Best Of
Re: Triple Negative Stage IV
@rlschaller May I borrow that line, "This is my life, and it's okay." That covers a lot of ground.
My skin mets don't seem to be improving all that much. They are also a bit sore sometimes. I've had three cycles of Trodelvy now. I don't know if it's too soon to judge its effectiveness. I'm seeing my MO this Thursday so we'll discuss. She has taken pictures of the mets for comparison's sake. The things that we have to subject ourselves to …
Would that your skin mets would stop, and leave off the 'going'! Are they painful at this point?
Nice that there were new gals to meet on the 2nd. I hope to attend the next one.
Your Broadway show and dinner plans sound like fun! Any big names in the cast?
@cookie54 The low-folate approach would be difficult for those who like their leafy greens. I heard about it while on capecitabine but didn't try it. Hope that it continues to work for you. Pick your poison indeed.
I'm sending you and your family good wishes in dealing with your MIL's troubles.
Have a good week all.
scgal08
Re: Not Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results? Start Here
I had breast biopsies in my late teens, huge barbaric incisions and a lot of pain. This was back in the 80s. Benign fibroadenomas.
I'm 64 now and have recently qualified for Medicaid (going to college again full time to finish a degree so not working). In the process of catching up with screenings I hadn't been able to afford before getting insurance again, a mammogram flagged 2 lumps and they did stereotactic core needle biopsies.
It was so painful! It hurt while they did the biopsies but the real pain started later on the way home and continued for a week.
It makes me SO angry how these painful procedures are often not done with adequate pain control. It's cruel to do that to a fellow human being when medications and numbing injections exist to help with it.
Alternating ibuprofen and tylenol helped some, but really not enough. I am so tired of suffering needlessly. I complained but the doctor on staff there that does them just told me to take 800 mg ibuprofen. After about a week the pain let up enough so I could function. I have very dense breasts and I have read that makes everything hurt more when procedures are done (plus I'm a redhead - my dentist has to give me 2 or 3 shots each time to get me numb).
Pathology was suspicious so I now have to have lumpectomy on both breasts. I'm going in next week for the radioactive seed placement 4 days before the surgery and I am dreading it so much. I really hope it isn't as painful as the needle biopsies. They did 4 on each side so hoping that since it's only one wound instead of 8 it wont hurt as much. I've read some people saying it didn't hurt and some saying it was excruciating so not sure what to expect.
As far as the lumpectomies go, I am not as afraid about that part because my surgeon I was referred to said its not going to be like it was when I had them in the 80s due to the seed localization and she will be able to do a much smaller incision and be way more precise, plus she assured me she is giving me a prescription pain medication for after so that was a relief. I wish she was doing all the procedures for me but the staff docs at the hospital do the seed placement and the stereotactic ones.
Thanks for listening to me vent a bit and I would love any advice for those who have had seed placement. They did say on the paper they gave me they would numb it, but the numbing didn't really help me with the stereotactic biopsies much. I'm wondering if I should mention that and ask for more numbing or ask them to wait for it to take effect. I was so shocked when he went right in after the shot and didnt wait at all.
glowing
Re: I’m on hospice - anyone else?
kbl-No chips? That doesn't sound fair. Hospice should be all about eating chips and maybe dip followed by ice cream! After I was diagnosed and under treatment, finally getting my bearing, I ate so many chips! I bought big bags of Ruffles, etc. All those years of watching my weight, eating and for what? But I did gain a lot of weight so now chips are a rare treat. I had a small bag on Fourth of July.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@illimae I am glad you are safe from the heavy flooding. Very sad indeed for the lives lost.
@mkestrel Those are lovely pictures.
@cookie54 Thank you. I think my insecurity was poking its' ugly head telling me no one would be interested in hearing about laundry chores or recipes.
I woke up late but slept very well, close to 9 hours. Nothing much on the agenda. I did book the Paratransit for Herceptin on Wednesday which is good. We are stinking hot as we should be.
Planning to redo some laundry and the skorts I am using as PJ bottoms and need to wash up my new yoga capris to wear under my new flowy shirts I got recently. My butt looks impossibly huge in the skorts but that does not matter at home. I have also decided to not be silly and use the wee washers instead of the larger ones, not efficient. Better to use as a dish soaker if my sink is full.
