Washington Ladies/Men???

Hi, I'm was recently dx BC. Had a lumpectomy on 1/29/08. I'm 63 and work at a middle school in western Washington. The school district I work at has had at least 6 cases BC in the past 3 years, 2 in my school this school year. Seems like an epidemic. Before seeing my oncologist I was seriously considering not having radiation out of fear of side effects. Mine was deep in the left breast. They took about 1/4 of my breast. I'm a 44D so had some to spare.  After seeing my onc, I realized I was being foolish and now am at peace with the recommended treatment(4 rounds Chemo every 3 weeks) followed by 6 weeks of radiation. Am not looking forward to treatments, but am taking it a day at a time. I have faith in God and a lot of prayer support. My husband has been through this with his second wife. He's a "rock" but my heart aches for him especially. He's my best friend and we will have been married for 8 years March 12th.  When we met I was caring for my elderly mother and he proposed to us both and helped me care for her for the last 6 years of her life. She adored him and he her. He lost a younger brother to cancer 2 years ago, so has been through the fire. He has truly been a gift from God.

Hi-

I'm a Washington gal too.  I live in Bothell. 

I was diagnosed mid November, had a double Mastectomy (cancer was in both breasts!) the end of November and just finished 4 treatments of AC.  I am about to begin Taxol and Herceptin (who can tell me about these please???) and radiation soon too. 

I am 44 and have 3 young children at home.  2 are age 10  and a baby that we adopted.  My husband is my rock in all of this!!  I am so blessed tired all of the time!! 

Im so glad to have found this board!

Linda

Hi Gwen and Linda...so sorry to meet this way.  come back often and post, 'k? 

Gwen, there's a reason it seems like an epidemic, and that's cuz it is.  the Pacific NW is rated as the third highest place for bc in the nation, and some studies even place us first.  hooray for being in the top three, huh? not.

I was really anxious about the various treatments too (AC x4 every two weeks, Neulasta, then Taxol x4 every two weeks, then Tamoxifen probably; might just have it all yanked).  then I realized that except for the strength of the meds, it's really not that different than penicillin - just more unpleasant.  after all, if I have strep throat I'm going to take the penicillin to cure it, even tho I'll probably get a yeast infection in the process.  all in all, I'd rather be miserable for a few months above ground than comfortable below it.

WildRose, how are you doing?  haven't seen you for a while; hope you're doing ok.

Jule, thanks for starting this thread.  I know it sounds silly, but I think it's particularly helpful to talk to people close to you.  it's easier to share ideas and tips and places to go (or not go ) when you have common frame of reference.

type to everyone soon...be well.

Kalen

Thanks to everyone who responded. I'm sure it will be a huge comfort when I start the Chemo. I'm trying to take one day at a time and enjoy feeling good when I do. My job is also a real source of joy for me and I hope to be able to work through Chemo. Hugs to all of you and my prayers are with you.

Linda, it is nice to see someone close to me! I live in Woodinville. Where are you getting your treatments? I have been going to Evergreen. I'm doing the CMF regimen once a week. Treatment 6 will be on Thursday. I'm with you on the tired part!

Hi Marsha, sorry to have to say welcome, but I'm glad you found us.  whidbey is so far north; where are you having your treatments?  congrats on negative margins!!

I'm glad your family is supportive; I can't imagine going thru this by myself like some of the ladies I've met.  I am in awe of them.  looking forward to typing with you more.

Kalen

I picked up a couple of things tonight - scrips, BioTeen (sp?), Claritin - but I've got more to go.  my household is loads of fun right now - not.  Vianne has been dealing with some sort of mild virus for several weeks, but all the tests are negative.  she's even had blood drawn for the first time last week in an attempt to figure it out.  handled it way better than I do, lemme tell ya.  her daddy took her to that appointment, and he got the lab techs to give her the full tour - they showed her how the centrifuge worked, what the blood looked before and after, how the tubes were identified and what the various sizes were for, you name it and they showed her.  when it was time for the draw, teddy went first and then she did.  she watched the whole time, and her only comment was "Cool!!".  she likes saying "phlebotomist" now.  so anyway, she'll be fine for a week or so, then high fevers and listless for three days, then it breaks and she's normal.  just what I need next week.  then, to top it off, Martin's come down with some flu or other that's going around, and it's hit him like a ton of bricks.  he spent most of the day in bed, and I just hope to buddha that he's over the worst of it by the middle of next week.  I am so not looking forward to my first round of chemo and having to care for two sick people as well as work immediately after.   plus grandma, who might as well be a second child.   AAUUGGHH!!!!! <runs screaming into the night>

