For those starting chemo in June

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shelliks
shelliks Member Posts: 54
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
Let me be the first to "introduce" myself. Unfortunately, I'm a veteran around here. I was dx'd 9/22/03 (had a "lump" removed from under my arm that was a malignant lymph node). I had all the scans and other lymph nodes lit up on the ct scan and I could feel a small supraclav node. Bones and organs were clear. On October 21, I started weekly Taxotere and biweekly Avastin/Bevacizumab (trial drug). Surgery was 2/26, with tissue expander. I finished rads on 5/12. I'm having my third MUGA today. I start A/C on 6/8, every 21 days for 12 weeks. I started taking L-Lysine today to help with mouth sores. I'm not really sure what else I should be doing. This is the last leg of a very long treatment regimen and I'm anxious to be done. After the chemo, I'm having a prophylactic mast. on the right, with another tissue expander, then exchange surgery, then oophyrectomy (I carry the BRCA 1 mutation).

I am 35 and have been married for 8 years and have three kids. Hunter is 7, Karalyn is 3 and Olivia will be 2 on 6/18. I am a full-time insurance broker specializing in employee benefits (that comes in handy). I am an old pro at Taxotere side effects, for those of you starting it. I look forward to getting to know some of you better and would welcome any hints with A/C.
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  • Sevenley
    Sevenley Member Posts: 30
    edited May 2004
    Hi Shelliks!
    I was just thinking of starting a June chemo thread. Great minds....

    I was diagnosed in Feb. '04 with IDC after "watching" a lump for 6 months. Had rt. mast. Feb. 20 in which my local surgeon only removed 2 nodes. Changed to a breast cancer center after my first visit with my local onc. and new onc. immediately sent me for node dissection. That was 2 weeks ago. All 14 nodes negative! I meet with onc. tomorrow to get treatments sheduled. I'll be getting A/C for 4 treatments. I had my MUGA test already and blood work. I had my long hair cut to above my shoulders and went on a hat buying spree. I'm not going to get a wig. I might panic and get one though.

    I'm 50 years old and have one daughter who got married last Oct. I live with 2 cats -- I'm not really crazy about cats. And, I have one old dog. Poor old thing. She's nearly blind.

    Anyway, I work full-time at a university and this will be a good time to go through chemo (if there is such a thing.) The students are gone for the summer and it's pretty much just me in the office. When I'm not working, I love to work on projects around the house and love to garden.


    I'll look forward to getting to know all of you "June" girls better also.

    hugs,
    Lee
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  • Dawnt
    Dawnt Member Posts: 55
    edited May 2004

    hi everyone,I found out in April had a quad on may 7th & start chemo June 1st.I'm having 4 treatments.I'm stage 1.Have a husband,2 kids in their 20's(1 lives at home) & 2 weiner dogs.I dont work but get up everymorning at 7 to wlk the mall with a friend.I'll tell you how my chemo goes.

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  • shelliks
    shelliks Member Posts: 54
    edited May 2004

    I had the MUGA yesterday. I get the next two weeks off! I will probably be the only one in this thread who is already mostly bald. I may shave my fuzz so I don't have to deal with the mess.

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  • Sevenley
    Sevenley Member Posts: 30
    edited May 2004
    I meet with my onc. this afternoon. I'm sure I'll leave with a schedule.

    My neighbor came over last night to give me her daughter's wig. I didn't have the heart to tell them that I don't want to wear a wig. She had a melanoma a year or so ago. We laughed. They were very sweet and even though they have health problems offered to cut my grass while I'm on treatment.

    Shelliks, we had our surgery one week apart.

    I should have started chemo a long time ago but in the meantime I switched to a new onc. had another biopsy scheduled for the other breast. Had more lymph nodes taken out and now I'm finally to this point.

    hugs everyone!
    Lee
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited May 2004
    Hi,

    My routine mammogram revealed a tumor 2/27.
    I was dx'ed 3/11
    Had surgery 5/4 - removed 3 cm. tumor right breast and 6/19 nodes positive. This was done as part of a breast reduction on both breasts.
    I am participating in a clinical trial and regardless of the arm I draw, I will start out with A/C followed by Taxol for a total of 24 weeks (treatment every 3rd week). I cannot do the hormone therapy (0 ER/PR receptors). Chemo will be followed by radiation and/or Herceptin for my HER2+++ grade 3 dx.
    Chemo is tentatively set for June 7. I have my port inserted June 2.

