Topic: TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Jun 16, 2012 12:40 AM jackboo09 wrote:

Thanks to everyone who sent me good luck vibes for my job. My mind is racing as this is a big step, but I am ready to leave patient land now and embark on a new challenge. I have a week to prepare my application and will be starting today.
Will keep you posted. So wonderful to have such a supportive group of cyber friends. I only wish we could meet.

Liz

Jun 16, 2012 09:27 AM kltb04 wrote:

Vicki - love the mohawk!  Glad your TX went well and you had lots of support.

ashla - I totally thought the same thing when I saw the previews for that movie!

jackboo - best of luck on the job application process - hope it all works out for you.

dancetrancer - congrats on your last treatment!

SpecialK - best of luck as you start the trial, I confess as a relative newbie I don't know much about clinical trials so I am interested in reading about the process.

Well, I am on day #6 after Taxotere/Herceptin and still no major SE so I think I may have gotten off easy this time around.  I know things like nail issues and neuropathy could be cumulative/down the road though so I am not under any delusions that this will be a cakewalk.  I do have some weird/random pains that come and go - (all over - side, back, legs) but nothing like the pain I experienced on Nuelasta which was debilitating for days at a time.  I just hope my counts stay up, I guess I will find out Monday how that is going.

Also I got a call that my BS has set me up for a plastic surgeon consult on Monday - I don't know if I have mentioned on here but I am 99.9% sure I am opting for a BMX after my chemo is complete, regardless of the response due to my age (38) and other reasons.  But I have no idea at this point if I will need rads - I had a SNB with one node of four positive - and won't a PS need to take rads into consideration when talking about reconstruction options?  Confused :)  

Ok, well, we are going to get out of the house today and at least run errands and maybe go out to dinner.  My poor kids and I have been home all week.  Wish we could do something outdoors but with highs in the 90s and high humidity, that thought is not appealing. ;)

Jun 16, 2012 11:49 AM kltb04 wrote:

I spoke too soon. I have started with a low grade fever. Just 99 right now but worried where it might go. :(

Jun 16, 2012 12:12 PM kltb04 wrote:

I think my dr is 100.5 as well. Were you on Nuelasta? I'm still blaming this on not having the shot. Never had fever on A/C with it. Grrrrr.

Jun 16, 2012 01:45 PM lago wrote:

Kltb04 lots to consider with reconstruction. I thought for sure I was going to have rads given the size of my tumor but opted to try for implants anyway. (had BMX 1st). Ended getting a pass (gray area). Looking back I'm so glad I didn't have the option for lump. I'm so glad I did the BMX.

As far as temp to call my onc said 101 but that seems higher than most oncs say. I never got a fever. Matter a fact the digital thermometer I purchased is still in the package. I bet the battery is dead. I wish I could find the old kind in the store. They don't go bad.

Jun 16, 2012 03:04 PM vickilind61 wrote:

kltb, thanks for mentioning the random pains; I have had pains in my right arm and left shoulder most of the day.  If I still have them in the morning, I will mention it to the nurse when I go for my Neulasta shot.  Hoping your fever doesn't get any worse.  Keep us up to date on how your doing. 

Other than the weird pains, I am feeling pretty good, but like kltb, I have no illusions.  I am well aware that SE's could hit me anytime in the next several days.  We will just ride it out. 

specialK, so excited for you!  Keep us in the loop.

Jun 16, 2012 10:45 PM jackboo09 wrote:

Vicki: you seem to be doing so well .Long may it continue. I have been thinking back to my own TCH. I was told to ring the hospital if my temp went up to 38.5C or higher. I confess to becoming obsessed with that darn thermometer.There was one occasion when it nudged up very close but i felt really good and decided to wait a couple of hours. It then dropped and I was glad because it saved me a half hour trip to the cancer ward at Sheffield hospital-yuk. Not advocating this, just what I did. The only other time I had an issue was when my throat flared up. Again, I felt really good but my onco put me on antibiotics straight away. Crazy times, but you sound like you have tons of support and the right mental attitude. Keep us updated.

