January 2016 Chemo!

I had my radiation sim today, I admit that I found it quite fascinating, how it all gets done... I'm sure that fascinating won't be a word that I use about radiation in a few weeks.

Val, loved your post!! It actually helped me make up my mind to get involved with a couple trials. They are not drug related, one is looking at damage to the heart from radiation since my bad boob is on the left, it involves having several cardiac tests before, during and after rads. The second is just filling out a questionnaire each week during rads, they are trying to get all of the docs to be on the same page when describing skin issues. I'm happy to do my little part for the advancement of science and the people who will come after me.

Lifealoft, I was in a similiar trial through Duke University. I'm in charlotte so they sent my results daily. Yes, anything I can do to help those either with me or coming after me, I will.

Songbird, I'm taking Arimidex not Tamoxifen. I started with Zoladex shot and said no more after the first one. I opted for having a hysterectomy. It wasn't easy, but my gyno was a great surgeon and I'm doing ok 3 weeks later. I'm back at work as a teacher and happy I don't need to go to the cancer center every month for a shot.

Thinking of you LovesmyVizsla.

Frill. Arimidex can cause Osteoporosis, but I'm taking a shot called Prolia every six months which has shown to have some cancer fighting side effects. I can't take Tamoxifen because of blood clots.

I'm going to start working out to maintain my post chemo weight. I'm worried about gaining weight now that I'm in menopause.

It is sooooo nice not having a period.

Anyone else still feeling really tried months after chemo ended. I ended chemo end of March and rads ended beginning of June and I am still very tried at the end of my work day and could sleep in everyday if I could.

Sheri - yes still feeling tired. Sounds like we were on a similar timeline. What I'm struggling with the most is the insomnia. How can I be sooo tired and not be able to sleep. I got my PCP to prescribe ambien, which has helped some. My MO and RO would not give me anything.

I'm also still tired but I don't know if it's from the chemo or from the Herceptin/Perjeta infusions I'm still having every 3 weeks. Have quite a bit of joint pain. Still having hot flashes (from the chemo, not on any hormone treatment). It feels like a long slog: I started in January but I'm only half way through this process, with 2 more surgeries to go (reconstruction) and infusions until the end of March.

LifeAloft I say get it a try anything we can do to prevent it from coming back is a good thing.

Thank you Sheri and Jen, I agree with you both, it was a shock more than anything...but yes, if there is a chance that it will keep things at bay, I will definitely go for it. I was actually expecting her to bring up Xeloda since I had a bit of residual tumor, I was not expecting Tamoxifen. I know this is actually a "good" thing, it just wasn't expected...but what is when we are dealing with this.

:::hugs:::

Songbird I am taking Aromasin (Exemestane). Hot flashes galore and some joint pain, hands, hips and occasionally ankles. I'm also on Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. I've had a bone density scan and they said it was fine. I think I'll have to get that once a year. My MO said Aromasin for 5 yrs and then we will see if I need another 5 yrs. I just turned 56. I haven't posted in a long while. Finished chemo Apr 27 and just before starting rads my MO finally agreed with the BS and PS that I didn't need it. I've gone back to work and am trying to get my life back. My sister's husband died last month from cancer and our best friend just had a cancerous kidney removed but not before it spread to his lungs. Sometimes it is too much

Hi all:) Ugh the joint pain! I feel 100 years old - every time I get up after sitting for moe than 15 minutes, I am like a person with arthritis. Long car rides are the worst!! IT has crept up on me and I don't know what it is from - the Letrozole, aftereffect of chemo? Anyone else having similar issues? Once things "warm up" then I am better, but I am walking much more slowly just to get around than before...

I have the same thing, and I'm not on any hormonals. Stiff in knees and fingers then it gets better

i'm with you Zinny. I now hear a lot of women talk about the leg aches, and knees. I know I'm impatient to feel totally better, if ever. Just didn't expect my knees to ache so much. My ortho says chemo aggravated the arthritis I already have.

I don't have joint pain though I do have some swelling I attribute to Tamoxifen.

I do however have shingles. Yay me. I had an appointment with my MO today and the rash started yesterday. She was not happy I was there in case I was contagious, but I didn't know for sure what I had. Nor have I ever basically been thrown out of a doctor's office for being sick. So I have to go to PCP in the morning to answer my firm's question about whether I'm contagious. I was really a little taken aback by her reaction even though I do understand a clinic full of immune suppressed people is not where one should risk an infection. But again--not a doctor, didn't do it on purpose. She didn't tell me when I left not to go out in public so I'll guess we'll see what PCP says. She did call in some prescriptions for me but would not do my exam. I found it all stressful.

Thanks--that is helpful indeed. It seems like even if my rash was "active," which it probably is, it will be covered by my clothes and nobody will be touching it. I really don't think I would be endangering anyone. Interesting that it would transmit as chicken pox. We do have a pregnant legal assistant, which makes me nervous.

Im happy to have finished rads yesterday. I will continue with Herceptin every 3 weeks until end of jan. Im starting tamoxifen this week too. im hoping side effects from it aren't too bad, ive been reading horror stories about it, then some people have no side effects. Im hoping side effects aren't too bad. its so exciting to finish each phase of treatment.