Topic: Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame

Pam,you guys that give us all the encouragement are the best.  I am always amazed at how the brave women on these threads handle so much.  I know, at least for right now that I only have to do 4 tx and 6 weeks of rads.  The other  women who endure so many months of chemo are my heroes.  They are so courageous and strong and we all have the same goal, to live, and we are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish that.

Thank you Pam for starting this wonderful thread, so all  of us could come together and share our experiences.

Juannelle

Thank goodness for the computer in the middle of sleepless nights!  

I hope things improve with the light of day.  Why is everything always worse at night?  It seems so cruel that the younger the BC patient the more they have to go through in treatment.  My heart is with you today.

Pam 

It's so true, Pam, things do seem worse in the dead of night. This morning I'm still feeling like I'm in a nightmare - but I'm going to find my way through it somehow!

Nas14  Thanks for your support.  I'm still waiting on a surgical date for the dissection. I am also going to consult with med and rad oncologists to see if that really is my best course of action. I'm sorta wondering why would I waste time on more surgery and recovery, and risk the complications and side effects of that, rather than move directly into an aggressive chemo regimen which will be my only systemic weapon?

Pam - Thanks for your kind empathy - You seem to always hit the nail on the head.

Unclez - So glad to find a fellow Trip Neg here and thanks for the positive words. I've enjoyed your posts but until now didn't look closely at your signature line. 1/9 nodes: did you have (partial) axillary node dissection - and how did that go? How was your recovery? Have you/are you undergoing chemo now, and if so, what regimen are you on?  Feel free to PM me.

JustmeAlicia  - keeping you in my thoughts today and hope your day post-chemo goes well.

Juannelle - So glad you're feeling well. Hope you have a great day back at work.  Good vibes your way!

Good AM Jen,

Could you describe the pain in your arm?  I am having some arm discomfort and attribute it to a shoulder problem coming back but wonder about it.  I cannot sleep without lying on that arm and know it interferes with circulation.    Sometimes in the AM my left hand fingers are ice cold.  Did you notice the difference in size? Congrats on reaching the end of Rads!  hooray!!!!

pam 

Hi Everyone,

I was recently dx with IDC on 10/22/09 and had a Lumpectomy and lymphnode dissection on 10/29/09.  I haven't gotten the results of my pathology report yet, but I am waiting on a call from the surgeons office anytime.  I do know that out of the two lymphnodes they dissected none were positive for cancer.  Yeah!!!   I am currently off work for 2 weeks recuperating and return to see the surgeon on 11/12/09 and at that time he will tell me the treatment plan.  This is my second go round with cancer.  I was dx with Hodgkins Disease when I was 16 and underwent 8 months of chemo.  I have been cancer free for 27 yrs and was quite shocked when the surgeon called after my biopsy and gave me the news.  I had not felt a lump or anything... the small mass had shown up on my mammogram.  And so began my ordeal with breast cancer.  I struggled like so many of you back and forth between deciding if I should have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, but I felt like my surgeon was pushing me toward having the lumpectomy because he felt like my mass was so small.  After I had an MRI done 2 days before surgery, it confirmed that it was small (the surgeon actually said he had probably gotten most of it with the biopsy) and that helped make the decision to go with the surgeon's recommendation a little easier.  I pray every day that it was the right decision to make and that I shouldn't have had a bilateral mx.  But I am so glad that I found this site and all the ladies have been so supportive and wonderful to talk with. God Bless each and every one of you.

Thanks Onty!  It sounds like a very aggressive chemo regimen - I wish you all the best with it. I'll have to ask my oncologist about Avastin... I have a consult with her on Monday, am also meeting with the rads oncologiston Thursday, so hopefully I'll be able to put the pieces together and decide whether ALND is the way to go or not.

You mentioned the port - and I have seen that a lot on these boards.  Is it standard practice in U.S.? I'm not sure that's the case here in Canada (maybe for Herceptin patients). My sister had a pic line in her arm but that was because of bad veins. 

Alicia,I hope you are feeling better this evening.  Keep rinsing and drink lots of liquids.  If you are drinking lots of water, then add something ever so often to add some electrolytes into your system.  I bought Gatorade, but it is too salty for me, so I switched to a Zero Powerade.  It taste better, has half the salt and no calories.

Jen, how is your arm doing?  Certainly hope it isn't lymphedema.  That is one thing I am so afraid of.  My Onc said not to worry, so maybe I wont worry, but I do take all the precautions.

Renee, welcome to the group.  Sorry we had to meet this way, but glad you have found us. 

Luah, I am having 4 treatments and I have a port.  I think it  just makes everything so much easier for the staff. 