    I am 58 and a single mother of 3 children all in their twenties. I went back to school late in life and now work in a school system and also have a small psychological practice.
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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited May 2004
    Hi, my first time to write in, but I've gotten great information on these discussion boards. Thanks to all of you out there for some great pre-chemo ideas.

    I'm 40, biopsy came back positive for cancer 5/10. I had a lumpectomy 5/12 to remove a 1.1 cm tumor, 3 of 10 lymph nodes positive. Had an ultrasound on my arm today so they could see if I had a clot in a vein caused by surgery. Luckily, it is apparently just inflamed and should resolve itself without MORE medicine.

    Get my MUGA scan 5/28, port in 6/2 and start AC then Taxol treatments (I think that's the plan) on 6/3. After that, radiation.

    It's all going so fast, but I just want this over and done with. I have a beautiful 6-year-old son and I really want to see him grow up. I feel lucky to live in a time that the treatment is out there to give us a lot of hope.
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  • Glassard
    Glassard Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2004
    Hi,
    My name is Lizz (in life and on Chat)
    I am 35, single and no human children but a set of twins, brother and sister cats.
    I found a lump between the scheduling of my yearly mammo and the actual appointment. Mammo looked bad, Ultrasound looked bad. Fine needle biospy (4 stabs)on April 1 was clean. That turned out to be my April Fool's Joke.
    Because I wanted it out due to family history and surgeon didn't like the looks of it, I had lumpectomy on April 20.
    Went back in on May 18 for re-exceision for clean margins, sentinel Lymph nodes and install mediport.

    So I have IDC, Stage 2a, no nodes (prelim path report) Grade 3, Nuclear grade 9, 3 cm tumor, Er/Pr-, Her2 -.
    I have not gotten the genetic test back yet. Huge family history.

    I will start dense dose Chemo (4 A/C and 4 taxol)on June 10 after a slight delay so I can definitely do Race for the Cure. I do it yearly!

    I am a little scared of how it will hit me since I live alone and am very independent.

    I did get adopted in to chemoangels today. :-)
    I hope I become the first in my family to actually beat this diesease.

    Hanging tough with the rest of ya'll
    Lizz
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  • Sevenley
    Sevenley Member Posts: 30
    edited May 2004
    Hi June girls!
    Met with the onc. yesterday and I'll be starting my 4 doses of A/C on June 4. The day before my daughter's 28th BD.

    I'm nervous and have dreams about the treatments. I try my hats on daily -- as if they're going to change. I'm not doing the wig thing. How about the rest of you?

    I figure this is the last "thing" that I have to get through. How are the rest of you coping?

    hugs,
    Lee
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  • Daffy1962
    Daffy1962 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2004
    Hi

    My bilateral mastectomy is scheduled for Friday (5/28). Was diagnosed on 4/6, had a needle biospy on one breast and a open biospy on the other, only one was positive. I have DICS, grade 3, er/pr negative and her/2neu negative, will find out about the nodes after surgery. Was told by my onc that I will have chemo, 8 treatments that will start in June. All my other tests came back normal (CT, bone scan, blood work) but they did find I have gallstones...just another surgery waiting to happen. Just wondering if I can afford this disease with all the bill coming in and haven't even had surgery or chemo yet. But I guess I have to take this one day at a time.

    I am 41 years old, single, no children, but I do have a wonderful life partner, John, that I don't know what I would do without him.
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  • shelliks
    shelliks Member Posts: 54
    edited May 2004
    Lee, Lizz, Janie, PJB and Dawn,

    It's nice to meet all of you; wish it was under better circumstances. Janie, that psychological practice might come in handy for the rest of us! Let me offer my insurance expertise to all of you.

