CMF Question
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Rita,
You are ALL finished... right? No hormone treatment in your future?
I don't have to do rads, but on May 2nd, I had a bi-lateral mast., and I'll be getting reconstruction on Nov. 7th, with implants. I am lucky, because my ps will use these Becker implants, which will be a permanent expander & implant, all in one. I won't need to have the exchange surgery that other women get... ONLY ONE SURGERY!
Then, because my bc was ER+/PR+, I'll have to take the hormone treatment for 5 years... I think I will start with Tamoxifen, and switch after about 2 years to an AI. I am not looking forward to either of these. Even though I'm 44 y.o., I am in menopause, due to a condition called premature ovarian failure, dx'd at 35 y.o.
I've been kind of sad lately, and I am not sure why. Maybe every time we finish one phase of this bc journey, it brings all kinds of emotions to the surface.... It seems that I will always have some unresolved issues and more bc stuff to deal with, probably for the rest of my life... constant dr. appts., follow ups, and after all these treatments, I'll still have to get check ups from my surgeon and some kind of mammograms or something on my new fake boobs. It can really depress me when I think about it.
Trying to hang in there, but sometimes it's hard...
Harley
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Harley
I have to do daily lovenox shots whenever I have a surgery coming up and then until my INR level is back up and then I do the neupogen 3 times a week. I hate shots! There are some spots it doesn't hurt and then there are some that really hurts. I think I hit a nerve tonight cause it HURT!
I'm so glad the CMF part will be over for you next week.
I went into a very early menopause myself but since I'm triple neg I didn't have to do any futher treatment. Except for the fact that I know have mets and am doing treatment all over.
They said a 1% chance. Well guess I was the unlucky one. But hey I beat it once I can do it again!
Rita you are a busy lady. wish I could have walked this year. I missed two that I wanted to do. Hopefully I'll be strong enough to walk next year!
Hang in there Harley you can do this!
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b445
Oh, My!! You have mets?? Sorry, but I guess I haven't read your posts... where are the mets?
What are lovenox shots? I don't like shots either, but we have to do it.
I didn't get CMF... I'm an honorary member of this thread, because I started out thinking I was getting CMF... I wanted it, to avoid the hair loss... but my onc gave me Taxotere and Cytoxan. He wanted to give me Adriamycin, but I refused.... HE wanted to do it because it is cheaper, and my insurance won't pay him ALL that he bills for the chemo.!
I will be thinking about you. Do you have further treatment, for the mets?
God Bless,
Harley
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Cheryl, I just wanted to thank you again for all of the encouragement you give all of us ladies here. You have made a big difference in a lot of our lives because of your generous and caring spirit. God bless you! Keep hanging in there---you can beat this again!!
Harley, you are almost finished your active treatments--so close!
Rita, wonderful that you did the walk--congratulations!! I hope to do one next year too.
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Oh I forgot...my biopsies on my thyroid goitres came up clear (Thank God!) I guess we will have to keep checking them because of the correlation to breast cancer. Lots of fun
Are any of you taking ativan to help you sleep? I took it during treatments and am going back on because my mind races so much and I am awake for hours each night. I hope I don't become addicted. Anyone else doing this?
Ginny
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Ginny,
Your hair is SO cute! I am SO glad to hear that your bx's on your thyroid goitres were all clear!!! That is such good news! I've been thinking about you, and praying that they would be negative!
Yep, Oct. 9th is my last tx! I can't wait... I want to have a glass of champagne to celebrate when it's over!
You have been such a big help to me! You are so positive, and have a very upbeat personality. You inspire me!
God Bless,
Harley
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Harley, I am presently taking Arimidex. I've been on it now for about 2 months. Except for not being able to sleep at night, I have had no other side effects. I hope that continues. I have a bone density test scheduled in a few weeks to get a baseline there so we can see what it's doing to my bones.
Cheryl...you WILL be able to do the walks next year. I just feel that everything is gong to work out A-O.K. for you. Like Ginny said, you are a true inspiration to those of us who followed you down the CMF chemo path.
Ginny....so glad that your tests came out good. I had been thinking about you. YEAH!
Well, I need to get ready for my youth church group but wanted to check in with all of you!
Take care.......Rita
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Rita,
How long after rads did you wait before starting the Arimidex? I don't want to start tamoxifen or an AI until January 2008... I feel that I need a break after all I've been through, and I'll be just finishing the reconstruction then.
I am glad that you aren't having too many se's from the Arimidex, but I can't stand not being able to sleep... are you taking anything to help you sleep?
Yes, it is good to get a bone density test, because you need to have a baseline, to compare to later tests, to make sure the Arimidex isn't hurting your bones.
