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Calling all TNs

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Comments

  • honeytagh
    honeytagh Member Posts: 447
    edited March 2015

    Hi everybody

    Lucy I am waiting for your good news. Please keep touch.

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited March 2015

    good morning everyone. I finally got some decent sleep last night- which also happens to be the first night without antibiotics- coincidence?

    Lucy, thinking positive thoughts for you!

    Arlene you can do this! Were you driving yourself to chemo? I know everyone is different and their chemos are different but when I was on the FEC part, there was no way I could drive, for some reason I felt very fuzzy brained and tired. You may want to have someone drive you for the first one to see how you react.

    I have my first follow up apt. with plastics today. I have to ask about the 'bulge ' I'm feeling at the side of my new breast. I'm guessing I'll need revision surgery to correct the very flattened nipple area and it will be nice to get this plastic bandage/covering off. My underarm is extremely sore I'm guessing from SNB but feels raw as well. I guess this is progress although it feels at a snails pace!

    Thinking of everyone and hope for good results and easy procedures!

    Hugs, Shari

  • simplelife4real
    simplelife4real Member Posts: 341
    edited March 2015

    Shari, I'm glad to hear you got a good night's sleep. Getting that "plastic wrap" off will be wonderful! My underarm area felt extremely "raw" after my ALND. I think it is from the nerve damage. It felt like I had a severe 3rd degree burn and I had to wear soft clothing inside out so the seams wouldn't be so irritating for about three weeks. If you are experiencing something like that, I'm here to say that it does get better! Hang in there.

  • allydp
    allydp Member Posts: 361
    edited March 2015

    Lucy - yes, it's just a blood draw. I believe it took about 2 weeks to get results. In my situation I had been referred to a genetic counselor who was concerned I might have a different gene called p53 (testing for this gene is included in the BRCAPlus panel), which increases risks for many more cancers than just breast and ovarian. Normally they don't like to give the results over the phone, but when she called to tell me the results were in and schedule the follow up, I asked her if she could at least tell me if the p53 was negative and she ended up telling me the full results. We all kind of knew I would come back positive for something given my family history, so it wasn't a big surprise and I think this is why she felt okay breaking protocol. I tell you this only because you might have to wait a little longer for results if they won't tell you over the phone. And as others have said, I'm also sending you many good thoughts and prayers for your node being just a node!

    Arlene - so happy to hear you're moving along in recovery and driving again! Just remember to take it slowly and don't overdo it...but enjoy the freedom! I'll also be thinking of you as you switch over to chemo mode and gear up for your first infusion. Let us know if you have any questions!

    Shari - great to hear from you and glad you finally got a good night's sleep! That usually makes such a world of difference. Good luck at your appointment today. Keep us posted. :)

    Hi to everyone else! Hope you're all having a peaceful, good week. :)


  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited March 2015

    Thanks Simple, that is exactly what it feels like! I don't remember feeling that with the first one, but I definitely feel raw with this!


  • Luvmydobies
    Luvmydobies Member Posts: 476
    edited March 2015

    Lucy, I'm praying you get good results from the biopsy. Let us know!

    Arlene, thinking of you as you start chemo this week and praying for that as well.

    Shari, good to hear from you and glad you slept good last night! Hang in there!

    Praying for everyone here and hope everyone has a blessed day!!!

  • SpiritBlessing
    SpiritBlessing Member Posts: 552
    edited March 2015

    Morning Warriors...on our way to the big city of Seattle. Thank you all for your support and words of encouragement. So appreciate it and prayers are being felt for sure as I have calm and peace. I will touch base as soon as I can.

    Have a blessed day with little to no SE or pain. Lucy

  • anothernycgirl
    anothernycgirl Member Posts: 821
    edited March 2015

    Sending positive thoughts to Shari, Lucy and everyone else here!

    Arlene, - you will be fine tomorrow! Avoid heavy or greasy foods (I ate a lot of eggs and toast, also some fish and chicken, etc. Water, ginger ale and snapple were always good, too!) I agree that you should have someone else do the driving the first round so that you see how you feel!

    Hugs to all

  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 246
    edited March 2015

    Thank you, My Friends!

    For all the great advice, and warm thoughts and good wishes. I have been running around the past few days...trying to clean up house and stock up on last minute supplies. Just when I am off all meds, feeling SO much better, driving and drain-free...BANG! Chemo begins . But hey...gonna KILL every cell that can be floating around. I am So Very Happy tonight because my BS called this am and the board reviewed my case and decided... I Do Not Need Rads! I hope anyone awaiting results also gets Good News...and I hope all are feeling good, or at least better. Again, cannot thank you all enough for being here!

    love, arlene

  • SpiritBlessing
    SpiritBlessing Member Posts: 552
    edited March 2015

    Evening Sisters,

    Whew...what a whirlwind of a day. So the results of the biopsy shows the lymph node is the same TNBC...so God will take me on another journey. Not the news I wanted to hear at all. So for now the plan is I am off the study trial that I had been on. My MO says it's been really good for me and has done a great job but now it has failed and its time to move on to another treatment. She wants me to take a couple of weeks off to clear out system and is recommending a few options. One is Xeloda which is a pill. The other is Eribulin infusion chemo which is on a study trial as well. Anyone have experience with these?

    God will be with me on this journey too. It is discouraging I must admit and it makes me sad. We are going tomorrow for our camping trip and it is supposed to be a nice weekend...thank God! It will be nice to take a break for. My treatment and pills. But it will also be very odd to not have my pill to pray over. The doc said I can take 2 or 3 weeks and it would be fine and I will make a decision on what I need to do. I will be praying for God to give me wisdom and clarity in directing my decision. She gave me some info on the drugs and so I will be doing some reading after we get back on Sunday.

