Starting Chemo March 2015

Maryellen, something sticks in my head that if the pain is there unrelenting for 3 weeks, alert the doctor. Of course, I never wait that long, full disclosure constantly lol.

E- so glad you got this one knocked down. Yay!🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈🙏🏻🍸

Awesome Eileen! I love hearing good reports

Yeah, Eileen!

Allison, I hear you. After having my ex husband die unexpectedly after being given the all clear, I am doing some scans. Brain MRI Friday (Her2 likes the brain I guess), and a PET scan as soon as my cold goes away. I have to pay for the PET scan myself ($1,400). Initially I was worried about radiation exposure, etc., but my mom gets annual PET scans and has for years with no issues, and she is in terrible physical shape. My breast Doctor said at this point a mammogram or ultrasound won't show anything if it came back because at this stage it would be too tiny. And she said that the ASCO guidelines say finding activity earlier doesn't make a different, but she doesn't agree. I'm an er negative, so the anti-hormonals aren't available for me, only chemo and the Herceptin drugs, so I want to make sure if something comes back I am strong enough to withstand further treatment.

So I am anxious about further testing, but I have to do it. Since my daughter's father in law died in December and now her father, both of heart attacks, my husband and I are all they have, and I need to be here as long as I can.

Having said that, I have all kinds of weird aches and pains, and I use the three week rule before I panic. If something stays continuously painful for three weeks, I will be getting things checked out. So far, anything that has zapped or zinged me has gone away before my three week deadline, so I chalk it up to residual treatment effects, old age, or normal life aches and pains

A 3-week rule seems reasonable.

Meme, my frustration tolerance is very low on Tamoxifen.

I don't get tumor markers either.I sure wish I did!!!!! I am getting a breast MRI in Sptil, but that is only because one of my tumors hid under the pec muscle. Of course, it was not detected on MRI, so maybe it's a waste, but I do want to get s new baseline

congrats Molly! So looking forward to that day.

Just cxame across this if anyone needs a laugh http://www.invasiveducttales.com/cancer-feeeelings-animated/

Great news Eileen! Congrats Molly...I know getting my port out made me feel so much more like a normal person.

I too wish I could get tumor markers too, though it might be unreliable, it's something that could be helpful.

I had my first Zometa infusion last week and the side effects were horrible for me...felt like chemo all over again. I'm better now...but the experience and all the aches and pains have me in and out of the rabbit hole again. This period post treatment has been so hard for me, I'm finding it hard to resume my normal life...it seems those fears of recurrence are always invading my thoughts. Of course the aches and pains always have me wondering...think maybe I should try therapy again.

PB

Last Herceptin down the tubes! After follow-up testing, I will get my port removed within the next month.

Can't believe last treatment is done!

Ok, so I think I need some affirmation here.

I know that chemo is done but I still have 2 more Herceptin treatments, one more surgery, and 10 years of Tamoxifen (which I'm not liking so far at all) ahead of me.

My head tells me that I should feel better at this stage of the game and I do obviously feel better than I did during chemo. But, I still feel generally shitty EVERY DAY! I just don't feel like I've turned the corner yet but I think that I should. Does that make sense?

Is everyone else back to 'normal'? Or do you still feel crappy? Is it just me?

Congratulations, Theresa!

Bekah, I don't feel like myself, though I do feel progressively better. If I sit for half an hour, my legs ache and are stiff until I loosen them up. I have constant vertigo. I can't lose weight despite hours of Zumba and walking. I have yet to sleep enough two nights running. So yeah, I see improvement, but there's a lot I have to track or be cautious about. I'm finding exercise really helpful for getting toward a "new normal" that I can live with in the aftermath of treatment and the Tamoxifen years.

Ksusan, with you on the weight loss thing. On the whole, haven't ever really felt sick. Chemo blew up digestive process a bit and some neuropathy, but that has all gone away. I mean, I have aches and pains, creaky sometimes in the morning but hell, I'm almost 54 so I would expect some creakiness. But I'm not on any anti hormonals, so that probably makes a difference. And I sleep perfect except when anxiety builds up. Kids, grandkids, husband got the flu thing and have been sick for two months off and on, and I had about three days of not feeling well enough to exercise. So I feel fortunate.

Oncologist told me today most important thing I can do long term to avoid recurrence is exercise. And daily baby aspirin won't hurt either. She said all kinds of data coming out now about the importance of exercise.

Relieved to be done with active treatment, but a little uncertain now, feel a bit cast adrift

Bekah- it's not stupid. I appreciate your honesty. I think I feel a bit better on the AI than the Tamox, but a lot of the things you mention plague me still.

T- such great news. Congrats!

Bekah: HOw did your blood look? Was it ok?

So glad to hear that the perception will end soon for you ladies. I hope that makes you feel better.

I feel good, but I just can't sleep. I am freezing all night in spite of using the heating pad. So I am tired a lot. I started on 2 mg of melatonin but I don't see much difference. What I really need it is a great big fat O, but I am afraid to go there. I think I will need some therapy to get past this hurdle. I am usually not afraid of things but I just am afraid to try.