2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited May 2007
    Hi Kelly,
    Amy said she's a clinical psychologist.
    How are you doing?
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007
    HI GIRLS!
    Got home last night...read through most of the posts - IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR - LOL! We had a GREAT/FAB time! Tuesday night, we rode the mechanical bull at the resort. It was really funny! We both fell off, but so did everyone else! When Roy fell off he landed in between two cushions - aka the wood floor! The next morning he woke up with a lump the size of a softball on his butt cheek! Still, he can barely sit without moaning in pain! LOL It's not funny...but it is funny...he walked around the resort with his hand on his butt, saying, "oh my aching a**!" LOL We're going back in January and then again in April!

    (One of the books I read while there, titled Red Devil, the author, a bc survivor, wrote: UNCHECKED TERROR breeds TERROR! I totally related to that one!)

    RoseMarie (or should I address you as Mrs. B, Teacher ) -
    BRCA NEG - YAY YOU! So very happy! Hi Kierstin!

    Paula -
    How the heck are you? I am so hoping you are resting comfortably...looking forward to an update...CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Is your Mum tending to your every need?

    Mary-Anne -
    LOVE THE PHOTOS - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THEM! I love your avatar...your message is LOUD AND CLEAR...and I live by it everyday! I told you, way back then, my nieces and I loved your photo at the mountain top - it gave them hope for my survival and it gave me strength! Your message will always ring through!

    Kelly -
    Glad you don't have horrible pain! Whew...what a relief that must be.

    Linny -
    I feel so bad about your sister. It's just horrible! Wishing the best for her and your whole family. Would love to know if you received my package.

    Debbie -
    This time around we met lots of BRITS! They were quite friendly and they had heard of your town! They weren't from Derbyshire...but if you said the surrounding town, I would remember it! I told them I had a dear, dear, friend that lives in the UK! And asked them if they knew the famous Ward Family! LOL

    Graycie -
    How was the MRI?

    Cathy -
    France...hmmmmm...our WORLDLY ONE just keeps on going! Love it. My dh was born just outside of Paris. And...thanks...yes, second times a charm! We had a FAB time, in fact quite a few of the entertainers sat with us at dinner and remembered us!

    Tracy -
    I would be happy to write a letter of reccomendation for you to the Komen job (or any job) - explaining how great you are as a bc sister and an incredible advocate, etc. In fact, I'm sure all of the girls here would do the same...if it would help you get the job, let us know. I know you would be a perfect fit because you are one dedicated gal! Always volunteering and pitching in!

    Brenda -
    My little Asian, San Diago Elephant sister...just simply love your wisdom.

    Meeshell -
    Glad to hear about the progress of all your hard work! Sorry about the c-card mix-up w/your credit card for the trip. Hope it all gets settled soon so you can sit back, and wait for that glorious trip! Your dining room looks great. I bet the house will sell fast!

    TaDah -
    I am so impressed! You and your sewing is amazing....you are not shallow...I have talked to you, so I can really say you aren't. You're very considerate and simply living life and not fretting.

    WHERE'S MARY MELODY?
    __________________________________________

    I'm out of time... have to run some errands...Hope you are all having a great Friday! (I quickly updated the list):

    Debbie -- teacher
    Brenda -- teacher
    Rosemarie -- teacher
    Laura -- Product Design/Graphic Design
    Cathy -- Toy company owner
    V -- RN and therapist, artist
    Tadah -- keeping the Salvation Army running
    MaryAlice -- works at hospital
    Amy -- Clinical Psychologist
    MaryAnne -- Family Doctor
    dEBBIE -- child development specialist/English teacher/wannabe artist
    Tracy --- Software Test Lead (probably forever)
    Graycie -- Sales merchandiser
    Michelle -- bookkeeper???
    Paula -- business analyst, Quantas Airline
    Cindy --Writer-Mayo clinic
    Kelly -- finance mgr
    --------------------------------
    Meeshell -
    Aren't you - Human Resources?
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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited May 2007

    They're putting my parents' dog to sleep. She's only 4 and she has cancer in her spine. I can't take this.

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  • TracySeattle
    TracySeattle Member Posts: 690
    edited May 2007

    Oh Amy - I am so sorry. My dog is 5 and I know how horrible it would be to loose him. I wish I could be there with you. It hurts losing our pets. I remember her picture, she is a beautiful dog. (((Hugs))) Your BC sisters love you.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007
    Amy -
    Hang in there...it's so hard...Let your Mum and Dad know that the elephants are circling and we're holding them up (and you of course)!
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  • RobinTN
    RobinTN Member Posts: 654
    edited May 2007

    amy:I am so sorry to hear about your dog,we had to have ours put down last november and it just about killed me.I still cry over her.But one thing I have learned about pain is that each day it gets a little less,be it physical or mental.Will be praying for you.

