Calling all TNs
Comments
-
Annie - I'm sorry you're having such a rough time right now....sending you hugs. I don't remember what regimen you are on, but I had a tough time with my AC treatments....I felt sick from days 3 to 8 and it was cumulative...took me longer to bounce back each time. By treatment #3, I thought I wouldn't be able to do it any more. I know it's hard to believe, but this will all be over before you know it! Also, if this is any help, I found Taxol to be MUCH easier. My only SEs were an achy feeling for a day or 2, and some fatigue. Just hang in there sweetie... you can do this!
0 -
Just dropping by to wave hello ladies!
The best thing that happened to me over the weekend was rolling around in fresh cut grass with the kids. I felt like a kid again.
0 -
Hi Annie - I am just a lurker here and never post, but I wanted to respond to your Taxol anxiety. I, too, was worried but my doctor put me on the weekly (12 week) regimen - the MUCH better way to go, in my opinion. The overall amount of Taxol that you get is the same as with the DD regimen, but since it is spread out over 12 weeks, the dose each week is lower and side effects (for me) were non-existant!! No nausea, no bone pain, fatigue, low WBC, nothing!! Hardest part was trying to arrange for rides, since I felt it wasn't safe for me to drive after drowsy-making IV benadryl that they give you with Taxol. Good Luck to you! Hopefully it will be a breeze for you, as it was for me.
0 -
Annie - I didn't mean to scare you. I am on Dose Dense (DD) Taxol and I think the side effects are worse since they give you a lot of Taxol every 2 weeks. It sounds like you are going to get Taxol weekly which is supposed to be much easier. What are you on now that is giving you pain? When do you start your Taxol? I got my second Taxol yesterday and they gave me a different prescription for nausea and my insurance approved getting the Neulasta shot to help bring up my white blood count so that should help. I'll have to wait and see as the side effects haven't kicked in yet but I hope to keep them in better check now that I know what to expect. I didn't know what to expect last time since it was my first Taxol dose. You can do it. Just ask for help with whatever side effects you are having. they have a lot of different things that they can give you to get through it. Don't suffer in silence! Ask for drugs. I am on anti-depressants and take Ativan for anti-anxiety when I need it.
0 -
I'm so nervous. My husband and I pretty much decided after diagnosis that we wanted to move back home to Pennsylvainia as soon as possible. It was really hard on the two of us especially since we had no friends or family around.
We found an apt complex that accepts dogs, applied and were just approved. I move in a month!! I have to go up myself and look for a job for insurance while hubby stays here and works since insurance is thru his job.
I'm so incredibly nervous and excited to be going home. Now I just have to give notice to work, it's the one thing I'm going to miss about Florida.
0 -
Hi everyone. I guess this is where I belong? I had initially thought I was ER-/PR- HER2+, but after speaking with my onc, my HER2+ "is not positive enough to be considered positive". Weird. So They're calling me triple negative. I started my first chemo on 3/13. I'm doing ACx4 and then Taxoterex4. I'll be having surgery after my chemo. I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything and I'm still scared out of my mind.
0 -
Annie, I have become a little behind in reading posts from several days ago, but I did see your post about your taxol anxiety and wanted to respond. I did 4 X AC and 4 X DD Taxol. Mine was dose dense, which is every two weeks, which I understand is much harder than the weekly Taxol. I must say that for me it was a piece of cake compared to AC. AC is the read devil and it really is a devil. But Taxol was really nothing. I had no Side Effects that I can remember. No pain, no nausea, no vomiting. While some people experience hair growth, I did not. In my opinion the 4 AC are one of the worst that we get, after that, the Taxol is the easier out of the two. So, please relax and what you are going through right now is the cumulative from AC. It is over now. Taxol won't be hard at all.
0 -
Annie - Try this: take a couple of pillows, pound them against the wall and shout as loud as you can (no kids around!) "F*** YOU, CANCER! I WILL NOT LET YOU WIN!"
Welcome nsmolen, glad you found us.
0 -
Good evening Ladies,
I was just wondering, how long it took for your treatment, after you got diagnosed?
I am waiting for my insurance to approve the Port so I can start chemo. My Onc.said we can't waist time, this needs to be done asap. The request is pending 2 days now. I was supposed to get the Port today...and start chemo Thursday. I am going crazy here.....
0 -
Nsmolen - welcome to the thread. You will get a lot of support from the wonderful women on this thread.
0 -
Thanks for reminding me that I need a new garage door opener and where to get it.
Painting - kudos on the article. I hope it helps you find homes for your work.
Annie - I'm so sorry you are having such a rough go. I hope today is a better day and that you are able to stay in treatment. I remember telling my husband the only way I'd go back, was hog tied in the trunk. I had to stop early, I think they like for you to finish at least 80%.
