Stage IIIC IDC about to start chemo--anyone else in my shoes?
Comments
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Hi Christi, ((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))) Welcome to the site. Sorry you had to join however there are so many wonderful women and men on these threads that can help you. There is also a Stage III forum of great women who are the same stage as you've been diagnosed. I'm a SIIIa and diagnosed at 49yrs. old. Understand your journey is difficult but take it one day at a time. One second at a time if necessary. You've had the biopsy, did the BS discuss the results? You will feel better when you have all the results and a plan in place. Do you have confidence in your health care team? Take a deep breath. Check out the site, formulate your questions, cry, yes cry it does help and talk to the women on the threads. If you need chemo advice, there are threads for women starting chemo and they do help you get through. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Maureen
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One other thought, as a new member, you have a posting limit, I think 5 posts per day. After 50 posts you can have unlimited. This is to avoid spam on the threads. You can private message people by locating that in the upper right hand corner.
Maureen
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ChristiTex,
All of us Stage III ladies have been in your shoes. You will get through it! Come to these threads whenever you need us. My prayers are with you!!
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Thank you Maureen. Yes I have confidence in my team, the chemo oncologist and surgical oncologist at a major cancer center and the local one who will administer most of my treatments all are on the same page of my treatment so it seems to be the best treatment, I am sure it is the best option because this cancer center is top rated. I just can't believe that this is happening to me. I do have a friend who went through this though I don't know what stage she was but she's cancer free 5 years after she was diagnosed. But it was hard for her. I'm going to quit my part time job for now till I can see how this goes and see how to cope with all this.
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You might want to let your employer know of the disability. You should receive disability payments while you are not able to work. Great to hear you like your medical team, that's a big hurdle. Many women can't believe it happened to them, me either and many women are cancer free 5 yrs. after dx. Get the best care you can receive, the chemo is doable, there are many drugs available for side effects and let us know how you're doing? FYI, I had 4 dd of A/C and 12 dd of Taxol.
Maureen
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Well I am just a per diem employee but I work 2-3 days per week. My boss would let me keep working but I feel like it would be too hard plus I work in a hospital so worried about catching something. So I'm not sure what to do but thank you for the nice thoughts and I will sleep on this.
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And thank you Ihopeg also.
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Hi , sorry for joining us here , I was in your shoes 7 months ago , at the begining everything is a shock , but things will get better when u get into a treatment plan. I am 38 years old with a 4 year old daughter , u don't have to cry you have to get into FIGHT , and u will win ! I started chemo first , I am ER PR positive and also HER2+ which is the aggressive form , i did 4 rounds of FEC and then THC , after just 4 rounds of FEC i did repeat my pet scan and i have to say that the radiologist thought i already had the surgery to remove the tumoe , YES my tumor and 3 lymph nodes were gone ! and I was cancer free in the middle of the chemo , so there is hope , there are new treatments and it's working , and if it one kind does not work they will switch it , that's the benefit of having the chemo first. I had gone through a lot of tests and procedures before starting my treatment , I was spending whole days in the hospital for doing , CT scan , pet scan , bone scan inserting the port and all i wanted was spending a day in my own home ! they are all over , you have to be strong to beat it . I am getting closer to my surgery and i have one more big chemo to go wiht the herceptin to be continued , i will aslo have bilateram mastectomy and radiation . So go with the other half of yourself that want you to cheer up , although i am telling you at first its reaaaaaaaaaaally frustrating but u will get better . I will pray for you .
with hugs and love
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Hang in there...Read the 5 year survival thread. I too was stage 3c-but I was pregnant when diagnosed. I had taxol, and fec-lots of it. More then most actually. And I wasn't sick-EVER. NOT EVERYONE gets sick. Don't assume you will be. If I could encourage you to do one thing its to drink LOTS OF WATER-try to do a gallon a day. Buy a jug at wholefoods and dink water. It will flush your system and really help you get through chemo. I also juiced and ate 7-10 servings of vegetables per day. I walked and swam as well. It's really important to eat and drink healthy. That alone will help you get through chemo but there are studies now-real studies that show exercise and large servings of vergetables per day decrease chance of reoccurence.
So sorry your going through this but right now take it hour by hour then day by day..You will get to the other side just hang in there.
I have a freind with similar diagnosis as you. She is 7 years cancer free!!!
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I'm so sorry you've had to join us here, there is a lot of wonderful info on this site and you'll probably find you'll be on here more than Facebook!!! I was in your shoes just a few months ago, just know right now you're in the worse place, it will get better. I was 34 at dx & did 4X AC and then 4X taxotere chemo and didn't get sick once. Not that I felt all that wonderful but it was better than I thought, they'll give you meds to help manage side effects. Not that I recommend you do this, but I flew from Hawaii to N. Carolina the day after my last round of AC, just trying to show you some days are managable. I just did my double masectomy in Jan. and I'm doing radiation now. For me once I started chemo I felt better b/c I was finally doing something to fight this. Being ER+ is a good thing. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster ride & days of "pity parties". Stay away from internet stats and when you feel down go to the +5 yr forum to keep your head in the game. We are here for you, feel free to private message me too if you need to. My prayers are with you, hang in there sweetie I promise it will get better.