    For those of you who are freshly dx'd, I promise you that it does get easier. I spent the first month on the couch and I cried everytime I looked at my babies. It's been 8 months and life is almost normal. I feel really good, just a little tired at the end of the day, but I work full-time and have three kids under 7....who wouldn't be tired?

    As far as preparing for chemo, I started taking the amino acid, L-lysine, which helps with the mouth sores. I took this while on Taxotere and had very few problems. I also drank as much water as I could which helps to flush out the drugs and keep things "moving". Taxotere actually gave me diarrhea but I've heard that the A/C premeds cause constipation. Therefore, I will start fiber therapy a few days before. I've got colace and Milk of Magnesia on hand for emergencies. Kids had flu shots in the fall and I won't be taking Olivia for her 2 year check-up (too many germs); Karl can take her.

    I had a port inserted in October and I love it. They have had trouble drawing blood from it so I take 1mg of Coumadin daily. It only hurts for a second when they access it but hurts much less than having an IV inserted and it's more comfortable. Make sure they position it to the side of your bra stap (assuming you are still wearing a bra). Mine is just inside the strap and it is very comfortable (don't even notice it's there anymore).

    Anybody else have tips for preparing for this?
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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited May 2004
    I went to the wig store the other day. Being from Texas, I've seen a lot of BIG hair, but boy. I couldn't help but laugh at myself in some of them. I asked her if she had anything fine, straight, flat and not particularly stylish, since that was the only way I'd fool anyone into thinking it was my own hair. So, while I probably will get a wig at some point, I'm really having a hard time committing to it. I imagine it'll be easier when I actually don't HAVE any hair.

    As for preparing, I'm just combing through all these posts and have myself a shopping list for shampoos, mouth stuff, etc. It's not going to be a fun shopping trip, but like my dad always said, "Plan ahead to stay ahead."

    I, too, am pretty nervous about the chemo. But I've met quite a few women now who've gone through it and have come out OK. I know we all will, too.
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  • Sevenley
    Sevenley Member Posts: 30
    edited May 2004
    Wow Shelliks,
    Three little children.....I really hand it to you!

    It's just me and my two cats and old, old dog.

    I don't have a port and my onc. didn't recommend that I get one. The nurses took a good look at my veins yesterday and said that they're excellent so we'll see how that goes. They did mention that my WBC was low at 8 so I need to read up on that today to see if there's something I should be eating more of to raise it. They said my MUGA came back excellent too.

    For now, I'm making a list of things I need to buy -- I think I'll wait to see how I feel and what I'm hungry for before I buy a ton of foods I won't eat. The onc. said I can continue to have my occasional mixed drinks. That's a good thing. I'll get my prescriptions filled and sit on my deck, watch my flowers grow and be thankful for my family, good friends, and my sisters on this board.

    I look forward to getting to know all of you wonderful ladies!

    Lee
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited May 2004

    Hi,I am Mary,1.7cm.IDC,grade3,her2/3+ no nodes pos.Lumpectomy 5/30. I get a port 6/2 and start chemo 6/7. Dose dense A&Cx4 then taxolx4.I have never learned so much in so little time in all my life. I have worked in hospitals but never with cancer pts. peds., geri., cardiac but no cancer.Frankly for someone who sooths peoples anxieties about hospital care I am scared to death.I am 50, 3 kids grown 4 grandkids that keep me busy when i am not working 8 to 18 hours a day.Hope to work as much as I can through this.I am going to Phoenix Az. 6/3 for my youngest daughters grad.(Midwestern U)Should take the edge off, I love Phoenix,then to San Diego until the 6th.Home for the dreaded chemo the 7th. hope I do well. nothing seems to be well lately.Got lots of ball caps a wig and bandanas(made some myself)Today my surg. called and said my ekg had a tweek and my reg. Dr. would have to check it out before my port surg. Well she is gone till Fri. Hope I am not having a heart attach.They think it could of been a wrong placed electrode. Gee I hope so never any heart trouble but the way things are going who knows. Look foward to talking to all of you. Knowing your not alone seems to help. Mary Il. I hope I put this in the right place I don't know what i am to hit.