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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited May 2007

    thanks ladies. i'm a wreck. can't stop crying. talked to my parents...they can't stop crying. this came out of nowhere. it was all over her spine and in her spinal cord. why did it have to be cancer? i don't understand why it had to be cancer. and she was so young...she was a puppy! it's just a double whammy for my family...hard enough to put their baby to sleep but even worse that it was from cancer. it's like my family can't escape. can't stop crying. she slept with me everytime i came home and was the best dog ever.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007
    Amy, your dog is in Dog Heaven. Read the book with the same title by Cynthia Rylant. It is a great comfort to my students who have lost their pets. And Cynthia Rylant is one of my all time favorite authors (of children's books).

    dEBBIE: Glad to hear it wasn't cancer. Life goes on for your little friend.

    The last dog we had before Angus was Bruno, a German Shepherd mix. We had to put him to sleep at age 12. It was the most heart-wrenching thing to look at my husband clutching the blanket he wrapped Bruno in after he came back from the vet! That was more than 10 years ago, but I still miss him.
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  • TracySeattle
    TracySeattle Member Posts: 690
    edited May 2007

    (((hugs))) Amy.....

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  • cathy987
    cathy987 Member Posts: 179
    edited May 2007

    (((hugs))) from me too Amy.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited May 2007
    Oh Amy..I'm so sorry. Sending you hugs from across the waters. How horrible!

    My brother had to put his dog to sleep a few years ago and it was VERY hard. He was his best friend as he lived alone until he was 40. He did a whole video about his dog (he's a photojournalist).

    I'm so sad for you Amy! I know that my dog is not going to be with us too much longer and am already nervous about that. She's 17!

    Hugs to you!
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  • RoseMarie
    RoseMarie Member Posts: 502
    edited May 2007
    (((hugs))), (((hugs))), and more (((hugs))) Amy!!

    It's never easy!! So sorry!

    Laura so glad you had a nice time -
    Hope everyone has a nice day!
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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited May 2007
    thanks for all the hugs. i love you all. i'm feeling better today. i think between my worrying about my white cells being lower and then this, i'm really, really, really! done having cancer be anything in my life. and to have my dog put to sleep because of it...at a young age...she was only 4! (my husband pointed out that she was 28 in dog years...same age i got cancer)...it was just too much for us all. but, we move on. i'll give our dog the name "lucy" as her middle name and my parents will get another dog once they're ready, so we move on.

    on a good note, we're definitely getting a puppy in august. there are 2 dogs pregnant right now with our breeder, so we'll be on that list. they're due in june.

    again, thanks for your hugs. i felt them all the way here
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  • Graycie
    Graycie Member Posts: 839
    edited May 2007
    Amy, I'm sending (((hugs))) too. That is so sad. I don't have any pet's at the moment but I have lost some in the past and I know how devastating it can be to lose a special part of your family.

    Laura, Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time in Mexico. You gotta love it if you have already scheduled two more trips. Good for you........ Also, the book you read sound's very interesting. I may have to get a copy of that. Is it called Red Devil? It should be the red Savior I think..........lol..if they are talking about chemo. MRI was a lot better then I expected. All that fret for nothing as usual.

    Cindy, Glad to hear you are doing so well. I can relate to the strawberry pop. When I went for the MRI yesterday when the girl put the IV in it hurt and when I looked there was blood running down my arm that looked like strawberry pop. I guess she did something wrong but thank goodness it was easily fixed. The balloon's were such a cute idea from your co-workers..........haaaaa

    Paula, I've been thinking about you. How did you make out?

    Tracy, Good luck with the speech. I bet it won't be as bad as you think and you will do Great.

    Ravdeb, Good new's with your dog. That is weird that dirt can look like cancer. Good thing you found out before you ended up paying the vet to tell you that...........lol

    It is beautiful here. I guess we will go and work outside in the yard today. I am going to have to hold my dh back from planting flowers. He has been so anxious to get his garden started but I am sure we could still get a frost or worse yet...........SNOW.........eekkk...
    I shouldn't mention that bad word.

    Everyone, Have a Nice day or should I say Nice Weekend.......
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  • Curlylocks
    Curlylocks Member Posts: 1,060
    edited May 2007
    Ladies,

    A quick hello...Amy BIG HUGS about the loss of your parent's dog!

