Sept 2012 chemo
Comments
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Whenlife you can do this, it is miserable for the first 10 days or so, I felt like a slug, but it will end and you should feel fine until the next round. I hope you have minimal SE as the fatigue is bad enough. Take Care
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I am stressing out about making a choice for surgery... Me and my BS ended on a lumpectomy anx started in on treatment which I have had great success but as time goes on and I have fully dealt with having cancer my brain keeps going to dbl bilateral.... I just do not ever want to deal with this again!
But one of my fears is a wack job not only do I want to come out cancer free and healty I want to come out of surgery feeling great about my boobs and sensuality.
I guess I need to call my BS talk about this and ask to be refered to a few plastic surgeons. Maybe this will help me... If i fully study and explore all choices.
Any suggestions ladies?
When life.... You totally got this! AC can suck the big one but we are strong. Take your time and melt into the couch if thats what it takes but I can say I had 4 dose dense every two weeks it took me from wednesday to monday to feel good again.... Just flat out tired! Slept for 15 hrs a day easy. But I got thru it and you will too! -
Mariposa go to Disney, I was there in July when I got the call from my doctor. Happest place turned in to the saddest for me. My grandson had an amazing time!
My MO did call me in a RX for the neuropathy and said to start taking Vit B6. Fingers crossed the RX works. I do not get the neulasta shot. My numbers have been up and holding steady. Thank goodness. I still have two more treatments to go, it will take me in to Jan.
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Amy,
What is your family history? That answer might help you decide. I had a very strong family history (Mom had bc twice, once one each side, her Mom had it and my father's sister had it twice, once on each side.) So, when confronted with bc in only one breast, it was a no brainer for me. I told them that I wanted a bmx so I never have to go through this again, even though I was tested and was brca negative.
I wound up doing a bmx with reconstruction at the same time. I did the latisimus dorsis (back flap) reconstruction, and the surgery/recovery was not that bad. If you want more info on the surgery/recovery, pm me.
Oh, and the best part of the story, when they did the post-surgery pathology of the "clean breast," it showed "atypical cells", which given time, would have become cancerous. All I can say is THANK GOD I did the bmx.
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cqesq.. Thanks for the reply I too am 3x positive... In the beginning thery throw so much at you and want a plan of attack so quickly that I was def over whelmed but thankful for the quick action. I was okay with a lumpectomy or at least working toward one... but I have had since august and lots of time to think about my choice and the othe choices avaliable to me as well... I did have the BRCA 1&2 it did come back negative but my family history is hugely filled with cancer all maternal side:
grandmother pancreatic passed, aunt BC currently shes 70, mother BC diagnosed 45 living and won the battle, uncle brain cancer passed by 40, cousin BC passed by 40 it matastasized, great uncle lung passed, cousin testicular living and cured....
My genetisist told me pancreatic and breast cancer are related so I can see how both my grandmas daughter were diagnosed... I was leaning toward the same type of surgery you had and have been researching it but would love to hear how the process went and I have questions for sure so yes I would love to pm you!
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Yananma: I also am TN. I had the AC every other week for four times and now on Taxol. Have two more to go. I never was given a choice. Doctors told me they were going to treat me very aggressively. I think I was in shock from the diagnosis and just said ok, trusting their judgement. I think it is worth the risk to get that extra 2 % and have all three. AC was pretty easy for me and taxol is not. I do have SE's but no nausea.
Marlposa: definitely go to Disneyland!! It's the happiest place on earth! A good way to celebrate being done with Chemo!
Cindi74: sounds like you had a fun trip! I'm amazed at how some of you ladies travel and exercise during treatment. All i can can do is go to work and then climb into the recliner at night.
Goodnight Ladies!
Erin -
Yananma... I agree with hopex the 2 more is worth it by far!
