January 2016 Chemo!

Jen, I assume it was discolored before it fell out? Most of my fingernails are discolored and painful, plus one toenail. The nurse said the discoloration would just grow out. I'm hoping she's right and they don't fall out.

LoveMyVizsla,

My BS likes her patients to keep the ports in fo up to two years. I hate it and requested it out on the day of my surgery. Due to complications it couldn't be removed. Now I'm stuck with it for another 3 to 6 months, until they start reconstruction. It's a pain because it has to be flushed once a month

you look fabulous frill

Thank you for sharing the article. I am 95% oestrogen and progesterone receptor positive, so it gives me some hope to have a better outcome.

I have been on tamoxifen since mid-May, I'm having no problems with it and happy to stay on it. But I am struggling with is starting ovary suppression (September, I wanted to wait until after the summer). A few years ago they wouldn't have done it, but now they do because they find that it makes the tamoxifen more effective in premenopausal women, but I guess my question is how much more effective? I'm willing to try the shots, but if I find that the side effects significantly impact my quality-of-life, my particular concerns are weight gain and sexual issues, then I'm not sure I will continue it.

Perhaps I need to bring the study to my oncologist attention to see if instead of doing tamoxifen plus ovary suppression we could consider tamoxifen plus progesterone, or just tamoxifen considering that I am hyper just touching receptor positive and tamoxifen should be quite effective for me.

I find this decision so hard. Obviously I'm hoping I will start the ovary suppression shots and they will not be bad for me so I will just keep that up, but if it is bad for me I don't know how to decide. I know theyll help me save my life, but what life? I want to have a good quality of life and have the life I enjoy. Ihave a husband and two children that also need me. I need to find the perfect balance between having a quality-of-life I enjoy, and minimizing my recurrence risk.

Hello Chemo Pals

Congrats to all that are finishing or have finished. I'm on # 16/33 rads and emotionally it's harder than chemo for me. I totally underestimated the effect of my last treatment.

valstim, im a tad emotional on rads myself. im on13 of 28

I literally just started rads (on #2 of 28) and I'm already tired of it. Not only is it a constant cancer reminder, but I don't feel taken care of nearly as much as I did during chemo. I have been feeling so good after chemo and this last surgery I am dreading feeling run down again, let alone pain. It just makes me grumpy.

Kwilcockson, I started Xeloda (chemo pill) 2 weeks ago. My doctor recommended it because I didn't have a full PCR and because of my triple negative status. I did have clear margins and clear lymph nodes. I'm also doing 4 infusions of Carboplatin. I felt like I was punched in the gut when she brought up doing more chemo. First of all, we all thought the cancer was completely gone so were surprised when it wasn't. I just had in my head that chemo was done so I had checked off that and the mastectomy and was mentally prepared to go on to radiation and reconstruction. The additional chemo threw me for a loop, and I struggled with the decision. But since hormone therapy isn't an option, I decided to go with it if it will decrease my chances of a reoccurrence. My insurance (Aetna) is covering it all, thankfully.

This is such a wonderful group of women. Your strength and encouragement knows no bounds.

I decided to forego anymore shots of Zoladex and opted for a hysterectomy. I'm home recovering from having it done last Tuesday. I finally feel like I've reached the finish line. I've done all I can medically at this point to keep it from returning.

I'm now on Arimidex with only a few side effects so far. Anyone else taking it or opting for ovary removal?

i was thinking about it too. I'm done using them. How is the recovery? So much crap to think about with this stupid disease.

Hi All -- I noticed some bruising on the bottom of my feet in the arch area. They are not particularly painful, I have neuropathy and some pain in my toes from chemo. Has anyone experienced this? I am four months from the last chemo treatment and am wondering if this is a delayed reaction or do to the Herceptin or Tamox.

I'm one week post op and recovery hasn't been bad. Worst parts have been being loopy from pain meds, not driving for a week, and bloating from the gas they fill your belly with for surgery.

Anything is better than chemo.

Valstim52...Good luck, Val. It all seems surreal to me. Hate that my hair is still almost not existing. Makes me still feel like a cancer patient. Can't wait until I look and feel normal again. Although, being TN, I wonder if the thought of recurrence ever leaves your mind. Hate to sound negative. It's been very emotional for me since the machine went over me yesterday for the last time. And, after 20 treatments of no burning...I am now itchy and red today. My RO said the skin "cooks" for a week after the last treatment. Who knew!!

Valstim - that's how I feel, like I'm locked in something I can't escape from. DBF said over the phone this evening, "It's almost over." I told him that it was never over. LE is forever. He has no idea what is going on because he's 250 miles away while I sleep for 4 days every 3 weeks. Hopefully one day it will sort of be over, but lymphedema is just the gift that keeps on giving.

Don't make rads sound too fun - I'm already ready to skip it. I had to call RO to schedule a consult because I wanted to - you know - consult about stuff like LE. Then they decided to schedule my mapping 2 weeks after my last chemo. Somehow I envisioned a one month break. That doesn't matter because my once peaceful, beautiful home - DBF's daughter and her bf moved back in so our house is filled with their stuff. So much for me coming home to some relaxation. I don't think they understand that I have CANCER and that I need to have a break from stress. Honestly, I just can't handle anymore. Monday my dad texted me he was getting remarried (my mom passed away 2 years ago along with my grandfather, great aunt, dear friend, coworker committed suicide....). Actually he insinuated something and said to talk to my sister. That and my insurance deductible went from $500 to $2k and out of pocket from $2k to $6k just as I'd paid off the hospital last month. My stress level is just beyond - well, like all of ours is. And no one can understand. Especially because I walk around looking so "normal" and "You look great!!!!" :P

Extra hugs to you today, Frill.

I know everyone needs different types of radiation, but my radiation dr said I could do the four and a half week protocol that they've been doing in Europe and Canada for awhile. He's researched it with colleagues at Harvard. You have to fit the protocols when they do the planning session, but it made all the difference.

Radiation was much easier than chemo. I don't know if I would ever do chemo again. It was awful.