August 2013 Chemo Sisters

Good luck with your port tomorrow, will say a prayer that you are calm and everything goes well.

Love, Rayna

Babyruth,

   I am a member of the July "Firecrackers" group.  I was just wondering if you knew if all treatments were accumulative?  The first was a pretty easy, minimal side effects.  The second has kicked me when I am down.  My third is coming up in 6 days.  Do you know if the side effects typically run into the other treatments?  Wouldnt be too bad if one week you were sick and the other was semi "normal", but the accumulative affects have me concerned as to whether my body can handle it?  Any advise?  Thanks.

Wishing HVV and Baby Ruth an easy go with their treatments today. 

I am at times literally paralyzed with fear...and other times, feel that I am fine.  It's such a roller coaster ride...except it's not fun at all.  I don't think it's just the chemo I am approaching with trepidation..it's why I'm having it that I'm struggling with.  Just a big huge visible and physical reminder of the fact that I have cancer.  I cried over losing my ovaries...grieved over losing my breasts...and now I am mourning for the loss of my hair.  It's just so overwhelming.

A lady from another post wrote "you don't have to be brave...you just have to show up"  That has become my mantra.

I am grateful to finally be speaking with women who are going through this...although I hate the fact that each of you are. 

xo

Lily: That doesn't sound right? I think I will be having ultrasounds once every 6 months and possible an MRI once a year. I would look for a different onco if she doesn't plan to do any follow up screening, that's ridiculous.

Love, Rayna

Rayna,

It is a lonely journey, even when surrounded by so many wonderful and supportive family and friends.  I too hear..."stay positive"... etc.  I was incredibily positive throughout my diagnosis and surgeries.  This unfortunately has buckled my knees.  I'm getting my hair cut next Tuesday...it's down to my waist.    I've been Youtubing how to tie a head scarf.  I'm getting a wig...but feel that it will look fake.  I've got fake boobs...or foobs.  That's fake enough for me.  Right now they are tissue expanders...I was going to have the implant swap in October and take them on vacation.  But with the chemo that is on hold.  It feels like having tortoise shells in my chest.

ARGH

I just finished my first treatment about an hour ago. I used Emla cream on the port 1 hr before and didn't feel a thing when the time came. Truly! For me, lasted about 4 hrs. I may feel somewhat drowsy right now but that's about it so far. I get my nebula sat shot tomorrow and from what I've learned...that's about when the "fun" kicks in...afterward for a couple of days.



Rayna - I agree with the hair part. That is hard even thinking about it...when it starts happening , I can only imagine as I'm anticipating that in about 2 weeks! It is one things to come to terms with cancer...then chemo...but losing your hair? Really hard for me...call me vain, I don't care...but of course, it will grow back and living vs. hair...is there really a question here?



Good luck to all on your journey!

So I have a quick update after spending almost 4 hours at the oncologist office this morning.  I did not start chemo today because the tumor board decided yesterday that it was too great a risk at this time due to my heart ejection fraction rate being 45.  They are worried about the herceptin since I had a decline the last go round.  I am going for a heart MRI to see if we can figure out more about my heart issue. I also started on some medication to strengthen it .  They also came up with another plan which was to start me on the cyber knife radiation right under my arm where the cancerous lymph node was.  I had  radiation previously but not in that area.  They think it is imperative that I do something while we are waiting on this heart condition to get better.  My oncologist is sure that if my cancer comes back it will be metastatic. She also called my second opinion OC at Emory Winship Cancer Instit. while I was there and she agreed with our plan. I told my oncologist that there is no history of any heart conditions in my family and that I never had any problems until the last chemo.  I pretty much told her that either the cancer or her were going to kill me.  Just depended on who did it first.  

I am a little discouraged with all the setbacks but I think I just need to take this slowly and make the right decisions.  This is my third time trying to win this battle and I think this  one is the game changer.  These decisions I am making are very important and very real.  I do have to make my decisions like my life depends on it .  It does.  That is a scary thought.  

HVV- thinking of you today at your first treatment.  I hope everything goes okay for you.  Please update when you can.

I just got back from my IV Port installation two hours ago and even with the Oxy and ice, man does that ache.  I'm hoping it's as short term as the doctor indicates, but at the moment my shoulder is complaining that it's been violated.  I'd nap but it really hurts too much to even consider that.  It's another two hours before I can take my second (she only gave me five tablets, so I can't in good conscience double up). 

I'll survive, but what a wallop, I didn't think it would be that bad.  How lond did anyone else have bad pain after her port installation?

Hello Ladies,

I am assuming I am starting this month. I have my appointment tomorrow with my oncologist to go over details, and it sounds from what I've read so far to be quite an involved process. I was getting set up with radiation before I met with my medical oncologist. She wanted the oncotype testing done which came back high, so here I am... I appreciate all the information you have all provided, it certainly helps in this barely tolerable time. I'm also waiting for the BRCA test to come back. I have concerns for my daughters as my mother had breast cancer and their fathers mother also. I regret not speaking more with my mother about it at the time, but guess it was not in her nature to share these details. I'm not making the same mistake with my kids. Best to all!

Beeve- my port pain only lasted a week at the most. Just give it some time and you will feel better.

Shalier- it can be really overwhelming at first. I always took someone with me who had a laptop that they could use to look up info as we were in the office. Also, my sister always records with her cell phone so we can go back and listen. Once you get your plan you will feel much more at ease.

So much... So scary. Had my chemo teach, sister and hubby were there. I am so scared. I don't want to be sick. I am trying to accept the fact that I will lose hair, I am just freaked. I know in my heart of hearts I will survive , but I just want to be done with this. rayna, how do you feel now?

Babyruth: I am so sorry you are going through so much right now, I will be praying for you. I hope you get some sort of answer regarding your heart and the medicine works to strengthen it.

Love, Rayna