I am starting chemo in July 07. Anyone else?

Abbey, it was about 3 cm from what we could tell from the mammogram & cat scan.  I don't know for sure if I have lymph node involvement but there were a couple that were quite enlarged, one in my armpit & one in my chest.  I'm hoping for a lumpectomy & rads, but may possibly need to have a mastectomy.  I'll know more when I talk to the surgeon again.

Hey Margie...thanks for sharing.  Mine was 2 cm.  My onc said at my last appt right before chemo #3 that he couldn't even feel it anymore...so chemo is doing it's job.  They said that their hopes were that it would shrink down to nothing by the time chemo is over.  When I had my core biopsy, they put in a breast marker into my tumor so they could tell where it was when surgery time came...because if there's nothing left, they wouldn't know where to go remove a margin from. Did you also have an MRI done?  I was already diagnosed with breast cancer when they sent me for a mamm and MRI to check for any additional cancer. You couldn't even see the tumor on my mamm because my breasts are so dense. The MRI results were really cool to see...they gave them to me on a cd...my tumor was bright white. That's were they saw the lymph node under my arm that was 1.5cm...so they went ahead and did a needle biopsy on that.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Wow, that's interesting to hear how different things are in Canada, Margie.  Yeah...he was extremely happy...which made me really happy.  I can still kinda feel it...but it's nothing compared to what it was.  It was very obvious when I was first diagnosed...you couldn't miss feeling it.  Did you happen to ask your onc about getting shots of either Neulasta or Neupogen for your wbc count?  I get them every cycle so my counts don't go down the toilet...like they did the first time when they didn't give me a shot.

Neulasta shots are pricey here too...I want to say my benefits statement said something like $2400.00.  It's all covered in full by my insurance though, so I don't pay a penny for it.

How are people feeling this weekend?  Watching plenty of football today!  I don't think anybody else if from Michigan...but thank goodness U of M finally won today!

Abbi...how are you doing?

Jean, the $3300.00 is just for the one Neulasta shot.  I don't know what the charge is for the chemo drugs.  Your's is 30,000.00 per treatment?  Holy smokes, I hope you have insurance! 

mmcp



Yes the $30,044.55 was the cost of one chemo treatment. I do not htink it included my Nuelastia, as I recieved that the next day and this billing is one for the treatment day.

You're a strong woman and a fighter Abbi, I know you'll come through this.  I battled post partum depression after both my boys (actually just went off meds 1 month before cancer diagnosis) and I know how terrible it is.  For me everything was a superhuman effort, some days even breathing.  So far with the cancer it has stayed away but I certainly have my bad days.  The trick to beating it is to find meds that work for you.  Mine was Celexa, I tried a bunch before settling on it.  I hope this latest drug works out for you, cancer is hard enough to fight without depression weighing you down.  Love & hugs.

Rose, Sending you best wishes for a much better week or month of September. I also desire normalcy, I think we all just want our lives back. We are almost done, I keep telling myself. I hope your feeling better real soon!

Take Care Charlene

I completely agree on the "normalcy".

Margie...so glad that you were able to get your treatment finally...one more down!

Anybody else have intestinal issues?  I just hurt today...I'm still regular, but it was like I had cramps or something...hmm. I also have issues with weird bleeding (I think it's from the Gemzar)...like every time I blow my nose.

I ran with my classes a little bit today in PE...we are doing our track unit. My legs feel so weak lately.  I didn't run far...but I did run little bits of the track all 5 hrs.  I think that is the hardest part of chemo so far for me...not being able to do the things that I used to be able to do no problem because I just don't have the energy.  It's hard to describe the fatigue you feel to other people.  One day at a time ladies.

Margie, I forgot to say I'm glad you were finally able to get your tx. Hooray! Here's hoping the Neulasta keeps you on track from here on in.

The Lexapro is starting to kick in a bit.  Yesterday I actually had moments when I wasn't totally depressed and overwhelmed.  I know it'll take a couple weeks to totally kick in and THAT will be wonderful.  As good as I felt yesterday, I'll be feeling even better.  Gives me hope.

Xanax is also my friend.  I've been having sleeping problems lately, waking in the middle of the night in a panic and not being able to go back to sleep.  Then of course, I'm a zombie in the day only adding to the depression.  My onc. didn't want to give me a sleeping pill so soon after starting the Lexapro.

Someone on another thread suggested taking 2 Xanax instead of one at night (Duh... why didn't I think of that).  Tried that last night and slept great.  Woke up at 3:00, but was calm and went right back to sleep until the alarm went off.  And I feel soooooo much better after getting some rest.

