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Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?

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Comments

  • vegas
    vegas Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2007
    A "funny" thing happened the other day at the golf course. I learned that visors, wigs and wind do not mix well. On the third green a huge gust came along and whisked the visor and wig off to my horror. My DH was not much help at all (laughing) as I struggled frantically to figure out by feel which way was front on the darned thing. I was wearing one of my shorter wigs so it was not easily apparent.

    Fortunately the other two in our foursome were looking for a lost ball. My friend's husband certainly missed the whole thing as he was done in a gully. She was standing at the top trying to help him and I am not sure if she turned around during my little snafu or not. If she did she was too polite to mention it. And by the time he got back up I was put together again, though I left off the visor as it probably contributed to the problem.

    That's the problem with the hair growing out finally. The wigs kind of slide where before they stuck pretty well!
  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited May 2007
    Good morning all

    It is Moday here in NZ

    Just checking in after 2nd Taxol on Thursday- really rough again- tiredness and bone pain. Gave in on Saturday night and took the morphine. Ankles feet and knees still really sore so it is hard to walk but will try to go for a short walk later.
    It was great this morning not having to get up and go to school- don't think I could have made it anyway.
    Hillary I do hope your husband is better now.
    Marsha- love the photo. I can't wait until next time. I am not sure when I will get my port out, probably after radiation but will see.
    Karen the henna is fabulous.
    Theresa well done, now it is the time to recover and start living again.
    Hair report- eyebrows have gone, still a few eyelashes!!. Great pics of the incoming hair. I am sure mine will come in white, have very pale reddish fuzz at present.
    Have some work to do for school so had better get moving.
    Can't wait for the 14th June when this part of the journey will hopefully be over.
    Alyson
  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited May 2007
    Vegas - it will be funny later! I'm with you - I wouldnt have known whether to laugh or cry if it was me!

    Hillary - The meeting with the Rad Onc is to determine what kind I will have. I've been doing a lot of research and right now I'm leaning towards the seeds. If I'm a good candidate for it, it's just a matter of waiting til after surgery, it wont matter how much the breast changes. If I'm not a candidate, then, oh well, at leaast the Rad Onc and I have met, and we'll meet again after surgery to put together the game plan.

    Alyson - hope you are feeling better as the day goes on.

    Good nite all.

    Carynn
  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited May 2007
    Hello everyone and BOY AM I ENVIOUS of you all that are done! I just had my #6 out of 12 taxol and although this is "better" than the AC in alot of ways, I'm still coping with major fatigue. The neuropathy is more a nuisance than anything but it comes and goes, doesn't stay. Tylenol or motrin are my friends for the aches but I notice it hurts more if I've been doing gardening/yard work so this time around I'm laying low. I was in a mental downer big time this week but finally by today I feel much better.
    And yes, I also lost 90% of both eyebrows and lashes since the taxol started, but the peach fuzz is darkening on my head so I guess that's ok. I don't do rads after this so mark me down for 6 more weeks and I'm done on July 4th (I guess 3rd or 5th if office is closed).

    I'll say goodnight for now, take care all!
    Pat
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited May 2007
    Caryn, when you mention the seeds, you are probably talking about the brachytherapy technique that places radioactive seeds on the tumor bed, right? Is it the Mammosite or another technique? This is exactly the subject I am working on, right now (the user's manual for the afterloader and the software driving it to deliver the tx), but not from the treatment point of view. I am in close contact with the client hot line lady in France, and she mentioned to me not to have this procedure undertaken lightly (not risk free)... make sure to get all the info from everybody involved before you decide. From what I understand the scars at the points of entry of the catheters fade away over time. Did you see the details of these procedure (breast brachytherapy or Mammosite)?

    I hope you enjoyed the races and that you are feeling better.
    Big hugs to you,
    CatherineH
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited May 2007
    Vegas, did you see the links I PM you a little while ago?

    How are you doing, golfing lady?

    Keep coming back to tell us more about your life,
    Hugs,
    CatherineH
  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited May 2007
    This is a really silly question.

