June 2007 Chemo

1) Cy - Washington - 5/25 Start - Abraxane/Avaisten
2) Sandra - Canada - 5/28 Start
3) Pam - Oklahoma - 5/29 Start 4 T
4) Dawn - June Start - 4 AC, 4 T
5) Terri - New York - 6/4 Start - 4 AC, 4 T
6) Cheryl - North Miss 6/7 Start - 4 AC, 4 T
7) 5Kids 5/24 Start - 4 AC, 4 T
8) Susan - Illinois - June Start - 4 AC
9) Jennine - NC -
10) Bonnie - NY - June Start - 4 AC, 4 T
11) Debbie - Wash - - 4 AC, 4 T



Updated list for everyone.

I'm 48, married 15 years, three boys, 14, 12 and 9. I waited until late in life to do the kid thing! I live in Northern Mississippi, but drive to Memphis (1 3/4 hour drive) for all my health care needs.

I'm also going to try and work through the chemo. I am blessed with a good plan, I could take 3 months off with no cut in pay or benefits. I work for a large retailer in management, and they're being entirely too flexible, they already have a replacement in!! They're telling me to just come in when I feel like it.

My story is similar to everyone elses. DX'd in mid March, two biopsies, 1 MRI, 4/24 lumpectomy & SNM, 5/18 axillary dissection, chemo port placed. Starting 4 AC, 4 T, dense dose on June 7th. I am NOT looking forward to losing my hair, but plan to handle the insult with grace and humor.

1) Cy - Washington - 5/25 Start - Abraxane/Avaisten
2) Sandra - Canada - 5/28 Start
3) Pam - Oklahoma - 5/29 Start 4 T
4) Dawn - June Start - 4 AC, 4 T
5) Terri - New York - 6/4 Start - 4 AC, 4 T
6) Cheryl - North Miss 6/7 Start - 4 AC, 4 T
7) 5Kids 5/24 Start - 4 AC, 4 T
8) Susan - Illinois - June Start - 4 AC
9) Jennine - NC -
10) Bonnie - NY - June Start - 4 AC, 4 T
11) Debbie - Wash - - 4 AC, 4 T
12) Debbie - Boston - June start

Sorry Debbie! Anybody else we've missed, or who wants to introduce themselves and get added to the June list?

Terri,

Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear your experience was better than expected. That's what seems to be the recurring theme.

I'm glad your training buddy, Belle, is there to get you out of the house. Hope your run was a good one.

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone. Terry, hope you feel like a Queen tomorrow at your son's wedding.

Debbie

I want to join! My name is Kathy. I'm 39 and from Little Rock, AR. I had Hodgkin's 23 years ago when I was 15 and was treated w/ radiation to my chest area. Now I have Stage 2B Breast Cancer. I have 2 children, Zachary who is 17 and just graduated High School and Christian who is 20 months. I'm a single mom.

I was dx on 4/13 after a biopsy of a 5cm mass in my L breast. The MRI shows the extensiveness is actually 10cm and the cancer abuts the chest wall but has not invaded it yet. My right breast has some very suspicious areas and because of the radiation exposure I will be having a double mastectomy after my 8 rounds of chemo with reconstruction at the same time and then maybe some radiation to boot. Finally, we will remove my thyroid because it has so many nodules on it and b/c of the previous radiation I'm very likely to end up with cancer there if we don't take it out.

My chemo is A/C and I'm in a clinical trial for Avistan. My first round of chemo was May 15, two days before I turned 39. I have an awful rash on my neck and my mouth is dry and it's hard to taste. But overall--I'm very positive and upbeat because I know that, while it will be along year, I will come out on top and win.
My next chemo is June 6. I hope I don't get too tired throughout this because I want to keep working--eh, let's face it, I need to keep working, I'd go nuts staying at home. I have a little law office in downtown Little Rock and I do criminal defense and family law. It's exciting work.

You sound like a bunch of great women. I'd love to join your group!

