Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    Froggie, you may qualify to get Arimidex from Astra-Zeneca direct at little or no cost. You co-pays seem astronomical to me. I'd go to Canada or someplace else in the world to get lower ones. Glad you have only one more rad session. What will you do with all that time and no pretty colors all over your chest?

    HUGS!

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  • Lovinggrouches
    Lovinggrouches Member Posts: 530
    edited May 2016

    Yay froggie!!!!! I finish the day after you!!!!! Then I start tamoxifen after a bone density baseline, then onto hysterectomy, if insurance approves! Prayers for life after treatment and good follow ups!!!

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited May 2016

    Froggie's co-pays for Arimidex or Femara are outrageous....but less than MY co-pay for Femara in the is US $900/mo....1/10 the cost of Ibrance, BTW--we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.. My cost for Femara through CanadaDrugs.com was $588 for 90 days--quite a bit less than Froggie’s.

    Unfortunately, only those not yet on Medicare are eligible for co-pay cards, coupons or other help from the drug companies. It’s actually illegal for a Medicare patient to use a co-pay card or coupon!!!

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited May 2016

    Didn't know that about Medicare and coupons, co pay cards, etc....that is crazy!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    My MO started me on anastrozole because he said most of his patients found it the least expensive AI. He would have put me on any of the 3. I think I have a co-pay of $27 for 90 (up from $12 last year, I think). My plan paid $7.50. I get the Teva generic and have an AARP drug plan. At least it's affordable for me.

    HUGS!

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited May 2016

    Peggy- so glad you have what you need to get your meds at affordable prices...

    .the numbers some of you were putting out there are just unacceptable. How can anyone afford those prices along with everything else....long-term.

    Big Pharma needs to be brought down a peg or two hundred or more....outrageous that some of you are going to Canada to get something you NEED at a somewhat affordable price.....wow. Until BC, I just had no idea.

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited May 2016

    Created and Tsoebbin good luck tomorrow.

    MO threw me for a little loop today, she recommended I start tamoxifen now. I thought it would be after radiation but I start radiation in two weeks. So i took my first one tonight. I'm so nervous!


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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    LTF, don't be nervous. Remember why you're taking it - to kill cancer. AND that not everyone has SEs from the drugs. Don't assume you will have problems. You've survived chemo. You'll do fine.

    HUGS!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited May 2016

    thank you! We also discussed ovary suppression, but we'll wait a few months and see how I tolerate tamoxifen first

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    LTF, it's nice to have choices if you need them. Perhaps you'll do well and it's all academic!

    HUGS!

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  • tsoebbin
    tsoebbin Member Posts: 474
    edited May 2016

    Thanks for the well wishes... I'm feeling strong and positive tonight!

    I learn so much from each of you... THANK-YOU!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    Tsoebbin, that's what we're here for! Keep those feelings!

    HUGS!

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  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 449
    edited May 2016

    Created and Tsoebbin, prayers for you both for good results and speedy recovery.


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  • Kokomo26
    Kokomo26 Member Posts: 64
    edited August 2016

    Created and Tsoebbin, also best of luck tomorrow.

    Loving, thank you...its all a crap shoot for sure.

    MJS1266, thank you and yes, decision time.

    Froggie, thanks so much..

    LTF, it amazes me how we all get different advice..I was told to start two weeks after. I think I would have been fine taking it like you.

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  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 723
    edited May 2016

    Jill I feel in my heart the you will be just fine on tamoxifen. You are strong and fit and have a great attitude. I wasn't as strong or as fit as I wanted to be and I've done ok. I was already in meno pause (since 2014) so I have already been experiencing hot flashes and some libido issues. I told my MO that any side effect I felt I could probably blame on something else, so it's not a major thing. Hang in there Girl.
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  • 1step
    1step Member Posts: 110
    edited May 2016

    LG- isn't it crazy the decisions that we have to make during bc treatment. I'm happy that you got lots of input and feel comfortable with your decision. As we say, don't look back.

    Trish- I love how exercise can effect so much. I hope all that working out makes your next surgery go easier.

