Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Good Morning,

Just returned from my visit with onc. Rt. bc increased (as thought) and there is a new single aux. node on left breast raising suspicion (no tumor though) HOWEVER bc has not spread anywhere else and internal mammary node has been resolved. Chemo contained my cancer Amen! This may not sound too good but just knowing my cancer is still localized is such a blessing. I have a 3rd chance at this.

Dr. will wait on future plan based on post surgery report. (Big day, next Tuesday). May or may not do Rads but future chemo will be needed. I mentioned to my onc. if I can get into a PARP trial. She's going to contact UCLA to get 2nd opinion. That's where I'm at.

Corrine: Get plenty of rest! Congrats on the new "twins".

God is great!

Thank you all for your prayers. Keep them going.

Jeannine

Hi Everyone,

Jeannine, You are right to celebrate the news of no spread. I think of you everyday! Let us know the UCLA opinion.

Welcome home Misty! What a great trip, I'm so glad you went.

Corinne, I too, like Misty, was wondering why the pain from that surgery. So sorry you had to stay longer than planned, and had such pain. I'm so sorry. 

I haven't gotten scheduled yet for the mammo. No, really, I'm going to get it!!

Love to all. Also can't believe it's now December!

Hugs to all, dear ones,

Gail 

Hello!

I'm excited today girls. UCLA Dr. just e-mailed me that a new PARP trial is coming in 2 months! I may get in! I read about it in the Women & Cancer mag. If Phase 3 results continue to prove promising for us TN's ,they will soon market this med. 62% of women had a significant benefit with the PARP than chemo alone. PARP inhibits the blood supply and protein growth of our terrible aggressive tumors. Just think... to be part of this incredible study and help so many women with this darn disease.

 Pray I get in girls!

Corrine: Sorry you're in pain.  Rest up please and post when you're feeling better.

Misty & Gail: Good luck on the mammos.  (? You both have implants so they still perform the mammo on them? I guess so!

Have a good week everyone.

Hugs & Prayers.

Jeannine

Great news Jeannine! You are really making things happen! Is the new trail all over the US, or in CAlif? I think it's great that there's a 62% benefit!

Corinne, I really hope you are feeling better - sounds painful and there must be something you can take to make it better?  

Misty, I have to wait 2 weeks to get my mammo - good luck on yours!

Hugs to all,

Gail

Corinne ~ How are you feeling today?  I didn't realize that you'd had dorsi lattisimus reconstruction.  No wonder you were in pain!  Hopefully, things are improving each day.

Jeannine ~ That's fantastic news about the containment of your bc and also the PARP trial!  I will, of course, be praying that you get in it, and that it works like a charm on your remaining areas of bc.   

Hope everyone else is status quo or better and enjoying the holiday season and activities ~  Deanna

Corinne, I hope you are feeling better and healing up nicely.  I'm sorry you had such a bad time in the hospital. I was in a Methodist hospital for my surgery and it was like a 5 star hotel.  I was very lucky to have it there.  The hospital my Mom was in was like yours, it was awful!

Jeaninne, I'm so glad they stopped the tumor!  I'm praying for you so that they get it all in the surgery and the PARP clears it all away!!  Please keep us updated on this.

Gail, good luck on your upcoming mammo!

Misty, hope your trip was nice.  Hope your mammo is clear, too.

Deanna, hope you are doing well.  So nice to see you on FB!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

Deen

Good morning,

Lisa: I am happy to hear about the clean brain scan. I hope now they can attack those chest nodes.  Good luck to you tomorrow with the new boobies!  I will continue to pray for you.

Tomorrow is my big day all..Having my Dbl Msx. I am so ready! I've been in some pain these past few months. Now underarms are both swollen. Ugh..No tumor in left brst (yet) but bc wants to spread. Yesterday was a great day. Celebrated my DD 77th b-day with the family. They said a special prayer intention in church for me too. Keep those prayers going everyone!

Getting 2nd thoughts on the potential PARP trial. Do you think they'll give me a placebo since I'm getting a Dbl Msx? I need the real stuff.

Corrine: I hope you're recovering nicely with your sis helping you now.  That was terrible the you were treated. I would sure love to meet up w/you and everyone else but I've still got treatment to get through. As soon as I'm done for sure!

I'll post how I'm doing as soon as I'm able to. If I speak to Corrine, I'll have her post an update for me.

Love to all,

Jeannine

Jeannine: We will be praying for you tomorrow all the way from CT all the way to God in heaven. I will pray not only for containment but for a wonderful hospital with nice nurses and a QUICK recovery!!!

Today I went all the way to my dr's office (1 and a 1/2 ) hours away/  I got my bandages off. I was totally amazed at my new girls. Did you know that breasts really don't sag??? At all??? I am REALLY big and yes things are starting to get a little easier. I am now off all pain meds. I walked, in my house and not on the treadmil, for 30 minutes today!! I am cooking supper tonight for the first time since surgery. I still have that loopy brain fog from the anesthesia but I am going to exercise it away!! Got my tree in the stand and will put lights up tonight. It snowed 3 inches this past weekend. It is so beautiful here. I am blessed. I was not able to start my clinical trial for Neratenib.  I will start in January and retake all those tests again. I love you all and continue to pray. Hugs from Connecticut to all!!!!!!!!!!!

