Calling all TNs
Comments
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I hope you have a successful art weekend! I agree housework is over rated. I just make clever designs in the dust on my credenza. I have hired number 2 son to do all the bathrooms once a week
Sorry your tx isn't doing the trick. Hope the baby red devil - reduces the holes in your head. Hugs.0 -
Inmate, yes, your spirit shines through your words. I am sorry that you have to do the red devil again, but maybe that is the answer. I was just thinking that in 9 months, only one enlarged, the other two are the same size. A little bit of good news, right? That it is not growing as fast, maybe it can be controlled.
I just want to say, that you have courage and strength, my friend, you are one heck of a women and my hats off to you!!!!!!!! You are fighting hard, keep it up. Fu......k BC!!!!!!
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Hang in there Inmate, we are all pulling for you.
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Inmate...so sorry you got discouraging news but hope the red devil works its magic this time!
Speaking of everything having two sides...that's the answer to the underwear problem...just turn them inside out and enjoy the garden. Laundry can wait!
Luah...interesting line of work you are in...although not surprising given the wonderful way you have with words when you post on here. Hope the "summer" brings back any missing words. I am enjoying the warm weather immensely.
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Inmate:
Sending you white light and all my sincerest wishes and hope that this chemo will be the one that kicks this cancer to the curb. You shall remain in my thoughts for a very positive outcome.
Hugs,
Linda
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Inmate..yes..I think that the doxil will do the trick..no..i don't think it..I know it...
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Inmate..your going to beat this! I remember in the fall when I first started reading these threads, how in awe I was of you. Not only do you have a killer avatar but you have such a strong attitude. I have every bit of faith that you will kick this crap to the curb once and for all! Best of luck at your artwalk this weekend. We are still having good weather so you will be in luck!!
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Hi everyone. I was just diagnosed 4/26, the day after my 52 bday with IDC. 3 cm left breast and 2.5 cm lymph node. Both were positive for IDC. Today I met with the multidisciplinary team and was told I am TN with multiple lymph nodes under my arm but nothing outside of that.
In a week I start 16 weeks of ACT. Is ACT as bad as I think it's going to be?0 -
Boy did I forget how much the neulasta shots make your bones hurt. Rude awakening at 1:30 in the morning. Damn my knees hurt! Thank goodness for pain pills. Don't take them often, but they are effective little buggers.
I am a bit edgy today. Must be the pain and fatigue. So much so that I "schooled" my friend on appropriate etiquette. That isn't usually how I roll. Today required a refresher coarse for sure. Hopefully she will forgive me. It was all very well meaning and not done in a mean spirited way. I was honest, that's what counts.
I also found out a fellow TNBC fighter was just diagnosed with mets to her hip. This is her 5th re-diagnosis in as many years. She will go a year then BAM, something else shows up. She is a fighter and staying positive. Again, that's really all we can do, LIVE.
Love to you ladies..............d
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Hi,
my wife(36 yrs old) is just diagnosed with IDC triple neg, locally advanced. she is on neoadjuvant chemo, had first AC ( once in 3 weeks for 3month) then taxol for 12 weeks.
then surgery (most likely macsectomy with lymph node removal)
she has no side effects (other then hair loss) so far, thankful but scared at the same time ( heard lots of ppl going through bad vomitting). does anyone have the experience that it gets worse as AC treatment goes on?? How about taxol?
I try to be strong in front of my wife and others and not to think ahead but I'm burnt and scared inside... so any comment will be helpful.. thanks!0 -
laralind5......jhj0112.......The side effects for ACT can be manageable. Make sure you both talk about the issues with your Dr. and they will get you medicines that will help. I did not have trouble with vomitting, but did get sour stomach and lack of appetite.
You'll get through it. Make sure you keep hydrated. Water Water Water!
Love....d
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jhj...Sorry we had to meet this way but there is a lot of information to be gained by this forum.