    Grazy- I'm happy to hear that your mom is recovering well. I hope the fatigue is more taking care of everything and that you don't continue to find yourself so fatigued.

    Moondust- unfortunately, I get the full dose of steroids. They cause me to not sleep the night following chemo and I feel flush and run a low fever the day after, too. They are giving me a half dose of Benadryl, which at least lets me get back to my sleep schedule a little sooner. I hope you can get your tooth taken care of before you start. Nobody mentioned anything about dental work before chemo, so by the time I figured out that I should get them taken care of, I already had my port in and they told me no dental work until the port is taken out.

    Peggy- sending more hugs your way. You certainly should have all the hugs you can handle.

    614- I'm amazed at what you're able to keep up with. Your work days sound similar to mine, pre-treatment. I'm not doing so great at getting my hours now. It's so sweet that you manage to keep up so well.

    Dorothy- I'm sorry to hear about your oncotype score I too have gotten multiple surprises through treatment. Take a few deep breaths, and be ready to ask lots of questions so you're able to feel comfortable with making choices with the information from your doctor. I didn't get the oncotype done, but they found cancer in my LN, so I was ready to move forward with chemo. I'm not sure how comfortable I would have been had they told me I still didn't need chemo. It seems crazy that someone can't push to get you a second opinion for your peace of mind, this is a big decision. Prayers that you find a way to feel good about this decision.

    Molly- how is that not lump-lump-thing?

    LTFly- I pray your rads go easily., and no SEs with Tamoxifen How long of a break is that between your final chemo and the start of rads? I'm worried, too. Mainly because I already have LE, and my tumor was very close to the axilla, so I know the LN will be in the beam.

    Created- what a blessing! Always thrilled to hear when my sisters are getting the support needed. In your pocket for tomorrow.

    Sandy- I can't believe how sensitive your arm is to elevation. Just spending time in a skyscraper, ugh.

    FGodmother- Welcome! It sounds like you've gotten lots of good advise.

    Tsoebbin- in your pocket for tomorrow.

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  • 1step
    1step Member Posts: 110
    edited May 2016

    I'm super excited that my boss will let me work on Wednesday. We work long days plus time on weekends, so everyone gets a day off during the week. I've tried multiple times to get him to let me work on Wednesdays (my designated day off), but I've consistently met with resistance. Since starting weekly Taxol, I've tried again, especially adding in that it takes me longer than normal to get ready in the mornings, and days that I need off due to my not feeling well. I've lost so many hours. Finally today, he told me I could come in and work on my projects. If I can get to a regular Friday chemo schedule, my weekly hours will only be short by a half day or so.

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited May 2016

    Created and Tsoebbin in your pocket for tomorrow. Dorothy, it's not fun to get hit out of left field with something you aren't expecting. Sorry about the chemo. Jill, my MO had me start anastrozole prior to starting rads. I see MO tomorrow. I guess I will ask him to check my not lump lump. BS assistant never called me. Neither did the scheduler. I plan to stop by their floor tomorrow after seeing MO. I need to schedule surgery and I am getting frustrated.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited May 2016

    My LE doc thinks it wasn’t the altitude of the Signature Room (95th-96th fl.) so much as the rapidity of the elevator ascent. He thinks I’m overreacting by opting to fly to & from NC rather than spend at least 2 days each way driving through the Smokies & Blue Ridge--he thinks the climb is pretty gradual--but I’d have to tack on a day at either end between Chicago and Cincinnati, and I just don’t want to be away from home that long, driving several days on my own. (On the Europe trip, I was with my colleagues in the Bar Assn. on the same flights & trains). I know how I react to flying, and am fine with wearing compression on planes. My doc says just see if I even need compression during the day (I will be 4-1/2 days in Montreat/Black Mt. at 2500’ and 1-1/2 in Hickory and Charlotte at 1500’--pretty do-able. He says for sleeping, just prop my arm on a pillow or my hip. And if I fly, I can be home when Bob’s lung CT scan results come in.

