Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!

*hugs to all my fellow mamas out there* I was up half the night with my darling son - must be teething. And now I have to be alert and not drive off the road on the way to rads. I think my son has lost his fascination for the port, but as the weather gets warmer and I dress less modestly, he keeps eying my breasts in a hungry way. *sniffle* I still miss nursing.

Meanwhile - Radiation simulation today. Looks like I'm going to have to run in for an emergency bra shopping trip as none of mine meet the criteria. Met with the Radiation doc last week, he seemed nice. But absolutely unwilling to consider partial breast irradiation or let me off the hook entirely. (SCCA wouldn't have either since my cancer is super aggressive.) Oh well. It was worth a shot. Odds are the scar tissue from this procedure will mean no nursing on that side in the future. I know people told me 6 months ago, but it's becoming very real. Seriously though... if you gave guys the option: chop off the prostate and testes or let us irradiate your entire nether region (either way, nothing will work afterwards)... we'd have the cure for cancer by now, wouldn't we?

They wanted something without under wire or other metal. Additionally they wanted more separation structure & little or no lining. I.e. NOT my Body by Victoria's Secret bras. However, if I had known they were going to cut a hole in the unaffected breast side... I would have just brought one of my ratty old nursing bras. No cutting required. The docs and the techs have all been male so far - I wonder if they've never heard of this option. I should bring an example next time X-D

Southern - Thank you! I'm nervous, but reading updates from those who have had the same procedures ahead of me makes me much less tense.

MN_Lisa - sending you best wishes for tomorrow! May your surgery go well and healing be easy!!

MN LISA , best wishes and a speedy recovery!

MNLisa - I will be thinking of you tomorrow.

It's my last day of chemo, as I'm changing treatments and ending a bit early. I'm still terrified to do any more, because of the neuropathy and worsening eye problems, but I am trying to have faith. We are getting through this day by day, and we are still standing.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers - they are deeply appreciated.

inSF - I was wracked by decision to end chemo because of neuropathy and (in retrospect) I'm glad I did stop early. I'm 4 weeks PFC (last was 11th Taxol) and I still have neuropathy in my fingers and feet. Hang in there and keep us updated.

Lisa, best wishes for your surgery! I hope it goes well and you have an easy recovery.

Minnesota_LisaFR- Sending prayers your way. Hope everything goes well.

Twiggy- Great news on PATH report.

El Tigre- Hows Radiation Going?

My last Chemo completed Friday February 19th. I am glad its done and I was able to take 4 doses of AC and 12 taxol (reduced dose on # 7 taxol, because of blood count) As I said in my last post NOT sure how I feel about finishing Chemo, happy, scared, anxious, relieved, nervous, Emotional. This is just a few feelings going on inside my HEAD.....Went to a local support group last Thursday night for the first time. I finally felt like I could talk about Breast Cancer w/o having a total melt down. A friend who was diagnosed a week b4 me went too. Everyone was really nice but it wasn't what I expected. Has anyone else attended a support group or meeting??

I have appointment with RO Tomorrow and Simulation scheduled for March 1st. How has radiation been compared to Chemo for you guys who already started radiation? My friend, didn't have to have Chemo. but did go through radiation when I started chemo, says it was terrible. She didn't work during radiation and is still very fatigued and she finished in Nov. 2015?? I have worked throughout the surgeries and Chemo, and was hoping radiation would be a little easier. I will have to drive an hour and 20 mins each way, everyday for 30 days (no weekends) of course. The drive will most likely be exhausting. But we do what we need to, in order to survive!!

Thank you all for being here and sharing your stories and answering questions.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tkemp - I go to a support group. At our monthly meeting, we might have a presentation (our Feb one was about writing out your story or part of your history so that you leave it behind for others) and then we might introduce ourselves to any new people, check in with folks that haven't come for a bit, talk about side effects, answer questions of folks going through treatment. We also have fun events. Last Friday a bunch of us went to the local hockey game since it was pink ice night. The next morning a group went on a hike together.

tkemp - sounds like a good group, I went to one but it was not a good fit.

Rads is going good I have 10 left. They scheduled me for 28 zaps and no boosts (due to reconstruction). My skin is a lil sore in the armpit, my scare from where my nipple was has grown a tad and has changed color (very weird looking), and i'm just a tad pink everywhere else. I meet with my RO every Wednesday and get the "bolus" (plastic rubbery sheet to bring the radiation to the skin level) every other day. No major complaints so far. The other woman who started on the breath hold machine the same day has had a little blistering but they just changed the order from 28 zaps and 5 boosts to 17 zaps, 5 boosts, 11 zaps to give her skin a break.

Tomorrow I am going to ask my RO when I can get acupuncture and skin massages to break up the stiffness rads leaves behind. I saw another PT for a second opinion on a lymphedema sleeve and when I should wear it. My current PT changed her mind from "just in case" to wear it all the time. The 2nd opinion has lead to wear it only if you are at risk like immobile or if i am flying or hiking etc.

leaning buying this

My biggest pain is achy joints. I'm on lupron shots so my estrogen is low which has led to achy joints. After a weekend of being angry and pissed off about it I have decided to ignore it and it will go away, LOL. I see a naturopath soon and I'll ask them what I can do about it.

MN Lisa -happy to hear you are doing well!

I attended a bc support group a month before my bmx. Everyone in there was ahead of me as all I had figured out at that time is I'm having bmx with tissue expanders-- so I got a lot of questions answered there. Friendly group. I never went back but was thinking to maybe check in some time to see how everyone is doing. Right now my bff is dealing with the loss of her sis to cancer 4 months ago, so I started going to a grief support group with her since she doesn't want to go alone.

Lisa, can't believe you're checking in already! Glad to hear from you.

ElTigre, my PT says I need to wear my sleeve and gauntlet during the day and a wrap at night as well all through rads and for a month afterward. I did get a CircAid wrap contraption, which is much easier and faster than the whole bandage routine. I'm so annoyed by all these little "extras" that this disease throws at us.

El Tigre- So glad you are doing good. Radiation doesn't sound as bad as Chemo? Hopefully you don't have to drive too far everyday. How long did it take for you to feel better after chemo? How long between chemo and radiation for you? Are you working while taking radiation. Sorry for all the questions, if I am being too nosy you can just tell me. I had app't with RO today, he explained some things and answered some questions and I signed the consent form and have the simulation March 1st. He said I would lay on my stomach? and tats will be on back and side. Everyone else I've talked to has been on back and tats on breast and lymph nodes under arm. He said bc I am a D cup and area is under breast it would be easier to radiate on stomach. Doctor knows best right? The RO mentioned lymphedema and the sleeve at todays app't. He said radiation can cause you to have problems with lymphedema, so I needed to meet with a specialist, but didn't give me information for app't. I am still having trouble with memory and ADD lol. so I will have to call and get information I guess. That sleeve is pretty cool, I have never seen anything but the white ones. What is lupron shots? Why?

Lisa so glad you are doing well, prayers for your continuing healing.