Starting Chemo Aug 09

Lilah...Excellent tip.  Thank you.  Somehow Victoria's Secret and BC just don't go naturally together, but hey...if they've got something that works I'll take it!

Patty

When I go to England next week, I am going to a proper bra shop with my sister. She was having backache and her husband said why don't you go get measured properly, having read that most women wear the wrong size bra. She is so pleased with the results so I'm going too. It is something I can't do in our tiny town here. We have a Macy's which claims to fit bras, but when you look, that section is manned by perky little young things who don't look like they have a clue. (Probably some girl who went to high school with one of my boys!)

Gilly -- have a wonderful trip!  I love England.  And it seems far more suitable that you be fitted by a proper British lady who know what she is doing.

Lilah

Thanks Lilah, I will check it out.

Thanks Marrhea - for all I know my doctor did it and didn't tell me lol.  I did get blood drawn recently while I was in for my Herceptin (since I have a port it's not a big deal).  They told me they were checking my Vitamin D but who knows maybe they did run other checks.  I'll ask my ONC when I see her in March.

Here's to all of us getting our mojo back!

Lilah

Is that something that is done for ER+ or PR+ cancers, Weety?  I totally don't think I had any specific cancer blood tests... but being negative on ER and PR that has meant not having certain tests (like the Oncotype, for example). 

Thanks,

Lilah

Lilah - The way I understand it, there are blood tests which evaluate certain blood "markers" that are associated with tumors (of any kind).   I don't think it matters about the hormone receptivity, it is more of a screening test to see if further evaluation needs to be done.  From what I've read, these tests can be useful, but can't be used as a single measure to determine whether you have cancer or not since elevated results can be due to a variety of things that are unassociated with cancer.   My Onc never ordered any scans or tests for me because, as he put it:  "We fish where we think there are fish and we don't have any reason to believe your cancer has spread outside of what we already know"

Patty 

Lilah, the tumor marker test is just as msmpatty described it.  Some oncs use it, others don't.  The problem is that it has both false negatives and false positives.  THe one they use for breast cancer is called CA27.29.  My onc follows mine every 3 months.  I only know about it because I always (ALWAYS) go and pick up all my blood work without waiting for my appts.  THe results of this test is blocked from the normal website that gives routine lab work, but when I go to the medical records office, they have to release any records that you request, and this is one that I found out is on there.  The "number" on the test isn't as important as is the trend.  If the results started creeping up, then more tests/bloodwork might be in order.  It is only one indicator of cancer growing, but not always accurate.  Look around this website a bit and you will find lots of anxiety-ridden patients asking questions about their tumor marker results.

Hello ladies, just thought I would stop in and complain about how I'm feeling. I went from feeling great after chemo and again after rads to feeling lightheaded all the time. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing this too. It happens about 15 minutes after I wake up and last all day. I think maybe this could be a chemopause side effect I am also very tired. I have been without my period for almost 6 months now and the hot flashes at night are getting worse. I also have read that the lightheadedness could be from anxiety??? All I know is it kinda freaks me out since my moms breast cancer went from her breast to her brain 6 years later. Although I have no headaches like she did and if I remember correctly I complained about being lightheaded last year right before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I always assumed it was sinus related and even occasionaly take sinus pills to relieve it and think it works sometimes. Or it could be getting more constant because all I do is think about it all day!  I think in reality I probly don't have a huge tumor in my brain because I'm not affected while laying down and you would think if it were I would be affected all the time no matter what position I'm in......oh my can you say anxiety! {{{HUGS}}} Donna

I've had some dizziness that at first I chalked up to my herceptin, but now during radiation I am on a herceptin break and the dizziness is still there.  I've considered all brain tumor possibilities as well (I HATE CANCER) but when I think about it realistically, I think it might be the whole chemo-pause thing and the lack of hormones (and also I'm sure the anxiety doesn't help).  I think I remember reading somewhere that women with low estrogen going through menopause can feel foggy and dizzy at times.  I wish I knew for sure, too, though because I make myself sick worrying about every little thing like this!

Donna and Weety - I agree with the others.   Light headedness could be due to so many things.  Maybe a visit to your GP for a general check up?

Jenn - Thanks for the information on what you are using during radiation.   I'm also using the Miaderm, which people rave about.  I'm avoiding Lubriderm.   Although it works great I had an allergic reaction to it while on Taxol.  I got angry red spots on my legs and arms which disappeared when I changed to Aveeno.  I have used Aquaphor in addition to the Miaderm but I don't know if either are working because I've only just finished my first five TXs.   My rad Onc assured me this morning that the skin reaction gets worse over the course of treatment...so we just have to keep lubbing up and trying new stuff as the skin gets worse.  Glad the cortisone cream gave you some relief!

Patty

Jenn -- you're such a sweety to ask after me!  (And so glad the creams and hydrocortizone are working)!  I've been quiet because a lot of the chat has been about radiation (about which I know nothing)... and at the moment I'm also without internet or tv service!  WE got over a foot of snow yesterday and today (ANOTHER FOOT on top of the one we already had) and my internet service has been out since last night. Im going through withdrawal!  I am sitting at a Starbucks now getting my fix (caffeine AND internet lol).  I am feeling GOOD except for the lack of internet which is driving me crazy!

Lilah

Patty -- aw sorry I didn't mean to sound like I feel left out!  I just wanted to explain why I wasn't commenting.  It's fine with me, really, to be left out of that convo.

And good news!  My internet and tv are finally BACK!  Almost two days later I am back in my favorite spot: in front of the TV with laptop in my lap   I felt SO deprived!

Except for the snow it's been nice here though... so it's all melting pretty fast.  My BF and I went to see a movie called THE LAST STATION today, about Tolstoy's last days, it was lovely!  And then we came home to restoration of service

Lilah