MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
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Football, I had the exact same chemo, except I had 4 cycles each of FEC and Taxotere.
It is scary, no question, but I found that my fear was much worse than the reality.
For the FEC part, you may have a problem with nausea. My onc put me on a strict schedule of 4 different anti-emetics. I got Emend during the infusion and for 2 days following, along with an intricate dance of others. The meds can make you constipated and give you a mild headache, but it beats puking. For the first adriamycin infusion, my onc sat behind me the whole time with a stethoscope on my heart. I am 2.5 years out and my heart is holding up fine. Being healthy (apart from the stupid cancer) WILL help you.
What I did to get through the chemo was, 1. take probiotics (cleared by onc, and it helps both with stomach issues and with thrush). 2. take all the anti-puke meds as directed. 3. Eat on a schedule and make sure to get plenty of fibre, liquids and protein (egg whites are helpful in this regard). 4. Get some exercise. Some days "exercise" was a slow shuffle around the block, but most days I took my dogs out in the morning for a nice walk, and usually got in a second or even a third walk later in the day. It helps to get dressed, get some daylight, some fresh air etc. There is also research that exercise helps against the SEs of the chemo. 5. Treats! I bought myself something nice after each chemo, made sure to see friends, go out etc.
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Eli, you crack me up! I can't fathom how people move with an IV in their hand or port. I sat stock still for the whole infusion, the hand with the needle resting on a pillow. It was very uncomfortable thanks to the saline you mention.
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thanks to all for sharing!!!!! Hubby and I are going to a black sabbath concert tomorrow night. Ugh! It's for him! Im a rocker too but never got into sabbath. Funny thing is that their guitarist tony iommi also has cancer and tours in between treatments. It's everywhere! There's no forgetting it. I guess that we all live with cancer but in different ways!
Either we have it or have had it or know someone or someone who knows someone. It's just my turn right now!
The plan is to then go to Montreal sat am which is my old home. I was born there 50 years ago. We are going to a hockey game to see my ny rangers beat the Canadians!! Lol
Monday we got to Nyc hopefully for more hockey!! I'll take my hubby to a Janis Joplin show. He loves her. Not me but we have to balance things out somehow because he's not a ranger fan! Lol
Maybe catch a Yankee game to see my precious jeter in his last season
Then we come home the following Sunday
We plan to eat all of the wrong foods and drink too much. Then back to reality!
You have all been such a comfort to me and I promise that I will always cry whine and laugh with you!
One question: did u go to your chemo treatments alone? Did someone need to be home with you?
Have a great day all!!
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Football, I went to my first chemo alone, but it was depressing, dreary and boring. After that I brought dh each time, so he could keep me company. I did not need someone for any physical reason, nor when I got home etc.
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MameMe, As another with a similar Dx, I don't like your recent news one bit. So sorry it has returned. Mets behind an eye seems so unusual. I mean without it being anywhere else (not that I want you to have it anywhere else or anything!) You did say they are looking for the origin, so that must mean scans galore. Your 2012 BC was a new primary, right? I wonder if the mets are from that or if they go all the way back to 2003? How did they know it was a BC met? If this lesion is NOT from BC, will that be better or worse? I'm sure you will fill us in as you discover more. Of all of the phrases that come flying from my fingertips, I really hate typing Welcome Back (when it means a return of cancer,) but you know we will do what we can to support you through a new ordeal.
F-nut, Well, you've illuminated what a football nut does in the off season,, and it's the farthest thing from taking a sports break. Spectate away! "We plan to eat all of the wrong foods and drink too much." Leaving no mystery to how you found your way to this thread. Incidently, Black Sabbath was my first rock concert. Black Sabbath, before Geezer Butler was a geezer. Black Sabbath and Yes on the same bill. Good times. We are all geezers now.
Momine,
p.s. F-nut, My husband drove me to my first chemo, stayed til they hooked me up, then went to work; brought me back a sandwich at noon and stayed a few more hours to drive me home. It was mainly for moral support. Once I saw how tedious it was, I didn't want him to have to miss an exciting day at work for my boring deal. On many of the future visits, I planned for a son or a friend to stop by for a chat-n-chew at lunchtime. Driving home was never a problem. I only live ten minutes away, however.
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This is something that I have also been wondering about ... So in general, it is possible to drive oneself to and from chemo? I live about 10-15 minutes away. Hubby isn't always home and he has taken the last three weeks from traveling to take care of me.
