2012 sisters

I am done! Done with chemo. Done done done.

Palmettomom3  Sorry to hear about the 3 tumors. I too had a lumpectomy on each side supposed to be for what the biopsies showed as ALH. One turned out to be IDC (which they did get clean margins) and the other LCIS. Since I had clean margins I was set for rads but then with so much family history, I changed my mind at the last minute and went for the nsdmx. I have no regrets since they found a ton of alh, adh,LCIS, cysts and fibroadenomas all thru both breasts after I had the mx. I feel like it would have been sooner rather than later before I'd have been repeating the whole biopsy cycle on all that junk. Tough choice but this stinkin cancer tests our faith and ability to make those tough choices. We're all here though if you want to vent.

Firestorm great attitude for a crummy situation. I would love to see you show up for rads like that. Take a vid and put it on youtube for us

JPmomof3 Congrats on that last chemo! Yeahhhhh. Wish there was like an FTD for drinks, with a send 2 get one free then i could send you one, tazzy and get my freebie!

I'll have to catch up with everyone elses posts later. The rains here from tropical storm "Debby"  are hideous. I had alot I wanted to get done outside but that has been impossible. I had to go out in all this rain to the ps for a fill-I'm really starting to notice a sizeable difference- now maybe the size of hardboiled ostrich eggs ! (I just pulled the ostrich out of you know where as I have no idea how big ostrich eggs are-just figure they are bit bigger than hard boiled chicken eggs) They are an itsy bit sore but nothing a couple tylenol won't help. 

palmettomom3-Sorry to hear about your tumors, hope that you will have a treatment plan for this new discovery soon and that will put your mind at ease some what.

2FriedEggs-LOL! Ostrich eggs! Funny, you made me laugh! Another fill ,huh? Soon enough you will catch up and have the size you want!

Soya, when I had my lump biopsied they also biopsied a node that was abnormal looking and it was positive. So I have node positive cancer and it was a no brainer for my oncologist to recommend chemo and rads no matter what type of surgery I got. I'm choosing to do lumpectomy because they tell me that it doesn't make a difference in treatments, recurrence rate or survivor rate. I hope I don't regret it but so far I am going to stick with the decision to do lumpectomy. They are doing neo adjuvant chemo (chemo before surgery) to shrink the tumor. I have 2 cm of IDC and about 5cm of DCIS. I am very very small breasted and they wanted to give me the best chance of getting clear margins. They say that neo adjuvant versus adjuvant doesn't make any statistical difference in recurrence rates but it just seemed like a good idea. I like the idea of seeing if the chemo worked too. They will be able to see if the cancer is dead when they cut it out. Die cancer die.

Post final chemo 6 hours. Will only sleep 5-6 hours because of ambien. Will be flushed all day tomorrow. But this is the last round of side effects from chemo! Good night sistas!

Palmettomom - positive and healing vibes being sent to you as you move forward on your treatment.  Sucks to hear that kind of news eh?   But you know we are all here for you.

Melrose... I couldn't agree more about being patient.  I have to be the most impatient person you would ever meet, but since my dx I am so much more patient with myself and my body.   Still pretty impatient with everything else and everone around me though.

Jpmom... couldn't agree with you more on your comment.   Yay... doing the happy dance for you - what a
feeling eh?   Goodnight and sleep tight.  And as I keep saying to the SE's.... this is the LAST TIME you will make me feel shit

2Fried... try this chart - whoa - ostrich is large.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement! I was feeling quite overwhelmed and I knew you all would understand. Just when I thought I had a plan the rug was pulled right out from under me! Oh well...I just have to adjust.



Melrosemelrose...thanks for the advice. So true that I must be patient as the info rolls in...and with my healing. I got a call from my onc office this afternoon and they want to see me Thurs morning. They are discussing my case at tumor conference wed so I will learn what the new recommendation is. So sorry that you developed an infection that postpones reconstruction...but good news that it packaged so neatly. The emergency surgery was probably a bit scary but glad you have recovered!



Jpmomof3...Congrats on the last chemo treatment!!! I hope to find out Thursday if I get to visit chemoland. So glad to know it was not as bad for you! I hope your lumpectomy goes as easy as mine did. It was much easier than I expected. No pain meds needed after the first night! I wouldn't think you would be surprised post op since you had chemo. The bmx is now recommended because the large amount of lcis present. I agree...none of this is fair!

I am getting used to how to reply to everyone. I am using my kindle fire and can only see a few posts at a time. Sorry if this seems crazy! I really need to get a laptop!



Lostinmo...thanks for the hugs and support! I checked out your website...how awesome! I love the experiences you are providing to your son!



2friedeggs...our situations sound similar...idc, lcis, cysts, etc. My surgeon said today that I should have the bmx since its not a case of if it comes back but when. I would most likely be having to go through all if this again next summer which I def don't want to do! I love the ostrich eggs comp! You make me laugh! What made you decide to have reconstruction by te and implants vs flap reconstruction?