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  • ncbeachlover
    ncbeachlover Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2004
    Hi girls,
    Well, I've posted a lot on the newbie threads, but it looks like I'm going to move on...ready or not. I live on the coast of NC, have 4 grown children and 2 grandchildren, soon to be 6 grandchildren. At 55 with a lot of cancer history in my family...except breast, including my own previous Melanoma on a leg in October, I wouldn't have been surprised by colon cancer, but not this.

    I had a left mast, with node disection and a right benign biopsy on 4/19. My nodes were miraculously clear. I had a IDC T3 mass removed, grade 3, Stage IIB, er-/pr- and HER/NEU-, so it looks like the 6, week treatment of CEF are my big guns so far. I get my port in this Friday, as I have lousy veins. As far as I'm concerned that would be the only way to go, considering the risks of permanent scarring and tissue damage that would be likely in my case.

    Things could change however, because the CT scan shows a "little spot" on my liver. I have the ultrasounds scheduled for that and my right breast again on Tuesday...some more questions there, too. I have a MUGA on Wed., then begin chemo on June 3rd.

    My bone scans were "ok"...showing up all the advanced osteo-arthritis in my knees, and more moderate OA in my ankles, a hip, both shoulders, that I already knew about, but also in the sternum, a rib, and my back.

    I liked my doctor and I think the oncology clinic in my small town will give me the best care possible, and I believe I will be treated with respect as a human, not a number, if I had travelled 3 hours to Duke or another larger facility.

    Thanks for the tip about the L-Lysine, as I bit my lip, thanks to my puppy, and I'm trying to get it healed before next week. I had already been to the dentist, got my new mouthwash and toothpaste, and a huge folder I've been studying for my "chemo teaching" session they'll do tomorrow.

    I've picked out a wig that looks just about like my hair color, that I can get in two days notice, lots of hats and scarves, in addition to lots of makeup and skin care goodies from the "Look Good, Feel Better" session I attended last week.

    I've save the best for last. Since my surgeon left as much skin as possible for later reconstruction, I've put that on the back burner, for later, but I got to "shop" in my onco. donation closet, and it was a God-send. There lay a size D prothesis that will fit perfectly when the swelling goes down under my arm. I looked it up on the internet and it sells for $300. I tried it on with my regular 36D underwire bra with one of my sweaters and a form-fitting T-shirt, and I just cried. My husband, who has just been wonderful through all of this said I looked just the same, gave me the "hug test" and said I felt great. He really doesn't care, breast or no breast, it only matters to him, because it mattered to me. But it sure made me feel good...until the bone in the bra started digging in, so I went back to my little shelf cammies.

    Then I dropped off some paperwork at the surgeon's office and the nurse who does the prothesis fittings gave me a donated one to fit, so maybe with my sewing skills, I can study how they're mad and make some pockets in my own bras, which I love and fit me well, and have my own custom bras.

    Well, I've had a busy week, and I stay tired all the time, but I'm going to have an even busier week next week, so I'd better get to bed.

    Best wishes to all you "June sisters" and let's keep in touch.

    Hugs,
    B :-)
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  • Sevenley
    Sevenley Member Posts: 30
    edited May 2004
    Hi Shellicks, Mary, Dawn, Janie, PJB, Belinda, everybody!

    Daffy: Best of luck on your bilat surgery hon. We will be thinking of you and praying for you.

    Lizz: I live alone too and am very independent. Everyone says they will help but I've never needed help before. I have a feeling I'm not going to be a very good patient. I'm 50. I'm also a twin.

    I'm looking forward to this holiday weekend. We'll be celebrating by having a picnic or getting out and doing something. I'm sure I'll be working in my gardens too. I stil have a ton of canna lillies to plant.

