Starting Chemo October 2012

301724, talk to me about this core swelling thing. I'm 2 days out from my first TCH treatment, and my tissue expander "boobs" hurt like crazy. Is this normal? Is it because of the chemo, the steroids, or something else? It's not the incisions or anything, just they feel very heavy and like they are weighing down (drooping down) on me. Help!

jeanie,  i had gotten a great wig, no one knew it was a wig, first day on i t blew off my head while driving, way to the back of course, so i couldnt retrieve it. so thats the long and short of my wig story. went to female colored baseball caps after that. have them in all the fall colors. hardest part was getting out there the first time. so the first time i put the cap on, i did all my errand running that i usually do in a week and got all the "looks" from those people you dont really know but always bump into. what i actually took from that time, was how kind everyone was. it was obvious, with the cap and all, so many people would stop me and ask how i was doing and said they would pray for me. for me that was cool.  but when my hair first came out i sat in a corner and cried for 3 days. then i went out with my chin held high   hugs to all

Hi, all!  I'm also new here.  I'm Stage IIA Grade 2.  The breast tumor was 1.8 cm and there was an axillary tumor of 3.2 cm with "extra capsular extension" (they only found 5 nodes and 3 of those were positive).  I have been offered a place in a study of the Oncotype DX score in cases of ER+ cancers of less than 2 cm with 1 to 3 nodes involved.  If the Oncotype Score is below 25 then I'll be eligible for the study and I will be randomly placed in a "chemo" or "no chemo" group.  The "no chemo" group would go directly to radiation and then to hormone-blocking.

Right now I don't think I'm brave enough to go into the study.  That huge tumor in the node has be bothered.  Also that they only found five nodes total.  My guess is there are some nodes left under that arm that could very well be positive.  My oncologist seems to be one that really doesn't want to influence my decision so he's being a bit too closed-mouthed for my liking.  "You only have 3 nodes involved.  The tumor was only 1.8 cm." Etc.  He is taking things totally at face value and discounting the size of the axillary node, the ECE, and that there were two other IDC (multifocal) and "multiple DCIS" as well.

If you were in my shoes, would you take the chance on the hormone-blocking therapy alone on insist upon chemo?

9 days tomorrow since my first TC infusion. Other than the fatigue and tastebuds being gone, in doing great. I did have a horrible yeast infection and believe it or not, chemo induced acne but its getting better. I look like a 14 y/o girl going through puberty with these bumps everywhere.



My white blood count is non existent but I didn't get a Neulasta shot. I think it's because I have plenty of time for them to be boosted up before my next infusion on Oct 19.



Hope you ladies had a SE free weekend. It was beautiful here in South Mississippi.



((((((Hugs)))))))

Goldfinch, she LOVED it. We also went to the aquarium of the America's. We have a family pass so all the Audubon parks in New Orleans are free for us. She has such a great day. The weather was perfect too. High was about 70 and breezy. I'm sooooooo exhausted from all the walking and I sat every time I saw a bench. Lol



Oh, I forgot to mention to you all, I go tomorrow to pick up my wig and scarves. Pinkheartfunds.org is a local non profit organization that does wigs, prosthetic bras, lymphedmia sleeves, etc. and she ordered mine and is showing me how to wear it and such. Kind of feeling uneasy. I haven't lost any hair and I read and hear its anywhere from 10-21 days following your first infusion. Blah.



Glad you are feeling better Goldfinch.

Happy birthday halfcan, hope you really enjoy it.

BethBV, I'd go for the chemo absolutely - I'd want all the treatment available. They told me I was a borderline case for chemo as the benefit was small, but I'd rather take any improvement there is than suffer a recurrence later and wish I'd done it differently.

I'm now day 6 post first FEC. I have been so tired the last couple of days that it was hard to even string words together into sentences, and I have slept most of the day. No way could I work through this! My mouth is a little sore today and I'm avoiding all food with even slightly sharp edges (stupidly had a toasted sandwich last week which probably started this off). My BMX scars have been uncomfortable since about day 2 - heavy and dragging sort of - is this the core swelling that people are talking about? There is definitely a small amount of seroma, which I guess is the result of fewer platelets and continued small amount of post op ooze internally?

Michelle, thinking especially of you and hoping your results are good.

Best to everyone - and thanks Marian, your raccoon comment made me smile! 