Cindi... you got me I will give you a pic... I have a photographer coming friday to shoot pics so 1 down 10 more! well from this thread lol
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Amy: I had DIEP flap reconstruction in August and absolutely LOVE the results. Prior to my surgery, my running joke was "breast cancer is giving me a tummy tuck and boob job!" I still have two procedures left to fine tune everything but with clothes on you can't tell the difference (except that I went from a D/DD to a C).
Anyone here ER+/PR+ that can't take Tamoxifen? I found out AFTER my surgery that I have a clotting disorder and cannot take Tamoxifen. My only option is to have my ovaries removed. Not thrilled with this recent development. I did so much reading on Tamoxifen and none on AIs for post-menopausal women. Anyone out there know anything?
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Amy I had a double and had expanders put in . After my radiation I will have the reconstruction surgery . When my Dr and I spoke he asked me what I wanted and I knew right away take them both. I want two breast that look the same . You will know in your heart what will be good for you .
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Cherrio what type of reconstruction did you decide on? And I agree thay having them both done to look the same is a good choice. My mom is a survivor and had no reconstruction she had medicad at the time and the way she looks has me freaked
Out! I am thinking my best bet will be to get out there and speak to some plastic surgeons that come highly recommended by her. -
Twinsplus.. Your getting a whole body make over! Good for you .
So happy you are good with the outcome. That's the part that has me nervous. I am so worrked I will get a wack job. Thanks for the response -
Amy, I decided on the implants . When I had the double they placed the expanders in which stretch the skin and the PS adds saline to them . I have only had two added so far because of the chemo and radiation they don't like to add per my PS but once I am done with the radiation I will have them pumped up then will have the surgery to place the implants. At first when I had the surgery I was so nervous to look at my chest , but actually my surgeon did a great job . Plus it did not hurt after I had the surgery. I was shocked that I did not feel pain from my boops being taken out . The only thing that bothered me was the lymph nodes that were taken out . I had this done Aug 2nd so it has been awhile with no boobs . So looking forward to having the implants . My Dr was so supportive with my decision . He said you are young and we can give you nice breast
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Amy, I had a friend who had breast cancer two years ago and she only had o e take out then she did the flap surgery where they took the fat from her stomach and tried to match her other breast , she now wishes she did the other one . Have the surgeon show you pictures of the different surgeries that is what I did and I knew immediately what i wanted
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Thanks cherrio I am def leaning to a bmx I am only 34 my kids are young 4 and 7. I want and need to be around to see them grow and I am not sure how my family and me would take it if say in five years I ended up getting it again in the left side. They just give you no time to think it all happens so fast. Had I known back in august what I know now I probably would of chose different.
I bet you will be so happy to get your boobs! Hell and hair it will be like Christmas all over again. Lol -
Amy - I am kinda in the same spot as you. My goal at the beginning was a lumpectomy cause it sounded "the easiest" and I could keep my breasts. Now having gone through chemo I know I never want to do this again. The thought of yearly mammograms makes me nauseous already. I started leaning towards bmx mid chemo and doing some research on the options. I have "left the door open" until I meet with my plastic surgeon on the 14th. I have D cups now so want to hear what options I have for reconstruction. As you said though, the decision must come quickly. I meet with my BS on the 26th to schedule the surgery as they want me to have it 4 weeks from the last chemo which is the first week of January.
I know Mariposa is having surgery in January too, anyone else?
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Amy and all. Today in the mail I got a book through Amazon called, Turning Heads: Portraits of Grace, Inspiration, and Possibilities. It is a beautiful book of black and white and color pictures of bald cancer patients. Each picture, taken in different settings, gives a write up, the name, age and occupation of the patient. Pictures show a judge, motorcycle rider, rock and roll singer among others.
The book is far beyond my concept. It took the author 5 years to get the patients. It looks like all the pictures were done by professional photographers--many in exotic settings with clothes and jewels that make them look like professional models.
