Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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OK Juanelle,
We'll be the guinea pigs.
)Pam
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You are right we will, I have the soap all ready to do into the bed. I wonder what the cleaning lady will think when she pulls a bar of soap out between the sheets.
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Thanks for the information on the Arimidex Pam. I am post menopausal and have been since I had my hysterectomy almost 8 yrs ago. I stopped taking my Estrace almost 3yrs ago and this past summer was my worst ever as far as having hot flahes go... it was excrutiating. Anyway I haven't had anymore, knock on some wood. LOL!! I'm hoping they have ended and if that be the case maybe at least they will not return with the Arimidex. Does anyone know if you've already been through menopause if the symptoms return when you start the AI's? The next biggest thing I am trully concerned about it the joint pain. I do not want to feel like I'm 80 ever, not even when I'm 80. My mom is 65 and she has sever degenerative joint disease in her knee and needs a knee replacement and she acts like she is 80. I know what kind of pain she has and I do not want to have that kind of pain. It is no bed of roses.
I think it is great for you ladies that are on Tamox and are having few to no symptoms. Wish is was an option for me. But I seriously doubt my doc will put me on it. I have no ovaries and had the totaly hysterectomy... lucky me. But I'm still Estrogen and Progesterone + which is great!
Welcome louiebern!!! Nice to meet you.
LOL!!! Pam and Juanelle I want to know how the soap works my husband is thinking of trying it out since he suffers from leg cramps.
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PJ12345, Thank you so much for the warm welcome!!!!!!!!! I have commented on a couple other threads and THIS one I feel I truly belong! Yes, I was diagnosed in January on 2009 and I know it's at the end of my treatments, but just the beginning on my journey. I have Breast Cancer.. it's still hard for me to say that. The entire year has been so busy with surgerys and chemo, now I am trying to get moving and getting this behind me. I know it will never be "behind" me. The word "cancer" has become a daily subject but someday it won't be. Thanks for the warm welcome!! Thank you so much!!
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THANKS mimi, for the welcome!!!!!!
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mimi, I will let you know how the soap works. It will be an easy and interesting experience. So far, no leg cramps.
Welcome louiebern, we are all trying to get this experience behind us, it just seems like it takes forever. But I know there is light at the end of the tunnel and am working toward that. Glad you have joined us.
Hope everyone one has a really fun and relaxing Sunday.
Juannelle
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Louiebern, welcome to the group...It is a great group of strong, wise, beautiful and funny ladies...look forward to getting to know you.
Hello to all. not much going on with me today..perhaps I will just enjoy a few days of good health before the next poison injection on Friday..4/6..yahoo.
Michele
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Hi Girls, Happy Sunday. Welcome Louiebern. Sorry you are here but we are all pretty nice and rather funny some of us !
Michele enjoy feeling good ! woo HOOO ~
My #4 poison injection is tomorrow. Last AC though woo HOO, then on to Taxol on the 28th. (scared) Heck I'll try the soap if the leg pain kicks in. Sounds silly but I"LL try anything that will help us with nasty se's. If medical marijuana was legal here I'd be smoking I think ~
Have a great day ladies.
HUGS ~
Alicia
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Hello Ladies! I can see all of you are pretty nice!! I am soooo glad I found this thread. Let me get straight to one question that has really concerned me.... Like I said earlier, I am finished with all treatments and surgerys, now I am wanting to start wearing a bra again. I don't really NEED it, but feel more like myself with one. I have always wore underwire and heard I could still do that if I felt comfortable with them. How common is it to wear underwires with the saline implants?
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Ivorymom -Thanks for the information about you being on Tamox. I will definitely discuss this with my Med Onc in FEB when I see him. I definitely don't want to have Osteoporosis and it does run in my family,my mom has it and she is only 65 and she has shrank about 4 inches in the last 10 yrs. It may be something that we really need to think about. Then again he may not be to concerned since it will only be for 5 yrs. We will have to see, you never know with doctors.
louieburn- I'm not sure about wearing underwires with saline implants. Maybe some of the other ladies on the board can help you.
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Renee- Hi! I got the TheremaPack at Walgreens, I'm sure you can find it at any drug store if you don't have Walgreens where you live. As far as being on the Tamox. I have been on it only for a few weeks and the only SE that I can say I've had is a headache, and some knee pain. But not anything that keeps me from doing normal daily activities.
Welcome Louieburn~ We are glad you found us, this is a great thread! We are all very supportive of one another on here, so welcome to our little group
Juanelle-Congratulations on the new grandbaby! That is such a wonderful story about the adoption. The selfless act of adoption has to be one of the hardest things for a mother to do. I am very happy for you and your family this Holiday Season, you have much to celebrate!
Hope everyone else is doing well. I posted a question a few days ago and it got missed, I was wondering if anyone of you have heard of Lyphodema in the breast? My med onc was concerned about that when I saw him last week. My breast is still very swollen and tender, but I thought it was from rads still. How long should the swelling from rads last? I have been done with them for over a month now.
Hope everyone is having a good Monday!