Again, in general, because I KNOW everyone is different :-), when did the side effects start? If the day you got chemo was day one, was there a day when you really needed to stay home, say day 2, 3 etc?
I haven't met with the MO yet, that is next week, so don't know what I will be getting or how often, but just trying to think ahead. Again, in general, do you get you get to pick the day you have treatments? Trying to think which days would cause less days missed at work and also for my own business which is running dog agility trials which are on weekends. Some are Fri, Sat, others just Sat, Sun. Work isn't really a problem as others can cover for me, but MY business, well, I don't want to give that up!
This whole thing has been a series of unknowns, but the chemo is really a huge unknown. It seems that 5 different women can be on the same chemo treatment but have 5 different effects ranging from close to mild up to almost debilitating!
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Mameme- I can't imagine what being told doctors suspect a third round of cancer feels like. Hugs to you as you fight it, yet again.
Footballnut- Wow, you are an active little thing, aren't you?! Diversions are good. Party like there's no tomorrow, because it may be a bit before you feel up to it again. I know I can speak for many when I say we will all be here, supporting you through the days ahead.
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now I sit here crying because ur all so wonderful! Being born with one boob and a partial arm always made me different than everyone else. But I didn't care. I was raised to be strong and to do whatever I wanted.
I once told my mom when I was a little girl that I would never dye my hair have pain or forget anything! Mom is now 91 and we laugh about this now! What a smart ass I was. Still am I think!!
No one would pick me for sports in gym at school because they didn't think I could catch. So I started playing baseball and became a catcher. I played hockey as a goalie. I played football as a running back wide receiver or quarterback.
I was pointed at laughed at and teased. I didn't care. I never went home and cried. It only motivated me to do more
I had juvenile epilepsy which passed once I was in my late teens. I had to take depakane for many years but this never worried me. I was a kid. I'll live forever!
It was hard to get my first job after school finished. No one wanted to hire me. So I eventually became a national credit manager and have been doing that for nearly 20 years
I've played guitar since I was 12 using a prosthetic device to play. Hubby and I formed a band in 2001 which I used as a vehicle to motivate people not to judge people by how they look. It was an ac/dc trib band. I was angus. Lead guitar.
We have had several bands after that playing classic rock and roll. I started to sing.
Angus young from ac/dc taught me how to play thunderstruck in 2001. I was on stage with The stone temple pilots twice and sang with my idol Scott Weiland. Once was at jones beach in ny the second time in Hamilton Ontario
We are now trying to get another band going. I would like to try to rehearse as I work through treatments. I can practice guitar and be motivated. I want to get into public speaking to share my story especially with children. I do think that I have something to offer!
I've never seen things as difficult. Everyone tells me that I'm strong and an jnspiration but I've never felt that way.
I love meeting people and enjoying life. I love laughing and talking! All the more reason that I freaked when I couldn't talk when I was starting to go under as a result if the anaesthesia before my mx
I have a wonderful loving husband of 30 years. I've cried when he got so sick and was diagnosed with colitis over 10 years ago but this is now under control. I fell apart last year when he got a severe case of shingles. To this day he still has intense pain
But we are still together and find that all of these experiences have brought us even closer together
He's been there for me when I've cried screamed and laughed. He's held me and kissed my scars. He went wig shopping with me and has been to each of my appts. He's told me that he won't let anyone take me from him
And now I have you wonderful friends with me too. So I cry tears of thanks and gratitude. I am very fortunate and lucky!
Thank you all!
I hope we can all be life long friends. The best thing that cancer could give me. All of you!!!!
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Welcome, MakeLemonade! If you spend a little more time here, you will not only be making lemonade, but chasing an occasional tequila shot as well. I found that day 3-5 were when it hit me. My chemo day was Monday. After a half dozen rounds or so, I remember having a Friday where I just lied on the couch. The further you get into chemo, that badness can linger on for more days. In general, though, you do get back to feeling decently for several days before getting your next round. You already know my take on driving yourself...highly doable.
A word about fatigue. Someone else said it best when they wrote that radiation makes you sleepy-fatigued, while chemo makes you weak-fatigued. It really saps the energy. Do have to second what Momine wrote about trying to get some fresh air and walking in. That helps the fatigue. I rode a bike a little bit too. (I'm no superwoman...in fact, on some of those youngster threads, they do 5K runs on chemo!!! For real.) I was told to move about as much as I could, but not really exert myself.
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Real women, real stories. That's why I love this thread.
