Starting Chemo in December 2013

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  • Jodi040812
    Jodi040812 Member Posts: 383
    edited July 2014

    None here Kim!  Well, at least all our docs are consistent with the no scans BS.  Makes no sense to me.  The other cancers get scans and they make sure they got it.  This is so very odd and frustrating.  Why?!  Wouldn't it be to their scientific research benefit to know.  Mind boggling.

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  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited July 2014

    Kim - my MO does do tumor markers, but not sure how often. No other scans except my echos for Herceptin every 3 months. 

    My BS told me "leave your breast checks to me" as far as mammos and MRI's go. 

    Has anyone had a mammo with their port in? This is a major anxiety issue for me. My port seems to be in the area where they would squeeze...

    My RO says checks every 3 months and my BS says every 6. I think they should chat and figure it out, then give me a call.... I am actually about to call BS office to discuss. Should have taken an Ativan this morning...scheduling snafus throw me for a loop these days(post BC DX)...touch of OCD showing, need to tuck that back behind the curtain! 

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  • missy6758703
    missy6758703 Member Posts: 218
    edited July 2014

    I do have a pet scan scheduled for August and I'm scared shitless to have it!!!!! not of the actual process but the thought that they might find something! eek!!!!

    I have butt surgery scheduled for this Friday at noon.......please everybody.....pray for my butt!!! :)

    Michelle

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  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited July 2014

    I agree with you stage 3 gals. Follow more closely as things can change quickly it seems.

    Had my yearly with gyno today. Pap smear and breast check (everyone wants to feel them now!), pelvic floor prolapse unchanged (bothersome but other things more important now).... Then return in 1 yr. okay!

    Michelle, we will be praying our butts off for you.(yes! I'm the first one to say that!)

    #21 of 34 done today. Friday will be new pics and markings for boost to start next week. 9 boosts. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can said the little red engine

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited July 2014

    image

    I'm done! Praise God!! Hallelujah!!

    10 1/2 hours of surgery

    Eight rounds of chemo

    36 radiation treatments

    Done!!!!

    Will see the plastic surgeon this week, follow up with chemo doctor next week to start hormonal therapy, then follow up with radiation doctor the week after that to be sure my skin is healing.

    We celebrated at the radiation facility. The kids and I got confettied!! We hugged all the amazing staff. And shed a few tears. I've spent almost everyday for 36 days with those folks and it was hard to say goodbye. But I will see them at follow ups.

    I'm exhausted!! All the emotions of today has me spent. It has been intense.

    I'm stage IIb, but was told I was considered a IIIa after findings from surgery - extra ILC, LVI, etc. But was told they weren't going to change my stage... Not sure why. Going to ask my MO that next week. 

    I guess I won't even get mammos since I had BMX with DIEP??

    Love you all!!

    Holli

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2014

    Kim, sleep has been an issue with me for a long time. I don't think it's changed much, except I seem to require more of it and I can even take a nap during the day now, which is very uncommon for me. 

    The rest of you stressing about scans, etc....I am not a 3, but I would be the same way. I did get a neck, upper chest CT done after DX, bc my RO thought he felt something odd....luckily it was a false alarm! My MO appts are 3 months apart, mammos every 6 months. Not sure about tumor markers...I guess I haven't asked that question. I will be asking her to ck my Vit D level again next time. 

    Michelle, I hope your pain in the butt is resolved SOON! Praying that all goes well.

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited July 2014

    I will be #2 to say that I'm praying my butt off for your butt Michele. 

    Seriously... Will be thinking about you on Friday. 

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  • aff
    aff Member Posts: 279
    edited July 2014

    Holli - huge congratulations! After all you have been through with rads I can only imagine the emotions you must be feeling. 

    Michelle- we'll be thinking about you on Friday

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  • missy6758703
    missy6758703 Member Posts: 218
    edited July 2014

    I wish i could make this font size to be like a size 50 so you can hear me shouting out loud

    CONGRATULATIONS HOLLI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    HappyHappyHappyThumbsUpThumbsUpThumbsUp

    You look great and like the old Travis Tritt song says....."its a great day to be alive!"

    Thanks for the prayers for my butt!!!!

