Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

1…3536384041…99

Comments

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited January 2008

    Well, your DS's girlfriend can come over and cook for me anytime she likes. I'm from NM, and consider green chile to be a food group.

    My mom got sprung from the hospital on Thursday night. After nine days of not bathing due to the chest tubes, she was quite stoked to leave. She's scheduled to start Taxol on Monday. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited January 2008

    Hi all,

    Well Im almost finished the testing. All thats left is a MRI. At least thats were it stands so far.

    I honestly dont know if the heart scan was a muga cause I dont know what either one is. I will tell you this, They injected me twice with radioactive sugar water and put me in a machine like a CT or MRI.

    My poor arm looked like I had been attacked by a wild dog or something!!! Bad veins and ALOT of misses and blown veins this week. But I think that part is over.

    Now its just really waiting for results and consultations. Waiting is always hard but when you miss your kids waiting is torturous. Im trying to pass the time and keep busy. Me and my DH went to the Johnson Space Center today. and tomorrow we are going to drive to Galveston Beach. I dont know what Ill do to pass the time for the next wk. 

    I have to admit I feel alittle like Ive won the lottery to!! Im also pretty  proud of myself, and THATS NOT EASY for me to do.

    OMG Kato my first thought was an engagement ring as well!! Poor girl. If shes that worked up over showing you dinner can you imagine if it HAD been a ring? You would need the EMT's. HAHA

    Nash Im so glad to hear your moms free!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free and clean, must feel better at the least.

    Gonna go for now.

    Hugs

    Kim 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • chemomom
    chemomom Member Posts: 171
    edited January 2008

    hey all.  I have been reading but its been a while since my last post.  i am really getting depressed and/or angry.  I have had 15 of 37 rads (I think) and I am a bit red, which is manageable.  But this darn seroma is really bugging me.  It's back, even though I bind myself tightly with Ace bandages every day.  I hate having to put the Aquaphor on myself and feel this swollen bump where I am now supposed to be flat.  It's like adding insult to injury.  And once again, I have managed to grow a bigger "breast" in one week than some gals have in a lifetime.  I hate seeing it.  I hate touching it.  I am not supposed to have breasts anymore and it seems like a crule joke to have this keep happening. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited January 2008
    Man, Angie, that blows. Frown
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited January 2008

    Angie,

    My heart goes out to you.  Sometimes life just seems so unreasonable.  I can't figure out why we all keep getting piled up with one thing after another.  This surely is not an easy journey. 

    But please know that we are all here and we are all supporting you.  There is light at the end of this loooong tunnel.  Stay strong and don't give up.

    Lots and lots of hugs, Jackie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited January 2008

    Oh Angie - what a drag. I suspected it would come back. Draining doesn't get rid of it, it just postpones the problem. Yell (explitive inserted here.)They do get worse before they get better...I hate to say it, but you might have to just wait for it to re-absorb. They do, ultimately, absorb back into where ever they find to go. They (the little lymph-creatures) just have to get forced (by overcrowding) to go somewhere else. As long as you're relieving the pressure, they don't HAVE to go anywhere - you're doing it for them. I had mine drained two times, and when she explained that to me (at the what would have been third time), I thought "I'm just going to bite the bullet and see how long this takes."

    It got HUGE. They'd drained 250cc's the second time, and the third time it grew LARGER than the second time - but I just held out...It took WEEKS - I can't remember exactly how long, but then finally it "gave way" and started reabsorbing. It took several days to go away - but it DID GO AWAY FINALLY.  There is hope. You can do it - it requires patience - for me it became like a contest. "Just how long is this going to go, and how big will this get?"  Actually, it wasn't so much patience as Icy Determination,

    but so help me - I was NOT going to be the one to break down first.

    And I ultimately won.

    All better now! (Victory Chant)

    I did keep massaging it every which way (just to remind it that it wasn't welcome on my body ANYMORE, and it needed to get the hey outta there.)

    Sheesh. Big hugs. (to your left leg.) 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited January 2008

    Hi all,

    nice to read about all the news... I spent the week-end trying to clear out blackberry bushes from my front yard, and I now look as if I had engaged in a terminal battle with a clawed animal.... actually, I am not to bad, but my SO has forearms scratched all over - I did tell him he should wear thicker gloves... the weather was unseasonably warm and nice, so we had a great time actually.

    Nash, I am really happy your mom is finally out. Hope the Taxol will not be too hard on her - for me it was the worse part, and it took forever to clear out the SE. Nasty stuff - hopefully, even nastier on cancer!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited January 2008

    Thanks, Lilith. My mom had Taxol about 3 1/2 years ago and tolerated it pretty well. I hope it will still work this time around. We're off to the cancer center right now--happy cancer cell killing thoughts, everyone.