I also had the DD AC...4 treatments and then 12 weekly taxols. I was fine for the first 2 treaments of AC altho I had vomitting and a feeling of misery for a few days between treatments. I also took the Neulasta shots the day after each IV to keep my blood counts high enough for the next treatment. Unfortunately, after the 3rd AC, I developed blood clots in my lungs so wasn't able to take the 4th and last IV.
I went straight to the 12 weekly Taxols, and I had no problems with them at all except for minor fatigue. I was also 68 at the time. I had 16 radiation treatments after that as well with no side effects at all.
I had my lumpectomy before I started chemo.
I wish your wife a speedy recovery and I am sure she will do very well.
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jhj- so sorry about your wife's diagnosis, but so glad you came to our thread. This is a very supportive thread. Please continue to be a part of our community. In response to your AC/Taxol concerns. I had a tough time after my first AC infusion - could not even find my car in my small community hosp. parking lot! I was actually looking for a car I previously owned! I called my onc and advised him that I could not do chemo. as I could not go through life disoriented. I met with my NP - she advised me that my body was just trying to reject the harsh chemicals, and that it would be easier as I took AC. She was right. I had less side effects with each infusion. The thing that helped me most was to go home, take 2 Ibupropen and sleep for as long as I could. I was also prescribed steroids at infusion, and for three days following infusion. Although sleep patterns are severely affected by steroids, they really helped with side effects.
Taxol - Taxol was bearable - not as tough as AC. (I had lots of "heaviness" in sinus area with the Cytoxin - but not with Taxol). Taxol did bring about a lot of leg pains - so I hit the Ibuprofen again. I did lose some toenails and fingernails, but they grew back. I have heard of icing fingers and toes during taxol treatment, but was not given that option. Taxol did leave me with permanent neuropathy in my toes - not severe, but annoying - just feels like my toes are almost all the way "asleep", all the time.
Rest and fluids were the key for me - lots of naps and also sitting in the yard to get fresh air.
Best wishes - you and your wife are in my thoughts.
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Hey Gang,
Phyllis thanks for thinking of me......:)I am sorry to see several new members...........man this just sucks.
I have had two treatments and I am not sure how I feel. I guess because when I did the AC then Taxol they were not together. I am doing Cytoxan and Taxotere and I don't like the weird feelings. I guess they are normal as the doctor has not said anything differently. MAN I HATE CHEMO HEARTBURN..........it is the worst. The pain on the Taxotere is nothing like the Taxol but still there. I have been short of breath with this regimen. First round I did ok for a couple of days and even went on a walk. Then I had the diarrhea and fever. This time so far no diarrhea (sometimes welcome it though) fever has not set in. I did not get to go for our walk because of the weather but not sure that made any difference. I just plain feel strange on this regimen and wow wee am I emotional this second time. My periods never straightened out from the first time but this just seems like a different emotional roller coaster. I know some of this is anxiety because I just feel like am I doing this for nothing. I mean if I want to live I have to do it, but it sure wreaks havoc on the body and I wonder if I am killing myself trying to save myself. My neurothpy never went away completely but it is coming back with a vengeance. My hair started falling out but this is weird. It only fell out half way. The top of my head, and only half of the "woo woo". I don't get this treatment. So, I went ahead and shaved my head and now I have all these darn bumps that HURT!!! Hubby thinks that it is because I shaved it to soon, but darn when your hair is falling everywhere you want it gone. I did not want to go through that emotional turmoil like before. Hubby is also not being as supportive as he was the first go around. Hurts but I am trying to understand he is dealing with his own emotions but I am the one dealing with the sickness and the pain and the over all just not feeling well. I don't want to do anything. My mind does but my body talks me out of it. I have one more treatment and then we will scan (of course terrified) and then we will either continue with chemo or move to radiation. I am so terrified of the rads, because of the burns and the fatigue but mainly because mine is on the left side and I hear it can cause heart and lung damage. Will I be able to get in my pool, will I have energy to do things that need to be done, like feeding my babies and etc.
Ok..........I will get off of myself now, but it is hard......:(I do hope everyone is dealing with this monster the best they can........it just pure SUCKS!!!
Inmate............I am so sorry.
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I forgot to ask this but maybe it needs its own section.