Hugs
Jen
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Thanks Ivorymom
I actually just finished PT for arm lymphedema a few weeks ago. I didn't have full blown lymphedema, but I had the beginnings of it. What kind of therapy did they do for you for the breast lymphedema? My med onc said it was hard to diagnos and hard to treat. I am also at a point in my monthly cycle where my breast is more swollen and tender than usual anyway. I was going to keep an eye on things and see if it lightens up after this week is over.Thanks Again!
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Hi Jen,
I am sorry you are having this trouble. I am asymptomatic but my treated breast is still a little edematous and I am 9 months PO and 5 1/2 months post radiation. My left breast is fuller and it was not before and the seams in my bra cup indent the flesh in a way that is typical of pressure with edema. I also have what I suspect is cording on the under side of my breast. There are 4 or 5 lines or cords that are slowly becoming less prominent. They don't hurt but look pretty weird. I think massage is the treatment and I do that some but probably not enough.
I see my radiation oncologist this Friday, just routine follow up. He has told me swelling can persist as long as 12 months.
Edited to add: every time I have a scan (like mammogram or lung CT) my breast kind of "flares up" almost like I am back in radiation. ??? Don't know why.
Best wishes.
pam
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I am home from chemo #4. Feeling okay. A little disheartened. They are setting up an appointment with radiology to see if radiation is necessary. Being I had 2 tumors, that totaled 5 cms together. Even though I had a BL Max?! Oh well, I'll do whatever I have to. RIGHT? We can get through this all together ~
I am also having BRCA testing done, even though I have no family history anywhere, I am 42 and my daughter is 15. I want to know for her ~
Nite girls the couch is calling my name LOUD !
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Alicia, enjoy your sofa...take it easy. Little or no SEs for you this time.
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I agree Alicia... the couch is calling my name but I have laundry to do and dinner to cook. :=( Oh well the joys of life. I had rads txt # 3 today and it went pretty well, only 35 more to go. I didn't know about the breast lymphdema. I pray that I don't have that not so wonderful joy of BC to go along with the other things of life. Jen I hope you get some resolution. I can only imagine having a long term painful, swollen breast.
Michele hope you are continuing to feel well. Juanelle how are you doing?
Have a great evening ladies!
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Good evening ladies:
Jen, sorry you are having a problem. I am not there yet, but hope I don't have to deal with lymphedema on any part of my body.
Alica, congrats on finishing #4. Hope you have mile SEs this time.
Ivorymom. Pam, michele, I hope today finds you all doing well.
Mimi, I am doing fine. I went to work today after I went to get my WBC checked. It was fine, but my Red Blood count was down today so they gave me a shot for that. I guess that is why I have been so tired the last couple of days. Work was just fine, just worked about 1/2 day. Will put in a full one tomorrow, that means getting up at 4:30 am. I am tired but doing fine. Hope you are the feeling fine also.
Have a good evening ladies, I am like Alicia, the couch is calling me.
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Alicia,
I bet 99% of us (me especially) who complain about rads DID NOT have chemo. You are going to find rads, if you have to do them, a WALK IN THE PARK! The worst part is the every day thing.
I don't mean to diminish what we radiators have been through but I think chemo is a lot rougher. You have been through the worst part.
pam
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And what is it about couches? I can fall asleep in a heartbeat on our couch... and I get in bed and I'm wide awake!
pam
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You know I have been doing the same thing. I can't keep my eyes open on the couch or in the recliner and get into bed and I lay there for an hour. Get up turn the TV on and I am asleep in 5 minutes. Maybe it is the boring shows at that time of night.
Juannelle
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Justmealicia, CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your 4th treatment!!! Glad you are feeling ok. My fourth one was my last. How many do you have?
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What a great Christmas present for all of you finishing treatment. Hooray!
pam
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Louiebern ~ I have to have 4 more treatments of Taxol. Congrats on finishing chemo woo hoo.
Pam ~ I am sure rads will be doable. I just worry about when my exchange will be done before or after and my skin getting compromised... grrr ~
I am also getting BRCA testing done.
Hope everyone is feeling good.
Alicia0 -
Pam - LOL!! I am with you about the couch thing. I get on ours or the recliner and I'm out in a heart beat, get in the bed and it takes forever. :=)
Alicia - I also agree with Pam about rads. I went through chemo years ago (not this go around), but l well remember all the nausea/vomiting, feeling tired, etc that went with the 8 txts I received. So far rads has not compared to that. Rads is hard on you physically because you have to go everyday, it takes time away from work and the family. It also gives you a wonderful sunburn and suntan only on one side that you may not want. But it is turning out to be doable. If you have to have rads you will be fine. My biggest concern has been the effects it will have later on the small portion of my lung that is getting radiation. The only thing I can do is pray there will be no long term effects. I have come to the resolve that this is what is best for me and the doctors are doing what they know to do. {{{{Hugs}}}}
Renee
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Thanks for the information on the Rads ladies. Mimi I wonder having a bl max I imagine they would only do the rads on the cancer side, the other boob I did prophalctically. While it did have atypic and stuff in it no outright cancer. This is all just overwhelming sometimes.
