Calling all TNs
Comments
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Morning,
Been a while since I was on here. I had my PET and it shows a few lymph nodes in my left Breast and also one behind my stomach and near back. Waiting for biopsy to be scheduled next week. MO thinks it is just my lymph nodes doing their job. As it also shows continued shrinkage on the tumors on lung. Since last scan is 12% all total is now 86% shrinkage...Thank God! So the current trial of targeted therapy seems to still be working. Will be discussing next phase depending on biopsy results.
Welcome to the new folks.
Have a good day!
Lucy
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I had chemo on Tuesdays. The IV dose of steroids during the infusion kept me pretty perky the first couple days. It was Saturdays that were rough, so for me it took a few days to kick in. Towards the end, I ended up needing IV fluids on Fridays to prepare and help me get through the weekend. Seemed no matter how much I was drinking, my body wasn't hanging on to it.
G - thanks so much for checking in on me. I'm doing okay. I'm so extremely grateful to still be cancer free, but I'm still trying to find my new normal which can be hard at times. When do you get those TE's out? Soon I hope!
Lucy - wonderful news that the targeted therapy is working! Sending you many good thoughts and prayers that the nodes are just doing their thing.
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Hi everyone! I'm sorry I can't seem to read everything I've missed, guess I'm just mending still. A HUGE thank- you for all the good wishes and concern! I'm home now-yahoooo! All drains are out but still feel pretty miserable. I can't seem to find a comfortable position but I'm happy to be in my own bed with lots of pillows! No prodding nurses and quiet!
Arlene so happy to see you posting! Chemo is very doable, join your chemo month group and stay here for support!
I'm sorry to be brief, but I need to rest and my attention span, although much better- isn't pre op state yet! Love to all,
Shari
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Great to hear from you, Shari, and so glad you're home in your own bed! Rest up. I'll be thinking of you and sending you healing thoughts!
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Shari good to hear you are back at home and in your own bed. Resting is important so make the most of it and let people wait on you. Sending big hugs.
I had my chemo on a Wednesday and side effects didn't kick in until Friday evening with flu-like symptoms. Saturday and Sunday were a write off and I would start to come right on Monday afternoon which was good as I worked full time all the way through treatment. Rest and trying to stay sane is the key if you don't have to go to work.
Lucy in your pocket with the waiting for news but glad the targeted therapy is doing it's job. Sending big hugs for good news.
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Cocker, Ally Han and G, Thank you All for the chemo day advice
Looks like I will end up with either Thursday or Friday, starting next week. Already picked up my Decadron, Zofran and Compazine...4 brand new, pretty colored, huge water bottles, and 2 wigs, 3 hats and a halo. This Bitch called BC will Not get the Best of Me! I feel a weird sense of calm (just like the night before surgery!) because again, specific plans are in place. My hemoglobin is back up to 10.1, so I am good to go. Having that post-op bleed and then a lousy 6 day cold really wiped me out the first 2 weeks after MX.
Thank you all so much for the advice! Lucy, keep getting good news from your targeted therapy,
Shari--so glad to hear you are home and resting. Don't post, just res and feel better soont!
love, arlene
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Shari, so glad you're home!! Rest rest rest!!
Lucy, good news from you too. Glad to hear it!!
Arlene, I had chemo on Monday's but don't remember feeling bad, just fatigued. I did have some heartburn but Zantac helped. I went out as usual, ate out, etc. I did wash my hands A LOT though and used lots of lotion on my hands and everywhere else for that matter. LOL!! Some say to use non scented soaps and lotions. I just used Dove body wash and regular baby lotion. I had peach fuzz on my head so I used baby shampoo, because it was mild. I also used regular laundry detergent and a regular razor but was very careful. I didn't have to shave often but did about once or twice a week. They said to use an electric razor but it irritated me. They also recommended using a baby tooth brush because they are so soft and you have to be careful not to cut your mouth. I brushed after each meal and at bed time. I also recommend Biotine. Everyone is different, so it's just what you can do well with. I showered in the morning but if we went out and did much I'd shower at night too. That's just personal preference. I had night sweats from being thrown into menopause so a morning shower felt so good. Plus I slept with two dobermans. They were bathed often but still they're dog's. LOL!! They would add to the body heat but they were so sweet I couldn't bear the thought of kicking them out of bed! Make sure you stay moisturized though.