    Michelle

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  • oranje_mama
    oranje_mama Member Posts: 260
    edited July 2014

    Congrats Missy and Holli, Woo HOOOOOO!  You are done - so awesome!

    I also think all the time about what wonder drugs could be discovered in the next 5, 10 years . . .  I sometimes think about what if I were diagnosed 10 years earlier . . . 2003 . . . no Herceptin unless in the clinical trial.  So 10 years from now, who knows :)?  And it seems like with all the genetic research they are finally on the brink of some big discoveries in treatment. 

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2014

    Holli~ whoo hoo!!! Happy Dance for you. Congratulations!

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited July 2014

    hip hip hurray for Holli.  Good luck with your butt Michelle.  You are never going live  down the butt jokes you know. 

     I will drink a toast to all of you next week when I am done. Still do not know what I will take the techs. Maybe I will make banana bread for them. Hope they did not hear about the fancy cupcakes I brought the onc team and infusion nurses upstairs from them. 

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  • J4DC
    J4DC Member Posts: 80
    edited July 2014

    congrats! Holli and missy!!!! So happy for you! 

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2014

    image

    I went to lunch with my DD and 3 grandsons today. Here is my "V-ictory" photo from the park! 

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2014

    image

    My oldest Grandson!:) They're what I live for!

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  • missy6758703
    missy6758703 Member Posts: 218
    edited July 2014

    image

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  • chicopeach57
    chicopeach57 Member Posts: 166
    edited July 2014

    My RO said  that the damage from radiation, the internal swelling and all takes about three months to get over, until then the scans would be useless.  With what we have been through if there is anything left it will be too tiny to show.  I worry more about three, four years down the road.  After it has time to take root and grow.  Will just have to have faith.  That sounds so negative and depressing, sorry.

    Congrats to everyone finishing!  

    Michelle, sending good vibes to your butt!

    Love the pics and collage.  Really do wish there was a like button.

    I am a week out of rads and my boob isn't healed yet.  It is getting better but I am frustrated. Have a colonoscopy and port removal on Thurs., hopefully they will do the port first.  Had to share the pic, it weeps and makes my bras, shirts, bed sheets nasty.  Time, patience, sigh.  

    image

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  • count_it_all_joy
    count_it_all_joy Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2014

    Chico - ouch!  that's such a large area to be that sore.  so sorry, and hope new skin replaces it soon. 

    Holli & missy - you made it!!  I'll be joining you in the happy dance tomorrow, that's my last day!

    Kim & Keepthefaith - ….sleep!  still my hardest thing, I'm so tired.  Tonight I'm trying Alteril - it's a combination of Melatonin, Tryptophan, and Valerian.  If that doesn't work, I'm going to try something else in a week or so.  Starting Tamoxifan soon, I'd like to make some progress in this area before I make it worse.  

    Michelle - I will pray for you on Friday.  Let this be just what your body needs!

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  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited July 2014

    Chico-yowch!  

    I go for my dry run today and start rads tomorrow.  VERY appreciatative for the 4 week break I've had.  The swelling is finally gone from my legs and feet.(..it did mess with my wedding a bit).  My 800cc TE were deflated to 250cc. Feels sloshy, like 2 ziplock sandwich bags with a little water under my chest.  Much more comfortable than the screaming tight soccer balls...hugs are much easier!

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited July 2014

    thanks ladies!!

    Chico- ouch. I can sympathize.  The weeping is the worst. I leaked on everything. I'd be happy to share what helped me if you'd like. Not sure what your RO had you doing. 

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2014

    chico, my RO told me the same thing when my BS wanted to schedule mammo. I guess there must be something to it! I hope your skin heals soon. I hope everything goes well for you tomorrow! I was so happy to get rid of my port.

    count-it-al, congrats on finishing your rads tomorrow! YAY!

    jbokland, I hope your first day is uneventful!

    Look at the progress we all have made!!!

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  • kjfromca
    kjfromca Member Posts: 283
    edited July 2014

    Holli - I can't remember if I said Congratulations on finishing up rads.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    Chico- Hope that skin heals up quick, how miserable.  Sorry.   

    Count-it-all - I actually slept until 6AM this morn.  I work up numerous times, but hey I fell back asleep.  Nice to hear from you and glad to hear that you are finished with rads tomorrow.

