Is There A September 2011 Chemo Group?

Belle- sorry you didn't get all the answers you wanted but hope the steroids help. Glad none of it seemed concerning to your doc.



Mags- thinking of you and hoping things are going well.



Pink shirt- thinking of you..

Maggie,glad to hear everything went well and you aren't in much pain. Prayers on the necrosis path.

I've done 2 1/2 days of the steroids,not going to take anymore!! I hate the side effects,I couldn't take them during chemo,don't know why I thought I could this time esp at such a higher dose. I'll just have to deal with the pain.

Hugs to all,hope everyone has a great weekend.

Hello ladies, checking in again after a lengthy absence!  Having read through the last seven or eight pages, all I can say is that all of y'all are amazing.  Belleeast and Pink Shirt and CJRT, you are all in my thoughts and wishes for good karma.  It all seems so ridiculously UNFAIR after all everyone has been through.  Kimberly, was that you with the line about the critter that lives in the trees and doesn't move except to crap once a day?  That made me laugh out loud for real.

I don't really have anything to report.  I have aches and pains and insomnia, but my MO and radiologist and breast surgeon have attributed them all to the anastrozole I am taking.  It also makes me sad and depressed sometimes, but at least I know it's the drug.  All of my blood tests have been clear so far -- I have another routine appointment in a couple of weeks.  I have to admit that sometimes ... all of the events of the past two years seem like a bad dream.

Did anyone else get a survey from UCLA regarding something called the ECHO Study?  I'm just curious -- it was basically about how helpful/not helpful the Oncotype DX test was, and I thought it had some interesting questions.

So.  I am thinking of everyone tonight, and wishing everyone well.  If I could hug all of you, I would. 

Thank you for the good wishes.  It's been a rough day but I am hanging in there.  I had my first Xgeva shot yesterday which went okay.  I also got a prescrption for Fentanol patches for the bone pain.  I've thrown up a few times in the past few hours but I don't know if it is the Xgeva or Fentanol.  I'm not good with narcotics so I'm pretty sure it is the Fentanol.  Doesn't it seem that the possible SEs from any drug include nausea?  Right now I'm sipping ginger ale and hoping for the best.

Take care everyone!

Pink,((hugs)) I get ya with the nausea- I got nausea from the nausea patch during chemo-go figure lol. I am so sorry you are having a rough go,maybe they could reduce the dosage of the patch and increase gradually. I pray the pain lets up for you! Can they do radiation for the bone pain,at least in some areas,I know you have mets in most of your bones (( Dang it,it's just not right that you are going thru this. I hope and pray Xgeva kicks this F...ing cancer's a..!!! In my thoughts and prayers..((hugs))

Pink/Linda , Lord have mercy!! It just keeps coming,doesn't it?

On the positive side,you found the dissolving meds,(2) at least the spot is small,and I've read on this site very encouraging positive results using radiation for brain mets,where it targets just the met. I'm sure the rad dr will explain the process and what side effects to expect.

I would like to reach out and just give you the biggest HUG I can give!! Just remember,if you need to freak out ,freak out here all you want ,we don't mind at all! You are in my thoughts and prayers! (((Hugs)))

Mags- thinking of you also. Glad to hear your surgery went well and it's one more out of the way.

Hi - next post.

Carla - you were probably directed to this post because of my tumour marker posting. Right before my Mastectomy in March my breast surgeon did my tumour markers on me (the first time since diagnosis in June 2011). At diagnosis all my markers were normal but in Feb 2013 my CEA increased to 8.1, from 3.1( normal is 0-4). I had it retested in April 2013 and it went down to 6.8. I will have it retested next week as it is time for my general checkup. Right before the second test I cut out all exercise and salt. Basically anything that could be contributing to inflammation. I think my exercise was causing inflammation because I was exercising 5 days a week really intensely. I am trying to do the triple negative risk reduction of a low fat diet and 5 hours of intense exercise a week. I think my body was getting a bit too much exercise and I was getting inflammation. The next test should be a tell because I have been sitting on my but for the last 3 months, so I can assure you there is no exercise induced inflammation in my body right now!



What was more surprising to me was my WBC and Neutrophil counts which never came back after chemo jumped up back to normal range right before my mastectomy. Why? I cut out all green tea and turmeric at my meals at about 3 weeks before my procedure. I am going back on the green tea and turmeric now that it is fall. It was almost like I was getting a chemo with no side effects. My neutrophils were at 1.7 which was only up from 1.5 during my chemo.



Pinkshirt and CJRT ask your doctor if you can drink green tea and how much if you can. I was drinking about 5 cups a day. That may be too much for you guys.