Liz

Jun 16, 2012 11:38 PM Hindsfeet wrote:

Disabled? lol...I wonder if we could get a disabled parking sticker? I am a teacher, and I'm around young kids, and have done ok in regard to all the bugs that go around. It should be our choice if we want to keep working or not. And if someone wants to fire you or let you go due to absenses, they can find another reason other than cancer? I wonder if being "disabled" might be a card you could play to get a job, as some companies may feel required to hire a few disabled people, and you aren't "disabled" as others who might be very disabled.

Jun 17, 2012 08:54 AM, edited Jun 17, 2012 08:56 AM by Hindsfeet

Jackie, I don't think I could play the cancer card either, but if I absolutely had to, who knows. I agree with you in regard that you got the double whammy with chemo and herceptin. I don't think I would be functional if I took chemo.  I'm having immune issues this year. I did get the first real flu in seven years. I don't feel as well this year or have the energy I had before. I take a lot of immune boosters. Will you always be on chemo?

What is good about my job is I'm the boss. I have about 29 employees, but have administrative help, who stay on top of things, which made it easier on me. They stood in the gap for me this year. I do have one part time employee who had a kidney transplant. She was out for a year or so. Although she has had a lot of medical issues, she is doing quite well, and I wouldn't consider letting her go due to medical reasons. There might be other employers who are symphatic to those who had cancer or other medical disabilities. I hope that having cancer would have a detrimental effect on the career of bc women.

Jun 17, 2012 11:16 AM kltb04 wrote:

Vicki - I saw your post on another thread about swimming (and didn't want to butt in there) but my MO never mentioned anything about swimming to me and I got in the pool on vacation.  Of course, my version of "swimming" is standing in about 3 1/2 feet of water while my kids play so it's not like I was getting the water in my eyes/nose, etc...

lago - yes, when BS mentioned the option of lumpectomy last time I said nope, not even an option and she fully supports that decision...not that I am looking forward to such major surgery but I think its the right choice for me.  I am pretty sure that the PS I am going to is going to recommend implants as well and I am leaning toward that too, regardless of their longevity.  I just don't think I can deal with some of the other surgery options.

Oh, and on the thermometer - I still have a good old fashioned kind!  It's my mom's and I guard it with my life lol.  I just find the digital ones so unreliable.  

Temp hovered around 99 to 99.2 last night but was gone this morning.  Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Jun 17, 2012 01:37 PM lago wrote:

Jun 17, 2012 02:23 PM Moonflwr912 wrote:

Dragonfly, jump, girl, jump! And thanks for posting, good news is always helpful!

Jun 17, 2012 04:27 PM Fitz33 wrote:

Dragonfly:  Best wishes for a happy birthday and congratulations on your tests.  You and I had treatments about the same times and I've just recently had my second 6-month exam and US, making it a year since treatment and all is well.  It feels really good and I know what it means to celebrate like that for a birthday. 

Jun 17, 2012 05:36 PM dancetrancer wrote:

LOL Moonflower, yep, it's all relative, isn't it?   So what number does she want your hemoglobin to be at before starting rehab?  I, too, am going to be taking it easy until mine gets up closer to normal and stays there.  

I'll trade trains with ya, I'm on the C.   

Jun 17, 2012 06:49 PM, edited Jun 17, 2012 06:51 PM by shore1

Dragonfly - happy birthday! Have fun on your jump. I look forward to seeing another awesome video :)

Question about returning periods...I haven't had one since starting chemo in September, but have a lot of cramps this week. Is this a sign that its coming back? I pretty much decided to take MO advice & not have an ooph, at least in the near future, but now that I feel so crampy I think my period is coming back & its hard not to freak out about it even tho 2 MOs told me not to.