Topic: October 2007 Chemo Girls

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Hi, SUzyb855

We appear to be opposites. I did chemo first, finished a month ago, but will have a modified radical mastectomy in 2 weeks.

The chemo truly was do-able. I never got ill, never was in pain. I was pooped at times and I am not happy with the weight gain and the minor' but irritating side effects of the taxotere and steroids. However, I will not complain, the stuff worked! I had an extremely large tumor that was extremely aggressive and it's damn near vanished.

For me, walking into chemo wasn't as frightening as this upcoming surgery. How does that break down?

You'll do just fine. You'll surprise yourself. You'll learn a great deal too.

Have a good day.

roach59

Hi Suzyb855 and roach59,

I was beginning to think I'd be riding this rollercoaster alone.  I'm a cross between the two of you.  I already had chemo, too and it wasn't that bad.  At its worst it was kind of like being 3 months pregnant with a slight case of the flu.  I'd feel fine for the infusion with help from the steroids, then sleep for that first weekend and be fine before the next infusion.  I, too, was fatigued and gained weight.  Figure I'll worry about all that after chemo and rads. 

I had a lumpectomy on Aug 1 but my trio of doctors, surgeon, oncologist and oncology radiologist, along with the tumor board, decided a mastectomy with ancillary lymph node dissection was the best/safest route.  That was done the 6th of September.  I had my port put in at the same time and that hurt more than the mastectomy.  I'm still carrying around one drain which I hope comes out this coming Friday. 

Then it's more chemo - AC for me as far as I know.  What's your cocktail?

About me - I'm 46, married, live in San Diego and have 3 boys ages 10, 14 and 17.  I decided to not work during treatment which has been a blessing.  I'm Stage 2, Intermediate grade, ER/PR+, Her2/Neu -. 

I know this isn't the club you ever wanted to join, but it's still nice to have others going through treatment with you.

Lisa

how do i delete these things

Your not on this rollercoaster alone. We can ride it down together.
I prefer a good red, I'm originally from the state of Washington, I know how good the wine is on the west coast. However,
My cocktail was AC on Mondays and Taxotere on Tuesdays for 6 cycles. On the 28th of this month I'll have surgery (mastectomy) most likely followed by radiation and chemo again if any cancer is found in my nodes.

I started with an almost 6cm tumor, Stage 3 because of size, Grade 3, with extensive cancer in my nodes and negative on all counts for the hormone treatment that's in vogue. The treatment was extremely aggressive, but it has significantly reduced the tumor and has all but eliminated the cancer in my lymph nodes. This is truly amazing!

I'm 48, married to a southerner (they talk so cute), I have a beautiful 13 year old daughter. Last year she was pretty and pink, now she's a little rocker babe! I was just the same way.

Question: Compare the drainage tubes to the port, which is more obnoxious? And if you don't mind, are either of you planning on reconstruction down the road?

thanks,
Elaine

Just checking in.  I'm hoping to get my drains out tomorrow and if I do, I'm going mastectomy bra and prosthesis shopping.  I also have an appointment for an echocardiogram in preparation for chemo.  Cancer keeps me busy

My neighbor taped it that Lifetime movie Crazy, Sexy Cancer so I went over and watched it with her.  My neighbor has bladder cancer.  The movie was better than I anticipated.  Worth watching, I'd say. 

