Calling all TNs
Comments
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simple life- great post - love your attitude! I agree with you about having to accept things and move on. Will you also be getting taxol or just AC? What a long day for you with all those appointments - hope you are feeling less tired now. Take care of yourself.
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Jianchi so sorry for your ruined time out. I know I already time my outings carefully and it sucks to mess them up. Hope the pain from the tailbone is not too bad.
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simplelife4real and tekwriter: thank you both for the good wishes. I will be more careful now when going out. My husband felt so bad that he took me out the second day of chemo. Poor guy!
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Jianchi, I usually have some "steroid steam" left over from the pre-infusion meds on day 2 post chemo....It sounds like you did too when you went out to eat. I could really plumment in a matter of minutes when the steam wore off. It's just hard to judge those things.
Ka-cey, I hope your biopsy turns out to be nothing. Waiting for results is HARD.
Adigio, we have pretty much the same diagnosis, but our treatment is in the reverse order. I did Taxol first, then AC. Next will be surgery (lumpectomy, ALND, implant replacements and port removal), and then rads.
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simplelife4real: I don't know what it is but it was a really scary experience. Chemo is really tough, and I can't wait to be over it.
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Woo hoo 2nd chemo down. on steroid high. lol
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cross post but here it is:
At my 3 month check in October I brought to my drs attention a swollen
lymph node or gland under my jaw. You know when you get a cold and sore throat
those nodes on the side of your throat, it's there. Of course he says
it nothing and I gladly take that response, right? I also brought it up
at my December appointment he says he doesn't feel it.I can
still feel that it is bigger on the right side. I don't have a cold or a
sore throat. I have surgery on Monday and am so conflicted about what
to do about this. I don't want to know but I know I can't bury my head
in the sand either.0 -
Simple... I'm sorry you did not get pCR. Try to keep your spirits up. Many people go onto surgery or radiation and then never have a relapse. Praying this is what will be in your future. It's hard to remain optimistic when our expectations aren't met, but we should still try.
Jenjen... I too had a lymph node high on my neck under my jaw bone. It showed up on my PET scan and xray. I had an ultrasound guided biopsy on it, and it was negative for cancer but was "reactive". that means there was some inflammation going on in it. My MO didn't think it was anything to begin with bc cancer tends to travel up the chain of nodes in your upper chest and neck. they don't skip, they go in succession. The only reason I had the biopsy is bc in my situation, nothing was following "the rules". I even went to the dentist for a cleaning and had him check....again, no infection or abscess showed on xray or exam. So it's a mystery.. I hope this gives you some peace of mind. It could just be a cold brewing.
Well, tomorrow I start my new chemo and find out if I have progression. Wish me luck. I guess I'm in for a sleepless night.
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BAK I just don't understand why you can't get pain relief when you need it. For the Doc to say the dentist needs reporting is bazaar. Could you go to ED and get some relief.
Ka-cey I'm just playing a waiting game as you are. Mine was like yours with a small bump underneath. My Doc said at the worst it could be a basal cell carcinoma which doesn't kill you. Hopefully will get the results on Monday when I have my stitches out or Tuesday at the latest. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Jianchi so sorry you had the fall. Fracturing your tail bone is so painful. I sat down heavy once on mine and it was painful for ages. Couldn't sit down properly.
Simple yes lets enjoy today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
Have a good day ladies and hopefully all our problems are kept to a minimum. Big hugs to you all.
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cocker, thank you for your sympathy. I am dealing with the fractured tailbone fine. I saw my genetic counselor today, and drew blood for the test. Hopefully, I am not positive for the test.
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slow loris - count on my prayers for you - healing thoughts coming your way.
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When I saw my Onc in January he said that they know those with a pCR will do extremely well long-term, and then he said that those with even a partial response they know they will also do very very well. So I'm thinking with how far her tumor shrunk, and the fact that the final infusion was just administered that she is surely in that category of someone who will experience very very good results long-term.
Regarding the swollen node at neck - it could also be a reaction to a food ingredient or a chemical. Have you eaten anything extra-processed lately (or overdone it with nuts or fish) that could be giving you a slight reaction? There are so many strange ingredients in processed stuff, that just one unknown thing could cause an inflammation. Also, what about laundry detergents, scents or new chemicals? Chinese food or something with MSG?
