I am starting chemo in July 07. Anyone else?

Hi Asia,
I had to have two surgeries as well. They didn't get clear margins the first time so went back a second time and did a mastectomy. The tumor was almost 5cc so the decision to do the mastectomy was a good one. I really can empathize with you about having another surgery. I hated it too. I expect to start chemo around the first of June. Will have 4 months of that followed by 7 weeks of radiation after. Seems like 2007 will be over before I finally get through all of the treatment.

I hope your surgery goes well and recovery is uneventful. July will be here before you know it.

Take care, Debbie

Hi Asia,


I am starting on June 27th, so I consider that July, rounding up of course! I will be over at Dana Farber in Boston and have found an onc that I really like, Hal Bernstein. He was recommended by a number of "Cancer Rock stars" that we have at my place of work:

http://www.broad.mit.edu/index.html

I have had 2 ops for lumpectomy margins as I refuse to get a mastectomy...at least for right now. I have some dcis margins that are not great, but am needing to move on with rads and chemo at this point. I do a lot of yoga and rock climbing and recovered very well from the surgeries. At any rate I expect the chemo to be more challenging and am going to try to get rid of the Adriamycin from my course as I am super Estrogen positive. It is amazing to me how much we do not understand about this disease with it's treatment and like all Science nerds I like to do tons of research. I have been doing acupuncture since before my surgeries and will continue on with them during chemo....Dr Lu also works a Dana Farber and has been doing clinical trials on chemo there for quite a while. Am going to see him today as a matter of fact. We have a British researcher coming to the Broad on Thurs who is going to give a lecture on whole genome associations in Breast Cancer. He was published in Nature a few weeks ago so I will post anything that is interesting.

I too am a gardener and my Mom (who died from Carcinoid Cancer) grew up outside of Longford in Co Cavan so we have some commonalities.

Enjoy~ climbergirl

Just thought I'd pop my head in here. I'm done with Chemo on July 3rd and I just want you ladies to know..you all can do it. Check out past threads from our March cruise. There's a lot of useful information in them that the Doc's don't tell you. Godd luck ldaies and my prayers are with you all. rosebud

It looks like I'll be starting in July as well.... My story is ILC, 4cm tumor in left breast. Lumpectomy & lymph nodes on left side removed May 9. I had micrometastesis in the sentinel node. Margins were not clean, however, and my dr. said I had extensive in situ also, so he recommended a left breast mastectomy. I thought about it and having already done research about ILC, decided I wanted a bilateral mastectomy. I had it on Thursday and I have no regrets. In fact, I'm amazed at how relieved I feel that the diseased breasts are gone!!
I had immediate reconstruction with expanders, and so far recovery hasn't been bad at all.
Anyway, I'm not sure exactly when it will start or what it will consist of, but I will begin my chemo in July with you all. Not exactly what I'd envisioned in terms of fun in the summer, but I know I can get through it. I'll be in touch!!

Donna

Hi, I hope you don't mind me popping into your thread. I'm a 3 1/2 year survivor of Inflammatory bc and have been on the boards almost as long. Do you mind if I go along on your journey with you?

Tara, working through chemo depends on the individual and how well they tolerate the chemo and also what type of job/work you do. I did fairly well through chemo and have a job that is not physically demanding so I worked but others were not able to. They have some great anti-nausea drugs now so chemo doesn't have to be like what you see in those made-for-TV movies. I never got sick but there are other side effects. Also, you immunity to illness will be low so if you teach or work in nursing or flight attendant where you come into contact with lots of infections like colds, flus, etc., that's probably going to influence the decision to work during treatment.

Hi ladies, me again. All of my pathology results from the mastectomy are back. No cancer in the right breast at all (that was the prophylactic side) and the margins were clean on the left. We were really pleased to have good news, because it had begun to seem that with each procedure the news got just a little worse. (Tumor was bigger than they thought, one positive node, dirty margins, mastectomy....)so I was afraid of what the mastectomy pathology might show. But, it was all good. HOORAY!
My appointment with the chemo doctor is set for July 2, so then I guess I will know specifics of my treatments.

