Anyone from Alberta? Edmonton? Fort McMurray?

yes the cross has 2 infusion rooms. your 1 st infusion takes along time like 5-7 hrs. They do it slow in case u react. The rest of my infusions only took 3 hrs. Sometimes u are in a bed in a separate room within the chair room. My 1st infusion was in one area the rest were in the other. I only saw my mo for the 1st apt, after that I saw the nurse practitioner . Canadian system is much diff than the states. And when u girls go for your meet with the mo, it's weird cause we are so used to the Dr telling us what to do. But with cancer, they will only give you options with a lot of percentage numbers. It is up to You as to what treatment you want. Any other questions just ask, I'll gladly answer if I can. Huggers Fran

Hi Fran!

Thanks very much for the info! I'm actually meeting with a radiation oncologist so I'm guessing that that's what they'll be recommending but ya, I've been told all through this that it's all my decision. And yes, it's very different from what I'm used to with Dr's. I've been struggling the last couple of weeks with chemo + rads vs rads alone. I've been researching as much as I can but I'm pretty sure I'm not an oncologist! I'm hoping that I'll get along well with the onc and we'll speak the same language and they'll be able to answer all my questions.

From my research and from the AB cancer guidelines, I'm in the grey zone for chemo (my age, 35, and grade 2). I'm hoping I'll be able to get them to run an Oncotype test but I can see this being the most difficult decision in my life! I'm looking forward to the appt and dreading it at the same time! Thank goodness my sister is coming with me, she's been with me at every appt and has been great. I also have purchased a voice recorder, just in case our note-taking abilities let us down!

I'm curious, if you are going to get chemo, what kind of testing do they do before it starts? And any recommendations on a port or not?

Sorry about the venting and thanks in advance! I'm off to try to get a good night's sleep :-)

I agree with Clarrn. I had 4 rounds of TC, no picc, no port. Only had 1 blow out. It will depend on how many rounds u get & how easy/hard your veins are. I don't know if they do onco testing or not. It was never mentioned to me.

My RO was Dr. Perez, he's on leave right now. First words were " Side effects.. we are not going to discuss them! We will deal with them if they come". I only saw him twice. At the first, just before rads and just before last rad. Dr Rose is filling in for him. He is a major sweetheart. I hope u get him. I'm seeing him for my RRD.

For rads here, u use NOTHING til u are finished. In the states they use all kinds of cream. I cheated & used glaxol base & aloe on the weekends. Other than the fatigue you'll do fine.

Hello Alberta Ladies

i stayed at the sorrentino compassion house last night... oh my goodness it is wonderful, all were welcoming, the house is like a show room, i felt a bit like a farmgirl and the volenteer bus picks up and drops off there, in time with your appointments. many thanks to all who run that place.

northerncanuck - i live near you, and i still qualified to stay at the compassion house, keep this in mind if driving is difficult. i fall aslpeep from the antinausea pills for chemo , so driving home is not possible, and sometimes rides are hard to find

Happy Thanksgiving girls! How's everyone doing?

Oh and it's for you and a support person (friend/spouse/so etc)

Really good! Finally back to work and oncologist says we can try to have another child in September

hello ladies, just reaching out. My mom was diagnosed last week. We live in Edmonton. Wondering how you are all doing???

I’m very scared. It is in her left breast for sure and one node for sure. They’ve done no other scans. Surgery mastectomy is tomorrow. She hasn’t had a mammo for 5 years. I’m just so scared that it spread or metastized. It’s all I can think about. I’m not doing well

Jules, it is hard to watch your mom go through this I am sure. 70scharger is right, keep breathing and try not to Google until you know what your mom is dealing with.

I just wanted to give you some hope. I was 30 when I was diagnosed, it was in 96% of my ducts and lobules and invasive as well with 1 node having 1cm worth of cancer. Well that was 5 years ago this month and I was sure that I wouldn't see my kiddo go to kindergarten (she was 2.5 at my diagnosis). That spunky girl is now 7 and I am healthy and happy, with no sign of recurrence. In fact, with my oncologists blessing we moved forward with our family and I have the most beautiful little 9 month old boy sleeping in my lap right now.

Be gentle with yourself, and with your mom. There is no 1 way to do breast cancer. Some of us deal best with exploring all the possible outcomes and some are pink warriors exuding a boatload of positivity. No matter the mindset, we do it, one moment at a time.

Your mom is lucky to have you. Good luck to you and I hope you get answers soon. I waited over Christmas holidays too and things do tend to take a bit longer with so many people off, but there are many distractions.

70scharger-glad to see you and hope you are well!

70charger- so sorry about your chemo induced brain damage and your husband's job loss. I will never understand what makes the government decide who qualifies and who doesn't Hoping 2019 is a better year for you guys!