enough whining.  wasn't today GORGEOUS?!?!  I found a new (old) song that I'm going to adopt as my theme; I was laughing so hard when I heard it that I swear I nearly wet my pants.  keep in mind the various se's for chemo, and the se's for the meds to address the se's for chemo, and see if you don't start laughing too.

I want a new drug
One that won't make me sick
One that won' make me crash my car
Or make me feel three feet thick

I want a new drug
One that won't hurt my head
One that won't make my mouth too dry
Or make my eyes too red

want a new drug
One that won't spill
One that don't cost too much
Or come in a pill

I want a new drug
One that won't go away
One that won't keep me up all night
One that won't make me sleep all day

Know what it is?  do you?  do you?  I got the album from my brother.  he passed away due to cystic fibrosis last fall, and at the wake my parents wanted everyone to select from his music collection whatever they enjoy, and I found a greatest hits collection that I took.  didn't listen it till today on the way to work, and was just busting up.  I'm surprised I didn't get pulled over!!

gotta go see if the crockpot is done yet.  hugs to all, and type to you soon.

Kalen

yup, from 1984 called "I Want a New Drug", the year after graduation from high school.  you couldn't PAY me to do that over.

  I swear I'm gonna get a t-shirt with the lyrics to wear to chemo.

Good Morning all. I forgot to mention that I live at Sultan. I'm doing my Chemo at Monroe with Dr Congdon and Radiation in Everett. While I'm so grateful to have this place to share feelings, that even the most supportive husband can't really understand, it breaks my heart that there are so many of us. Because of the large number of BC cases in our district, I do have a lot of support from them. We are close and cry and pray for each other.  I'm suffering a lot of rib and abdominal pain so am going to have a Pet Scan soon. Sunday was a particularly bad day. I 've got a call in to my Oncologist this morning. Hugs! Gwen

Marsha, just wanted to say good luck and best wishes for your surgery tomorrow.  You'll be in my thoughts.

when you feel up to it, let us know how it goes.

Kalen

Hello,

I am from Kent and have been dx with pagets and underlining DCIS on February 7th.  I am scheduled March 6th for a mastectomy.  Way too much happening in a two week span.

I plan to have reconstructive surgery.  Can someone recomend one in the Renton area?

sorry Hannah, welcome to the Washington thread!!  someday I'll be able to think for more than 2 minutes at a time :-)

Kalen

Hanna, I chose to have my surgery at the UW, but did not choose to have ps so I'm not much help either.  I went through the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, maybe they would have some input.

Good luck, Carol

I just got home about 30 minutes ago.  man, that was long.  just time consuming, tho; the actual infusion was surprisingly easy and painless.  I've had a screaming headache all day, which is the only reason I didn't fall asleep in the chair!!  I just couldn't hold my eyelids shut.  plus, it was really bright.  I'm gonna add a suggestion to the Tips thread - dark sunglasses or an eyeshade.  I really could've used a nap.

so, hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to go to work after my shot, but I'm going to take it one day at a time.  the nurses said to expect side effects in 24 - 48 hours.  also gonna start taking the advil & claritin regularly, to try to head off the nastylasta se's.  I'm more worried about that than anything else at this point.

when I got home, my dd was terribly disappointed that I still had my hair!!  I may have to shave it sooner than later, just to get her off my back.  I think she's looking forward to drawing on my skull.

Marsha, how did your surgery go?

off to a meeting now.  have a nice night, everyone, and be well...

Kalen