F-nut, Way to step up and LIVE. I wish everyone had that power within, but because they don't you can, indeed, be an inspiration and role model.
Also, here's a hanky for ya, ANGUS!
Ahahahaha! Rock on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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elimar love it!! Lol
Thanks for ur kind words!!!! For those about to rock we salute you!!!
Despite this f*cking cancer I still feel 16 and will still bang my soon to be bald head whenever I get the chance!!!!
I'll go to chemo with my sunglasses and rock n roll attire. Well maybe not to the first one. I don't want to scare anybody!!
Lol
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MakeLemonade, my mom rode her bike to and from chemo. I think my aunt did too. That doesn't mean everyone can/should, but both ladies were around 70 when they did this.
I was usually OK during and after, but if we got home around 2 PM, by 6 PM I was completely crashed out. I did not usually feel terrible or anything, just exhausted as if I had run 3 marathons or something. Other people run around like energizer bunnies for a few days, because of the steroids they give you with the chemo. I never responded to steroids that way, but my mom did. She would come home from chemo (on her bike), then do spring cleaning for two days. THEN she would crash out for a while.
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If I had lived close to my cancer center I could have driven myself to and from chemo with no problem. Most times I'd definitely feel different after chemo, but not sick or so bad that a short trip would have been a bad idea. But.... I live just over an hour from the center, and my husband chose to drive me each time. And then back the next day for the Neulasta shot. Several times we made an "afternoon" of it, depending on how I felt; going to the mall and eating at the food court (while my taste buds still worked,) shopping (he bought me the coolest purse ever on one of our last trips,) or running errands. When on A/C I tended to either get just a little nauseous OR have heartburn that felt like a porcupine lodged in my gullet that evening, but that wasn't usually til 7 or 8 at night.
The upside of having my husband there for all my infusions was that during the A/C he would go out and get me a chocolate milkshake before the adriamycin infusions so I didn't have to eat plain old crushed ice. And he'd bring us lunch. Plus it was just nice to have him there for company.
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Oh, that's right, Momine! I was hopped up on the steroids the first two days. The first night was usually fairly sleepless, second night not so much and then the crash on day three.
My 78 year old mom drove herself to and from chemo, often stopping to get some groceries on the way back because it wouldn't hit until that first evening.
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ML, are you being given steriods the first few days? I was - so i was ramped up for those days then by the weekend ( i had treatments on Wed) I would be down for the count til about the following Wed - the SE got a little worse with each treatment.
F-Nut I never had to drive myself - mine is an hour away - but i probably could have, at least in the beginning. Sometimes my DH drove me crazy being there - bless his heart
mostly I read or listened to music - we usually had lunch from the cafeteria - I had no problem eating - usually by the 3rd week I was almost back to normal. I most always had a room by myself - the treatments themselves were pretty uneventful 0 -
My mom insisted on accompanying me to my treatments. At the time I felt like I was keeping her from doing other things. Now that she's gone, I treasure those times in my heart.
I had no problem driving to and from chemo but I was only about 5 minutes away, but Mom wouldn't let me. So I was chauffeured thru my whole chemo ordeal.
My treatment was on Thursday. By Sunday afternoon I was done for the count until Tuesday, after the 2nd round.
MameMe-sorry you are back..we will try to live up to expectations. Life can really be a bitch sometimes!
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the hospital called and gave me my appt to have my port inserted. Tuesday April 29 8am. After the procedure I have to get blood work then meet with my oncologist
Then I start chemo the next day at noon
So once I got off the phone with the appt I cried like a baby!!!
I can't believe that they will insert the thing and use it the same day!!
So here I am petrified again!
Then I scrutinized my pathology report and am questioning how I can have a positive outlook if my cancer is triple positive with macro cells in 2 lymph nodes. So I'm scared all over again!
Arrrrrgh!!!!!!
What a roller coaster!!!!
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Busy thread! I always enjoys everyone's humor and smile inside when I see someone has posted here.
FBN...it is a roller coaster ride like no other I had experienced. Hang on do what feel good and right to you.