    What do you do with cranberries? I have just been given two buckets of fresh cranberries. Have seen them in their dried form before. I am surprised that they are so hard and actually bounce.
    I had better explain, this is s trail crop, we grow blueberries for export and they are looking at getting into cranberries.
    Any suggestions will be welcome.
    Alyson
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited May 2007
    Well, I live in Massachusetts- home of Ocean Spray cranberries. We produce most of the cranberries for the US. Here is their site, with receipes:
    http://www.oceanspray.com/recipes/

    Heve fun... I put them in everything when dried, make my own cranberry sauce for the American celebration of Thanksgiving!
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited May 2007
    Good morning all.....laid up this weekend with bone pain but just knowing it is the last weekend of that CRAP makes it more bearable!

    Leah, wow, you have alot of hair. Summer is almost here I'm thinking you are real close to going topless!

    Alyson, was your hair pale reddish going out? or is this a new color? If one more person "jokes" that my hair will come back gray and curly I'm gonna shoot somebody. LOL

    Vegas, funny wig story! And you know what? Screw "just in case" I see my BS on June 4 and the onc June 5 and I am going to get port removal surgery scheduled!! Positive thinking!

    Hillary, glad you DH is OK. Here's where I left off: They let Tina go home. Spoke to her the next morning and she was still having vertigo (obviously not a panic attack!). She went to her doc that afternoon and she did some kind of movement testing. On one Tina couldn't keep her balance and the doc said she had crystals on the tiny hairs (cilia?) in her ear that had come lose. Gave her pills for dizziness and said if it didn't go away in a week or so she would have to go to a "dizzy clinic" LOL She is sending her to a cardiologist. Echo gram and stress test, just to cover all bases.

    Carynn, my friend Anni is a photographer. She is going to take a pix every couple of weeks, in the same spot, to document my hair growth! Watched a little of the races yesterday and thought of you. Boy that Ashley Judds hubby is CUTE!

    Tracy, I bet it felt good to get that port out! So good to hear from you.

    Catherine, hello sweetie, how are you? Hope your bone aches are subsiding. Still easier than the AC don't you think? Cook me up something tasty today OK?

    Sammie Kay, well we all have our down days don't we? You are so such a positive spirit I know this is temporary. You have your cat on phenobarbitol? My goodness, isn't that what they give mental patients? Hope he gets better soon.

    GI Jel.....HELLO we miss you!

    Twink we will be thinking of you as your surgery date approaches!

    Jan, Hey girlfriend, you have lots of hair! I mean, it looks like you could part it. LOL

    Terry, hang in there you will be joining the graduating class soon!

    Steph, what did you decide about your port? I didn't have to get the Neulasta this time either as my counts were good. Will be interesting to see what they are tomorrow when I have labs done!

    Phyl, we miss you around here. I know you are probably reading but not always posting. I KNOW you are probably doing something fun you could tell us about!!

    Karen, I did "thank you" cards for each of my 4 infusion folks. Each one had an animal furry pen in it cause they said I turned their infusion room into a zoo. Then for the whole dept I took one of those big cheesecakes that have 8 different flavors. I also got that balloon and the grocery woman tied in on my belt and I wore it bobbing around me all day! As soon as my timer went off on the chemo pump I jumped up and started doing the woohoo dance and everybody laughed and clapped. They gave me a diploma that said what a fabulous patient I have been, I hugged everybody and danced my way out of there.

    Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Thinking about you all, hugs all around..............Marsha

    PS HAHAHA "post no longer valid" but I had copy-pasted!!!!!
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited May 2007
    Hi, friends... today I especially think about the fact that I probably owe my life to the thousands of American soldiers who died on Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944 and the entire following year unfortunately... they saved my parents' generation from a lot of trouble, they were teenagers in those days and may not have had the same path without peace coming back... these soldiers are my heroes and I will be forever grateful to them (I was born in Dec. of 1952 and all those events were still very fresh in everybody's mind).

