November 2009-Starting Chemo

Nette, yah for brows....

2Mabel, wow you are so brave to do the walk.  I just couldn't imagine doing it at this stage.  I think it would be to emotional...I would be a sobbing mess.  I think I need time to get over this stage of my life.  Perhaps another year.  Besides that would involve exercise...YUCK.

Melinda41 - yes you are right - abraxine - they have taken me off Taxol and are referring me to surgery - I'll be hearing from my surgeon per my oncologist - they will then restart chemo (4 to go) after my mastectomy - my legs are a bit better, feet still numb, but I am still having pain/numbness in my finger tips - my hand gets red all around the edges and my fingers too - but the worse part is dropping everything -  I'm banned from doing dishes!  yeah!

Hope everyone is doing well

Yeah Michele!!!! That has to be a relief! So glad everything came out OK. Thanks for letting us know.

Hey Michelle - excellent news - told you there was nothing wrong!!!

Off for my first sole herceptin treatment very soon. At least it only takes a couple of hours so I don't have to take lunch, drinks etc. Finally feeling better but my legs ache so much. I reckon I'll need one of those motorised wheelchair thingys.

Sue

The first sole herceptin tx was fine - got the 2 senior nurses - felt very special. Told the onc about my 3 numb toes - he can't explain why it's only on one foot - whatever. The leg aches will be around for a while though, he said it could take a few months to go away - bummer. Boy do I miss the dex tablets.

 Mabelle - sounds like you are on steroids - that's one thing about the chemo I wont miss - the sleepless nights. Good luck for your treatment.

Sue

Mabelle: I don't sleep well before chemo either, but I took a good benedryl induced nap when I got home. You said that this was going to be 6 out of 12. Isn't this #7?? I thought we were on the same time frame. I had to check my smiley faces to make sure.

Suepen: How long did the H only infusion take. I think my H bag is 30 minutes, but it is my third bag. Since we have to do it for a year, I hope it only takes 30 minutes.

I got the blood drawn for the BRCA test yesterday. I would love a negative for my sister's and daughter's sake. If I am positive, I guess I'll start lopping off more parts, left boob, ovaries and such. I did read and my Onc confirmed that Her2+ is less likely to have the genetic component.

I asked my Mom to let me talk to Onc alone yesterday, that was an awkward request for me to make. But I needed to have a state of the union meeting and wanted to talk nitty gritty cancer stuff. He said that he would give me a 75% chance of meeting my goal of surviving my daughter's childhood and that I shouldn't blow of retirement savings plan. Plan for the worse but prepare for the best, that I will still be around to be a crazy old lady.

I am getting a decent little tax return and was wondering whether I should pay off credit card debt, or sock it in savings. If I am going to get worse, I need the savings. If I am going to get better, I need to get out of debt. I was thinking about the six month waiting period for ssdi to kick in. If that becomes neccesary, I would like to know I have the cushion. Apprarently, I qualify for SSDI now, which is a very depressing thought.

But Onc said we are still thinking curative, not control. I will have another PET scan in between chemo and rads to make sure glowing lymph node has been extinguished.

I see lymphedema therapist today for first treatment for my truncal issues. Looking forward to learning how to get rid of this side boob pork chop thing under my armpit.

Hope everyone is well.

Suepen: I am eager to hear what side effects you attribute to the H only. Hope is it very mild for you.

Mouse and Mickey: hope you are having a great day!

Mabelle: Hope treatment goes well today.

Alicia: how are the new girls doing??

michelle: congrats again!

Melinda: The 3 weekly herceptin takes 1 1/2 hours, so the nurse said. I was there from 1:20 and was home by 4. I think it was finished a bit before 3 - can't remember. A friend I met through the bc forum here said it always takes a couple of hours all up.

On the BRCA test - my onc said not to bother, even though my father's family has a high incidence of cancer. He reckons the test is not accurate enough yet. He knows we have a daughter so it would be important for her but I do trust his advice.

I asked the onc about my jumpy eyes, sore legs etc and he put it all down to the taxotere not the herceptin. I told him I thought herceptin caused achy joints but he said it doesn't. I think watery eyes, drippy nose are the worst se's. It is going to take several months to get over the taxotere so we'll see. My friend has only 4 Herceptin tx's to go and she has no problems with it.  She had AC-TH.

Sue

Melinda - you're sort of right. This was the start of my 7th cycle out of 8 total - but I have each cycle split into 3 (weekly) now. So, I had 6 infusions left to go (now 5) I'll be done my last chemo infusion on May 5th... then onto Herceptin only (every 3 weeks) until Jan '11.

