Chemo May 2013

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited February 2014

    Thanks you guys. It's hard to get use to but I'm out from under my hat! And that was my final little security blankee... hard to explain, but it's almost like when I took control and buzzed my head instead of letting chemo take my hair...

    anyway... hope everyone is doing well! ! !

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited February 2014

    Pretty funny how much cancer can control our feelings... thoughts... lives....

    it's a cancer! I'm gonna start taking control again!

    March 26,2013 6pm.... I got the call from my Dr.

    Nov 6 2013 was my last rads apt..

    7-8 months of a whirlwind treatment experience! Months & months to recover from the poisons we received to kill the beast. ..Some of u endured more than me.....

    we are ROCK  STARS!

    I didn't like the term "survivor" before.... Now.. I'm proud to say it!

    Not that I survived cancer... that we survived treatment & family shit & the rest of what we endured!!

    I have so much respect for u ladies! We HAVE to do some kind of trip to meet up....

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited February 2014

    Lorie,  I know what you mean. We are all coming up on our one year anniversary of diagnosis and it's crazy to look back. But this next year I guess we have to try to move forward. I'm trying to make vacation plans for the summer and just live. And I'm getting this damn port removed today. Can't wait to see the back of that!!!

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited February 2014

    Yay, Kate!! No more port!!

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  • Teresa_G
    Teresa_G Member Posts: 259
    edited February 2014

    Getting the port out is great!  Congrats Kate, I hope surgery went well today.

    Lorrie you look amazing, love it!

    I haven't taken Biotin or anything but my hair is coming in nice, plus it's wavy and that is a nice change for me.  I put some gel in it and brush it with a round brush and off I go.  Years ago I wore my hair pretty short and and I had to also blow dry it after I put the gel in it to get it to look like it does.  I'm hoping the waves last for a while, months at least.

    Thanks everyone for the kind words on my dating.  We are having fun together, still taking things really slow which to be honest is quite nice for a change.  I'm going to the University of Utah with him on Sunday to watch his oldest daughter act in Romeo and Juliet.  I've already seen his youngest daughter act in her high school play.  I've been around his youngest a couple of times but haven't met anyone else yet.  He has a daughter in between the two actresses.  He gives the best hugs and I can always use those.  

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited February 2014

    pat...

    I was at vitamin world today to get Garcia cambogia... and coffee bean (weight loss from dr. Oz) and picked up some biotin for hair/nail growth.... When I asked about a supplement for hair growth, he said biotin..(sp) and I rambled on about you recommending it... From our BC Web sight.... He just had a blank stare & I started laughing...  I couldn't stop laughing thru the entire transaction.... 

    not sure, but what we have in common - no one else understands.... it strikes me as funny.... I don't know why.. haha

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited February 2014

    funny what we have learned from this experience!  Glad he made the same recommendation...maybe I should get a job in a vitamin store?  

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  • Teresa_G
    Teresa_G Member Posts: 259
    edited February 2014

    I ordered Garcia Cambogia online from an ad on Facebook, I started it last Friday.  When I weighed this morning I was down 4.4 pounds.  I haven't changed anything other than taking these pills.  I hope it continues, even a couple of pounds a week would be great!

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited February 2014

    Hi Ladies,

    Well, recovery from this surgery has been rough :(  I've been in a lot of pain and had a hard time coming out of general on Friday - I was really itching.  Then last night I was running a fever.  But I seem to be feeling better today.  My belly is so sore :(  I hope I think it was all worth it...

    So tell me about this weight loss drug!  I'm interested.....

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited February 2014

    ukkate, which surgery did you do?  

    It does get better....with you in spirit.

    Pat

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited February 2014

    pat - fat grafting. So stomach lipo. Ouch ouch and ouch!!!

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited February 2014

    Teresa... are you taking it with coffee bean extract?.. The dude at the vitamin store recommended it...??

    Kate, I hope you are feeling better real soon!!... And I'm sure it will have been worth it! Hugs!

    Lorrie


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  • carla53
    carla53 Member Posts: 264
    edited February 2014

    Kate just checked out a you tube on fat grafting. The fat was taken from the thighs.  I can see why your sore.  The needle is long and  the surgeon is brutal poking that thing in to get the fat.  The out come was beautiful though.  Hoping your feeling better very soon.

