Calling all TNs

Great news, Inmate.

regbeach: the neulasta shot helps bring the white blood cell count back up within 14 days for the next chemo, but you can still be prone to infection... especially as I recall, it was days 7-10 when WBCs were lowest, at least for me.) Good idea to check temps twice a day, that is the earliest warning signal.

jen: glad to hear about the clean scan - woo hoo!

jcolford-I have been complaining about pain for awhile now, my last chemo was October 2011. At my last appointment my nurse told me that some study showed that the ac combination can cause muscle pain starting 6 months AFTER treatment ends and can continue for a year or so. I wish I would have gotten the name of the study. It has been a year and a half for me

Painting-Sorry you are going though this, good to be checked out but hopefully it is just an injury from working too hard! I do get leg cramps at night, docs can't figure it out and do not seem concerned. A prayer has been sent:)

So, all my labs came back good, my tumor markers are 32, which is down from 34 August 2012. Still sounds high, huh? But it is lower than when I was first diagnosed. I think they were something like 50 or 60, docs think tumor markers are a good indicator for me. My arms have been so heavy and my chest tight the past couple of days, I think I overstretched. I am starting pt again next friday, I hope it helps. So, no scans for me until August, Yippeeee! I think I already posted this but oh well:) Sorry for the repeat.

Hello all! Love this site and all the valuable info! I am 56 years old with 2 beautiful daughters, ages 11 and 16, yes I'm an older Mom but don't truly feel old...just a number! We adopted our youngest from China! I was diagnosed with TNBC in February, 2013, just 5 days after finding a painful lump which appeared quickly! Started dose dense ac chemo in March 2013 and had my 2nd taxol treatment today..they had to reduce dosage by 20% however as my fingertips are still numb from first axel treatment. So I have 2 treatments remaining; meet with radiation oncologist and breast surgeon in 2 weeks to make my surgery and radiation treatments. I had 2 lymph nodes involved so radiation is a must. Have been stressing a bit about lumpectomy vs mastectomy. Two breast surgeons said ill attain same result either way and would be more concerned about C occurring somewhere else eg brain, bone, liver or lungs...ugh! So as of today I'm thinking lumpectomy unless surgeon suggests otherwise. My lump s in left breast at very tip near underarm so I have alot of healthy tissue in that breast. I'm hoping with a change of lifestyle including diet and exercise I can avoid any systemic C or recurrence. I'm up for any suggestions relative to diet...have been researching and right now it's so overwhelming...but vegetarian sounds like a good solution and exercise like crazy!

bak94 good news..........:)

Dawn, that is really great news!  I had no idea there was something like that available.  Did everyone else know that one can get genome (sorry, is this word correct) tested?  What exactly does that mean, and I am wondering why is it not part of standard care for everyone?

Bak - I get tumor markers done too, used to every 3 months, now it is every 6 months.  I have created a spreadsheet, and I mark all the three that I get.  My markers (knock on wood) taken as recently as April were as low as 6.7.   All three are low.  that is why I am not freaking out way too much right now.  I am very very tired, it could be due to the thyroid.

I had a hard time accepting the TN diagnosis but now after sometime I just regard it as cancer, they all suck.  There are many woman one here who know the TN data better than me. I believe chemo is pretty standard for TN and radiation based on size of tumor and how many nodes. 

Dawn - I too think that genome is awesome but i believe it expensive and insurance doesn't pay.  Can you comfirm?  Is it known for accuracy?

Stupidboob,



I am only 9 weeks out from chemo but am having so much difficulty with the numbness in my fingers and feet from the taxol that I'm looking for an acupuncturist. I'll post any results here.



Did you see an acupuncturist?



Sorry this is lingering for us both.



Hugs,

Peggy

Tracy, what is the receptor status of your tumor (EStrogen, progesterone, her 2)? What is your k score? What stage are you? These data (all but the stage) should be in your biopsy pathology report.



Someone else might have these same characteristics and might be very helpful, but ultimately, your MO should explain and give you a referral for a rad onc consult and a breast surgeon consult. If all three are in agreement with the current plan, you can rest as assured as most of us(?!) are about our treatment plan.



Putting these characteristics. (Above) in your signature line can help people here help you. Just a suggestion.



Hugs,

Peggy

Peggy no I did not see an acupuncturist as they were getting better but numb on the tips unless I put them in hot water.   Then I had to start Taxotere and that just made them worse.   I "hope" I only have one treatment left and I will go from there.   I hope you get some relief and please do share the info.

Tracy I did not get offered radiation either (I did not want it but I did not get offered either).  I have 2 nodes that were positive and one that I guess they were not sure because if you read the actual report is says 3 but then hand written was 2/15 cancerous.......I wondered if I was told wrong but the surgeon and the MO said no radiation needed.   My new oncologist said that she did not see a need at the time of surgery either.   

Sorry, the taxotere has my eyes all watery so reading anything has been dificult lately, I must have missed that. I will be so glad when my normal vision returns! :-)

Jen- yep im using some drops, they dont seem to help much though. I started taking zrytec and it lessened the watering some but not all the way.

I know a lot of you are on anti-depressants and for years I have avoided it and now I am thinking that I will never be able to get my life back without them.  I am not depressed per-say but I tend to have a lot of symptoms of depression and my Xanax helps but I need something for an everyday thing.   I am so UNHAPPY and I know I am the only one who can change that but I don't seem to be able to make the changes.  Today, I have eat all day and all bad things........well did have a salad and some cucumbers but they can't make up for all the JUNK I had.   I KNOW that I have to lose weight and stop some of the junk eating and I just won't do it...........WHY-WHY-WHY............I mean come on, what has to happen to me to make me do that right thing.  

So, anyways...........if you don't mind sharing what are you all taking and how do you like it?

sweetpickle I am glad that you are doing well.   See, I have heard of different side-effects and shoot my mind is messed up enough with all my anxiety.   My neighbor was one of the strongest women I know and they put her on Prozac and she became this scared lady who did not want her husband out of her sight (not her at all).   I am so afraid of meds and after getting the cancer I have over come a lot but still have the fear in me.   I guess kind of like you can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl

thanks for sharing