    Talk about BIG hair, I finally tried on the wig that my neighbor gave me. I look like a cross between Shirley Temple and Harpo Marx! It is so not me but I had to laugh. My neighbor means well. I guess I should wear the thing out in the yard a few times just so they can see that I've worn it. [Smile]

    hugs everyone!
    Lee
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited May 2004

    Hi girls, First I will be saying a prayer for Daffy and hope all goes well for her tomorrow. I will be getting my port on Fri. They moved it up.I will be thinking of her.I too planted cannas and they are about 9 inches high already.I love my flowers. I also have an herb garden and tomatoes. I hope I will be eating them this summer.I planted some calla lillies this year. I have never had them so I am excited to see them when they bloom. They too are about 9 inches high. We have had soo much rain and so many storms lately. One night we had 4 in a row and a couple tornadoes near by.They took me off my harmone patches. (I was er- and pr-)I am melting and waking up all night with night sweats.I guess I'll mention to onc if it gets too bad. It would be o.k. if it was winter and kept me warm.I think I will be glad to get this under way and be able to stop worring about what might happen. I could of started chemo last week but wanted to go to Az. for grad. so they held off two weeks.I just want to get it all over with but then I will worry about it cropping up somewhere else.I do have a friend who had her-2+++ er- pr-and it will be 15 years in June since dx.Never came back.She is my hope.I am sharing this to give hope to all.She says she left it in Gods hands and prays.God Bless you all, Mary

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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited May 2004
    Daffy, I hope that things went well for you. You've got lots of people pulling for you.

    And Mary, I'm hoping the port insertion went great. I get mine in next Wednesday.

    Had my MUGA scan today; guess I'll hear about the results next week. Also met with the radiation oncologist who gave me an interesting book: Fighting for our Future by Beth Murphy. It's aimed at folks 40 and younger with breast cancer and deals with some of the questions more pertinent to them than can be found in some other bc literature. She also told me about a group called Young Survival Coalition (youngsurvival.org) dealing with the same age group. Haven't had much time to look at the book, but it appeals to me. Says 10,000 women 40 and under are diagnosed with bc every year, about 5 percent of the cases diagnosed every year. Very scary.

    Also talked today with my oncologist's nurse, who "offered" me a spot in a clinical trial. I was pumped before I went in because all I'd heard before is that they planned dose dense, which I've read many good things about. I figured 4 AC/4 Taxol every two weeks, then radiation, hey, I could be done with all this before Christmas.

    Well, the clinical trial is indeed dose dense. It has four possible treatments in it. They all include AC and Taxol, but the most "conventional" looking to my amateur mind is AC for 6 treatments every two weeks, then 6 Taxol treatments every two weeks, with pegfilgrastrim thrown in every couple weeks to keep the blood counts up.

    Then there's another one that includes weekly AC for 15 weeks and 6 treatments of Taxol every two weeks. PLUS, you have to take Bactrim and pretty much daily shots of filgrastim.

    So instead of taking less time, this trial would take more. But will it help me live longer? I wish I knew. And will my onc. give me dose dense outside of a study? His nurse says doubtful. So supposedly I'll talk to him Monday or Tuesday to sort all this out. I'm confused and deflated.

    Any of you guys have any thoughts on the best way to choose a treatment? Any pros/cons your doctors have shared with different kinds? Anyone joining a clinicial trial?
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  • cinsully
    cinsully Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2004
    I was diagnosed a few months ago with DCIS (high-grade, comedo-type) and IDC (1.2 cm, ER and PR+, Her...whatever -- positive too I think) and had a lumpectomy on 5/10. Yesterday I saw the oncologist, who recommends 4 rounds of AC. Seeing that the invasive component was small and I have no node involvement, I was totally expecting him to say just radiation and tamoxifen for 5 years, so I was a little floored. I am going to get a second and a third opinion the 2nd week of June.