    We have 3 showings this weekend...1 today at 1:30 and 2 tomorrow , 1 from 12-1:00 p.m. and another from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Really busy will post more later...

    LOve you all!
    Michele
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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited May 2007
    here's a pic of my dog, lucy...such a clown...she always had one ear up and one ear down

    image
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  • marymelodi
    marymelodi Member Posts: 515
    edited May 2007
    Hello to all:
    I've been at my sister's house all week with the dogs and have been extremely busy at work. I've also been fighting a cold and have felt pretty tired and achey.

    Amy: I'm so sorry about your parents dog. Just 2 weeks ago my sister had to euthanize her oldest dog and I know just what you are saying. There have been times these last 10 days while I was here with the dogs, that I've had stabs of sorrow as I remembered him. In former times he would have been here at my feet as I sat the the computer. This is the hardest part of love . . . saying goodbye all too soon.

    I've been following along with you all. I'm glad tests and surgeries have gone well and that healing is happening for those of you in that state. Those who have had vactions seem to have had a great time. I'm wishing success for the projects and new stages of life for all.

    I'm feeling a little better now and today I go home to my own house. I'll get back on track.

    So, have a good weekend everyone.
    Mary
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  • Graycie
    Graycie Member Posts: 839
    edited May 2007
    I'm taking a two minute break and where do I go? to the computer of course....lol....

    Michele, I wouldn't be surprised if you sold your house this weekend.

    Amy, awwwwwwww, Lucy is a beautiful dog.

    Mary, good to see you back.

    My two minutes is up, I have to get back to work..lol...
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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited May 2007
    Hi Mary! Good to see you back. Hope the cold goes away and all those aches and pains take a hike, as well.

    Paula..How are you???

    Laura..welcome back. Glad you had fun!

    Amy..Can't wait to hear about your new puppy come August! That is so exciting!

    Michele...hope the showings go well.

    Hi RoseMarie!

    My father in law was weaker than he was before and they gave him a unit of blood. He's a bit down and not happy about his situation. I don't blame him. They said he's okay and the weakness is to be expected as was the hemoglobin drop.

    I, on the other hand, can't deal with the health issues anymore. His blood drip reminded me of the long night I had when I received two units of blood and all the other stuff stuck in my very sore arm. I also saw another patient getting a blood draw and they couldn't find a good vein and all the thoughts of when I was deathly ill came back to me. I am not going to the hospital tomorrow because I can't deal with this anymore. I need a break.

    Cousins of ours came to visit my fil and since only 2 people can be in the room at a time, I was sitting out in the hall with one cousin and for some reason, all my health issues were discussed. I don't know why, but she said in her family they always laugh about it to ease the tension. Well, i was telling her one thing more that I had wrong with me and then I burst into laughter..that kind that you can't control!!!

    But it's so true..I have a long list of health issues and I'm tired of all the follow ups. I seem to have to arrange my life around my appointments. Can't even keep them straight anymore.

    Yes, Gail..it's good that i didn't go to the vet and pay an arm and a leg to find out Casey just had some dirt stuck in her teeth! Just that you'd think my sil who is a vet would have noticed. I mean..I told her I thought it was just some dirt but she was not convinced!

    Have a good rest of the weekend.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007

    dEBBIE: Sorry that you have to go through all that medical stuff, and especially about your fil. I can relate to not wanting to see the reminders at the hospital. Glad to hear you were able to laugh before you left the hospital!

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  • chumfry
    chumfry Member Posts: 642
    edited May 2007
    I hate to add to everyone's medical woes, but I found out yesterday that I'm going to need chemo again. I tried to prepare myself for the possiblity because chemo is about the only weapon they have for us triple-negatives. But it was still a shock.

    It didn't help that I was sitting in the exam room, kind of silently praying, "No more chemo, no more chemo..." And the first thing out of her mouth was a cheerful, "We can start chemo in two weeks!"

    I held it together through the particulars. This time, it will be 12 weekly treatments of something called carboplatin (supposed to work great for triple negs) plus Taxol (which gave me such bad neuropathy last time.) She said if the neuropathy got bad, she'd switch the Taxol to something else.

    Then she got kind of jokey about my "needle phobia," trying to talk me out of getting a port this time. She is a young little lady from Thailand and I am a tall hefty farmgirl who has faced down her share of undesirable characters during 20 years in journalism.