The herceptin part of my treatment now takes only 30 minutes and then a 30 minute observation period - so an hour total. I think after a certain amount of time, the observation period decreases until its nothing at all. Can't wait for that! Today went fine.

WOW Melinda - That's a lot of think about. I haven't really gone there in my mind - but I'm stage 2 so not quite in the same boat as you. It would be smart to put some thought into this topic though - I haven't even got a will! What is SSDI? Thanks for opening my eyes, and good luck with your decisions. You're a smart woman and I'm sure you'll make the right decision.

I took the BRCA test last september - believe it or not, it takes a whole year to get the results in Canada. Its free - but it takes forever! I have a good friend who is a genetic councillor and she pushed for me to get it done since both my sisters are BC survivors. It wouldn't have changed my course of treatment - so its not that big a deal to wait. Apparently, if it does determine the course of treatment, they will process the test in 3 months - still a long time!!

Off to bed for me - I'm exhausted. Hopefully the dex. won't keep me up ALL night long. 

I am not thinking right, my H only takes 30 minutes but I am doing it weekly. When I go to the every three weeks, of course it will take longer since the bag will be bigger. Bummer....

Mabelle: I will be done on cuatro de mayo, you will be done cinco de mayo, we should party hardy! Do you do cinco de mayo in Canada? It is just an excuse to get drunk in the US. I don't drink, but I may dance around in a sombrero (mexican hat that I can't spell).

SSDI is social security disability. But I am not going there yet. I have familiarized myself with the requirements. Part of that 'hope for the best, plan for the worst'.

Yesterday was a little rough. If I had a walker, I would have used it. Too many errands to run, not able to sleep at night, very tired.

I had my first lymphedema treatment yesterday. I am eager to learn more management tips. I will get a sleeve to prevent the arm swelling and she is working on the poof under my armpit.

KayH; Congrats on being done with chemo, even if it was a tad premature. I hope the neuropathy resolves soon!

Well, it's official! I am off Taxol for good. I am waiting for a call any minute from the surgeon to schedule my BMX. I'm getting antsy and excited to have this part behind me. I've had 9/12 treatments, but the neuropathy is getting worse. One toe "tingles", and it feels like something is crawling up my leg...I know, creepy! I am waiting for my BRCA results also. Should get them within the next two weeks. I hope I'm negative too! But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Michele, I am so happy for you!!!!!!

Melinda, did they tell you your Herceptin treatment would be longer? I went yesterday and had a 3 week treatment amount in the same amount of time...30 minutes. I thought it would take longer, but the nurse said it wasn't the quantity, but the concentration. Same size bag, but a larger concentration of Herceptin vs. saline fluids. Interesting how places do it differently. I still get the Benadry drip, so a nice little drug-induced nap always feels good.

I also am eligible for SSDI, but not yet. If the cancer goes somewhere else, than probably yes, I would do it. I want to stay as normal as possible. Maybe I'm in DeNile, or feel so good I can't fathom it, but I don't have a will or a living will yet. I guess I'm terrible at being Stage IV.

The genetics councelor said BRCA results take 2-3 weeks for the results to come in. They mail all samples to this lab in the middle of the country...I can't remember the state...chemo brain They will call me to set up an appointment for the results. Both my onc and the councelor think I may be positive because of my age at dx (37) and the fact that I'm pre-menapausal. My mother had BC at 48, but she was post-menapausal. My MIL also had BC, so I worry about my daughter, Libby. I'll do anything to keep her safe from this.

I wish I didn't have to have the Benedryl. If they give me a pill, I just get mellow. If they give me a drip, it knocks me out!!! My cancer center gives you Benedryl with everything! Luckily, now I go every 3 weeks for H and every 6 weeks for Zometa. Plus, I don't have to see the dr every week now, so that saves me a weekly $70 co-pay!

My hands are pretty numb all of the time. The foot thing just started last week, and comes and goes. Hopefully that won't be permanent!

I do have a question about wills. For the ladies who have one, did you go through a lawyer or do LegalZoom.com.

Got my date for surgery. This Tuesday, April 6!!!! 2 p.m. No time to think.

Linda ~ Melinda is right, lot of soft pillows.  Start your stool softener on Monday you don't need that added pain in the ass.  Thinking of you.

Toyah ~ So glad your BRCA was negative.  I have to make my appt.  I have procrastinated.  It is like another thing I just don't want to know ~

Melinda ~ Your dying folder makes so sad.  I hope that day doesn't come for a damn' long time. 

Hugs girls....

Melinda ~ I know I too was not happy to hear about the no more ORGAN donor.    That always made me feel good that at least once I was gone I could save other lives.  I hope to be 90 skydiving with you.........