Starting Chemo Feb 2010?

I'm 37, faithful

i've always been very curious about everyone's ages.  thanks faithful for thinking to ask! 

i'm 34 (don't mind it posted).  no history of bc in my family, i'm on the petite side so weight and diet weren't issues and i was somewhat active (didn't exercise but walked everywhere all the time) so it was a real shocker when i got the diagnosis.  i've opted to have gene testing done.  should have the results in 2-3 weeks.  anyone else doing this?

hair is about 65% gone but no patches so far.  got my free wrap from france-luxe's good wishes program today - just in time.  it is lovely.  thanks to the person that posted the tip.

going for TH #4 tomorrow.  hope everyone is having a good week.

~ cathy

hi margaret,

i'm on weekly taxol & herceptin.  so far, the SE's have been mild but i've gotten muscle cramps in the hip & legs (week 1), some acne (week 2) & fatigue (usually on days 2-4) and my hair has shed about 60%.  most of the hair loss started in week 3.  before it came off, my scalp was very itchy.  i've been exercising more, eating better and juicing like crazy but it didn't stop the SE's.  hope you keep faring well!

Mofend - I would love to go to Philly in October.

kshep  - you will love NYC, so much to do, and so little time, if you want some suggestions, just let me know.

faithfulc- I'm 57, the exact age that my Mother was when she was diagnosed.

I was wondering how everyone discovered that they had the big C?  Did a mammogram find it?  Because of my family history I had mammograms every year, but I was the one that found it.  My nipple started to invert, after a few months I thought this can't be good, saw the MD, got a mammogram and well here I am.

Hoping everyone is having little or no side effects.

Hello,

Thanks, Roso88, I am hoping to at least stay more active and help my overall

well being.  I expect the side effects to show up some time also.  I am drinking lots

of water and I like your idea of using bay leves in the boiling water.  Grazie47,  my

bc was found with a mamo, 2005.  Then I had a local recurrence in 2008, found by a

bone scan.  This recurrence, 2010, was found at the onc's office by the onc at a routine

follow-up visit.  I also have family history of bc. 3 sisters, but all had different types of bc,

and all after age 50.

Grazie47, to answer your question, my cancer was found at my very first mammogram last November. I was diagnosed the day before the task force came out with their recs that women don't need mammos until 50. I am 43, only one person with cancer of any kind in my extended family (pancreatic), and my sole risk factor was not breastfeeding the children I didn't have in my 20s. The location of my cancer made it impossible to feel, and the surgeon felt sure that with grade 3, I would have had mets everywhere by the time it was a palpable lump.

It's so weird to hear so many say they never felt healthier--I was the same, both physically and mentally.

Faithfulc, I'm 49. 

My BC was discovered just after my 49th birthday last year. I remember before the diagnosis thinking that I had one more year before turning 50, so I was really going to live it up. Things didn't quite work out that way. Mine was discovered on my first mammogram. I'd been putting off mammograms because as a young woman, I had tons of chest xrays for a lung problem and had been avoiding radiation ever since. Since there was no history of BC in my family (how stupid was I?), I thought I'd be safe waiting until 50.  It was a miracle it showed up on mammo, and it showed up as a teeny tiny thing. No lump was felt by any of my doctors.  I had just been for my yearly physical, and the PA had automatically given me an order for a mammogram.  I only went for the mammogram because my gut was telling me something was wrong. My husband gets a little freaked how my gut feelings seem to be so right-on, says one of my ancestors had to have been a witch. I think he's referring to my mother.  I'm glad I listened to my gut, because I realize just how lucky I am to have found the BC when we did.

Welcome, kpj!   I'm glad you found us!

Have a good one, all!

Cindy

Grazie-  I probably take the cake on stupidity on the discovery issue. I actually felt a lump and ignored it for a few months. I have a history of fibroid tumors, had a hysterectomy and 2 breast fibroids removed. So I thought "ANOTHER fibroid, great"  Because of the fibroid tissue mammograms are so painful I didn't want to do that and get all freaked out again for just another fibroid.  I was so mad at the radiologist and my family dr, just kept saying its just another fibroid...

I don't feel excited about the wig thing either. But I have not gone bare at work, or even at home because its just too darn cold!  I work at a high school and the kids are so sweet and accepting that I am beginning to feel more comfortable about going out in public.

I am 41, ok to post.  Great idea and LOVE all the information sharing!!!  You all are so amazing and I am so thankful to have found all of you!!!

I found my lump in the shower, it was high in the breast, up toward but not in the armpit.  The mamo that followed only showed minor calcifications, but because we could feel something they sent me for the bioposy and here I am!!  No history in my family either (I was tested for the gene and I was negative BRCA1 & 2), both sides of my family live long lives...upper 80's, 90's!

Eyesight, I have noticed too that it isn't as good and have some focusing problems the first couple of days following treatment.  Some crusting at night, Taxotere is the culprit for eye problems.