Kimberly- yeah you are right! No more stirrup day, no more mammograms! I also do not miss the "girls" (as my mom calls them) that much. I will not be doing any reconstruction as it is a change from going to flat from 38 DD. I may treat myself to a set of falsies (for special occasions) but other than that it will be flat for me. Miss the ovaries a bit bit because the hot flashes are pretty bad but you are right I will suck it up. I will not be doing any hormonal therapy because of the whole gene thing. Why take a chance of getting hormone receptor positive cancer also.



Going to do another post- this one is getting long again.

Kayrem- Thank you for the well wishes. I do have my scan this week, so I can use all the positive thoughts and prayers I can get! Thank you for the green tea info. I will research it and ask.

I hope everyone is doing well. I actually have good news to share and wanted to come here to do it since you have been with me through all the bad news. My sister gave birth to her third child last night, so I have my first nephew! I had 4 nieces already but now a boy! This also finally gives my son a boy cousin to grow up and someone to give all my awesome boy clothes to. I am so happy for them and so happy to focus on something positive! Can't wait to meet him. I will have to plan a trip to NC.

cjrt...will be thinking of you and praying for good results!

Kayrem...so happy to hear from you.

Mags

Ladies,

So glad to see some come-backs.  Pink, I sure wondered what was going on with you.

For anyone who has mets found, please don't feel bad coming back and sharing.  It's what we all fear, but we need a hand to hold the same as we did with the original diagnosis.  We all dread it, wait for the shoe to drop, but it is what we share like going through therapy.

Pink, hold your hand lady. No problem.  Same with CJRT.  We hold hands together to give us strength, somewhere you can say you are anxious, it doesn't look so promising, and I am *** freaking out. 

Belle - About animals in trees, I guess I am a sloth.  I had a dead squirrel in the yard this summer.  Garbage man comes on Monday morning.  Squirrel dies Monday night.  The ever loving stink in my garbage during hot summer to wait until next Monday.  Oh puhleease.  I had a possum die in my yard a few weeks ago.  They are hideous.  Straight to the dump.

Anyway ladies, I was downsized from my position today, am now unemployed breast cancer patient.  No insurance soon or wondering how that will fall.  All of my accounts were under my job name.   I don't know that I will be able to access BCO in the same way under my name.  Dears, I remember you all.

Hugs girls.  You are not alone.   I am still here and will find a way to come back to keep in touch. 

CJRT:  Especially to you, you never know what miracle is in the test tube, next trial.  My sister was lucky enough to get Herceptin immediately after the first trial, at first release.  No matter she had no confidence, it worked for fairly long.  She is alive 8 years after.  Good luck dear.

Kimberly- I am so sorry about your job. Like you needed additional stress and battles after all you have been through. Thank you so much for your kind words and support.



I am sitting at my infusion. My doctor is apparently out of town til monday, so I don't have official results but her asst said results are good. I still have this one same lymph node light up but it is slightly smaller. Not sure if doctor will recommend doing a biopsy but for now, this is the best news I could pray for- no disease progression and nothing visible elsewhere. Thank you so much for your continued prayers.

Belle- I hope you're are having a wonderful time on your vacation! How could you not at such a magical place with your beautiful family?! We've been having great family time lately and really enjoying our weekends. Not exactly Disney World but we went to Disney on Ice and had a wonderful time. My little boy is in terrible twos, but it makes me realize how I have been lucky that he was always so easy going. He is so smart and funny, so he is an ongoing source of comic relief! Finally met with my MO on Friday. She said that the lymph node is unchanged but she is pleased that nothing else was visible on the PET scan. She is tired of monitoring the node and said that no one can figure out what it is since it is unchanged and tumor markers and scan results have remained good. So, I will be having a biopsy later this week. Not quite sure what it will entail, but as usual, I can use the prayers and positive vibes from you ladies. I will keep you posted. Hugs!

Thanks, Maggie! Hoping we start getting some fall weather down south. Hope you're doing well with your recovery.

Thanks,Cjrt and Mags! I am having a good time,went to Universal yesterday,day of rest today. Headed to Magic Kingdom tomorrow,going to be a long day!



I wish I would have realized you girls were close,we could have made plans to get together!



Mags,my SIL's father and his friend went to Melbourne beach yesterday while we were at Universal,they really enjoyed it,what a small world lol.



I got my walking in yesterday,at least I hope it counts!



I am enjoying myself as long as I don't think about -my weight,my thin hair etc ugghhh I hate my hair!!! I keep praying it will get thicker,I get so depressed about it,i feel like cutting it all off and start growing it all over again. Blah humbug!!



Cjrt, you got it girl,in my thoughts and prayers.