HUGS to everyone. Love you gals!!!
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Question to anyone who knows. My wbc count is 1.5 and my neutophils are .5. I now get weekly blood draws and a neupogen shot. My counts were never high however, I never missed chemo. So, they were n the ok range. I was told radiation really did a number to my bone marrow after chemo and now my counts may take years to come back. Has anyone else had this problem? I am not crazy about being on neupogen for years. I was also informed if I get a temp I must go the the ER quickly.. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Shari glad you are home.
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alhusband thank you
eileen, my white counts were never that low, but I hope someone who has been thru that will chime in soon. Please take care as you will have a hard time fighting off germs. Are you a sanitizer freak like my husband? Please I hope you are able to avoid getting sick till your white counts go back up. Hugs to you
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Meadow= I'm super careful. They told me my biggest issue would be getting a UTI or bacteria in my mouth. NO sharing of foods,utensils,etc. I have totally stopped getting manicures or pedicures. Yes, I wash my hands often and carry hand sanitizer. If I hear anyone is remotely sick I avoid them. Hugs back to you
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Thx for the advice Luvmydobies...I just got my schedule emailed to me and it looks like I ended up with Thursdays, starting 3/26--1 week--yikes! I am stocking up, and hoping for the best! My dog, Augie, 75lb shepherd collie mutt, will only stay on bed or couch with me for 10-15 min. I guess he thinks I give off too much heat...lol
Eileen, I will pray for your WBC's to RISE ... how sucky to go through all of this...be done...and now have this aftereffect. It's almost spring. Maybe your bone marrow can feel the warmth and get those cells going. Hugs sent to you!
arlene
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Greenae
I wish every thing goes smoothly for you and then we all celebrate our many cancerfree years.
Hugs
Hanieh
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Han, did you start already?
Kath
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Eileen, - I had very low counts while on chemo. I was careful, washed hands a lot, ate home, tried to avoid crowds (although i still went shopping when needed, etc) and was also told to call dr or go to ER if temp went over 100.3. I was given a 'red card' for ER which would show that my immune system was compromised and I would have been isolated from other ill patients. Thank goodness, I didnt need the ER or the red card! Hoping you do as well, too!
Shari, - hope you are feeling better and stronger each day!
Arlene, - did you have a port put in? or are able to get infusions through vein? (you may have posted and I missed it?) Wishing you an easy chemo journey!
Hugs to all
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Hi Kath
I have already finished chemo and rads. Actually it s 5 months since my last chemo and 3 months since my last rads. Happily my hair is growing back nicely.
I had had lumpectomy before all these. Now against my oncologist s idea I refused to have dipherline injections for five years as I found no data approving it. Yet I m not completely sure I am right in my decision.Here I want to tell all going through chemo that these days will be over soon and we can continue with our lives.
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Han tagh=Why did he prescribe that? No one has even mentioned that to me.
Thanks for all the concerns about my WBC counts. As I said I was told years to they may never recover. So,I'm just super careful but, I am living my life
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Dear eileenpg
That is also a big question that my oncologist s answer could not convince me. As I told before may be he is conducting a study on me.
And don t worry about your WBC count. My family doctor who is realy knowledgeable told me not to worry too much about my low WBC count as considering other measures of my blood this low WBC can take care of my body though we should we extra vigilant about our health.
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I love you Han Tagh!!
