Class of 2010

I hope everyones Mother's Day was pleasant! 

Thank you dutchgirl6 for the sport bra tip! I will check out the website just the same. My DH surprised me last night and bought one! It was a heat gear underarmour and today I was able to walk the treadmill with no problem. A small wonder. . 

You courageous gals going through chemo right now are so strong!! Hang in there...I'm thinking of you and hope for your continued strength.  

HI Ladies!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day.

This is my journey so far...

I was diagnosed with IDC 11/18/09.  My Onc. encouraged me to enroll in a clinical trial for Lapatanib, oral daily dose with Taxol in a weekly infusion what was supposed to be for 16 weeks.  I began this tx 12/31/09.  In mid January my gall bladder was acting up and had to be removed.  I was off chemo for a week and then resumed treatment.  In mid February the duct work failed in and I developed a biloma with a significant bile spill into my abdomen.  The surgeon thinks I didn't heal correctly because of the chemo.  I spent 21 days in the hospital between February and March.  I had an ERCP and a stent placed in my liver to my small intestine to help with the bile leakage. Eventually I had 2 separate drains in as well to aid with the clean up of the first spill.  On 3/31/10 I had a bilat MX with TEs placed.  At the time of dx I had a 4.5 cm lesion.  When the pathology came in from the surgery the cancer was gone.  The was only pre cancerous cells found!  I feel very blessed.  The thing that bothers me the most about my surgery is the numbness.  I wasn't prepared for it.  My breasts...tiny  now that I have had a fill , are soo numb.  I was wondering if any of you feel that way too?  I had a breast reduction 4 years ago and they weren't numb then.

I am on day 9 of my first AC dose dense  TX (x4).  I was so worried about having chemo again after my last nightmare.  This time is much more bearable (so far).  I am keeping my fingers crossed it will continue this way.

The good news is I don't need radiation.  I am thankful for that.  After I finish the AC, I have a years worth of Herceptin...and from what I  understand that is tolerated very well and my hair should grow back.

Braca test neg.

Thanks for listening,

Emme

Happy Mother's Day all!   The last two weeks have been a whirlwind, and it was nice to relax.  I have been to M.D. Anderson in Houston.  Last Tuesday, I met my surgeon and a clinical research nurse who is guiding the evaluation to see if I qualify for a clinical study using RAD 001 for the treatment of TN breast cancer.  On Wednesday, I did mammograms (MANY images - ouch), an ultrasound with FNB of a lymph node under my arm and one just above my collarbone (that spot twice - not a comfortable place for a biopsy!), and a chest x-ray.  Was supposed to do a CT scan at the end of the day and didn't make it - passed out when they did the IV and my heart rate dropped so low that they decided to cancel the test.  Returned Friday for an echocardiogram, bone scan, and one more try at the CT scan.  Thanks to my husband being there with me (and a dose of anxiety med) I made it through everything Friday.  Going back to the suregon Tuesday for all the test results and one more tumor biopsy for a HER2/FISH test.  I start chemo next week.  12 weeks of one drug plus the study drug (if I'm randomized to get it and the HER2/FISH was negative) once a week followed by 12 weeks of three drugs once every 3 weeks.  Don't remember what they are called - I'm sure I'll learn it all soon enough.  Surgery following the 24 weeks of chemo.  Anyway, TN has me absolutely terrified, and I'm worried about the biopsy on the node in my neck.  Definitely don't want to hear that this is moving up.  I've had to stop doing any research - maybe it'll be easier when I've seen the surgeon Tuesday and know exactly what I'm dealing with.

It's very reassuring to read how people get through all this - the tests, the side effects, the unknown of the whole situation.  Thank you for sharing your stories.

ttechred,

It sounds like the MD is being very thorough with you!! I know what you mean about the research. I've had to push myself away from the computer after reading many research articles. It can make you crazy. I'm in the medical field and you know what they say about a little bit of knowledge...... I do believe that you should be as informed as you possibly can about your particular dx. Knowledge is power!!! You are your best advocate. Teka is so right! Your surgeon is the best source of information. You will get through this!!

Emme, hang in there!!! So far so good with your chemo.

arubajan05, I'm gonna check out the Enell too. Thank you.

