April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

Georgie - I was told that the survival rate is the same for lumpectomy and radiation as with MX. Sometimes, women mentally just want them off, in which case it's an option. But it does not increase survival rate.

Steph - So glad you're home. My husband came down with an infection in his artificial knee last summer. Had to give him infusions through his PICC line twice a day for 2 months. I was scared at the prospect, but managed just fine after just one visit from the visiting nurse. Actually, it was kind of fun. I sometimes had to administer while on a conference call. If you have no one to help you, you can do it yourself, you just need a little extender to make the PICC line longer. Don't be too down about it. And I think you can do just about anything with the PICC except, perhaps, swim.

Have a good Sunday, everyone.

Thanks Bluedog - Since we are basically in the same boat. That is the same information I've been getting and I would love to have the easier surgery. Since I can't get hard numbers from my doctors - I've been googling - which could be a huge mistake. I saw the following on a website www.atlantabreastcare.com - which may or may not even be accurate.

Risk of local recurrence Approximately 5-15% with Lumpectomy and Radiation Approximately 2-5% with Mastectomy

Overall Survival Rate of Lumpectomy With radiation, same as mastectomy

So, from what tI think they are saying is there is a higher risk of local recurrence - but it wouldn't affect survival rate - because they could treat it again??

Did you have a good response on the tumor shrinking from chemo? I know mine has shrunk but they haven't done a follow up MRI yet, so I don't know how much.

I know, I'm making myself crazy. I wish I could relax and trust that things will be ok - but since I already got so unlucky with this bit of bad luck - ( the out of the blue diagnosis) it's hard to not think my luck may continue this way.

Georgie - oh yes, my tumor shrank a lot. From what felt to me like a golf ball to something I can't even feel now. At least the poison is working.

georgie, I am also doing neo-adj chemo prior to surgery. However, I had psychologically made up my mind to have a bmx the second the biopsy results were in. I think my brain is just wired to "go" there and can't wrap itself around any other decision. I have had 4 rounds of A/C, 1 round of taxotere/carboplatin (out of 4) and just had my mid point mri last week. It showed a complete radiological response. I hope you can get your mri soon so that you can feel the same relief that I did. Maybe knowing how your mass responded would help you decide what to do. I agree that it is still very overwhelming knowing that we have these big surgeries looming on the horizon.

Steph, so sorry that you have had to deal with all the extra angst during your treatment. I hope that your antibiotic treatment goes smoothly and that this detour is quickly a thing of the past.

HI everyone else. I had my first taxotere/Carbo last Monday. Neulasta on body inection went off late Tuesday night. When they say it beeps and flashes...yes...it's loud and noticeable. Really glad we postponed it the time before when it would have gone off on the airplane.

As for the transition from A/C to T/carb...I am just mentally and physically discouraged. My mouth condition had slowly deteriorated throughout A/C, and it seems like T/carb has shown me that it could get a whole lot worse. I feel as though I have been chemically burned from the inside. My whole ENT area, mouth, esophagus is just perpetually aflame. My inner ears burned and itched so badly yesterday I could barely stand it. Not only are my taste buds toasted, but my salivatory glands are all but shut down. my nose septum burns and feels raw. I can barely swallow, can't talk, can barely manage fluids/smoothies.

I am assuming that the horrendous bone/whole torso pain I was in was a combo of the taxotere/neulasta. I had thus far avoided the hydrocodon the MO prescribed me for neulasta pain during A/C....but by 9am on Wednesday I could not tolerate the pain any more. After a couple of days of barely managed relief with the hydrocodon, I of course ended up with big time C. So I spent yesterday dealing with the pain of waiting for the lactulose to work. The last 4 days have been a nightmare of pain, pain, and more pain. Today, I am manageable with the body pains, but the mucositis issues are unrelenting.

It is so frustrating to have done everything I could to prevent the mouth issues only to have them be the greatest source misery. I even choked down the chalky glutamine in plain water hoping for the best results. At this point I am afraid I will not have the strength to "do this" 3 more times.

Each day, I pray I will awaken with more strength and fewer side effects.

Georgie, is there a Ronald McDonald house near the hospital you'll get your rads at?  I hear they're wonderful. 

They do have a Ronald McDonald house, but its only for families with a sick child.

Georgie, have you checked out the American Cancer Society Lodging Program? http://www.cancer.org/treatment/supportprogramsservices/patientlodging/index

They have lodges near some hospitals, or can get reduced rates at hotels for you. Here's the number to call: 1-800-227-2345.

getting fluids. This has been the worst one for me. I'm DONE!!!!

Giant Congrats Allibeths!!!!!!!

woohoo, Alibeths!

Thinking of all of you in one big swoop. Oncologists are fooling around with my meds to see if they can make me more comfortable; thankful for considerate care.

I am turning 44 on Saturday ... I think I want to celebrate this birthday well.

Lynne, let's plan our lunch. We'll toast to summer birthdays and this fabulous group.

Littleblue: you are too funny!! Had me in stitches with the skateboarder stories. Love you back, rockstar!

Kbeee - I was thinking about your son today. How is he? Broken leg?

Dizzparkmom - sending you strength for all those SE. Really sucks.

Stephmoen - not a day goes by that I don't think about you and your family. Hang in there, friend.

Vanmama - heal well from the SE

I still have chemo brain and started writing down lists. Depression is lifting since I have been off tamoxifen. Still struggling with Anal fissure which healed and then returned. Ouch. I am certainly not inclined to moon people despite being inspired by our talented Littleblue

holy cow...when my MO said on Thursday on my last chemo day, things will get better after this....i was hoping he wasn't kidding....my SE this time are one of the worst ever. Thank goodness it should be the last one, and it will get better since it will just be herceptin after...i think that is what he was saying.

I'm sharing with everyone My fortune cookie from last week since we all need fortunes like these:

Nothing is capable of holding you back.

bluedog- had derm biopsy a spot on 7/9 too. I had bcc skin cancer on face in 2010. I hope we both have good reports that we are worried about nothing.

Scarlett, do you have any other mouth issues. My lips and tongue are a bit numbish...but my entire mouth is a trainwreck, so....just assuming it's all part of the same delightful package.

Lynne, do you have Ativan? That helps with nausea too.