Best Of
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@shanagirl - Shana, my heart really goes out to you and I am just so, so sorry that you have to deal with this. I get them withholding the Xgeva because of the dental issue, but why the Verzenio? I assume you continue with the Faslodex. That should help some with that fear of mets getting worse while off the drugs; you're still getting the benefit of the Faslodex. My onc told me that was the most important part of the drug combo. I totally agree with @mara51506 about the 4-7-8 breathing. I really like it and use it all the time when I get really stressed. I just feel so helpless and wish there was something I could do to help, other than just send you good vibes and best wishes. Know that I am thinking of you and in your pocket for this whole big mess you are in for awhile. I like to think that the doctors know what they're doing and that they wouldn't put you at such a big risk of a major "mets spread" just for the sake of one tooth. I'm keeping you in my thoughts and have fingers crossed for nothing but the best outcome!
Re: Birads 5 with calcification
@scaredme Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s comforting to know that the treatment was manageable for you and that you found strength in taking action. That really resonates with me.
My doctor actually said something very similar, that chemo isn’t like what you see in the movies, and that not everyone has a hard time with it. He mentioned that some people go through treatment with minimal or even no side effects, and I’m definitely hoping I’ll be one of the lucky ones. But even if I’m not, I know I’ll get through it.
As long as my PET scan looks good, I’m ready to give this fight my all. I’m feeling surprisingly steady about starting treatment. I think having a plan in place helps a lot. My mom has really been my rock through all of this. She’s stepping in to help with the kids, cooking, and cleaning once things get going, and that gives me a lot of peace of mind.
Thanks again for your kindness and honesty. It helps more than you know. Im sure I’ll have a lot more questions as things move forward.
Re: Ibrance (Palbociclib)
@alden722 You do seem to have a lot going on! One thing I forgot-initially letrozole was causing me to have insomnia. I cut out caffeine completely-also cut out alcohol and the quality of my sleep greatly improved. Now I have a little caffeine with Coke Zeros and decaf coffee but getting good quality sleep was key to regaining energy. Keep that good balance of exercise and rest.
Re: Ibrance (Palbociclib)
Hopefully your body will adjust soon. I’m on my 14th cycle of Ibrance 125mg and still have lots of fatigue. We’ll see how my next set of scans are and maybe talk about dropping down to the 100. I try to get like nine hours of sleep, longer on the weekends. I still work full-time. I have three kids and walk a big dog so I am definitely active during the day. Letrozole has been horrible with causing insomnia so I often have to take a sleep aid to fall asleep. As long as this drug keeps working so well, I’ll deal with some fatigue.
sully01
Re: Ibrance (Palbociclib)
Thanks for the responses! I did my first month at 100 mg and had to take a few weeks for my neutrophil count to normalize. This is my second month in a row at 75 mg. I generally get up and exercise every morning. Either walking or functional weight training. I am eating a vegan diet and limited sugars (I was mostly GF and DF for years so this wasn’t that hard). Even still I feel like I need a nap every afternoon. I work full time and have 3 kids age 7-14. I am hoping it my body just figured out how to adjust, but I am just so stinking tired. I slept horribly the 4.5 years I was in anastrazole. Now I am on Faslodex, I started it in January and the fatigue didn’t start getting bad until the past few weeks.
alden722
Re: Ibrance (Palbociclib)
hi again. Thanks for all the help! I am on my 3rd month of Ibrance and I am just plain exhausted. Does this get better? My sleep hasn’t been great the past few days but even before that I was just so tired.
alden722
Re: Starting Chemo July 2025? Gather here for support!
Hey @kks_rd Welcome here! I'm so sorry that you're having such a rough go of it this time around — let alone that you are having to do chemo a second time. Your regimen is a long road, what is it like to have weekly treatments? I'm not on the same regimen as you - I'm doing TC x 4 with 21 days in between. Just had my second infusion yesterday. But I had a rash in my underarms that I thought might be yeast-based after my first round. And I got oral thrush, so yeast was definitely hangin' around! 😒 Please know you're not alone and I hope perhaps others on the same treatment as you will chime in. Keeping fingers crossed for you that the ice mittens & booties keep the neuropathy away! I am using them, too, and so far, so good!
Re: Using Estradiol Cream
I’m brca 1 and was hesitant to use but was prescribed 1gram internally 3x a week which I’m terrible at doing.
honestly, I have found Replens works just as well and also I have used an aloe one called Good Clean Love. Also coconut oil.
I also had ovaries and everything else out. I bought vaginal dilators to help atrophy but again I’m terrible at regularly using them.
Hope this helps.
Re: What’s one thing your body is teaching you this summer?
Hi, i'm Nicole from Maryland. A 53 year old woman that felt her world was coming to an end when I learned that I had cancer. At stage 3 and receiving chemo and immunotherapy the sun is not my friend. The chemo has taken the hot flashes to another level. If I don't park in the garage I feel like I'm having issues breathing. And I have to sit in a cool area until my body cools off. I carry a handheld fan and ice water EVERYWHERE I go. Finding the right clothes to wear has been an issue for me. But, lately cotton has been my best friend in this heat. As well as I try to schedule appointments and outings early in the mornings or when the sun goes down.
Make it a great day!
nicolej
Re: Starting Chemo July 2025? Gather here for support!
Hi everyone, the spring threads aren't very active and I have five rounds to go. Hope it's ok to join you here.
I did dose dense A/C in March and April, then started weekly taxol x12 in May. This is my second time doing chemo so I thought I knew what to expect - NOPE! It's been a strange course, with all kinds of random and unexpected side effects: shingles (too young for shingles vaccine, nobody thought to suggest it), pneumonia requiring IV antibiotics (4 days in the hospital, 2 weeks' chemo deferred), a weird yeast infection in the creases of my underarms, and an atypical kind of mucositis. I'm a tough cookie, but this has been the most difficult thing I've ever done. I don't say that to scare any of you, it's more of a reminder for all of us to extend ourselves a lot of grace because this shit is hard.
That said, I've got tons of experience and would be happy to answer any questions if that's helpful. I've been doing the ice mittens and booties since the beginning and so far no neuropathy…
kks_11