    It is not a holiday for me (still a whole chapter to go... 45 pages!!!), but I take breaks to go see how many millimeters the sweet peas have grown since the last time I checked, same for all my seedlings... the mock-orange is blooming and smells heavenly (simple flowers), the first roses are bursting into fragrant blooms, same with lupins, every thing is luscious green with the nice rain we got this month... and the house is, again, filled with the smell of rhubarb cooking with apples and ginger... too bad DH hates rhubarb... that's all I feel like eating today, with yogurt, plus delicious fresh pears from New-Zealand, Alyson
    (still an achy tongue... achy bones, but as you say Marsha, the last time we have to deal with that CRAP). I walked everyday anyway... I now can't wait to be done with my current project to take a break and garden all dday long and do just plain nothing (reading in a chaise-longue... with my doggies snoaring at my feet... under the sun-umbrella).

    Big hugs to all of you,
    Till soon,
    CatherineH
  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited May 2007
    Catherine - your post inspired a long message from me. I sent it as a PM to you.

    Carynn
  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited May 2007
    Thats for the link Leah for the cranberries. Imagine my surprise when DH arrived with two 4 gallon buckets of cranberries. Hope to make some chutney later.
    Marsha, the pale red is the last hair that was left and surprisingly is the original colour which I hadn't seen for a very long time. It came in as the rest was going out and has stayed as a fuzz.
    Hope you all had a restful Memorial Day. What type of commemorations do you have - parades, memorial services? Also why the 28th May? Britain and Europe have Armistice day which is the end of WWI, Australia and NZ have ANZAC day which commemorates the Gallilope Landings so is there significance in the date?
    I have had to ring the hospital as I woke this mornning with a dreadful cold and cough. DH has now gone to get a prescription filled for some antibiotics. I really feel very fluey - if that is a word.
    Will have to get some-one to water the shrubs we planted on the weekend. I thought it was going to rain but hasn't so far.
    DH has arrived back so had better go and take these drugs.
    Hope every one has a good day.
    Alyson
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited May 2007
    Hello, All. Got the pathology report. Some of it is stunning- like the breast- "No evidence of malignancy".Mostly scar tissue!
    19 nodes were taken, all had evidence of metastases. No surprises there.
    The big surprise was that this time, about 1% of the tumor cells stained for estrogen receptors- so although very low, there were some. The surgeon said I need to talk to oncologist about this, but a drug like Arimidex is for Low estrogen postive and might be useful! Wow...

    Will meet with radiation oncologist this Wednesday, and have obtained the referral to the RFA dr. in Boston. Things may be happening pretty quickly.

    I expect to be joining the rads group that is starting in June...
    I don't think the oncologist has seen the path report yet, as he was out on Friday.

    I had the drains removed on Friday- a four hour roundtrip for 5 minutes! oh well. Glad that it is out. I have been doing exercises, and seem to be ok except when I type for hours at a time.

    The company for whom I have been contracting for a few years is letting all their contractors go on June 30. So I don't know what I do next. A little conflicted about whether I want another contract or not. But it is hard to conjure one up on command when you do want the work, so I don't now what happens if I want to take the rest of this calendar year off...

    Hope everyone had a good weekend. I am seriously celebrating those of you who are finishing up their treatments. What a victory!

    Love to you all. Back to work tomorrow!
  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited May 2007
    Hi Alyson - I'm afraid we were confusing on our discussion of Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a Federal Holiday which honors all Military Men & Women who lost thier lives in all wars, not just WWII. It is our most somber holiday; but most of the country celebrates it by flying the flag and having bar-b-que parties. Early in the day on Memorial Day each year, the President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetary (The National Cemetary). The Tomb of the Unknowns represents all soldiers from past wars whose remains were never identified. In recent years, no new unknowns have been added with the inception of DNA testing, etc. Instead, a new plaque was erected Arlington recognizing all missing and unaccounted for service men and women. Yes, there are parades and events with Veterans usually on a local level. If you ever make it to the Washington DC area, you should stop at Arlington. There is a lot of history there - there's a lot more to it than just a cemetary. And it's absolutley beautiful.