    Hope you're doing better today, Angie.

    What's on the docket today, Kim? How was the sight seeing? Glad you're able to fit a tiny bit of "vacation" in with the MDA visit.

    Hi, Kaye and Jackie *waving*.

    Harely, are you reading? How are you? 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • chemomom
    chemomom Member Posts: 171
    edited January 2008

    You know, I feel like such a schmuck complaining about a seroma when I should be "happy" it is the worst of my load to bear at this point.  Some of you ladies are dealing with so much worse stuff and yet you find a kind word for me.  Thanks, everybody.  Sorry I am such a drag lately.  You chicks rock......  Angie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited January 2008

    It's ok Angie - We love you.

    Seroma Anxiety and all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited January 2008

    Angie,

    You have a right to feel bad and this is definitely the right spot to do it.  I'm with Kaye--we love you--"Seroma Anxiety and all".  Thank goodness we have Kaye to make us laugh.

    Nash--Hope Mom- and you- are doing okay.  I pray these treatments work for her.

    Kimmie--hope all is going well.

    Lots of hugs, Jackie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited January 2008

    Hi all, 

    Had a busy weekend so I'm just getting a chance to check in with you all now. Angie, that's a huge bummer on the seroma, and I'm sure I would feel just as lousy about it. Don't ever think twice about venting when you need to. That's what we're all here for. To help each other through the troubles and the cheers.

    And speaking of cheers, I'm glad to hear that your mom is home, Nash, and I hope Taxol treats her well. Is she doing weekly?  I found the weekly Taxol pretty easy to take, and it seems like I had it easier than most folks did on Taxol.

    And more cheers to Kimmie. Sounds like you've been having a great experience at MDA and I hope they can give you some good answers.

    I started rads today. One down, 27 to go!

    Hi also to Jackie, Kaye, Lillith, Harley, Debbie, and anybody else I might be forgetting! Hope you all are well!

    DeAnn 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited January 2008

    DeAnn,

    Good luck with your rads.  I just finished 28 tx on Friday.  My skin held up great until the last few days.  However, it's just bad sunburn that's a little uncomfortable-but not unbearable.  I hope your skin holds up well.  Stay strong.

    Lots of hugs and prayers, Jackie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited January 2008

    Angie, I don't really see what is bad about complaining about your seroma. Frankly, we all have all kind of different situations and issues, aesthetic, moral, psychological and right down physical - and I think all of those are serious! we are all in the life game, and any "growth", even if a seroma, it is un-welcome!!!

    DeAnn, hopefully your rads will work well. I didn't need any (happy dance about that), but I hear that it is loads easier than chemo... and it is one step closer to end of treatment.

    I am still pondering the recon issue - and reading in the recon folder, so that when I'll see the surgeon in March I'll have my questions all lined up. :) At the same time, being back at work is really a bummer, as my company is trying to move me as an expat, and my choices may be quite limited: either move or be made reduntant! so in both case, we are talking stress, either to cope with moving internationally (school, family, housing...), or to find a new job... pffff this year sounds challenging, and it is only starting.

    Luckily, so far I am taking well Herceptin and Tamoxifen, not much from the point of view of side effects (still only hot flushes a-plenty!!!)

    Hugs and waves to all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited January 2008

    Wow, Lillith - That all sounds pretty stressful to me! What is it (I'm sorry, I forgot if you mentioned it) that you do for work? Relocating internationally isn't something I ever need to consider at my job, (other than the occasional: "ok, that DOES it, I'm packing up and moving to Tahiti!" ) so I'm curious as to what field you're in! And IF you relocate to the USA, there is supposed to be an incredible plastic surgeon in ... where was it ... Georgia? The gals on the recon thread will know.

    Kimmie...how are you doing...?...We haven't heard anything since Saturday. Hope you're ok.

    DeAnn - Doesn't it feet great to start rads? It's like "Whoa! It's official...I really AM making my way through these treatments...YeeHAA!"

    Hope they're all uneventful. Apparently Jackie's were just like mine - pretty uneventful.

    Hugs to Everybody  (an especially FIRM hug to Angie's seroma) - hope your day is good.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited January 2008

    Was thinking about you yesterday, DeAnn. Hope rads goes very smoothly for you. I had my rad #21 today, 14 to go. Am finding it much easier than chemo. Am red and have assorted odd pains, but nothing I can't ignore. 

    My mom will be doing weekly Taxol. The first time she did it, three years ago, she did it once every three weeks. She had a mild allergic reaction to it yesterday, but they seem to think it was a drip speed issue. Good grief, I hope so. They slowed the drip and she was able to finish the bag. 

    And Angie, rant away, my friend. This is the place to do it.

    Wow, Lilith, I can't even imagine an international relo. Makes my head spin!

