March 2012 chemo

I was diagnosed as Triple Negative from the start. If you have any questions about TN, I'll be glad to answer what I can! I recall reading somewhere that a weak HER2+ is treated as a negative but I don't remember why. If I find out, I'll let ya know.

I have a SE that I haven't read about yet.  I am day 8 from TCH#2 of 6.  I experience a burning sensation during urination.  I had the same issue after TCH#1.  It did pass but I was wondering if anyone else had this concern.  I forgot to mention it to the MO.  I'm guessing that the chemo drugs are really getting out of my system now.

Hi Cmcclean

I'm getting ready for the great shave-off too! Shedding like a long-haired cat at the moment. Can't quite bring myself to do it, however. Clinging on to the last few days of my own hair.

Next week on, after Session two of my chemotherapy, I was told I would lose all my hair. It's only hair. It will grow back. I said I wasn't bothered about the prospect of losing it before it happened but...I am!

Ah well, time to introduce my new best friend - Macie - the wig that will be with me for the next year or so.

Hope you and all the other ladies reading this take heart and remember why we're doing this.

I am trying desperately hard to!

Warm wishes

Alice the Cat 

Jeanne - I just got  roast, pasta salad and cookies delivered.  So I guess that is my good thing of the day.

tc9876 - are you drinking enough?  sure you don't have a UTI?  any fever?  I just ask because when I started running fever before I even started chemo, UTI was the first thing my MO nurse asked about.

Shera - awesome. Did you ever get in touch w/your MO to find out what you were SUPPOSED to get?

Lana - as long as it is just your red counts you may be ok...

Corky - sorry your day was derailed with your daughter but what a good thing with your son!

Wigs - I am having more and more reservations about my wig.  I have thin/flat hair and it is just so ridiculously thick and full that I think it really looks fake.  I really need to get to a wig store to see what other options I may have.

I am really bored.  I feel well enough that there are some things I could be doing around the house but all I managed to do was the clean the kitchen earlier and put a load of laundry on.  The problem with being home everyday is that I figure I can always do it tomorrow.

Cmcclean- yes there is a fiddletown! We're in northern Cali surrounded by vineyards and wineries in the Sierra foothills. Truly worth a visit! Maybe if you hit it on a good day we can show you the sights. Doubt I'll have hair back by then though. That's awesome about you and your son. I've noticed that I'm having more conversations with my kids now that there's so much more "couch time". It's nice when we find the small blessings in all this huh? Glad you're feeling good today! Hope your daughter gets to feeling better!

Michelle  - I know that my DH is loving it...I am a really picky eater and the first week I was so sick I didn't care anyway but he has pretty much eaten everything that everyone has brought.  A lady that I know through the schools organized meals through the time school is out on Mon/Thurs through a site called takethemameal.com.  She said it was really easy to set up. I cannot believe all the people that have signed up on there to send us food...such a kind gesture.

 Lana, I have my stack of insurance paperwork/bills here and was planning on trying to get them organized...but have not managed to do so yet. I would prefer staying in a state of denial about all of it.   

I've given up on the insurance/bills for awhile. Just can't think logically enough to focus on it.

Jeanne - I think I may take my freebie wig w/me when I go to the shop in town and see if they recommend anyone that can trim it.  I don't really have a hairdresser and quite honestly I don't trust just anyone to do it.

MLB - lol...my DH will eat anything too.  I am the cook here but I don't enjoy it!  I think because I am so picky and I only cook what I will eat.  However, since my parents have been here, my dad has been the one doing the majority of it. I haven't cooked in over a month! And yeah, that 10lbs I lost week when I had no appetite during chemo...well, the appetite is back.  And people are bringing a lot of desserts.  Yikes.

Hi everyone, I thought I'd share this resource in case you haven't seen it. This consortium is a highly regarded source for treatment recommendations and they've prepared a booklet that provides a lot of useful information about the different treatment options available and why they are used in different situations.



http://www.nccn.org/patients/patient_guidelines/breast/files/mobile/index.html#1



According to this, Herceptin is typically given when HER2 positivity is high.



About low positivity being treated as negative, it's kind of at the discretion of the MO, but it's my understanding that it is in part due to the chance of the result being an error (there is a margin of error in every test which is why they sometimes retest or do a different test) and also that it's just so low the cells could act as negative. In something like 30% of BC patients, ER and/or PR status change over time as well. I have a very low positive PR score so my MO calls me essentially triple negative, but she's still giving me Tamoxifen for five years on the off chance my PR status allows it to help. I found a study at one point that found that people with my hormone status actually saw a better survival benefit from 5 years on Tamoxifen than other combinations, so I've decided to give it a shot.

Does anyone have the final decision on whether to take Claritin for the bone pain. I get my first one tomorrow and just don't know what to do. Also I was given different answers as when to take the extra nausea meds- one nurse only if I really start to need it and the other said to take it right away no matter how I feel. Any thoughts or comments?? I know you all are way ahead of me in this fun journey.

Thanks for any help:))))))

Hey January. I would take the claritan...day before, day of and a few days after. If you still feel pain then get some painkillers!



I only take the nausea pills if I start to feel off but I haven't had any real issues. Im sure you will get a feel for how much you need them.

Masserz - can't get the link to work - it comes up but won't click through?

MLB - that big long old "O...." name is generic for Zofran, lol.  I got that, Compazine, and Phenagren and DH had to go and write the brand names on top so that we would remember what was what.  I have read that Zofran is the best as far as lasting the longest (every 8 hrs) and being strongest...I would think think Compazine is next and to me Phenagran to me is only useful if you want your a$$ knocked out - it has antihistimine properties and just makes you sleep - or it does for me.

I took the clariton and didn't have any bone pain.  I also took the nausea meds for 4 days just as a precaution. Took it when I got up and then 8 hours later.  I just didn't want to feel sick so I took it as the nurse told me.  I still carry it in my purse in case it hits while I'm at work.

Karri That sounds like a great friend party, nicely done.

I also feel like I'm possibly packing on pounds...I don't own a scale, so I won't know until #2, but for sure everything I may have lost in my first two weeks, I am making up for now...

Margo good luck on the interview!