Starting Chemo December 2015

sammy3, that is awesome that they are doing that to make up for it!! I did not notice a problem with mine but I'm using the lavender. So far I am really pleased. I will probably start breaking out soon. Seems to be week 2 that I get diarrhea and pimples:( it's nice to know that they are willing to work with you on product. I know how some smells can be bothersome!! Hope your doing well!!

pezgirl, glad to hear your ok!! 😘

Kickinbootay, ugh? I always hear taxol is gonna be easier!! Now I'm scared!

AC #3 today, just one left!!!

Hang in there girls. I get so confused by all the different chemo protocols - how do they know which ones to give us, lol. Even some of us who have the same biomakers are getting slightly different! I guess that's why they went to med school.

I went to my Look Good, Feel Better last night. It was fun! Only 6 of us in there, but still good. The kits are worth it alone! It seemed like they varied, because even the 6 of us had somewhat different variety (even with same skin tone). But I had several Estee Lauder items (including an awesome full size night time moisturizer AND and eye serum that easily would have cost over $50 each). There was also some Avon, Smashbox, Elizabeth Arden, and drug store brands in there. Oh, I almost forgot - one of the cool things for me was 2 makeup brushes from IT Cosmetics and also their brow pencil/brush. I had just recently heard of that brand and it seems pretty cool. I looked at their website and there is a tutorial video on it that shows how to do the brows. And I think it says on there that for everyone of those pencils they sell, they donate one to Look Great, Feel Better.

Anyway, I recommend it. I am not a huge makeup person and I admit it was fun. I probably should have had this makeup class when I was younger so that I knew all the tricks. But I will take it at 44

You all look so beautiful. I still haven't worn my wig. It's all about how it feels. I can't really find the right word for the wig feeling, but I hate wearing it. I have been wearing Buffs and I love them. Being bald brings out kindness in others, not pity either, just kindness.

I get my 4th and final AC tomorrow. For some reason, I'm more nervous than usual. Staying positive (my life mission) is getting tough to maintain. I guess the positive thing is I'll be 1/2 done. But I'm still pissed and emotional and I don't want to go. Can I cancel my appointment? Haha. Enough rambling...thanks for letting me vent.

oh no proctor! I didn't even know that could happen!

Oh ChinaCat I feel you about being all over the place!!! I felt the same way about my 4th AC do it and be done! Jodes my reaction to Taxol was tightness in chest and flushed....I said something right away and just with adding fluids with my drips I am fine. My chemo nurse changed on dose #3 I told her that my first nurse gave me fluids with my taxol because I get a reation....she didnt listen and had my worst reaction....she listens now because I had to be extra stern (borderline bitchy I admit) I did have restless legs with #2! Its the weirdest damn thing! I only had it during my second dose and seemed to not come back....With dose #5 I had lower back pain but nothing crazy....I would ask your chemo nurse about adding fluid....that seemed to do the trick for me because I do not want more drugs....If I could go with the steroids in my premed bag I would....Im not a fan of those! Im not doing the 5 2mg dexamethasone tablets for 2 days prior to chemo just to speed up my time sitting in the chair....Ill sit for 4 hours that's fine with me.

Chinacat my daughter and I (shes 17) designed and made this shirt....(notice the hair, this was from Oct 1st it grew so much in 2 months!) thought you'd get a kick out of it

Pezgal- I've had 7 Taxol with NO neuropathy. I'm not taking any supplements on a regular basis..( my bad?)

Jodi

PezGal - thank you for the encouragement. Just an emotional day for me. I haven't been this emotional since the week before I started. One of my soul sisters is going with me tomorrow so that should make it better. I have also had finger pain and my thumb nails are growing in grey.

Kickinbootay - that shirt made me laugh. I love it! Nothing like putting it right out there for everyone. I actually said those exact words to someone who complimented my 'hair'. I was a little embarrassed when I realized that she already knew. Seriously, a bald head really brings out kindness in people. I'm taking it all in and loving it❤️

Proctor, hang tough and hoping for the best outcome for you. I didn't even know that was a possibility either

I know Iwont be looking forward to future fills in these expanders. Last one left me sore for days and I still can't sleep on my side. Just feel like two heavy rocks on my chest.

I know what you mean Chinacat. I go in on Thursday for #3 and I'm really really dreading it. It's a cruel joke that you start to feel a little normal just a few days before they zap you again.

so, I met with my surgeon today. Apparently he wants me to have more chemo to get a better pathological result before surgery. I am so frustrated right now. I started this journey taking the recommendation from my family doctor on oncologists. I have since switched oncologists due to the lack of response from his staff. Apparently my original oncologist chose an old school treatment plan for me. My new oncologist (who I love) was going to continue the path I started. I should be having carboplatin in my mix for 6 rounds, had I started with this one. (No wonder I have had an easy go of it) now I need more chemo. I wish I got a second opinion from the start😞 I have also been all for double mastectomy but learned that the numbers are about the same as a lumpectomy. Not to mention my reconstruction options suck because I need radiation first. I have no idea what to do. Next year can't come soon enough! Wishing you all well! Sorry for my self centered rant

Twirp - I'm sorry But now we will be true soul sisters. I meet with my surgeon next week and will let you know what he says to see if its a similar story to what you are getting. I suspect he will tell me to go with a BMX as I had this in my right now, and in 2011 I had atypia on my left . So apparently my body isn't cooperating. But I have heard lumpectomy is just as good as BMX! However, if you really want BMX for peace of mind or whatever,.advocate for yourself. It's your body!!! Hang in there!!