    Leah - Bummer about the Contractors where you are. At least they did give you some notice. It does sound like overall the pathology report was great news. I've heard that before about the triple neg thing. I plan on asking again about mine. Keep us posted on the RFA. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it's as smooth and painless as we saw on tv.

    Time to decide what to do for dinner. Will also start the post for bar reservations.

    Take care all.

    Carynn
  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited May 2007
    Ok, I went back and looked and I'm not 100% sure of who is done and who is not. So, listed below is me!

    Tues -
    Wed -
    Thurs - Carynn (Last Taxol)
    Fri -
  • lightphoto
    lightphoto Member Posts: 60
    edited May 2007
    Hello All,
    Things are going well here. The side effects from the last tx seem to be subsiding quite well. Theresa is gaining strength and desire to get back outside. So, we took a ride to the forest, which we have alot of here, and enjoyed some scenic views and several nesting birds. One of the places we visited was where the image used in our avatar was taken last fall. Was a beautiful day to have my honey feeling better and being thankful for improving health.

    Last night I woke up around 2:30 AM. Immediately, my mind and heart began giving thanks for so many blessing we have experienced throughout our adventure. One item that I worked out was how welcomed I have felt while posting here. It has been, and trust will continue to be, a great experience. Thanks so much for allowing me to communicate on behalf of, and along with, my wife.
    Scott
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited May 2007

    Alyson, Memorial Day is always the last Monday of May. So the 28th, this year, is the holiday. Don't know why the last Monday in May but there you have it. Marsha

  • swimmingmom
    swimmingmom Member Posts: 121
    edited May 2007
    Scott-good to hear that Theresa is getting better

    Alyson-that is a lot of cranberries!! Get cooking girl!

    Leah, I loved your hair pictures. And more good news for you too! I find it amazing when you hear no tumor in your breast. Chemo is horrible but amazing.

    Catherine can I come lay on one of your chairs too. Sounds inviting.

    Carynn great description of Memorial Day. I will be joining you at the bar which is getting a little lonely this week with everyone finishing. I will have my LAST abraxane on Friday.

    To those of you with hair growth, did it start sparse? I have a few hairs which are about 1/4 in long now but they are so far and few in between I am afraid it won't amount to much. I want thick hair. I have been convinced Marsha it would be grey. But my daughter keeps telling me it looks brown-I was blonde. And so far the little rascals are straight.

    Karen
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited May 2007
    Karen, I am glad for you that the end of tx is this week... you had such a rough time at it. Abraxane did not treat me much better this last time around (in terms of achyness and overall feeling of "week knees" and some fatigue...) even my teeth feel more sensitive...?? my face is kind of numb around the mouth especially... I will not miss that part either... no hair growing back here... it'd better get going so I have some kind of short hair when my sister comes visit in Sept. I do not want to scare her...
    Caryn, I'll be thinking of you on Thursday... I'll have a heart echography that same day...

    Scott+Theresa, keep coming here for updates, will you? We need everybody to stick around because not having to go to regular tx, which means "medical attention" , will make some of us feel "abandoned to their fate"...

    Marsha, as soon as I am done with my current project, I'll regain some of my "personal time" and I will try to make you feel like trying some of my favorite recipies (some quick and easy, some more involved...)... you look like you can pack a few more calories... I put back some weight (more than I would have liked... 3-4 pounds), it seems to be all on my stomach, great... time to get really serious about biking for good... not just admiring my nice lavender bike in the garage... and then looking at the pump for the tires... sigh...

    Leah, so encouraged by your news... keep recovering, sweet lady, and I hope you'll find just the contract job you want, allowing you to work from home on projects of interest to you, while not consuming too much of the precious time you need to take care of yourself, first and foremost... I'll be checking for you here... don't forget us.