Someone asked about driving home from chemo and I am sorry I don't know who but I had my boyfriend drive me to and I would call him to pick me up. I think it was more for the emotional support than anything. It is about a half an hour drive. I would feel really pretty good until day 3 after getting Neulesta shot on day 2. I was down for the count day 3 and gradually feel better each day. I would also take walks around the block and it helped a lot. Getting control of food, water and medication seemed to be my main focus in life during that time but it sure helped. Also I regret taking hot showers because it was not good for my skin and cause hand foot syndrome. I did so for comfort but in the long run it caused problems.
wishing you all the best...Mary
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FBN, I'm not sure I can offer you help here. First, I had chemo back in the dark ages of 1996, life was very different then, almost the stone ages. Second, I have a fear of IV's which has been discussed at nauseam. So, the trick for me back then was a Valium night before and morning of so I needed DH to take me. They didn't do heated blankets either, so I'd bring a throw and the primary aim for me was to fall asleep.
But, you did clear up a question for me: had The Talk on DVR the other day when Sara Gilbert was returning from her honeymoon. They showed wedding photos. DH was curious why Ozzy didn't accompany Sharon to the wedding. I said, probably on tour or other necessary engagement. DH looked at me like I was crazy. Apparently, he was on tour. I'm not a Black Sabbath fan, but a night out is still a night away from home. Enjoy!
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yup ozzy is on tour. Lucky me!! Lol
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Hey, at least DH takes you to concerts, my DH only talks about doing that!
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lol!!
And I'll be taking my DH to see Scott weiland July 19 in toronto. That's one if my goals that I'm working towards!!
:-)
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So glad to see familiar names again, now I want to pick your brains a little.
They set me up for Taxol chemo weekly for twelve weeks. How did you all feel about getting a port? I suspect it's optional but it was part of what they talked about at my first session yesterday. I kept thinking that they had the wrong gal, what the heck would I want a damned PORT for?! Then I kinda sobered up and let a little more of this situation sink in. With weekly 90 minute infusions, will that be easier than the half day slogs some folks get?
My left eye had been growing lazy over the last six years. I had double vision when tired, and in the last year it started to kind of pull to the left on it's own. I had that checked out when I first noticed it but they thought it was just a lazy eye. Since I never had that as a kid, it seemed a little odd, but heck. I went with it. two weeks ago I had had a pulled muscle in my neck and a head cold, felt like crap, was falling asleep when I had floaters and some weird neon bubble thing cross my field of vision, eyes closed. When I looked around the room, half the vision in left eye was shaded. It stayed that way, and I'm thinking detached retina, oh shit. I made an appointment with the guy who does my glasses, just to see what he thought. Thusday a.m. He sends me to an MD that afternoon, who says it looks like bc mets. he then sets me up for the next day at a Retina Center two hours away in Portland, ME. We get there for 9 a.m., do a three hour work up and this fellow also says bc mets. This is the part of the story when I was wishing for that detached retina in the worst way.
Sat and Sun were twilight zone days, then Monday to the oncologist, who has all the records and says we gotta find the primary tumor. Brain scan, breast MRI, biopsy of small hard mass under right ribs, Taxol day, a bone scan and a soft tissue chest, abs and pelvic scan, were all done this week.
M aybe it's not bc, maybe it's not cancer, maybe it's s different cancer, but jeez, I hope something points the way to a useful tx plan. I'd hate to think I put all that dye and chemical crap in my body and maybe even LOSE HAIR for nothing!
I will let you know what transpires, as it unfolds. I am impressed with anyone who has taken on this level of intervention and gotten through it. It's wicked challenging.
Tomorrow is Friday, and if I do not crash from the Wednesday tx, my sister is taking us for lunch and a bit of outlet shopping, which I could certainly use right now! Hugs to all, Mame
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One of those TMI things for chemo that no one warned me about but I learned myself after one trip: They are constantly infusing you with stuff, that's the point, and in my case at least, one of those things was saline. When the urge to pee would hit, it would hit HARD, and while yes, you can go to the bathroom, you can't do it in a hurry, cuz you got to wiggle your way out of the comfy recliner and out from under blanket and whatever else you have on your lap, unplug your IV pole, and then wheel the thing to the bathroom while managing not to trip over it or entangle yourself hopelessly in it.... I almost didn't make it TWICE during my first treatment--if I had sneezed or coughed it would have been all over.
After that I made sure to wear a pad--just in case--and extra ones were a packed part of my chemo bag every time. So yeah. Either wear a pad, or make sure that the very MOMENT you think about peeing you go ahead and start your trip. Easier to just wear a pad and relax about it though.