    However, my questions relate to the tests that are conducted prior to starting chemo -- what ones are generally on the oncologist's list? The oncologist I went to yesterday mentioned a blood test to check out the enzymes, some kind of heart/cardiac test, and a lot of you also mention CT and bone scans, about which the onc didn't say anything to me. In addition, many of you refer to MUGA -- what is that? Thanks for your help!
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  • Dawnt
    Dawnt Member Posts: 55
    edited May 2004

    Marigold,my surgeon is the one that sent me for the bone scan.He said he does one at the beginning & end.He also said he likes everyone to have chemo just incase a cancer cell is hanging around somewhere in your body.Every dr seems to have different ways of doing thinks.Good luck,Dawn

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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited May 2004

    PJB ,thank you for you thoughts.I did not go with the port, was ready waiting and decided I will go with port when it comes back if it does. We will use my arms for the first time. I panicked. My mom died of pancreatic cancer and she lived 14 months which is 8 months longer than they gave her.They put in a port and she died and it just made me feel so terminal and I could not do it. My onc said it was fine so I dressed and came home.Marigold my surg. and both oncs. said any tumor over 1cm. is chemo. The cells get in your nodes and bloodstream(the blood flows through the cancer sight and picks up cancer cells and takes them to other parts of your body. Frankly I would want chemo. no matter haw small it was.There are cells no doubt in the nodes even if the nodes are neg.You are er+ and pr+ so that is good as they can block the ER. and reduce the risk of the cancer returning. PJB,My onc told me about some trials and I looked him in the eyes and asked what was the best treatment for me my life is in your hands and he said Dose dense 4A/C and 4 Taxol 36 rads. He said thats what he would do for his wife.He said the dose dense is proven to extend life expectency. Well we will get through this girls and together we will not do it alone.I will be thinking of you all in my prayers. Mary

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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited May 2004

    Marigold, Also, I am not having any pre scans. I had blood work and e.k.g. (think the e.k.g. was for the port) I asked both oncs (the first I did not like we had a personality clash,I guess. He did not explain anything, maybe he thought I knew all this because I am in nursing but I don't know about cancer care because I have never worked in that field)Anyway the oncs said that stage one usualy don't get the test as other stages.They will do all that when it comes back If it does. PJB my onc gave me percentages on cancer returning in 5 years this is under 2cm. er- pr- her2/3+ grade3 total score9. I have nothing going for me except size. He wrote them down for me. Good thing I can read Drs. writing. Here they are surg. and rad. 1 out 5 die,this is 5 years (100 women)Chemo and rad. 1 in 6 die, dose dense 1 in 9. I hope this helps with you thinking of you. mary

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  • Daffy1962
    Daffy1962 Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2004
    Hi

    Thanks for all the good wishes before my surgery last Friday. Surgery went better than I thought it would. The only thing that I don't like are the drains...they can be gone any time now. I had a port put in and that area is sore to the touch but get better each day. I have to learn to do nothing for the next week or so, I keep getting yelled at for doing thing, you can only sit and watch TV for so long. I see my sugeon on Friday to find out my pathology report, and in three weeks I see my onc and will discuss my treatment plans and when chemo will start. I was worried that I might have made the wrong decision but after surgery I knew I made the right decision about having both breasts removed!
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  • Dawnt
    Dawnt Member Posts: 55
    edited June 2004

    Had my 1st chemo today.They do blood tests 1st & then start you with the chemo.My chemo took 2 hrs & you sit in a reclining chair.They just stick an IV in you & 1st gave me medicine so I wouldnt be sick.I went out to lunch after & probably shouldnt have done that since now I am sick.Luckly he gave me prescription ahead of time but I think I need something alittle more powerful(very weak stomach).The experience at the hospital wasnt bad at all.Someone walks around offering you soda or coffee & sandwiches at lunch time.The nurses were very nice.

