Calling all TNs

Ban- Yes, I had the neulasta shot after the first four AC treatments. I did have bone pain for a day or two from that but the vicodin helped with that. I did one round of taxol and then three rounds of taxotere with no neulasta shots and did ok.  My surgery was about a month after I finished chemo and there was no sign of cancer at that time. I didnt have to do radiation because my pathology came back clean for both breast tissue and nodes.

From Lori1020 ~ "I was also informed that the surgeon who did the mastectomy "cut below the fold" which means I will have to have a ryans suture for semetry. I was wondering if you are anyone with expanders can relate to any of this?"

Lori, I sent you a message about my expanders but wanted to know what is a "ryans suture"?  My radiated breast that the implant was taken out of looks terrible. I think PS left what he could of extra skin so he could work with it in the future surgery.  Going to get second opinion because when I lift my right arm up it creates a BIG divot in the muscle, it becomes uncomfortable and I am afraid of what more surgery will do to it.  Ugh...and everybody, except my husband, thinks since chemo is over and my hair is back then all is well and over with.  I don't want to bother my famiy and friends because the last 2 years I've been enough with all the attention and just want to be normal.   I never ever have given this much attention and tenderness/pain to my breasts.  I took them for granted.  Pooh! 

Thanks for listening to my rant. I am glad to be here!  

xoxo, gwen 

Hello everyone, I got my PET scan back and all was clear.  Finally some good news.  My HER2 was borderline, so I am not a true triple neg. He is kind of dancing around it right now. I have my porta cath and am starting chemo in January.

jianchi:piles and hemorrhoids ...could be! heard a lot of co patients go through this.

have laxatives throughout chemo without fail...wounds dont heal easily while chemo is on. 

tekwriter: good news ..good news, that ur scans are all clear

Tekwriter, congratulations on the clean test results.

I'm still feeling weak from my second round of AC, but starting to come back to life.   I'm thinking that by Christmas, I'll be feeling up to getting together with my family.

Happy Sunday, All.

Jianchi hang in there! Sending healing thoughts and prayers to everyone tonight - hugs all around! Hoping this Christmas we all have faith, family and friends and the new year brings us all good health! Lana

stupid noob - I still eat sugar - in the main I try to stay away from it, but I don't deny myself  either - in fact I just ate 6 very sweet chocolates from a gift box - I could tell they were  loaded with sugar, but I am a firm believer in all things in moderation. Tomorrow will be a better day - life is short!

I eat sugar.  I do have a sweet tooth and I am a diabetic.  I try to stay away from it.  I got to the point though that I try to stay away from all the chemicals and refuse to drink diet  soda's  or lo cal sweeteners. Woo hoo now I am going to get get pumped in my veins twice a month.  But it beats the alternative.  Life is strange.

Jianchi- I had the extreme diarrhea as well. I had to cancel my first appt. with the genetic doctor because I was afraid to leave the house! So sorry you are having a rough time. Keep repeating to yourself... it will get better!

SUGAR addict right here.  So hard for me I love chocolate.  I've conquered a lot and have some good areas to focus on for 2014. 

Jianchi, I hope you are feeling calmer about the blood in your stool and feel like you know what is causing it now.  I know how symptoms can be scary.  I developed a wierd bump on my back during my Taxol chemo and I was checking yesterday to see what pictures of skin mets look like.  I have an appointment with a dermatologist about it, but it's not until March.  I haven't seen my MO yet since this bump appeared but her nurse practicioner thought it was a plantar wart (I've never had one before).  I see my MO on Dec. 31 when I get my next AC infusion and I'm going to get her to take a look at it, just to see if she is okay with me not seeing the dermatologist until March.

I can't even imagine how freaked out I will get the first time I have a chest cold.....I'm sure I will be positive I have mets to the lungs.  Learning to live with TNBC is really a process.

I was having real bad steroid crashes with each chemo and I finally asked for some Ativan to help take the edge off.  It has helped with my crashes and I can also take one for nausea.  Before breast cancer, I wasn't on any prescription medication, but I just think going through treatment is rough enough as it is without the stress of stress being thrown on top of it.  I figure this is not a time for me to try to tough things out.  

If it wasn't for these boards, I would have never thought to ask for something to help ease the emotional hell I was going through with those steroid crashes.  

Thank you to everyone here for helping me see that I can get through my worst chemo days and that I'm unusual  when I worry that   the bump on my back might be a skin met.

After the year from hell, I finally got some good news........thank you Lord.  The doctor called and No Cancer..............yay.   She said I have radiation changes, and my thyroid has probably inflammation but as far as cancer it looked good.    YAY.......thank the Lord

Yay...so happy to hear that fabulous news!!! Celebrate tonight

This  is not a serious problem but I could use some advice. My supervisor is an idiot. I  have tried to explain my diagnosis to her and convey the seriousness without going into a pity party for myself. I had explained I might be in chemotherapy for a year.  I did give her permission to tell the team about my condition at the team meeting this month. (I had been on leave on an un-related issue when I found the lump).  At the meeting she told them then told them I might be back at the end of January.  When one of my friends called me she first asked how my head aches were.  Then asked a couple of questions.  She said she had no idea how serious it was because of the way she told them.  They all thought it would be told big deal.  She was absolutely floored when I explained to her. I guess I could use some advice on how to get through to this woman.  Thanks