Lisa1965

Would love to hear from anyone...hope everyone is feeling good today.

My appointment with my onco yesterday was good and bad...first of all I cannot travel anywhere at Christmas so I am stuck in this cold country until late Spring which is when my onco said we can then plan a vacation south...boohoo!  Secondly, she will consult with her colleagues whether I will have my last chemo #6 next week after I finish my antibiotics.  She is leaning towards not giving me the last because of the infections I have had and she does not want to take anymore chances of completely destroying my abdominal area.  That's great because she said the benefit of one more is not worth it.  Anyway we'll see next week.

Everyone is quiet on this thread...hope we can pick it up again, but maybe everyone has moved beyond and need other information, so I wish you all the best.

Hugs Lisa

Hi Everyone,

I would love to keep in touch and hope this thread does not end too soon...I like being able to talk to you all when I feel like it and need you.  Just because chemo has or is ending for most of us I think this thread could continue as there are more steps we all can take together...hope I'm right.

Great news Jill...you're done with chemo!

Tamara and Jill good luck with Rads...I'm hoping to stretch my start date to Dec. 22 week so that we can travel down to Florida for a week just before Christmas...but we'll see what the onco says on Tuesday...

Dearest Laura, I know your struggling with the decision, and I only have had a lumpectomy myself, but once both are gone you don't have to worry about reoccurrance ever again, which is something I will probably dread every six months when I get a check up.

Hugs and best wishes to all for today... xoLisa

Hi DFOnt,

According to the information sheet I have about Taxotere....a sore throat should be reported.  Call your nurse and let her know to be on the safe side.

Hugs, Lisa

Dear DFOnt and Kathy,

I was taken off Taxotere and put back on FEC after just one treatment because I picked up a bacterial infection that put me in the hospital for 12 days including 4 days in intensive care.  I cannot stress enough the importance of literally quantining yourself, because I would not want anyone to go through what I did...the abdominal pain from the infection was worse than having a baby...believe.  You can never take enough precaution when it comes to going out and about....I recommend staying home and warding off all people with infection...

Hugs to all,,,best wishes Lisaxoxo If anyone has any questions feel free to ask.

Jill you look great!

Yan, sorry to hear about Olga's recent experience.  I had such an event recently and it was not fun and very worrisome...take care.

Marsh you have all the determination one needs to rebuild your system.  Don't push yourself, take one day at a time and you will come back.  Don't forget all this treatment has been an ongoing build-up of something that is decreasing our energy levels.  It's taken over three months to lower our energy level, so lets give it some time to come back...maybe only three months.  You can't expect miracles in 5 weeks.  Explain that to your friends and family that are expecting miracles from you right now.

Hugs, Lisa

Good to hear Nancy & Tamara are on there last chemo tx...you did it girls.  I had my 5th on Monday and just one more for me on Nov 18th. Day by day I'm feeling better which I know is a good sign.  Hugs and best wishes..Lisa

Hi Lynn37,

I had a lumpectomy in May 2008 with wire localization.  Neither the lumpectomy or wire localization is painful.  Wire localization is done by Radiologist the same day of the lumpectomy which is performed by the surgeon.

Hope this helps and I'll be thinking of you...Big hugs, Lisa

Dear Jo,

You are far too young 34 not to consider surgery.  The importance of you having surgery is way beyond your mind set at this point...  This beast can spread if you don't do the lumpectomy.  Your 3 cm tumour can be cut away from your body with minimal scaring and a minor malformation if any at all.  This is about the seriousness of leaving the tumour in you.  If you don't get rid of the tumour you still have cancer in you...don't you want to get rid of it???  Your surgeons are telling you the importance of this...Chemo is not enough!

I am 42 years old, married with two sons 18 & 13.  I have a wonderful husband.  I had a 2 cm lumpectomy done on June 16 on my left breast.  The surgeon proceeded to place the incision around my nipple and therefore the scaring is almost disguised...I have a little indentation on the left side of by breast, but certainly not deformed.  The funny part is, and I'm being blunt, my husband grabs my boobs during intimacy and never even suggested to date that he feels anything different or they appear different.  I am a C cup.

I pray you make a good decision and fight the right fight....Big Hugs, Lisaxoxo 

Hi Girls,

Well it's been a tough two weeks.  I picked up a bacterial infection and was hospitalized on Oct. 9.  Just released yesterday.  I spent four days in ICU and then the rest on the Oncology Ward at our local hospital where I'm treated.  Nobody really knows how I got it, but it ravaged by intestines and I can't tell you the pain I endured... I faught, I faught, I faught back with the help of antibiotics.  I really tired now and need lots of rest because on Monday I am scheduled for another Taxotere tx.  I know now I will not go out for two weeks after tx and nobody can come and visit me, so I'm sure I will be writing a lot more of the next weeks. 

I haven't had a chance to read all your comments, but will surely have time over the coming weeks.

BIG hugs to all you ladys and my thoughts and fighting will is with you all dear friends.

xoLisa

Hi Linda,

Thanks for asking how I'm doing...to be honest it's not been easy.  I feel like I have been hit by a train...aches and pain and my mouth even hurts.  Diarrhea since Saturday.  So much bloating and gas a few times I wanted to cry with pain.  I'm taking Tylenol extra strength and also benadryl and ativan and Imodium, trying to calm the SEs.  This morning is the first day I'm feeling a little bit better.  I'm sleepy and absolutely no energy to go anywhere... If you have any ideas for a pick me up, I would love it.  Hope you keeping well Linda..Hugs, Lisa