Starting Chemo October 2009
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Jojo, you have to do your last...you made it so far and after all...you are our Princess and you can do anything you set your mind to..go kick ass...
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Thanks Michele for wrapping up that so nicely - yes we have come a long way and some us still have a ways to go.
As for the wigs I mostly wear my custom made one - I can wear it for long periods of time and in a strong wind or head shake it will not come off. I do still wear the short Uma Thurman one too as it's good in the rain - all synthetic and water spills off it like a duck! I will be donating the other wigs when I go to the Cancer Agency next.
JoJo - I have my last chemo (#6) tomorrow afternoon. I am not looking forward to it but I will go through with it. I feel that I must do everything I can to get rid of this beast and get on with my life. Someone once told me that this "journey" (and I say that with sarcasm) will take a year out of my life but that after this I will have many years to enjoy.
FEC has been rough on me too - you should see my right arm it still bears the scar of a burned/mangled vein which I'm told may take years to heal if it does at all. I have been sick all but 2 TX (#2 & #3). I fully expect to be wretching and nauseaus tomorrow night but then that's it - no more chemo!
Today I met with my ONC to confirm last chemo tomorrow and ask his advice on RADS. He confirmed tomorrow will be the last and then I will see him again in 4 weeks for follow up. Regarding RADS he reviewed my pathology report and then said "do it" - it seems that my nasty node did not hold all the cancer and there was "spillage" into surrounding tissue so in my case both my chest and underarm will be radiated and hopefully that will be the end of it.
Decision made....I will start RADS the first week of March and will undergo 28 treatments of low dose radiation. That's 5 1/2 weeks vs 3 1/2 which I'm told will be easier on my skin and tissue in prep for recon.
I was given a RX for Tamoxifen as well but the RAD ONC doesn't want me taking anything during my RADIATION therapy so I won't be starting that until mid April.
Well that's it for me - I'm in Starbucks writing this while I wait for my son to finish his soccer practice!
Have a good week ladies - get lots of rest and take care of yourselves!
Hugs to all,
Marie
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Dear MarieK
What a lovely idea to donate your spare wigs. I will do the same keeping just 1 which hopefully I won't need after 4-5 months. Today is 15 days after my last chemo and my wedding anniversary! Time to look back a bit.
Lots of love to all my October sisters. -
I can relate to the desire to skip the last chemo. I've definitely considered it seriously. It's getting harder and harder to motivate myself to get going. But, like y'all, I want to throw everything I can at this thing, and I would feel awful if I had a recurrance. So, I suppose I will bite the bullet and do it. Ugh.
I've been invited by the head of my master's program to a luncheon today, and I'm stressing out over what to wear on my head! I don't really want to wear my wig (isn't that strange?), but I don't have any hats or scarves that will match the dress I'm wearing. Am I brave enough to go topless to this big fancy luncheon with people I don't know? I'm not sure. I'll probably end up going out to find a scarf or hat that I can wear. I'm tired of having to think about my head!!!
Good luck to my sisters with tx this week. I'm thinking positive, healthy thoughts for you all!
Peace,
Shelby
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I know what you mean Shelby. I hope to start back at work in a few weeks and I am wondering what to wear there...I have gone topless for so long here at home and even in public. But I don't want to scare away the customers in the store where I work. I also want my coworkers to feel comfortable as well. I know wearing a wig all day would drive me nuts.
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Michele that was such a touching email. Yes we have all come a really long way. For those of you ladies at the end of your treatment. Please hang on! You can do this. We are cheering you on. My last treatment I suffered from severe bone and joint pain....but I went through with it anyway. No regrets. If I ever get BC again I can honestly say I did all I can to fight it the first time.
Mystery lady huh. I am just so not computer savvy enough to post a pic. I am an african american woman who most people think I am hispanic as I have a very fair complexion. That is because my birth mom is Austrian and birth father is African. My adopted parents are african american. I am overweight...ugh....not for long. I used to have beautiful long hair, now I just have wigs like everyone else here. Hope that solves some of the mystery.