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Eileene, I'm sorry if I missed this but has the doctor mentioned any safe supplements you can take to try to boost the white blood cells? I read somewhere that folic acid, garlic and green tea can help. I'd mention this to the doctor before trying though if you haven't already. I assume you need to be careful about eating certain fruits, veggies, lettuce, etc like we did during chemo. My Onc told me not to eat fruit you couldn't peel and to eat canned or frozen fruit, and make sure to wash veggies really well due to bacteria being on them. So I mostly ate bananas, oranges and cantaloupe and frozen steamed veggies to avoid contamination. My husband would even wash the outside of the fruit with antibacterial soap before cutting into it. So sorry you're having this issue! HUGS!!!
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Luvmy dobies= I was told to do really good mouth care. Which I have always done. Other than that neither of my MO had any suggestions. MY RO is totally against supplements. However, I may read up on folic acid. I am super careful with my diet. I do not share food and no salad bars or those barrels at the food store. I also have to watch my salt intake as I had that side effect from taxotere. I gained 17 lbs of fluid. Finally back to my old self. Took 12 weeks to shed. Whenever I eat salt my left foot and ankle sweel up. CHEMO IS SUCH A DRAG!!!!!!!!!0 -
Eileen, I'm just sorry you're dealing with these after effects! We just never know what these treatments do to our insides. They're harsh for sure and it just takes some longer to recover. It doesn't mean anything is wrong. It's just another annoyance to deal with. Ugh! I'm praying your cell counts go up soon!! Hang in there dear, and we're here for you always.
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Cocker I knew the studies on Metformin were underway...and my wife IS on it. I just wondered if there had been and feedback yet that it's working or not working or anything else. I guess not yet.
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My onc was aware of some drs prescribing metformin, and said that it has shown good results in the lab, with rats, but did not want me to start on it because of possible side effects. (Although the side effects that she mentioned didnt seem so bad!)
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Another NYCG= My MO said the same thing. I opted not to go on it due to SE.
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I just started Metformin about 3 weeks ago. I have no side effects except it's giving my migraines. It doesn't help that my allergies are kicking in, but the Metformin is definitely more the culprit. I pretty much always have a headache and about an hour after I take it, it turns into a full blown migraine. Not fun, but I'm trying to push through and hope it's a temporary thing. I'm taking 500 mg with dinner and trying to work my way up to 500 mg 3 x day then eventually 850 mg 2 x day.
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Ally
My expanders are sadly both out. Infections happened within 1 month of each other. Dec bmx, Jan right side infection, Feb left side infection.
I'm flat right now but going to Physical therapy to try and soften the scar tissue that is forming while I heal. On the topic of Metformin: you had a pcr and onc still wants you to take it? Can you tell me more about this since I also had a pcr. Should I be inquiring about this??
Eileen praying for your counts and wisdom for your onc. Sending lots of love and hugs to you.
Shari continuing in prayer for you as you rest & heal.
Arlene thinking of you as you prepare for chemo. You are in all of our thoughts. You can do it. Medicine in, Cancer crushed and destroyed!!!! ☺️
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SA8PG - I am so sorry about your complications.
I hope physical therapy helps with the scar tissue and you can get back on track soon. Based on the studies, I went to my onc about the Metformin. She said the excitement about it is starting to slow as the data isn't as promising as it once was, but okay'ed me to take it. She wouldn't prescribe it though (I don't think she wanted to manage it), so I had my OBGYN who's acting as my PCP right now rx it. I did have a PCR, but I feel like any insurance can't hurt. If these migraines don't let up though I won't be able to take it. 0 -
SA8PG,Ally,luvmydobies=Thanks for all the kind words. I look at this as if this is my worse side effect I can live with it.
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Hi everybody
As I was reading the posts, I was wondering whether Metformin can help tnbc.
And I have another question too. Are double mastectomy and ovary removal regular prophylactic strategies for all young bc patients? Here in my country my doctors do not recommend them and they believe as I had no family history my lumpectomy, chemo and rads were all needed for treatment.
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