the 21st and will find out when I will start for sure.

Kim, congratuations on having your surgery behind you.   It gets slowly better from here!   I didn 't have an MX but after my lumpectomy I found putting a pillow next to me on the surgery side allowed me to lean a tiny bit on that side without pain.  It felt a little better than flat on my back.

Jenn, hope you are having fun at your party and forgetting about all of the BC stuff!   I fired up my ultra-magnification lighted makeup mirror and I also spied some very tiny, very white eyelashes!  "Starter" lashes, you think?   Teeny tiny brows coming in too.   Nothing on the head, though!

NavyMom, congratulations on your last TAC.  My Onc told me that is a tough regimin, because of the three drug combination.  But effective!   Hope you are feeling better soon and lucky you...no rads!   Are you planning to get the extra scans at your own expense?

Had Taxol #4 today, no problems except the 'roid buzz this evening.   One thing I've decided after getting all these steriods is I definitely do not see the attraction atheletes have for them.  Maybe they get stronger but I've gotten no new muscles to speak of and the buzz and the warm flashes and the face flush are just a pain!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Patty