    Michelle - I am going to SD on the 19th, I will have my daughter take a pic in front of the falls for the collage.  Hey, best wishes on your surgery Friday.  Hoping for a speedy recovery for you.

    Keepthefaith - Love your picture.  I can't wait until I am a grandparent.  My oldest son has been married for a couple of years now....

    Met with the PS today, I am scheduled for my breast reduction/lift in August.  Looking forward to having some balance to my boobs.

    Kim

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  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited July 2014

    celebrating the start of Rads today!   Does anyone remember who I should thank for this idea?

    image

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  • kimie06
    kimie06 Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2014

    jeepers I am so far behind on the posts.

    I have a follow up appointment tomorrow with radiologist, boob is pretty much healed now still a little discolored but that's all.  I have a follow up with my oncologist next week, I am about ready to beg for a PET scan, its driving me insane that they don't do it unless you are having symptoms.  WTF

    We are cleaning up here after Hurricane Arthur decided to pay us a little visit, we never get hit with the kind of storm we seen, days without power, my parents were on day 5 we had 3 days without, lots of trees down, lots of damage but no deaths in our city, just a big mess to clean up,  my next purchase is a generator.  Thank goodness its summer and not the middle of winter., had to throw out most of our food, better safe then sorry.

    Still a bit fatigued from the rads, nothing serious.

    OK I have to get a picture taken to add to the collage

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited July 2014

    Chico - big ouchie for sure.  What are you using on it?   .

    Kim sorry to hear about the storm damage. No power at any time is a pain.  My son in SE New Hampshire said they got a lot of rain but no damage. 

    JB hope rads goes easily for you.  Did the techs get a laugh?  

    My mammo and US are scheduled for mid Nov. Just about a year post surgery.  Starting 5 days of boosts tomorrow.  Collar bone area is doing so much better with the steroid cream. Just noticed some dark red area along the axillary scar but it is totally numb so not bothering me at all.  Decided to bake banana bread and Georgia almond pound cake for the techs next week on my last day. 

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited July 2014

    OK ladies, help me not freak out...

    5 weeks ago blood test showed I was post menopausal (from chemo).  I am set to start hormonal treatment next week to be sure I stay post menopausal. But for the last few days I've noticed some cervical mucus after I use the bathroom.  Haven't noticed this since my last menstrual period in January. I'm afraid I may be ovulating. I don't want any estrogen.  I called my MO and the new nurse called me back and said I needed to call my OB/GYN. So I did that but they didn't call me back. I guess I need to call MO again tomorrow and talk to the regular nurse?? Should I be worried?  Anyone dealt with this?? 

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  • chicopeach57
    chicopeach57 Member Posts: 166
    edited July 2014

    Possibly a yeast infection without the itch?

    Decided having the colonoscopy tomorrow was a shitty idea. The good news is I'm less focused on the boob so it does't seem so bad.

    Jbok, good luck tomorrow , you will be done before you know it.

    Congrats to Count it all, Holli and Michelle.  Woot Woot.

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  • J4DC
    J4DC Member Posts: 80
    edited July 2014

    chico, jb, count_it_all, missy, and whoever i missed, good luck for your procedures, first treatment, last treatment, whatever you are dealing with.

    Holli, I had some mucus discharge on and off since about three weeks ago and some spotting here and there, but so far no period. Not missing it. Check with nurse if you have concerns. Good luck!

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  • Jodi040812
    Jodi040812 Member Posts: 383
    edited July 2014

    Holli- I've had two cycles since May:(. One was during an AC chemo and the again the other weekend.  I freaked but the dr was not worried due to my age.  They said  it was fine. I too was like no estrogen!!!  

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  • count_it_all_joy
    count_it_all_joy Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2014

    Hi Holli - I was talking with my MO about this yesterday when I requested blood work to find out if I am truly in menopause.  (my last period was a couple weeks before I started chemo)  He said that even if I test out as menopausal, my ovaries can still "wake up" and start functioning again.  I would probably ask for new blood work.  I'm sorry, I know I too have my fingers crossed to not start my cycles again before I start hormone therapy.  Maybe it's just something else going on.  Do let us know what you find out.

    Mary

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