Cherlilly

Harley,

I asked about a port and she said that their techs are very good with finding a vein (Because I dont have good ones at all) and will try to get through the 4 treatments without a port.  I am really hoping that will be the case.  However, it sounds like alot of bloodwork is in my future so I just don't know how my veins will hold up? So you had just 4 treatments too?  That is all that I am aware of at this time and then I will be getting the radiation treatments.  I hope that 4 treatments is enough???  Seems everyone gets 4 of something and then 4 more of something else. 

So, you are all finished??  Congratulations!!!!!  Must be a wonderful feeling!  Sounds like you did pretty well through it!  Did you ever need that Neulasta shot to get your blood counts up?

Congratulations on being done with your chemo!

I was just wondering if anyone had made the decision to not do chemotherapy?  I have prayed so much about this.  I am suppose to begin chemo Friday, Oct. 26th.  I was node negative, l.2 cm tumor, Grade 3, triple neg.   I am so concerned of long term heart issues, bone problems, and have myself so scared when I read all of the complications of chemo. 

Also, I just see so many that their cancer returns anyways regardless of chemo.  Also, there is no guarantee that the AC cocktail they want to do will even work since I have already had my surgery.  I keep thinking you go through all of that and you still don't know that it did the job of killing any stray cancer cells.

My oncologist said it increases my rate of survival and recurrance another 15%.

I know that is alot, but I am so wanting to step out in faith and not go forward with the chemo.

Has anyone else felt this way or made that decision?

Thank you for reading this or responding.

Cheryl

I just met with my oncologist yesterday and I will be having my first chemo treatment on Friday, Oct. 26th.  She wanted me to  do a clinical trial which would be either (randomly selected....no choice) 4 treatments of Taxol every 2 weeks instead of 3 with the Neulasta shot day after chemo each week) OR...you would be selected to take the treatment 6 treatments instead of 4 weeks........OR....same scenerio but with Taxol either every 2 weeks for 4 or 6 weeks.  From what I have read about Neulasta, I am not comfortable doing this clinical trial.  The purpose of the trial is to see what drug works best and also the benefit of every 2 weeks and if 4 or 6 treatments is better.  Would you even consider this trial???

Then....if I do NOT do the trial I will be doing the standard of care, of 4 chemo treatments of Adriamycin & Cytoxan and that is it, every 3 weeks and then followed up with 30 treatments of radiation.

From everything I have read AC does NOT respond well to triple negs and also the heart risk factor.  What if this is NOT the kind of chemo that we feel is best.  Are we allowed to ask for the one we want?  It seems like either Carboplatin or other drugs would be better.  I am 51 yrs. old and the heart problems really concern me with the AC.

I felt where I was going was very up to date on the latest???  This does not seem like the best for me and being triple neg, like she said, we have one shot at making this work since we can't take anything afterwards (except for radiation)

Thank you so much for any input at all from any of you and regarding your treatment.

Cheryl

Thank you for all of the information.  It looks like I will need to get the test then.  I will talk to my oncologist about it at our next appt.  So, if I test negative then my daughter is definitely negative too then?  This is the way I am understanding it, right?

Thanks again. 

Cheryl

For those of you that it went to your liver, did you have any symptoms of it going there or just through a scan did they catch it?

Cheryl

I am so sad because I have a family obligation this Sunday!  I will miss getting to meet everyone.  Please let me know when another get together will be!  It would be nice to have local support through this.  I start chemo in just a few weeks and would love to feel like I had other local "sisters" to talk to and to meet!

Have a wonderful time on Sunday!  The weather is going to be fabulous and the food sure sounds yummy that you will be enjoying!

God Bless!

Cheryl

TerryNY- Not sure what a mammosite is?  So your radiation was done first and then chemo.  I had lumpectomy 4 weeks ago and still have stitches for the 2nd time!  They should come out this Thursday although there is still a small trace of seepage!  I hope to (even though I am not looking forward to it) meet with my oncologist whom I have not yet and get the chemo scheduled because it will be probably 7 weeks by then that I start it.  Isn't that late after surgery?  Looks like most people start within 4 weeks. 

I know what you mean about ingesting drugs!  I felt that way before I was diagnosed with this.  I do not like taking anykind of medicine.

Chemo scares me at my age (51) and my already risk factors. 

Thanks for the tip on drinking from a straw! 

So happy you are finished with everything and now onward to your renewed health and your energy to return!

I have not started chemotherapy but will in just a couple of weeks.  Has anyone NOT gained weight from chemo?  I hear that the average weight gain is 20-25 lbs!  YIKES!  Does it depend on what chemo you take necessarily?  I am not sure yet what I will be taking.  Just wondered. 

Thanks for any responses or encouragement regarding the weight gain or not gaining weight???

Faith and Fifty,

Can you privately email me your address and I will do a mapquest to see how far away you are from me.I would love to come.

my email is:  cherlilly12@yahoo.com

Back from my appt. today.  Next appt. next Thursday.  It is located on Dublin Grandville Rd. #161.

Not too familiar with Columbus at all, nor real good with the traffic being from a smaller town, but life is all about new experiences, good or bad, right?

Let me know if lunch would work next Thurday.  If not, I know I will be heading up that way quite a bit!

It will be nice to meet.  Looking forward to it!

Cherl