Calling all TNs

Hi I am just getting a chance to read up on the posts its brilliant page  I started my chemo called Docetaxel (Taxotere )Cyclophosphaimide has any one else got this treatment or is there differnt chemo types for TN . I am having  4 seesions of cnemo through the vein  I started my first one 29/5/12  back again in 3 weeks  and seeing my oncoloist on the 14 /6/12  I am having my lright breast removed my tumour is 6 cm roughley but they cant tell me  how long its there until surgery also I am having 35 sessions of radiium  after all that  now they found a benighn lunp in my left breat I was wondering would i be doing  the right thing in asking them to remove both breast they are not giving me construction  due to tumour size they said maybe down the road but that was a big maybe so I think I am taking that as a no I feel good so far eating well  also I get an injection called Nuestra 24/48 hours after each chemo  the nurse came and done it for me wednesday  so now I know how to do it  myself  I am just so confussed why our doctors in IRELAND are not Up todate on TN  it has to be very rare here in IRELAND  ANY SUGGESTIONS OR TIPS MOST APPRECIATED  sorry abouut caps ...  I have not broke down I have been postive  and strong but ai am the sort of person that likes to know is it life threating as my surgeon told me it s very aggressive cancer  so any help anybody  keep you all in my prayers  xx

ok Hubby would kill me if he knew I posted this.  ha ha ha.  I just love it.  Poor man was sick as a dog and my little guys just snuggled up with him and slept the day away. 

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HI my name is Nora age 50 and I had TN BC in 2007. After much chemo Adriamycin, taxotere and cytoxen and 30 Rads I am thankfully okay. I had a lumpectomy and 3 nodes removed which were all negative. My margins were clear and I kind of left it behind me.  However, in the last three weeks or so I have had pain in the node site and under my breast on my ribs. I don't feel anything but with all the scar tissue and holes its hard to tell whats what. I am freakin out a little cause I fear recurrance. Does recurrance hurt? I had no pain with my original tumor. I go to the drs on the 6th for my 6 month check-up . It will be the last one cause my 5 year survival anniversary is coming up in Oct on my 30th wedding anniversary. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks! 

Wow... my post is almost as long as yours Annie... see what happens we dont chat for a few hours !!

Dear nsmith36 - You know I used to get that sharp pain under my breasts, on the ribs, and wrote many posts asking people what it was.  I personally feel it is some sort of lymph drainage that kinda gets stuck there.  I am not sure if we have some lymph nodes right below the breasts, but I personally feel they come from hormonal imbalance.  Sometimes those areas have no pain whatsoever, other times, there is so much pain there.  I would use coconut oil and massage those areas on both sides for at least a half hour.  I still do.  The next day the sharpness gets to be less.  And a week of massaging actually takes all the pain away.  Once my surgeon referred to it as something (a medical term).  I wish I had written it down, but I will never be able to remember what she had said. I have researched this on the internet and never found anyone that talked about it.  Try massaging and let me know if the pain goes away after a few days. The difference in pain is felt the next day, after massaging. Don't freak out, we have a lot going on in our bodies at age 50 and after. Mainly, in my opinion, most of it has to do with hormonal imbalances, which is a natural phenomena, but because we live in a toxic world, things are not normal anymore.

Thanks Lovelyface ,its true about the hormonal imbalances. Having been pushed straight thru menopause has been trying. Its like" okay you are all healed" and then they leave and we are not the same. This is more of a burning sensation and it may be weather related although I have never experienced it before. I am probably getting paranoid thats all. I will try the massage. Thanks

Caroline 71-My humble opinion would be to have both breasts removed.  I wish I had.  I had a modified radical of right breast year ago and now wish I had been consulted about the irritation of wearing a heavy form and the lopsided feeling.  (I live in sunny California where it is usually either very warm or hot)  I'm trying to find time to have remaining left breast removed even though it is healthy.  That way I can run around bra-less and be comfortable.  Good luck with all the decisions you must make.  So may people are here to hold your hand and boost your spirits.