Google the foods you can eat for anti-inflammatory and see if you can get it to do down naturally. Garlic, and red cayenne pepper are anti-inflammatory. An anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen could also work. Sometimes if I overdo the dark chocolate covered almonds I will have a slight inflammation as well.
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jenjenl: I have had a swollen lymph node under my jaw on the left side as well. It seems to be there for a long time before it disappeared. I hope it is nothing cautious for you.
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slowloris: I wish you all the best on your scan. I can relate your sadness and worries. I too am very unstable emotionaly lately. I saw my survivorship counselor today, and she introduced me to an app called "inner balance", you can purchase a sensor to work with you iPad/iPhone on breathing exercises. I will update how it does for me. Take care!
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Hello ladies, I was just checking in. Haven't been on in a week or so and wow the boards was busy! Too many to reply to each person, so I just want to let all my BC sisters know that I am saying prayers and sending hugs...
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thinking about all of you going through ***())### right now....waiting to hear good news...love you all
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I so just want to go on with life! I want to find my new normal! I'm so sorry for you ladies facing test and waiting and other things. My thoughts are with you all!! If only I could get the intermittent back pain to stop, I think I would be able to relax a little!! It's just so annoying. It's one of those things that before the dx, I would have just ignored, but now it won't leave my mind! I guess I'm finally going to have to face the fact and ask for some sort of scan, but I'm not sure I'm ready if it is the cancer. I'm not sure I'm mentally prepared to handle more!! I pray everyday that it will just go away!
Anyway, sorry to moan and groan, but sometimes it just consumes me!
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Continued prayers and good thoughts for everyone waiting on test results - sorry you have to wait through the weekend! When I was dx'd with bc, I had to wait all through the Christmas holiday weekend, and through that Monday due to the way the holiday fell. I was climbing the walls - and the timeframe to get results took longer. The bright side of things was that since I found out on 12/27 I was able to get straight into surgery on 1/4, because the majority of people are still having fun and aren't having complicated procedures at the first of the year! When I was waiting for results, oddly enough, I found it easier to be busy and around a lot of people - which is not the norm for me.
Praying so hard for everyone - and I hope we all get to see excellent news on here next week.
Many hugs to everyone!
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Nettie boy you nailed it for me. I was trying to talk about that just yesterday. The new normal, is exactly the phrase I was looking for. This going through chemo right now, knowing the treatment plan, repeating the steps, being out of work, this is the new normal for now. It is easier to deal with than all the waiting and testing. I will have to remember that phrase. Thanks
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Well, Its the good news/bad news scenario.
Bad news first. As I expected, many nodules showed up subcutaneously over the sternum area (8 of them) with 2 actually on the skin of my LEFT breast. There is some concern of possible deep node involvement as well, but it could be post surgery inflammation. (I think not).
The good news is no organ involvement or distant mets. I was so worried bc I developed a slight cough and though it had gone to my lungs. So overall, I was relieved. I'm back on chemo - gemzar/carbo iv for atleast 3 rounds of 3wks each, then reevaluate.
I was told with my type of tnbc, I will probably be on chemo off and on for the rest of my life. I can live with that if we can confine it to the skin. I'll take what I can get, and appreciate each day I am here to be with my children and family.
It's been a long 18 mos. Nonstop treatment and surgeries, dx 3x with cancer, or maybe just never got rid of it to begin with. Thank you to all of you... I know I can come here with questions, fears, rants, and laughter without fear of being judged. Thank you all.
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slow loris - so sorry to hear about the nodule involvement - that is definitely hard to deal with, but you sound so positive and I am very impressed by that. Chemo is no piece of cake - I wish you well - will you lose your hair again?