Chemobrain, I also have a harder time focusing and my short term memory is even worse than it was, so I am trying to write things down more so that I don't forget things.

Scalp, was full of pimples shortly after I was buzzed, now it is dry, but not nearly as itchy as it was...I felt like a dog for a couple of weeks:)

Mofend - Would love to go to Philly, I am only 1 1/2 hours!

Overall health before dx was also very good, I am at the lower end of my weight for height, I exercised somewhat regularly, had stopped the pill years ago, never smoked, I thought my diet was good, but as it turns out it really wasn't as good as I thought.  On the negative side though, I was stressed, I take on too much, I have a hard time saying NO, and I didn't know how to stop the spiral I created!

What I am changing going forward...living every day that I have!  Plus daily exercise, organic fruits/vegies and MORE of them and less meats, organic chicken/beef, less wine on weekends:(, no soy (I ate edemame as a regular snack), Vitamin D supplements and will look into other supplements,  looking for an integrated doctor that will advise me on diet and supplements.  I also need to learn to say NO, even with my dx, I can't seem to control myself!  Really need help with this and I am thinking Yoga, to center and calm myself!!

Well, tomorrow is #3 of 6 TC!!!  Woo Hoo, almost 1/2 way there!!!  We are all making good progress!!!  Here is to tolerable SE's!!!

(((HUGS)))

Leta

Grazie-I (like Verene) accidentally touched my breast and found it.  I had small breasts, and it was in the upper part where there wasn't much "meat."  It was pretty large-although my path report said it was only 1.8cm, it felt more like 3cm.  My mother and grandmother died of breast cancer, and I have 3 aunts that had it and survived-so I had mammograms done every year.  My previous mammo was only a year and a half old and it wasn't detected then, so the lump grew that fast.   And the crappy part was I had the reminder card for the mammo tacked on my refrigerator for 6 months-whoops!

When they did the mammo, I knew something was wrong with the other breast too because they kept taking more and more pictures.  Turns out, there was cancer in that breast also-how weird!  They thought it was DCIS, but the path from the surgery showed it was also IDC.

I wish I could say I was half done, but tomorrow is only number 2 of 8-ugh.  Last time I had only minor side effects, so I'm hoping for that again.  My brother is bringing food over tomorrow night, and a friend is doing  Friday night.  After that, I'll either be able to cook or the husband can actually try his hand at it.  Poor kids!  Who knows what they'll end up with!

I too found my lump.  However, since I was pregnant at the time, the Dr and the Ultrasound tech said it was probably a clogged milk duct.  At that point, in November it was 2 cm.. and they said 98% benign.  In January when I went for my 6 week post delivery and the lump was still there I was sent for another ultrasound.  The lump was now 4 cm.. and had a biopsy 2 days later.. diagnosis the following day.. and a week later CT scan came back with mets to the liver.. SO.. mine is very aggressive thanks to the HER2+...

I am writing now as I am at my 3rd weekly treatment right now getting my chemo.. working my job online, and reading these posts..  My blood work came back and my liver enzyme is showing improvement.. FINALLY some good news.. my lump seems a bit softer but not smaller.. but this is the end of my first cycle.. I get next week off!! 

I too find a lot of strength and encouragement from all of you and reading the various BC boards.  I will get through this with the encouragement I get and the support of my friends and family... Whatever reason is for me to have to go through this at this point in my life I don't know.. but it will and has already changed me and made me stronger than I ever thought I was...

Hello Ladies, here is my update for my first treatment 

Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers for my 1st treatment yesterday.  I took my Dexamethason the day before and ended up with a Hugh headache.  Took my Dex again yesterday along w/Emend and off to the hospital.(Headache still in tow)  Arrive at 8:15am get right into a room and the process starts.  Here is a little bit of info for those of you who haven't started (and remember everyone has different experiences).  No matter that I drank half of a lake in the last 3 days to "pump" my veins it did not help.  The first Nurse tried and blew my vein, so we brought in a 2nd Nurse and an Ultra sound machine to help locate a good vein.  She tried blew the vein, 3rd times a charm right, wrong hit a nerve in my hand and I thought I was going to jump right out of my chair. I was just about ready to loose it and let the tears come but I held my own, also helped having DH and Mom there).  The discussion of a Pic Line was started and explained ( I don't recall reading anywhere here on the boards about a Pic Line) and the decision was made to have it done so that I don't have to go thru this every time. I have very small veins and no amount of water would work for me.  So 45 minutes later, Pic Line in, X-Ray taken to make sure not in my Jugular vein and off we go (again) Hydration bag first followed by Cytoxan, followed by 2 pills, tagamet and benadryl and then Taxotere, all done 7- 1/2 hours later.  Back today to get my Neulasta today.  Over all I feel fine, a little dizzy - light headed - No nausea, and slightly tired.  I was informed that Now I have to drink the water and it's was suggested at least 3 quarts a day.  I'm sorry so long winded just wanted to relay my experience for my first treatment.  Again Thank you all. Stacey