JoJo- I can not tell you what to do as it has to be your decision. I however can give you an opinion. Finish it and be done with it. You have come too far to quit. If you have major medical reasons and the onc wants you to stop that is one thing. Please think long and hard. You never want to have regrets. We will be here to support you no matter what your decision.
Marie- glad to hear you have decided to do rads. I think it is better to be safe than sorry.
Well I met with the trial nurse at my dr office. Turned in my paperwork. Got my labwork done for pregnancy and kidney test. I should know in a couple of days which arm I am in for the biphosphonates trial. She said they are having much success with both arms. So I am ready to get started. I really like my trial nurse.
Cording is getting better still. I might ask for a referral to a PT that specializes in lymphedema and cording.
Tomorrow I have my BRCA gentic test. I also have my meeting with rad onc on Friday.
Anita
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To wig or not to wig, that is the question. I too find it hard to wear the wig for long periods of time. But I know it looks better on me than any of the caps or scarves I wear. And I've never gone "topless" outside the house.
MarieK: you have a long break before rads -- that's about six weeks off, right? I finish chemo on Feb 1 and was hoping to start rads by at least the late Feb or beginning of March. Does that seem too soon? I haven't met with the radiation oncologist yet. She doesn't want to see me until I finish my chemo. Good for you going six rounds of FEC. I had four rounds of AC, which is similar and I found it very tough. I'm now doing CMF, which is easier.
Micheleboots: Thanks for all the shout-outs. I think you have me a little confused with MarieK. MarieK is the one with the great wig collection. I just have one sad little wig that looks like a dead animal on top of my head if I don't brush it carefully
. You flatter me thinking that I might be a nurse of doctor. Afraid no. I did teach high-school biology for ten years before moving to the US and spent longer than most of you and probably got more opinions before deciding on both surgery and chemotherapy. I questioned everything and did a lot of reading and research. I knew nothing about breast cancer prior to this. I just never thought it would happen to me. You are right that we have come such a long way as a group. The last few months have felt like I've been climbing a steep mountain, with my feet sliding on the scree, but then I find I'm not alone. There is always someone in front to encourage me, or someone at my side going through the same thing or someone behind who I can share my experience with. And when I reach the top, I know there will be a lush green valley down below. JoJo: you mentioned some ladies we haven't heard from in a while. At the beginning of the month after reviewing the opening post, I noticed a lot of people hadn't updated in a long time. I PM'd all of them but only heard back from one. I think some of them just don't check breastcancer.org anymore. I hope they are doing OK. I PM's Meredith today as she was always such a frequent poster, but her last post was mid-December. I hope she's doing alright
I thought that I would meet more people when I went for chemo sessions but beyond exchanging a few pleasantries, it's hard to connect with anyone there. Most people bring someone along with them to the chemo session, so there doesn't tend to be much general conversation. Also there's the distance between the chemo chairs and different patients every time I go. Also, many people do not talk freely about their diagnosis or treatment. Not like here, where there are no hold barred ... everything including the poopy fairy are open for discussion.
I had #5 yesterday (just one more to go!) and feeling good so far, apart from facial flushing from the steroid. I have to do for my Neulasta shot this afternoon and know to expect 3-4 nasty days between the steroid crash w accompanying weepies and the pain from the Nuelasta.
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Anita: does insurance cover the BRCA test?
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MaryNY - yes it will be 6 weeks before I do my RADs. The RAD ONC told me I would have to wait 3-4 weeks after chemo before starting to give my body a bit of a break and time to heal.
BUT we are having the Olympics here Feb 12 - 28(?) and travelling around town will be a very stressful due to restricted/closed streets not to mention lack of parking so I asked if I could postpone until after the Olympics. He agreed and said that the standard is anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks post chemo.
I also want to get my Palm Springs vacation in during that time!
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Anita, now I can picture you...you are a beautiful lady.
Marie, Palm Springs....take me with you. I can't wait until summer is here. I could use a vacation right about now.
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Thanks Michele you are too kind!
MaryNY - Yes my HMO does cover the BRCA testing. I am really happy about that.
You know Mary said something really interesting. I was another person that never thought BC would happen to me. In fact, I remember there was a show on Oprah about BC and I was argh I dont need to watch this. That is the funniest thing to me now. I didnt see this coming in no shape or form. I tell women I know...get checked, do breast exams. I let them know that like them I thought it would never happen to me.