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Football & Lemonade - I had my port put in one day & started chemo the next. No problems. My son took me to the first chemo since they gave benedryl in case of an allergic reaction that 1st time only. I drove myself to all the other nine - 30 minutes away - and most days were 7 hours of infusions. I also took steroids for 3 days so I too ran errands on the way home. I preferred not to have anyone there hanging around. I didn't want to talk about "it" and I didn't want to have to entertain someone. I read & listened to MP3 player & slept & ate & wandered around w/my IV pole talking to nurses and sometimes other patients. Drove myself to radiation every day too, and now to the herceptin infusions for a year. It was never a problem since the 2 weeks of "big D" every time didn't start for several days. You can do it!!
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Football, I am more than 2 years out, but I still freak myself out completely by reading my path report once in a while. Moral of the story, don't read the damned path report
I do think coming to terms with the prognosis is far more difficult than coming to terms with initial DX. But I try to think of it as a work in progress.
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And please remember, the "numbers" are based on statistics, not always true "facts" that will apply to YOU. No one has the crystal ball to know how treatments will affect you or what lies ahead for you.
Based on the reports, I was told I probably wouldn't make the 5 year mark --- that was 17-1/2 years ago! My BC did not return, I got a new primary.
I have a friend who is stage IV and she was just told she's NED (after 2 years of treatment, both chemo and rads). So, don't get your panties in a bunch and enjoy your life. Do what you can and bring some joy, love and fun into every day. Worrying will not help.
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Football, thank God you finally cried!!! THAT is human. We don't have to be superwomen. There is a time to cry and breast cancer sure deserves a good cry every once in a while. It was appropriate; rather than bursting into tears in the grocery store if you had held it all back.
Mameme, I don't get it. What "primary" are they looking for? Didn't you already have breast cancer years ago? Mets is exactly that. Mets. Not a trickle from an existing primary, but a recurrence from one from years earlier. I do know of a couple other ladies who had eye mets, but it's very rare. So sorry you have to deal with this but it does sound like you were astute enough to know something was wrong and not wait until you were blind in that eye. Praying your vision returns to normal. I do recall that because the eye has so much blood flow it responds amazing to chemo in the blood.
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Hi All,
CRAP - I'm crying again as I type this!!!!!! You all help me so much!!!! The thing that freaks me out the most is the HER2+. I know that regardless of your diagnosis there is no way to predict the future. Heck, nobody knows what the next minute or tomorrow will bring!!! So, here I am - haven't eaten breakfast yet - been at the computer researching and reading since 7am - oh yes, I did pay a few bills too! lol
I wanted to share my entire regime with you - not to bore anyone - just to release my anxieties. You have all been so wonderful to me and I hope to repay the kindness as I don't think that I've offered much to anyone since joining. I also wanted to let you all know that you may not hear from me during the time that hubby and I are away. We go to the chemo class this afternoon, concert tonight (again - I don't know which I would rather do - chemo or Black Sabbath - lol!!), then tomorrow morning go to Montreal by train to see my Rangers play the Canadians (boo). Then Monday, we leave by train to go to NYC to see my Rangers play the Flyers (boo) in round 1 of the playoffs... funny thing is my favourite hockey team is the Penguins but I love NYC!!!! The Rangers are #2!! Then we come home a week Sunday by train. So PLEASE DON'T WORRY about me as you may not hear from me until Monday, April 21 once we return. My hubby wants to keep my mind off of the cancer and occupy my time with other things.
Now - for my details - most of which I've shared before (I think):
My pathology report confirms the following:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma AND Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
- 2 of 21 lymph nodes had macro metastases --> size of largest metastatic deposit: 1.9cm (that must have been the lump under my arm - I'm guessing that this means it was pretty full of cancer cells??)
- Tumor size: 2.3cm x 1.3cm x 1.1cm --> single focus of invasive carcinoma
- Grade: 3 (I know that this means aggressive which is what I thought)
Skin invasion: absent
Skeletal muscle: free of cancer
Margins for invasive cancer = Clear 4mm
Margins for DCIS = clear 7mm
This means that the primary tumour was removed
Lymph-Vascular Invasion - Present
I know that this means that the cancer may have already started to spread. While it was found in lymph nodes, it may also have started to spread to other parts of the body - hence chemo. Since the bone and CT scans were clear, hopefully it was just starting to spread (diagnosed by Dr Ang)
ER/PGR/HER2 positive
I don't see where the Oncologist sees this as looking good! He told me that I will have a long life as it is in the early stage. How? It is grade 3 (which I know is aggressive), in 2 lymph nodes (macro spread) and triple positive!!!!!! I think that he is just blowing smoke up my bum!!
