Chemo May 2013

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited September 2013

    Tori I too had no choice but mastectomy. My recovery from that was really very easy. I took no pain meds at all. Did need occasional valium for muscle spasms from tissue expander. I will be going with implant. I did not want the major surgery with the other options. After rads I will decide whether to have prophylactic mx on right side. Currently with expander and bra on you would not be able to tell I had mx even if I wear v neck shirts.



    Patty good luck with your surgery.

    Kate glad you are healing so quickly.



    For me 3 rads down 25 to go



    Lisa

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited September 2013

    Tori, I probably wouldve had a lumpectomy if I could've , but I had to have a mastectomy because of too much DCIS. I just had my implant/reconstruction and I'm pretty happy with my implant. My only "regret" is not thinking more about a double mastectomy. But my onco said it wouldn't have changed my chances of recurrence.

    I have almost all my brows back now!!! Still teeny nubs of lashes tho

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited September 2013

    Tori..

    My decision for lumpectomy was based on dr recommendation And today, in my specific DX, either way would have the same benefit other than worry about a new breast cancer...

    I only have a little dent in my upper chest (very top of my boobie) so I'm not too concerned with the way it looks either. I suppose there is a certain peace of mind with taking them both off. I personally couldn't do it if it wasn't completely necessary. I hope I don't regret the decision years down the road, but after being in contact with the ladies in this thread that had masectomies & how they are coping through it all, I now feel that if I'm faced with it, I can do it.... (Thank you, lovelies!!!)



    Hope all is going well.... Surgeries are coming up for some of you! Breath! It'll all be fine!



    Lorrie

    5/33 - almost done with my first solid week & feeling a bit tired, but get the weekend off! NO HOSPITAL for 2 days!

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  • LJaeger
    LJaeger Member Posts: 58
    edited September 2013

    Tori,



    I was in the same boat as Kate - had to do mastectomy because of too much Dcis. But, another viewpoint is that once I had my surgery, they found out that my one IDC lump was actually two, right next to each other. No mammogram or ultrasound ever saw the second tumor. A bit scary.



    I just finished my implant exchange surgery last week (did tissue expander, kept it in throughout 4 months of chemo). While my mastectomy wasn't super easy, I only needed pain pills for about 4 days. After the exchange I haven't needed them. Definitely an easier surgery and recovery than the autologous options. I agree that you will just have to weigh the pros and cons for you, and then run any and all questions you have with your docs.



    I wish you all the best on this journey.

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited September 2013

    BTW... My boss' wife went in for a picc & had her first chemo today :( they want to shrink the tumor before surgery...



    I feel so bad for them. I work with their daughter as well & I'm feeling so bad for being so honest with some of the yuckies while i was at work and going through chemo. They are so frightened right now. I told them that everyone handles it differently, but there are a lot of SEs that are common. She's getting adriamycin & cytoxin for four rounds, then taxol for four rounds. Two weeks apart with the neulasta shot each one.... I know some of you had the same cocktail... I'm trying to be helpful, but I get a bit emotional knowing what my friends wife and all of their family will be going through.



    Cancer sucks!



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  • LJaeger
    LJaeger Member Posts: 58
    edited September 2013

    And now for a less serious post - my eyebrows are starting to grow in like crazy! Eyelashes are little blond nubs, seems to be a familiar scenario around here. My head hair is also growing like a weed, but it's weird baby hair, which at first had no color, and is finally starting to darken a bit. I can't wait to see how it will look when the real deal starts growing in.



    Thanks for linking your photos, Pat! We've all been updating each other for months, and it's lovely to see some pictures. I Love the way the short hair looks on you Pat; very glamorous and beautiful.

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited September 2013

    Lorrie,

    Sorry to hear about your bosses wife.

    I am sure you have been helpful to the family.

    My prayers are with them.



    Here is something I found on Facebook and thought I would share.



    A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"



    Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.



    She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."



    She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."



    Remember to put the glass down.



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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited September 2013

    Jaeger.... Thanks for the update!.... There is hope! I got so excited when I read your post!



