New Here ~ Stage IIIc

I was dx almost three years age with stage 3c bc with 10 plus positive lymph nodes.  My surgeon told me to get my life in order soon...I did and I am still here and have not had it return.  The dose dense chemo must have done it.  Do not give up hope as there are so many new tools to fight this.  I get lumps and bumps too, nearly quarterly, and just go in and get them checked out.  Just part of my new life, but not so scary anymore due to the advances in treatment.  Remember always, you are loved beyond the limits of our current understading...with that understanding you might realize "everything matters, nothing matters really..." My new life is by far better than anything I could have come up with!  "Borrowed time," we all live on this to some extent, but soon you may realize the wonder of this statement and the total freedom it brings...

Hi,

 So sorry you had to join this club too. When I was diagnosed almost 5 years ago (yay!), I had the same thing in the base of my neck in the middle. I had an ultrasound of my thyroid and also a cat scan in my chest area and all was clear. The endocrinologist said that I had nodules on my thyroid,  ( after biopsy), which she said 75% of people have.  The Pet scan lit up around my neck area also. I would have it checked out, but it could be nothing. Sharon is right, chemo would knock it out anyway. xoxoxIlene

Hello JSB2011,  Just saying hello, because I don't know about the new lump.  I hope it is nothing, too.  There are so many times we think it's serious, but find out it's not.  That just seems to go with the diagnosis.  I wish it were not so, for all of us.  Welcome to the site, and we hope to hear from you again soon.

There are lots of us stage lllcer's doing great!!!! I am not saying it's easy ,but it's doable!!!

We have the most awesome, amazing women here!!!  Let us know how you are doing, and remmember no question is off limits, we are here to support each other!!!!

You can and will do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless you sweeti!!!!

Big cyber hugssssss

stephanie

Hi again,

Regarding the port, I was told for my type of chemo (A/C then Taxol) it needed to be in the chest.  But for the life of me I can't remember the reason why!  I truly did not have any problems with mine.  Yes it was annoying, but it never really hurt me.  And good news, after it's settled in you shouldn't have any problem sleeping on your tummy!  At least I didn't.  Right now I can't b/c of my recon surgery, and I can't wait until I get the green light!!!! :::)))

Take care,

Sharon

I'm a "IIIc-er" too.  I'm almost a year out and I've been landscaping and helping my DH build a pergola in our back yard this week.  It does get better, the scares and what if's are always there but do seem to fade over time.  I have some lumps and bumps also but I think mine are from my BMX and all the pushing & tugging they did.  No scan is 100% but I think having a clean one recently is a good sign and chemo along with rads will help clean up anything else also.  I have a chest port and I've had no issues, I wear tank tops and sleep how ever I want.  It will get better, so stay positive and strong and try not to let "cancer brain" take over and ruin your day.  Hugs going your way.

JSB2011: I will second it that these boards are amazing. The women here are wonderful and I have gotten through my chemo, surgeries and reconstruction with all there help.

RE: the port.. I did not get one and I was extremely  happy I did. I never had a problem. Ask your onc. what he/she thinks. My onc. was the one who strongly suggested not getting one. I had 4 treatments but honestly I could of done 8. The nurses are so well trained in the chemo lounges and never hurt me and I rarely had bruising. Unless you have bad veins I would opt not to get one. It is one less surgery

good luck

keep us posted

I also support asking whether a port is needed.  I did not like implements in my body so opted out despite servere lymphodema in one arm.  The nurses had no problem finding a good vein on the other arm.  In fact, all my dose dense chemo was given in the same vein.  Later I had several other IV infusions similar to hercepton and they used the same vein.  The key is to stay well hydrated, which before each treatment is highly recommended anyway.  It is quicker/easier for the nurses to use a port, so many medical institutions automaticall recommend one,  but they are usually not needed unless you have extremely difficult veins or hate needle pokes.

Just wanted to say "welcome" to you, JSB.  This is definitely a club nobody wants to join, but we're all in the same boat, and this place is just full of amazing women -- all on the same journey.  So you definitely came to the right place.  As others have mentioned, there's no such thing as a stupid question and you can come here 24/7 to vent, to cry, to laugh, to share stories, to get other opinions, or just to read other posts so you know you're not alone during this whole thing.  As Clariceak said, "Focus on getting well, and everything else will fall into place."  I'm with her as far as not getting hung up on the prognosis and statistics, etc.  Just try to maintain a positive attitude (it's not always easy -- we've all been in that "dark hole" before, but you just gotta keep climbing out of it and forging forward).  We WILL beat this!  And we're all here to support you in whatever way we can.

On another note -- I did have the Infuse-A-Port installed (chest area) and haven't regretted it.  I had a bilateral mastectomy in February (no reconstruction; love not wearing a bra....LOL), followed by 4 rounds of Adriamycin/Cytoxan every 3 weeks.  Now I'm on Taxotere (just started on last week) once a week for 12 weeks.  Then I'll have a one-month "break" before starting 6 weeks of radiation.  It's definitely not fun, but the side effects actually haven't been nearly as bad as I was anticipating. 

Anyway, I'll quit rambling and just say that I'm sorry you had to join us here, but you'll find lots of love and support to help you get through all the ups and downs of this journey.         

Hi!  I just wanted to pop in and say Welcome to the club that no one wants to join!  I don't post here very much anymore but I'm always lurking around - busy with life - Living it!  I had a lot of positive nodes too and thought it was the end of the world for me, but here I am 2.5 years later and still going strong.  Good luck too you and come here often, I love these gals! 

Welcome JSB.  We have similar dx.  I moved from a stage 2 to a stage 3 after surgery.  My Her2 is triple positive so they gave me the big guns of Taxotere and Carboplatin and along with Herceptin they should take care of any cells lurking about that shouldn't be.  I've finished chemo and surgery and am now on Rads and you will be too before you know it. 

I got the Power Port in the chest near my heart (cancer in right breast) and I'm so glad I did.  I have veins that aren't that easy to access all the time so it was good for me.  In addition to the chemo there were other times I needed blood drawn (for instance, when my platelet count was low) and now I'm on every 3-wk Herceptin for a year and even with the Rads I have to have my port accessed for a CT scan.  My surgeon is a woman & said she would place my port where my bra strap wouldn't hit and so I never even realize it's there until it's accessed which is so easy and painless. 

I hope to see you back on these boards and I'll be looking for you.  I thought our CA weather was supposed to be dry, like in desert.

Dear JSB welcome to our club.  Great support here.  My nodes contained a 5cm tumor while the one on my breast was only 2.5.  I had the same chemo as you will.: taxotere/ carboplaitin, and herceptin.  It is a strong chemo and seems to have done the job.  I am four years "dancing with NED"  No Evidence of Disease. I LOVED my port which was in my chest and had to be moved once.  I have always had a problem with phlebotomists finding a vein so it was wonderful  to have the ease of access a port offered.  Wishing you all the best.  It is doable.

Paz

I wanted to take a minute to invite you over to the TCH thread. It is in the forum about getting through treatment, I think. It is a very active thread made up of women who have all had,or are having, the same type of chemo you will be getting. There is a wealth of info there so please drop by. Also be sure to join the thread for chemo starting the month that you start... Or maybe the August one, since you are on the edge. You will go through each step with those women and become very close. My April 2009 group is still supporting one another over two years later.