Susan, when I went to get my port--they had to almost hypnotize me because my muscles were so tight. So, this is a good time to have your honey massage your shoulders the night before--so you'll be more relaxed. It's in the name of science! Good luck. It really doesn't take long for them to actually put the port in--maybe 15 minutes. But with the prep and the x-ray afterwards, it could take an hour.

As for me, I found my tumor myself--I actually found while adjusting my boob in my bra--LOL. I watched it for a couple of months to make sure it didn't change during my periods and such, and after a couple of periods I knew what was going on. I've done Komen 60 mile walks in Atlanta 1999; Dallas 2000; and San Diego 2005 and I've always done RFTC of course--and I've always said--the reason I walk is for ME! I knew I would be right here one day. Maybe that's why I'm taking it so well. (Though I think my hair is about to fall out and that's going to upset me) Anyway, as soon as the US showed it was a solid mass, I knew I needed to get ready to fight. When the doc called me with the biopsy results he started out with the standard "Do you have a few minutes to talk", followed by "I know this comes as no surprise to you but......" I said, "yeah, I'm not surprised. Who do I go see now?"

I am surprised the mass had grown so big before I found it (it's 5cm) --I was doing regular checks.....and geeze, it was huge before I found it and then when I did find it, I wasn't even looking for it.

Avistan is a drug that's approved for lung and colon cancer. What is does is seals off blood vessels so the cancer can't spread to other parts of the body. It helps to prevent recurrence and they've had good success with it in Lung and Colon use. I'll get the Avistan with my first 3 chemos (I have to be off of it for like 120 days before surgery) and then, after surgery I will have 9 more rounds of it (alone) every 3 weeks. For me, it's like, my treatment was going to be same-- only now I get an extra drug that just may help keep it from coming back--sign me up.

Is anybody else on A/C and if so, do you get heartburn every time you eat??? I do!

You guys have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

You guys can check out my website at www.caringbridge.org/visit/kathyhall These sites are free and easy to maintain and it's really helps to keep from repeating your story over and over and over......I found that keeping everyone updated exhausting! I appreciate all the kind thoughts and prayers people are sending my way, but telling the same story eight times a day is a bit much! You guys should check it out if you don't already have one.

Looks like I'll be in front of my computer alot from now on trying to figure out what is going on with my body. I'd like to be a part of your June chemo group. I'm not up on all the medspeak as most of you all seem to be. I had stage 2 hormone negative node negative bc. I go back to surgery for one more clean margin and a port 5/29. Maybe start TC chemo on 6/8 depending on onc post op assessemnt. CT is good. Chemo for 4 to 6 cycles once an month then radiation. Say, maybe I am getting the medspeak thing down. I'm 60 and this thing was caught on a routine mammogram. Even the my surgeon couldn't feel anything. Scared about chemo so I am glad for company through this.

Just a quick note for all of you starting in the next few days. Best wishes and Live Strong throughout the next several weeks.
My wife is feeling the side effects (fatigue mostly)from her LAST tx of Adrimycin, Cytoxin and Taxotere, and neulasta, dose dense 6x, every three weeks. This has by no means been an easy cruise but it has not been as bad as had been feared. Also, the support felt from this board is priceless. For that, I am thankful.
Best Wishes on your adventure.
Scott

Wow, what a great group! Can I please join you? My name is Kathleen, 50 years old, married, two daughters, 18 & 20, in college. I live in San Luis Obispo, CA, which is on the coast halfway between SF and LA. My bc is Stage 2, Grade 3, ER-/PR+/her-. I had a bilateral mast. on 5/15 with immediate reconstruction. Didn't expect chemo as they thought it was just DCIS. But found one node positive and IDC so made me glad I opted for the mast. I met with my onc. today and will begin chemo on 6/4 with 4 DD AC and 4 DD Taxol. We're going to try it without a port and see how it goes. Fortunately, one daughter will be coming home from college next week to help me go wig/scarf/hat shopping, as I am clueless in that department. I'm a court reporter and a runner and a soccer player. I have an amazing group of friends and an adorable black lab, Levi, who, along with my family, will help me get through this. But to have friends like you all who are beginning or have been through this same journey is invaluable. I'm so glad I found you. A dear friend of mine from college just sent me a beautiful necklace that I wish I could give to all of you. It's a simple silver beaded necklace with a small silver piece with the word "Courage." This is what we all share. It doesn't mean we won't get down or scared at times, but we will continue to pick ourselves up and move on and get through it. Thanks for being there to help me along!