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(((HUGS))) Christi,
Although I'm not where you are right now, I have been and see how far I've come! I just finished the first stage of reconstruction in January and am overall feeling good---except for the aches and pains of an almost 49 year old
YOU CAN DO THIS! It will definitely be rough at times, but most women only have a couple "bad" days each cycle and then feel fairly normal the rest.
Sounds as though they have a good plan of attack, so let it do it's job. And be sure to be good to yourself. If people offer help---TAKE IT! My husband didn't want food, but man once those dishes started coming in, he LOVED IT! And PLEASE don't be afraid to ask us ANY questions. Remember, we've all been there!
Love,
Sharon
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hugs to you christi
glad you found us on breastcancer.org. this is an active forum and a good place to vent...talk about your fears...ask questions and get support. i was diagnosed at age 49 and i am turning 59 in june. eekk* lol treatment is good; they will take care of this cancer. remember, this is what oncolgists do day in and day out along with their medical teams. make relationships with all of these people as you will continue to see them for a long time. try to not get too far ahead of yourself; concentrate on your treatment...one day at a time. i joined a support group when i was in treatment and it was very helpful for the support and connection.
hang in there. this is totally overwhelming and very scarey...but if you can do this. ask questions and be an advocate for yourself. never give up...even on the hard days.
HUGS
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Hey Christi.....
Just wanted to chime in that I am almost 7 years out with IIIC and I had the chemo you had plus lots more and I never missed a day of work. My employer at the time said they would pay me anyway if I wanted to stay home during treatment but I said no.....wanted my children to see everything was still normal....and I wanted the distraction of what work gave me.....the drugs are good now.
I also had my treatment in Texas....they were very aggressive at Arlington Cancer Center....I flew from Florida to get treatment there....not sure where you are located but they are very good.
Hang in there.....we all cried in the beginning....it just takes time to get past the inital shock of all of this. Things will get better.... promise.
Jacqueline
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Hello everybody its very uplifting to see all these positive messages and know there's hope. I was reading some websites that said chemo is not proven to do anything but then I come in here and see it has done a lot. It feels good to have support and see that a lot of women have also been through what I'm going to go through.
Christi
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Did anyone feel phobic like not wanting to go to the grocery store once your treatment started, not be around lots of people in case they got you sick? I know that doesn't sound rational but that's how I feel right now.
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chrisit
the medical team will check your white count to be sure you have immunity. if low, they will give you a shot that will boost your immunity. however, feeling protective of yourself also makes sense...(not wanting to be around people at grocery store) ...right now you most likely are feelting totally vunerable..which is pretty normal after this kind of shock of a cancer diagnosis. you will feel a lot of things that won't always make sense to you. that is why it is good to talk with other survivors...so you can get support around how you feel and what you feel.
diana
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ChristiTex,
I am so bummed you have to join this group, but you will find it is an awesome group regardless of why we became members. When I was first diagnosed I kind of isolated myself, but not because I was afraid of getting sick. I was terrified of saying "C" out loud. I still don't like to associate myself with this disease and always refer to it as when I was sick. We all play mental games with ourselves to get ourselves through. Some enter with flags flying and some, like myself, like to hit it like a Navy Seal with no one outside the "secret circle" knowing the attacks I had planned.
I am three years out now and still don't like to proclaim my "C" battle and it helps me to just think of it as an extended illness that I am now over.
Sometimes in this game you do what is best for yourself...head in the sand or not. There are no rules and in this process you are the only one you need to worry about. It does get better.
Susan
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I agree with DCmom, we all approach our "enemy" in different ways. I myself didn't feel phobic about getting sick but I did sink into a deep deppression right after dx.. But as time went I saw other survivors and talked to people and life went on. All your feelings are normal and you're intitled to them, we've all been there.
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Hi Christi,
I too am sorry you've joined us, but you will get through this
I'm a former stage III C er Dxed at 49( with 12 pos nodes)
anyway, the early days are difficult to wrap you head around, but once you have a definitive tx plan and confidence in it, things will go smoothly and quickly. Don't read the old stats , they are not reflective of current tx.
everyone has a different experince with BC, however the ladies her are xtremely supportive and you will find good solid infor here as well.
Take care!
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Hi Christi,
Welcome, you will find lots of comfort here, the ladie's are wonderful!!!!!
One day at a time!! ISometimes one hour, or minite. You will get through treatment, and you will meet the most amazing people along the way. I am so sorry you are on this journey. I was dx in oct 2009, my mammo was clear 11 months prior, and as you can see it was agressive ! It was a huge blow, to say the least. I have 2 small kids, and it took me a while to wrap my brain around it all! You will find your way, and you will be O.K You are in my prayers!!!