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  • Hockyparnt
    Hockyparnt Member Posts: 17
    edited May 2016

    going in for second surgery today. First lumpectomy margins were not clear and second tumor found? I still have so much under arm swelling and I'm not looking forward to that getting worse again. That has been my biggest problem so far and where most of my pain is from. Hopefully since no lymph nodes done today swelling won't come back so bad. Good luck to everyone and positive thoughts going out to al

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    HockyParnt, Good luck today!! Damn that the margins weren't clear the first time. Praying they will be fine today. The SLNB site is a royal pain in the patutti! BTW, we'd love to know your diagnosis, surgeries and all about you. If you fill out your profile and make it public it helps us help you since we don't remember everyone's particulars. And where are you? Most likely there's a BCO nearby. Definitely positive thoughts going your way!

    HUGS!

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  • Grazy
    Grazy Member Posts: 373
    edited May 2016

    Good luck today, Hockyparnt! This one should be a little more straightforward, hopefully, with no lymph nodes being removed.

    How's your house business going, Peggy? I bet you're getting a little tired of keeping your home looking as if no one lives there!! (I think that's one of the worst parts of selling!)

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    Grazy, you hit the nail on the head with your observation. I am sooooo over having to be "show-ready" with the house. I can't pack anything else or the house would look like a storage bin (a big one at that). However, I had an offer yesterday and I'm sure it is going to go through. Best of all it is the daughter of a neighbor. I want to sell to them. Neighbor would be ecstatic to have the grandkids 2 doors away. Only glitch is I have to repair a dilapidated garaage that is barely worth being a storage shed since FHA will likely think it is a garage and has to be able to function as one. $$$$ out the door when the buyers don't care about it. But I'm really excited and hope my streak of cleanliness is OVER!

    HUGS!

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  • Grazy
    Grazy Member Posts: 373
    edited May 2016

    That's fantastic you have an offer, Peggy, but what a huge drag about having to put money into the garage to sell! What a relief it will be for you to put this behind you though. Best wishes that everything goes smoothly!!

    I'm off to rad #5 now - nice to say I'm one-quarter of the way through already.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    Grazy, thanks! Fingers and toes crossed all goes well. Good luck with rad #5!

    HUGS!

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  • froggie
    froggie Member Posts: 92
    edited May 2016

    Good luck today, Hockyparnt. Fingers and toes crossed margins will be clear today. Hope you recovery is speedy and uneventful.

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  • froggie
    froggie Member Posts: 92
    edited May 2016

    Peggy, great news about having a buyer for the house. Sorry to hear about the garage but hope it won't be ridicuously expensive to fix.

    I'm not old enough for medicare yet. Overall, our insurance is pretty good and as long as the hubby continues to work, I will be able to stay on the policy regardless of age and put off going on to medicare. I'm hoping for the best with the Accord brand but preparing for the worse just in case. Of course I'd rather pay $14 for the teva brand but we will be able to afford the drug from Canada. I'm hoping teva is having trouble keeping up with demand as opposed to developing a manufacturing problem. They had a manufacturing problem with 2 of my other generics in the past. Since they weren't popular drugs, they discontinued them rather than fix the problem. Arimidex generics make over $800 billion a year so I don't see them punting on their share of the market especially since many request their brand.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited May 2016

    Froggie, Behind our garage is a tree that is more than half dead. For many years DH and I have been hoping the tree would topple over onto the garage in a windstorm and solve our problem. Alas, that has not happened. How the danged tree is still standing is one of life's great mysteries :)

    Drug pricing is so out of control. Glad you can afford yours!

    HUGS!

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited May 2016

    Hockey, in your pocket for today. Peggy, congratulations on the offer. Maybe the buyer would be willing to split the cost. Froggie, have you considered signing up for Arimidex directly from Astrazeteca? Arimidex Direct

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  • KarenR0618
    KarenR0618 Member Posts: 78
    edited May 2016

    tsoebbin I took 1 week and 1 day off and than I did intermittent days for doctors appointments and radiation for a year for FMLA.

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