What kind of deodorant do you all use? I have tried so many of the ones without the aluminum but they don't work. For awhile I just said it is not worth stinking........but now that mine has returned and spread up the lymphs I am wanting to try to change again. I have paid $8 for one and it still don't work. I found one that semi worked but had its own smell.
I WILL NOT STINK........;)
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jhj - going out for a walk every day helps tremendously with the side effects of chemo. I personally took acupuncture every week (and still do) - acupuncture helps boost the immune system and the bone marrow. I live in Vancouver, Canada - and I go to Inspire Health - it is an integrative cancer centre and offers all kinds of support for cancer patients. Google it and see what you think! Going through chemo is tough, but it is manageable - however, each of us has different side effects from the toxic drugs that we are given - some of us have bad s/e and some of us seem to get through it fine. Being on this comminity board is a great source of knowledge from women who have been there, are going through it, and some like myself who has just finished treatments. Which oncologist do you have? I will pray for you and your wife as you go through this very dark period of your life. Keep informed. Eat healthy, drink lots of water, rest when tired, moderate exercise are all good things.
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Jlh,
I did not have nausea with AC. I had a hard time with it otherwise, mostly low white blood cell counts/infections, which should not affect your wife since it looks like she is not having dose-dense. I had AC every two weeks. I did not have a problem with taxol except some numbness in feet, (neuropathy).
Below is the drug schedule I was given, in part to prevent nausea:
During AC, my prescribed schedule was:
Miralax the day before chemo
Emend the day of chemo
Aloxi and Decadron via port, with the chemo
Emend, Decadron and Miralax in the two days after chemo
Compazine and Ativan to take as needed at home. I rarely needed them.
During Taxol, my prescribed schedule was:
Decadron and Miralax the day before chemo
Decadron and Zofran the day of chemo
Pepcid and Benadryl via port, with the chemo (these help prevent an allergic reaction)
Miralax in the days after chemo
Zofran, Compazine, and Ativan to take as needed at home0 -
Thanks everyone for the info!! This thread really helps a newbie like me.. her bone scan is scheduled tomorrow even though CT and X-ray were done prior to AC chemo... I hope it's nothing.. once again thanks!!
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Evening - I've been away for awhile, life you know! Sending hugs to all of those experiencing reoccurances, cancer truely sucks.
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Wow, I had about 6 pages of posts to read. Hello to the old friends and the new. I am 4 weeks past my last Taxol treatment and starting to feel better -- even getting back to some light exercise. Just having a really hard time at work right now and having to work long hours that I don't need to be working. We had a server crash last Wednesday and have not been able to get it back up and our backup files are apparently not good. The last good backup we have is a month old. I'm the IT manager so even though someone else was in charge of the backups, ultimately I am responsible. I've worked a lot of OT in the past week.
Someone mentioned about going to work with out their wig for the first time. I've been wearing hats and scarves, but decided to do that last Wednesday. My hair is just long enough to pinch between my fingertips. It is mostly white with some dark here and there. All the upper managers were out of town, so I decided to not wear anything on my head since it was mostly just women there that day. I got a lot of compliments. I decided to go on to church without the hat also (with the blessing of my two grandchildren who were with me) and got a lot more compliments. However, one 3 year old girl looked at me, ducked her head, covered her eyes, and said "yuck" so I decided maybe I should still cover my head at church. Actually I haven't gone to work again without my head covered either. I'll get up the nerve to do it with everyone there soon.
I start radiation on Monday. The are doing a trial run tomorrow. I hope everyone has a great weekend.
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Shirley don't let them bother you.........be comfortable.....:)
My thoughts and prayers are with you...........glad you got the Taxol over with (that pain was bad for me) and good luck on the radiation. I will be doing that soon too
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StupidBoob....regarding your deodorant issue. I stopped using any deodorant and began washing my underarms with Hibiclens while in the shower. It can be purchased in most drugstores or online. It kills bacteria which is what causes odor. After drying off, I appy coconut oil to my underarms...it also kills bacteria. So far, I have had no odor. Used it all last summer with much success. I still perspire but there is no odor. Hope this helps.
