Stage II w/Lymph Node Involvement
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Hi All,
Balsie - I am not on Arimidex, I am onTamoxifen. I was told that the continuous eye lash falling out was the Taxol...who knows for sure. All I know is I am over it. I work in a very conservative office, so PJ day might not go over so well...kind of makes me laugh to think what my boss would say if I showed up in PJ's though! When I was going through chemo, my feet got very swollen and I did show up in flip flops one day. No one said a word. I think I came in withou my wig that day also, so they were all scared of me.
Mouse6 - Sorry to hear about the positive biopsy. I had a bi-lateral due to the fact that I have ILC and it tends to spread to the other breast. I do not regret my decision at all, but it is a very personal one for each of us. The entire process is very confusing, take your time and ask lots of questions. I remember I used to feel dumb asking questions, but how the heck are we supposed to know...unfortunately, this is new to all of us!
Take care all!
Crystal
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Helloooo Fellow Warriors...sorry I haven't been on lately. I have been busy. Actually, I find myself not on the computer so much lately since hubby got laid off. He seems to be my entertainment as of late...lol Poor guy. He got laid off from Big Pharma as A Manager just before the holidays.
Anna and Soccermom...Thanks for checkin in on me!
I am healing well now and just need to find a full time job or my hubby needs to. Arrgghh God has a plan and we just need to learn to be patient as he puts it together for us. Hopin you are doing well!!Welcome Me2 and Crystal. Know this is the place to ask the any questions...many of us have "been there..done that" lol Hang in there girls!!
Mouse..I just had the DIEP Flap done in NOLA (New Orleans, LA) in Sept and Dec. They took the skin and fat from my belly. I had failed implants from rads. I LOVE my new boobies...lol Iam sorry you have to make the decision on the "other" good breast. I, myself, did both. There is no right or wrong decision with this...keep us posted on ths decison.
Balsie..have you tried taking Biotin vitamins. they are for hair and nails...it may help.
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Hi Balsie,
I finished Chemo last August and my eyebrows are falling out again, eyelashes seem to be staying put.
I lost all mine on the Taxol and by Nov they were looking OK when I went back to work. I will ask my Onc next week if it's the Taxol or Arimidex, seems very minor in the big picture but really annoying having to use the pencil again to fill them in..
LL
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I have not tried Boitin vitamins....where would I find them?
LL. I finished my chemo On October 23rd and it is wierd that they would fall out again..like you say it seems very minor in the big picture...just another oddity I guess.
Happy Friday everyone! I am going to see my ps today..he will talk to me about doing my "fripples" and when I can go back to work. I'll let you know what he says.
warmly,
Balsie
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Hi..just turned 37 and informed that i have stage 2 breast cancer. I'm scared but I have to do what ever it takes because I have 2 little girls. Just wanted to let you know I thought your poem was very inspiring and it touched my heart.
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Ken3... Hang in there. There is a lot of support and warmth here. Come back and ask any questions you have. There is always someone to help. Your girls are lucky to have you, someone who will do whatever it takes for me.
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Ken, I'm so sorry you have to be here but you have come to the right place. I'm 33 and was 32 at diagnosis. My son was 21 months at the time and he's now 2 and a half. In a way it was more difficult having such a young child during treatment -- getting him taken care of while I went to my appointments or wasn't feeling well, and also wondering if I would be here for him. But in a way, he was an awesome distraction and he made sure I never spent *too* much time focusing on myself! I finished treatment in December so please feel free to PM me!!! HUGS
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Sorry you had to join us, Ken3, but welcome to our group here!
It always kills me to hear about people getting laid off just before the holidays. Any time of year is bad, but that seems like such a slap in the face. I'm surprised that a pharmaceutical co. would have to lay off its people; they sure seem to be working hard and raking in the dollars these days. I hope something good comes through for your husband, Warrior. I hope this is one door closing for a better door to open.
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Ken3 you came to the right place for support. Ask any ?you have, someone always has some great information on the boards here.
Warmly,
Balsie~
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Hi Ken3,
Sorry you had you join us, I'm 39 and have 3 kids 3, 5,7 and while I found it tough during Chemo at times as I only have my DH for help, life does go on and some how you find an inner strength that you didn't know you have and you get through it, because you have to. DH still went to work each day to pay the bills and I managed to get to get a rest when the kids were at school and day care. I drove myself to treatment and was lucky in that I stay really well, I was very fit and healthy before I started so I'm sure that helped.
It's been a year for me since dx and life has pretty much returned to normal now, I took 9 months of work did 6 months of Chemo and 6 weeks of Rads. I found it very overwhelming in the beginning, but once I had my treatment plan I found it much easier just to focus on getting through each stage of treatment. Now BC dosen't consume my every thought and Chemo is a distant memory, the whole BC experience feels like a bad dream.
LL
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Mouse,
I was reconstructed using my tummy fat and love and handles..no muscle...if you log onto the breast recon thread under NOLA in September you can learn more.
I had bilateral waited 2 1/2 years and then decided to recon. I was not a candidate for any other procedure and am very happy with my outcome,
Hugs,Marcia
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I just wish they would take my love handles..TGIF!