I went back to work and everyone was so glad to see me.  They had gifts for me all over my office, socks, books, pens and hats, hats and many more hats.  It was nice to be welcomed back by such nice gestures.  They are really great.

Hope all goes well for everyone having treatment this week.  I am enjoying my time between treatments.

Juannelle

Juannelle, one of my favorite threads on bc.org was started by a young woman who calls herself YearoftheHat.  When I asked her how she came up with that posting name, she said when she called her dad to tell him she had to take chemo, he said, Well, I guess this will be the year of the hat.  Your mentioning all the hats made me think of her. 

I have a lot of hats that I wear for sun protection when I play golf during the hot months. 

Blessings on all you ladies taking treatment.

Juanelle I am drinking 2 quarts of water, and mixing in some lime gatorade.  I feel ok.  Minimal SE's so far.  Today will be day 3 post round 1 of AC. and Neulasta shot yesterday.

Thanks Nas, so far the worst for me is the headache.  Ouch and tylenol isn't helping!!!

Juanelle- It is so nice to hear that your collegues were so supportive and gave you such a warm welcome! My arm is still aching. I went to the lymphedema clinic today and the PT I saw said I have not developed lymphodema yet, but the swelling and aching I have could very well turn into it if it goes untreated. She scheduled me for 6 sessions with her to try to minimize the swelling and work on my arm strength and range of motion.

Hope all of you are doing well with your treatments! Welcome newcomers, hang in there, we are all with you!

Hugs, Jen

Carol, I guess that would be right, "the year of the hats".  I like that.  Maybe that is what I will call this experience, instead of the year from He$$.

Nancy, when I went to bed last night, I slept like the dead.  I was tired, but it was a good tired.  I made it through today and I am not as tired tonight as last.   I think I have made it.

Alicia, I am glad to hear that you are doing well.  Maybe your ses will be minimal and it will  make all other txs bearable.  Glad you got out for the walk, I know that always makes me feel better and sleep better.

Jen, I am glad to hear that you caught it early enough that you haven't developed lymphedema.  Like I said that is one of my biggest fears, our dxs are lots alike, but you had more nodes  removed.

Juannelle

It is a beautiful day here in the suburbs of Chicago as well! Nice, mild and sunny! I have 3 more radiation treatments to go, let the countdown begin! Saw my onc today and got my RX for Tamox. A little nervous about the SE's that come with it. Can anyone on here that is taking it or has taken it how fast the SE's came about and what the major ones were?

MAGOB -  I'm so glad to hear that your hair is growing back in even if it is a 5 o'clock shadow that's a start and praying and hoping that your side effects get better and even go away!

Jburke1 - yeah to only having 3 more radiation treatments to go and boo to having to start Tamoxifen, but whatever it takes to keep you healthy.  I pray that the side effects will be minimal to none!

syncrsequim - I'm sorry that you had to join us here in the class of 2009.  I myself am a newbie and was dx on 10/22/09.  I had the partial mast/lumpectomy on 10/29/09 and the sentinel lymphnode biopsy.  I will be praying for you as you start on your journey.  

Today I am feeling a little better than yesterday, not quite as sore, but still swollen in the underarm area from the node biopsy and to my surprise to the back side of right arm as well and I have noticed some numbness in that area and on the back part of my arm coming out of my underarm.  I think that several ladies on the board mentioned that they had this present after the node biopsy for several weeks to months.  It is a really big pain in the tush, but doable.  Take care everyone.

Hi Ladies, I joined class 2009 in July..Had B/L Mastectomy 8/17/09 and am being "filled" for probably my last time on Monday ( expanders) Found this site today because I needed to reach out to others about Tamoxifen..(was not invented by someone with a normal sense of humor ) and fortunate to find a nice support group . I work in the medical feild ( P.A.) and this was not my first time being a patient, but was as a cancer patient. Because I chose Mastectomy , I did not need chemo or radiation. just finishing my first month on tamoxifen and its been a bit rough, that and going back to a busy practice full time after 5 weeks post-op and having a 6 and a 8 yr old daughters. I am 48 and I don't know anyone my age on tamoxifen... so no one around me to relate to

Elizk,

  Hi, I'm having my 4th and final TC tx next Friday.  I started losing my hair after the 2nd treatment.  It was a waterfall of hair because I have (had) a lot of it.  If you read the posts on the chemo thread most eveyone says that they lose all of their hair.  I still have hair everyone; just not as much (even on my head--I call it "peach fuzz").  I never did go and get my head shaved.  I like my "peach fuzz" and when I wear hats it sticks out and I feel pretty normal.  The TC treatments haven't been that bad for me.  I hope you find it the same.  The worst is the constipation you definately want to start taking stuff BEFORE you go in for your first treatment.  I didn't and it was horrible!! 

Thoughts and prayers with all of you,

Kathy