Anita
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I now have a face
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CAtharsis, you look like my second grade teacher Mrs. Salmon. That was 35 years ago so you probably don't look like her anymore. lol Nice to see your face. Nice to have a little background on you too Anita. I guess I thought you looked like Scoobydoo. I know, my mind isn't always quite right. Hope everyone's doing good today.
Dee
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Mary my ins also covered BRCA test. Are you having issues getting them to agree?
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anita, I never thought I would have bc either. It was never on my mind. I have always been very healthy, hardly every getting sick with colds or flu. No history of bc in my family, except my mother and her mother died young. My mother did have an identical twin who lived to be 85, no bc there either. Thanks for describing yourself, I can at least try to picture you now.
CAtharsis, and a beautiful face you have. Good to see you.
Marie, I will go with you also. I have never been there and I am sure we would all have a great time.
MaryNY, you give me this mental image of you wearing your wig. I sort of picture it now like a coon skin hat with a tail and all. lol I am sure that it doesn't look like that, but that is the image.
Shelby, hope you finally settled on something to wear on your head. I have not been brave enough to go out in public bald, so I know what you mean. I am sure you were beautiful no matter what you had on your head.
michele, thanks again for the stroll down memory lane. I think we are all beginning to reflect on the future, what other treatments, surgery etc that may be needed.
I could not have made it this far without all of you. It would have been a very lonely journey.
Good evening to Onty, JoJo and Dee, hope all is going well.
Juannelle
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Hello Ladies!
I am DONE with chemo (another smiley please Mary when you get a chance). Feeling pretty good right now especially since they pulled my PICC line - my skin is tingling from the adhesive and the alcohol wash but so far so good!
Now it's on to the next stage - I have been advised not to take my Tamoxifen until AFTER the radiation therapy is finished so a bit of a reprieve until April.
I will be doing Zometa starting ASAP - anyone else? I must do some research on this and find out the SEs and the benefits.
Well I've got to go find my drug checklist and start my home meds...
Have a good night and I'll check in with you all tomorrow!
Hugs!
Marie
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Marie CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
JO JO _ Go for it all. You can do it. You have come this far and you can get through one more.
Mary NY I to a support group for breast cancer and it has been really wonderful. THe woman are at all stages of the process. Some are newly diagnosed, some are in the middle of all this and others are post cancer and are doing great. We support one another no matter what. I started going about a 6 weeks ago. If there are support groups in your area try it. I thought I it wouldn't be for me, but it has been a great source of comfort. I also like supporting others as well. Between this group and the support group I have had excellent help.
To all getting treatment wishing you minimal SE's
Lainie
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Marie,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
Welcome to the other side. -
Marie, it is a great feeling to be through with chemo isn't it? Glad you are finished and got that PICC line out. No more rashes or pain for you. Now on to the take adventure.
Juannelle
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Hey All,
Last time I posted, it was the night before my 5th (of 6 TAC) treatment. I was very depressed and bitching and whining about not wanting to go. Well, now it is the night before my LAST treatment, and my feelings are about just about the total opposite. I know the next couple of weeks are going to suck, but when they are over, I will be on the way to getting my life back! I still have radiation and Tamoxifen to look forward to, but it feels so good to be almost done with chemo.
Thank you all for the months of posting your experiences. It has helped more than you know. On days when I felt like I couldn't see the end of the tunnel, I could come here and read about other women that were feeling the same. I am sure there are many like me that haven't posted much, but come here every day or so to follow along with you all.
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Congratulations Marie!
Anita/Onty: About the BRCA test. My onc suggested I get the test a while back. There is no history of breast cancer in my family so I think it's probably just something she suggests to all patients. I didn't check with insurance company about it as I don't want to get so many tests that they somehow try to get rid of me. I lost my job last Feb and have been on COBRA since then, but the plan is administered through my old employer. They tell me that they will be switching to another provider in Feb, so maybe I should do the BRCA test now in case the new provider doesn't cover it. I probably shouldn't be worried about this one test pushing them over the edge, since they've paid up for so many consultations, tests and treatments already. It's just that the BRCA test is not a necessity. They did refuse to pay for my oncotype test.