    Well, wishing you all, dear friends, as nice a day as possible...
    Hugs to all,
    CatherineH
  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited May 2007
    Good afternoon all:

    Catherine -- I absolutely agree with you: "We need everybody to stick around because not having to go to regular tx, which means "medical attention" , will make some of us feel "abandoned to their fate"..."

    My goal now, as I wait for rads and make my way through them, is to get back into shape, physically and mentally. I was in average shape before I got diagnosed, but have done nothing for the past five months. While on chemo, I was not eating properly. A little too much focus on carbs (bread and chocolate!).

    This morning, I went to the local Wellness Community today and took an excercise class. This is the first excercise class I have ever taken. I was the youngest in the room by 20 years and I was determined to make it to the end of the class! I actually feel pretty good. I'm going to try their yoga class on Thursday afternoon. I don't when my rads treatment will be, so I'm trying to keep excercise options open.

    Marsha -- Glad to hear that your friend is doing better. How about her tests? We just got the all clear on dh's MRI results. It really does seem like his attack was a bad case of vertigo provoked by ear tests. And, how are you doing?

    Leah -- That is wonderful news about your path report! What does "evidence of metastases" mean in your nodes? Is the histological equivalent of "mostly scar tissue" in the breast? I'm also delighted that you've been able to bounce back so quickly after surgery. The chemo barely seems to have made a dent in your energy!

    Alyson -- Cranberries make wonderful relish and chutneys. Oustide of Massachusetts, the fresh cranberries are only available in the fall, just in time for our Thanksgiving Holiday. I usually buy an extra bag to make extra relish, which I freeze. I think that you can also freezethe cranberries as well. I like cranberry relish with chicken or turkey sandwiches.

    Karen -- Wow, Friday is your last! It is a good feeling ...

    Scott -- Glad that Theresa is doing a bit better. I hope that you and she will continue to pop in and check up with all of us.

    Vegas -- Loved your golf visor/wig story! As you know my ds is adamant that I keep my head covered. When I go to his T-ball games, I wear a big straw hat that has a strap under my chin. It make look silly, but I don't have to worry about my wig blowing off - LOL!

    Carynn -- I think that Pat is every week with her taxol on Wednesdays. I've gotten mixed up with most of the rest as well. Shall we keep this going until the last of our crew finishes, sometime in July?

    For those of us with taxol foot problems, I got some advice from my sister, who is a podiatrist. The most important thing is to keep the feet moisturized. And, if you are going to do any walking, wear good supportive sneakers or walking shoes. This will keep the feet from having to do all the work. Finally, keep soft things near your feet -- no sandals with hard bottoms and straps. Sigh, this explains why my foot neuropathy only just popped up. With the start of the nicer weather, I had switched from clogs (with socks) to barefoot in sandals.

    Hope all have a pleasant afternoon ...

    Hugs all around, and especially to Pat, Carynn, and Karen having treatments this week ...
    Hillary
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited May 2007

    Yes I agree with Catherine and Hillary. I think the support is goig to be greatly needed as we all try to blend back into society. LOL Who else is living my "new normal" but you guys? Hugs all around.........Marsha

  • ErinsGram
    ErinsGram Member Posts: 150
    edited May 2007
    Good afternoon FCCers. I trust you all had a wonderful long weekend. Except for intermittent t'storms, central PA was quite nice. Got lots of my landscaping finished last week - tons more to do though. Enjoyed the new picnic area for most meals. Rented a waste mgmt roll-off for the weekend (and thru next weekend as it turns out - too much 'stuff'), parked it under a double door on the 2nd story of the garage and started pitching. Amazing how much junk accumulates over the years. Hard work as it was, it was very rewarding to see the cleanup come together.

    Carynn and Karen - hugs for your finals this week.

    Catherine - I'll be watching (or sniffing) for your edible delights also. That salmon souffle thingy really had the taste buds working overtime.

    Hillary - good for you on the exercise classes.

    Marsha - you're right - I do some quick reading then off to work. Hope all is well with you and the SEs are dwindling.