hugs,

Lisa    

Hi ladies.  I just found out yesterday that I'll be having chemo and not just radiation as I'd originally anticipated.  I pretty much knew that it was in the cards for me, but my first meeting with the oncologist yesterday confirmed it.  I had a lumpectomy and SNB on Sept 6.  My tumor was 2cm x 1.7cm x 1.5cm.  All these dimensions are driving me nuts.  I originally was told during my ultrasound that it was 1.5cm, but that measurement must have been based on looking at it from only one angle.  So far, nothing has turned out to be simple.  The size of the tumor puts me at stage 1c and I had no lymph node involvement.  I thought that was all that really mattered.  Boy, was I wrong!  It turns out that my cancer is a stage 3 (I got a perfect score of 9/9--first time I wish I'd gotten a poor score).  I'm still waiting for the HER2 results.  I certainly hope that it comes back negative.  Everything else is saying that this is a very aggressive cancer with a high probability of recurrence.  Then there's this Ki67 thing.  I looked up the term and apparently the higher the percentage, the higher the chance for recurrence--my percentage was 20%, which is high.  Great--more good news.  I'm not thrilled about the whole chemo thing, but I have to do whatever I can to ensure that this stupid cancer doesn't come back.  I'm not sure what type of chemo I'll be getting, but she did say it was a rather aggressive type.  I have to go for a MUGA (heart) test next week, so it must put quite a strain on the heart.  My best friend's mother had Hodgkins in her 30's, went into remission, and then developed leukemia in her late 40's.  She died less than a year after her dx--not from the leukemia, but because her heart was like shoe leather after the chemo.  I'm freaking out ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My daughter's 5th grade teacher was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in '05 and within months after her treatments ended, she was diagnosed with leukemia.  Have any of you heard stories like this?  I'm more scared of what chemo will do to my body after the treatments are over than what's going to happen while I'm actually in the middle of treatments.  I can't voice my fears to my friends or family because they're all scared and I need to stay positive or they'll worry even more.  I know all of you have probably experienced this type of anxiety over the prospect of chemo.  PLEASE...I need some reassurance that everything is going to be ok.  Thanks!!

Hugs,

Karen

By the way, I'm getting my shoulder length hair chopped off tonight.  I think I'll leave about an inch all around.  Maybe I'll go even shorter.  I'd have a heart attack if my hair started falling out by the handfuls.

Dear Karen,

I finished chemo just alittle over a month ago. I too was a grade 3, very aggressive. However, this cancer's aggression pails in comparison to my oncologist's level of aggression. It's Hard Rock all the way but it works.

I never got sick, never was in pain, I have irritating side effects now that it's over but all in all you'll surprise yourself once you start.

The fatigue is hard at times. I'm still waiting to get my groove back. But, it will come back.

As for the leukemia, someone else may have to answer that, I've not meet anyone with those conditions.

Don't be scared there are tons of women here to hold your hand if you want.

Good night I'll be thinking about you.

Elaine

Hi Everyone, I seem to be on the cusp of this chemo thing. I am starting September 27th so have been watching that thread avidly too. I had a right mastectomy August 21st, and so chemo is starting 5 weeks later. I too, am having a muga scan as well as an adrenal CT (tomorrow)because my original CT showed something on my adrenal gland. Neither the surgeon or Oncologist thought it was related, but wanted to have more follow up "in case". Oh I have learned to hate those words. I had 12/14 nodes positive plus 3 sentinal nodes positive. My tumor was 3.5 cm and so far we haven't found anything that is definitive for mets. My bone scan came clear but along with a nagging back ache, I ended up in Emergency via ambulance with bizarre immobilizing back spasms. ER doc didn't know anything, couldn't tell, suggested more tests.. *sigh*..and gave me some muscle relaxants, anti inflammatories and tylenol 3's.  So I probably won't see another doc until Thursday unless I end up in the ER again. He told me that I should not consider every physical event a cancer event, it may be totally unrelated. Either way it is still freaky. So I'll check here, and on Sept. thread for awhile. Good luck everyone with their first tx. and I will be sure to let you know how mine went too.

Karyll

I was diagnosed in early August, have had SNB and lumpectomy plus re-excision because of lack of clean margins.  I haven't seen an oncologist yet, but my surgeon said she thinks I will have chemo next and then radiation.  Even with books I can't quite decipher the pathology report, and waiting for the oncologist is making me crazy!  I really don't like not knowing things and not being able to plan.  Guess I better get used to that though.  Anyway, I have read a lot of the posts in search of terms like I am seeing on my report, but without much luck. I have invasive ductal, 1.8 cm. tumor, clearn nodes.   Anyone able to interpret, even generally:  Estrogen Receptor 100% Nuclear Staining with Strong Intensity.  Progesterone Receptor 20% Nuclear Staining with Strong Intensity.  HER2 Negative.  Histologic grade I/III, nuclear grade II/III.  And does it sound logical that chemo would be the next step?  Thanks for ANY help at all. 

Thanks for the advice Rocktobermom.  Over the last few days, I have been making a list of things I want to take with me for my treatments.   

