Sept 2012 chemo

Hopex3- A MUGA scan is a multigated acquisition scan (also called equilibrium radionuclide angiogram or blood pool scan)  which is a noninvasive diagnostic test used to evaluate the pumping function of the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). During the test, a small amount of radioactive tracer is injected into a vein. A special camera, called a gamma camera, detects the radiation released by the tracer to produce computer-generated movie images of the beating heart. The MUGA scan is a highly accurate test used to determine the heart’s pumping function.

Some patients have MUGAs or echocardiograms prior to commencement of chemo to see what the heart function is prior to chemo.  Then after the completion of chemo, the MUGA may be given again to see if there has been any heart damage from the chemo.  Usually, if one has Adramycin or Herceptin, these heart scans are performed.  I've had quarterly echocardiograms since I'm on Herceptin.

Amy: mine came back when I went on FEC! I freaked out but my oncologist did not seem worried in the least. I got a call today to schedule my "dry-run" for surgery. She said it was going to be pretty extensive and to block off 4 hours at least!! But the upside, she said, was that I would have nothing to worry about the day of surgery.

Kelleyb: Thanks for explaining that to me. Hmm, I am wondering when they would want to do an MRI where I get treatment. Probably when they don't feel a clinical response to chemo? Don't know.

Melrose... I was like man shes good! Hahaha

I had a muga done in the beginning and it came back with excellent results. I assumed she was doing another due to my surgery and being done with chemo. They stopped my herceptin till after surgery. But then it starts back up and I will get it till october. Im gonna ask my MO if they will do another one.

Forever.... I have my surgery rehersal tomorrow and they say 1 to 2 hrs. 4 hours seems long... I do think it will take some stress off though... Knowledge is power!

Thanks melrose!

Damiana, I think I may agree with your bullshit call on rads. The first 2 days after treatment I was exhausted. I came home and went to bed early then could not wake up in the morning. Today feeling a little better, but sleepy. I was blaming it on myself getting so wound up that the stress was making me tired, but maybe not. I am a little pink already, oh no!



Forever, you look so beautiful!



Amy, take some pics of your pre-surgery boobs. I took my before pic to remember. I am also taking hair pics to see the change weekly.

Jojo... Im all over the hair pics but will def take a few of the b4 boobs !

Im enjoying a glass of wine.... Why? Well because I can oh and the DH said he would get the kids off to school lol love him



Hopex.. Whooohooo lashes! Flaunt them girl!

Faith...thanks for the tip...I will look in my drawer of drugs. I have Valium and oxycodeine. Valium is the choice. I knew I should hang onto these drugs for a reason. I've decided my foobies look like ciabatta rolls. Square and semi flat. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Hopex:  I like that you haven't lost your sense of humor.   And I agree with Amy about flauting those lashes:-)  How much mobility do you have at this point?  Is it on both sides?  Just curious.  This is a very silly story, but a while back both of the handles fell off of our refrigerator.  We were going to fix it, but then thought that it was kind of nice because you had to reach on top of the door to open it- which meant my children couldn't sneak into the refrigerator and get stuff they weren't supposed to.  I realized last night that after my surgery, I won't be able to get into my refrigerator!!!  Oh no!  I better get that fixed.

Faith: Thanks so much for the information you shared about your own surgery and what to expect.  I am learning so much from everyone here!  When is your replacement surgery?  is it coming up?  I will talk to my doctor about valium- although it tends to make me vomit.  Wonder if there is a good alternative.

Amy:  Enjoy your wine:-)  I know you are getting closer to your surgery date (a week away, right?)  I am seeing you as my surgery big sister- you will go through it a week before me.  So I am on your heels learning from every question you ask and all of the information you share:-) Thanks!!!  And I will be sending you tons and tons of healing energy on the 13th.  Lucky 13 is right... that is the way I am looking at this entire year.

Forever:  You are stunning with your beautiful bald head:-)  Is your surgery still scheduled for mid March?  I feel like everyone is having so much done with their doctors prior to surgery.  My surgery is in a couple of weeks and I still haven't spoken to my surgeon!  Last time I spoke to her was prior to chemo in August!  I am glad that everyone is sharing their experience so I can ask some good questions when I do see my surgeon on the 14th. 

