Calling all TNs

thanks semilife4real.........it is hard losing my baby and only adds to the stress for my test.   My hubby gave me my Neulasta shots and we felt the same way
with the price of it.   I wish I could break my sugar habit but can't seem to do it.  I can't do sugar substitutes

Gwenie,  I had a skin sparing bmx in Dec 2012 with TE's, after having neoadjuvant chemo DD AC/T. then I had radiation Feb-March 2013. 5 wks later a pea size ump came up on the skin. biopsy positive, 3 more lumps appeared. Xeloda started to stabilize spread, then 2 wks ago had flap bmx. they took out TE's, used skin from my belly to cover my chest area. Even with mx, some very small amount of breast tissue remains next to the skin, and some cells can live in the lymph system in the skin. So, my tumors set up shot in the skin and top layer of chest muscle. This time the surgeon took off as much skin as he could without being too radical. My case is not the usual, My skin was involved initially, but we thought that chemo and rads had taken care of that. So don't be worried that this may happen to you. Yes, it is a possibility, so be aware of any changes in your skin, but know that my case is the exception, not the rule.

good luck to you in your journey.

stupidboob-glad to see you back posting! So sorry about your furry friend, such a hard thing to get through. plus all of what was going on with you. Hope you are feeling better!

Kinda late, but thank you to titan and others that  posted support for me. I am doing much better and I have an appointment tomorrow with a pain doctor. I have so much residual pain from chemo and surgeries I hope there is something that will help. My neuropathy just seems to keep getting worse, maybe it is the cold weather. Hurts to type this! I can't wait until I can get back to my pt. Still just plugging away. I miss working but know I am still not able to. I started selling things around the house, then started going to estate and moving  sales and reselling items I find. I have actually done pretty good with this and I can do it at my own pace. It's kinda fun too. My husband likes to go with me which is very helpful because he can carry and pack everything!

slowloris ~ thanks for sharing your history! Wowser!  You difinitely have been through a lot! I didn't realize there was different kinds of mx's or that the TN could set up shop in the leftover skin. My mx's took the nipples and put in expanders. Then I lost one expander in August and now trying to decide what to do. Will check for lumps now in the remaining skin. So sorry you've had such a go of it.

xoxo, gwenie

Hi All, 

I'm on neoadjuvant AC now after completeing 12 weeks of taxol.  I had round 2 of the AC on Tuesday and came home and had sex that night.  This morning (Thursday), I woke up at 3am with a UTI.  I had a UTI while on Taxol too.  I know sex is causing these things.  I try to be careful, drink fluids, urinate afterward, but with chemo...I think my resistance is down.  I don't normally have this problem.  Since AC can also cause bladder irritation, I went to our local walk-in clinic and had a urinalysis to confirm it was a UTI.  It is, and I'm now on antibiotics.  This is a minor blip, but an irritating one as you can imagine.  I also have some Pridium that they gave me with the first UTI to help with the pain and frequency.     It helps, but not completely.  Oh, the joys of the side effects of treatment!

Kay

JJ, thanks for the suggestion.  We do use a lube, but maybe a different one might help.  I tried to switch over to something with less chemicals in it.  The lube might be part of the problem.    Someone suggested using a condom which I hadn't thought of.   That might help, at least while I'm on chemo and my resistance is down.

NED!!!  PT/CT Scan came back clean.  Doctor said no more scans unless I have symptoms.  Merry Christmas to me.

Shew another Pet Scan that I got through.....I am home................yay did great.  Now to wait those dreaded results.

guygirl....DANCE PARTY ON THE TN THREAD!  Everybody dance now.....so happy for you

Maggie

jenjenl not selfish at all.................this disease is scary as hell and we all deep down fear dying from it.   Every little thing like that is just a reminder of what could happen to us all.    Big comfort hugs

And it's not just BC that is so scary. On Dec 16th my 66 y/o best friend of 52 years died. She was dx'd with lung cancer the first of October. First Chemo was on Halloween...she had 4 tx's. The PT scan showed that not only had the tumor not shrunk but the FC had spread to her brain and stomach. That was on Friday, she died on Monday. I hate this disease.....it is evil and must be stopped. There is no cure so we must find the cause and soon.

Guygirl- WOO HOO!!!

Wrenwood- so sorry to hear about your friend. I hate FC!

ban- My last dose of AC was reduced due to my wbc tanking and I had no problems. I was  o evidence of disease at the end of chemo, no cancer cells found in breast tissue or lymph nodes. I also reacted badly to taxol so they switched me to taxotere. I worried about it being as affective like you are but it was.

Netti-I am 3 percent er positive, my doc wanted me on something. My body couldn't handle it. It would take me half the day to be able to get moving.

Ban-since the affects of chemo are cumulative, I would think that a slight reduction would not make that much of a difference in doing its job. Better to not let your immune system get too low.

Wrenwood-so sorry to hear about your friend.

Jen-not selfish at all, very normal to relate, titan says it best!

Guygirl-WooooHooo! What a relief!

Now waiting for stupidboob to get the same news!

So I went to the back doc and yep, have to get an mri on the 26th. I was really trying to avoid a scan:( He would not give me any pain meds. I have not had pain meds since my hysterectomy a year ago and I feel like they don't want to give them to me. I didn't take them very long, I just don't want to be in pain anymore. I'd rather have the meds than the scan, but I guess I need to know what is going on even if it is fc. Then I have to wait until the following week for results, as he will be on vacation. I miss my retired MO.

Nettie, I cannot advise as to what mets to spine feels like but what I can tell you is that if something is bothering you, give it 2 weeks.  If symptoms have not resolved, get it checked out.  If MO is blowing you off, get into see one of the partners in the group.  If that doesn't work, try your PCP.  If that doesn't work, go to the emergency room.  I am by no means trying to frighten you, but when we have symptoms, our fears need to be addressed promptly.  Be the squeeky wheel.  Don't take NO for an answer.  Very likely that it will turn out to be nothing...arthritis comes to mind.  But keep after your team and get it checked and you will feel better.

Waving hello to everyone.  It's been a bit since i posted but come here daily to read and follow.