Its amazing what you think you can't do .You will see you are so strong. You will become a warrior!!! God will provide the strength , it will come. When you get down, and you
will, remmember, your treatment is temporary, it will end. There is life after cancer.
You will not only survive, you will thrive!!!
Gods peace be with you,
Stephanie
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Hi again Christi,
I think I was nervous at the beginning of chemo (even had a bowl w/antibacterial wipes at the front door), but after a round or two I stopped thinking so much about it. As some of the other ladies have said your white blood counts will drop (I was on a 2 week cycle, so mine were low at about 1 week out) after the infusion, then start to come back up (I had the Neulasta shot day after). I kind of avoided going "germy" places (really didn't feel up to much activity anyway) during the low time. And ironically I had my chemo through the winter and my kids were 11 and 13 so you know they picked up germs at school, and I never got sick through it! Other than the side effects from the chemo itself of course.
Keep us posted on how you are doing!
Sharon
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Just checking on you, hope everything is going ok.
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Hi Christi, I am starting treatment in April. It has been a long haul since diagnosis in January. I actually had found my cancer last year around this time and was not properly diagnosed until Jan of this year! This is difficult and it is hard and it is ok to cry. I have done my share. I have mood swings and have even cried over getting IV's put in! The best thing to do for me and probably for a lot of other people out there is educate yourself. My best to you and I will be keeping an eye on this thread to see how you are doing!
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Diagnosed at 47 (in 2009) with IDC and lots of nodes positive and underwent double mastectomy, chemo and radiation. I am IIIc too having finished all treatment last month. It was a long haul but I made it through just fine. I never missed a day of work due to chemo or its side-effects, which were very minimal for me. My red cell counts plummetted a couple of times and I was very anemic for awhile. Took Neulasta shots after chemo. My bones hurt about 3-4 days after the shot but took OTC pain meds and on one occasion a vicodin. One word of caution. I took taxol and tolerated it very well but it has left me with numbness in my feet. Make sure to let your oncologist know if you have symptoms of numbness and tingling. My last taxol was about a year ago. Take care of yourself.
~ Leslie
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Hello everyone! Its nice to see people are thinking about me. I had the power port put in last Friday and am still recovering from that but getting around better in the house. I had my first chemo on Wednesday, Taxol. The premeds made me feel hot flashes. I am going to have Taxol for 11 more weeks and then another chemo for three months after that unless the plans change in that time. I appreciate all the kind comments and it really helps me to hear all these positive things. I'm just getting used to a lot of new things, new processes. Your comments help me feel better!
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Hi Christi - here's another stage IIIc-er, and I'm almost 2 years out from diagnosis. Keep posting and let us know how you're doing.
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Christi... Mention the concerns about your immune system to your medical team. I had Neulasta support as part of the protocol/study I was participating in. It worked, and I never got sick. My WBC and other immune system-related bloodwork was normal.
This might allow you to work as the financial impact can be nasty.
Otherwise, hoping the Taxol is going OK. I found it relatively easy to tolerate.
Great news that your team is working together to ensure you get the best treatment. Makes a major difference. Good luck with everything.
Just don't drive when full of Benadryl. - Claire
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Hi Christi...Not much to say that these wonderful ladies have not already said... I have learned more from them then my own dr's.
I have been where you are. In 11 more days it will be ONE year
Yeaaaaa!!! Been out of treatment now for 6 weeks.. I thought this day would never get here... have a little bit of hair now and ready for the next phase of this journey to begin. I had a bilateral mastectomy, chemo, and last but not least rads.. My arm stills feel funny where they took out the limp nodes but getting use to it now..Thinking of you and hope you have no se's...
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Hello everyone! I REALLY appreciate the keeping me in your thoughts! I am feeling more chipper now, I had my second chemo this week and was finally able to shower without worrying about my power port which has healed. I cut my hair in preparation for what I think is starting a little....but haven't lost much hair yet. I started working just a little from home now and it helps to have something to do. Not ready to go back to my real job yet and don't know how I'll feel about my new look in a week or two.
Thanks for all the nice thoughts and encouragement and I hope everyone else continues to do well! Christi
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Hi Ladies,
I don't know if I have checked in this site. I used to be Stage I, Pleomorphic ILC in 2006 but in October of 2010 I had a local recurrence in the same area where I had the lumpectomy and rads. Because it also went to a couple of small spots on the breast skin it turned me into a Stage IIIB, I think. The BS said they don't like to stage local recurrences but because it surfaced on the skin I'm Stage III. I'm so scared it will spread to other parts. I had chemo followed by BLMX and now I'm on Armidex. My PET scan was clear but so was the mammogram that was taken the day I was dx with the new cancer. Also, after my BLMX, they said there was still some ILC in the breast that they removed even though I had received chemo. I can't seem to find any women who have had PILC on the breast skin. Am I a freak who is one of a kind? I really wish I could find someone who has been through a similar type of recurrence. Thanks for listening ladies. I pray we all have long lives.
Nancy
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