The book apparently sold originally for about $30, but I paid less than $5 and didn't have to pay postage--which means that it didn't sell for nearly what they thought in the beginning.
After seeing this, I don't know that our project is worth pursuing. I do recommend the book.
I think I will include one of my pictures in this book and put it on the coffee table for the next year. Then I will donate it to the local Cancer Clinic where I go or to the Surgeon's office.
It's an awesome book. I highly recommend it. Will post this on other threads too.
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Twins - I have lupus and the same clotting disorder that you do. I need to have ovaries removed and then they will put us on the post menopausal drugs... more hot flashes here we come, yuk...I will need to get more information from my MO soon.
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Amy,
Good luck with your decision, you are so right everything happens so fast, it's overwhelming. I had a BMX. I have tissues expanders and will get my implants sometime after radiation. My BS said I was in "the gray area" for a lumpectomy b/c of the size of my tumor. I did not to be in the gray area for anything, so I knew I would have a mx on my left side. I had no evidence of cancer on my right, so it took a lot of soul searching to figure out what to do. I too wanted both sides to look the same, so there was a comestic aspect and I am 36 and wanted to minimize the possibility to getting it again. I have had some issues with my incisions healing and it's been frusterating and I get anxious about how everything will turn out, especially after the rads, but haven't regretted my decision. For me the most important part is having a skilled and compassionate PS that you trust...I love mine, he has a rep for being a perfectionist, which I think is a plus. -
This morning I called my BS and she made me an appt on Jan 8th to see her and a plastic surgeon she works with closely and the surgeon happens to be a female and I like that so I have plenty of time to research and write a whole list of questions.
If any of you can think of questions you asked or wished you would of asked please fill me in..... All the more insite the better! Thanks for all the feed back thus far it is much appreciated. -
Hi everyone!
I am havng my surgery in late January early February... and I am so completely nervous about it. Worried about what they will find, even though I have been repeating the mantra and visualizing my surgeon's face saying "no evidence of disease" every time I get anxious.
My surgeon only wants to take the left breast, but I want both gone. When I was 24, I had a biopsy on the right breast - so really both have always been problematic. I look at my kids- and I know I just need to get this done. I am interested in asking my doctor about the gummy bear implants. Do any of you have them or have you heard of them? People seem really excited about them over here. (Plus they make me laugh because I think of my boob filled with gummy bears)
Twins & butterfly: I have a clotting disorder as well, but my doctor has been on the fence about Tamoxifen. My first oncologist was a definite no. My clotting disorder has never really been any kind of an issue - but I better talk with him more about it. Part of me would be fine with ovary removal because I am a bit scared of ovarian cancer.
Cindi: I am interested in seeing this book! I will have to check it out. I am kind of sad about not doing your book - just because it would have been nice to have a book full of all of your pictures:-) I would have definitely contributed! I still want to plan a fun photoshoot with my sister.
Hope everyone has a great day!
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Mariposa, I'm having surgery in late January/early February too. We can be surgery buddies! I'm really nervous about the surgery too - partially because I'm afraid of general anesthesia. Also, I keep reading stories about people who get mastectomies or prophylactic mastectomies and when they do the pathology analysis, they find more tumors that they didn't know existed -- sometimes even in the "healthy" breast. These stories are usually written by people who are relieved they got the mastectomies for this reason, but its starting to make me wonder how common it is for additional tumors to exist that are not seen?? I plan on getting a lumpectomy, but if there are additional tumors that they leave behind, then when these become big enough to be detected they will be classified as a recurrence, when in actuality the person would probably still be free of disease if it had been removed during the first surgery. These thoughts have me very worried.
Ladies who have already had your surgeries, can you please chime in here? Has this happened to any of you where you got a mastectomy and more bc was found that wasn't initially detected? Did any of you have bc found in your "good breast" if you had a prophylactic? Are there additional tests that are recommended that I can have done to look for these hiding problem cells?? I really don't want to ever have to go through this journey again, but I was really hoping to have a lumpectomy.
