Calling all TNs

Hi Ladies,

I'm afraid my mom (Michelle/LuvRVing) isn't recovering as well as we hoped.  She's still pretty weak.  She's not getting on her computer at all, which is something she's done pretty much every day since laptops exhisted, so it's odd to show up at her place and see her sort of vaguely watching tv.  She's been on a lot of steroids and it seems to be helping with her appetite.  My step-father is making sure she gets her Zofran ragularly and that helps, but her appetite is spotty at best.  She's also working with a physical therapist a couple times a week because she's unable to walk unaided and dragging her right foot when she walks.  

Okay, the really bad news.  She has a largish mass on her liver, and a small spot on her lumbar.  We were hoping that even though her tumor markers had gone up a bit, she could still take a chemo break and recover some strength.  Instead, she's wanting to jump right back in for fear of giving the cancer yet another inch.  The radiologist and oncologist have decided that the next step is to try Navelbine and Avastin.  The Avastin is specifically to target the mets still in her brain.  I believe she'll do Navelbine for 2 weeks and then Avastin for 1, then take a week off.  

My cousin's wedding shower is in Rochester, NY, next weekend, so she's agreed to wait at least until after that trip.  My sister and I will be taking her while my step-father works on moving them out of their dear lake house with it's many many stairs and into a first floor two bedroom apartment that will be easier for my mom to navigate.  Needless to say, we are all upset to learn that yet another treatment has failed and that mom's tenacious triple-neg cancer just will not give us the time we need.  As mom said recently, I feel like the window is closing.

Michelle: I'm praying for you. Big hugs and hope to hear a great update soon.

Relocated: Radiation and Chemotherapy are two different treatments designed to target cancer cells, each in a specific way through a different means.  Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, while radiation is a local/local regional treatment.

The recommendation on the course of treatment will vary per individual, as the Oncologist and the medical team will determine the patient's risk factors.  Several things are considered, such as:  final pathology report, family medical history, age of patient, size of tumor, if any nodes were involved, margins, location of tumor, etc.

I consulted with two tumor boards.

I would imagine you will find our much more and have more clarity once the final pathology is returned from your surgery.

Let us know how things go for you, and also on how you are doing once you get home from the hospital.  I will be thinking about you on your surgery day for sure!

- John Hopkins Breast Cancer Center has a free question-and-answer service, and they provide answers to a wide range of topics from symptoms of breast cancer, to breast cancer diagnosis, question about breast cancer risk, mastectomy, radiation and many other topics. Ask An Expert: John Hopkins Breast Cancer: http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/services/ask_ex...

Dear LovingMyMom and LuvRVing - so sorry to hear the news that the previous treatments have not worked to kick the FC to the curb. Really hoping that the Navelbine and Avastin do their job and don't sap your strength too much. Enjoy your weekend trip and then do whatever you have to do to beat this stuff up! You are in all our thoughts and prayers and we have our arms around you to help you in this fight. {{HUGS}}

Doreen

LovinMyMom,



I am so sorry to hear about thenewsof the mass and spots. I don't have direct experience with that but I've seen several people on the forums who have lived quite awhile with the kind of aggressive treatment your mom is going to get. I'd be wanting to get startedif I were her too, but a short rest seems like a good thing and she will be distracted by the goings on.



Hugs,

Peggy

Al- I think it is sooo sweet that you are involved with this site.  You obviously love your wife and are also wanting to help others.......some husbands carry on with life as if its no big deal....Your wife has an awesome husband.....

Dear Michelle



You are in my thoughts.

Michelle:

Wishing you all the best while you travel yet another bumpy road.  Prayers and thoughts are with you for now, and always.

Luvinmymom...you are such a special daughter...keep taking such good care of her

Luvrving...we love you and miss you....finally read Fifty Shades of Grey. Never forgot you posting about it...quite the erotic read Please feel better soon



Maggie

OK - let's try this again, my post went off to never never land.



Sun & Patti - sorry you have to join us but welcome to our group. Let us know if there are any questions we can help you with.



LovinmyMom - thank you so much for keeping us updated. We are all holding your Mom tight in our hearts. I spoke with Michelle this weekend and her spirit is as strong as ever. She wanted me to relay her good wishes to everyone. I told her that everyone is sending her good wishes.



Annie - that sounds like a hell of a couple weeks. I'm glad that the news appears good for your daughter. I hope the rash is cleared up by now? Any luck on getting a better sleeve for your arm? A sleeve that could cause swelling in your upper arm doesn't sound like a good idea.



Aeryno - congrats on finishing chemo!



Karen - any news?



I started my chemo yesterday. I picked the 6 month regimen of CMF, so it will be a long haul. I switched to a local facility for my treatment and I have to say that I'm very pleased with my new MO and the staff in the infusion center. (I actually think it's much better than the big facility I was at.) At this facility there is a nurse triage that will return your call in 1-2 hours, and they return calls promptly. You will all laugh at what I'm pissing and moaning about this chemo. The Cytoxan is oral and is taken for 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. Because it can cause bladder problems, you have to drink copious fluids and pee frequently. I'm a camel, I don't drink much. This is like torture to me, lol. I also cut my hair today. They told me my hair would only thin with this treatment. (I was told the same thing last time and I lost enough hair for a small pony by my 3 rd treatment). I had them cut my hair so I don't have to style it and pull on the hair. Looks like shit, lol, but hopefully this way it will stay around long enough to get me through the hot weather.



Hope everyone is well?

Haven't been here in a while, so sorry to hear about Michele - sending healing thoughts and prayers.

Hello ladies!

 I was diagnosed on July 8 and am triple negative. I have a 1 cm tumor in my right breast and am scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy on Monday, Aug 5. The recurrance numbers scared me and I thought it made more sense to have a matching set of boobs or nonboobs so I'm doing it. I'm also scheduled for an immediate DIEP reconstruction procedure which they won't do if any nodes have cancer.  Not knowing until I wake up how much or how little was done to me is a bit stressful. Heck, the whole thing is really freaking me out.

  I elected surgery first, both the BS and the oncologist I met only for a second opinion on surgery first vs chemo first  said it didn't matter. I liked having surgery behind me when I started chemo.

 I will probably be on here alot with questions once surgery is over and I meet with an oncologist about actual specifics and treatments...

hi beachbound, I am in Canada so everything is paid. :-)  Thanks so much for all the replies. I will see the surgeon in the morning and am just hoping she thinks it's a good idea and doesn't try to talk me out of it. I don't want to go in with doubts.

Thanks again. The support here makes such a difference. 

Michele, thinking of you and praying you start to feel better.

Hi Sugar, I'm in Vancouver. Sorry to see you are part of this club too. I am getting to know the community and really appreciate the support. Thank you.