My husband and I had a 2-week trip out west scheduled for the last 2 weeks of August, which after much thought we decided to postpone. We were going to fly into Denver and drive to see my sister in Montana. I was afraid that the heat and the altitude might exacerbate the effects of the chemo, and then if I were to have an issue at the last minute where the doctor wouldn't want me to fly, well that would just be a huge disappointment. So we're putting it off until I am finished with treatment and sure to enjoy it more. BTW, for those of you in a similar situation, Delta gave us one year from date of purchase to use our tickets, with no penalty. My husband just called and explained the situation and there was no problem.

And another thing: If you have the opportunity to attend one of those "Look Good, Feel Better" classes, I highly recommend it! I went the other day and learned how to draw on fake eyebrows and apply false eyelashes, and different ways to use things to cover your head. My 20 year old daughter went with me and we had a great time. She told me it was a huge help to her too, as she was struggling to deal with what was going on with me. So for her to be around women in my situation who were doing OK and having fun, made her a lot more comfortable. Oh, plus they give you TONS of free products, which the daughter has been coveting!

Welcome to all who joined since my last post. Good luck to those who start soon. And thanks to those who are finished or almost finished with treatment, for your offers to ride along with us and cheer us on to victory.

Donna

Good news Donna! My appointment about my treatment will be July 6. Maybe we will start together.

Tara, I feel for you. It will be hard to get rest with the little ones. I am being optimistic that it won't be too bad.

June 22 is coming fast now. Talk to you all after the surgery!

Karen

Hi Everyone
I have just lost my entire mail – how annoying, to be honest it was a bit of a rant so I’ll try and summarize and be a bit more positive in this one, so it may not have been such a bad thing!

Well, today was the follow up assessment from the lumpectomy and to be honest I’m not sure if it was good or bad news. There’s no cancer in the nodes, I had a SNB so they only took two but there is (although very small) a few cancer cells around the edge of the clean tissue they took with the lump, as it’s small it’s good news I suppose but it does mean I have to go back for a second op to remove these cells. On it’s own this, I think would be good news but the surgeon mentioned Lobular Intraepithelial Neoplasia (LIN) has anyone else heard of or been told they have this? It’s apparently a background change that has caused the cancer and if they find further cells in the second op then I’ll have to have both breasts removed.

As per my usual behaviour I’ve come straight back into work. I just need to take my mind off things. Asia, please let me know how you manage at work through your treatment. Your situation sounds similar to mine and I’m determined that whatever happens it won’t effect my plans although I’m becoming aware that this isn’t actually something I have control of. I’m also taking on a new member of staff to assist me in my role which was planned before I knew any of this. They start in 2 weeks and I haven’t told them yet, It's really bad timing and I'm not looking forward to spending so much time with a stranger whilst I'm going through this.

Op 2 is on 9th July and chemo will start in Aug. The surgeon was a reconstruction specialist and the only way you could tell I had the lumpectomy was the small scar that follows the arc of my nipple. It’s amazing as I was expecting the worst. The surgery was easy and I felt like I’d beaten this and with no physical damage to my body. I felt great, I’m back to my pre pregnancy weight, my hair is really long, my confidence is a bit dented but ok but now…I’m having another op, I may loose both breasts, I’m definitely going to lose my hair, I feel it’s all started again.

I guess this is what it’s like with the ups and downs. You are all so amazing and seem to know so much. You use lots of abbreviations I’m not familiar with but I guess it’s just a matter of time (Climbergirl –MUGA test?)

Karen, good luck for tomorrow.
Great news Donna

Sorry this was so long, I think it’s just adjusting to the update I received today. Talking to you really helps. Thanks
T x

6 weeks? My chemo lasted 7 months. That just doesn't sound right. I still have my port from chemo and have not had any trouble with it. Its completely under the skin so I can swim, shower, or whatever with it..