I am 46 now but was diagnosed right before my birthday. It seems there are several of us who got this news then. What's up with that? I have always had fibroids so doing self exams was pointless. In Nov. all the fibroids in both breasts just disappeared. Once I figured this out I did a self exam and found the lump on the left side @ 2 o'clock. I just thought it was a left over fibroid but my husband said get it checked out. I had just moved here so I asked some friends & they all used the same gyn. He examined me & thought it was probably nothing but wanted to check it out anyway so he ordered a mammo & sono. It was pretty fishy that the sono tech asked me to not get dressed while she showed the Dr. to see if he needed anything else. I got the call the next morning to come in for a biopsy. It had been 15 months since my last mammo. After the biopsy on a Monday, I was supposed to get the results back by Wed. When the Dr office did not call, I called them & asked them to call and get the results. I was told that my Dr was out till the following Monday since it was new years holiday and they could not give me any results till he was there. I grumbled a little about having to worry all weekend but said ok. I mentally put it away and was going away for the weekend to the in laws & a big barrel race with my daughter. About 45 minutes later the phone rang and the nurse blurted out that my biopsy came back malignant blah blah blah, thats about all I heard. I felt like I couldn't breath. It took me 3 calls to get the name of it and finally talked her into faxing the path report. Initially she refused to give it to me because the Dr had not seen it yet. That seemed a little late at that point! She faxed it and we all spent the next few hours online trying to figure it out. The report said grade 3/3, which I took as stage 3c, suffice it to say we were freaking out. By the end of the night I turned off the computer, canceled my weekend and wound up spending 3 days in my pj's. By Sat night I actually got dressed and went out to dinner for my 46th birthday. The next day we went to church and things looked up from there. I met with the Dr. on Monday and he was very encouraging, by that time I had already decided not to get treatment here. I believe everything happens for a reason so I know I went through all that to make me stronger and put me in a place where I put my trust in the Lord, no matter what happens.

Sorry for the novel, ha ha. I am coping alot better now. The 'tumah' was 1.3 down here, but after the core freakin biopsy (ouch) & waiting 3 weeks for an appt at MD Anderson it measured 2.5 with calcs to 3.6 in Houston! Oh well. I also had a suspicious node that came back ok with FNA. I decided to do neoadjuvant chemo so I could see it working and shrink it prior to surgery. I have been told a lumpectomy will work but am still deciding. Sometimes I think it might be best to just do a dmx since I'm her2+, grade 3/3, premenopausal, high ki67 blah blah. Any opinions out there either way?

The thing driving me CRAZY is the hot flashes that just started a few days ago. Not fun at all. I did get my period a couple of weeks ago, so it may have been my last.

Mo: I am so up for a trip to Philly and would love to meet all you guys. We need to find a cure for this nasty stuff.

Momo: I am also on the same regime you are, I also get treatment in Houston. Taxol hasn't been too bad. I still have my hair although it started falling out about 10 days ago, slowly. I've had breakouts, neck aches, back aches but not really too much. I have done 5 Taxol with Herceptin and will get my port Monday, finally.

Laura

hi, am 37 this year with 2 beautiful boys aged 8 and 6 (both breastfed), ran marathons, trail running and gym, no family history as well. so when i was diagnosed, am completely taken aback.

my 2nd chemo is on 10mar (2 days before my birthday so will be celebrating early).

can i ask if any of your ONC reduce your chemo dosage to accomodate with the SEs? cos of my bad side effects experience, he recommends to reduce my chemo dosage by 20%. he is worried about the psychological effect cos some of his patients felt nausea even before the chemo started and it became quite bad. would love to hear your advice/opinion! personally, i do not wish to compromise on my overall recovery and to have no regrets in future, you know what i mean..

thanks!

Burley, yes, the stubble is annoying! Mine really aren't falling out.... I supposed that's a good sign that I might have sturdy roots (I am clinging to the nurses' words at tx #2 on Monday that "a few" people on this chemo don't lose their eyebrows and lashes). 

I also have some semi-permanent nasal congestion, as well as continuing crud in the lungs. Dry sounds heavenly about now.

lbreedl, quite a story! I have pretty much the same diagnosis as you, Her2+ and grade 3-3-3, although I'm both ER and PR positive, albeit "weakly." I opted for lumpectomy for three reasons:

1. I was terrified of mastectomy and did not want the significantly more serious surgery and recovery.

2. I really connected with and trusted my BC surgeon, and she recommended lumpectomy (a big one) with the proviso that a mx would be in the cards if the margins weren't clear (they were).

3. No breast cancer in the family. No internal cancer in the family. 

My surgery was a relative piece of cake (fairly major lumpectomy on the left cancer side, reduction on the right side so I'd match, luckily I had tissue to spare and it's more flattering). I was grateful to be back to my active life in a week or so. That said, it's a hugely individual decision, and if any of my factors had varied above, I would have likely made another choice. 

Good luck as you struggle with it. These are hard calls.