My one thing... 17 year old just came in, turned his nose up at potroast - calls out to dad - what's this meat in the fridge? Husband - Ham steak. Kid Hampster?0 -
Lory48..thanks and have a great time. I am signing up for 2013. I love surf casting, would love to learn fly fishing
McCrimmon...we just moved away from our friends to be at the ocean...but it is good, scary, but we built a house here for 4 years ago planning to retire here and jsut thought, enjoy it now, sell the cityhouse and move to the country house. Means a long commute for us and I am still tired but I started yoga and life is nice. You can do this. You will be near family which sounds good.
Annie, chemo is hell but it ends and you mend. I hated it and the side effects but knew it was doing what it needed to and that means that eventally life gets better and better. HAng in there.
0 -
Heather~ Good luck with your move and job hunting. I lived in Florida 9 years before moving back north. I have never regretted our decision.
Annie~ I just had #11 Taxol today. I have done well on Taxol. #9 the fatigue got to me, I just needed to rest more. Two days after my tx I would feel exhausted, probably coming off the steroid. I also vented about some SE on the Taxol thread a few times
Wishing you good days!!lisajcj~ Great Idea!!!!
0 -
Maggie congrats on the clean pet scan! That is great!!!
I notice some of you do AC then after that is done do Taxotere??? I did all 3 of those the same day. Why is there different ways of doing it?
Diet- I eat and drink what I want when I want, I think it is just bad luck that we get cancer. I too know healthy, active woman who have gotten cancer.
0 -
nsmolen-welcome! Sorry you have to be here, but really, we do have a lot of fun inbetween the tears!
LockeKop-I like that your oncologist said you can't waist time, as it means he/she is probably very proactive, my doc is the same way. But, on the other hand, I wouldn't worry too much about a few days or so of waiting, it is nerve racking to wait, but many of us have waited longer. I had 2 opinions before starting treatment and felt like I had to wait forever before I actually started treatment. Now if you had to wait months, I would worry, but a week or so shouldn't be a problem, but discuss your concerns with your doc. I had my port put in and chemo on the same day, so once you are approved i bet you will start right away.
OBXK-You are cooking hampster for dinner?:)
Heather-Wow! That is exciting, and scary at the same time! Good luck!
Annie-so you haven't had taxol yet? Most do very well on it! I was an odd one!
0 -
So, I went to my MO appoiontment today and he wanted me to do an ultrasound and have the hard spot drained/biopsied. He thinks its scar tissue filled with fluid, but he doesn't mess around with this stuff! He got me in today but I had to go to work, so I go tomorrow. Also, he was excited to tell me that he wants to get me on metformin, said I don't qualify for the study but he will be able to get me on the drug anyways. He also is getting me into a herceptin trial because I am her2 +1. He had mentioned herceptin to me before but really thinks I should do this trial and I guess I qualify. I just love my mo, I was going to ask all these questions but he brought them up before I even had a chance! But now i am nervous about the biopsy thingy,. I am really trying not to think cancer, but of course that is where my mind goes....
0 -
Bak - if your MO thinks its scar tissue with fluid, I bet that's all it is. Good luck tomorrow. Nerves are shot tonight and I have my follow up appt tomorrow with MO. Think I'm actually going to take a xanax and go to bed.
0 -
KS-I don't think I could have handled all three at the same time! I think there are many who get all 3 at the same time like you but I am not sure of the difference. I always thought the 3 at the same time was a more aggressive treatment, but I don't know:)
I can't find any info on the herceptin trial for women with her2 neg. I looked at the trial site for the cancer center I go to and didn't find it, but maybe it is a new trial? Oh well, I will find out more tomorrow. Maybe I should look at the herceptin threads?
0 -
Heather, good luck on your follow appt!
0 -
micrimmon - hope you have a good sleep tonight and a good check up tomorrow.
0 -
Karen..you had ac and t all at the same time? WOW...you are superwoman girl! didn't that take along time...Taxol took 7 hours all by itself for me.
Herceptin for 1+? Hmmm..I haven't heard of that before either...I thought that all breast cancers had some staining of her? I was 0 er 0 pr and plus 1 for herceptin...
I still haven't got my new garage door opener yet......dang..the only time I remember I need one is when I need to get out of the garage..then I forget about it...
0 -
Ladies how could I not keep going after your wonderful posts of support and encouragement. I do feel better today and I AM going to go for the Taxol after my last chemo even if it ........ me. I WILL do this. But I don't know how I would cope without all of you. You are my life line. As I said once I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters with two granddaughters and two grandsons but I see the worry in their eyes if they think I am not coping so sometimes I feel as lonely as hell. Sitting at the computer or in the shower is a great way to hide tears. THANK YOU ALL so very much. You made me feel so much better and CatsWhispurrer you did not upset me you were honest and after all I did ask you what it was like. Don't feel bad this is just me and my anxieties. You are all so wonderful and brave.
