Calling all TNs
Comments
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Thanks for adding those names to remind us Navy.
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I'm going to do this to my hair when it finally comes back!!!
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Cocker... that would take some patience eh? How are the rads going?
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Cocker - I've got some strange hair growing back on my bowling ball, but I think I'll join you at the hair salon for one of those do's. I'm aiming for that young body, too. We could sit on a bar stool at your hubby's cafe and flirt with all the young dudes. Let me know when. Also, I miss hearing from you these days.
JAN
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Thanks, Navymom.
Annie, I don't think I ever had that much hair! Amazing...
Painting, I have had rib pain on and off since the first chemo (TAC). I had a bone scan then and it cleared up after about a month post chemo then in PT one day the therapist was moving me and pulled up on my lower rib. I felt a pop and for three weeks I was in quite a bit of pain. I think that is when I had the second bone scan - last October - all clear. Then a few weeks ago, I bent over in my desk chair to pick something up and the arm of the chair went into the lower ribs and I felt something shift and I had pain for three weeks - it is not noticeable now unless I push on it or pull my stomach in tightly. I had recently been to the allergist for asthma so he called for a chest xray due to the rib pain and the asthma just to be on the safe side. Thankfully it was clear, too.
The PT said that there are "joints" between the ribs and I believe he said overall there are 135 different junctures in the overall thoracic area that are all interdependent. I think my problems may be from the tightness of the scar tissue and radiated tissue pulling on my ribs - and also the chemo and Neulasta causing general inflammation. When I recently went bicycling and rode 11 miles Sat and again on Sunday, I could really feel a burn on my masectomy side the first day as the muscle got used to supporting my head and shoulders again. My masectomy was in July 2011 and I am six months from my last chemo (I had neo and adjuvant chemos). Of course, I always mention things like this at my check up, but I am much less concerned since it has gone away each time.
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Thanks Navymom! Morning lovely ladies.
Just chimming in on the stretching and massaging, I use vick's vapor rub to massage my breast area it gives it that nice warm fuzzy feeling. Its great for relieving head colds so I figured it would work great on relieving and decreasing inflammation in that area as well. After I walk on the weekends I rub down with it after I get out of the shower. It really makes you feel so relaxed. Just a thought.
Felt a nice cool breeze in the air this morning could FALL be on the way...?? Considering it was so HOT this summer. Yes. Yes.
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Cocker those styles are really pretty.
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Just checking in....Has anyone heard from Inmate?
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Bernie.... Love Mrs. Brown (I'm an ex-pat)... she can make you pee your pants... so funny.
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Ok friends....I got some of my results from the test they did last week. Need encouragment...info...advice. Pet Scan was normal...Chest Xray was normal...Blood work normal. Genetic testing not back yet. Breast MRI showed a suspicious area in my left breast. My cancer is in the right. I am having a biopsy on Monday 8/27. How likely is it that I have cancer in both breasts? Mammos and US showed nothing in my left breast. I am starting to freak out again. I think she said something about a lymph node in my left breast but I must admit I spaced out after biopsy. This waiting is terrible I thought I was close to surgery but now another week of waiting for results. I was thinking lumpectomy but now with something suspicious should I be thinking Mastectomy. I just don't know....
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Hi: 5owens - first congrats on the clear PET, xray and bloodwork. As for the MRI, try not to get ahead of yourself. MRIs are quite notorious for lighting up all kinds of things and resulting in false positives - the biopsy will tell you one way or the other. Fingers crossed it's nothing to worry about. And if not, you can go through the pros and cons of surgical options with your docs. I know it will seem like a long week - try and stay busy!
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Was popping in to check on inmate? Inmate where are you? I hope you are feeling well and just out enjoying yourself!
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Susan - for me, radiation is the gift that keeps on giving. I had rads in 2004, and I still have rib pain - not all the time, but when I over-do.
Annie - love that hair!
Bernie - loved it!
5Owens - I had a recurrence in my right breast after lumpectomy. Decided to have them both removed, so I wouldn't walk in circles :0 They found cancer on my left side nodes ( they just caught the node tail while taking the good boob) - but not a tumor when they went back through the breast. Sorry you ate in waiting hell, try to enjoy the other great news!!!
Today I am very fatigued. I describe it to my husband, as someone sucking out my life force. Luckily a good, old friend is visiting from New Mexico, she is making me a batch of "bad fudge" as I rest. Bad fudge is crunchy. Then she is making crab cakes for dinner. I love friends, who come and take over your kitchen - husband happily shops.0 -
Bad fudge??? there is such a thing as bad fudge - I thought it was all good... yum, yum.
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luv....yeah for the trial!
I'm here ladies......haven't been feeling too spanky so mostly sleeping. In some pain, so pain meds and medibals have been my friends these days. I see the MO tomorrow to talk about a plan of attack. I don't think this chemo is doing it for me so it looks like we are on to chemo #12. Hopefully this one will work.
Thank you all for the hugs, kind words and colorful language. All are so greatly appreciated. I will check back in later tonight.
I had a great time at the zoo. Exactly what I needed!
Love to you all......dawn
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Inmate: Glad to see you but sorry you are zapped of energy. Your body is just likely resting before it kicks the crap out of this thing. Glad you had a great day at the zoo.
5Owens: MRI's can be a bit controversial so try to hold tight and stay positive until you hear something otherwise (which you won't.....it will all be good). It could be anything that causes the machine to "light up". Hang in there, waiting is the worst part of all of this. Come here and scream if you need to......we understand you.
Quick question......has anyone had any stomach issues since being done chemo? My stomach gets so crampy if I eat salad or raw veggies and then I'm in the bathroom for an hour while it all goes right through me. It's like I can't digest my food properly. I can go weeks without any issues and then 2 days of it and then nothing. Can chemo cause irritable bowel syndrome or anything like that? Does anyone know?