    And on a final note, the entertainment in our house is Watching Mommy's Hair Grow. It's pretty exciting. Much more exciting than Watching Mommy's Hair Fall Out. Last week I looked like Sinead O'Conner. This week I'm closing in more on Annie Lenox. It's all good. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited January 2008

    NASH!!! Annie Lennox !!!! YES !!!

    I just looked her up - I was pretty sure the picture of her with the PURPLE hair wasn't quite "you"  but the other one where she has "our" haircut is SO COOL.

    Maybe I need to flatten my center point down.

    I, on the other hand look more like a fat, white Grace Jones. Or her pet unicorn.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited January 2008

    Kaye, I totally spurted water out of my nose on the pet unicorn comment. Too funny. 

    Hair growth continues with pretty good speed around here too. I've got about an inch of "platinum" (ie: white!) colored hair, and I've kind of decided I like short hair. I never really had short hair before, but I think I'm going to keep it on the short side for awhile (not THIS short, of course, but you get the idea). I've actually had more compliments on my hair in the last week than I ever had in the previous two years with regular hair. Of course, this is all coming from people who saw me totally BALD just a few weeks ago, so there was lots of room for improvement.

    Rads was easy, but since I've only had two, I wouldn't expect much change yet. Thanks everyone for all the good thoughts! It's good to get this rolling and be that much closer to the end of treatment. 

    DeAnn 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited January 2008

    Hi Ladies,

    DeAnn, I don't know whether to laugh or apologize! Better water than...um...an expensive Cabernet?

    Hey Kimmie - what's happening? The natives are getting restless. (Some of them are spurting water out of their noses.)

    Seriously - we're (I'm taking the liberty to speak collectively here) wondering how this week is going and how you are. 

    I'm going to visit my daughter in Portland, Oregon until Monday - so if you don't hear anything from me till then, that would be because we've shopped, and then dropped. 

    Waves, hugs, firm pressure to Angie's seroma, etc., etc.,etc. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited January 2008

    oops. I forgot. I don't look like Grace Jone's unicorn anymore. Today it's more like her End Table.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited January 2008

    Hi all,

    Hope everyone is doing well.

    Kimmee,

    How are ya?  I'm thinking about you, girl.

    Angie,

    So sorry about the seroma...It sounds so painful!

    Nash,

    Thanks for asking about me...

    Glad to hear that your Mom is out of the hospital, and that her Taxol went well, er...except for the minor reaction...Glad they were able to slow it down, and it went smoothly after that.

    I am doing ok... Kind of feeling depressed, when I look in the mirror I don't recognize the face that looks back at me!  I guess I am doing alright in the hair dept., but it is silver and gray and YICK!!  still so short!  I think it is now about 2 inches long... how much longer, till it reaches my shoulders??

    DeAnn,


    Good Luck with those rads!

    Best wishes!  Hang in there everyone!

    Harley

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited January 2008

    Spurting liquids in GLEE is good, not bad. Surely, with water it is less painful than with cabernet (or lemon juice), but cabernet is known for generating bouts of hilarity, too... :)) Kaye, I hope your visit to Portland is great, and that the weather shows some kindness. your hair will I am sure morph again before next week... mine is still in Sinead's length, maybe by Easter I'll be in an Annie Lennox format. At any rate, it is better than Kojak. Hey, I had to SHAVE my legs again (well, there were some stragglers); I never thought I'd do it so happily.

    I have been travelling for work this week, and in the car I popped in the "Golden Compass" in an Audible form (you know, the ipod format). I am almost half way throught the book, and I strongly suggest getting it for anybody having to spend time in waiting - chemo or other. It is a totally relaxing way of reading...

    Kimmie, I was thinking of you, and I hope the week is proceeding well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited February 2008

    HI NATIVES!!!!!!

    I have soooo much to tell you.

    Im still here in Texas, yes Ive really enjoyed our little jaunts out to sight see. By the way my hotel is across from the Astrodome which is kinda cool.

    Anyway I finally finished my testing.HAPPY DANCE or me. I have to tell ya the MRI was the worst testing experience yet.

    Picture this, they lay you on a diagonal table with your boobs hanging thru two holes, then you put your face down on a padded hole. Then they back you up into this MRI machine(all the way in). The MRI is smaller than normal or something because it kinda hugs you in there. Im freaking out at this point. Then they tell you the test will last      1HOUR!!!!!!!!! and during this hour dont lift your head or take any deep breaths, basically dont move anything.  Buy the time the test was over I was fighting the urge to scream (Im totally serious about that).  It was awful. If you ever get a MRI on your breast at a center your not used to it might help you to get some details before you go. I told the nurse they(the Doc) should have given me some serious anti anxiety medicine before that test.

