Starting Chemo Aug 09

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited December 2009

    Aw Jenn hope you get to go out and see some lights!  What fun. 

    Back from my first fill and it was no sweat.  Phew!  Hope that continues.  Am just taking advil prophylactically.  I do have occasionally soreness at this point and occasional sharp (but very brief) pains that I believe are nerves coming back to life... but all in all I have to describe it all as slightly uncomfortable; nothing compared to Taxol pain! 

    xo

    Lilah

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    Thanks Reni........... It felt good to wake up and know that this week I DO NOT have to go to the dr or to chemo.  Whoo Hoo.......

    Lilah  - so glad the fill didn't hurt.......... keep it up!

    I finished baking  and cleaning today - don't know how I did it, as Monday's are my worst days.  But.......... it's done.   Whew.............. 

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited December 2009

    Jenn -- WAHHOOOOOOOO!!!!! on not having to see the doctor or go to Chemo :)  Feels good doesn't it?

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    I think I'm going to pay for the work I did yesterday, I am sooooooo sore and achy, but it's Christmas and I wanted to get it done.  Because I have to take medication for the pain today, I can't drive so DD will be my taxi for the day.  I am heading to the office to bring some gifts and baked goods, then try to convince my DD to bring me to World Market.  She made the mistake of getting into Mall traffic yesterday and may not want to go anywhere near a store even if it's not near the malls. 

    Lilah - It does feel great!!!!  I'm feeling much better emotionally this week than last week.  Last week I had a little bit of a lost feeling emotionally, this week just feels good.  I'm also planning on going back to work the first of the year, which I am so looking forward to.  How are you feeling?

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited December 2009

    Hi Everybody!

    Good News on my PET scan.  My lymph node was a 1.5 and as long as it was below a 2.5 it is considered benign.  I am not sure of the PET scan lingo I just know it was good news. 

    Thanks to all for being so supportive.  What a crazy ride we are on.

    Navy

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited December 2009

    It is so nice to hear how everyone is getting ready for Christmas and not too much about feeling ill.  This probably won't be our most elaborate Christmases ever, but simple is good too! 

    Patty

      

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited December 2009

    NavyMom -- woo hoo!!!  Great news on your report :)

    I had a good report today as well: my breast tissue showed NO CANCER!  What was left after the two lumpectomies, as it turned out, was ALL benign.  Who knew?  Sad to lose the breast to find this out but the alternative would have been a lifetime of worrying and wondering.  So I am celebrating!

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited December 2009

    Great News Lilah!  Celebrate indeed.

    Navy

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  • YoYo44
    YoYo44 Member Posts: 203
    edited December 2009

    Great news Lilah and NavyMom.  Glad you got some good news for Christmas!

     Take care.  Yo

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    Good morning - Well, we are just days away from Christmas and............ I'm done, presents wrapped, house cleaned and baked goods completed.  Whoo Hoo............. Today I asked my cousin to let her kids come spend some time over here.  I had a few Christmas crafts to do with them, put on a movie and just hang out. Give her a break and let me spend time with them. Then my friend is coming by for lunch. 

    Lilah / Navy Mom - GREAT NEWS!!!

    Patty - My Christmas is scaled back A LOT, but I have a feeling that I'm actually going to enjoy more.............. It's been nice knowing I don't have to prepare for the big feast and that I won't have company late into the day. I love my family and will see them all by the end of this weekend, but this scaled back thing is nice.................I'm having a small brunch with my DH, DD's, Mom & Sister and that's it.................we may even take in an afternoon show.  Simplier is sounding better......... you'll have a wonderful Christmas!

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited December 2009

    Lilah...excellent news!   The best Christmas gift ever!

    I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

    Patty

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  • lindal52809
    lindal52809 Member Posts: 25
    edited December 2009

    Hello Everyone,

    I just stopped in to say I wish you All - Happy Holidays and 

    I hope all of us have a Healthier New Year.

    Be Well,

    Linda

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    It's Christmas Eve................. I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited December 2009

    Happy Christmas and a Joyous New Year to All!

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • Karen09
    Karen09 Member Posts: 320
    edited December 2009

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!  I hope everyone feels as good as possible and gets to enjoy some relaxing time with all their loved ones!  xoxo

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE................................. (((HUGS))) to all!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    I haven't had time to check in and it looks like everyone else has been pretty busy too.  We had a great Christmas and now getting ready for New Year's Eve.  Not that we do a big party, but it's my oldest daughter's birthday so we do something for her early evening so that she can go out with her friends that night.  More than likely go to dinner, then come to the house for cake and ice cream.  Today we'll be watching the Saints v Bucs game.................... hoping for a big win so that we can have home field advantage for the playoffs.

    Have a great day!!!

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  • lindal52809
    lindal52809 Member Posts: 25
    edited December 2009

    Hello Everyone,  

    I am happy that the holiday is over, because it's just too much all crammed into a short time for our familys.  That and the fact that I still don't feel like my old self yet. 

    I'm still waiting for my New Normal, and I thought that after my last chemo, It would happen just like that.  How untrue this is. Sadly.    

    Tomorrow, I go to get my Port removed. This is a good thing.

    Then to the Dentist in 2 weeks.  My teeth are VERY sensitive right now. and it's hard to eat or drink anything, especially cold or crunchy stuff.  Ever have a bite of warm salad???  Yuck 

    Now I have the swelling in my ankles, and I've read that this can be a side effect. Unfortunately I've read other stuff, that I don't want to know. I'm not sleeping well at all, trying not to worry about it, but that's all I'm doing.

    It's been 4 weeks since my last treatment, I woke up about a week and a half ago, with and my hand and arm swollen. It was the day after my last scheduled physical therapy, and since I had to go for labs 2 days later, I thought I'd let it go and see what the nurse said about it.  Of course the swelling went down, but not completely.  The nurse said to give it a bit. and see how it goes, and that I could call my therapist and have her look at it.  Well I did call my therapist, and she said pretty much the same thing.  Give it some time first. 

    Well I know I overdid it the following several days,  what with shopping and baking cookies, and all the normal getting ready for the holiday, that the next thing you know,  my ankles are swollen. 

    So...no one is going to be able to tell me anything, with christmas a few days away.  So I waited.

    Every day over the 4 day weekend, they were fine when I woke up, but by the end of the day, they were swollen again.  

    Has anyone else had anything like this happen to you?  Is it just side affects after chemo? or what?  I had surgery back in May.  My bone scan back then showed arthritis in my feet, and they did bother me for years, when I was on my them too much.   

    I plan to wait for my doctor appt in Feb, but I was curious if anyone else had this problem.  

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    Hey Linda - I just finished chemo on the 18th and I think it'll take a while for us to find our new normal.  We've spent so much time focusing and learning about our BC, getting better, dealing with SE's that our survival instinct mode and the emotional side hasn't had time to catch up and help us to find our new normal.  I think somewhere in there our old lives will come back, but with a new outlook and some changes, but like everything it takes time. 

    As for the lingering SE's, I'm still dealing with that, but I've been told it does take several weeks or months for the chemo to work it's way out of your system. I'm dealing with neuropathy issues.  However, I would call the onc just to be sure the swollen ankles aren't something that should be checked before February.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited December 2009

    Linda - sorry to hear about the swelling.   I really don't have any advice, I'm afraid, but I agree with Jenn that maybe it should be checked out before February.

    Jenn - It must feel nice to have one week of being done...done.   I hope your neuropathy resolves quickly.  I've been very lucky on the Taxol.   No pain, very little numbness that went away after my Onc reduced my dose by 20%.   Funny thing about that reduction...I was surprised that he dropped it so readily the first time I complained about the finger tingling and numbness.  Well, I learned last week that he started me at a dose about 20% higher than the protocol calls for.  So the reduction got me back to the protocol level.   Tricky!   

    Happy New Year!

