Starting Chemo December 2015

Just out of curiosity - how old are you guys (if you are comfortable sharing). I am 44. I started mammograms at age 40, and never had a normal one. The 1st one at age 40 showed atyptia in my left, now here we are 4 years later with IDC in the right. I often wonder if they would have been more aggressive in 2011 if it would have gotten this far - who knows. I sure wish the 40's wouldn't make me feel like I'm in my 60's.

Sammy, I am 43. I was diagnosed a few days after my birthday. I also had mammograms done from 38. I have had a few diagnostic but always ended up being cysts. Wasn't so lucky this last time

I just turned 40 in October. I felt the lump in the summer, went to my GYN who said he thought it was a cyst but gave me a referral for a mammogram and ultrasound, but said it was "no emergency." We traveled a lot this summer and then with school starting and 2 little kids....I didn't think about it much until November, when the lump suddenly grew much larger and very painful. Radiologist did core biopsy on the spot after seeing the mammogram and u/s. And, here I am

I feel a pity party (for myself) starting up. hahahaha...

Strength and courage for us all! Let's do this!

Wishing you all the best.

I was diagnosed about 2 weeks before my 40th bday, last September. I had a baseline at 35 cause "why the hell not" and hadn't thought much about it since. I noticed the lump over the summer as we were moving cross country and didn't get to the dr till Sept. I also found out I'm BRCA 1+ which was surprising news to me as I don't have family history. As it turns out, LAST week my grandmother, the only BC survivor I know, mentions to my dad that in fact ladies on her side of the tree (women's that died long before I was born, her aunts and what not) had BC making me the 7th person to have it. There's just been a majority of sons passing it down and I was the first girl in a while. Mystery solved

Don't mind sharing at all - I'm 51.

I was diagnosed right before I turned 40 from a baseline mammogram. No family history and nothing to indicate anything was abnormal. Genetic testing was negative as well.

Cyndi

First chemo was yesterday. Of course we had a winter storm warning, but lucked out that the sleet/snow fell while I was at the hospital, and was down to rain only when I left. I had asked my oncology nurse about driving since my husband cannot drive at night. She said that since I wasn't getting Benadryl or Ativan, there was no reason for me not to drive home, so I did since it did get dark before we got home.

Other than a minor glitch about where to get my blood draw, (I was specifically told it would be taken from my port, and told to go to the lab that took my last draw. This was wrong, but we have it worked out now.) everything went well. I took my dex the day before which affected my labs wbc somewhat, but other than that, no problems. My infusion nurse was very informative and emphathetic, the time went fast, and so far, no SE's. Been taken zofran and still taking dex today, tomorrow may be the crash.

Redrock - I'm on AC too and my count went way down after my first infusion (I had Neulasta shot) and they put me on antibiotics.  My counts bounced back the second week to 2.9.  So good luck this week and I hope you bounce back.  Make sure to rest when you can. 

Smurfette - thanks for making me smile about your husband coming home even if you need a cuddle.  He must be a sweetheart!!

Bemba - thanks for the tip on pantyhose for a wig cap.  I am getting so irritated around the edges of my hairline from the wig.  The salesperson told me I didn't need to wear anything under my wig, but it itches so much from the stubbles.  I'm letting all the irritation heal and then I'll try the pantyhose.

I too am going nuts with the stubble.  How long does it take to fall out?  I want to shave but I'm afraid of the cuts and nicks.  Did anyone have problems shaving?  I'm really getting use to my head with no hair.  I thought I wouldn't want to walk around with nothing on, but that's all I do at home.  I even forget I don't have any hair.  It is kind of nice not having to deal with doing my hair in the morning.  I always get so hot at night so not having any hair is really cooling me down at night.  I don't sleep with anything on my head and I don't get cold.  It just sucks with the stubbles because it feels like little needles sometimes.

I attended a Look Good Feel Good seminar about 2 weeks ago and I was really glad I went.  I'm not much of a makeup person but I picked up a lot of good pointers especially how to draw eyebrows if mine fall out.  It was well worth going plus you meet really amazing people. 