And just a quick hello to Inmate....I have been hoping you would post to say hello, I think of you a lot. Your strength and determination is to be admired....all this and you still keep your sense of humor. Bravo. xxoxoxo
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I have read a few comments recently about drinking lots of water. I love water and drink little else normally besides my morning coffee (no juice, no pop, etc.). However, during my chemo water tasted awful (as did any form of alcohol, wine, etc.)! I absolutely could not drink it. However, I did acquire a craving for chocolate milk and I was only able to stay hydrated with that. I tried various other beverages, but all were either nauseating or just had a weird taste. Choco milk was my friend. I chugged it! In fact, I would panic if my supply of milk and Nestle Quick got low (kind of reminded me of my way back in the day pregnancy cravings for grapefruit juice, but that's another story!). I remember one day one of my sweet co-workers ran out to buy some chocolate milk for me because I ran out of choco milk at work and I was sooo thirsty! I normally do not have a sweet tooth at all, but blandish sweet things worked for me during chemo - vanilla pudding, vanilla ice cream, cream of wheat, oatmeal; also mashed potatoes, ramen, and pasta. Anything "whitish" was very tasty!
Pizza tasted like metal, and generally anything with tomato sauce was nasty.
Everyone is different, but I wanted to share what worked for me with those of you going through this now.
I'll be off the boards for a few weeks, going on vacation to California. We'll be visiting our son who just got out of his 4 year stint in the Marine Corps and attending his wife's graduation from law school. Also, sadly, visiting my sister in law in San Diego who was diagnosed in March with stage 3 ovarian cancer. My mom died of ovarian cancer in 1993 and it seems like there has not been much progress with this disease. As awful as TN BC is, I feel so fortunate that so much progress has occurred with our treatments.
Sorry to be so verbose. I assume if too long or you're not interested you have not gotten this far
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One advantage of getting BC when post-menopausal is that deodorant is not a necessity!
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Grammy...I found that true as well! Rarely wear it now.
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jenjen... love you got shitfaced....and had a blast... you rock my girl.
Outlaws here - for a fucking months.... but they are lovely,..... but they are still in my place. Whatever. time for me and bed.
Love you ladies. xxxxxxxxx
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5thsib Im so sorry ! Im sure that was hard
Tazzy, I understand ! One of my friends who lives wayy far away wants to come "help" me, but since shes so far she will have to stay for a good long time. Anddd Im feeling that I wont want her here that long lol
Regarding deoderant, is there something I dont know? is this an issue?
This is my last prechemo weekend. Am going out tonight to listen to some local bands at my local neighborhood bar and I plan on having a GREAT time ! Then the rest of the weekend will be preparing... With a bright spot of my future DIL wants me to come to the bridal shop late Sat afternoon. The wedding is July 19th, the day after my 2nd cycle of Taxol. I really hope I will be able to attend.
Have great Friday everyone !
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Hi everyone, I am 43 and I was diagnosed April 10, 2013 with TNBC, 10 days ago I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, and port for chemo. my surgery path report showed that one of the 3 nodes removed was cancerous, and DCIS was found in other areas. I am stage 11b with a 3.5 cm lump (gone now!). I am waiting for results on the BRCA gene. I still cant believe how overwhelming this all is, I don't think I have had time to even wrap my brain around the fact I have breast cancer!! I go see my oncologist on the 15th and i will get details on when I start chemo. I am putting on my boxing gloves!!
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Hi to you too Wren.....
Grammy....different chemo gave me different tastes. Right now everything tastes buttery, including water. The craving for "white" foods is pretty common, according to my doc. His theory, eat what you can when you can especially if you have limited appetite. I do like your chocolate milk craving. That's what I'm talking about. Have fun on your vacation.
I too have not needed to use deodorant, or a razor for that matter. Things I don't miss at all.
Have a great day everyone.......Love to you all........d
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welcome terrilynn........let us know how we can help you. It is a scary thing to get started with this whole process, but you can do it.
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