Starting Chemo January 2015

Hi ladies ... hope you are all staying strong and keeping well!!

Cat, I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis - sending you big hugs xx

I had my UMX and ALND on Tuesday - I'm amazed at how well I am feeling - not nearly as painful as I thought it would be and the ALND site is probably the most painful. I see my surgeon tomorrow to get my dressings changed and my drains out - quite curious to see what the actual site looks like.

All the lab results should be ready later this week and once we have the new FISH test results, we'll make a decision about the Herceptin.

Next step, radiation.

Take care ladies xxx

Hello all you lovely ladies. I have been keeping up with all your posts. Wish they were all happy, good news. Back in January, I certainly expected that we would all be merrily resuming our pre BC life by now. But this journey has been one roadblock after another for so many of us. Wish I had it in my power to fix everything that I am reading about. But just know, I truly care and wish daily for good health for each of you.

Since I finished RT the first week of July, I have had a constant cough and fever that is only controlled by prednisone. But they want me off the steroid by next week. Don't know if it is radiation pneumonitis or chemo cough...can't have a Ct scan yet. And my appointment with a new Pulmunologist isn't until Sept 30. So I've been stuck indoors for two months (too hot and humid to be outside); trying to exercise, but messing up my Lymphodema arm and torso...can not win!

And I fired my RO...he lies, doesn't listen, and wants his way no matter what...a real jerk.

I've been doing great on my Teva brand anastrozole. No SE's these first two months (knock on wood).

The hair fairy did give me curly hair. I love it. I've never had curls before. I wanted it all white, but only the front is white. The gray hair in the back looks just like a schnauzer, according to DS. I'd post a picture, but these chubby cheeks embarrass me. I haven't lost an ounce of the 32 pounds I have gained.

So that's my update...not too bad, but not great. Sorry it took so long. Love you all. XOXO, Becky

Hey Sweethope - That's great you are having NO SE's from anastrozole. Sometimes I do feel like its 2 steps forward and 1 step back. My GP told me that it will take a good year to start feeling more normal so not to get too frustrated in the meantime.Good advice but tough to accept sometimes. I hope they can help you get that cough under control as soon as possible. I haven't lost any weight either. Keep telling myself I can buy any new clothes for work until I drop a size. That still hasn't been encouragement enough yet! Maybe once I actually get back to work.

PMR - I feel I look like a boy too! My hair is coming in but it seems to be slow as I am still not ready for a haircut. It is salt and pepper gray! Yuck!

DiMClelland - That is wonderful that you are feeling so well. Hope that continues for you too! Good luck with the radiation as well!

Tennisfan - I am glad that you will be able to enjoy your fall tennis season! It sounds good that you should be able to rebound from surgery in a couple of weeks once done also. I can't remember if you have moved to your new condo yet or if that it still to happen. Nonetheless, I'm sure that's keeping you pretty busy too.Hope things don't stay crazy for too long!

Jlstacey – Vent away here whenever you need to! I think I had my drains for a least a month after surgery, if not more.I found it helpful to pin them to my shirt so I could move with ease. I hope you are able to get them removed tomorrow!

Cat – I saw on another thread that you have now had a hysterectomy.I am wishing you a speedy recovery. I hope you are able to get some help at home while you are recovering!

Hope everyone else is getting better and doing well.

Wendy

Wendy, I am thinking of Bailey this morning as it is National Dog Day down here. So give him a hug from his southern friends.

I certainly relate to the old saying, but I go two steps back, one step forward. I count my blessings every day, but I guess I am a spoiled child 'cause I just want to stomp my foot and insist that I should feel better right now and do not want to wait another day.

Aw..thanks Sweethope! Happy National Dog Day to all our canine family members!

HI ladies,

Wanted to stop in and let you know how I am doing. Will be halfway through radiation on Friday and got slammed hard with the fatigue yesterday, so double nap days are in my future. My skin turned red after the first treatment, so they are watching it closely. Still dancing as much as I can.

I am 6 weeks PFC and STILL getting insanely intense hot flashes with nausea. I am so hopeful they will stop soon, but 1 week after rads I have to start tamoxifen, so that's not too likely.

Surgery is scheduled for Nov 26.

I am so sorry to hear about all the challenges others are facing. You are all in my prayers and sending you positive vibes!!

Jenn

Sweethope sorry to hear about that cough. Hope it clears up soon. I wouldn't like to be on steroids to long, because of they also have se's.

Wendy, Bailey is looking wonderful and looks like a dog who really likes hugs.

PMR, I also would like to dye my hair, since it came in salt and pepper. Didn't have grey hairs last year, but now I do. But I now have slightly curly hair, which is weird, because all my life my hair was super straight. I wished it would grow a little bit faster, because since I was 5 years I never had short hair. Everybody around me sais they like it short, but I hate it. Well, just have to be patient I guess.

Today I will have radiation #9 of 25 and so far so good, no redness yet, although I have very fair skin. Since two days I'm starting to feel very tired, so I try to get an extra nap or go to bed early.