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Thanks ladies...once again you have made me feel better. Holding in to the positive!! Gonna try to stay busy!! I hope I can be as brave as all of you!!
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born I had some stomach issues, dr had me take a stool sample in and I had a bacterial infection, a few antibiotics and I was good to go.
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Inmate - So good to hear from you. I've been concerned since we haven't talked to you lately. Please pamper yourself with all the rest you need. We are watching over you and holding your hand.
Born - Your question about IBS is interesting. I have a touch of that, but I was recently dx with GERD. Between the 2, I've got a busy belly. I've never thought about it being a SE of chemo. Hmm.
Wishing everyone a dose of joy. Jan
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My MO asked me today if I was having any stomach issues, so must be a common thing after chemo? Luckily I good most days as long as I eat right!
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Inmate so good to hear from you....we worry when you are quiet. Stay strong, we all have you surrounded with love and good thoughts.
On another subject, my PCP started me on Metformin because of high glucose reading. ONly 107 but he "wants to stop it early". I remember several of you ladies are currently on it and remember that LUVR is now off of it. Any SE's I should know about? I recently lost 15 pounds but he thinks it is due to my 2 month bout with Shingles. My PCP didn't know it had been used in clinical trials for TNBC...kind of fun to be educating my doctor.
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Wren, I started Metformin back in April for a Hgb A1c of 6.0 and 6.5 which is only a hair above normal. went to my PCP looking for Metformin for BC and he gave it to me. He knew about the studies because his own sister has BC. Most Docs tell you to start slow with only half or quarter of the prescribed dose and gradually work your way up as your body adjusts. The biggest SE is GI. (Diarrhea, cramping) I had the opposite problem. I found that my calcium supplement and the Metformin did not get along. I was on a calcium carbonate supplement and once I changed it to Calcium citrate all was fine. I am now on Metformin 850mg twice a day. And my last Hgb A1c was down to 5.5.
Born, I started having unbearable heartburn after 1st chemo tx. MO put me on Prilosec and that took care of things. I tried to stop taking it about 2 months after final chemo tx and symptoms returned so i gues I am on it for life...no biggie as long as the meds do their jobs
Luv, glad your trial is going forward. I would like to learn more about it.
Inmate, glad to see you post. Thinking about you often
Hope, thinking of you, too. How are you doing??
5owens, sorry you are in that dreaded waiting room again, I think Cocker might be sitting in there, too. CS, any news on your daughter yet?
well, gotta go. Navy son is home for a few days on leave. So good to have him here. I love being able to look across the dinner table and see his beautiful face.
Wishing everyone a good day
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Inmate - so good to hear from you. So sorry you are having such a hard time and I wish they would find the right cocktail for you. If you are inclined to do a clinical trial, you should consider it sooner rather than later. Some of them have limits to the number of previous chemo treatments. Many hugs coming your way!
I ended up staying on metformin because it turns out there was only one clinical trial where metformin caused an exclusion. That's because it was using carboplatin plus another diabetic drug (generic actos). The FDA just issued a warning that being on actos for more than one year significantly increases your risk of bladder cancer. I have defied every negative odd during this cancer journey so I decided that I don't need to consciously add another risk factor. My a1c is 6.0 as of last Friday, so I need the metformin or some other diabetic drug. Metformin is cheap and effective.
There were other trials that required weekly IV treatment (mostly with carboplatin and a trial drug) but I don't want to do one of those right now because we have the trip to Hawaii in October. The one that I'll likely get on is targeted to TNBC, it's an oral drug, and I will stay on it until I have progression...hopefully a nice long ride. I'll fill in the details of my trial once I get started - I am still waiting for a call from Dana Farber notifying me that it's officially opened.
I didn't have any tummy issues after finishing AC/T last summer. I did have some with Xeloda and went back on generic prilosec. I've been on metformin for so long that my system is used to it. I will say I never have a constipation issue, and I am sure that's compliments of my morning metformin dose accompanied by a cup of coffee.
Fudge...mmm! My dad used to make the fudge recipe that was on the back of the Hershey's cocoa tin. We added lots of nuts to it, I remember it being very yummy!
I spilled coffee yesterday on my better laptop and killed it. New one on the way. This netbook's keyboard is a little clunky so it's forcing me to not be too wordy...haha.
Love to everyone I didn't mention, especially you newbies beginning the journey. Now is the hardest part, but you'll get through hell and keep on going, and next year it will all be just a memory.
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A few tummy issues when treatment began, but I just think it was more nerves than anything else. If you feel uncomfortable check with your ONC by all means. Since you are in active treatment mention it on the next visit so it is charted.
Luv-How are feeling? Truly wish I could secretly run away to Hawaii and enjoy myself too, but me can't (sad face). I have too much to do. I have put so many projects and people on hold when I was first dx'ed, but spring of next year will be my time. I really want to get away with my hubby NO KIDS allowed!!!
Stephanie-waiting is the roughest part. As soon as you get a game plan in action hopefully things will settle down. Try to relax and stay on top of things and weigh all of your options. If you are thinking of a BMX please feel free to PM with any question. Develop a great working relationship w/ your cancer team because you all will have to work together closely. It doesn't matter if you don't know all the terminology or how to look at scans they will be happy to help, and informed patient is a great patient. I would sit right there in my little paper hospital gown and look too and be like what is that dark grey area or why is this so white??
Gentle thoughts for us all.
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Hope this works
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Lory- Loved that video!!!0
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So glad you did Babs! That song always lifts me up when I am feeling down.. The video is great
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Lori - I absolutely love it. What a picker-upper!!!!!!!! Thanks for going to the effort of loading this for us. Jan
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LOVED THAT VIDEO!!!! Thanks, Lory.
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