Retrievermom, I can imagine you might be needing something soft for the rads...Keep us posted if you find a garment that works.

Emme - My onc. told me that I could experience those symptoms after the Neulesta shot to increase my white blood cells.  Said that the sternum (right under the chest I am pretty sure) is the first place that your body starts to make the increased white blood cells that our bodies need.  She also said that the spine was another place.   I hope you feel better.

 Laura

Jeannie, so glad you had such a great time! You and your hubby both deserved such a respite!

I'm starting to come back to human beingness after such a crappy time after the 4th (and last!) chemo. Now I'm actually looking forward to the radiation starting in a couple weeks because I know this puts me one step closer to an almost normal life again!

 Jeannie-  Welcome back! Glad you had a great time on vacation!

Irish47 - If you don't mind sharing, how is your diet going to be changing? 

Have a great day!

After much waiting and numerous tests I'm glad to report that I do not need chemo!  I start radiation and tamoxofen tomorrow morning.  Since I already did the radiation consult and tats I'll just jump right into treatment tomorrow...finally feels like I'm making some progress instead of endless delays!!

Hope everyone is doing great with their treatments. 

Welcome to all the new ladies!

Jeannie..welcome back. I am glad you had a great cruise.

Oceancitygirl..congrats on not needing chemo, it must be such a relief.

Cora-that pretty much is my diet now. I indulged too much last night as I went out with my sisters and had 2 margaritas. I miss Mcdonald's too and all my sweets! I still indulge in something sweet but instead of eating 3 brownies I eat 1. 

I picked up my pelvic ultrasound report and it doesn't look good for being able to take tamoxifen. I have 3 fibroids, 1 is pretty large. An enlarged ovary with complex cysts. After the next ultrasound if the cysts are still there I think they will need to come out and be biopsied. I think if that happens they will just want to take the ovaries out? I have almost all the symptoms of ovarian cancer but realize they are a lot like the symptoms of ovarian cysts...just something else to worry about!  I see  my new oncologist Monday so hopefully I will get more info and a game plan. 

Ellen - I hope your meeting with your new onc goes well. I'm sure once you have a game plan, things will be a little easier. Relatively speaking. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you.

Three cheers for all of you finishing up chemo or rads. I still have 4 1/2 months to go of CMF and, I've got to admit, I'm getting tired of it. I know I have it easy compared to some, but it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

On a positive note, I had my last expander fill yesterday and I'm really glad. It's been quite painful the last three weeks and I've even gone back on hydrocodone for the pain. I'm hoping it will settle now that we're done messing with it until October. Anyone exprience pain in areas outside (right and below) of the expander? My plastic surgeon told me yesterday she thought it might be that the expander is pulling on a nerve so she injected a numbing agent--unfortunately, it didn't help. Just curious if anyone else has had similar issues.

 It's beautiful and sunny in Seattle today and I hope each of you have some sunshine in your lives today as well.

Today I had #4 and last of AC dose dense with B or P, and May 27th start T with B or P once weekly by way of chemo port for 12 weeks.   Nap time!

Teka are you on the trial?  I am signing up for that.  How have you been feeling other than tired with the treatments?  I am starting beginning of June as long as all tests are good.  Would be great to hear your experiences.
Thanks so much!

Teka that is what I am possibly signing up for.  Same regimen.  I am just second guessing now I guess because if we do get the real drug then it is a lot longer treatment.  But I guess with the bevacizumab there is no nausea as a side effect or hair loss correct?  I am highly leaning towards doing the trial but am not 100% yet.  As for nauseau ugh I cannot stand that, I was very sick in the hospital after my bilateral mastectomy because of the anesthesia and pain meds.  I don't tolerate it well.  I did just order today offline some kind of bracelet that supposedly helps with nausea so hopefully that will help!  Thanks for getting back to me.  We will have to keep in touch!!!

Hang in there katie- only a few more zaps and you will be done! A kitchen torn up is a real hard one, and your hubby gone leaves you with more to do but we are here and cheering you on and your husband will be home soon!!!!! This will pass and things DO get better. That is for all you peeps out there. All of a sudden you don't have a Dr apt for three months and you just can't believe it.