     I did it thou,and for the second time in as many weeks "Im pretty proud of myself".

    So that was the last of the testing. A hour in that contraption left my chest wall sore. OK OK OK Ill quit whining now.

    Today I saw Dr C. and he is changing my chemo to Taxotere and Ellence. Have any of you had these? If so I sure could use some info, Im kinda nervous. The nurse told me they arnt as hard on you as Taxol was.

    My tests show NO active cancer in my bones and NO active cancer in my Rt breast and Right Lymph nodes. YEA  (Another happy dance).

    But I have three active areas in and around my left breast. He says Ive been on the same chemo for to long and Ive built a resistance to it. So we switcheroo.

    He is giving me two treatments and then testing to see if all my cancer is in-active. Then surgery.My first treatment is Tuesday of next week.

    He also said I had extensive mets in my bones, but they are all in-active right now.

    So I think that catches me up. Hope I didnt leave anything out. All Yea he said a stem cell transplant is an option he will look into later. Is that a good thing or a bad thing??????????

    Angie - nothing is small when your already emotionally overloaded. And I can think of a million (or at least several thousand) things that would be easier to deal with than a big fluid filled lump on your chest. I think you said it when you said your not supposed to have anything there. It takes alot off soul searching to prepare for the flat chest left by a mastectomy, then you get this bump. I can see how it would be a slap in the face. 

    Kato  - ICY DETERMINATION  WOW thats a great burst of strength. You go.

    Nash - Hope your moms adjusting and tolerating the Taxol well. It worked great for me I just have used it to long now.

    Hi five for DGHoff and DeAnn for starting rads!!!!!!!!

    You guys are moving right along.

    And for Nash and DHoff sounds like your working your way to the beauty shop.

    Ill let you guys in on another secret, my DH is an a**hole 90% of the time.

    Our marriage has always been hard to hold together. He was an alcoholic for 10 yrs and and quit, god knows I should have left him many many times. Anyway he has been a major speed bump, I have to keep crawling over.

    Hes been making this trip so hard on me. Whining, complaining and cussing everything thats not wrapped around him. And I should mention that he has a bad back and is now addicted to pain pills, which hes out of so hes doubly mad at the world. And taking it out on me.

    Hope you guys dont mind but I had to vent to someone.

    Thanks for listening

    Kim 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited February 2008

    OMG, Kimmie! of course you need to vent! I can't imagine anything worse that going through testing with an unsupportive spouse (or, I can imagine, but don't want to).

    I am so glad for you about the testing results. MRI can be very stressful, they gave me a bunch including an MRI-guided biopsy (all the same with the boobs hanging in holes, only they also needle them... haha). yeah, hated it, a totally claustrophobic experience.

    I've read a lot about Taxotere - it seems to be very used in England, they are not much onto Taxol there - but I cannot compare. I hope it will work well for you.

    Hugs.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited February 2008

    Kimmie,

    Hang in there honey.  You are such a strong person.  I'm sorry that you have to deal with that crap from your husband.  Please just try to worry about YOU.  You have to take care of yourself first so you can take care of your children. 

    I had the mri and needle biopsy too and I felt exactly like you did.  Be proud you made it through!!

    I don't know anything about that chemo but I wish you luck and I'm so happy that things sound positive for you.

    Keep on trucking!!LOL

    Lots of hugs, Jackie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited February 2008

    Kimmee

    Glad to  hear the good news...that you made it thru your tests, and they turned out ok. 

    I had taxotere and cytoxan.  One of the most annoying se's from the Taxotere was a runny nose and eyes watering.   

    You are in my prayers!

    Hugs

    Harley

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited February 2008

    Kim--I am so happy to hear that there is no active disease in the bones, R breast or lymph nodes. My eyes actually welled up with tears when I read that.

    I am so proud of you, too. It is a really big frickin' deal to up and go to MDA for weeks and have this workup done. And it's even more impressive given your DH's issues. Really big cyber hug to you. And we're always here for any sort of venting.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited February 2008
    Oh, and wanted to qualify my Annie Lenox look--it's Annie Lenox, circa 1988, probably right after she got a major trim. Tongue out
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited February 2008

    Just me again. 

    Kim--Ellence is the same class of drugs called anthracyclines, and is similar to adriamycin. it's also called epirubin. So being on Taxotere/Ellence is a variation of being on Taxol/Adriamycin. It just works slightly differently. Sounds like a good combo for you.

    I know of bc women who have had stem cell transplants. I believe it's done so you can have a very high dose chemo--someone correct me if I'm wrong. I think it's a pretty hard core procedure, but can be very beneficial.  I can look into it more if you want me to--just let me know.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited February 2008

    Your to nice for words!

    Thanks for the support.

    Hugs

    Kim 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories