Calling all TNs
Comments
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DesertMama congrats on your last chemo. As for the tears it is probably relief that the chemo is finally over and you have made it through. Yep I found rads a breeze and I was lucky I didn't burn. Remember to moisturise, keep up fluids and rest as much as possible. Re the tattoo's this was virtually nothing. Two minute tiny dots. It is just like a little scratch and you will hardly notice that or the dots. Don't worry you won't get infection in it.
Carla welcome to this site. I had chemo every 21 days but I know of others here that have had it every two weeks. I think I would prefer the way I had it because after the initial side effects I felt well for over two weeks each time. As for recon it wasn't offered and I wouldn't have had it anyway. It didn't bother me and I didn't want anything to surface under the recon in the future but lots of ladies have had it and are extremely pleased with it. No doubt they will be along soon to offer their advice.
Well ladies you just can't win with me, just gotta find something to worry about . I got a normal ultrasound but it did say I have a fatty liver. I don't drink alcohol and never have so I know it isn't that but I am wondering now whether it could be the start of cancer in the liver. Any help girls to put my mind at rest, if it ever will.
Have a good day ladies. Weather here is beautiful. Summer at last Titan. I hope this year we get a good one like yours. Annie
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Desertmama--oh baby...you made it..I cried once I stopped throwing up the day of my last chemo..I also cried my first and last day of rads. I had the tattoos for the rads and it was a non issue as the do it on the body and not the arms. Congrats to you on finishing this huge step..enjoy your time off before the rads start
Carla--I had a bilat Mast followed by the chemo you describe...it is called Dose Dense and usually consists of 4 treatments of A/C (adriamyacin and cytoxin) and 4 treatmenst of Taxol ( or a form of it). I did the taxol first as there is a study out there that shows it works best for TN's. there are many variations to this of course and it depends where you live as to what you will receive. I liked the every 2 weeks for 4 months instead of 6 months every 3 weeks. It went by so quickly and then i moved on to radiation (35 tx) I did very well on chemo considering. Side effects were managable with meds that they will give you. Only threw up that very last time. Check out www.tnbcfoundation.org for some really specific things for us TN's too. Ask anything here and someone will probably be able to answer for you. I did not do reconstruction right away and just had a bilat Diep procedure on Nov 1 of this year (15 months after mast). One side failed so will return in March for a new leftie. Take your time if you like and choose a recon that is right for you..there are so many options out there. Get several consults too if you do not like the answers you are given. Sorry you had to join us here but you will love the wealth of knowledge of these great women.
Maggie
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WOW, you ladies have been chatty. I have been away a few weeks. First, my mammo came back fine!!! Then on the 22nd I had an oncology check up complete with 7 vials of fasting blood work and all is GREAT. So I have a clean bill of health and I am 1 year post diagnosis and 1 year post surgery. My MO said she'd see me in 6 months
Welcome to all the new people and congrats to all those finishing up. I had a sense of "I can do anything" when I finished chemo.
Luv - SO happy you're getting away with your DH and feeling good. Embrace it you Princess Warrior xo
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CS - sorry don't know anything about a fatty liver. Sending prayers and hugs that it will be ok!
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Annie - I think all will be well with your liver. My sister was diagnoised with non alcoholic fatty liver disease 10 years ago. She has had no symptoms or complications. It's very common.
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CS- I think alot of women, after chemo, have a fatty liver. We take soooo much medications while on chemo, our liver gets hit hard for a while. Last november, I had a liver scan and it saw what they thought was fatty liver. They sent me for an US and when I did it in march, there was nothing. No spots, nothing. I hear that many people have fatty livers and never know about it. And don't worry, it's not the beginning of liver cancer. I read a whole lot on this when they told me it was fatty liver. Maybe if they do an US in 6 months it won't even show anymore.
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Carla, I had BMX and recon. I have never heard that it would increacse my reocurrance rate. I did TAC (taxotere, adriamycin, cytoxan) every three weeks for a total of 6 treatments. MO gave me the choice of AC-dose dense every 2 weeks for 4 tx followed by Taxol every 2 weeks for 4 tx. Since I felt like a deer in the headlights, I asked her what she would reccomend if i was her sister...She explained that the stats are the same for each method but she would tell her "sister" to go with the TAC every 3 weeks. So that is how I decided.