Back from my new MO. She was nice and I am confident with her. She recommended TC every three weeks x 6 + one year of Herceptin, which was a relief. They also want me to participate in the APHINITY trial, but I am scared. I doubt I will have the courage to do it. As a pharmacist, I know that we need studies to bring new standards of care, but as a patient it is just so very scary. Right now this additional drug has only been approved for metastatic cases.

So - meet temporary PS tomorrow, maybe an expansion ... chemo class Wednesday, echo and transvaginal US Thursday, port placement Friday and first infusion next Wednesday. Went for my flu shot today; feels weird to be on the receiving end since I'm usually the one giving them

Getting nervous for sure now - hope everyone is doing well.  

301724 and goldfinch, I'm having the same discomfort after first infusion. My chest is very tight again despite the stretching I've been doing, and my scars are very irritable. I have no reconstruction. There is mild swelling under my arms and everything in my chest, neck, and back just feels sore. I made an appt with my surgeon just to be safe. My onco nurse said it shouldn't be the chemo, and I felt surprised that this wasn't more common. I kinda feel it's the steroids and the giant bag of saline they pumped into me.



My husband says I'm walking all hunched over again like the week after surgery, which is probably making it worse ;-)

Hi smali,

Actually the onco nurse today said it was the Taxotere. She says that next time they'll extend my steroids with 3 days of oral after the IV on the day of infusion. Likely too late at this point in the cycle but they're thinking about it. She also said the swelling could be cumulative. That would be a bummer. I'm tight and itchy. They said to watch out for difficulty breathing - that would be a real emergency.

Hoping for decreased swelling for all!

I must have missed page 7 ... Jalessi, I hope you are feeling better by now, and Michelle, I am praying for you and hope your procedures aren't as scary as they sound. 

Update re swelling/tightness around scars etc - my oncologist didn't know what caused it - just happy there was no sign of infection. Seems strange that many people are reporting it but the docs don't seem aware..??

Mumtothree, yeah that is weird...I will ask my MO on Thursday...it just seems odd that people with and without TEs are noticing it, as are people on various chemo meds.

How is everyone doing today? I spent most of the day battling the big D before my DH was able to get some immodium to me (I know, way to be unprepared). So it was a big painful waste of a day for me

Poke, I'm glad you like your new MO. So important. It sounds like you will be very busy with appts the next few days- stay strong!!!

Michelle, thinking of you and hoping to hear some good news.

Hi everyone! I'd like to join this thread. First treatment today and went well. Like others my only se thus far is slight headache and fatigue maybe from Benadryl. Port installed 9/12 and so happy I did. For CT-contrasts it once took 3 techs and ultrasound to get good vein. No pain today at port even though I didn't put the Emla cream on correctly. No Saran wrap. I went in at 10a and was out by 4. I am frustrated that I cannot get 6 appts scheduled ahead for tx's. My office schedules next during last. Makes so hard to schedule work. I am a 911 supervisor so I sit most of the time but my hard work is in other areas and I am frequently on the floor. Though with treatment hard or easy doesnt matter much gift you are obligated when you really should be taking care of yourself and resting. My plan now is to request 4 hour shifts through FMLA with my doctor's blessing. Also I got lymphedema early in torso but physical therapy has greatly helped. I've been looking at wigs and thinking of buzzing my hair this weekend. Wigs online don't always appear the same n person and that has been a challenge. It has been hard to find a specialist in my area. I know this is long but I haven't posted in a while on the other threads. Healing physical and emotional prayers for everyone on this journey.



Elocin

Marianelizabeth: I use a pillow with my seat belt to help relieve pressure on my expanders and it really, really helps. Otherwise, I end up fussing with it the whole time and holding it away from me. 

My new plastic surgeon was GREAT. He was so nice and sat with me for an hour. Took off my steristrips, cleaned me up, placed new ones, and talked me into my first expansion. I got 50cc on each side and I am feeling ok right now. I took some Aleve just in case. I could not bear to look down at my fresh scars for the first time, I will save this for another day. The new steristrips can stay on for a week. He seems to think everything looks wonderful.

He wants to get me a new surgeon for my port as opposed to the radiology team. Evidently it can make a big difference. He is going to call tonight and try to get me in with him instead. I'll take any favors I can get

Otherwise, unless port placement Friday gets changed, I am still due to start chemo Wednesday. Class tomorrow.

I hope everyone is doing well. I went to ACS to look at wigs and head covers but my best friend arrives from Seattle this weekend and I could not bear to try anything on without her. She will come with me next week for a cut; I don't think I will buzz it, but it will be as short as I can muster until it starts to come on its own.

Much love to you strong, brave ladies.