And Juanelle yes you have been amazing throughout your chemo. IF you fall asleep on that couch I would say do NOT wake me let me be there. You need your rest whenever you can get it.
Heck I just woke up and feel I need to rest some more. LOL
Good day girls !
Alicia
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Good morning everyone~
It is a beautiful, sunny, and very very chilly day here in the Chicago area! Our temps are going to drop into the teens throughout today.
I almost feel like a hypocondriact (sp) with one thing after another that is bothering me. I feel good most of the time, but my husband can hardly touch me on my left side and it is really starting to bother him. He is frustrated and says "you are always in pain, I can never touch you" He is not being mean or hateful, he is just frustrated. And I am frustrated also, I just want to feel normal again and not flinch when someone touches my left side. And then I think to myself, in my voice of reason, that it was only 4 months ago that I was going thru surgeries and getting diagnosed. It feels like a lifetime ago. I am sorry to be ranting.
You ladies who are going thru chemo are so strong and so amazing. I agree with Pam, I have heard that rads are a piece of cake compared to chemo. Not to diminish that experience, we have all been thru a lot. Juanelle, Alicia, Michele and Louienurn, and anyone else I missed, you are amazing women. Keep fighting the good fight
Renee and Pam, you are amazing also! Like I said we have all been thru alot and I am fortunate to be here with you ladies. I think this Christmas we have a lot to be thankful for.
Hugs to all you beautiful ladies!
Jen
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Jen- you are only 4 month out of surgeries, and you most definitely may still be having pain. Everyone of us is different and have different levels of pain that we can tolerate. I know your husband is going through his own difficult time right now. My husband has told me that he doesn't know what to say to me at times so he just doesn't say anything which sometimes just compounds the problem and makes it worse. It's been 2 months since my surgery and I only had a partial mastectomy. The doc took about 10 inches out of the inside of my breast. I am still very tender and sore and then you add radiation to that and I don't really want anyone touching me there either. When my little 11 mo. old granddaughter accidentally bumps me I almost come unglued sometimes. So I understand!!! I hope things get better for you and your husband. The whole breast cancer experience is hard on the whole family and can definitely interfere with intimacy.
Juanelle I hope you are feeling better today after your injection. Don't over do it and try to get some much needed rest!
You to Alicia!!! Rest up... Chemo is tough on the body. Rads isn't a walk in the park either, but by the Grace of GOD we are all overcomers and we will get through this.
Hugs to you all
Woo hoo 4 rads down and only 34 to go (I hope)!!!
Renee
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meg, thanks for the compliment on my name, it is a bit unusual. I am feeling much better today, but still have to watch getting in a hurry, because I will run out of wind. It will be interesting to see how long it takes me to recover from my next tx next week.
Jen, I know we will keep fighting, I am just glad that I only have one more to go. The women that do 8 or 10 and then on to something else are the strong ones. Don't worry about ranting, that is what we are here for.
Alicia, I can go to sleep just about anywhere these days. If I sit down, just give me 5 minutes and I might be snorting or snoring. I am doing better today.
Pam, yes it is going to be a great Christmas present to have the last tx on Christmas Eve. I just hope I feel good at the end of the week for New Years. Not that we will party or anything, but I keep my grandson on New Years Eve and it has become a special event.
louiebern, hope you are having a great evening.
Renee, the countdown is on for your rads, you will be almost finished before I even start. You will be able to give me lots of advise.
Good evening to all you wonderful ladies.
Juannelle
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Juanelle - if I haven't miscounted and have it figured right (and the doctor doesn't add any to it) I should be finished around Feb. 5th. I hope and I'm praying that is the date I have circled on my calendar anyway. LOL! :=)
hurray to you for finishing on Christmas EVE!!! What a way to ring in the New Year!!!!!
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Hi Ladies -- Just found your thread and you seem like such a nice group! Hope you don't mind if I chime in. I was DX in June with DCIS and then they found IDC after first lumpectomy, so had a second and SNB/axillary lymph node dissection. Started chemo Aug 3 and finished Nov 9. Just had a right MX last week. I'm actually doing really well. I took it hard when they recommended the MX but after two lumpectomies I still had one margin not clear. Onc decided it was time for me to do chemo, so I did that first. I am actually very happy post MX; I think I mourned the loss prior to the surgery and having it was just such a relief... plus I'm happy with how it looks (even in it's baby form). Have a TE and will be getting a silicone implant (ultimately).
I think it was One-L who asked about percentages with chemo... I was told 10% overall with chemo and MX (no radiation)... but also was told chance of recurrence in my right breast was 1 - 3% and less than .5% in non-BC breast (though that increases over time). So I'm not sure what the 10% means LOL. But compare that to the standard 1 in 8 women get BC, which amounts to 12.5% risk over your lifetime. So chemo and lump/rad or chemo and MX means lower percentage than someone who has never had BC. I hope that's true!
Cheers,
Lilah
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