Navy and all you ladies who know Jenn.   I do not, but please I am thinking of her and sending positive thoughts..... this cancer *&^%$#) sucks... stay strong people, stay strong.

Love and hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dang this board moves fast, forgive me if I forget someone.



Riley - thank you for that info on genetic response to chemo and no correlation to SE and efficacy. I often did wonder if having an easy time was gonna bite me in the a** down the road. My doc ( who has a fun sense of humor) did mention, that they didn't understand why some people had a hard time, and others (like me) had an easier time. Ever the wise a**, I told her I had an easy time because I was a smoker, my body is used to being poisoned by toxins. This elicited both the evil eye and lots of laughter from her. Loved the EMT story!



OBKX - Congrats on your son's achievements and loved that hangover anology.



Bernie - love the jokes.



To all who felt bad about complaining about hubbies - DON'T! This is the perfect place to vent, with others who will understand. If men were able to chat like we do there would be a lot less problems.



Thank you all for the puppy pictures. As I've listened to you all over time, I actually became grateful to be divorced. (don't take that the wrong way) I just realized that I was able to focus on my needs and not have to worry about how it was effecting somebody else. But I will tell you, da*n, I still miss my dog! *big grin*



Lisadi - everyone got your questions, but one warning. Are you large breasted? If so, you may get fluid in your breast after surgery, that "sloshes" when you move. I checked the toilet, tub and sink one day after surgery, before I figured out that the "sloshing" I was hearing was actually coming from my breast. It was so audible, that I recorded it on my cell phone audio, and sent it to my girlfriend's with the caption "can you name this tune"? Almost everyone guessed washing machine!



Caroline - one thing I've noticed is that even in the same part of the country, we are all receiving different type of treatment and follow up. The keep referring to them as "standards of care" but I'll be da*ned if I can find anything "standard" about them.



Nsmith36 - welcome, and ladies with experience with reoccurrence will be along to offer they're expertise.



NavyMom - that is awful news, praying for strength for Jenn3



To Cocker, Tazzy and all who were laughing about the pubes, I wanted to share something. Mine have grown back but with a big surprise. I have a big bald spot right in the front about the size of a golf ball. (i'm thinking of having a bloody smiley face tattooed there!), but the da*n things grew out on the sides so I'll still have to pay for a bikini wax. You couldn't have chosen the sides for the dam* bald spot!!!!!



Those of you who asked about the poker. The are actually two types of poker, tournament and cash. I am more used to playing Tournament, which I describe like being a version of Survivor (out-wit, out-last, out-play). If you go on YouTube, I actually have an audition tape for Daniel Negrau's TV show. (You had to win a 10,000 person on-line tourney to win the chance to audition.) No, I never got a call, lol.

Since I don't get a lot of chances to play cash at the casino, I only play low limit poker. (you won't win a lot, but you won't lose a lot). I play because I love the game, not because I plan to get rich, lol. I played for 12 hours yesterday, didn't ever really have a lot of good cards, and came home with 20 bucks and a free dinner on the casino. 12 hours of fun, and it didn't cost me a dime, I look at that as a win!



Have had a wee scare this week. Found a lump in my breast near where my one of my original lumps was. I'm assuming it's scar tissue, but I have called the doc. The nurse is going to let the doc know that my mammo is in a month, and let her decide if I need to have it checked now, or if it can wait till the mammo. If not, I'll see her Wed morning. I've always had lumpy breasts, so I'm not in a panic, it's probably just scar tissue.



To all those in treatment , wishing you minimal SE, and some source of joy today.

Good morning Ladies. Well I've done it again and got up late.  10am this time so an improvement on last weeks 11am and that was only because the phone rang. Funny part about it, I just don't care.  Pre BC I would have been up and running around like a blue arse fly now I just think, make the most of it.