I start my chemo later today.  TAC   Do they give the chemicals in a certain order or all at the same time?  I just had my port put in on Friday and I'm still sore from that.  I'm sleepless again with the anxiety of what lies ahead. 

I decided since my treatments start so late in the month that I'd check in on the October ladies. 

Penny, I am having chemo before radiation too.  I wasn't sure which order they would be in until I saw my oncologist.  Waiting seems to be the worst part for me and not knowing the answers makes me a wreck.  If nothing else, I will gain patience from this experience. 

Either that or I will lose my sanity. 

I will check back later today if I feel okay. 

Hugs to all,

Kenna

Thanks for the tips Rocktobermom.  I did what you suggested and had my hair cut REALLY short on Friday.  My family is getting quite a kick out of it.  As soon as I get a nice wig, I'll be shaving the rest off.

Kenna, if you're feeling up to it, please check back in with us later today.  I'm really curious to see how you're feeling.  I've heard that if you're going to feel badly, it doesn't usually hit until a few days later.  I hope you have very few negative side effects.  Isn't it scary not knowing how your body will react to it?  I think that's the worst part for me.

As for me, I go for an MRI today.  I'm still waiting to hear from the surgeon regarding my port placement surgery. 

Hugs,

Karen

Hi ladies, 

I had neo-adjuvant chemo, too because the tumor was very large and close to the chest wall - the surgeon didn't think he could get a clean margin.  The chemo prior to surgery was to shrink the tumor - which was successful, by the way.

I see my surgeon today for a follow up after mastectomy and the oncologist tomorrow to find out when I will start chemo again.  I get chemo and radiation because of the size of the tumor, age and lymph node involvement. 

On a good note (if you can call it that) I got my breast prosthesis last Friday after I got my drains removed and I love it.  I also bought a mastectomy suit through Lands End and it's not too bad.  I can do this   We can do this!

Lisa 

Hi, ladies.

Wow, so many different variations!  I had a bilateral mastectomy five weeks ago with reconstruction surgery (had the expanders put in) at the same time.  I understand this made the surgery a bit more painful (putting it mildly) and the recovery period a bit longer (I came back to work after four weeks).

I had four drains put in; two were removed the first week, the third on the third week and the final one that wanted to become a part of me and didn't want to let go the fourth week (it would not stop producing less than 30 ccs of fluid so it couldn't be removed).

I am having my first chemo on Monday, 10/01/07.  It will consist of a session every three weeks for seven sessions.  Then I will go on hormone therapy for five years.

Oh, I had my port put in yesterday and it huuuuuuuuuurt!  I actually had general anesthesia so I didn't feel a thing, but when it wore off I couldn't move my arm.  It's much better today.

I will be sharing my experiences with you all.  I am scared to death of losing my hair!  I already got a wig (I got in online from Paula Young).

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.  We'll meet here again soon!

Hi Karen.  It's 12:36 am CST (Wednesday 9-26) and so far so good.  I have had a little bit of swelling in my left arm and wrist that I am watching.  No nausea or achiness yet, but they gave me an injection to fight the nausea that should last for 24 hours.

I did have a reaction to the Taxotere.  My face started burning, turned beet red, and my throat felt like it was closing up.  I went into complete panic mode and the nurses came over and shut the Taxotere drip down, put oxygen on me, and started monitoring my vitals.  The reaction passed almost as quickly as it had started.

After that I received another drip of the benadryl/tagamet mix that they had given me before they started the chemicals.  They started up the Taxotere again and began very slowly.  I was fine from then on.  Apparently reactions to some of the drugs are common, but Taxotere isn't one of them.

I didn't mark the exact time the treatments started, but I think it was about 3 1/2 hours.  That was including the time it took to give me the extra drip after my reaction. 

I was worried that the port site would be sore since I just had it placed on Friday.  They numbed it with a spray beforehand and the needle went in just fine. 

Today I will get my Neulesta injection.  I was told that it would probably make me achy like the flu. 

I did find out today that I have two spots on my liver.  I had only gotten my CT scan and bone scan on Thursday, but he did a follow up ultrasound of my liver on Monday.  I will receive another ultrasound some time after my second treatment to see how the spots are responding.  Metastases had never entered my mind.  I am numbed by the stats on it and still in shock, but trying to keep my chin up. 

Hugs to all,

Kenna