    Pat.... Thx for the post! I thought about it & it is SO true!

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  • tori39
    tori39 Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2013

    Thanks, Lisa, lorrie, Kate and jaeger! Much appreciated.

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  • Teresa_G
    Teresa_G Member Posts: 259
    edited September 2013

    Deb sorry to hear that you need to do an expander instead of just doing it all at once.  They really should call them muscle expanders and not tissue expanders.  Mine is feeling better, I seriously think it was stretched out much farther than it wanted to go. 

    Tori great name by the way, that is what I named my daughter.  :)  I had no choice on lumpectomy or mastectomy either.  I had two cancerous lumps plus there ended up being a third they never saw on MRI, mammogram or ultrasound.  I really had no issues recovering from the mastectomy or tissue expander placement surgeries.  I am going to have my implant put in and my other breast lifted to match on Oct 17th.  I don't think recovery from that one should be too bad either.  I thought about doing the DIEP flap or one of the others, but chose the implant because it is a less invasive surgery and much shorter on healing time.  Everyone just has to decide what works best for them and their situation. 

    By the way about 4 weeks or so after my exchange surgery my PS is going to another surgery where he will make me a nipple and do any touch ups that need to be done.  He is going to make the fake one look just like my real one, they won't feel the same but will look as close as they can.  Also with my implant he is going to do some liposuction on my upper belly and put in around the implant to give it a more natural look and feel.  He said the teardrop implants don't come in large sizes so he is going to use a regular implant but give it more of a natural shape with the fat around it.  I will let all of you know how that works out for me.

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited September 2013

    TGIF...no rads on the weekend. This will sound perverse but I had easier time emotionally with chemo than rads. Rads is so lonely...long 45 minute drive each way. Then wait alone and rads people so serious. Chemo was, dare I say, a social event with funny nurses and family by my side. Rads has given me the blues.



    Thanks for allowing me to whine.



    Lisa

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited September 2013

    Aw Lisa...hugs!

    Can you call someone to "kill the time on the ride"?

    And maybe teach those serious rads people the May chemo group sense of humor.



    Pat

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  • LJaeger
    LJaeger Member Posts: 58
    edited September 2013

    Oh yes, teach the rads people a sense of humor. I always find a little laughter lightens the mood. Lisa, we are with you in spirit!



    Reviewed my risk of recurrance with my MO at yesterday's appt, and I've got to admit it was way higher than I expected, even with mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and tamoxifen. But I guess we are doing all we can and after that the best treatment is living a full and enjoyable life each day. Got to remember to look at each day as not only a gift but an adventure.

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited September 2013

    Lisa..

    It's so true! I just thought it was "doing another treatment" that was getting to me. Its a 40 minute drive to the hospital from where i work, but only about 10 minutes to go home after. i think its the time in the car on the way to treatment because radiation is all i think about while im on my way. It's always very quiet in the "gown waiting room" too - then they come and get ya.

    I have to say that the same pair of techs I get everyday are great with a sense of humor and such & also very caring.... Telling me how great I'm doing & how easy I'm making their job.... Etc.

    Today, when I went to rais my arms to hold on to the handle bars for my zap, I felt a little tug from my armpit toward my breast.... Like my muscle was just a little tight and had to slow down to let it stretch out slowly.... I hope it's just nerves still and not a sight of getting sore already! AND, YES!!! The weekend off from zaps!



    Teresa... I don't know about you, but if it was me, I'd be saying "heck yeah" to some lipo to my belly! Haha



    Hope the rest of you lovelies are doing well!



    Lorrie

    6/33 - and a break for the weekend. Yay

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  • carla53
    carla53 Member Posts: 264
    edited September 2013

    Teresa thx for the copy & paste advice on being able to see Pat's pics. I don't know how to cut and paste on my Samsung notebook so I broke down and turned my computer on. Lol

    Pat very pretty. And you've got hair. Lucky you. :) It is nice to be able to see you and your lovely family. Thanks for sharing.

    Deb good luck to you on Tues. I wish a quick recovery for you. Glad to hear about your eyebrows coming in. Gives me hope.