    Patty

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    Good morning -  yesterday I did my EKG and Echocardiogram and will do bloodwork this morning, then visit with my onc for a follow up.  My neuropathy is still there and somewhat painful so I am going to talk to him about that. 

    Patty - glad to hear your treatments are going well......Keep it up!!!

    Have a great day!!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    Went to the onc today for a follow up, all of my test look good.  He said I won't see him again until I finish radiation.  Then he went on to say that the highest recurrance rate will happen in the next five years, blah, blah, blah and that emotionally I may feel overwhelmed and worried with every ache and pain, but it's normal to feel that way.  If there is something to be concerned about he'll run test, otherwise he'll be there to reassure me I'm okay, blah, blah, blah.   I like my onc, I really do, but his personality is so dry..................  I did have a small breakdown, but it was because I'm tired of dealing with neuropathy pain.  He reassured me that it will get better and not to expect changes from day to day, but week to week.  And......it should get better in the next few weeks.   Next step, remove port, then onto radiation.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!!!

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  • Karen09
    Karen09 Member Posts: 320
    edited December 2009

    Happy New Year everyone!!!!!   What a year!  I hope you all have a safe and fun night whatever you decide to do.  I have a friend staying with me right now and we're going to have some snacks and watch some movies here at home. 

    ,,,,,,and my news - I had my last chemo this morning!!!  :)   I have mixed feelings like you ladies did, happy it's over but afraid for the future.  I was asked to consider being part of a drug trial for three years after the chemo.  I didn't expect to be asked so this was a nice surprise yesterday.  I'll probably do it since I'm triple negative and after radiation, there isn't anything else available for me.

    Hugs to you Jenn!  I hope the pain eases soon!

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited December 2009

    Karen...Congrats on finishing chemo.  Please tell me more about the drug trial.  I am triple negative too.

    Happy New year everyone.  Cheers to a better year in 2010

    Navy

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  • YoYo44
    YoYo44 Member Posts: 203
    edited December 2009

    Karen, what a great way to end the year, to be done with chemo.  Enjoy.

     Jenn, Hang in there.  I know what you mean about dry messages from docs.  Good luck with the radiation.

    Have a great New years's celebration everyone and Health and Happiness for 2010!

    Yo

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  • Karen09
    Karen09 Member Posts: 320
    edited January 2010

    Thanks ladies! 

    The drug trial is for bisphosphonates.  I'd either get zometa or clodronate.  I think my oncologist said the study is only being done in England and a couple parts of Canada right now.  Her clinical trial nurse told me that for the breast cancer patients that don't want to be a part of the study, the oncologist is prescribing them the Zometa for the three years anyway because she has a lot of faith in what she's read about it so far.  I think they are hoping the meds will decrease the rates of mets in bone.  I'm going to have to do some more reading before I decide for sure but it is sounding good. 

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited January 2010

    karen09, there are several threads on this site that are following women on this trial--Look them up as they are full of information!  I spent several days reading through all of it.  In the end, my onc was one who agreed to give me the zometa "off-label" so I decided to do it that way instead of enrolling in a trial.

     Here's to a happy and HEALTHY New Year for all of us.  Let's hope our worries and hardships of 2009 are OVER!

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  • Kayel
    Kayel Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2010

    Here is to a Happy and Healthy 2010 for each of us!!  It is great to have the support of each of you and the sharing that is found here while we fight the good fight.  I am so happy for each of you that has finished chemo and hope that you get back to feeling "normal" as soon as possible.  For everyone that still has treatment left to go hang in there.  I had my next to last taxol today so next Thursday should be last chemo.  I will start radiation the 1st week in Feb.

    Take care and enjoy the weekend.  I am heading to bed.  I tapped Dick Clark so we can watch it tomorrow and celebrate!

    Kaye

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited January 2010

    I am TN and asked about the trial you're in Karen - was told that my facility isn't a part of the trial. However, I did not think to ask the onc for Zometa anyway-good idea Weety.  I think I'll ask when I see him in March after my radiation. 

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