    Leah - Thanks for the hair pics. Sure gives us hope. I'd be very happy to have it - looks pretty cool (literally, too). Hope you're able to relax and enjoy yourself while you're deciding what to do.

    I had more greetings I wanted to send but can't remember my list.

    Back to business - had my rads appointment this afternoon. My 1:00 appt started around 1:30 and I walked out of there at 2:30 - that was the Onc visit and the markings. Quite a simple process - they used a marker to establish some boundaries, then did a CT scan followed by 5 tattoos. The entire marking process was only 15-20 minutes. The tattoos were just a little sting {figures, with all the numbness around the mast area, they had to stay in the non-numb area }. I have a tattoo on each shoulder so getting poked with this little 22 gauge needle didn't hold a candle to that process! My start date is June 11 - that's exactly 3 weeks after my last Taxol.

    Gotta run for now. Hugs to all.
    Phyl
  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited May 2007
    Wed -
    Thurs - Carynn (Last Taxol)
    Fri - Karen (Last Abraxane)
  • horsegal
    horsegal Member Posts: 72
    edited May 2007
    Vegas -
    So sorry that you had a mishap on the golf course! I fear that very thing all the time - I ride my horse with my wig on, and I am very aware that at any time, it may just fly off!!!!! Then, I would actually have to jump off my horse first to retrieve it! LOL LOL

    I figure that we all do the best that we can under these circumstances!
  • horsegal
    horsegal Member Posts: 72
    edited May 2007
    Scott -
    Glad things are going better for you and Theresa! I have to say, that I truly admire you for being soooo supportive of your wife thru all this, and especially for posting with all of us! My hubby is very supportive, as was wonderful - but he never visited this site and may have gotten more out of it than he realized!
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited May 2007
    Talked to oncologist. 1% estrogen receptor does nothing for me. Darn. Was really hopeful.
    Appt today with the radiation oncologist at my local place.
    6/19 appt. with the RFA doc at Mass General Hospital. Dr. Ken Tannabe is his name. The appt. should be planning for the procedure, and finding out all about it. Hopefully getting a date for it, also.
    Then I am sure back to medical oncologist. I know he wants to do more chemo. I don't, but I will probably 'lose' that argument! I have tickets to Italy from 10/5 to 10/17, so we will have to work around that!

    I am truly rejoicing with those of you who are done, and close to done!
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited May 2007
    The evidence of metastases means that the breast cancer cells were there. Metastases are "secondary malignancies which have come from the primary". That's why I said 'no surprise' since we already new the nodes were cancerous.

    What was shocking was that due to the extent of the node involvement, there was still live cancer in the nodes. Yes, there was dead scar tissue, and even necrosis, but still some active cancer. So AC didn't get ALL of it.

    so, surgery got out all the visible nodes (19), and now I will get radiation to that area along with the breast. And then more chemo. What a formidable adversary this disease is.

    Thanks for asking for the clarification.
  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited May 2007
    Leah -- Thanks for the explanation. Despite the fact that AC didn't get it all, it sounds like it still did a kick-a$$ job! I've read in the triple neg section that the taxanes are supposed to be particularly good for us triple negs. I think that there are also some particular drug combos that work really well. This is one place where you really want to know that your medical oncologist is up to speed on all the new data about triple negs.

    I'll be interested to know how many rads treatments you'll be getting. My rads onc has already hinted that I'm going to need 8 weeks (i.e. 40!) treatments. Most folks on these boards are getting between 5 to 7 weeks. Somehow, I'm not so pleased about being special!

    -- Hillary
  • MelanieW
    MelanieW Member Posts: 276
    edited May 2007
    1. Marsha is done with surgery and chemo and will move on to tamoxifen for 5 years. Will be busy with close follow-up screening for the next few months. No recon is the forseeable future.

    2. Twink is done with chemo, bilateral mastectomy is set for June 6th, Trip Neg so no follow on therapy. Next appointment with the oncologist on July 19th when the pathology report from surgery will be reviewed. Here's hoping for a negative SNB result!