Hello to everyone! been a while since I posted but have been trying to keep up with reading every day or so.
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Just stopping in to say hi to all you wonderful women and wishing you a wonderful night.
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carla - I will be having dose dense every 2 weeks - my oncologist felt for an aggressive cancer like triple negative, that an aggressive regime was more suitable. But that is just her opinion. It does get it over with in a shorter period of time - however, if one goes that route there is the addition of another drug (Neupogen or Neulasta) that is given to help keep the white cells up. If you haven't had surgery yet, you have lots of time to make decisions - plus your pathology report from surgery will tell you so much more!! Just take one step at a time - get the surgery first and then think about the treatments after. Most importantly - look after yourself!!!
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adagio - Just to let you know that even those of us who get a tx every 21 days still can be getting the Neulasta shot. I had Cytoxan and Taxotere 4x and did get the shot 24 - 48 hours after each tx - actually ended up giving it to myself (in the stomach) after the first one by the nurse.
Had my first mammo since dx on Monday and yes, she did do a mammo on the mx side too. She wasn't going to as there wasn't much flesh there but she asked me if I was concerned and when I said yes, she said she would try and she did manage to do one. I won't get the results for a while but have my followup with my onc on Dec. 11th.
Sending HUGS to all the newbies and those going through tx or dealing with SEs and a special shout-out to Inmate, Luv, Hope60 and OBXK!
Doreen
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DorMac - thanks for that piece of information regarding the neulasta - I thought it was only for the dose dense regime.
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Good one CS!
It is official. I have seriously lost my mind! I quit my job today, in the middle of the day. I was having a bad day from the start. Trying to stuff my sausage arms into my lymphadema sleeves, trying to find something to wear that I would not get too hot in, with my compression sleeves and compression tank. Ever since my hysterectomy I have been a hot mess, as noted right here on these very boards with my crazy outburst. While I was working I had sweat dripping down my back, my neck, and then my nose! Really, it is true! I said F--* it to myself. Asked a co worker to finish up for me and quit. So like I said, it is official, I have gone mad. I can't stop crying, still, and this happened hours and hours ago. Oh, and I also said f**k it to my 3 month check up! Never scheduled it! And I am not going to go until next year. (I did see my primary doc). Wanna know what my hubby did when I got home? He gave me a big hug and said "I told you that you should quit a long time ago". He is not such a bad guy after all. That made me cry even more. My first call in the morning-my therapist! And if anybody happens to find my mind, please send it back to me.
Hope all of you lovely ladies are doing well! Sorry to see so many new women here, and so sorry that you have to witness my meltdown!
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Oh Bak, I can hear your pain in your words. Please do not feel defeated.....you kept your job all this time! Soon after I was DX, I, too, had a meltdown in the middle of a workday and called the boss, gave report so a coworker could finish my work and I LEFT!. In tears of course.....I never went back. I am sending a nice cooling hug your direction, lady. Good idea to call your therapist and get further support, too. And as far as your mind.....I think my mind is in cahoots (sp?) with yours! I haven't seen either of them! Not sure where you live, but if you were close I'd meet ya for a cup of coffee or maybe a martini! Hang in there.
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oh Bak...your hubby is a keeper. HUGS and more HUGS to you. BC sux...the therapies suck...LE sux and the daily worry sux. Take this time for yourself and do something just for YOU...you deserve it.
xoxo
Maggie
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bak-- no need to apologise for venting here. We understand. I did see a mind lying around somewhere a few days ago, but I've lost mine too so can't remember where I saw it.
DesertMama--Congratulations on finishing chemo. I had my final one last week, and am also feeling a combination of elation and fear. I have my "radiation planning" session tomorrow where I'll be scanned and get my tattoos.
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(((Bak))) enjoy your retirement! Hope you are feeling better soon.
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I'm sitting in my chemo chair, they are not going to give me steroids today, to see if that helps with my headaches. Fingers crossed0 -
(((Bak))) Just think about all the fun things you'll have time to do now!