Misty: Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful news. One question though, why don't they do the side on the masectomy?  You do have a new girl over there..right???

Jeannine: We are praying and we love you. Hope you are into the recovery stage about now. Hard isn't it?

Lisa: Is your reconstruction today or next week? I am praying for you any ways/

Gail: Thank you. I wish you were there yelling too!!! I may call the state and get them all investigated. What corrupt people to treat anyone that way!!

We are getting 2-5 inches of snow and then sleet and freezing rain...changing to all rain tomorrow. We were able to get the lights on our tree. It is 10 feet tall. Tonight we put up the ornaments!!

Hugs to all

Lisa, I'm glad your tests came out good.  I'm praying for you to get your new ones!

Jeaninne, my prayers are with you now to lose those old boobs and the bad stuff they carry!  This was what you wanted all along.  You have been so brave!

Misty, yeah for great mammo results!

Corinne, I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better. 

Hope everyone stays warm!

Deen

Hi all

I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy holiday. I haven'tbeen on this board recently. I started chemo with you all in August 08. I had so many side effects from chemo while I was getting it including an anaphylactic reaction to Taxotere. The chemo saves our lives but it sure is poison. I am now dealing with joint pain and residual peripheral neuropathy and still some fatigue and problems with memory recall.  I also have developed cataracts from the Tamoxifen and/or steroids I received during chemo. However I am alive and  NED. I still need to finish my reconstructive surgery. I have implants but no nipples and need some side work. My PS suggested that I get one of the implants replaced since I have a capsular constriction but I think I can live with it. I am eating healthy and exercising. Hugs to all of you.

fondly

Agnes

Corinne, wow, the buggy is beautiful! Is it Amish? I'd love a ride when you start taking passengers!!

Jeannine, let us know how you are when you can - thinking of you! So glad you got that done with.

Agnes, so sorry you've had a hard time - thanks for checking in with us.

Misty, next week I'm getting a mammo on both sides, but my mx was just on the left, with implant on right for symmetry like you. Is that standard not to have a mx mammo? Just wondering. So glad to hear your's was clean - YES!

Lisa - also thinking of you - how are things going? 

I had several questions regarding the recent news about eating more soy is NOW better for us against breast cancer reoccurence rather than the warning last few years about NOT eating soy. Also have questions re taking bisphosnates (Foxsamax) and Zometa. My doctors are at the San Antonio BC Symposium and will return with news of all the debates and opinions. Seems things change and it's a full time job seeing what they discover each year.

Love to all, and stay warm everyone!

Gail 

Heard from Jeanine and her computer is messed up but she is home and has her drains. I am so happy she is on the road to recovery!!

I stil have that anesthesia fog.  Does anyone know when it will go away? I have not driven and am really loopy.

We've just returned from the better part of a week in Las Vegas for the NFR (rodeo).  What a difference a year makes!  Last year I could barely climb the stairs at the Thomas & Mack arena, nor keep up with the 24-hr. fun everyone was having.  But this year, except for not liking the smoky casinos after awhile, it was so much more fun.  And I have to tell you, after everything I've been through, just hanging out with family & friends I only see this week each year was sweeter than ever.  Funny how breast cancer brings life into sharper focus. We also got our Christmas tree and other holiday stuff up last night, and at one point I happily realized that I was a decorating whirlwind compared to last year's lackluster effort. 

Jeannine, I am so happy your mast is behind you, and I'm praying that this will be the turning point you needed!!  And shopping on-line sounds good to me -- much better than fighting the crowds and traffic.

Corinne, it sounds like you're recovering well, and I'm so happy that you're happy with the results!  But I can't believe what a crappy hospital experience you had!  I think a complaint letter to the hospital administrator would certainly be in order.  It might save someone else from a similar experience.  And I love your new buggy!  That is so cool!  I also wondered if it's Amish-made.

Gail, we must get together!  I'll call you this week.

Congrats on the clean mammo, Misty.  I have my 6-month mammo & u/s tomorrow, and I know they'll do both sides -- mast/Diep recon side (which they did last time) and recently lifted right one.  Just hoping nothing requires additional views, as I'm not happy about getting so much radiation.  But I know we have to do it.  I also have a 12/21 app't. with my PS for a nipple, but am kind of re-thinking doing it just yet, and may postpone it until January of February because my lifted breast may still be just a tad bit swollen, and I'd hate to come this far and end up with nipples that don't quite match because of not wanting to roll over into a new year/ins. deductible! 

Hello to everyone else, including Agnes!      Deanna

Great news....Last night I was over the loopy anesthesia feeling!!! I was thinkin that perhaps I had brain damage or something!!! It has almost been 3 weeks since surgery and I am sore and cannot wait till those drains come out. I believe that one will come out tomorrow. Also great news, my lymphadema that I had post mx is now gone due to the surgery. Also, my voice is not cracking anymore since surgery due to the chemo. Well, God is so wonderful. I sang a solo in church for the first time in over a year. My voice is back.

Jeannine: How happy I am that it is all over and you are on your way to recovery.  Be careful about shopping on line...I was kind of loopy last week and ordered so much that I almost doubled my shopping limit!! Now that I am back to earth I am going to have to take a closer look as to what I did.Ugh!!!