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i second that, Leggy!
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Ken..We are ALL here for you and I am glad my poem brought some joy to a difficult time. I promise you that things will get more routine and THIS TOO SHALL PASS!! Please know you can come here to vent, cry, laugh or whatever you will need!!
Balsie..You can find Biotin almost anywhere..check Walgreens..etc
For those of you that may be losing your eyebrows etc. Please make sure you get your thyroid level checked. It is very common to have hair loss when it is "off"..a simple pill will bring you back around to normal levels...trust me, I have been there..lol I have had hypothroidism since 25, right after my first born.
Anna..Thanks for the support, my friend! He is working SOO hard networking, and scanning the internet. I know something GOOOOD, even BETTTTTER than he had before to come up soon. It can always be worse, and I know that. I am looking too.....keep us in your prayers. They work!!
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Lauren3: Where did you hear chemo was not as effective on ER/PR positive women? My onc told me just the opposite. And hormone therapy is supposed to also help survival rates for women in this group, more than others. I guess I'm wondering who to believe on this. Anyone else that can put their 2 cents in?
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Shelly56 -
My doc said the same as yours and that is also what I have read. that chemo is MORE effective for ER/PR positive and for premenopausal women (although, some of that might be due to the chemo sending them into menopause.)
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There are ladies here who had large tumors and were given chemo prior to any surgery to shrink their tumor(s). Many stated very significant tumor shrinkage and even clearing of all lymph nodes. I know this personally from a chemo buddy who sat in the chair next to me. Her lymphnodes were all clear after chemo and prior to getting her lumpectomy.
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It's much more complicated than that. Hormone receptor negatives have a slight advantage regarding response to chemo, but that's not to say chemo doesn't work with hormone postive cancers. Hormone negatives tend to be more aggressive and fast growing, which is what makes chemo more effective on them. Grade also plays a role, as we all know. Grade 1 chemos tend not get much benefit from chemo, while grade 3 tends to respond the best. Also, don't let the whole negative receptors do better on chemo get you hung up, because hormone positive cancers are still considered to have a more favorable prognosis (because of the hormone therapy that can be given.)
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Weety -- hence the reason, I imagine, that the Onco score is used for ER and PR positive patients (but not negative). To determine whether chemo is warranted in those cases. If it IS warranted it's because it can be effective.
Lilah
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shelly56 wrote:
Lauren3: Where did you hear chemo was not as effective on ER/PR positive women? My onc told me just the opposite. And hormone therapy is supposed to also help survival rates for women in this group, more than others. I guess I'm wondering who to believe on this. Anyone else that can put their 2 cents in?
Shelly -- I don't think it was me who said it??? I don't recall hearing that or posting about it? Although, I do still have chemobrain...
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Lauren3: I must have the chemo brain thing too ! I know I read this somewhere on here and forgive me that it wasn't you. We are all trying to be strong & some days are better than others.
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I have been VERY forgetful lately so I wouldn't put it past myself to have said it and then forgotten LOL
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I asked my Onc about my eyebrows falling out again and he said that I should have my Thyroid levels checked, so will add them to my routine bloods next time I have Herceptin............then I logged on and saw Warrior suggesting the same thing.
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HELLO LADIES!
MY NAME IS TRACEY AND I WAS DX IN APRIL OF 2008. I WAS 40 YRS OLD AT THE TIME. I FELT SOMEHING, HAD IT CHECKED AND IT CAME BACK POSITIVE FOR BC. MY TUMOR WAS 2.9 CM WITH 1 POSITIVE NODE. AFTER CHEMO THEY REMOVED 7 NODES AND OUT OF THE 7 I HAD 1 NODE WITH A FEW DEAD A TYPICAL CELLS IN IT. MY TREATMENT WAS ADRIAMYACIN CYTOXEN, THEN TAXOTERE AND A YEAR OF HERCEPTIN AND NOW TAMOXIFEN. I HAD SURGERY AFTER CHEMO. A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY WITH EXPANDERS. GEEEEEZZ...ITS A LONG ROAD!! SO GLAD THIS THREAD IS HERE.
ALSO LADIES IF YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED GO TO THE GET TOGETHERS FORUM AND CHECK OUT THE 2ND TA TAS SISTERHOOD REUNION IN VEGAS. WE DID IT LAST YEAR AND ARE GONNA DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR. IT WAS A BLAST!!!!!
AGAIN THANKS FOR THIS THREAD! GLAD I FOUND YOU!!
TRACEY
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Hi Tracy, I was diagnosed 4/3/08. Not a good year.
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Welcome Tracey.
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Welcome Tracey! You and I have / had similar diagnoses (no PR+ for me though) and similar treatment. I'm done with the ACT and doing Herceptin now through next fall. Looking forward to meeting you in Vegas!
Lilah
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When is the vegas trip this year? Last year there was a home football game I couldn't miss.
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Hi Tracey~ Welcome, your Vega Trip sounds like so much fun!
Warmly,
Balsie~
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HEY LADIES THANKS FOR THE WARM WELCOME!!! RENEE THE TRIP TO VEGAS IS OCT 1-OCT 4!
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