I wonder if we could take ... oh, chemo brain is setting in now...I can't think if the drug! The drug, is it Evista, for bones? or do we have to take Zometa shots? I guess the Zometa would be stronger, but I hate taking too much medications...Too many choices!
Good Luck! Let us know how you are doing!
Best wishes,
Harley
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Harley the lovenox shots are a blood thinner. You see I was the 1% that got double pneumonia and blood clots in the lundgs from CMF. Any time I have a sdurgery I have to stop taking coumadin and strat taking daily shots. the kicker is I have to keep taking them until the coumadin builds back up in my system. it also delays any surgery for at least 5 days so I have to be really careful.
Yes I have mets to the liver. I finished chemo in May of 06, finished rads in Aug of 06 had scans in Nov and Dec of 06. I was due for scan in May of 07 but in March I started feeling really bad, I ignored it because I was more concerned about my dad going through qyadruple bi pass surgery. so when I got home in April and was still feeling bad we thought it might be my gallbladder. Even my primary Dr felt that way but because of the pain I was having sent me to the ER to get the US. they sent me back to my Onc, who wanted to wait the month for my scheduled Ct, I said NO I didn't want to wait. she did the test and a month later I was in active treatment again!
The moral to this story is listen to your body. If you have a concern follow it up! I plan on being here a very long time! So I'm fighting this with all I can.
This last month has been a hassel of infections and antibiotics. But I now have the old infected port out and a new one in. I feels tons better and although I will be going back to work I promise I will take it easy! It's part of how I fight by keeping busy. Besides I still have a mtg and Insurance to pay for and that's what my job does it pays for that.
For now I will continue to do chemo weekly and before yo know it I will have my next set of scans, hopefully before Thanksgiving.
Stay strong and true to yourself! It's my pleaseure to help anyone that has to go through this journey
Hugs and Prayers
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b445
I am so sorry to hear about the problems you have had, and the mets to the liver!
I know that insurance can be a pain... The area where I live doesn't have any drs. who are in my medical plan... so I have to drive an hour to see the specialists. My surgeon told me that I will need to have a colonoscopy soon... because of the bc, but the gastro. dr. who I want to see (I heard that he is REALLY GOOD!) is nearby, but he doesn't take my insurance. My friend told me that he has a sign up in his office that he NO LONGER ACCEPTS it.... It seems that it's always something.
I'll be praying for you...I hope all goes well with your treatment!
God Bless,
Harley
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Hi ladies!
Harley..I started Arimidex two weeks after I finished my last chemo. My situation was a littler different. I did 4 CMF chemos, then 33 rads, then two more CMF chemos.
Cheryl...I'm glad to hear that you are doing better. I hope the November scans show that the tumor is shrinking and responding. I still have a good feeling about this. I am so glad to hear that you are going to try to "relax a bit more" when you get back to work. We are so alike! I continued to maintain my regular schedule during chemo because I couldn't stand to be idle. I'm not so sure that was wise, but it helped me more than sitting around and worrying about things. I do understand! Hang in there and be strong and of course, keep posting so we know how you are doing. Let's hope that the infection phase is GONE....and now you'll have many more good days than bad days!
Rita
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Hey ladies! I'm just bumping up this thread as I don't want it to disappear on us. I hope the inactivity means that everyone is doing well and is busy.
I'm off to grocery shop and then back to clean house! YUCK!
The weather has been too nice here and I have spent way too much time outside enjoying it. Now as I look around this place I see that it's time to dig in and attack the dirt!!!
Hope all of you are doing well.
Rita
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CONGRATULATIONS on finishing chemo Harley!!!
Blessings,
Ginny
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Hi all, just got back from hiking in Lake Placid, New York. Sat on top of this small mtn my dh and I climbed, and just thanked God for the beauty and his blessings. We all have been climbing big mtns here,and yes, there is lots of beauty around us.
Cheryl,I'm so glad your new port is working well. I hope you are through with all of your infections and that you get some great news about how this kick butt chemo, you have been doing, is shrinking away all of the tumour! Continued prayers for healing.
Rita, are you going to take anything for the insomnia? I have it too and have never had it before. During chemo... I took ativan just for sleep and I slept well through all the active treatments. We certainly need our rest for healing. Let me know, it you don't mind, what you are going to do. I saw your photos of the walk and they look great! You look beautiful and your guy friend looks very nice.
Take care all,
Ginny
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Ginny...My oncologist doesn't want me to take anything yet with the Arimidex. He told me to try Tylenol PM, which doesn't do much for me. Unlike the first weeks on Arimidex, I am getting a few nights of good sleep. I guess I am so tired from being awake for the previous three or four, that I just collapse and sleep through the night. I know that isn't good but don't really know what to do about it. I need to get into my primary care physician later this month for a blood-pressure check so I'm going to talk with her about this then and see if she has any input or suggestions that might help. It is no fun....as you've discovered.