Sammy - I am 50 years old (almost 51) with  no family history of breast cancer.  Was a shocker!!  Had very dense breast and had a previous benign tumor so when I felt the tumors I didn't think it was cancer at all.  I had 3 tumors which only 1 was cancer.

Angtee - Are you having many SEs with the taxol?  I'm on taxol for 12 weeks after the AC.  Just wondering about the SEs and the fatigue.  Right now with the AC I have fatigue and I know it gets worse after each infusion.  If I don't take a short nap around 12:30 pm, I am so exhausted by 5 pm.

MySpaulding - Did you shave or let it fall out?  How are you doing?

Lemint and Lou - hope you're feeling better.

I love talking to you ladies and reading your posts!! Stay strong and positive!!

Actually my name isn't Samantha or Sammy, lol. When I first joined here I was totally paranoid about using my real name. Because can't you just lurk here without joining? I have no idea why it matters to me, but apparently back then I was hiding. My name is actually Kari

Speaking of being paranoid - when I called the American Cancer Society to register for the look good feel better thing, this was super weird. I think you have to call, I didn't see an online sign up. So anyway, I call the #, they ask for your name & phone # - that's IT. So she registers me and then at the very end before hanging up she says "I am also a certified cancer specialist, did you have any questions for me about your breast cancer diagnosis?" UM.....I never said breast cancer. HOW did they know that?? See....I told you I am paranoid, lol.

I'm 48 and been having mammograms since 40. I got a call back about 2 years ago but it turned out to be dense breast tissue but now I'm wondering if the cancer was hiding behind that dense tissue. About six months ago my breast and nipple started to look. I just thought it was because I had started running and had lost some weight so I waited until my yearly mammogram to get the changes checked out. The fact that they called in the doctor during my mammogram and scheduled me for a biopsy the next day was the first clue that my breast changes were something more.

Anyway, no history of breast cancer in my family. In fact, you are much more likely to have high blood pressure in my family--my sister and several aunts take medication for it. But of course leave it to me to have normal blood pressure and cancer. My genetics test came back negative so at least I didn't pass this crap down to my daughters.

I had my baseline mammo at 30 due to family history. My first suspicious mammo was at 38 and I was dx with DCIS when I was 40. Here I am at 48 with the new stage iv label.

My brain has been mush the last few weeks. I am confused more often than not and can't seem to keep track of time. My dreams seep into reality and it's scary.

My hair is still holding on. I planned to shave this week while my daughter is on break but I am now going to wait and see. Three infusions down with a full head of hair so maybe I will make it to 4.

Kris, I have not shaved it yet, I think that is on the agenda for today. Need courage! I had 3 vacation days left at work so even though I was off for 6 weeks with my surgery I took them this week. My next treatment is Thursday so I would have needed one for that day anyway.

So as far as the Claritin goes, do you just take one the day before?

My daughter who is 23 went to her GYN Dr today and it broke my heart because she texted me and said I guess I have to say I have breast cancer in my family now right? I hate that this will affect her life, but at least my genetic test came back negative.

I called and signed up for the Look good feel better class yesterday too. I am hoping to go on January 11th.

Wow! Most of you ladies are in early 40's. I guess its better to get it taken care of when you're healthier?? This dam BC...:(

brithael - I'm glad everything went well for your first round. My 2nd was yesterday. I'm also expecting the crash tomorrow.

mvspaulding - If you are taking Claritin for the Neulasta shot, I was told to take one the day before receiving the shot and up to 4 days after. I did this my first round. After day 5 of taking the Claritin, I felt that I didn't really need it anymore. I went in for my Neulasta shot today, so I took a Claritin yesterday. I plan to continue taking it the next 4 days like last time.

Sammy3 - Regarding the concern of being HER2+, have you had a chance to look at this topic? I tend to worry about that as well, so it's helpful to hear how HER2+ survivors come out of this.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics/825974?page=1