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Just got done reading "That's why I'm here"...the Chris and Stefanie Spielman story. Chris Spielman was a football player for Ohio State and the Detroit Lions and Buffalo, New York. His wife, Stefanie was diagnosed with bc at age 31 (not tn)...because she took herceptin. She was diagnosed 5 times in 11 years, She had 2 kids after the first diagnosis..... it was a hard read for me...wasn't sure I wanted to read it but I really couldn't stop reading once I made the decision.. Alot of it was about football but alot about Stefanie and what she went through and how she handled 4 kids. She was very public about her experiences and raised so much $$ for cancer research because she could....since her and her husband were in the limelight. not sure why I'm posting this really....like I said it is a hard read because of mine (ours) experience with bc....but I still felt uplifted reading it...
well..anyway..hang in there Lori....really sucks...and hoping treatments work for you so you really don't have to be in treatment forever...
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JIanchi I'm so hoping you are not positive for the test. When I had mine done because my mum had ovarian cancer and my grandma had left breast cancer the same as me, it came back inconclusive - whatever that means. My BS said ask for it to be done again. But quite frankly I am sick of waiting for results and all the wondering and hoping. I just think if It comes back, it comes back and I'll deal with it then but really that is because I am burying my head and just don't want anymore worry. Fingers crossed tightly for you.
Slowloris Im so sorry it's bad news but good news no organ involvement or distant mets. Many prayers and hugs to you and hoping they find that one chemo that will knock back this cancer once and for all. Thinking of you heaps.
Nettie don't apologise. We are all here to rant about this F cancer. Would some physiotherapy help you at all.
All you ladies wondering about your new normal I wonder if there really is one. As I get older and will get older people's aches and pains am I always going to be on cancer alert. It's bad enough now that I can't go a day without looking in the mirror to see if anything is there or feeling for any new lumps. Will there ever be a new normal for me or am I always going to be wondering and dealing with anxiety.
Have a good day ladies. I'm going to go looking for my new normal.
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Cocker: hugs to you. I appreciate your positive thoughts for my genetic test result. I am thinking about MX as I want myself to be prepared for all kinds of possibilities. I look at my lumpectomy spot, which is very close to the chest wall, I don't even think MX goes that high. Anyway, I will talk to my BS and get a second opinion when the genetic result is out. I can totally understand you worry about not get your normal life back. Me too.
Slowloris: sorry about the bad news. sending positive thoughts to your way.
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hmmm...new normal...i think I may have found mine...I hope...weird stuff but no matter what happens to us personally life moves on...our kids grow up, weddings, grandkids, job changes, our parents get old, we get older...and the bc hopefully becomes something that is put in a box and put away on a shelf and you just don't look in it anymore....the onc appts and mammos become something that we put on our calendar and go to and forget about it....OR if this doesn't happen and we have to continue with this fc then we do..and we come here and talk about it....
I used to walk around with a bag of spinach....haven't done that in awhile...after a few years out I have a hard time keeping myself on track....with diet and exercise...I run because I like it..not because I'm trying to prevent a reocurrence....I just wish though...i could be that happy goofy person I used to be...I'm trying....very very hard to be that person again
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Sloloris I am so sorry about your diagnosis. Not what I was hoping for. But you have a plan. Hope they find something that realllllly kick's it's but this time.
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Well here's some kinda sorta good news! Kathy has now completed what, God willing, is her LAST surgery on Friday. Exchange surgery. All seems to have gone well. PS had to do some fairly extensive work on one side...so she's hurtin for certain on that side...but nothing like prior surgeries. He also took a squamous cell carcinoma in situ off of her upper lip, just under her nose, while she was under. But now, after a year which included spinal fusion (unrelated to the BC), lumpectomy, mastectomy, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, exchange surgery...hopefully she can turn in her frequent flyer card at the O.R. Woo hoo!
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alhusband: all the best to your wife's recovery from the surgery!
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alhusband Woo Hoo is right! Blessings to you both.
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SlowLoris: Well, no words can express how I feel to get your news - although as you said, it's a relief to hear that it has not gone to the organs. The fact that you can do chemo off and on may be just what you need to get you to the point where they have a targeted therapy for TNBC and hopefully one day in the near future can keep this away forever for you. You are so strong, and you do seem to have such a positive attitude! We'll definitely be here for you - keep doing what you are doing and have faith. Let's pray your good news can turn into excellent news in time! Think of you and sending you a big hug! xoxo
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