It sounds like your energy level is returning. I'd never make it to the top of a super high hill or mountain. Good for you!!!
Harley, congrats on finishing chemo.
Hope things are continuing to look up for you Cheryl. You are always in my thoughts!
Rita
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Ginny,
Thanks!
It was one of those days when just about everything that CAN go wrong DOES...
First, Sha Na, the girl who draws my blood for my bloodwork, because she is good, and always got it on the first STICK, had trouble, and it took TWO sticks... but it HURT! OUCH!
Then, when I went into the treatment room, the lady who wanted to start my IV the very FIRST TREATMENT I GOT, decided that she was going to do it again.... needless to say, the FIRST time, I was so scared, she just got another nurse to do it... Crystal was her name. I don't remember who did my other txs., but this time the first woman tried again... it didn't work, so she saw how scared I was again, and she got Crystal again. Crystal is USUALLY able to get it with ONE stick... but this time, it took THREE! I think I will be black and blue on that right arm tomorrow! Was I ever scared!
See, I didn't get a port... my surgeon was at a week long conference when I got my first tx, and when I saw him, he said that it should be ok, since I was just getting 4 txs.... FAMOUS LAST WORDS, HUH?Crystal ran the IV drip VERY SLOWLY, so my tx took just about all day, but Thank GOD, I had no reaction to it...
Later, we went out to dinner with some friends from our coffee shop and they gave me a card, with a gift card in it for our favorite restaurant. It was so nice!
We bought a bottle of champagne, and shared it... we toasted our friends, and they toasted us...
Thanks for all your help... I couldn't have made it through this without your support! You are such a sweet lady, and you just inspire me! I LOVE your hair! I hope mine comes in as nice!!
Hugs,Harley
P.S. I hope that I am in such great shape when I am just a few weeks post chemo!!! I don't think I can climb mountains, but I want to try to start running again. Now I am walking and running, but running slowly, and walking fast...
I also want to do one of those breast cancer walks... but I think I am too late already... even though October is Breast Cancer awareness month, I guess I was just too late.... anyway, since I wasn't sure how the chemo was going to go, I really couldn't try to do anything this time around... maybe next year...
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Rita,
Tylenol is simply a placebo! It does absolutely NOTHING for me, either! I'm glad that your sleep issues are improving... but, you should not still be having as much trouble...
I think that your dr. should give you something that will help you sleep!! I mean, after 2 months on Arimidex, and you are STILL having insomnia issues, it's time to try something else!
We went out to dinner with some friends, and they gave me a card, with a gift card for our favorite restaurant.
We bought a bottle of champagne, and toasted each other! It was fun! everyone got a glass of champagne, and we had just enough for everyone!Thanks!
Now I am wondering about the Hormone treatment... which is to start soon... I would like to wait til AFTER my reconstruction surgery, which is scheduled for Nov. 7th... I'll have to call my onc's office and ask if that will be acceptable... He wasnt' there today, and I just talked to his nurse. She is very nice, but our meetings are very brief... I usually get to discuss ONE topic, and then the meeting is over... Next time, I guess I'll go with a list of topics...
Thanks so much for your support while I have been getting my txs. You are such a wonderful lady!! Your words of wisdom have helped me tremendously!!
Hugs,
Harley
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Hey Harley,
It sounds like you celebrate in style.....actually like it should be done!
Gosh, it's only a few weeks until you have your reconstruction surgery. They may wait to have you start the hormone therapy pills until after the reconstruction is done. As slow as they are about getting other things scheduled along the journey, it doesn't seem like it would be that terrible to wait and tackle one thing at a time. I never can second-guess these doctors, though. Just when I think I have them figured out, they throw out a surprise. I still say that it's worth asking about.
Rita
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I wanted to say CONGRATS harley! You made it! Sorry it was a dreadful day but it's over! Now you can start the next part of your Journey. You surgery is the day after my birthday. I had hoped it to be a birthday with having to deal with bc. but I'm still here and I'll take it as it is!
Rita thanks your the card it brightened my day!
hey ginny good to see you.
Well I'm off to bed the alarm clock rings early and the long days at work this week and chemo have me a bit drained.
Night all
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Cheryl....Make the best of this year's birthday! Your birthday next year will be a REAL celebration because the chemo is going to do the trick and you will not have bc in the forefront of your mind. I, too, am sorry that you have to be dealing with the treatments and stress once again, but you can get over this speed bump in your life. I will be one of the first in line to help you celebrate, dear friend. In the meantime, hang in there. You are one beautiful lady!!!
