Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

So I think we have a club...even if none of us wanted to join. Sadly, I'm sure we will gain others as we go.

rachelvk-When did you have surgery?Hope you are recovering well. I am two weeks out today from my unilateral mx.  Starting to feel well enough emotionally to feel bummed emotionally and worried about the next phase of treatment. In an odd way, I think that's progress:)

tammie-I am soooo sorry you are having to do this yet again. I cannot even imagine how difficult it is to hear those words for the second time and know all too well what it means. Having my port on the 16th. Will be thinking of you next week.

I have been looking into cold caps to try to decrease hair loss. Have a list of OTC meds to deal with SE's, like Claritin, B6, Immodium, Metamucil....I feel like I should just take out stock in Walgreen's:)  

Hi Stephanie. I am glad to "meet" you, but sorry that you are here, and especially that it is also a second experience for you. We can do this together in spirit on the 1st. I hate the whole thing for all of us too. I am gradually coming to terms with the fact that a future occurence is quite likely. That was not my perspective at the beginning, I was going to have surgery, get whatever treatment I needed, reconstruct and move on. Yeah. Know better now.

My tumor is HER+, and I will be receiving Herceptin, which they tell me is a "game changer" in treatment therapies for this type. All the survival/reoccurence stats about people with my diagnosis do not really take into account the apparently better outcomes with Herceptin because it just hasn't been around long enough. That is hopeful, but bottom line, we just don't ever know, do we? And not knowing is one of the hard parts. 

rachelvk- Hadn't heard about olive oil before. That is probably worth a try and doesn't sound too awful. Heart healthy, also!!!!  I think we're entitled to a certain amount of grumpy. I've sure had my moments. Is Taxotere supposed to cause less neuropathy than Taxol? I did not know that. Hope so, because I am getting THC with Taxotere/Herceptin/Carboplatin. I am 48 with grown children and three grandchildren, so in a different place in my life. I think though that it is important not to close any doors if you think you could have regrets later. There is not a thing wrong with a conscious decision to be child free; on the other hand, the choice to become a parent is something you should not pass up for any circumstance or any person if you feel it is something you desire. I also decided I could not afford the name brand Penguin Caps, but am looking into Elastocaps, which are much cheaper. I have talked to women on the boards who have also used these with positive results. They are more like $80-90 each. It is recommended to have 3-4 of them, but that's still much more affordable, and I'm thinking that for me, it's probably worth a try. 

tammie- My surgeon assures me I will be happy with the port, and I certainly am all about avoiding the digging for a vein I experienced during the mx hospitalization. I just hope it is not a constant source of discomfort like the drains! My BRCA was negative, despite a strong family history. I was told only about 5% of them come back positive, which surprised me. 

What are you all thinking about dealing with holidays and chemo? I am just sort of choosing to opt out of most things and have informed the grown children not to expect expensive gift giving. Something small for the kids, a collaborative effort family dinner...THE END! Anyone else thinking that far?

Also, anyone else planning to/has worked during chemo? I really need to financially. Any helpful tips or ideas for planning?

stephanie33

I am having the taxotere, and my oncologist confirmed yesterday that neuropathy is generally more of a problem with the taxol vs taxotere. I hope that does not turn out to be true for you. Why did they make this treatment choice? Is is because of a particular tumor characteristic or because you have had taxotere previously? 

We have a very large extended family and actually have company from out of state this weekend because there is a family baby shower occurring tonight. No one has expected me to do anything "extra" and my DH has done all of the cleaning and cooking, but I am exhausted just having them all here. Rotten time of year to have to deal with this, but then, when would be good? It must be very hard to go through this with little ones. Mine are at least grown.

 Work, well, we will just have to see. I am a nurse midwife and have very long days in the office and 24 hr call shifts for deliveries. My practice partners have been MORE than supportive and accomodating, and have in fact donated some time, but I simply cannot afford not to work throughout chemo, and if I am going to work at all, am going to have to do a 40+ hr week. My scheduled days can be manipulated to work around whatever are my "worst" days after treatments, if we can try to predict a pattern, but once I'm on, I'm on and whatever happens, happens. Very concerned about this. It is great that you may be able to work partially from home if needed.

greetings, kennylynne. sorry that you are facing both chemo AND rads. hoping it goes well for you. 

Welcome Sunshine and Grace.

Sunshine, you may want to explore cold caps to avoid/reduce hair loss. Hadn't heard of them myself before getting on these boards. The 2 main kinds are Penguin cold caps and Elastogel caps. The consensus seems to be that the Penguins are better, but the Elastogel are waaay cheaper. Plan to try them. Don't know how well it works, seems to be mixed experiences and opinions among both users and MO's.Just a thought if you are interested, there is a whole forum thread about hair and cold caps. 

Tammie, I have a shopping list too. I really hope that your port placement is not bad for you. Will be thinking of you tomorrow. Still trying to get mine rescheduled and coordinated with the GYN surgeon to do both that and the ovarian biopsy at the same time. 

Grace-Sounds like you had a TRAM or DIEP procedure. I am just a little envious; my plastic surgeon recommended not doing immediate reconstruction since there was so much initial confusion about my diagnosis. (which did actually change after surgery). I hate looking in the mirror right now. I hear that there is quite a recovery from the type of surgery you have had. Best wishes as you go through this time and prepare for chemo. I am starting on the 1st also, so we can compare notes in a couple of weeks:)