Soyaandpepper...sorry you have to make the decision about chemo. I hate when they tell you it is up to you!! Perhaps the sppt with mo will help! I was told by my bs that it may happen because of my age...I am 36.



Tazzy...thanks for the support. Great pic! You make me laugh! Now we all can see where we hope to be!

My MO is pleasant but does not hug or be emotional at all.i kind of miss that part.

Tazzy- love the chart!

2FriedEggs-If you go with ostrich you might have to ad a back brace.

Juneau-thinking of you today!

palmettomom-I'm glad you enjoyed the website. My chemo brain lets me write occasionally. Ususally when I can't sleep in the middle of the night.

I would try to write more but the SE's from the Friday are kicking in and I feel like poop today.

Hope everyone esle is doing good! 

Palmettomom/soyaand... chemo is hard, but it works and is doable - if you need to go that route (I am sure I am repeating myself again.... Now not sure if that is an age thing or I can blame chemo).    Just ask lots of questions... there is no such thing as a stupid question either.

Juneau.... Sorry you couldn't sleep - but understandable.  I guess with the time differences you are already at the hospital.    Thinking of you - sending good healing vibes your way.     We're with ya honey.

Lisa... we all need a ‘hugging onc' - maybe you should make the first move and hug when he/she leaves the office.   I guess to them they are doing their job... I mean can you imagine the world if we all hugged just for doing our jobs...actually that might not be a bad idea eh?  Germy, but... ??

Lostinmo... cant remember if I said as well (thanks for the reminder palmettomom)... love your website and the experiences must be incredible for your son as well as you and DH.   But your son especially.  Sorry you feel like poop today.   That sucks.   Lets be 2 poops in a pod - cos I feel crap too.

Allurbaddays.... Is it hard to keep up because of the chemo brain fog or the chemo-colada's I wonder - hee hee

I am really sorry if I missed saying hi and sending hugs to anyone.   Even feeling crap, if I don't check in, I miss you guys.

Hi ladies,

 I am taking a break from work for a few minutes.  in the middle of a 12 hour shift.  those kick my ass when I am feeling good, they really suck during chemo, but I am happy I am working... I have the usual flushing post chemo/steroids.  slept ok with the help of ambien.  I am just thrilled to have the last chemo behind me now.  PFC day 1!

Tazzy that egg chart is hilarious.  I am about a cockatiel now, will be a finch by the time they do my lumpectomy. this must be day 3-4 after your last chemo, always the worst for the taxol, but just think you wont have to do it again! yay yippee yay!  You'll get through it and be feeling good soon.

Best wishes and big hugs to Juneau, hope you can update us soon!

Lostinmo, sorry you are feeling bad too, hang in there.  big hugs! 

I agree with that Adjuvant website.  I really dont recommend using it on your own without the guidance of your MO.  I did for myself and the stats can look pretty scary sometimes without proper counselling.  I got depressed for a while after looking there.  The stats dont mean anything to the individual and that website is pretty good but it cant take in all the information about you.  Your MO is a much better source.  That website is what a lot of MO's use to help get an idea of the benefit of chemo and hormone therapy.

 Hugs to anyone feeling like crap today! and even if you arent!

Wow - I have a LOT to learn. I am new to all of this... My doctor found a lump just about a month ago in my left breast. Since that time - it's been a whirlwind. Right now I know i have IDC in my left breast and that it has spread to at least one lymph node. I just had some suspicious lumps on my right side biopsied late last week and am awaiting the results. The good news on that side though is that they didn't see anything worth biopsying in my lymph nodes on the right. I was told due to the placement and size of the lump on the left side that I'd have to have a mastectomy. So at 37, I have decided I'm just going to get them both out and rebuilt the same. And considering I'm an Ashkenazi Jew and my grandma had two separate BC occurrances - I imagine my BRCA1 test might come back positive. I don't have any of the info about hormone receptors yet, so clearly need more info on exactly what I have where. But what I do know is that I am set to have a double mastectomy on July 10th, to be followed by 16 weeks of chemo. Looking like a yucky summer for me, my hubby and our two little boys. Any thoughts any of you have to share would be great. My head is still kind of spinning... Thanks for sharing!

Welcome Ramols, I am also fairly new to all this, had my first chemo treatment on the 22nd, today is not too bad.

I have found that reading the posts has really helped me to understand that all the emotions we feel are normal....but at times I thought I was going crazy.

The women on here are a strong supportive group and it has helped me so much.

I am one of the old ones here - 66 - I feel so bad for all you younger women that have to go through this terrible ordeal. 

Sending Love and Hugs. 

Ramois, hope we can help. I know it's helped me in the 6 mos since diagnosis, double mastectomy, and then chemo. It's like you are trying to become an expert and understand many levels of medical stuff when you are pretty upset and worried. My kids are in early 20s so I didn't have the young ones. My sister's kids were 7 and 8 when she was diagnosed at 44. Hard.