Rita
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Harley Congratulations!!! and just a few short months ago you were starting. You see we CAN all do this!!!
Forgive me ladies, I have needed to take a break from posting.
I am currently getting lymphedema treatment and I started Tamoxifen this week. i am scheduled for the expander/implant exchange surgery for Nov. 28. I will have to stop the Tamox. about a week before. and start up about a week after.
Ladies, you are the best!!!!
-Melanie
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Rita,
Thanks! I am so glad to be finished with this phase of my journey! Now that you mention it, I think I has seen another post on another thread which mentions that they had to stop taking tamoxifen before their surgery, so it makes no sense to start it, only to have to stop it again before my surgery...
I hope your primary care manager can help with your sleep issue... I am having sleep problems, too, from the steroids I've had to take, but that is over now.... yeah!
Hugs,
Harley
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Cheryl,
Thanks!
Oh, Happy Birthday! Sorry you have to deal with bc issues on your birthday, but Rita's right... next year, it will be ALL BEHIND YOU!!I said the same thing on my birthday, back in April... I wanted to have my bi-lateral mast. surgery on April 25th, but in order to co-ordinate the two surgeons' schedules, I had it on May 2nd... My birthday is April 21st, so I said, GOOD, I won't have to be in pain on my Birthday!
Good Luck with the rest of your txs!
Hugs,
Harley
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Melanie,
Thanks so much!! It is a relief that my txs are finally over, but I am SO TIRED!! It really IS cumulative!
I am SO glad that I didn't need more than FOUR txs, b/c the nurse at my 3rd tx told me that she didn't think I could get through SIX txs without a port!! But, my surgeon was at a conference when I had my FIRST tx, so I had to do it without a port... So glad it's over!
I am also having some lymphedema issues, and go for a treatment on Monday... It is so depressing! Does this EVER end?
I understand if you need to take a break every once in awhile... Before my last tx, I was feeling kind of sad, and just emotional; I wasn't sure where these feelings were coming from...
Thanks so much for all the support! When I first started this journey, I didn't think there was ANY WAY I could get through it!!
I guess I'll start the Tamoxifen a few weeks after my reconstruction surgery... At least, I want to take a break from med. for awhile...Hugs,
Harley
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Melanie,
So glad to see you back on the boards. I am the official "worrier" on the thread and I had been wondering about you. I do understand the need to get away from bc every so often, but my need to bond with others who have experienced the same things is too strong and I just keep coming back.
I am so sorry to hear about your lymphedema. Is it your arm that is affected? I have been having a little swelling and tenderness under the rib cage on my lumpectomy side. It comes and goes so I'm not too alarmed about it but somebody mentioned that it might be a form of lymphodema. I thought the arm was the only part of your body affected by it.
Anyway...so glad to hear from you again. Check back in often...if only to say Hi and let us know that things are going well with you. You and Harley will have to exchange reconstruction stories and the rest of us will cheer you on.
Take care...
Rita
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Rita,
Yes, any part of your arm, breast area, or even just your hand can be affected by lymphedema. I saw an LE specialist yesterday, and she measured my arm, and found my left arm is slightly swollen, even though you don't really notice it... but my left hand IS swollen... so I have to go for treatments for that, too.... Will this EVER end?
Melanie,
Yes, WE WILL have to swap reconstruction stories!! My surgery is on Nov. 7th, but I won't get an exchange with mine...I also look forward to your posts... please keep posting... I worry when you disappear!
Hugs,
Harley
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That's a big fat yes you can get lymphodema anywhere! The lymph nodes are the areas that help fight infections and when they have been tampered with then infections and swelling can happen else where. It's the bodies way fighting. extra fluids goes in the area and it may have trouble getting it out, therefore you get swelling. Just remember you don't want to mesagge roughly you want light motions from the extremities towards the body. Learn what you can about lymphodema message it's amazing.
Going to go read. I'm a bit tired just checked and I did over 10 hours of OT this week. Hopefully next week will be lighter as I get someone trained
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Thanks to all of you for the lymphedema info. I am going to do a little more research on it. The area under my left breast is definitely puffier than under the right one and is tender to the touch. I guess if it doesn't go away, I should go in once again and see about it. I feel like I am becoming a hypochondriac. LOL
Cheryl, you amaze me working all that overtime. No wonder you are tired!!! I hope it's going better for you each day.
I also hope that all of you had a good weekend.
Rita
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I have been having lymphedema treatments for about 2 weeks now. I also have my hand a arm wrapped. Just make sure that the person you see for this is a certified lymphedema specialist. There is a lot of misinformation out there!!
-melanie
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Thanks for the heads up Melanie. Are you seeing any improvement or is it too early to tell if the treatments are helping?
Rita
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