Heather - absolutely beautiful dogs they look so happy.  Could they have got any closer to your hubby.   Now if that had been me I would have been in bed all day so as not to disturb them.

OBXK - well thats a new concept putting your panties in the trash. I'm beginning to find out lot about you!! and its all good.    

Yep you got it about the wheat bag only its wider and longer than a sock.  I'm happy to send you one over if you want.

How long did your neuropathy last? and was it bad enought to stop me typing if I get it?   

Caroline71 - I think you would have to talk to your doctor about having both breasts removed but I do know I wish I had then I wouldn't have to worry about getting BC in the other one or having mammos.  Big decision though and not easy.

NavyMom - glad you are back.  Yes it would be wonderful to all be in one big room then we wouldn't lose our posts and would we have a great time getting to know each other.   

Terrible news about Jenn3.  Thinking of her and her family and sending lots of prayers.  Yes cancer Sux big time.

Nora - Hi. Welcome.  We all fear recurrence so understand where you are coming from but I am sure all will be ok for you.  Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary.

Tazzy - I too have the watery eyes, blocked but runny nose and sneezing. It's a pain in the rectum.  And still can't taste very much. Its very irritating.

I agree about the long chats. Not sure who started those novels!!!!! 

Kathrynn - glad you had a good time with poker and glad you didn't lose too much money.  I don't know if I could sit there for 12 hours though.    

Nothing today from Titan - must be out running.

And still nothing from Inmate.  

Talking of dogs. My little maltess girl Chloe is a right little rat.  She hates it when we go out even though she has my Tessa for company. To  get us back for leaving her over time she has chewed all the tops off the remotes which she found on the arm of the old fellars chair, much to his disgust. She has chewed my cell phone so I had to buy another, assorted pens, the corner of the airer and heaps of other things.  I threaten to smack her bum every time but when I come home and stare at her madly she shakes and I haven't got the heart to do it. She beats up the cat every time he walks in the door by trying to nip at his paws and she won't give up until he wallops her one but Oh she has the sweatest face.

Well now whats on the agenda for today.  I am going to clean all my windows and make them sparkle.  Bathe my little Chloe (might even drown her!) and trim my little cocker spaniel Tessa who is an absolute dream to live with. 

Have a great day ladies with no side effects and have lots of laughs.  Annie              

Ok Cocker, enough with the bloody bragging and making me feel like a slacker. My definition of "dawn" is "the crack of noon" *big grin*



See Tazzy, you didn't know you might be able to play tunes with your boob after surgery.

I love you gals!!!  too funny...we all need in the midst of this nonsense. 

Today I was able to go back to the therapist for MLD and to get my wrap back for my left arm LE.  My nighttime garment came in and hopefully when the wrap comes off next week i will be have the custom made glove that I will have to wear everyday with my lovely sleeve.  Ah well ....guess it could be worse eh??

May Jenn3 and her family find peace in this aweful time for her. 

And to you CANCER---kiss my A**  I hate you and your little dog toto (the se's and lifelong changes) too!!

Maggie

Riley... that link to U-tube was hilarious.  I must say that is one of my most favorite pieces of music.. but now dont think I will ever be able to listen again without remembering some of the misheard lyrics... priceless. Thanks for the laugh.

Navy - Thanks for letting us know about Jenn3.  I feel that Jenn and I have crossed paths on this Topic.  I just went to check my old messages to see whether I had talked to her via PM, and found none from her, however, found many PM's from LauraJane, Suze and MBJ, such amazing wonderful women.  I really truly loved them all.  Suze was my very bright young friend. I believe she was in her mid 40's, a very young woman.  Jenn3 is only 44 as well.  I read her profile and posts, and it seems like she has been going through a hard time lately and seems to have made peace with the outcome of the horrible disease.  She had mets to the brain in 2011, and has decided not to do much treatment for that.  I hope and pray that she is pain free and is in a loving environment with her childen and loved ones.