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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited June 2004

    Hi girls, So glad to hear your doing fine Daffy. I have a daughter named Daphne and we call her Daffy. Dawnt, Glad to hear you got through your first chemo. Hang in there we are all right on your skirt tail.I start Mon.every 2 weeks. I am leaving for Phoenix Thurs. a.m.and I am so looking foward to it but I know I will be nerveous on the way home Sun. I seldom ever throw up, I doubt I have 5 times in my life. I get an upset stomach but never throw up.I hope that continues.Sevenly, did you get those canas planted? Hope you had a good holliday as all you girls.By the way I too am 50.That sounded old when I was 20 and 30 and 40. Now it doesn't sound so old.My mind thinks my body is still 25 sometimes. Well I am still thinking of all you and hope Sevenly you get those canas in as mine are getting big. By the way I live in central Il. I wonder how Shelliks and Jamie is. Jamies dx. is same as mine but I had no node although I had 4 cells in sent. node that couldn't be identified and my tumor size was 1.7cm. hope they are o.k. I hope to check in tomorrow eve. Its so conforting to be in such good company as you girls.

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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited June 2004
    Dawnt, glad for the update on the chemo. I hope you'll keep updating us on what to expect. Mine has been put off for a few days. I'm to get my port Wednesday and was supposed to start chemo Thursday. But I've got lots of questions about the trials they're recommending for me, so I meet the oncologist to hash it all out Thursday. Then start chemo Friday or next week.

    I keep thinking the trials sound draconian. Then I think what if it comes back in a couple years and I feel like I didn't do things as aggressively as possible this time. i'd kick myself. So I'm going to get more information on the numbers behind the trials so far.

    It's nice to read that everyone on here has a good, upbeat attitude. It's of great help. Thanks
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  • rlswkndr
    rlswkndr Member Posts: 148
    edited June 2004
    Hello everyone,
    I am 45 and just had a lumpectomey & sentinal node biopsy and ovaries out. Tumor 1.5 cm, er+ pr+, neu2 -, came back with clear margins, but 2 of 6 nodes positive. I start 4 cycles of A/C on Thursday. I had a great weekend with our youngest son graduating from high school and know I can get thru anything after raising 3 wonderful guys.
    The 20 and 22 year olds did all the spring cleaning jobs for me and my garden looks awesome.They will be gone for the summer and I will miss their support, but am glad to have my hubby and this site to keep me even more positive and informed.
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited June 2004

    PJB, sorry if I sounded not upbeat I guess my percentages sounded bad the way I worded it but I am sorta upfront and my onc is very frank so if I made anyone feel down I am very sorry.I thought the percentages sounded pretty good.I just wrote it as he wrote it for me.I honestly didn't think about it when I copied it. Again I am sorry if I made anyone feel bad.

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  • Sevenley
    Sevenley Member Posts: 30
    edited June 2004
    Hi Daffy,
    Happy to hear that you are doing so well. Yes, those drains are a nuisance aren't they?

    Take care of yourself hon and don't try to do too much! Get lots of rest.

    We'll be praying for good path reports for you!

    hugs,
    Lee
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  • Sevenley
    Sevenley Member Posts: 30
    edited June 2004
    Hi Everyone!
    Dawn, how are you doing? We're all right on your coat tails. I have my first on Friday. I'm kind of nervous about it, not knowing what to expect. I wonder what kind of things I should take with me. I guess I'm more than nervous. I'm scared.

    I picked up my meds, flouride toothpaste, L-Lycine....I feel like a mini drug store now. I've hardly ever been sick a day in my life and basically just took vitamins (when I could remember) and this is all SO weird for me.

    My daughter tells me that I'm 50 going on 30. [Smile]

    Hi Mary, yep, got all of my cannas planted. How did your EKG turn out?

    How you doing post surgery Daffy? I hope well.

    Well girls, it's time to kick cancer butt!!! We can do it. We will cry, laugh but most of all we will help each other! My e-mail address is lcvest@iup.edu. Please feel free to write anytime!!!

    hugs,
    Lee
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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited June 2004
    Mary, oh, you didn't make me feel bad about the odds. Not at all. Reading what you guys all say keeps me upbeat.

    I was down because I'm so confused as to what to do about my treatment. The thought the trial with its one arm that includes weekly AC chemo, shots every day to boost my blood count and antibiotics and then taxol - over 29 weeks - scares me.

    So I"m thinking about just asking for 4 AC/4 Taxol dose dense. Shelliks, what kind of trial are you on?

    Stay strong everyone.
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