Starting Chemo in March 2014

lovemyboys, I'm definitely familiar with Hudson! We have a good friend who owns a bunch of restaurants in that area, and we always stop in to see him when we're on our way back from skiing or other mountain activities in the Adirondacks. Can't imagine what it must have been like for you to relocate to Texas - are you east or west Texas? We have family in San Antonio - my husband's uncle, who is a pathologist. If he's in your neighborhood & you have need of him, let me know!

Alli, this is my first dance with the devil, but my sister's been at it for 3 years.  The surgery I had was to repair separated muscles in my stomach. I begged the doctor to do a little fat trimming or lipo while he was at it, but he said that would cost me extra :-) Ah, well - at least I can stand up straight again! But he said it was traumatic to the lymph system, hence the warnings about swelling. 

Mostly, though, I think you're right, and that you need to give it some time. If you can cut out as much sodium as possible & do a massage or two, it can't hurt & might help. I also hear that some forms of weight lifting can speed things along. Obviously, you'd need to check with a PT on that one!

AKJ, yep, I'm getting a second opinion at Sloan this Thursday. I hate waiting, but Sloan won't treat you if you're already being treated by anyone else.

Alli, there wasn't a lot that I could do.  I do feel like wearing a tight sports bra seemed to make it not feel quite as annoying (but I only had a lumpectomy, so I don't know if that would be different for you.)  Heat and ice didn't seem to help, and I just learned from my PT that heat isn't really a good idea because you want to avoid lymphedema anyway.  Basically, you just have to be patient and it will eventually go away.  I wish I had an answer, because I know how annoying the feeling is.  At least I was told that it is a normal feeling that many experience after a large section of nodes is removed.  But it did drive me crazy!

I haven't been back in about 12 years! Most of my family have moved elsewhere so haven't had a need to go back. Besides I love Arizona weather and don't miss New York weather one bit. :-)

Nurselaura,

I had to have fluid drained after my first drain was pulled. It wasn't a big deal. It only took a few minutes. Sending you good thoughts for chemo. 

Hi Alli,  

I just finished my last round of chemo on Friday February 28, 2014.  I was diagnosed in October 2013.  I have no breast cancer in the family and have felt quite alone at times. The journey has had its ups and downs but you'll get through it.  I start radiation in April as they give your body a month to rest.  I also have two kids and a very supportative husband.  I took of work during chemo as I work in education with special education students and didn't want to get sick during all this.  I have dealt with depression and great sadness over this but at this point I'm trying to get my life back in some sort of order. How old are you?  I just turned 46 last week.  Please bare with me as I'm new to this forum but want to reach out to our sisters out there.  The chemo wasn't terrible, yes I lost my hair but its just hair. Right???How many treatments do you have to go through?  I went through four of T/C.  The first is Taxitere but the second I can't remember.  And yes there is such a thing as chemo brain.  I do feel fatiqued but that comes in time.  The more treatments I had the more taxing it felt on my body.  I got a shot the day after chemo Nulesta to bring up my white blood cell count and it worked well.   One shot that lasted 21 days, it can cause bone pain but mine was minor.  Id love to connect with you and chat. Please feel free to respond whenever its convenient.  

Sending you blessings and hugs . 

PS. How did you guys put up your diagnose on the board at the bottom?

I had my port inserted when I had my lumpectomy and AND.  For the first week it felt like I had a tightness and some pain that went up towards my collarbone and neck.  I could really feel it when I took a deep breath.  But it went away soon after.

Hi Ladies, popping in from the 2013 group.  What a year it's been but I'm DONE and get my Power Port removed in a few weeks.  I fully understand where you are each coming from!!!!  Please, feel free to message me directly if you want to...what a shock it is to hear you have Breast Cancer...then that you need chemo....and that you are HER2+  I used this site for research and although I work in surgery and know all about BC surgery, I realized I knew very little about BC!!!  I still work in surgery and do only Breast Cancer surgery and Reconstruction now - I feel so passionate about it!!!  I had my last Herceptin infusion two weeks ago and am CANCER FREE by all tests.  Here are things I learned and things I did to get through a year of fighting breast cancer - and WINNING!

I immediately started a caring bridge www.caringbridge.org to update my family and friends - that worked out very well so I didn't have to email everyone.  I posted pictures and kept a journal.  They left me notes and sent me email...it was great support.

Yes, button down shirts are best for ports - just easier all the way around

I brought my own pillow - didn't want to use the ones at the center

I cut my long hair short in two stages so I wouldn't be devastated...it helped...a little....but bald is bald...

I worked through my first four treatments of TCH, but took off work after that.  I went to Aruba (with permission from MO) between treatment 5 and 6...layed on the beach with swollen feet but it was such a treat!  Sun sensitive, so had to be very careful.