Lainieo: in the beginning I wasn't ready to join a support group as I felt I would get too emotional. There is one near me and now feel ready to join but they just meet once a month on Mondays and I usually have my treatment that day.
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Maryk88: Good luck tomorrow!
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A few posts ago, there was mention of the different cycles of treatment. I do have an answer for that as my onc discussed it with me the last time I was there. The reason for the discussion was we changed my medication mid way through because of an allergic reaction. My onc explained that the AC that I am now on is an older medication and when the trails were done on it the standard was 4 cycles. When the trials for TC (my original treatment) were done the standard was 6 cycles. Obviously, it is up to the onc to decide but that is why AC is usually 4 cycles and TC is usually 6.
Also a few days ago we discussed lymphadema. My rad onc sent me early to a PT to help prevent/control the development of lymphadema. The PT showed me some execises to help redirect the flow of lymph to the other side - basically lightly pulling on certain areas of my skin to encourage the flow to the other side. Also the PT showed me how to wrap my arm should there be any swelling. The PT suggested I wrap my arm or wear a lymphadema sleeve if I were to fly. Also recently an article was published in the American Journal of Medicine indicating that previous suggestions to avoid exercise with the effected arm were unfounded and light exercise with weights actually helped move fluid from the arm and should be encouraged.
I'm going to submit this now as it is the 2nd time I've typed all this and I don't want to lose it again!
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One thing I love about this board is that we have connected with each other. It is wonderful that we have such feelings for people we have never seen. I know I am not as frequent a poster as others, but I definately feel that all of you are willing to listen to me whine and consider my thoughts; even when I am quite opinionated! THANK YOU ALL
I am trying to decide if I am exicted or nervous tonight as I face my FINAL chemo treatment tomorrow. The last one didn't seem to have as many side effects as the previous ones and I am wondering if the crazy work schedule I have had lately just distracted me so I didn't notice. I am kind of afraid that this last one will be one of the hard ones. Then again, maybe it won't be and I can just get beyond this!
Big hugs my sisters!
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Congratulations Marie and Snuziq! I love seeing the final smilies adding up.
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Catharsis, good to see you have a face..and a pretty one at that...btw love the hat...too cute.
Marie, way to go...you did it..I can't wait to get out my PICC next week at my last treatment...It will be so nice to scrub that arm real good.
Lainie, I wish there was support group close to me..the nearest is farther than I wish to drive..It would be nice to meet others who have gone through this. This group has been so good, I imagine face to face would be nice as well.
Maryk, good luck tomorrow..I am glad that even though you didn't post often here, that at least you were able to read everything and feel part of the group..we sure do have a lot to say, don't we..
Snuziq, good luck tomorrow as well..just think this time tomorrow you will be done with chemo...yahoo.
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I was thinking that we should start a new thread for us gals ending chemo and moving on to radiation/meds/life..I don't know much about starting one, so if anyone wants to do this go wild...I would jump in..
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Ok, I better go to bed now, it is getting late and I am running out of things to say...
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I finished my LAST treatment on Monday. I campaigned to get out of the hospital early (yesterday) and I don't feel the greatest. But, I'M DONE!! Yay! I'm supposed to be getting a prophylactic mastectomy of the other breast in about a month. Will see a radiation oncologist but everybody tells me I can't have radiation because I have lupus. I'm so excited to be done and can't wait until everyone else on this board can join me in this phase!
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I love seeing all those posts that people are finishing up chemo! Gives me hope - I have another week to go before my last chemo. Almost too good to be true. I called my surgeon yesterday for a referral to a rad onc, but I haven't heard back yet. I'm also going to get a referral from my onc, and I'll see both of them then make a decision about rads. I'm sure I'll go through with it, just have to see what they recommend.
I ended up going shopping for (yet another) hat yesterday, and found a really cute pink crocheted hat that matched the sash on my dress perfectly. The luncheon was great, there was a fashion show too which I've never been to before. And the ladies at my table gave me the flower centerpiece to take home
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