Any young ladies just diagnosed with a recurrence??

Alibeths,  so sorry you are faced with this.  I know others who have had a recurrence will be by soon with some input . If you cant sleep call your doctor for some medication and or try yoga, meditation or even over the counter benedryl.  Its important to sleep. wishing you the best outcome possible.

I finished chemo in Nov 13 for my little stage 1, node negative cancer that they thought was so minor. It came back ...in 2 places...diagnosed early February. I start chemo in 11 days. It rots, but we'll plod through this detour again. I can relate to the not sleeping. I don't think I slept a wink until I had a new plan in place. When is your next appointment

How did your surgery go? I hope you are feeling okay. Have they discussed what will be next? Thinking of you

Hi Alibeths- hope your are recovering well. I am new to the group and totally agree with your assessment of the situation..IT SUCKS!        I am 17 days out from my BMX. It totally stinks having to go through this again (I was 4 years out). I know that we are a resilient group (to say the least) but I so wish we didn't have to be! After a week, I was able to get around a bit better and now only require the pain killers at night (thank goodness b/c the constipation was a real pain). Last week I had 2 of my drains removed but the other 2 drains are still draining quite a bit (ugh) so I have to wait on having them taken out. I start chemo  and Herceptin again on 4/9 (another ugh!). Have they developed any subsequent plan for you at this point? Wishing you a smooth recovery!

Would you believe it was in ONE lymph node for me as well? What's even crazier is the fact that it was found in my right side armpit but I had no cancer on that breast previously or now (it apparently only occurs in 2% of patients- oh boy, what I luck I have!). From Dec. thru the end of Feb., I had neoadjuvant chemo (where they give you chemo first and then surgery). The chemo was the "lighter stuff" (as I refer to it- Taxotere, Herceptin and Perjeta-so I was able to continue working while I received treatments. So then they did the surgery and found that I had a "very positive response" but NOT a COMPLETE response to the chemo...so now I have to undergo more of the yucky, rougher chemo (that starts April 9th). Between recovering from the surgery and the upcoming chemo, I have decided not to return to work for the remainder of the school year (I'm a school social worker).

I know how hard it is to have to go through all this crap again. Some days are better than others for me. This surgical recovery is exhausting my patience at times. However, I try to focus on spending time with my kids and looking forward to all the more enjoyable events that are coming up (one is graduating the 8th grade and the other is graduating high school). Please feel free to reach out to me whenever you are having one of those "tougher" days and you just need to vent and to keep me posted on your recovery.

I am just trying to cope with this the best I can.  I have mets throughout my cervical spine but the radiation has greatly improved the pain already.  I have another bone met a little further down my back.  Doc is going to put me on Lupron and then another hormonal therapy.  But I'm being realistic, not sure how long that I can keep this cancer beast at bay.  My oncologist feels when we are younger the cancer cells do grow faster, though I technically DON'T have a super aggressive cancer.  Actually, the fact that it's slow growing is how it slips underneath the chemo- chemo targeted fast growing cells and 60% of my cancer cells were NOT knocked out in 2012, according to the breast tissue biopsy.  And now the Tamoxifen could not stop it either from spreading.  I am just glad that I do have support here and in real life.  I am trying to lead a relatively normal life but I do feel almost haunted.

bimmer2011- Just wanted to wish you good luck on Monday with your appointment. I will be sending you out extra positive thoughts and prayers! Just underwent my second round of chemo on Thursday-feeling like crap today! I'm normally quite a positive person but knowing that the chemo doesn't really do too much to fight my stubborn cells-I keep thinking that this really sucks! Again, hope you get some promising plan on Monday-please keep us posted

Fran

Hi KBeee, I am so sorry that you have to go through this again as well. It's encouraging to hear you tell me that it is doable. How have you been feeling? I start AC May 12th. Have to get my port first, which makes me shake at the thought of it. I didn't have one the first time around.

Chrissom, I did TC the first time around and did not have a port then either. All things considered, I am tolerating AC very well. I tried to get myself in good shape beforehand, and repeat to myself every day that cancer is my enemy; chemo is my ally. I have made a point of walking every day. Days 4 and 5 I am tired and have a little nausea, but even then, I can get things done and function fine. Yesterday was day 5. I worked for 3 hours, did some laundry, went for a walk, and just did stuff around the house and chilled during the late afternoon and evening. Today was day 6. What a difference a day makes! I walked 3 miles when I woke up, went to church, weeded my flower gardens, planted my vegetable garden, and walked 4 more miles this afternoon. I still feel good, though I will chill on the couch this evening and rest. So......a day makes a huge difference. I am lucky to have done well and hope it continues. I hope you will do as well! I decided to assume I would do well until proven otherwise. I am sticking to it. Assume the same thing when you begin. It's a crap shoot, but some people do really well. Why shouldn't it be you???!!! I do set me phone alarm every 8 hours for the first 5 days to take anti-nausea meds, and it has worked. One more round of AC and I am not changing a thing in my routine

I grew up in NJ!!!!

Well maybe I answered my own question. My cancer did not respond very well to chemo the first time. I guess that's why I feel hopeless at times.

KBeee, I think that's amazing!! You just saying that makes me feel like there is hope through this. I was very active before this and in my head, I plan on keeping active but I realize that might not be the reality. Still working on getting full range of motion in my arm from my surgery two weeks ago. I really think I'm just mad at myself because whatever strength I had before seems to be gone. But I'm sure once I'm in it, I can navigate better.

Fran2014 - Yes, one pissed off lymphnode has caused all this. I would like to just scream when I think about it. I'm happy to hear you are nearing the end of treatment. Sending good thoughts your way.