Going for my #3 of 6 today - wish me luck as we got snow here and I have an hour drive. My kids even have a school delay - FUN TIMES!

I had neoadjuvant AC (4rounds) then a lumpectomy on 10/7/15. My pre op appt my surgeon even put in my chart complete response to chemo because it had shrunk to almost nothing....My surgeon was confident we got phenomenal margins.....wah wah wah pathology report came back and cancer cells all around and one lymph node of the three removed had microscopic cancer cells in it.....went in for my second surgery to get better margins on 10/28/15 and all margins were clear! Surgeon told me all I needed was radiation and I was done! I was ecstatic told everyone children included (2 girls 12 & 17) went to see my oncologist and wal la he tells me oh no you need more chemo I went to get 2 other oncologist opinions one said no more chemo and the other said to me "Tricia you did 4 rounds of AC a hardcore chemo and still after that you had a microscopic amount of cancer in your lymph node, that tells me there is a chance that cancer cells could be floating around in your body" The light bulb went off in my head and I scheduled the taxol. I think its very important to get a second opinion. You are your own advocate. Most insurance companies will gladly pay for a second opinion.

KrisCrzala .....I found my lump @ 36 my primary physician told me don't worry about it you're young you have no family history....in my mind I knew what it was but denial set in and come on a doctor told me don't worry about it!

Chin up ladies! Positive thinking goes a long way!!!! I agree though this is a great platform to rant! We all know what it feels like!

Morning girls sorry so long but my manager is now on bed rest so myself and my coordinator have been buried! I have to take my laptop tomorrow for my 3rd treatment of T&C! I went tot the LGFB class last night and left with a great kit but they didn't have any new wigs to try maybe when I get reimbursed for the one I have now I can try another one. I hear #3 doesn't treat you as well but I have to be at work on Friday & again Monday so if it's going to take me down I have Sat & Sun! Look at me telling chemo when it can affect me!

Cheers girls

Ahh, Twirp that sucks. Do something naughty tonight. And by naughty I mean tamed down chemo person naughty - pj's at 5pm, big bowls of ice cream, bad chick flicks, medical marijuana... something like that.

KrisCrzala - I'm not sure what makes B6 a thing. I googled and found this: http://www.dana-farber.org/Health-Library/Alleviating-Peripheral-Neuropathy-Symptoms.aspx. I think it's kind of like the Clariton for neulasta, might work, might not work, its a toss up. I have some weird finger/foot pain the last few days (might be due from the super antibiotic I'm taking), but if this is or neuropathy, or anything like neuropathy, I'm going with the supplements. My MO said it wouldn't hurt to take them, as long as not overdoing it. Meh, why the hell not...

As for you ladies with upcoming surgeries, I feel you just need to go with your gut. Tough decision. I don't envy your positions though. I didn't have a choice. Well, I did... but I didn't. Maybe that's the key - come to a decision you can't live without? I was set to have a lumpectomy with rads and I was very cool with that (back in more innocent days when I thought I only had DCIS). Three days before surgery my surgeon called and told me my genetic test came back positive. Before she could even finish the sentence I was like "both these puppies gotta go...". So, yeah, its sad to see your body all wrecked and torn apart, but... whatever. My life is more important than my breasts. I'm doing everything I can to fight this thing. I'm alive today and hopefully will be for a long time. That's what matters to me (and my husband, and son, and my parents, and friends). For my specific case, getting all this highly susceptible breast tissue out was a no brainer. Well, most of the tissue out, they can never get it all.

Even before this cancer thing I knew my career as a Sports Illustrated bikini model was never gonna happen. Between you, me, and the World Wide Web, I didn't have the most attractive breasts ever. Keeping a positive attitude and looking for silver linings, I'm looking forward to the new perky tata's. I haven't worn a bra since October 20 2015 and it feels AWESOME! (I'm probably a B cup now - working to a C/D). I honestly don't remember horrible pain involved with the surgery or aftermath (drains). It was uncomfortable and weird but I wasn't stricken down. Frankly, I think chemo is worse... and here we are surviving that! Its uncomfortable, but its like braces or pregnancy - eventually it'll be over. I was told I'm in the "grey area" for rads but i'm doing them anyway (no stone left unturned) so my whole surgery to reconstruction process (DIEP flap) will end up being at least 13 months. These tennis balls under my skin for 10 more months... ugh, I can do it. New boobies for Christmas!

I too have fear of reoccurance that I know will spike the moment the MO says "see you in three months". I feel focused on treatment now so I'm distracted. It's when I'm left alone that my mind starts wandering. I'm not sure what I'll do. Therapy? Hobbies? Denial? Wine? Life will never be the same, its just finding a way to live with the new normal.

twirp - for what it's worth, I think that making these decisions based on fear or any emotion is dangerous. It's hard to keep our emotions separate, but these decisions should be based on statistics and science. Get multiple opinions, ask about statistics. There are no guarantees with any of it but if you have even a 1% less chance of recurrence with one course of treatment vs another then take the 1% and run. If the chance of recurrence is the same with lumpectomy + rads as with bmx, what is the benefit of bmx? Whatever your decision, be sure you can live it. I had a low oncotype score so chemo was really a choice for me. I knew if it came back and I hadn't done chemo I would have only tortured myself with the the what ifs. I knew I couldn't live with that so chemo it is. Once you know what to do you'll be at peace.

I like pezgals advice, be naughty tonight;) you deserve it.