Mccrimmon - go home love and enjoy being nearer to your family. Must be meant to be or you would not have got the house. Good luck for your results, all will be well.
Bak - could it be a seroma which is fluid filled but not cancer?. Apparently they are quite common with cancer.
NSmolen - welcome. You will get nothing but support on here from all these wonderful brave ladies.
OBXK - never tried hampster. Will you roast it!!. Just popping over and will be in time for dinner.
Paintingmywaythru - Your house by the ocean sounds idylic and if I wasn't going to dinner with OBXK I would come and see it. Ha ha. Look I can even laugh today, must be feeling better thanks to all you lovely ladies.
Thank you all once again for getting me though this horrible time. I will do Taxol and I will hit those pillows like lisjcj said to do. Annie xxooxx
0 -
Hi all
I have been lurking since September when my niece was diagnosed with TN breast cancer. I had been on the boards eight years ago when my daughter was diagnosed at 38 and I found them very helpful. The first person who caught my eye in September was Laura Jane and through her posts became familiar with MBJ and Suze35. I am very saddened by their loss and will donate to their causes but I most want to say thank you to all the wonderful women on these boards who have given me helpful hints for my neice on subjects like how to protect her nails and what her diet should be. My niece finished her treatment with a mastectomy last Thursday. I am so grateful for the end of her treatment and will be looking forward to her reaching 8 years with NED as my daughter has. I need a break for a while as I am so afraid I will again become as invested in the survival of someone like Laura Jane and I think I cannot bear anymore of the pain that accompanies the awareness of the struggle of so many women. I hope all of you live many more years and again thank you for all your wisdom over the past 7 months.
0 -
Ok, I think I found the trial, here is the link- http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=717982&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=10287541 It is not a herceptin trial, it is a vaccine trial. I hope I get to do it! It does say bilateral breast cancer is an exclusion. I had breast cancer in my opposite breast 8/9 years ago, but I think it means bilateral breast cancer at the same time, at least that is what I hope for. My mo said I should qualify for this one. Also, it is a double blind study, so doesn't that mean I may get a placebo? I don't want a placebo:)0
-
Well crap. It also says exclusions include prior breast cancer! My MO was talking about my prior breast cancer as it prevent me from the metformin trial, so he obviously knows about it. I am always looking at trials and i don't seem to qualify for any of them.
0 -
bak - The link goes to an error message. I wasn't able to read about the vaccine.
0 -
Bak94 how do you get with having injections if you have had a bilateral. My oncologist said I have to wear a medic alert bracelet as I am not to have any injections in my left arm in case I get oedema. They would only do it it they have to in the arm. Annie
0 -
LockeKopp, it was nearly a month between my finding the lump and actually starting chemo. I saw my PCP about the lump, she sent me for a mammo and ultrasound, I scheduled the biopsy, waited for results, got the results, scheduled an appt. with the breast surgeon, who told me I needed chemo first, scheduled an appt with the oncologist who set me up on a clinical drug trial that involved having to do a lot of tests (MRI, CT, bone scan, etc.) to qualify for the trial, had to get the port put in, and finally started chemo. I was freaking out big time and my nurse navigator had to calm me down several times and tell me that it was going to be OK despite everything seeming to be taking too long. I was also freaking because the lump had gotten noticeably bigger during that month, from marble-sized to 4 x 4.5 cm! In a month! With a tumor that aggressive, I worried that the delays might literally get me killed. But once chemo started, I could feel it getting softer and smaller. Whew!0
-
Annie, I just had 6th/12 Taxol, half way done, I have had no nausea thus far, some pain/numbness/tingling in legs and feet, but nothing unbearable, increased fatigue probably from this long treatment process, since I started late Nov 2011. AC was bad, but Taxol is so much easier, since I don't have nausea. Good luck on your Taxol, I'm sure you'll be fine!
Lockekop, I was dx in late Oct 2011, but didn't start treatment til late Nov 2011, so hang in there it's only a few days.
I loved all the chemo brain posts, I've just told all my friends from the get go that during our conversations I may not remember things or names due to chemo brain that way they won't give me the looks or think I'm crazy. They seem to understand, although I am 39 and should still have some memory intact. I also tell my girls 9 and 6 yrs old that mommy's treatments are making my memory go bad so if they tell me something important and need me to remember it to remind me to write it down or put it in my iphone calendar/memo. I don't feel too bad cause I was always very forgetful to begin with and been practicing for years to write things down or put it in my cell phone, if I ever lose my iPhone I will be so lost!0 -
Annie, I think I would have to have injections in my leg or stomach. I had a port reinstalled for blood draws and my zometa infusions. When I get contrast for scans they use my ankle area when they can't use my port. I have had nodes out of both sides as I had breast cancer in 2002 also.
0
