Chemo May 2011

Justme-that really sucks! Didn't they have enough time to get it approved for you? Not to put blame, but the doctors are the ones who must have dropped the ball. My doctor has already sent in for my nov. 30 th surgery and I got the approval letter already.

MamaV-You are not jinxing yourself! You are moving on and don't think anything else! Ports can be added and taken away just like that, so it is not a jinx! Here's to not needing it again! How is the hair growth?

I have to admit the 12 weekly abraxane has been harder on me than when I did 4 taxol 8 years ago. The weekly way starts out all good, no se's and feeling good, and then bam! I have a treatment tomorrow and then one more after that for a total of 2 more! I am draggin! I tried to cancel all my work days for the next couple of weeks but some of my favorite clients are coming in and I want to see them so I am sticking it out (it's only a few hours a day). My sweet dear manager has arranged for peeps to help me out where I don't have to ask for it, and then ok'd it with the boss. Gotta love her, she is the best!.

bak94  they might of not of had time . I went in tue and  thur was the day we set together. It might be a few more days i think by monday i will get a call. I dont know what all has to happen i thought a fax and i would be ok since its not a surprise i have breast cancer been going through treatment all spring/summer but too the paper work might be harder than i think.  I was a nervous wreck yesterday when that call came in i was so happy in a weriod kinda way . I know i got to do this but i got to sneak in a few more days .I am going to be at a better mind set next time i am sure . Lest i will try to be. LOL

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.  There are so many mental stresses at every stage of BC - even the ending ones!

Hair growth is pretty good!  I was 15 weeks PFC yesterday and go topless at home - and everywhere but work (although it's cold now here in Chicago so I often wear a bandana).  My hair is about 1 inch long (a little shorter right in front) and mousy brown.  I used to have nice natural highlights, not seeing any of that yet.  I used to have curly hair too - so far very straight.  I just can't bring myself to go topless at work.  I am the HR Manager and people come to see me all day long so I can't hide.  I also interview a lot of people from the outside and think right now I look old and sick.  My goal is Christmas!

Have a great weekend all!

Hi Ladies! I had the surgery on Monday and was discharged on Thurs. The surgery went well and the care I received was great. However, I was not expecting so much pain, even with the high-powered pain meds. Hopefully, this will subside within a week or so. I hope I am not scaring anyone. I guess I had unrealistic expectations. Waiting for the path report and a date to begin rads.



I am thinking of all of you and saying little prayers for all of your upcoming challenges and accomplishments. Hugs!

Justme1, thanks for the prayers. Yes, today IS a little better. I am sorry if I alarmed you (and anyone else!). I was expecting to be sick from the anesthesia because that happened before with my kids' deliveries via c-section. I thought I would be out in 1 day. But, I stayed 3. I just didn't realize the pain would not be completely dulled with pain-killers. Maybe, that's my own fault. But, I only had ONE breast done plus the AND. I cant even imagine what the BMX would have been like......I guess I would have gotten through it, eventually. Just wishing I could have had a Lumpectomy. I don't like the numbness at all. The TE feels like a rock. But, the body is amazing at healing itself. Everything, in due time. Good luck with your surgery. Keep us posted.

Thanks, MamaV. Every day is a little brighter. Had one of my drains removed today and that helped. Trying to recover ASAP so I can start rads soon. Congrats on finishing your tx.

Just had my 3 month post chemo check up (I know 3 months already? Why didn't time go by this fast while I was getting chemo?). Doc said I should stop wearing my wig - he's obviously seen too many women with 1" of hair. Not normal and not a good look! I've gained back all the weight I lost during chemo - time to stop celebrating with cake! Baseline mammogram and MRI next month and then I dont have to see any doctors for 3! months!!!!! Yippee!

Patriotic  i am still waiting .Last night my dh called the insurance  to see whats going on .They have lots of approvals to get to the way they talked so i am just a number and when they get to me  then i will get a call from my surgen. They did say my surgens office could tell them to put me priority but i thought they already did ??? I am really nervous bout surgery but my family cant wait till i get the beast outta mee.Thanks for prayers i need em .

I am wondering how i can be staged too i had chemo all spring/summer .They told me after sugery was when i could be staged .?

Hi justme1. I would suggest calling the insurance and asking for a "case manager." Time is of the essence and it's not like your surgery is "elective" or anything. Geez. I am sure you are really on edge.



The final Path Report contained the staging. I am cautiously optimistic about it but am wondering which set of statistics now apply to me.

Found out yesterday that I was only stage I (I thought I was stage IIA); MO said he was treating me like Stage IIA, but I was only stage I.  I had one micromet in a sentinal node and he said that doesn't count as node positive.  Now that I'm all done, I don't know if it really matters ...

beaglesgirl. sorry to hear that. I got the call while I was in the lobby for some scan and I started crying on the spot. The receptionist was really nice and brca 1 positive as well. I suspected I was positive because of family history, but it still hit hard. Glad you had the bmx already, mine is nov 30, then rads then hysterectomy, although i have not set up appointment for hyst. yet.

Had my last abraxane. Now waiting for surgery. Doc wants to do pet/ct . bone scan, muga scan all before surgery, guess they really want to make sure no cancer shows up before surgery. So here comes scan anxiety again, even though I had breast and chest mri and chest/abdominal ct just 6 weeks ago. I want off this rolloercoaster!

Patriotic-what did they find with your path report after surgery? nice to be downstaged/

Mamav-also nice to be downstaged! 3 months checks must feel good! Congrats!

Justme-Any surgery date yet? Are you finally feeling better from your last chemo? Mow I am in the waiting to feel better, I know it will get worse before it gets better, just had last chemo.

My doc said there is a woman who is 73 that has been getting the same treatment as me, I am 44. Her white counts drop to almost 0 each time but she is growing hair! My counts have stayed pretty good but only few strands of grey/white hair. Should I be concerned? Doc said it would come back in , said don't worry.

Now when I am finished with chemo I find the perfect hat! It's those buffs from REI. They can be worn in many ways and seem like they will be great for when hair starts coming in. It's kinda a sporty look instead of dressy though.

Patriotic - advice on rads - I used Fruit of the Earth pure aloe 3x day from the first day of rads - I never burned and never peeled.  I didn't have nodes radiated though, so only had two quick zaps.  Still - slather that stuff on!

Thanks, MamaV. I also think Aloe is probably better than Aquafor for burning. I saw you started Tamox before rads. I also want to start Tamox ASAP but, my docs prefer I wait until rads are finished. I wont start rads for 4 weeks or so. I just not see how anything can be armed by doing them concurrently.



Bak94, are you finished with treatment until surgery? yeah! I bet you will start feeling better in 7-10 days and then, you can rest up for surgery. What type of surgery are you having?

yes, I am finished with chemo until surgery, which will be a bmx no immediate reconstruction. I still don't feel well, I think my counts are really low, they were a bit low before my last chemo so they have probably tanked. It just scares me when I can hardly do anything, I was doing so good at the beginning of chemo but have really gone downhill. I hope all it is is the chemo and not something else.I do have to have a hysterectomy also because of brca positive, but that will be after rads.

Have you made any decisions Patriotic? I kinda have always known I would have hyster. because my mom died of ovarian cancer at the age of 56.