As for the Muga- I get an echocardiogram every three months since I am on Herceptin.  I have had two friends who have had to stop the herceptin due to issues that were seen on the echo.  I prayed pretty hard before the last echo.  I want to make sure that I can stay on the Herceptin for the whole year.  I am going to start taking Abana to protect my heart from both the herceptin and the radiation.  Jojo- I wish I knew of something we could take for our lungs!  I am going to keep investigating.

Rad girls:  Praying you start feeling more energy.  Thanks for letting us all know about this part of the journey.  You are our trailblazers. 

Toastiecat:  Your talk to the tampons was too funny:-)

I love everyone's sense of humor!  I think we would have a great time in Vegas:-)

Tomorrow I go in for my ultrasound and my brain MRI (my cognitive study I am in- looking to see if there have been changes in my brain since before chemo).  They are also going to be giving me a slew of cognitive tests.  I am going to fail all of those.   I play sudoku on my kindle and used to be able to do an easy puzzle in less than four minutes... last night an easy puzzle took me 40 minutes!!!  Yikes. 

Mariposa ...I can't lift both arms all the way up. Well, I probably could but I'm not suppose to. So, you better get your fridge fixed. It's amazing the things you cannot do.

The side where I had three nodes out is quite sore under my arm like I have a huge razor burn. I see my PS on Friday so we will see what he says. I think he did a pretty big fill on me to begin with 210 cc's. I don't know though, maybe that is the norm. I never saw my surgeon either till pre-op. then I saw her a week after surgery and of course, I get lock jaw in there and forget to ask questions. So, I'm more prepared this time when I see my PS. I feel I've gotten so stupid during this whole process and it doesn't seem to bother me.

I didn't know you were going in for a brain MRI....interesting study. I can't wait to hear the results. I know I would definitely fail it.

Take care

Mariposa... I will gladly carry you on my heels ... We are on this journey together! I will promise to fill you in on all the details and will not sugar coat anything... We got this and we can and will do this!



I have gained a BC sister thru facebook due to my cousin... She is only on her third round of A\C and has one more plus 12 weekly rounds of taxol... She is young has small children and has been hospitalized over the last cpl days.... What has caught me by surprise is this.. She is not even home yet and is sending me good vibes for surgery! What an inspiration.... All of you and her.... I love that all of you are in my life and world... I would be lost without you! Much love....

Cherioo - glad to hear you confirm what Damiana said about being tired too.  I don't have any pain or burning specifically under the arm but an overall feeling of "getting a sunburn".  My nipple is very itchy and I am lathering it specifically with creams.   I am working full-time and as of now do not see how I will keep up thru 6.5 weeks.  But "one day at a time".....

FYI - I got a call from my genetics counselor and the hospital research program where I go is now willing to fund me participating in additional cancer research testing.  Last year when I went through all the paperwork and doing a ancestry graph on all my family cancer, the funds were gone for the year.  I will meet with them on 3/8 when I return for my MO appointment/port flush.  I will get a blood draw for the genetics testing then.  Their research is looking at what they are calling "cancer syndromes".  This is certain genetic defects which present in family generations as certain types of cancer.  These could be linked together - just don't have enough evidence yet.  I am so happy to be able to contribute something positive from having cancer!

Mariposa - did you have ask your MO about Metformin?  I am going to next visit as the trial closed and I wasn't able to participate.

Happy day to all!

Glad to hear I am not the only one so tired with the rads!  I am going to attempt to go do some shopping today.  I am very nervous about this because I don't know if I can stay awake! 

Mariposa- good luck with your mri and tests! You will have to let us know how they go.

damiana, cherioo and jojo, I started feeling tired pretty quickly too, once I started rads.  I would fall asleep on the couch every night after I ate dinner, wake up long enough to go to bed, and sleep later than usual in the morning.  For some reason now that I've finished 23 of 33, I'm not so tired.  Just the last couple of days I have actually stayed awake at night before bed!  We'll see if that continues, but I'm doubtful.