Susan, my treatment date has been moved to the 31st, they called yesterday. You don't have to bother changing it, it's only two days.
Sandra, bless your heart, I really do understand you are scared. Do you have something for anxiety? Try to stay busy over this long week-end or watch funny shows, read something funny, little distractions if you can. I've tried those things, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, I'm pretty wound up myself. Vent to us over the week-end, I know I'll be right here.
I'm not doing the FEC but will do 4 Taxotere.

Hi Linda from Texas, I'm Pam in Oklahoma and 60 also!
So was your pathology triple negative?
I think you are doing fine in your medspeak.

Terry looking forward to hearing about the wedding.

You all have a nice peaceful week-end,

Hi, I would also like to join this group. I start 4 tx of TC on June 1st. The treatments will be 3 weeks apart. This will be followed by hormone pills. I was dx in March 2007. Found out that I was positive for the BRCA 1 gene and had bilateral mastectomy on April 30. I had stage 1 ductal cancer that was 1.2 cm. It was triple negative and very aggressive.

I am 48 years old and have been married for 29 years with 2 beautiful girls, 25 and 21. My family have been my support through all of this. The chemo was unexpected and has really thrown us off balance but I don't want this to come back. I am interested to hear if anyone has had TC and what tips they may have to get through this. Has anyone done the Look Good Feel Better thing where they teach you how to do your makeup (including eyebrows) so you look good while you go through this.

Hi Pam in Oklahoma, Kathleen in California, Patt in Colorado. You all have a decent holiday weekend. Reading is always good. Ann -I ,too, will start TC in June and have been searching for info. There is a good article on this website about it - just use the search area - but that's about it. It must be a fairly new therapy. As far as Look Good Feel Good - I go on June 18th.
Linda in Texas

Wow! Our June 2007 group sure is growing!

Thanks to each of you who have posted tips and words of encouragement!!

I went to a Look Good Feel Better class that was offered at the radiology department of Reston Hospital here is VA.

Awesome class! If you go to http://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org/
there is information and a program finder.

There were 7 ladies at the class including me - 4 had already lost their hair, 2 were almost there and me - who hadn't started treatment yet. Guess I'm a bit pro-active!
Dawn

Hi My name is Diana,
I will be starting 4 treatments of Taxotere in June will meet with my Oncologist Tuesday morning. I am having an Oopharectomy Wednesday. I already had a Bi Laterial Mastectomy 6 weeks ago. I am Stage 1 ER/PR+ nothing more ore less. I have a very strong family history of Breast Cancer and other cancers on both sides of my family but tested neg for BRCA stuff. I really have not researched the Chemo Stuff yet as I thought I would not need it. I am 45 years old.

Dawn, thank you for the website. I found a class close to home and I'm signed up for June 6, two days after I receive my first treatment. It will be something to look forward to!

Kathleen

wowis looks like some group!
im still really freaked out about monday.... we have been keeping busy this weekend, i have tommorw still to look forward to, ill try and do lots of stuff to get my mind off it all
i have not gotten anything for anxiety , i was trying to not take anything as im on sleeping pills and clexa already, dont want to be a huge pill popper, although if i stay this agitated about stuff, i think imay just have to go that route.......
im scared that im going to freak out there at the clinic on monday too......to me this is such a big deal to get chemo while i feel so healthy, willingly taking soemthing that is going to not make me feel well, im freaking out about loosing my hair, eyebrows, etc..... its bad enough i lost my breasts too.......
i went out tonight dancing, and i felt really self concious the whole time, i felt everyone wsstaring at me, wondering where my breasts were. i know that wasnt the case but still that is how i felt, how am i going to feel with no hair in the same situation.
UGH
i just cant wait for it to be done

sandra