November 2009-Starting Chemo

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited May 2011

    Linda - will you still have herceptin?

  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited May 2011

    Zoladex is a drug that causes ovary suppression. So I am being put back into menapause. He is shutting my ovaries down to kill the estrogen in my body.

    Sue, yes, I still take Herceptin, and probably will for the rest of my life. It's what has kept me NED. I also take Zometa now, once every three months to keep the cancer out of my bones. I will do the Zoladex the same time I do the Zometa.

    I don't have to have scans again until November, so I've graduated to once a year, but he will follow liver function and tumor markers through labwork. Life goes on!!!!

    He said I'm doing great!

    I love you all! Thank you for being there for me :)

  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited May 2011

    Linda: That is great news, sounds like things are going as well as they could be. I saw plastic surgeon guy yesterday and have scheduled a lat flap for July 15th. Nervous as hell, I figure I will chicken out before then. He said 5 drains (edited typo) !! Wowza.

    PET scan today, results on Tues, yada yada

    Alicia: Happy Nippers!

    Today is one year from final chemo for me, yay!

  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2011

    Melinda, congrats on one year...woohoo...So now, just wondering  is dains a typ-o or is that some new fangled word I havn't heard of...

  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited May 2011

    Whoops, drains, sorry

  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2011

    Linda ~ so glad to hear things going so well for YOU ! woo HOO.

    Melinda ~ Congrats on scheduling surgery.  I had 4 drains with the mastectomies.  They are annoying as heck but doable.  Congrats on 1 year PFC ! woo HOO for you.

    Michele ~ Hi my friend !  I'd chest bump ya but my nips may fall off ~  Hope you are doing good.  How is beautiful Canada?

    Sue ~ how are you?

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited May 2011

    Hi Girls - I'm good - a few aches and pains but well. I did 4 mornings (finally) at work this week and will do 2 full days and 2 half days next week. Our weather is just gloroius here at the moment but will start to take a colder turn in the next few days. I've been concentrating on trying to clean mould off our paving. I bought a big garden sprayer (I love it) and did one area with '30 seconds' cleaner yesterday - it's not totally clean but has come up looking much better - the mould was very heavy in some parts. I guess I'll be doing that for months given the size of the area I have to clean. I don't mind as it just lovely being outside.

    A girl at work found a photo of me when I returned to work last year - OMG - you should see my hair!!! The difference is incredible!!! No wonder I was nervous catching the bus to work back then. It's so good to have so much hair again even if it's still quite curly.

    Linda - it's so good to hear your onc says you are doing so well - yippeee!!! Thank goodness for Herceptin.

    Alicia - I hope your nips turn out looking good.

    Melinda - good to hear you have scheduled reconstruction. I really don't think I could have gone through all that. Why are you having a PET? I thought they don't usually do follow up scans because of the radiation. Hugs to the beau :)

    Sue

  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited May 2011

    Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!!!   Nette  :) 

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited May 2011

    DH thought it would be nice to go for a bike ride and have lunch for Mother's Day yesterday - idiot!!! 10 miles!!! I am one sore chickie today.

    Doing my first full day @ work - it's raining which I like

    Sue

  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2011

    Happy Mother's Day Everyone !

    HUGS ~

    Alicia

  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2011

    I hope everyone had a wonderful mothers day. 

  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2011

    Hi girls... well finally had my 6 month check up with my Oncologist.  I am glad that is over.  My appt was at 4 pm yesterday and we didn't get out of there till 7 !  After talking about my anxiety and shortness of breath, I told her 2 trips to the ER a battery of tests and she said none of them were a lung CT scan?  I said nope.  She said tamoxifen can cause blood clots we need to make sure right now you don't have a clot.  I was whisked into radiology hooked up to an iv for dye and in the machine.  They made me wait till dr read results and I was told NO clots.  Then went back to onco to talk and have my blood drawn.  She told me she does not want me to ever take myself off tamoxifen again.  I was off for 1 month.  She said it is just as important as chemo was for me.  She wants me to take Effexor for the anxiety and bit of depression I have been going through.  She said even for a few months.  I so far said no as it causes weight gain.  But if I have another panic attack this week I am going on it.  I can't live like this.  She gave me a therapist/nurse practitioner to see at my cancer hospital for the effexor and to talk about my anxiety.  All my blood results look good this am, I looked them up online.  Everything is in range and my tumor markers are no evidence of anything ~ No measurable amounts.  SO that is a relief.  I still have to make an appt to see my breast surgeon for an exam and my gyno and then I'm done for a bit. 