    I didn't raise my voice. In fact, I lowered my voice, stared her in the eyes and leaned in close so she could hear me. "I've now got *two* mastectomy arms," I said, holding them both out. "I am NOT frying *my* veins with chemo."

    She backed off and said she'd arrange an appt with a thoracic surgeon to get one installed.

    After a bit, I started crying and she said she was sorry to put me through this. I admitted that this was not the news I'd hoped she have for me. She was like, "What did you want me to say?" And I snapped, "NO CHEMO!" She looked completely shocked and surprised.

    So, in the next two or three weeks, I'll be getting a port and starting weekly treatments. Ravdeb, I seem to remember that weekly Taxol went more easily for you. I think my dosage will be lower because it's combined with the carboplatin, which I'm still researching. Sigh.

    This week has just sucked for so many of us! I feel like kicking a wall!
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007
    Cindy -
    I'm choked up reading your update! I'm shaking my head and asking "why, why, why!" I feel so bad that you have to go through this...don't know what to say...other than, I wish you the very best and maybe this time around it won't be so bad. You have referred to yourself as the "tall hefty farm girl" - that just may sustain you...unlike the weak and fragile. You know we'll all be circling you and holding you up through the next chapter. My heart goes out to you and your faithful dh!
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  • TracySeattle
    TracySeattle Member Posts: 690
    edited May 2007

    Cindy, I am so sorry THAT STINKS! But we are strong Rocktober Women and each of us would do what we need to do to fight this damn disease again. I wish we were closer so that we could be there with you in person. We love you - you can do this!

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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited May 2007
    Cindy, I'm so so sorry you have to do chemo again. I know someone who did carboplatin and it shrunk her tumor to oblivion. she had little side effects through it all. i know it's not much to make you feel better, but you are strong and you'll get through this with as much strength as before. we're behind you to make you even stronger this time
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  • RoseMarie
    RoseMarie Member Posts: 502
    edited May 2007

    Cindy - I'm so, so, sorry. Weekly Taxol was very tolerable for me, I hope it is ALL very tolerable for you this time. Rocktober elephant sister circling and holding you up!!

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  • Graycie
    Graycie Member Posts: 839
    edited May 2007
    Cindy, I am so sorry to hear your new's. It is really upsetting. I hope in some way it will comfort you to know we are all here for you. I also being triple negative know how you feel and it is unfortunate but chemo is our only defense. I agree with Tracy I wish we lived closer so we could be there for you in person.

    Deb, Maybe you should be glad that your SIL isn't your vet.....lol
    Glad you were able to have a good laugh we all need that once in a while.
    I hope your FIL feel's back to normal soon. Not sure what normal is anymore myself.
    Hi to everyone else...
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007
    DEAR CINDY,

    I am so sorry that you have to undergo treatment again, that you are facing this beast once again. I am thankful this is a new cancer and not a recurrence, though. I did the weekly Taxol treatments and they were tiring but doable. I did not get all sick like on the A/C.

    Amy, sorry to hear about your parents dog and happy to hear you will soon have a puppy.

    Ravdeb, you need Calgon to come to your rescue!!! You need a vacation again!

    Laura, glad to see you back! Can't wait to talk on the phone and hear about your adventures!!

    Paula, hope you are feeling fine. I took off my sports bra for about 1/2 hour (shower, drying off, put on swimsuit ....) Not a good idea to go without the bra. So, I laid on my floaty chair (no upper body soaking) with my sports bra and 'wife-beater' and swim bottoms ... Teryn and I had a great time just floating around and soaking up some sun. My dad is taking good care of us!
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  • chumfry
    chumfry Member Posts: 642
    edited May 2007
    Thanks everybody! DH and I both slept most of the day away, so we're going to take advantage of our goofed-up sleep schedules and go see a late showing of "Spiderman 3."

    I'm glad to hear the once-a-week treatment schedule is an easier regimen for many. My doc said the combo of carboplatin and taxol on a weekly schedule was *very* effective on triple neg tumors.

    Tracy, to answer an earlier question, my doc specifically said I shouldn't do AC again because it would bring me too close to the maximum lifetime exposure to it, and that could hurt my heart. (Lots of heart disease in my family.)

    I'm hanging in there. The second mastectomy was easier because I think I was just smarter about the whole thing. Same should hold true for chemo. Your support helps so much!
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  • Curlylocks
    Curlylocks Member Posts: 1,060
    edited May 2007
    Good Evening Sisters, Hey Almost Morning 11:43 p.m..