I think the thing I worry about most with the Taxol is the Decadron I have to take the night before/morning of.  5 pills each time.  Not only will I be wired all night, I'm afraid they'll make me sick. My biggest problem with any drug is always nausea.  I guess I can always take a compazine if they make me sick, though....

See.... I think things through too much.  That's why I get myself so stressed out.

I was talking to my mom's neighbor (a many year survivor) the other day.  She said he doctor told her from the beginning to not read anything about BC, etc.  He'd tell her what she needed to know.  She says to this day she doesn't read any articles on BC or anything.  Keeps her sane.  I guess I'm just not that personality.  I have to gather ALL the information I can.

I can't believe you gals run either.  Of course, I was never much of an exercise person.  But most days, just getting through the daily chores is all I can handle.

Have a great day ladies..... we're one day closer to done!

Wow...I was really proud of myself today at school.  My kids were running one lap of our cross country course (1.5 miles)...I ran/walked it with them for 3 of the hrs...I think I am going to be sore tomorrow.  I hoped to do it with my 6th hour also...but I knew that I was too tired to do it again...I know my limitations.  I feel pretty darn good this week!  And I don't have treatment again until Sept. 27th.  Off to go help coach a swim meet at my school.  Ladies, take care...you are all in my prayers.

Hi everyone. I realized yesterday I am officially halfway through chemo! 10 weeks down, 10 to go! Hooray!

Now, Tina - yes, Taxol is easier! I swear! I know what you're saying about that last A/C. I had a really hard time too. DH said it was really difficult watching me go through it, because of course there's not much he can do to make it any better. But the Taxol is better. Earlier I said my eyes water all the time from it, but today they're not, so go figure. Although I'm tired today. I went to sleep OK but woke up pretty early so I'm going to try to get a nap in this afternoon. Trying a Pilates class tonight - we'll see how it goes. I wanted to run yesterday evening, but when my husband came home I was napping so he talked me out of going, suggesting that perhaps I was overextending myself. Maybe he's right. I worked so hard to get my level of fitness where it was pre-BC that it's really depressing to see it all fading away. Hard to believe it will come back after chemo is over.

My cousin came by today with some books about nutrition and alternative kinds of stuff, specific to cancer, that she had from some classes she took (she's an RN) so I'm going to check them out.

Abbi- great to hear that the Lexapro is starting to work!!!!!!! And the Xanax is helping you sleep. I have a friend who's been taking Xanax for anxiety for years and she swears by it.

And to Lori and the rest of you with younger kids, you are the ones I admire! And those of you who are going to work through all of this! That is way harder than getting out for my little jog/walk thing a couple of times a week! I often think that if I had kids to take care of or if I was still working, I would be really exhausted.

And when your husband said at least you had the courage to go to the thing at your daughter's school, he's right. Sometimes I hate the thought of going out to the store even, because I feel like people will be looking at me, feeling sorry for me, or whatever. They look and then they look away really fast, KWIM?? And I've avoided more than one social function where there will be a lot of people either that I don't know or haven't seen in a long time because I don't want to have the conversation about my BC. And I don't feel particularly interesting lately since my whole life pretty much revolves around treatment.

But, this weekend one of my very dearest friends will be in town for a visit and that will lift my spirits. And my daughter tells me she loves me every single day, so at least a little good comes out of all this. You begin to appreciate what you have a little more. Oh and yesterday my husband was telling me about a woman he spoke to while at work: He is a personal injury attorney, and the woman had called because she wanted to file a medical malpractice suit. She had just been diagnosed with BC, but she had had clear mammograms for a number of years (just like me!). She was very upset so after telling her she really didn't have a case, DH spent a long time talking with her about her diagnosis and shared a bit of my story (he is a very nice lawyer!). She didn't even know what kind of BC she has, so he encouraged her to have a long talk with her surgeon and to bring someone with her to listen as well, and to visit this website! Hopefully he helped her a little.

Anyway, wish me luck at Pilates tonight! I'm going to nap now in preparation........

Donna

P.S. Abbi, good luck with the Taxol tomorrow. And with the Decadron tonight. I'll be thinking of you.

Taxotere makes me tired...that's my only side effect really.  I've had no nausea with it (I do take my anti-nausea drugs for two days afterwards).  Side effects from Neulasta can be achy bones and joints....again, I haven't experienced that either.  I bet you will tolerate them both really well too with your age.  Everybody is different.

I have one treatment left of Taxotere (Sept 27th)...then I start A/C Oct. 18th.  I'm nervous for that...it sounds like it's going to be worse.  I've decided to start taking the Fridays after treatment off to recover a little more.  It was pretty hard to go teach the next day on my last treatment. 

That's awesome on how much money you guys raised!  Also, good to hear your son is doing better.  How old is he?