Just Joined the Stage III Family

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  • MJLToday
    MJLToday Member Posts: 2,068
    edited November 2011

    http://www.youngsurvival.org/

    Young Surival Coalition

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    I'm glad to hear your scans were good and yes, I remember that first shower, it was great.  I hope your trip to MDA goes well and you get some positive info...let us know.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited November 2011

    Hi.....

    Can you donate your hair???  I had mine cut and then donated to Locks of Love.  Someone who could benefit got my hair.  Still feel good about that one.  (And believe it or not, one of the staff members of the building I live in donated her hair on my behalf.  I am still blown away by this.)

    A nasty shock, but we do get through everything.  Look at KerryMac!  She is running marathons and thriving.

    You will be fine too.  Just make sure you do the treatment.

    Have a blast at the party.  Plan another for when you are done.  I did a Global Virtual Wine Party both times.  So friends globally toasted my recovery.  Still toasting..... - Claire

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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited November 2011

    Claire, I definately donated my hair, I went from waist to chin two weeks ago, I figured I would do it in phases.  The shortest I had ever had was chin length almost 10 years ago :)  So I donated to Pantene beautiful lengths.  They donate their wigs to ACS for free and ACS gives them away for free.  What I heard about LOL is tthat they make you pay for the wigs... not something I really wanted someone else to have to do when the hair was free :)

    I am a little nervous about tomorrow, I am not in love with my chin length hair despite my stylist doing a great job, but hair is hair and it will come back!   But really I am nervous about the booze, I am not much of a drinker ;)  luckily we have a DD though!

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  • RedSunshineKim
    RedSunshineKim Member Posts: 7
    edited November 2011

    You are right about your path report! A 2-1-3 would only be an overall intermediate Nottingham grade. Your oncologist can ask the pathologist to correct their report to help clear up where the mix-up is - just not adding up right or if they meant to change one of the score components.  Also if you are going to MDA they will probably review your path so you will ave a second opinion on the grade. 

    As for breast cancers while breast feeding - likely many are related to the increased hormones unleashed durring pregnancy and the decreased immune response. During pregnancy the risk of develpoing breast cancer does rise slightly - but it is still relatively rare enough that it is not screened for (would likely be a lot of false positives if we did). So it really pays to be self-aware! I wish there was a good blood test to figure out who was at highest risk - we still have so much to learn. Research like the trial you are in is so imporant to figuring this out more - that trial sounds really interesting! 

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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited November 2011

    RedSunshine.... Thank you ;)  I had to get a little petty and do my party dance :)  For whichever way/reason its wrong we should find out in Houston, but its not so bad for being 5 years out of school and a stay at home mom for over a year.  I think my biochem profs would be proud of my catch.  Sorry, petty, I know but I gotta be excited about something even if it is the fact that I am still science literate enough to catch a mistake ;) 

    Again, thank you for answering, it makes me feel better.

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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited November 2011

    So, I actually found some stuff out today and figured I would update :)

    I am down here in sunny warm TX and have squashed two drs consults, a boobie squish, another ultrasound and biopsy and a pet scan in with my sight seeing ;)  Anywhoo, the ultrasound showed a large lymph that they biopsied inmy chest and the pet scan confirmed cancer.  They are recommending Tx12 and the FECx4 starting next Mon.  I have to have a multiple disciplinary conference with a group of Docs to confirm treatment.  There was one ify spot in my spinal vert that was orangy haze but not a spot.  The final rads report hasn't come back on that.  Tryin to stay optimistic,  I like stage three... getting used to being here and I don't feel like being bumped to stage four.  OH the biggest problem is the margins on my surgery weren't actually clean.  Path here said that the margins were big enough hrmph... ;)  Ill learn more monday. 

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    Thanks for the update, sounds like they are taking care of you there at MDA.  I'm sorry to hear the news but many of us had scares during our scans & surgeries and most turned out to be nothing.  Hopefully, chemo will take care of any strays left from those margins.  I didn't do that chemo so, I can't offer any help there but hopefully others who did will come along.  I'm thinking of you and let us know how things go on Monday.  Keep in mind that more people win this battle than lose it, stay strong.

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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited December 2011

    Holy cow!  That was one hell of a two weeks, but it was amazing at MDA.  I have to say, when people tell you it gets easier once you are comfortable with your care and you have a plan they are SOOOO right!   So, Mon I found out that I am not getting released from MDA.  Apparently they don't really trust my doctors back home.  i started chemo there on 11/28 and I get to finish the last 11 taxol at home, but then I have to follow up in TX and start the FAC in TX.  Lex doctors aren't really supposed to do anything now other than give me chemo.  My armpit margins also weren't clear from my MX, so I go back after I am done with my FAC for outpatient surgery in TX and then I get to move there for two straight months for Rads.  Apparently, from the director of Rads himself, they want me to do Rads there because I wouldn't get the right kind in Lex.  They flat out told me if I hadn't come that the care plan from back home wouldn' thave been enough to keep me healthy for a long long time.   So I guess its a good thing I went.  ;)  Hey I may even be some kind of millionaire by the time this is over (a frequent flier millionaire-first class upgrades here I come).  I am feeling really good right now.  Confident in the MDA doctors and just tired from the taxol!  

    They did explain why they are choosing this treatment plan though: Apparently taxol x 4 vs taxol 12 have the same total chemical amount, and the same prognosis, but the lower weekly doses do less damage to your immune system and you have less side effects :)  I shouldn't get the huge decrease in WBC like from the taxol x4.  Also we are doing taxol before the FAC  because if you do it after then they have to decrease the total volume of taxol and FAC you get because the FAC first is so hard on the body.  This way I will get more chemo volume with less SE bang ;)  Makes sense to me!  Sorry, I always like to know the whys ;) 

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited December 2011
    Congrats MMM, I'm so happy you have found clear answers and a tx plan you feel comfortable with.  It is so important to have confidence in your plan and be able to believe in it....they don't give MDA the best rating for nothing!  I'm a lil' jealous right now Smile  Let us know how things go and congratulations again.
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