    We had a showing today that went extremely well in the end, after the agent showed up. The original booked showing time was 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., so we did our mad dash once again cleaning floors, cutting the grass and organizing due to the dogs constantly dragging dirt into the house. I took the dogs out for a walk at 1:25 and came back around 2:20 p.m. and it didn’t look like anyone had been in the house and thought it was kinda of strange that the agent left no card. Well my instinct was right and just as I got the last thing put back in its place to make our house normal again, dog dishes etc…phone rings and it’s the real estate office saying that the agent is running really late would we mind having her and her clients come over in a ½ half well this is going on 2:45 pm. So I pulled the dog dishes etc, towels off shower and once again loaded the pups into the car and waited for the agent to show up…she arrived at 3;15 pm.

    Shortly after I got back the real estate office calls again to say that the agent would like a 2nd showing for her clients on Monday night, then our agent calls and says that the people really like the house but they have a dog that is lame and need to make sure that their dog can climb our stairs. They apparently allow their dog to sleep in their bedroom with them. An odd request but our agent asked if we would mind if they brought their dog on Monday night to make sure it can get up the stairs in our house.

    So hopefully with any luck the dog will get up the stairs and we will have an offer on the house early next week.

    We do have 2 showings as well for tomorrow so need to make ourselves disappear from 12:00 – 1:00 pm. and then 2:30 – 3:30 pm. There is an open house that we will check out tomorrow while people are looking at our place.

    Amy – Lucy looks like a sweet dog, so sorry once again that she is gone to puppy heaven.

    Rosemarie – If you can afford to stay home with your little one until he starts school that will be a bonus for you, work can always wait I say, hee heeJ

    Cindy – I hated my drain, mine was in for 8 days but it does its job. Also hated when the nurse pulled it out, ouch! So sorry that you have to face the chemo crap again, its not fair that you have to do this so soon…. I did taxol with my a/c once every 3 weeks which was a larger dose. It was so much easier than the a/c. May this chemo regime that your oncologist is putting you on blast the nasty beasties to oblivion! Your sisters here will be with you once again during this next journey. Scream, get mad, beat up the pillows to let out your frustration.

    Paula – let us know how you are doing once you are able…hopefully everything went well.

    Deb – that is super news that your dog is just suffering from old age and not cancer. Our pets are our wonderful companions aren’t they?

    Laura – I laughed at your Roy’s poor aching butt but the mechanical bull ride sounded like fun. Back to Mexico in January and April, what a lucky gal you are! Are you going to the same resort again? Our credit card mixup for our trip is sorted out already. Couples is a reputable resort so we were not worried just a little annoyed that it happened. Yes I am in Human Resources and also do payroll/benefits.

    Graycie – its getting there…we have our fingers crossed on the showing from today and the people are coming back on Monday. They are a couple in their 30’s with no children and a dog. Almost like us but we are in our 40’s with two dogs. Our back property is a gorgeous lot and I think the new kitchen is really helping too! By tomorrow we will have had 6 showings and 18 agents have seen our home since Tuesday night.

    Pretty tired should get some sleep….hello and big hugs to all my wonderful sisters

    Love
    Michele
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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited May 2007
    CINDY...
    I'm so sorry!!!
    I have a friend here in Israel who is triple neg and I met her here on BC.org. She is doing carboplatin and Taxol and is on a clinical study for Avastin. She's doing okay.

    I did the 12 weekly with a lower dose and really had few side effects from that...some numb toes...etc.

    I love the way you told your little onc how you WILL need a port! You go Girl! I love it! Keep the spirit! They need to be told sometimes!

    But, a new study came out that Stephanie from the Triple negs posted about cistaplatin or something like that, being good for triple negs. Also, Taxol or Taxotere is the big thing now for triple negs. But the cistplatin catches some protein that many triple negs have. I don't know if I have that. You have to get tested for it. Join the triple neg thread as they have lots of info there and Stephanie is up on all the new research all the time. I'm sure they have all the new research at Mayo too, though.

    There is also a study out for those of us who still have a "good" boob. They said there is a better chance of finding a new cancer since we are automatically at a higher risk after having had it in one boob, through a breast MRI because they do slices of views and can find even tiny cancers.

    I had asked my onc about it and she said I wasn't a candidate for it and they only do breast mri on very few, advanced stages.

    I will ask my surgeon, though. He seems to be more up on the new research than this resident. They didn't say not to do mammograms. Just said to add mri on "good" boob to those who have had cancer or are at high risk for other reasons.

    At any rate, Cindy..you are in my thoughts and we are here for you the entire way. Elephant sisters unite!
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