Chemo in May 2014

Sounds like many here have finished chemo, congrats to all! I still have two more rounds, who else has more chemo to complete?

I'll be sticking around even though I'm done with chemo. We're all together here! Even though our chemo may be done, or close to done, we still have some things ahead of us. 

I have one more next Tuesday. I'll most likely be sticking around this board too.

Finally the big decision is made, I'll be having a bmx with Diep reconstruction in mid September. So happy to have come to a conclusion, can't wait to get it over with. Wish I could just do it tomorrow and be done, lol, but alas need to finish chemo first then wait 4 weeks to operate.

To those who have finished, is the last round any easier knowing you don't have to do it again?

Sorry you're so tired yet Lespring, hope you enjoy your reunion.  Keep us posted.

My 35th class reunion is on day 12 of my next cycle, hoping to feel good.  I'm still trying to figure out where 35 years went, btw.  It was so hard to recognize people at the 30th reunion, really had to rely on name tags.  With my chemo brain,  I probably won't even recognize their names, lol.

Regarding surgery, I was so undecided first leaning toward only losing one boobie, then two, then back to one.......but my bs kind of steered me to do two, first to reduce risks of a new cancer and second said I'll like the aesthetic result better cause they will match. I'm so happy the decision is made!  Also hearing lots of good things about both my BS and PS, a nurse today called them the "dynamic duo".  My PS, I've learned, is also a medical illustrator with a great eye for making things look good.  Also, apparently I'm not as fat as I thought I was, PS said I only have enough belly to make me a B cup, but he added they will look good.  I'm ok with that.  I always was a B cup till I got fat during menopause, so with the flatter belly I think the B will be fine.  

Have you decided on surgery for sure Lespring?  Do you want recon?  For awhile I was certain I didn't want recon.  I even made an appointment to be fitted for a mastectomy bra.  I found out insurance pays for 6 bras and 1 set of prosthetic a year, but then I noticed that when I was out I kept staring at women's breasts and I was getting kind of jealous and knew I'd probably miss them.  I thought, "I've worked hard my whole life, I have good medical insurance that will pay for surgery and I'm settling for fake boobs in my bra." I realized that I was choosing no recon because I was afraid of surgery.  Reading about everyone's experiences has helped me gain some courage.  Thanks all!

Not to get you guys questioning your decisions about surgery but I wanted to share my experience. In the past few weeks I have been hit with an intense grief about losing my breasts that I didn't expect to be so intense. I have found myself at times wishing desperately that i would have done a lumpectomy no matter how deformed it left me looking. And i was so sure about the BMX decision before surgery.  So I am really surprised by it. 

I also decided on no reconstruction (and no foobs) and I've also wondered if that has made the feelings more intense. And if reconstruction would have actually lessened the grief. I'm meeting with a friend tomorrow who is a few years out from treatment and of all the things i want to ask, one is "did reconstruction help you with lessen the grieving process?"  Of course she may not be able to answer that since I don't think she was ever flat before getting reconstruction.  I still won't get reconstruction but I am curious to know and I guess I hope that asking and hearing her answer may resolve some of the grief.

I had my pre-chemo (#4 and last) appt last Friday.  In my onc's office we are required to alternate between the NP and the doc with visits. I saw my doc Friday and i haven't seen her since before round 2. Which was great. I have been battling this face rash on about day 10 after ecery round and until now haven't felt like people are taking me serious about it.  All along I have felt like the cause is Taxotere but until now i haven't felt like anyone would listen. The doc came close to canceling the last round. But changed my steroid regimine instead and so i'll be in the chair Tuesday for my last chemo. I'm a little bummed but also want to get it done and reap whatever benefits 4 rounds over 3 might have. I also wondered if the do would nix the Nuelasta but she didn't.  Maybe because of the rash.

So now i'm off to mentally prepare myself to be sick (I hate this part).

Homemom, if you don't like the implant, would you be a candidate for diep reconstruction using your own tissue? Lots of info about this procedure on the diep 2014 thread and many of the women had tissue expanders before the diep, it does not need to be done at the same time as the mx. I'm scheduled for a bmx with immediate diep on Sept 29. I was really anxious about it at first, but talking to others on that thread has helped calm me.

I should be sitting in the infusion chair right now but damn low platlete count messed things up, so next treatment pushed back to Thursday, maybe, if the platletes are cooperating. I can't believe it but I'm actually disappointed that I'm NOT getting chemo today. I just want this over with!

Hey Lespring - did they offer you a nuerporgen shot - it is a temporary boost to the WBC - lasts for 24 hours or so.  I skipped the neulasta shot last time and I also tanked and they gave me a nuepogen shot on two different days - I took it in my stomach and had no bone pain from it.  If you don't recover soon maybe you can ask for it to keep you out of the hospital.

debiann - so sorry you have to wait longer to get that last chemo - it will happen! I'm not unhappy with an implant, it is the TE that is just a tight hard ball on my chest. I have one more fill on the 5th of Sept (my last chemo day) and I think it will be 70-90cc's so I'll be a little uncomfortable that last day. I've highlighted the day on my calendar!

debiann - gotcha. After my last fill I will have the 6.5 weeks of rads and then I think I have to wait 3-4 months for my skin/breast to "cool down". I 'm thinking about possibly Jan/Feb recon surgery. That 3-4 months was told to me when I was have a lumpectomy and would have breast tissue... I'm assuming I still have to wait. 

This TE is much more uncomfortable then when I had the implants. Of course then I had breast tissue and now there is nothing by muscle between the implant and my skin. I remember crying over the end of my little but normal looking breasts when I first had the implants. The implants were high and so the shape was weird.  I cried all the way to the PS office for my post op appt. He told me not to worry, they would drop, I just had to keep massaging them in the shower.  They did drop and looked great. I'm assuming they are going to more comfortable then a TE.

Well I'm excited for you writing helps! Last round of se's, hope they are few.

I met with the plastic surgeon today. She did my tummy tuck 5 yrs ago and I really like her. We went over all my options and she had already discussed my case with my surgeon. The two of them agree I'm a good candidate for nipple sparing. (that can't be 100% decided until they're in there and can look at the tissue). Now I just need to meet with my oncologist to determine if I can put off radiation to get a bmx done first. 

I'm not sure about rads. Meeting with my oncologist on Weds next week.

I have a question. Over the weekend, particularly Sunday, I was feeling back to myself. Then my counts dropped further, but I shouldn't feel anything from that. Yesterday and today the heavy fatigue is back. But its more than just "fatigue". I can hardly move my arms and legs. Like going up the steps in the house is almost more than I can handle. Tonight, even rolling over in bed takes more energy than I can muster, my arms and lets screaming at me that its too much. Its not really "pain". They just feel exhausted. As if I just ran 10 miles and couldn't think of taking another step. Lifting my arms up over my head takes everything I have. They're just so tired! Do any of you have this? Getting through each day is so hard. My last chemo was 2 weeks ago. Enough already. 

Very strange. If I had no node involvement, I would have just had the lumpectomy and rads, no chemo or mx. I decided on the mx because of the node involvement and the fact she didn't get clear margins the first time. 

Lespring hope you are feeling better soon. I just got home from round #5 and feeling very good atm, but hate the anticipation of what will come.I'm with you, ENOUGH ALREADY!