We got home from Vegas about midnight last night, tired but we had a great time. I took lots of pictures of the hot air balloon ride and I will post a link to them in the next day or two, when I have time to do a blog entry. The weather was fabulous, we ate a couple of really excellent meals, and the hotel was a technology marvel.
Desertmama - Congratulations! And may you never, ever, ever get back together with that chemo chair!
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Carla: I opted for a dose-dense schedule (AC-T) every 2 weeks, gave myself a neulasta shot to bring WBC up each time. It was quite doable. I will PM you some info.
Luv: Hope you had a great trip!
Desertmama: Congrats on being done chemo. I was pretty much a wreck at the time too!
Bak: One thing about this hideous disease is it causes you to see everything through a new lens. For me, I am less willing to waste my time on things and people I don't find meaningful or rewarding. Walking out on that job was probably the best thing... celebrate and never look back!
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Desertmama: Congrats on finishing chemo. Enjoy the feeling of getting your body back and healthy again.
Bak: I can hear your emotion in your words. I am so happy your DH was supportive and said exactly what you needed to hear. Luah is right, never look back and just move forward now. Sending you hugs and support in your choice xo
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Bak94 - I seriously think you have just found your mind, and you would have lost it if you had stayed any longer. Your tears may be relief at your decision and the fact you haven't got to go back and put up with the heat and LE. Obviously hubby saw how this was affecting you each day and he is one helluva guy for supporting you and your decision. (Mine probably would have said you will go back tomorrow won't you? lol). Now you can take your time and plan just what it is you would like to do with your day so start dreaming girl, you've earnt it and you deserve it. Life is for living not working. Big big hugs to you.
LUV - glad you had a great trip. Looking forward to seeing those pics.
DesertMama - congratulations. Doing the happy dance for you.
Karen - as usual you make me feel better. Thank you my friend. I wish I could come and sit in that chemo chair with you.
EnglishRose - you have nothing to fear tomorrow. The stimulation planning is very short and all they do is measure you so the radiation goes to the correct spot and the tattoos are nothing to worry about. You will be fine.
Have a happy evening ladies. Lots of love to all you brave ladies. Annie
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Bak: I'm so sorry for your pain but so happy that your DH totally supports your decision. I think you did the right thing! Someone on a thread said, don't look back, your not going that way! Move forward! And you will! Take care of yourself!!
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Bak, I totally agree with Cocker. I did the same over a year ago and never looked back.
Hugs and kisses sweetheart.
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Are terrible headaches a SE any of you have had. First chemo was Monday and had a headache all afternoon. Tuesday was ok and I went to work. Wednesday I was in bed all day with terrible headache and it is no better this morning. Tylenol is not helping at all.
My schedule is going to be A/C every two weeks for 4 treatments, then Taxol every week for 12 weeks.0 -
headaches are a listed SE for the C (cytoxin) part of the chemo you are getting. Sorry you are experiencing this. Ask the ONC if there is anything better you can take to minimize it
Maggie
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5thSib: I don't think I had headaches like you describe, But my head always felt weird and heavy for the first several days after chemo. Call your Onc today. Let them know how you are feeling. Others will be along here soon that may have more insight, too. But do call your Onc TODAY. Don't suffer/worry in silence.
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bak94~ I've been back to work for 4 weeks since my 2 surgeries. It has been very hard, don't you do hair? Doing hair is a very mental and physical job, most people don't realize this. I am working 5 hr days, by the end of the week I am tired. My great DH told me to quit once too, but I am still trying to hang in there. My exchange surgery is Dec 26th, I'm afraid I won't have any clients left after being off again!! Glad you are taking the time you need to find your balance!!
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5thsib, I head serious woozy head problems for two days after each A/C. Seemed like I was drunk. Bright lights and watching TV were a problem. Third day I was back to normal.
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Well normal for me
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Brenda, I agree with Luah and Annie - I feel for you having to wear compression garments with the hot flashes. It is difficult for me to wear synthetics at all right now even in the winter, so take a look at all your "outer garments."((((Hugs))))
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