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Not sure what tests you have prior to surgery. I had a breast MRI. This showed my enlarged lymph node and a mass not detected on the mammo. After the breast MRI I had a biopsy of both of these areas which were also more cancer on same side. After that I had a pet scan which was clear. Going into surgery I knew that I had at least one cancerous node. Path came back with six cancerous nodes. Prophylactic side was all clear in scans and no surprises after surgery. Hope that helps. It is scary having surgery. I'm thankful it's over and had no complications. Please post your surgery dates so we can be praying. I believe in the power of prayer. Just woke from my Benadryl nap. Low se's to all!!! I'm halfway done with chemo. Yay. 8 down. 8 to go!
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Amy, it's such a tough decision, and so much comes down to how you feel personally. Have you been to any in person support groups, or do you know any survivors who are happy with reconstruction (or not)? everyone I've met has been very open about showing their new boobs. I don't think it's weird to ask them to flash you, lol, and it may help you decide.
I did a BMX. Lumpectomy wasn't an option on the cancer side, but I went with the bilateral because of my family history, my age (28), and my own tendency to have anxiety. You know what? I still have anxiety about it! Yeesh. I still have anxiety because they don't get every single scrap of breast tissue with the MX, so I still think, what if, what if. (Though the BMX reduces your risk by 90%) I will still have regular screenings (ultrasounds, I think) so it's not as if I never have to think about it again.
It's tough, because it's a decision I made based a lot on fear. I discounted the importance of things like sexuality. I don't know if I would decide the same thing again. Some days I feel I would, other days I feel I wouldn't.
I don't want to discourage you, I just want to share my feelings about my personal case. It's really different for everyone. And who knows, I may at one point come down definitively on the side of being glad I did it. Keep in mind, with the prophylactic mx, you can always do it later if you don't want to decide right now.
And regarding reconstruction, I had expanders placed at the time of the BMX. I will have the permanent implants after radiation. One of my expanders has shifted, and I'll have to get it replaced when I finish chemo. -
My last chemo is tomorrow! I made it through Taxol pretty okay, though this last week has kicked my butt. Missed my first day of work today. On the way hom elast night I flet this weirdness in my chest/back. I was worried about the heart damage from Herceptin, and I was near one of those walk in clinics so I went in. They were super nice, checked me out and did an EKG. All was fine. I think it may have been a combination of anxiety and mudcle aches. Still have it a little today, so I'll discuss with my MO tomorrow.
Do other people get winded from doing normal tasks? I normally walk about 2 miles a day for my commute, and it's gotten pretty tough. -
Looks like lots of us having surgery in the new year. I won't know until the see the RO next week whether I will have rads before or after mastectomy and axillary dissection. As for me, long ago in September, my path was a lot different that the core biopsy results in July thus the next surgery. Then of course if I have rads before surgery my already limited choice for reconstruction narrow further. I see the best PS in Vancouver on Jan. 3 so will hope to have the RO and team's opinions before then.
timbek, I will also be interested post op to see if any more nodes than the 6 are positive. Mine is 6/8 now but I suspect more as does the BS.
I have had a rough week and am hoping tomorrow my BW will be good for bothe Hemoglobin (not holding my breath) and neutrophils so I can get onto #1 Taxol Tuesday and then #2 Christmas Eve.
Drop in clinic last night for a diagnosis of folliculitis of labia majora and mucositis - it is really TMI but now have a cream to use 4 times a day. At drug store, pharmacist said it would not be ready until the next day as it had to be mixed. I played the BC card and said I have cancer and I need it now. 8 PM she said!
toastiecat, congrats both on the EKG and today's end of Taxol! Did any of you have interruptions on Taxol for low neutrophils? Mine have been OK all through AC with Neupogen and no S/E from it.
Have a good weekend?