    Tori the reasan I went for a mastectomy is bec I had a tumor on each side of my nipple and close to it. If I did a lumpectomy, my boob would have caved in. Definitely didn't want that. Really glad I did the mastectomy. Ended up I couldn't keep the nipple so it really would have been a deformed breast. Have had an extender and fill since surgery and will have reconstruction sometime after radiation. Good luck with your decision.

    Imamom glad you have joined us.

    Lorrie congrats on getting a full week of rads I. So glad you are there for your bosses wife. Gosh I feel for her and her family.

    LJaeger congrats on your implants. How do you like it? Can only imagine how you felt when you heard your risk for reoccurrance. Hugs to you. I like your attitude that life is a gift and adventure.

    Yuk on driving 45 miles ea way for radiation. Maybe a good time for audio books or good music.



    Had my simulation for rads yesterday. It went well. Dry run in 1 or 2 weeks then the next day the burn and probable fatigue begins. Meanwhile I am enjoying feeling human. :)) people ask how I'm doing and I say I feel better now then I have in months.



    Wishing everyone a great weekend.



    Carls

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited September 2013

    WooHoo!

    Put in 48 hrs of work this week! A first since my DX in march! Although it was tiring, I'm up and finally doing some REAL cleaning today... Then relax for the rest of the weekend! It sure feels good to feel good! Feel my glowing boobie a little, but its not bothersome. I thought I'd do this now because I have a feeling it's all down hill from here...haha.



    Have a great weekend lovelies!



    Lorrie

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited September 2013

    Hi Carla! Glad you could see the pics. Thanks for the compliments.

    Enjoy the time off before rads...I hope all this crap is over by Christmas for everyone...I think that's all I want for Christmas this year.



    Lorrie...glad at energy is back. Need more to clean and want a vacation! Head to NY and go to my house. I've only been gone 1 1/2 hrs I'm sure it's a mess already! Lol



    I am at the airport. What a relief. I can't relax until the car is parked, I'm checked in and sitting at the gate. Should be boarding in 1/2 hour. Darling daughter was in tears, the boys were joking and my mother in law is holding down the fort. God bless them all!



    Surgery is Wednesday..I'm looking forward to checking out New Orleans for a few days. May be meeting up with a BC survivor who will be there supporting her cousin who is having the same surgery, different day.

    Pat

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  • carla53
    carla53 Member Posts: 264
    edited September 2013

    Lorrie Yay. So so glad you are feeling better. :))))



    Wow Pat. It's happening! Enjoy your flight. Enjoy your stay in New Orleans. Enjoy your new boob. I pray for a succesful surgery and a quick recovery.



    Carla

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited September 2013

    Pat.. Yes! This week! Thinking of you & I can't wait to hear how happy you are about the outcome!



    So... Pissed off my oldest tonight. She wants us to go to her dads(myex's) 50th bday party tomorrow. I told her a couple of weeks ago that I didn't want things to be uncomfortable for hubby (even though we all get along, you can still feel the tension)...



    So she hung up on me! What? Oh no.... So I'm a bit ashamed to say I FINALLY pulled the cancer card. (First time for me.... Everyone else has done it in my fam... Haha)



    "I worked 48 hrs this week and paid a visit to our friendly hospital everyday & don't have the energy for this argument.. Have fun & sorry we'll miss it"....



    Brother! She usually doesn't act like this.... Ugh!



    Lorrie

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited September 2013

    K... So put some of the lavender oil on tonight &.... What a wonderful relief! Not sur what it will do with rads, so ill just use it on the weekends for now, but it instantly felt relief! My boobie has no itchienes... No pain...!



    & it smells wonderful! Gonna talk to RO about it next week!



    Lorrie

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  • tori39
    tori39 Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2013

    Thank you, Theresa and Carla.



    I'm including our May chemo group in my prayers.