I'm getting RapidArc IMRT with SIB (simultaneous integrated boost). Has anyone else had the same radiation treatment? My RO says it is better, because it touches less healthy tissue around the radiation fields.

Hoping everybody else is doing well!

Noor

Hello All; I'm going to make this short however wanted to check in. The Rads tore my skin up under my left arm and breast; it has broken open and I am in constant pain. The only time it doesn't hurt is when I am asleep so I sleep about 18 hours a day right now. I worked up till week 5 and couldn't do it any more!

My hair is growing back but can't quite tell what color it is yet. But i Have HAIR!! Yay!!

I go in Thursday for my Herceptin and I am supposed to start my Tamoxifen Monday and I am not looking forward to that as I feel like I Just got a handle on the hot flashes from the chemo pause.\I see my reconstructive surgeon next Wednesday to schedule my full reconstructive surgery for December' YAY!!!

I hope you are all getting thorough your battles and coming to your end. This is not for the weak!! Cancer isn't for sissies...Lol

I have to tell you a story; my Bf's daughter decorated my car for my last day of radiation; Ben and I went to Walmart Sunday and when we came out there was this note and $20 bill; it brought tears to my eyes. I feel it had to be from someone who has had cancer touch their life in one way or another. There is still gentle kindness in the hearts of people and it was quite touching.

I also have some pics and a video to follow.

Love & Hugs,

Lara

It won't let me load the video but it was a great day!!

Lara – CONGRATULATIONS on finishing rads!!Your hair looks great too!It looks blond in the pic.Much better than the grey white I have but I am grateful for hair any which way..

Unfortunately, I had skin breakage as well so I know what you are going through.It does get better!! Rest is good now while you heal.

I started Tamoxifen a week before I started rads so I have been taken them now for 5 months.I did find the hot flashes were hard for the first couple of months.That gets better too.

I also wanted to say thank you for sharing that wonderful story.It is nice to hear people are still capable of empathy and kindness. It lifts the soul.

Wishing you strength and speedy healing for your reconstructive surgery!!

Lara, congratulations on finishing rads! I loved your story and it really made me feel good, knowing there are people out there who have a lot of compasion.

I'm very sorry to hear you got skin problems with rads, hope this soon passes by, they told me 2-4 weeks max after rads. I'm almost halfway and until now no problems, just that my skin feels tight.

But I do have very painful joints in my legs and fingers when I sit still or lay down for a longer time. I asked my PS about this and he told me this a common side effect of chemo ( didn't start tamox yet).hope this will pass by, because when I get out of bed in the morning I feel like I'm 80. But I can still ride my horses, so I'll wait and see if time makes things better.

Have a nice day everyone,

Noor

Noor-my joints are the same; especially my hips and ankles. Just super stiff and painful.

Cheryl; I used the same stuff on my skin and it has helpes. Now all the dead skin has come off and I am just super raw. Still really fatigued and mu skin just feels raw and i hate for anything to touch it. I also use Aquaphor and it helps.

I see my reconstructive surgeon tomorrow to schedule the end of the year surgery; super excited about that!! Also, my echo came back good so I will continue the Herceptin until next April.

Hope everyone else is doing well! I just found out last week my pastor was diagnosed with breast cancer and just starting her journey; everywhere I turn this desease affects lives.

Love & Hugs my Sisters!

Lara

Just checking in and catching up to see how everyone is doing :-)

I am still recovering from my surgery - must admit that this week has probably been the worst for me - I went back to work on Sunday (2.5 weeks after surgery) and I've been quite sore and very tired, also struggling a bit with some cording in my arm and lymphadema in my chest and back - massage seems to be helping but it's a long slow process!!

Path report was good - no nasty surprises - clean margins and only one out of six nodes was positive - which we expected. Second FISH test confirmed triple negative but my onco says that she can't discount the positive result we got on the initial FISH so she wants to go ahead with Herceptin for a year. She says there are currently some clinical trials underway where woman with triple negative are being treated with Herceptin and they are seeing results but, as yet, nothing conclusive. She is leaving the decision to me and I must admit I am leaning towards going with the Herceptin ... any thoughts?

I have my first appointment with the radiation oncologist on Sunday and expect that rads will start later next week.

Feel like I have come so far since January but still have so much further to go ... anyone else feeling like that?

Take care, stay strong and be kind to yourselves xxx

Hi, I was on the May chemo thread and after I was 1 month PFT, my MO did two tumor marker tests, 27/29 and CEA. CEA was between 6 and 7. So, she had me have 5 CT scans - brain, bone, chest, abdomen and pelvis. Clear, but did another blood test and CEA went up one point. Now, she says I need a colonoscopy. I am so stressed out I cannot eat. I would really appreciate it if you would write a short response and say if you had these tumor marker tests after chemo. Thank you

PS. Cheryl, I am glad you are following you MO advice. I did the same. Ovarian surgery is really nothing. I am starting tamoxifen soon - I am a bit wary of the heat puffs (I already have a few a day but they are tolerable). RVgal and others said they diminish with time - hopefully