August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

Hi summer girl.... I'm still dealing with the discomforts of the AND on top of recovering from my BMX. It's been a much longer recovery than I ever anticipated. I start my chemo soon after you and am very emotional about my hair. We can cry together!!!



Robo... What's the "x" on your treatment stand for? I don't know if I've seen that one yet??? I see you're from Chicago, have you seen the IL ladies thread on here? It's a great bunch of us, always welcoming more BC sisters ( even though we'd prefer NONE of us had this disease)....

Hi ladies.  Looks like I get to be a part of your club .  I had a bilateral mastectomy on July 12.  I'm having the MUGA scan and port placement tomorrow, then start chemo on Friday...A/C every two weeks X 4, then Taxol once a week X 12, then 33 radiation treatments, and finally 5 years of estrogen.  A little nervous about starting chemo, but know it's what I need to do to kick the crap out of this cancer. 

Leighsa/Summergirl1, I'm also ILC. I was also wondering how many of us were here. Interesting to learn some of the treatments are similar. Not sure what differentiates what yet.

To all, I'll be starting AC next week, and am keeping fingers crossed SE are minimal. I'll keep you posted. My port gets installed Wednesday. It sucks, because my doc just cleared me from surgery, was hoping to getting some kayaking in, but noooooo. But, just as well to get it started. The sooner the finish line will come!

Ellen, I am Jennifer. I just started adriamycin and cytoxan last week. 1 of 7 treatments. I have 4 rounds of the A/C and then 4 rounds of taxol, resection of lymph nodes (my surgeon didn't take as many as he should have 2/2 positive) then radiation and tamoxifen.



The first 2 days aren't too bad. Day 3, 4, 5, very tired. Stock up on wwatermelon and fruit. It was my saviour. My taste buds are just starting to come back. Rest. Rest. Rest. Listen to your body. Call on your archangel. If you don't know who he is give me your zodiac sign and will let you know. My archangel is Raphael, he is the healing angel. I am gemini, born in june.



Reiki music and meditation really help me. Find a reiki master...... it has really helped me to relax and be calm during my mastectomy and my cuurrent chemo tratment. I have another reiki treatment on thursday. I also wear healing stones, rose quartz and amethyst. These are my healing stones. I wera them alternating daily to help me focus.

jennifer

oh!  i know the other....what the heck is a MUGA scan?

AND is auxilliary node disection. I believe BMX is bilateral mastectomy, and not sure on the DH, tho I'm thinking husband related

Ladies correct me if I'm wrong.

Hi, I'm jennifer, I have had one of 7 treatments. A/c, every 2 weeks, 4 rounds, then taxol every 2 weeks, 4 rounds. I like this support group. I m 38 yrs old, no family history at all. I had bot ILC and IDC on pathology report of mastectomy. You know what is even weirder, I breast feed both my children, greater than10months, they both nursed better on the left, this is the sife that was removed! Is it a coincidence?



Jenn

K, so I'm a Jenn too... So, we have 2 Jenn's and a Jennifer on here, who can we confuse first? :0)



EllasMom...I see it now, DUH...just like me with my Madi. I have expanders too....not comfortable at ALL!! Still have to sleep on my back 7 weeks tomorrow... BOO!!



Robo....bloomingdale is pretty close, I used to work in carol stream. My "foobs" look like hard little Nerf footballs, LOL.... My friend just started her treatments at Northwestern last month....i went between there and Rush downtown and ended up at Rush.... I've read about the caps and decided I didn't think I could see it all the way through, I do NOT like having a cold head.... But I still consider them because I'm struggling with the upcoming baldness.... Everyone says "embrace it". Yeah, easy for them to say....they don't have cancer!!!



Rox....the Muga scan is a scan of your heart, to make sure it can handle the chemo.... I get mine in the 10th... Sick of tests.



Hi Jenn B....how was treatment #1?? are u feeling okay?



How many of us are in our 30's??? It seems like a lot.... I wish none of us were doing this and this was a recipe forum instead.....

Summergirl1 welcome! It is wonderful to have a group of women who understand what you are going through. I think ups and downs are normal and we are all experiencing them. I go to get my wig tomorrow. I hope I like it. One day at a time...

Summergirl -It seems we may have had our right mastectomies around the same time.  My surgery was June 30th.  I feel I have healed well but the TE digs into my ribs like a too tight underwire bra.  I am awaiting oncotype score within the next 24-48 hrs. but expect to do chemo.  Although I am 53, my hair is long and I like it that way!  I hate to lose it.  Want to get a head start on some comfortable alternatives if need be.  I try to stay upbeat too but each step is more and more treatment and more unexpected info.!  This started out as a simple lumpectomy and became so much more extensive.  But I am trying to enjoy my summer.  As you should.  I find if I focus on everyday things and projects, I 'forget', despite the constant pain, to think about cancer.  I like those mental breaks very much!!

The month has finally hit... 6 days left for me, getting especially anxious!

 I haven't done a thing about a wig yet... I'll probably regret putting this off, I do plan on getting one. I have 2 scarves - don't know how much I'll use them... any of you ladies know how to tie a (very) long oblong scarf? Maybe I'll just wrap a bath towel around my head.

Rochelleanderson,

The look good feel better class will teach you how to tie all kinds of scarfs.  It will also teach you how to do you make-up and wear wigs.  to check on one you your area go to http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org    I have found that bandanas from Wallmart work great for everyday wear.

Musicalmom...I chopped about 6 inches off my hair last thursday (and put in a pink extension! LOL) to start preparing....my avatar pic is from the day I was diagnosed, my family was in Disney....got the dreaded "you have cancer" call about an hour before the picture.



I have been sleeping horribly the last couple nights, ugh. My tailbone is sore from sleeping on my back upright with pillows for 7 weeks....



Everyone have wonderful days, I don't think anyone starts treatment today?? We need a list of everyone on here and their start date....

Ugh...I've tried!! my chest is so uncomfortable with my TE's, I swear they "shift" into my armpits... My PS thinks I'm nuts. I did order an L shaped boomerang pillow from walmart, waiting for it to come and hoping it helps. I can't sleep like this much longer.... I would LOVE to curl up on my side.... Even for 5 minutes.