Washington Ladies/Men???

Hi All:

I live in Woodinville. I have two boys 14 and 12. I had a mastectomy on Nov. 28th. I started TX x 4 on December 28th had two seizures from the cytoxan from lowered sodium and the second round I had a severe allergic reaction to the taxatere. Needless to say I'm off that regimen and will be starting CMF on Thursday once a week for six months. I am being treated at Evergreen. Where is everone else being treated and what kind of treatments are you getting? It is wonderful to talk to other Washingtonians!

Hi everyone , Im in Seattle as well . I was diagnosed in Oct 2007 , had a partial mastectomy Nov 26th . Came out with a tiny ( 4mm) idc and a large 8CM dcis . I am going in tommorow for a full masectomy. My surgeon wasnt happy with the margins on my dcis ( the invasive margin was fine) & I get to avoid radiation this way ( No chemo is in my current plan)  . It was my choice to do , but honestly my breast looks so funny since the first surgery its hard to look at anyway. I get all of my treatment at Swedish and they have a great system . So far so good . Im a little stressed at tommorows surgery , but once its done Im sure it will be a relief .....

I'm glad to see that this thread is still alive! I'm in the "Washington Outback," shoveling snow (well, I'm not, my friends are!). I'm in the SE, too, Jule.

I go to Lewiston, Idaho tomorrow (weather permitting) for my first oncology visit. I'm a little scared! I was reading about ports (my surgeon said he can put one in when I get the rest of my lymph nodes out on the 20th) and the idea of doing chemo... this is worse than the original diagnosis and the mastectomy!

Hello all,

On Jan 7 I went to the doctor with a lump I found, on Jan 14 I received my formal diagnosis, and 10 days later I had a modified radical mastectomy.  I'm meeting my (an) oncologist for the second time this week, I believe to hear what he's proposing for a treatment plan.  Any suggestions for what questions I should ask?  or a link to a location with some questions?  I'll be going for a second & third opinion before I decide to stick with the referral from my PCP, but so far the info I've gotten about him has been positive.  Carol, I'm on the Kitsap Peninsula as well, in Kingston.  any comments on Brian Kim with Doctors Clinic/Harrison Hospital?

Thanks in advance, and be well...

Kalen, sorry to hear you had to find this website, although it is a lifesaver, there is so much info/advice support here you'll be overwhelmed at first.

 I would love to be able to chat, either on the post or I will give you my phone number 509-0860 cel, I will be at work today, most of the time I can take calls, (I work at Subase Bangor). 

 I am not familiar with Dr. Kim, I am seeing Dr. Willerford (onc) at Olympic Oncology, which is right near Harrison.  I had a second opinion as well over at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (which is a wonderful place).  You can get the full deal meal all in one building there.

If I don't answer you can leave me a message.  Hoping we can help each other through this journey

Carol

Carol, it was nice to talk to you.  here's hoping we can get together for coffee soon!!

how is everyone else doing?  my mastectomy went very well, margins clean all the way around, and I'm starting chemo two weeks from today.  AC x4, then Taxol x4, and I feel like a walking pharmacy with the all anti-nausea prescriptions I've been given!!  is that normal?  I've got 2 for the AC cycles, and a separate one for the Taxol cycle, plus I'll get one in my infusion drip each time, then Neulasta the day after.  AAUUGGHH!!!

anyone got tips on foods to eat/avoid?  I've got a couple of cancer specific cookbooks, and my DH is the household cook (lucky me!), but knowing what worked for others is better than guessing.  smells that made you sick (cleaners, perfumes, etc.)?  I'm not quite the research junkie that my DH is, but I like information :-)  where did you find hats?  I'm getting my hair cut Saturday, about 12 inches will come off and go to Locks of Love, and I'm not going to wear a wig - if I get to go through this, then people are going to have to look at me, dammit.  hopefully I'll be able to talk to some people and bring some awareness that this isn't an old woman's disease, like I thought it was. 

I'm rambling...have a great Friday and weekend everyone, and be well...

Kalen

Kalen, look under the Topic Chemotherapy; Before, During and After.   There is  a thread entitled Jan 2008, Ain't it Great.  This a crazy bunch of gals who all started their txt in Jan.  At the very beginning we have a roster with everyone's txt plan.  Your sure find some others that have had the same txt plan you will be getting.  I would start some dialogue with any of them, for info, support etc.  It may seem a little overwhelming at first put once you get in the swing of things on the post its a huge support!  Anything goes with that group of gals ... Carol

Kalen,

So your probably out and about some time today for your haircut.  Thats pretty cool that you have enough to donate to the Locks of Love.  From what I've seen the old fashion wig look is a thing of the past.  I do like the thought that your going with the ala natural look, my thought as well that if we can educate any one person and they could avoid this journey it will be well worth it.  I have a ball cap that says "Check Your Boobies"  which is a organization in Seattle, it can be a conversation starter as well!  Are you a b-ball cap kinda gal?

Hope to meet up soon, I think I may still have your number on my cell, I don't want to be intrusive but sharing sure seems to help this whole adventure atleast for me.

Carol

'deedy so, Diane - thank goodness for some sun!!!  I think we're going to go out to the property this afternoon and spend more time pulling scotch broom and chopping it up to go in the trash.  what a pain...at least it's a good excuse for being outside in the sun!!

I'm going to get on my soapbox a little bit here, so bear that in mind.  before I was diagnosed, my dh had found a number of articles discussing a chemical called bisphenyl A (BPA) - it's a plastics hardener, found in Lexan water bottles, can linings (soup, etc.,), tons of children's toys and feeding products, Tupperware, the list goes on.  when it leaches out of the product it was used in, it mimics estrogen.  our bodies think it's estrogen.  so for those of us with hormone positive breast cancer, STOP USING IT.  RIGHT NOW.  don't drink from plastic bottles, plastic cups, don't use Tupperare for liquids, especially acidic liquids, avoid canned soups, fruits, etc.  no, the FDA hasn't determined a link yet, but do you really want to take the chance?  the evidence is strong enough that the EU has banned it entirely.  we were moving away from it already, but my diagnosis has made me a bit of an activist about it.  There is one or two brands of water bottles that do not use it in their liners - SIGG and Klean Kanteen - and while the initial cost of the bottle is greater ($20 instead of $10), the aluminum bottle doesn't have a yearly replacement recommendation.  plus, you can put juice or milk or even soda in it, with no effect on the liner and no taste.  try that in your Nalgene bottle - yuck.

I'll post links to the research and articles soon, but I feel very strongly about this issue.  if you're using plastic water bottles of any kind with the recycling number 7 on the bottom, STOP IMMEDIATELY.  do your own research and come to your own conclusions, but please do the research.

rant over, promise.  if you want to know more, PM me and I'll share.  enjoy the sunshine!!

Kalen, I wasn't quite sure where you were going with the water bottle topic, now I know.  I'll do some more snooping on that subject as well.

I did a little shout out with the gals on the Jan site, looking for some info from other that are doing your regimen.  Its been asked if you are doing the AC every two weeks or three?

Look forward to meeting you Thursday, Carol

hey out there...

Carol & I got together last night for some dinner and chit chat, and oh boy was it helpful.  it was so nice to sit across and be with someone who actually gets it.  no matter how supportive and amazing our partner and friends and co-workers are, they don't really get it.  I would strongly encourage everyone to make the effort to physically meet with someone from the list if you possibly can.  I am still psyched from it.

have a beautiful day and tell someone "thanks" who doesn't get to hear it often.  give that homeless person some money.  take your kid out for ice cream before dinner.  pay it forward...