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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2013

    Macy~~I'm glad to hear that you're sailing along. Is the abraxane for a limited amount of time, or is it indefinite?



    My DH is job hunting again. He was out of work for most of the winter other than 2 or 3 weeks here & there. If it weren't for our church family We'd have been living in a cardboard box in some alley. This stress has been much more difficult than BC.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited May 2013

    Raindeer I think your temper and mood swing are purely because of the uncertainty you are feeling........its very normal to feel that way.  Considering the fact that you are so newly diagnosed you are still going through the grieving process that comes with the loss of part of ourselves.  Be gentle with yourself and ask your family to give you a bit of leeway at the moment.......I'm sure they will.  All will settle given some time.

    Hopefully the chemo will take care of what ever it is that is showing in your lung.

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

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  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 754
    edited May 2013

    Paula my mo says I will be on Abraxane for a long time, I know at least through September 2013.



    Hugs, Cynthia

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  • CherylinOhio
    CherylinOhio Member Posts: 623
    edited May 2013

    Hi all. Saw my onc in April and he is not doing blood tests anymore because the farther out you are the less accurate it is.  I have been on arimidex since January 2013 and almost have every side effect. The one that concerns me is achiness which I feel in my ribs bby my back on the uneffected side. I wanted to see if I could get an xray but I wonder if a calcium level check would be better, more accurate and cheaper since I got laid off and have no insurance. Any thoughts?  It is not a pain but a dull ache that comes and goes.  I also have a sharp pain in my right hip since right after chemo, had xray and bone scan 2x since but was clean, Isometimes also have a sharp pain in my elbow on effected side too. Not often just every once in a while. Maybe a calcium level check would be good??

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2013

    Cherylin~~I found that Claritin worked really well for the achyness of arimidex. Even the generic, Loratidine, which you can find at the dollar stores. I only had a bit of stiffness in the backs of my hands.



    The N/P at my oncologist approved. She said she had seen enough evidence to know it works.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited May 2013

    Cheryl if the Claritin doesn't help perhaps discussing with your onc the option of changing to one of the other AIs may be a solution for you.  The achiness and odd pain is not normally a warning sign of other things, those pains usually are pretty constant.

    Don't forget, that with your surgery and recon, your body has been changed particularly in your muscles and your body needs to adjust to those changes.

    Love n hugs.    Chrissy

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  • Michele2013
    Michele2013 Member Posts: 350
    edited May 2013

    Hi ladies-I had a follow up appt with my BS today. I asked her when I can get my port out (thinking six months to year) she told me I should probably plan on having it for the rest of my life. Wtf!!!!!



    A lady where I bank at, her husband 78 had tonsil cancer and his port was removed today.



    Can dr's sometimes not be completely honest about your prognosis??? I try to be realistic about everything...



    Hugs



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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited May 2013

    Michele jsut because your onc said that doesn't mean that you can't have it out.......it is your right to insist if that is what you want.

    I think your onc's thinking is not so much a bad prognosis but should you ever need a port again they will have to change the placement because of scar tissue and depending on your previous surgery this may pose a problem.  To clarify all of this you really need to pose the question directly to your onc.

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

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  • Michele2013
    Michele2013 Member Posts: 350
    edited May 2013

    Thank you, I forget I have a say in my treatment. Since I am getting the standard treatment....I just go with what they say.



    Thanks again Chrissyb

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  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 754
    edited May 2013

    My mo told me the same thing, that I would have my port for life. I don't know what that means about my prognosis and I am too afraid to ask. I feel so good mentally and physically that I'm scared of the answer I Would get.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2013

    Michele~~I just noticed how similar yours & my dx are. I was told I could have my removed now that I'm finished with chemo. I opted to keep it for a while longer. (Play it by ear) my onc was fine either way.



    Paula

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2013

    I finished chemo 2 weeks ago today. I had an MRI on Wednsday and a full body bone scan today to rule out mets to the left shoulder. I see the onc for results on June 6.



    Paula

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited May 2013

    Macy being stage IV means treatment of some sort pretty much for the rest of your life so your port will become necessary at some point for ease of access for that treatment.