Marian -
fight4two,
I had a bmx, even though there was only cancer detected on my left side, because I had a very strong family history and frankly, I never wanted to deal with cancer again (to the extent I can avoid it.) I found the cancer via routine annual mamogram, which showed the microcalcifications on the left, and clean on the right, which led to a mri of only the left side, which showed the cancerous area.
I was emphatic that I didn't want a umx or lumpectomy, mostly due to fear of a recurrence, and partly due to my wanting to remain symetrical. My drs agreed to do the bmx. To make a long story short, upon final pathology of the supposedly clean breast, they found "atypical cells", which given time, would have become cancerous. Btw, I was tested and am brca negative.
Don't mean to scare you, but if you have a strong family history, you should seriously consider the bmx.
Good luck!
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Butterfly: My hot flashes and night sweats were horrible until two weeks ago. That's when my MO put me on Neurontin. The difference is AMAZING! I can now sleep for more than 1.5 hours at a time and no longer need to sleep with an ice pack and a glass of ice water next to the bed. Instead of 6-10 sweats per night, I now have only 1 or 2. Definitely worth looking into.
Mariposa: I had a DVT during my first pregnancy (with the twins). This is why my MO is a bit freaked about putting me on Tamoxifen.
Fight4two: I had originally considered a lumpectomy. However, when I asked if they could remove the microcalcs during the lumpectomy, the PS informed me that my microcalcs looked like "buckshot" (her word not mine)... they were scattered throughout both breasts. That's when I decided on the BMX with DIEP reconstruction. My pathology report showed that there were atypical cells in the "good" breast.
Toastie: Congrats on your last chemo!
Hugs and prayers to all!
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JoJo: thinking of you tomorrow with your last chemo. Yay! I can't wait for that moment!
Dec. 27th is my last! Surgery January 24th! Bmx with expanders! -
Hello, All! I haven't been online for a number of reasons - but mostly because I felt like I was whining -- and I didn't want to be that way. I've caught up on a lot of your postings and it looks as though many of you are considering (and reconsidering) your surgical choices. I wish you all luck as you go through that process.
I have a question that I haven't seen addressed, here. Have any of you on Cytoxan and Taxotere had a problem with paranoia? How about when they are paired with neupogen? It is affecting my sleep and I now have to take some sort of "sleep aid" to get through the night.
Oh, and just so you know, the cilla in the bowel is a "fast-growing cell" and can experience a "die-off" similar to the hair on your head. This produces colitis, even though it is not listed as a side-effect (for taxotere) in the easily obtainable online literature or info on this site.
I see MO in the next 2 weeks, but this paranoina is really getting obnoxious.
Thanks, Sherrie
ps. have finished my last chemo and am starting to recover from all the SEs. Hooray! Getting ready to start external radiation in the new year. (decided against internal radiation because of my post-lumpectomy infection - hope no one ever has to cut on me, again!!!)
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Final chemo is tomorrow for me, too! So glad to be near the finish line. Of course, I have to show up next Thursday for my first Herceptin only treatment...assuming my echocardiogram on Monday is OK. Toastiecat, I'm with you on the "worrying about Herceptin heart damage" deal. The docs listen to my heart and look at my ankles and tell me they think I'm fine, but like you I'm getting more winded (especially walking up stairs) so I worry.
Fight4two, I chose a lumpectomy because the tumor was so small and the surgeon assured me that outcomes are equal for lumpectomy and mastectomy. I had an MRI of both breasts before surgery, and they didn't see anything in the "good" breast. Of course, the MRI isn't foolproof. They found LCIS in the surgical path, which they did not find in the biopsy. LCIS causes an increased risk of a new breast cancer in both breasts, with the risk percentage increasing every year. If I had known about the LCIS before surgery I would have considered the mastectomy option more seriously. But I have a friend who developed lymphedema and has to wear a sleeve every day, all the time, forever, and the thought of that is scary. for now I am happy with my lumpectomy.
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