Starting Chemo October 2014

I have two more CMF treatments. Saw radiologist last week to discuss rads. He said because of the internal / upward position of my tumor he wanted a scan of my breast.

Next think I know my MO ordered a full pet scan and now I am nervous. Anyone elses MO order this? I have no symptoms/ pain anywhere

Kath

CONGRATS Linda!!!

Thanks Cherice! How long before results?

My insurance won't cover a PET, just Cts and MRIs. I have my ct on 3/13. I'm concerned if there is Cancer somewhere else in my body it won't be picked up. I asked my oncodoc how will I ever be NED if I don't have a full body scan. He said unless I had symptoms, my insurance is not going to budge.

Dear all,

My MO and BC surgeon also seem to forgo scans. My surgeon said they found that when they scanned routinely women just held their breaths until the next scan, and aside from quality of life issues, they don't think there's a survival benefit. Asymptomatic is as good as it gets, one said.

This no-testing strategy is a little hard for me to wrap my mind around, and I'm not sure I agree. On the other hand, I see their point and certainly don't want to be living from scan to scan. I'll probably read up on recommendations for scans after surgery and adjuvant treatment. I'll be getting at least manual exams for local/regional recurrence after BMX.

Becca, sorry about the lesion. I think I would have laughed, too. I mean, what next!!?!

Hi Ladies, catching up on the threads while awaiting the start of a conference I am attending at Sunset Beach, NC. I have time between registration and was looking forward to getting in the thread. I actually did look up the "Casting for Recovery" program in this area the location is breath taking but I would have to be sedated for the drive, it is real mountain driving which I am a wreck driving nerves just shot. I remember the MO saying it would take about a month to get the meds out but my fingernails hurt so bad. I can't button anything and opening a can of beverage is impossible. Saturday I had my medical massage and I was so tired afterwards I had to go home and take a nap. It was like the switch was turned off. The same thing happened yesterday. I had a 3 hour drive and by the time I got here I could barely text the honey that I made it safely before I had to lay down....it was 2:30 in the afternoon. I am suppose to be getting stronger not weaker, what gives? It is so good to read about the continuous movement forward at our various stages. Today I actually saw a couple of eye lashes that I could put mascare on..its the little things. Lol

Sjacobs,

Did you have any nail issues at all during treatment? Nail loss would be devastating to me. It's my "thing". Everyone always looks army hands to see how I have them painted.

My hair started sprouting last Tuesday. I have stubble over my entire head and it's already about 1/8inch just in the back. It's also coming back in the bikini area. Still no brows or lashes.

I have two chemo to go. Last nights ordered a Wonder Woman tshirt from Amazon. Plan on wearing to my last treatment.

MJS1266: Congrats on completing chemo! That's a big step forward.

ilovecoasters: I checked with the local rep for Casting for Recovery and she said to keep your name in the hat. You will get chosen eventually. I'm sorry it wasn't this year.

Sending good wishes to all October ladies.

My nails lifted off after becoming dark yellow and really hard. BUT, no pain at all, and they are growing quickly! Hair sprouting now also: She, thought of you with the sweats over the weekend: bet you don't miss those!!!

Hang in dear sisters, onward and upward

K

Thanks for all the support re: my fingernails. I am done with chemo, so no meds to adjust. I'm going to have to accept that I will likely lose all of my nails, damage is done. Before chemo, my nails were a thing for me too. I had acrylics for years, and had them done every two weeks. I lost my left thumbnail last year after closing it in a car door. It took 9 months to grow back properly.

LMBO, night sweats gone, no way. I have been having flashes even worse and Friday will make two weeks since the last treatment and I am still only sleeping 3 1/2 hours. I find that one Tylenol pm and a light toddie with a squirt of adult beverage gives me a full 5 hours. I tried not doing it that way last night just the toddie no pill, I was up in 2 hours and tossed and turned all night which made for a trying day since I had a 3 1/2 hour drive back from the conference.

I have a little peach fuzz on the back of my head, the wild thing is that at night when I have those flashes my head becomes super hot, the pillow even gets hot. I feel like Drew Barrymore in Firestarter. I was having a meeting with my partner when I got back to work today and I swear in the span of 20 mins I took off and put on my sweater 5 times just because I would go hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold. Last week I went in my office dead bolted the door and laid on the sofa in my underwear until I stopped sweating. I feel like I am about to jump out my own skin. I know it will pass as will the sore fingers but when you are going through it you just want to scream.

Now I am reading about the scans, and us triple negatives are more prone to getting them? I wonder if that is if you are getting radiation. Since the 5 lymph nodes they took were clear although clearly in distress and I am having a double mastectomy the MO said no radiation needed especially with the tumor completely going away feeling the chemo would take care of the rest. I will be doing some additional research, as always reading the posts are always informative.

Hi group, just a quick check in from work. My fingernails are still super sensitive and hurt but are still hanging in there. :-) No sign of any real hair yet and Friday will make three weeks since the last chemo treatment. I did get a few more eyelashes though. :-)

Surgery in 8 days, ready to get it done and move forward. My hope is for everyone to be experiencing some type of rest between treatment where they are not having severe side effects.

Ilovecoasters, you can't seem to catch a break. So sorry to hear about your job. I hope that things work out for you.

My medical insurance will end in May. I have over $20k still in bills to pay and upcoming radiation will be $50 a day copay. Was supposed to have a hysterectomy overthe summer and I still have expanders. Feeling like rock bottom.

Chemo and radiation are at private practices. The hospital wouldn't even schedule my surgery unless we put 10% down on an estimated bill. It's all just too much right now. None have been flexible about payment. Positions are scarce when you are a school administrator, especially when every Principal in your district knows you have cancer.

ilovecoasters: Cancer is covered under the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Your employer can't discriminate against you because of your illness. This includes firing as well as not selecting you for available jobs for which you are qualified. I would check on who the EEO counselor is for the district and find out how to file a grievance/complaint. If they don't have that type of system then go to www.ada.gov and there are directions on filing a complaint. Often just raising the issue with the appropriate persons changes attitudes. Employers do not want to go through an EEO investigation. I know this is hard particularly when you are facing cancer. There are also health insurance options through COBRA or "Obamacare". Hope this might help.