    I seem to be behind everyone in treatment. I finished 11 of 12 taxols yesterday. Last one next Friday. Surgeon wants to wait 6 weeks before surgery but MO said he'll push for a sooner date, to get that sucker out ASAP. Then 6 weeks of radiation. By my count, I won't be done before this year ends. But in the whole scheme of this cancer universe, a date is just another, and I just look forward to when all the treatments are over :)

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited September 2013

    Patty I wish you the very best in new Orleans. Hope surgery is easy and look forward to hearing of your experience.



    Am working on those blues and they are getting better. Thanks for all the encouragement. No ill effects from rads after 4 treatments and sure hope it stays that way.



    This is a working weekend for me unfortunately so hard to tell if fatigue is rads or life in general.



    Lisa

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited September 2013

    Patty - thinking of you in New Orleans and obviously you will be on my mind all day Wednesday.  My first vacation in the US was to New Orleans.  I was living in Port Chester, NY and me and my friend Suzanne went to the travel agency with our cash (we didn't have a credit card back then) and booked a trip for 5 days.  We had SO MUCH fun although it was August and about 1 million degrees each day!!!

    My energy is way higher than it's been for a long time although yesterday was a bit of a rough day.  We had to leave at 7:30am for Aaron's soccer game, then we had Seth's football game at 1:30pm - I downed a can of redbull at the football.  Got home and had about 45 minutes before turning around to head downtown Raleigh to DJ a wedding.  I wasn't supposed to lift anything but of course, I lifted my gear and my implant breast side really started to hurt :(:(:(.  Then my legs generally hurt most of the evening and I was pretty uncomfortable.  Went and got another sugar-free redbull and got someone to help me with the lifting at the end of the night.  When I got home I took an oxycodone because my whole body was aching  (someone here said you get no prizes for having the most pills left at the end of cancer) - but it didn't help me sleep the way I hoped it would so I ended up popping an ativan at 2am and slept til about 10!!!!  Anyway - exhausting day and even though my energy is returning, that would have taxed a "normal" person!!!!

    I sang at Temple on Friday night for the first time since cancer and it felt great.  I love singing.  We have a new member who is also going through BC and I chatted to her.  She is all "out-there"  No head topping - double mastectomy clearly on view...there's me with my wig, fake boob, fake eye brows etc.  I guess each to her own right??

    Went to 5 below on Thursday night and they had all the breast cancer awareness "swag" out because of October coming up - and it just feels wierd looking at it all now....

    Teresa - I have to wait 4 months before my PS will do a nipple...:(  I am cleared to sleep "bra less" now which is nice.  I can't wait to buy a strappy dress and wear it bra less!  But i need to lose about 20lbs before that will happen!!!

    Lazy Sunday today (hopefully).  Really, my only day off before the work week begins again....

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  • robin_in_SJ
    robin_in_SJ Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2013

    Greetings,

    I've been MIA (vacation!) but just caught up on the posts.

     Pat, thanks for posting the wedding picture, you have a beautiful family and you looked beautiful. You’re in my thoughts for as you go through the surgery and recovery.

    Lorrie, sorry to hear your DD upset you and I know the feeling of not having the energy to argue.  I am letting a lot of things go now that in the past would have bothered me.  My new attitude.  I am glad you can support your bosses’ wife and the family.  It’s so much to go through. 

    Tori, I decided to have a BMX, a Mastectomy was my only option for the right breast (2 PILC tumors) but an MRI showed something that they were not able to biopsy on the left.  The pathology report reported cancer in the left as well.  ILC has a higher percentage of being in both breasts and because it was not detected on my annual exams I decided I didn't want to go through the anxiety every year. It was not an easy decision.

      My DH and I took off on a road trip and just got back last night.  We went to visits friends in Conn and the White Mountains of NH.   The leaves are turning and weather was perfect. Three weeks post chemo now and still get tired easily but I was able to do a 5 mile hike in NH.  I felt so good to be able to get out and enjoy the company of friends and hikes. 

    I go in tomorrow for the radiation setup session and then start on Tuesday.  I’ll be going back to work on Monday.  Last week I tried wearing the wig all day to help me decide if I’ll wear it to work.  I don’t think I’ll be wearing the wig, my head has been itchy and I just find the scarves so much more comfortable.   

