Calling all TNs
Comments
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Sorry, bak. But no worries, it's the sputum that has the odor, not the people themselves. And most people aren't paying attention to the possible smell of a loogie unless it's their job, like me. Yay, my job! [/sarcasm]
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Hi beckyv - I thought I was one of the last ones to start chemo this month. Join us over in the January Chemo group forum - there is always discussions and helpful hints with SE's over there. Wishing you have a smooth sailing thru it.
Bak - thinking of you. Keep us posted and I'm praying that the infection is clearing up.
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Today marks the 2nd anniversary of my being diagnosed with BC. In some ways, time has flown, and in other ways, it's hard to remember what it was like before my world was consumed by cancer, before I became "aware" of breast cancer in a way I never imagined. I'm going to mark the milestone with a big mug of hot chocolate with Baileys and whipped cream. Yum!
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Happy 2 years Riley!!!
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Ditto to Tifj's post, Riley. Congrats and may it turn into at least another 100 yrs!
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LauraJane-praying the Havalen does it's job!
Bak-hoping your infection clears up quickly so you can get started on Radiation.
Riley - Congrats to two years! That Hot Chocolate sounds delicious!
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Riley - YAY!! Congratulations
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Way to go Riley.
For those going through Chemo, I did have pain from the shot but Claritin did nothing for me. I got a terrible sinus headache the first treatment while using the Claritin. For the 2nd treatment and thereafter I took Mucinex D Extra Strength. I would start taking it on a Sunday, have Chemo on Monday, the shot on Tuesday and I would take the Mucinex till Thursday. The only problem with taking this was that it kept me awake at night, good thing I was on sick leave.
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What exactly is the connection between Claritin/Mucinex and the relief of bone pain?
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lisajcj - my MO said the theory (there's no proof) is that some people have a slight allergic reaction to the Neulasta shot which causes the pain and that the Claritan (which is for allergies) helps counteract it. I took it for 1st shot and only had back pain 1 day (the day after I stopped taking it...duh) but was able to manage the pain with a heating pad. I get my Neulasta shot today so I took Claritan yesterday and today.0
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Char - Is the shot given thru your port? Do you take Claritin for the day before, the day of, and the day after the shot or longer?
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I tried the Claritan and unfortunately, it did nothing for me. Those Neulasta shots were just disgusting for me. The pain would begin about 8 to 12 hrs after the shot and dear Lord, it did not let up for a minimum of 2 solid days of the worst bone pain and spasms. It just amazes me how some gals feel nothing from it and some of us suffer like dogs - always wondered why. Same with chemo - some of us skate right through it (which I did NOT), and others have a gazillion side effects. Just is what it is, I suppose. To all those just starting out - I wish you easy, gentle journeys. No matter what, there is an end to it, and you will reach it too. I didn't think it would ever end, but it does.
Linda
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I didn't get pain from the shot either, but I gave myself the shot though. LOL, and that is probably why. Sometimes I would only put half in because I was so scared of doing something wrong. I was a hot mess. I have always wondered what the Claritan connection was. I never took it since I didn't get sick after the first two treatments. My major complaint was my mouth. It was soooooo yucky after treatments.
Riley702- *all smiles* We love to hear that, and we are eager to see more people hit that mark and move on with their life.
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Fighter, my mouth was sooooooo gross after each treatment and it lasted a little longer each time. I hate to say it was my worse side effect because it doesn't sound that bad but that taste was so awful, and nothing I tried really helped. As disgusting as it sounds the bad taste would wake me out of a deep sleep. My onc said there really isn't anything to help, it's just your tastebuds dying.
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I took Clariten and Aleve when I had my shot. They gave me the shot in my arm. I only had pain one time and that was on #5. Other than that I did really well. I think your bones hurt cause it is pulling from your bone marrow to help keep your #;s up.
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So far I might be one of those skating through, given that all things are relative and I've only had one treatment. I don't feel like doing much, but I'm not incapable of doing things either. I'm not miserable, and that's a relief. I'm even escaping the Nuelesta pain, without any Claritan. Now I'm just going to pray that I don't experience the mouth nastiness, cause I gotta tell you, that sounds like about the worst thing. Heather and Fighter - hope that's just a memory for you now.
Annie
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Annie - so glad the treatment has been manageable for you. It was my experience that the recovery from each, was different. The shot was hard for me, they cut my dose in half. My first chemo was nothing worse than a bad hangover. - my fourth had me praying for death - followed by an easy number five. Rest well...
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lisajcj - no, the Neulasta shot is given to me in my arm, the day after the treatment (today for me as yesterday was #2)
I'm doing remarkably well after this 2nd treatment - just tired. And my mouth is icky - I've been sucking on peppermint candy. My MO recommended peppermint to help with nausea. I've been a little more proactive with the nausea meds this time around and I think that's made all the difference....was pretty nauseaus after 1st treatment.