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited June 2013

    hi, I just today learned that one of my good friends that I met 3 yrs ago when we were both having chemo, has been diagnosed with brain mets.  Can you tell me what the usual procedure is?  She already had chemo  A and T, and radiation, braca 2+, double masectomy and hysterectomy...she is 36 with a 7 yr old. Its amazing all the headaches and pains you start to get when you hear of a close friend/relative experiencing this.  Any advice, help would be greatly appreciated.  here I was yesterday after onc appt ( we have the same onc) celebrating three years that we "kicked cancer to the curb"...ugh...I should add her mom had ovarian cancer 12 years ago and refused any chemo/rads and had not had any issue with cancer..knock wood.   Guess we will just have to give it a harder boot out the door this time.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    I get the results of my MRI and bone scan tomorrow. Then were done to rule out mets to the shoulder. I'm believing its just where I had bursitis there. I have no pain at all.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 754
    edited June 2013

    Praying for you Paula.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    Macy~~Thank you so much! I appreciate all your prayers!



    Blessings

    Paula



    GOD IS GOOD

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2013

    msjag, I'm so sorry to hear the news of your friend.  Treatment for brain mets can be WBR (whole brain radiation), cyberknife (robotic radiosurgery) and there are some chemos that cross the blood/brain barrier.  What she will have will depend on the decisions made by her and her onc and where exactly the tumors are.

    Hoping she does well. 

    Paula, keeping everything crossed that the scans are clear for you.

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    Chrissy~~Thanks so much! I don't post hear often, but I always read, and you are ALWAYS so kind, supportive, and encouraging to everyone.



    God Bless You

    Paula

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  • Papillon1
    Papillon1 Member Posts: 308
    edited June 2013

    Hi all,

    Anyone idea how things go for a HER2+ ER+ person finishing chemo and jut sticking to herceptin and tamoxifen? The doc decided no more chemo...



    Is this a common way for treatment to go?



    Health n happiness xx

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2013

    Hi Papillon, Her2+ usually has Herceptin for a year. The ER+ is treated normally with Tamoxifen after chemo so it looks like your treatment is spot on. Good luck with getting back to your new normal.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

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  • Papillon1
    Papillon1 Member Posts: 308
    edited June 2013

    Thanks. And why would they stop chemo? I know my mum wanted to anyway, but the doc got in there first. I am just wondering about the doctors thoughts.

    Thanks as always Chrissy.

    X

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2013

    Papillon, your moms onc has probably stopped the chemo due to falling blood counts or her liver is under stress..........what ever the reason I'm sure it is for your moms benefit as they don't usually stop unless there is a good reason. If she had completed the set amount then it's not unusual for the chemo to stop and a gentler form of treatment ie Tamoxifen given.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

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  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 694
    edited June 2013

    Raindeer, I too have a single 6mm lung nodule.  I am half way through my chemo and will rescan in three months.  It is very frustrating to have to wait but I have now met three other breast cancer ladies that have a lung nodule and I have had four doctors tell me that they are very common in urban areas.  I am sure it will turn out to be scarring from allergies or infection.

    Good luck

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  • Papillon1
    Papillon1 Member Posts: 308
    edited June 2013

    Thanks Chrissy. As always a mind of information and help. Xxx

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    My scans were inconclusive. POOPY! I'm having a pet scan tomorrow. Depending on what happens with that, I may need a bone biopsy.



    She said the shoulder actually showed less activity this time, but the humorous showed more activity. Also some activity in the lower spine. I have arthritis in both places. Have had in my spine since my mid-30's. I'm 62 now.



    POOPY POOPY POOPY



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2013

    Oh dang Paula!  Still none the wizer......don't you just hate that?  Here's hoping it's the arthritis and nothing else.......keeping my fingers crossed for you.

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

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  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 754
    edited June 2013

    Praying for you Paula, that everything comes out good with no new mets.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    I got a call from my oncologist late this afternoon. She said, " No abnormalities, but she's having bone surgeon look at my MRI from last week to make sure nothing is missed. " I'm glad she's so thorough. I still believe its only arthritis. They're checking the left arm (humorous) and lower spine.



    Thanks Chrissy & Macy for your kindness and prayers.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 754
    edited June 2013

    Great news Paula. Still praying for you and all of us.

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