So what are the positives of cancer?
- I've met a lot of people and made new friends (such as yourself) with more to come
- I will save $ on hair products!!
- I have re-connected with people, some of whom I haven't heard from in 35+ years!!
- I am learning more about myself
- This is happening at a good time of year - I won't have to deal with snow storms and the chemo treatments will be over just in time for the football season to start!!!!
Other than that, I am sacred to death! This lady that I chat with shared an article saying that treatment should start no more than 30 days after surgery to increase chances of survival. I'm bacb to thinking that I am a dead woman!! I can't believe that I have been so healthy for so many years and in a blink of an eye have become so infected!!!
Most of the women that I have chatted with who have had awesome recoveries are not triple positives, let alone HER2+. I am doomed!!!!!!
Hopefully all will work out!!
So, my schedule is as follows:
- April 22: Heart test
- April 29: 8am - insert port; bloodwork and meet with Oncologist
- April 30: Noon - Chemo round 1
Meds:
My treatment is referred to as FEC-D. It consists of 6 cycles given on a single day for 21 days.
- The first 3 cycles = Flourouracil (or Adrucil) + Epirubicin (or Pharmorubicin) + Cyclophosphamide (or Procytox). The last med includes tables as well.
- The last 3 cycles = Docetaxel (or Taxotere)
During the above cycle I will also get an injection of Neulasta.
At some point Herceptin will be introduced which will last approx 1 year.
Then I will get Tamoxefin for 5-10 years - if I live that long!!!!!You know, I've always believed that things happen for a reason. I realize that we don't live forever however my fear is not having a good quality of life. I have always been healthy and even though I now have aches and pains I've never seen it as a big deal. At times I am strong and say BRING IT ON, then it gets closer and I fall apart.
I have come to appreciate each one of you - you continue to be my inspiration and I am hopeful that I can actually meet many if not all of you once this is over! ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!
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I'm bunching all the replies into one long post:
MameMe, The last page or two had posts about our ports. Personally, if I only got 4 rounds, I might just go with arm. With more rounds, the port probably does make it easier on you. You had lump. + rads on the right and left, so shouldn't you be avoiding needle sticks to both? A nurse is able to do blood draws from the port, saving your arms even more. Also, Barbe asks a good question...If they are saying BC mets, wouldn't the primary be long gone (taken out by surgery) by now?
Also, although you took one round of chemo already not really sure of the Dx (which does seem a little strange) you must realize that anyone here who is not officially Stage IV has a right to wonder if we took the chemo "for nothing?" After surgery to get all the cancer-y parts out, most are getting chemo as an "insurance policy" or just in case some rogue cells, that no one has confirmed, are bodacious enough to decide to relocate to an organ. I questioned EVERY round of chemo I took. But I know you are talking about something a little different, so I hope you get the Dx quickly to give some rhyme and reason to your treatment.lisa137, Don't worry about TMI here. You can air your near-dirty laundry any time. Good point about all the hydration. Now, BTW, I noticed you have painstakingly listed every chemo you ever got. Unnecessary! That just makes your tagline longer than half the posts you will ever write. Most people just write when they began chemo and I've seen some that put x8 by theirs. That's really all you need.
MinusTwo, I am going to guess that Texans living in Dallas never use "big D" to mean diarhhea. ;-)
Barbe, Thanks for downplaying the whole "superwoman" thing. Everyday, average women get BC and most are capable of finding ways to step up and deal with it. Not without tears, mind you. Most of the people who think that is "heroic" or like a "superwoman" are the ones who have not been through it. They think they could not go through something so daunting, but in reality they, just like most of us, find a way to take care of business. Cancer does challenge that inner strength, but it is there for us all to tap into.
F-nut, You might have missed something I wrote about Triple Positive before. Yes, HER2+, Grade 3 is aggressive, making it not only a good target for your chemo (which loves to attack fast growing cells) but also a good target for Herceptin. That is the upside, you have two good ways to kill that cancer. Plus, Tamox. is tried and true at subduing ER/PR+ BC. To put it in perspective, look at Triple Negative. NONE of the chemos are as effective for them. This is the bright side the MO is seeing.
Thanks for letting us know why you'll be MIA for a while. Some leave so abruptly and we always do wonder.
Also, you had a little typo up there, that you were "sacred to death." That's very bad when that happens. Look at Jesus. Please try not to get that holy. ;-)0