Nulasta shots caused PAIN but built my white blood cells up so I didn't have to skip treatment - take pain meds if you need them!!

I had treatments on Thursdays so I could just be in bed all weekend and let hubby take care of child

I was very tired for a long, long time after treatments were done - chemo was from Feb through June then 7 weeks of daily radiation

Radiation was no fun - lots of bra-less days, just wore a men's undershirt...but it was all tolerable...just take care of your skin

I did not lose my eye lashes until AFTER my last chemo treatment.

Herceptin alone was not bad at all for me...was very tired the day of treatment usually and maybe a little under the weather for a few days following but really, not bad at all compared to the full TCH treatment

I have residual neuropathy in my feet from the Taxotere but it's also manageable and with my profession, I am just thankful beyond all get out that its NOT in my hands.

My hair grew back all gray but I just color it :-)  It's growing so slow - only about an inch long and I finished chemo 8 months ago!

I got a wig but really never wore it...it was summer and actually kind of nice not having hair - ANYWHERE - no shaving! Yay! I wore cute hats but otherwise just went bald.

My fingernails were like washboards during chemo....a deep ridge for each treatment!  Now, they are just very very thin and tear very easy so I look like a nail biter...they are down to the quick.

My boob still hurts, constantly...radiation caused quite a change in the tissue and I have edema....surgery was a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy - nodes were negative, but I had one positive (barely positive, unifocal) margin on the lumpectomy so I had "extra" radiation.  I wear sports bras and keep compression and take Aleve for swelling....I expect it will eventually not feel this bad...again, it's all tolerable...

Ladies - my heart goes out to you - but I am here to say I was right were you are now a year ago.....a year has past and I am cancer-free and have my life back.  Take good care of yourselves and you too will be looking back a year from now saying, "wow what a year that was...."  I wish you all the very very best outcomes and remember as you go through treatment that - it's temporary!  The pain, sickness, tiredness, hairless-ness, it's all temporary...you will get through it!  xoxo

Hi everyone--I was hoping I can join in on this thread  I just decided on my chemo treatment (taxotere, cytoxan) and will have my first infusion on March 10th (not sure if anyone here is in the bay area but I'll be at UCSF).  I was diagnosed last december and had a BMX end of Jan, which I thought would be the toughest part of all this.  Now that chemo is approaching though I'm getting nervous...but I'm glad there's such a great community of so many supportive women.

Hi there, Mary, Tarot, and Diem! Grab a chair :-) Sorry you have to join us, but you're very welcome all the same.

Lovemyboys, our friend owns Max's Memphis BBQ in Red Hook and Santa Fe in Tivoli :-) We usually stop for gas in Hudson because I hate hate hate the rest areas on 87. My husband and son were just there the weekend before last, as they ran up to Gore Mountain for a day of skiing (can't let all the snow we've been getting go to waste!). I stayed home because I was honestly afraid of falling or having anything bump into my boob, lol. But on the upside, I had the house to myself and finally managed to tackle the enormous pile of "hand wash only" stuff that's been hiding in my laundry closet since God was a boy. It's a regular argument between my husband and myself; husband wants to know why I don't just surrender and bring it all to the dry cleaners, and I insist that if it can be cleaned at home, it should be cleaned at home, even if it takes me a few years to get around to it. Wow, that makes me sound ridiculous, but only because I probably am!

gen3 - yeah, health care is not a great working environment for you right now with so many germs floating around.

I work in a small 49-person office but it seems someone is always sick on our team. Then I have the added bonus of a preschooler and all the viruses they catch while building up their immune systems. It will be interesting.

Alli -have you gone for PT yet? What about acupuncture? Qigong might be an option for you as well as the movements are generally gentle.

Hi Generation3, Sorry to see you here with the rest of us. You are in a good place for info and support.  I am also an RN. I work in Critical care so I will not be working through chemo. I am hoping to return during radiation in a modified fashion. I am also the breadwinner in my family and this will be a very challenging year as disability does not compensate enough. I will need to downsize quite a lot. I do realize I have no choice so will do what ever it takes. I am also trying to finish Grad school as I am in the home stretch and this gives me a goal. Life will never be the same, but it is how we react to these changes that make all the difference! 

Hugs-Laura

Nina, I've been to Santa Fe! It is a favorite among my family members too. Small world.

Well, I am sitting here at my first chemo appt. So far so good, but I've only had anti-nausea meds and now Benadryl. So haven't had the 'good' stuff yet. I did feel immediately cold when they started the IV, so I do suggest a warm and cozy blanket.

I will keep you all posted!