    3. Hillary is done with surgery (lumpectomy and SNB) and chemo and will move on to radiation for 8 weeks starting in mid-June. Although triple neg, might go on to tamoxifen because of LCIS in "good" breast. Will also be closely followed. Haven't ruled out bilat and reconstruction in the future.

    4. Catherine is done with surgery (bilat mast, Jan 10th), with the "hard core" chemo, and will continue Avastin alone until December (once every 3 weeks, 15mg/kg) with a heart echography (US) every 3 months and regular blood test+urine analysis (for the study). No rads, no reconstruction, will get on Tamoxifen for a year (since "peri" menopausal), then to Arimidex (once "officially" menopaused)... hopefully these treatments will not trigger long posts about bad side effects...

    5. Jan (wildabouthorses) Is done with two lumpectomies (one each breast with one side SND done), did only one dose of chemo(quit AC chemo due to side effects was borderline on needing it anyway), did 33 days of radiation with 8 of them being boosts finished May 2nd. All open sores are healed up and able to wear a bra again. Get a 4 week rest before starting Tamoxifin on June 5th, see rads doc that day for a check up. Had check up with BS May 17th, genetic test results not in yet. See the BS August 17th for another check up then a mammogram November 20th. Things could change if I do have the cancer gene...a masectomy would be in the future for both breasts. If that happens I don't want to have reconstruction.

    6. Terry is done with surgery (lumpectomy w/ SNB 12/28/06). Will be done with 10 TCH chemo treatments on 6/21/07. Then expect to start rads mid July. Herceptin infusions until Feb 08. Considering breast reduction on "good" breast for symmetry. See breast surgeon 6/1 for check up, rads onc on 6/6 for more info on upcoming rads. Will be taking Femara for 5 years.

    7. Phyl is done with surgery Jan 16 (Left mast) and chemo. On to rads - simulation May 29 - probably start early June. 5 years Femara. PS consult July 5th - Prophy right mast and reconstruction probably late fall/winter - not sure of the direction.

    8. StephJ is done with surgery (lumpectomy and axillary node removal 1/30) and will be done with chemo on 6/7. Radiation is next - have treatment planning session on 6/25; will begin 7 weeks of radiation treatment in early July. After radiation onto tamoxifen for 5 years.

    9. Carynn - Last chemo 5/31. Radiation planning session 6/1. Will learn surgery date (lumpectomy) 6/4.

    10. Sammie Kay - Bil. mastectomies on 12/28/06. Finished 12 doses of Taxol. #2 of 4 FAC on 6/5. Will find out after chemo if rads are necessary. Finish FAC on 7/17. Reconstruction to follow chemo and poss. rads.

    11. Vegas - Bilateral mastectomies on 12/11/2006 with one step alloderm reconstruction. Finished 4 doses of AC end of March 2007. Don't need radiation. Port coming out June 8, 2007. Started 5 years of Femara May 15th 2007. Debating whether to have nipple reconstruction and tattoo on left side - tired of "procedures" but may change my mind later.

    12. Melanie finished chemo yesterday (5-29). Had my Muga also...exactly the same as when I started! No rads, no follow up drugs as I am Triple Neg. 2 lumpectomies in 2004, last one Nov 2006, blilat Jan 3rd, 2007. Now I am scheduled to do the One step alloderm reconstruction with Dr. Salzberg on July 13th! Will most likely have a bone/ct scan before that...just to make sure. Also thinking seriously about a hysterectomy now.
  • MelanieW
    MelanieW Member Posts: 276
    edited May 2007
    There are so many posts that I want to respond to...hopefully, I will feel up to that in a couple of days. My last chemo was tough. It was a long day with adding the Muga scan. Wiped me out. My infusion hand swelled last night and I called the onc. He told me to ice and elevate and if it wasn't "perfect" today, call him. It's almost perfect today. I will go for my Neulast shot here in just a bit. Even though I feel "yuck"...it certainly feels good to be done.

    Huggz All...

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