    Hope everyone is doing well !!   It has been kinda quiet on here.

  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited May 2011
    Alicia: Sounds like quite an ordeal yesterday. But I am glad everything checked out.
  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2011

    Seems I celebrated too soon !!!  Oncologist called ~ while lungs showed no clots there was a tiny nodule in my right lung.  Too soon to do anything to may be nothing ~ will do another CT in August.  BUT ~ CT of my lungs ---  yes lungs...showed nodules and cysts on my liver.  Have to have an MRI of my liver next Wednesday.  So scared.  She mentioned some benign condition a hemangioma or something also called a collection of vessels.  Which would explain my dizzy spells and loss of appetite.  Told me to try not to worry till we have to worry.  I told her literally I am F- ing freaking out.  I am a bit calmer now took an ativan and not making dinner tonight that's for sure.  I hate cancer.......  All my blood work and markers were good so she said that is a step in the right direction.

    XO

  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited May 2011

    It could be a number of harmless things. Don't waste your energy on being scared. You can be scared later. Right now, you have to be strong!

    Your tumor markers are good. That's a definite plus! Did you have a full-body CT scan previously that they can compare this to?

    I'm thinking about you!

  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2011

    No full body cat scan ever.  I am eating an ice cream sandwich ~ very yummy and making me feel better.  I am calmer now and just tell myself if it something bad, blast me with more chemo and let's hope for the best ! 

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited May 2011

    Alicia - ((((((HUGS)))))) My CT scan showed a cyst on my liver back when this all started and big onc wasn't the least bit worried - he said it's common. A CT scan does cover the whole torso, so they will see your liver etc. Keep eating that ice cream and try to be calm.

    Sue

  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited May 2011

    Alicia: I am so sorry you have to deal with this right now. Fingers crossed everything is OK. Like Linda said, the blood work is good and hopefully, it is one of the numerous other things that show up wonky.

    I have finally been declared cancer free for the first time today. My PET showed less of the crap that we have been watching so it is "labeled surgical changes or treated metastatic lesion". I have permission to be deported, hopefully, plastic surgeon can do that and save me another procedure.

    Big Hugs Alicia, keep us posted.

  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2011

    Melinda ~ that is the best news !  I could not be more happy for you !!  Your a fighter with a wonderful spirit !  Celebrate your good news.  BIG HUGS!!!

  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2011

    Wow, such an emotional day. F%$*&#G cancer...there I said it.. Alicia, I feel confident that all will turn out ok.  ..But in the mean time, eat that ice cream...and know we are all here to listen to you, and give you big hugs.

    Linda, Congrats on being Cancer free, and I hope you get deported soon.

    Hugs to all my ladies.

  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited May 2011

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALICIA!!!!!!!!!!  And many, many more!  Nette  :)

  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2011

    Happy Birthday Alicia....gotta celebrate every day.  Not just on our birthdays anymore..sending you hugs for good results.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited May 2011

    Happy Birthday Alicia!!! I was wondering how the others knew it was your birthday - it's in your profile.

    (((((((((BIG HUGS))))))))

    Sue

  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2011

    Sue, we are friends on Facebook...are you on facebook?

  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited May 2011
  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2011

    Thank you girls !!!

    xoxo

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited May 2011

    I had a facebook account but deleted it after lots of weird people started trying to contact me.

    Hey Alicia - make sure you eat more icecream!!!

  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited May 2011

    Alicia: Thinking of you today, is it MRI day today? When will you know the results?

    Linda: We are doing our lat flaps a week apart if I remember your date (7-6?) Are you nervous? I hate the thought of intentionally inflicting that pain on myself. I need an attitude adjustment.

  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited May 2011

    My surgery is 7-7 and I'm not nervous at all (YET!!). I am excited to finally have something put back :)

    Alicia, what's going on? Any news?

  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2011

    MRI was this AM ~ results just got the call ~ BENIGN!!!!  Thanks be to god, I cried a river of happy tears.  Thank you girls for being here for me and supporting me.

    XO

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