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I've not been on this forum more than a day or two, so I apologize if this question has been addressed. I'm wondering how everyone's feelings about being triple negative have evolved. I'm just a month away from my diagnosis, and the TN news shook me up. It's settled a little bit as I've gotten into my treatment plan, but I still have my dark moments, not knowing really what it means in terms of my chances, for lack of a better way to put it. Perhaps there is no way to know that, but there are undoubtedly ways to cope with the slightly darker prognosis with triple negatives. Any thoughts you can share?
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Annie, I just had my last radiation tx yesterday and now the reality of "that's all folks" is starting to set in! I have to admit, I'm scared s*%tless! Not sure how I'll manage to get back to "normal" but I guess I'll figure it out! I've been able to stay pretty positive throughout my treatments but now they're done, I feel like I've been cast adrift!
I also didn't have any issues with the Neulasta shot. I didn't take any Claritin or other pain killers. I gave myself the shot each time too. When the nurse first came to my house after the first treatment, she asked if I thought I could do it myself. I told her I'd give it a try! She showed me what to do and I did give myself the shot. Then she told me she'd only had one other patient be able to to that. I laughed! I think if she'd told me that first I might not have been so willing to try it!0 -
I had my DH give me my Neupogen shots. I had to have Neupogen shots for 7 days starting 2 days after each AC chemo. I had 4 DD AC. So I remember that my pain used to start on the tuesday,after 4 shots, afternoon and was at it's peak on the following saturday(the day after my last shot). I ached from my waist to my neck. I felt like my neck nodes were going to explode, I don't know why it did that. And my skin...... OMG!!! Everybody in the house knew not to touch me! I got so nervous after the fourth shot because my skin ached just to the touch so you can imagine how it felt being poked by the needle! I tried Claritin, Motrin,Tylenol, you name it and nothing worked. My onc gave me a RX for morphine for the pain, very low dosage, and I tried it once after the third AC treatment/ Neupogen shots and it didn't even work! I hated those shots! I was so happy when my doctor told me I didn't need them on Taxol.
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Riley 2 years as a great milestone. Wishes for many, many years of continued good health.
Michelleo congrats on finishing rads! I know it's scary but you'll get used to your "new normal" with time.
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michelle013 - So happy to hear you are done with all your treatments. I am just starting my 4 months of chemo - so I can only imagine that your life was all consumed with your treatments. BUT NOW - it is time for you and for you to move on and enjoy!!!! I can't wait to be at that point. You Deserve some pampering.
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Annie3310- I love my oncologist and have absolute faith in her. Believe it or not - she did not make a huge deal of the TN status. Just told me why my chemo treatment was so important - but also indicated chemo is usully more effective on TN. I believe any woman dealing with BC probably has the same fears we TNs do. Some days I feel charged and ready to fight this and know I will be around to see my children flourish, and my grandchildren be born - then other days I just keep thinking what if that doesn't happen. Laying here in bed - with my dog on one side of me and my kitty laying on the other - feeling pretty well after BMX on 12/22 and T/Es - I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!
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Annie- When I was first diagnosed I was scared sh*tless. Those were very dark days.
Now, 2 1/2 years later I'm 99.5 % back to being myself. That .5% reflects those times when I allow myself to think about recurrence. I don't think anyone gets over that fear. You just learn how to live with it.
In my case, I have learned to put it out of my mind and get on with my life. The only reason, IMO, I even allow that .5% to remain is to protect myself from being broad-sided by another diagnosis.
You and I have similar diagnosis... I had zero node involvement. I still check this thread frequently because I feel I can help lighten the mood in here from time to time.
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KSteve - my 5 pound, Yorkie - poo keeps me company. How wonderful you daughter has you to look after her baby so well. my is my shadow, and if he thinks o need DH - he goes and gets him !
Wishing everyone a peaceful seemed. I have to get up at 4:30 to leave at 5:30 to go with my 12 year old to the regional Science Olympiad. Hope I can find the motion suckers pills, for the bus rode.0 -
Congrats, Riley!! That is awesome news!
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He**..I didn't even know TN was a scary thing until I read about it on line....but...my onc still doesn't make much of it...when I was whining to him about him not letting me take metformin because "since I'm tn there are no drugs for me (us) to take...he just kinda of shook his head..I could tell he felt bad.
Ok..I'm gonna rant a second..there is going to be a new Facebook thing about breast cancer..remember one was your bra color, one was something about your purse...and one of the ladies was talking about Suzanne Sommers..about how she didn't "want" chemo..well hello??? I kinda got on there and said that no one "wants" chemo but there are tons of different kinds of breast cancer and if I wouldn't have had chemo I would probably be dead by now..and then I said that Breast Cancer isn't pretty like Suzanne Sommers, and that it kills 40,000 women per year and that they should come on here and read about alternative through the Stage 4 thread and see what women are facing every day, every minute...gah...I was pissed.
Ok..I'm done now.
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Good for you Titan!!!
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Annie- I'm pretty freaked about the TN diagnosis, too. I'm debating about a prophylactic mastecomy because of it, even though my nodes were clear and there was no vascular involvement, which according to my MO, is the best case scenario. The risk of recurrance and mets scrares the crap out of me - I've got a teen and tween that I want to see graduate, married, and have kids of their own.
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