Thinking of making a pizza with ramen packet. Would heat up the ramen and put in a sprayed pan, add butter to bottom of the pan along with some garlic. I would spread out the ramen and add cheese, some garlic and sour cream to bind the ramen, thinking of making a full pan. Add some bean spread to the top as well. Heat up at 425 and check every few minutes, possibly serve with some salad. I will see. Last meal of the day will be two eggs and a meat pie. Heat in the microwave, take out and chop in with some cheese, put in pan lined in garlic spread, put on high for around a minute and turn off burner and cover with lid. Just brings in more flavour that way. I will post what I have and if the ramen acting as a pizza crust is good.
Edit, the ramen "pizza" did taste good. Put the precooked ramen in the pan, added some beans pulverized to liquid in a spice grinder. Added shredded cheese and combined all. 425 for 12 minutes. It was not crunchy BUT with the bit of beef seasoning, cheese, garlic spread added before heating and adding beef seasoning from ramen package with bit of salt and sour cream seasoning and white cheddar seasoning as well. All told, it was really good. In future if I want to make pizza, stick with either a shredded cheese baked up or on a tortilla. While this was good, not crispy except the bits of cheese that met the pan.
I hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for anyone who needs me.
Re: ER-, PR-, Her2+ Roll call
Hey everyone! I've got an update on Berta. I was under the impression that she had been moved to the rehab facility, but I don't think that happened. She was improving but there has been a setback. Last Thursday she was moved to a new hospital in Atlanta. Her liver enzymes are not good, she has lost a lot of weight, has jaundice, one lung collapsed and they have it inflated for the time being. She is also having gallstones and needs her gallbladder removed, but is not healthy enough for the procedure. They have put drains in to help with the infection for the time being. The dr has told them her liver can heal itself, but she just needs time. She does respond with nodding her head. Not the update I was hoping for. I know the niece that is giving me updates is not local and is relying on updates from her daughter. I'm sure it is hard to keep everyone up to date, but it sounds like there had been some minor improvements, but with the lungs, liver, gallbladder she's had a setback. Please keep her in your prayers. Also her husband. He has been so faithful with being by her side all this time. I know it has to be playing a toll on his mental and physical well being.
grammie2
Re: Were you diagnosed young (under 45) with breast cancer? We'd love to hear from you!
@moderators I got my diagnosis but waiting for genetic testing results to come back. TNBC, Stage 2a. I will be starting my chemotherapy in 2 weeks as I am busy with embryo freezing at the moment. Followed by immunotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. I have finally made peace with my diagnosis but I have definitely changed my diet and have started being more active. I am planning to use my FMLA and use my free time taking care of myself and focusing on what I want and need in life. Praying that this will pass through and that I will come out as a warrior and as a best version of myself. Praying for everyone here. Let’s stay strong!
Re: Anyone starting brand drug, Enhertu?
@thairpist. I, too, was concerned about looking sick for the first time in my 5.5 year Stage 4 life. I have never had major side effects except for osteonecrosis of the jaw. I did need to get my port replaced. So far, I haven't been treated differently due to my baldness. I was called "sir" in a checkout line recently. Whatever. I warn people ahead of time that I will look more cancer-y than the last time they saw me and then they roll with it. My energy and digestion is generally good. Two-three days of fatigue per cycle. When that happens, I read in bed all day and eat several small meals. Reading in bed all day - not a hardship. I have two plane trips planned this year and I don't see any reason why they would cause any problems. I'm hoping I can stay on Enhertu for the long haul and I hope you have a similar experience to mine. Except for the port failure. But that's in my rearview mirror!
Decisions
Hi - new here - my yearly mammogram this year was inconclusive, so I returned for additional imaging and an ultrasound, which led to a biopsy, which led to a diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. All this took about a month. It is a stage I and small (5mm) tumor. I know I need surgery - either lumpectomy w/ radiation or mastectomy. How do I choose???? If I chose mastectomy, I’d want both breasts removed. But if that’s the case, do I want reconstructive surgery or not? At the initial surgeon visit I was told lumpectomy surgery could be 1 1/2 to 2 hrs, but total mastectomy w/ reconstruction could be 6-10 hrs, as the plastic surgeon would be there too. Isn’t it dangerous to be under anesthesia for so long? Also, we live about 1 1/2 hrs from the hospital so having radiation 5x/wk for 2,3,4 (?) wks would be a hardship. I’m feeling so confused and indecisive, but I have to chose soon. Anyone have a lumpectomy that they regret? Anyone having total mastectomy with regrets? Anyone having a total mastectomy without reconstruction have regrets? I’d love to hear from you.
june25
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
Yes, ssales13, I am NEAD on Kisqali and letrozole, which are relatively easy drugs to take. There are options, and new drugs coming quickly down the pipeline. So yes, may we live a long long time.