    Carla

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited February 2014

    Hi Folks, I haven't posted here before, but recently found out some info that has pissed me off in re: the drugs given to me during treatment for BC. I was almost killed with my one and only chemo. Taxotere was the culprit. I "failed" all three AI's b/c of s.e.'s. All of this could have been avoided had my MO paid attention to the Cytochrome450 genetic testing. Of the six genes tested, I have abnormalities in three. All are major players in the drugs I was given. Had I been tested, it would have been known. The drug choice and /or dosage modifications could have been made

    Rather than rewrite the details here The link below will take you to a thread that has the posts that I have written in the last few days.

    I'm not trying to sell Genelex. Other laboratories are doing genetic testing. But Genelex is the only company right now that provides the application of the genetic results to the drugs we are taking. Other companies, I'm sure are trying to build the same business model. It's the future of drug administration.

    Why? Patients will no longer except being experimented upon with drugs that can harm them. If the docs won't do this because it's the right thing to do it. Then we have to PUSH them into doing the right thing.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topic/7...

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  • MomofSam
    MomofSam Member Posts: 74
    edited February 2014


    Kate - hope you are starting to feel better!

    Lorrie - you look beautiful.

    I have to see a cardiologist in March - my last echo didn't come back fully normal.  States moderately to severely enlarged left atrium and mild mitral regurgitation.  Hopefully the Herceptin isn't the culprit!  Guess I'll find out.

    Have a good week ladies :)

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited February 2014

    Kate...uh oh, I'm going in for fat grafting tomorrow..  Carla, thanks for that description, hope I can get it out of my head.  Saw the doc today for pre-op and he marked me up good.  They are sucking fat out of everywhere.  I told him I wanted my breats larger, so the fat will go there.  (I don't mind the size they are at the moment, but feel they are a bit smaller (okay "quite a bit" smaller) than before all these surgeries.

    Momofsam...sorry to hear that.  I hope it all works out okay.

    In New Orleans and having a blast with the friends and my mother in law.  Took her to a strip club , she had never been to one. (Not my idea but when in Rome...) It was funny as all hell.  Too bad the strippers were gay! Lol. One for the memory book!

    Pat

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited February 2014

    Patty good luck!  I'm sure it won't be worse than the diep flap!  And the boob result is great. Mine looks much better but the new nipple is strange!!

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  • Teresa_G
    Teresa_G Member Posts: 259
    edited February 2014

    Lorrie and Kate - I only have the Garcia Cambogia, but it worked good on it's own last week.  Plus ordering it from Facebook I got it for under $6. for a 30 day supply.  I will only be weighing once a week so I won't have an update on how it is going until Saturday.

    I did the fat transfer (that's what my surgeon called it) with my last surgery.  I only had them do my love handle area, would have loved to have my whole stomach done but I would have had to pay for any more that was done.  I would like to get all of my stomach lipo'd and if I decide to make my breast larger I will do that then.  Waiting two more months to see what I have now settles.

    Kate - my nipple was so WEIRD at first but looks pretty normal now.

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  • carla53
    carla53 Member Posts: 264
    edited February 2014

    lol oh my gosh Pat..so sorry.   Just visualize the good outcome.  You looked great to me when I saw you.  Now you're going to look like dynamite. Glad you are having such a good time in New Orleans. Sounds like a good time.

    MomofSam Hoping the best for you and that you get a really good cardiologist. 

    Carla

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  • carla53
    carla53 Member Posts: 264
    edited February 2014

    Pat  Hoping all went well yesterday.

    Carla

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited February 2014

    hey Carla, thanks!  Had my quick surgery, stayed the night in the hospital...had my friends come to visit and we set up chairs at the end of the hallway overlooking the parade route.  I watched most of the parades from there.  They went out and came back with beads and trinkets that were thrown from the float.

    Was released after the overnight and walked...a lot!  Then stood and watched parades for a few hours.  A long day.

    Lipo is "painful"...I look like I was beaten on in the areas that were lipo'd. Getting dressed is difficult! Lol. But I'm feeling good, knowing that this too shall pass.

    Gotta squeeze in a few more parades while here, we go home tomorrow...just in time for more snow on Monday!  Lol

    I HIGHLY recommend visiting New Orleans for the parades, BUT, get a few different people to stay in the room to ease the pain on the cost of the room!  We are in a 2 bedroom suite...Homewood Suites and it is $279 a night  (and then add taxes!)...that's for the 4 people I said were staying!  (If I told them about number 5 it would have been another $30 a night!  This place includes a hot breakfast daily and M-Th a hot dinner. Also has a kitchen.  Not a bad deal!