    My eyebrows are still falling out but I am starting to get some fuzz on my head with the male pattern baldness look. I still have some chemo cough and asthma which I hope clears up soon but if it doesn’t I’ll call the MO.  He mentioned a longer duration of steroids but I want to try and avoid that if possible.

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited September 2013

    Robin,

    Im so happy for you to get a vacation.... I'll bet it was nice to enjoy e beautiful fall colors on your hikes! But five miles? Just a few weeks from chemo? You rock! I was still getting exhausted from grocery shopping 3 weeks out! Haha I'm 5 weeks out & still not gonna attempt 5 miles... Although, I am feeling pretty good.

    Good luck with rads! I'm 6/33 and good so far... I hope we all breeze through!



    Lorrie

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited October 2013

    So...

    I purchased Tom's of Maine deodorant to use during rads, like I've seen suggested, & today was my first day using it.... I get to my zap apt and lay on the table & when I raised my arms, I could smell my arm pits! Yuck! I started laughing and apologizing to my tech and she laughed right back at me saying (because she's awesome) " lorrie all I can smell is that good body lotion you use that reminds me of a tropical vacation..." To that I said "yeah... A tropical vacation where it's a hundred degrees and there's no deoderant!" Haha

    She says there's another brand without metals and shell let me know the name of it tomorrow.... Too funny!



    Hope everyone is doing well! Pat, I hope your travel is safe & no worries about the surgery! Enjoy New Orleans!



    Lorrie

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited October 2013

    Lorrie,

    Thanks for the laugh! Your tech sounds priceless!



    I've enjoyed stuffing my face in New Olreans...I think move put on 10lbs in 3 days!

    I've also walked all over, and then some!



    Pre-op tomorrow.

    I think it was the best decision to go away for this surgery. Hubby and I were able to spend some quality time (wink wink) without the kids interfering. Hope this will last him some! Lol



    Pat

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  • Teresa_G
    Teresa_G Member Posts: 259
    edited October 2013

    Pat I'm glad you are getting some quality time with your hubby before your surgery.  Your recovery time will take quite a while so it is really good you are able to have the time together now.  Wink

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited October 2013

    Took my first ride ever in a limo today!



    Never went in one for prom, my wedding, any funeral....but I got to ride in one to and from my pre-surgical testing! Courtesy of the hospital center. Hubby says. "It took breast cancer to get you in a limo!" Ha! You could keep the damn limo if it meant no cancer!



    Met my 2 doctors and the staff. Such positive happy people....I'm loving that....hoping the rest of this goes the same!



    Nurse had a little problem with my "good chemo vein". And was sticking me a lot...thankfully I wasn't feeling it...I told her if I did I would have slapped her.

    Dr. Explained how they will be checking my flap (fat transfer in simplist way to explain) every hour the first 24 hours...I told them to have their staff slap my husband in the head each time they come to wake me. Hey, why shouldn't he be miserable to!



    Had my first CT today. I will take that over an MRI anytime!



    Off to go and take my first ever Valium. Wonder how that's gonna work!



    Lots of first today.

    Tomorrow will be a first with the new boobs. Btw, doctor says I have a "great belly" (glad someone thinks so!)



    Pat





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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited October 2013

    Best wishes for a great surgery & easy recovery, Pat! I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.



    Saw my RO for my weekly visit & she's seeing my pink boobie too... ( I have only had 8 including today & have a long way to go ) I thought it may be my imagination. & what appears to be the start of a rash looking area where they place the bolus. She says its hair folicles getting upset & to put Benadryl cream on that area and to keep using the calendula for the rest of the boobie. I was hoping for a few weeks before noticing the pinkness, but, what do ya do? I had the tech draw a pen line of my "field of zappery" under my arm so i would know where NOT to put my deoderant on. The Toms of Maine stuff is gross and she couldnt come up with another suggestion like she thought.

    I had a week moment today and tried to google " what if I don't want to complete

    radiation therapy"... Nothing helpful so I just bagged it...... For now! Haha



    I hope the quietness of the thread means everyone is doing well....



    Lorrie

    8/33

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