    Hmmm, maybe all of  us crazy ladies should come here next year for the parades!

    Pat

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  • Annie54
    Annie54 Member Posts: 247
    edited March 2014

    Glad your surgery went well Pat. One more step behind you!

    My 19 yo son spontaneously drove 15 hours to Mardi Gras with friends. I know he got there safely but haven't heard from him since. I hope he's just having fun and is not in the gutter or jail! 

    I hope all of you ladies are doing well. My onc was "released" by the cancer center (don't know why...I thought he was great) so I've had to change doctors. I'm still doing Herceptin until May and then will have a breast reduction to even things up after the lumpectomy. Hair is growing but slowly but my eyebrows and eye lashes have thinned out again......will be so glad to have everything done by this summer - so tired of it all. Feeling pretty good though, even on Arimidex, and have gone back to the gym. Not much stamina but have started losing the chemo weight I put on.

    For any of you that had your port removed - how was it? painful? weird feeling? I can't wait to get this thing out of me but am not looking forward to the procedure.

    Annie

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited March 2014

    on Annie,he is probably looking for parking! Lol

    I am so glad I never knew about Mardi Gras back in my hey day.  Not that I was wild, but I don't know...this place is full of party!

    Sorry, I never had the port so can't comment about removal.

    Wishing you the best.

    Pat

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  • carla53
    carla53 Member Posts: 264
    edited March 2014

    Pat happy that surgery went well for you.  Next year Mardi Gras?   Sounds hood to me.

    Annie he's probably just having a good time.  But as mothers, it's hard not to worry a little. Congratulations on losing some of that chemo weight. Can't comment on the port either. I had a PICC line.

    Carla

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited March 2014

    Annie , I was under General when they removed the port, but I heard it wasn't so bad getting it out. However, I am regretting removing mine now. It took them 5 different pokes to get a vein on me on Friday. I was absolutely miserable. And then when I finally started my infusion, it burned so bad and turns out the vein wasn't working!  So they had to remove that and find another. I was sobbing in the infusion lounge. It had been such a miserable week and I just had enough. 

    Anyway.....,,

    This week is 1 year since diagnosis. Weird huh 

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  • MomofSam
    MomofSam Member Posts: 74
    edited March 2014

    Kate - are you still on Herceptin?  If so, why did they remove your port?  Sorry you are having to go through vein searching!  That's no fun at all.

    I still have my port because of Herceptin so won't get it out until end of August.

    Mardi Gras sounds like a good time!  Glad you had some fun Patty...you deserve it.


     

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited March 2014

    momofsam, I am still on Herceptin but I only have three (now 2) treatments left so rather than take off any more time from work I decided to get the port out with that last surgery. The nurses felt confident they could find a vein!!!!!  Next treatment I will drink a gallon before I go. I'm sure I was slightly dehydrated 

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited March 2014

    ok, Kate, was just going to say, drink PLENTY of water so they can find that vein.  Also consider asking them to warm the vein...they can do it with a heated blanket.  Makes it easier to find the veins.

    Wishing yo the best...only two more, almost there!

    Pat

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  • Teresa_G
    Teresa_G Member Posts: 259
    edited March 2014

    I've never been to Mari Grass, could be fun!

    I also had my port removed during surgery so I can't tell you how it really was to get it out.  My surgeon also put some fat in there to fill in the hole left by the port.

    Pat I am sure your body looks like it has been through war from the lipo, those bruises are nasty and I only had a small area done.  Ouch!

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  • MomofSam
    MomofSam Member Posts: 74
    edited March 2014

    Kate/Teresa - totally makes sense to have the port out with surgery.  I had the lumpectomy so no reconstructive surgey like the rest of you.  However, now I have one breast that is smaller than the other.  Very noticeable to me, but not sure about to everyone else.  Thinking maybe this summer I might have a platics doc take a look and see if it's worth doing anything.  The thought of more surgery, poking and proding is just not appealing to me right now.  Not even sure if that type of surgery would be covered by insurance - anyone know?  Do they cover reconstructive surgery for something like that or is that something I'm just expected to live with?  Not sure if I'd want the one that had the lumpectomy increased in size or reduce the other one.  Personally I'd be fine with reducing the size of my normal one.

    Good luck with the next vein poke Kate!  Hope the water does the trick!!!

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