    I plan to spend some time this weekend connecting with my soul and spirit and getting back on track and grounded. Today was tough but I know it won't last long. I have to keep my eyes on God and stay focused and positive.

    Lucy

  • honeytagh
    honeytagh Member Posts: 447
    edited March 2015

    Hi Lucy

    I know this can be really tough but you can manage it. I m sure everything will be okay soon. You are always in my heart and prayers. I send my love and prayers to you.

  • honeytagh
    honeytagh Member Posts: 447
    edited March 2015

    Hi Lucy

    I know this can be really tough but you can manage it. I m sure everything will be okay soon. You are always in my heart and prayers. I send my love and prayers to you.

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited March 2015

    Lucy, prayers and hugs hon. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this but feel your grace, inner beauty/strength and faith will see you through with the right decisions. I'm happy you will be going camping and gathering strength and calm. I'm sorry I have no knowledge to share with your chemo choices but am sure someone will offer some soon. Lots of love,

    Shari

  • Luvmydobies
    Luvmydobies Member Posts: 476
    edited March 2015

    Lucy, I'm so sorry you didn't get the results we were all hoping for. I'll continue to pray for you. Please keep us posted! Enjoy your camping trip!

    Arlene, thinking of you today and praying as you start chemo. Let us know how you did.

  • meadow
    meadow Member Posts: 998
    edited March 2015

    Lucy, I am sorry you are going thru this, but I agree your attitude is the bestmedicine ever. Being in a calm, healing state of mind, plus the power prayers, and of course modern medicine, is the perfect 1,2,3 punch to kick cancer. Thinking of you and please enjoy your camping!

    Arlene, I hope chemo today goes smoothly. It is very do-able I found,hope you do too!

  • SA8PG
    SA8PG Member Posts: 280
    edited March 2015

    Lucy

    Sending prayers your way. Keep the faith my pink sister. This is just another part of your story (your testimony of faith). Keep that bright light shining. I have never met you but just from what you have written and share you inspire me and others to keep pressing towards the mark. Thank you for that!!!! God bless you. :)))

    Arlene

    Prayers as well for you on treatment day. Rest.... Please update us when you can. You can check the box for treatment one being done. Yippie!!!!

    Have a great weekend everyone. I'm gonna take my 8 little ones to six flags. Lol. Yes I'm crazy lol. Making memories.....

    Hugs

  • eileenpg
    eileenpg Member Posts: 431
    edited March 2015

    Lucy= I wish you the best. My thoughts are with you, Enjoy your weekend off!!!

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited March 2015

    Lucy you are one amazing warrior. thank you for being you, and for sharing you with us. You will get through this with HIM, and your loved ones

    Kath

  • candi07
    candi07 Member Posts: 77
    edited March 2015

    Lucy, you are in my prayers.

  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 246
    edited March 2015

    Lucy, you are in my prayers. Enjoy your camping trip, and you can get all over this LN when you return. Keep the faith!

    My infusion went well! HGB back up to 10.8 after the hemorrhage, so I was good to go. Just took forever! All the pre-meds...but if they are minimizing the SE's, I will sit in that recliner without complaining. Had RD, and SW see me. who then sent in the shrink. So, while I am Miss Chatty in overdrive because I have never taken decadron, and am now on it for 2 days...Shrink decides I should be on Prozac or Zoloft or Klonopin...to help with my anxiety. I kinda feel it was an unfair eval of me. I mean during my first chemo? On Decadron...he's lucky I wasn't shopping online while he was talking to me. LOL. So does anyone have some thoughts on these meds? I am not thrilled with any of them, don't like the SE's. But maybe one of them can calm me down...I tend to cry more, feel anxious before each new experience...but I believe my feelings are justified...this BC sucks, at times! Anyway, Maybe I'll give Prozac a try?

    sending warm thoughts to all, thank you for thinking of me,

    Love,arlene

  • eileenpg
    eileenpg Member Posts: 431
    edited March 2015

    greenae= I have always been on high speed. Decadron put me into overdrive.The day of chemo I was flying with so much energy. Don't know if that would be the best day to evaluate me. One of my close friends told me they thought chemo would slow me down and make me act like everyone else in the world. My MO gave me a script for lorazepam 1 mg for anxiety and sleep. I took it at bedtime a few times. Curious thought does everyone see a psychiatrist where you are going for treatment? Best of luck. Oh, I shopped on line all night during chemo when I could not sleep. Now own the same shoes in 7 colors.

  • Luvmydobies
    Luvmydobies Member Posts: 476
    edited March 2015

    Arlene, I had to be put on Remeron and Klonopin in the middle of treatment because my anxiety increased a lot after my third bout of C Diff. It was nice at the time because it helped me calm down but I have to admit it was extremely hard coming off of the meds, especially the Klonopin. Klonopin, Ativan, Valuum, and Xanax are all Benzodiazepine's. They can be addictive but are very helpful at small doses under a doctor's supervision. Although my psychiatrist tapered me off of Klonopin slowly I still had withdrawals but I had to keep getting higher doses because the small dose became ineffective, so I think that's the main reason I had such a hard time. I was like a zombie at the higher dose so I wanted off of it. BUT, with all this said, you have to do what you and your doc think is best. I did use Ativan at night to help me sleep and it was easy to come off of that so you may give that a try. I've tried some antidepressants and haven't had good experiences due to side effects. I'm apparently one of the few who gets the weird side effects. Glad the first treatment is done!!!


  • allydp
    allydp Member Posts: 361
    edited March 2015

    Lucy - I'm so sorry you're going through this. I agree with others that your amazing attitude will carry you through. Sending you lots of prayers and you decide on a treatment plan.

  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 246
    edited March 2015

    Thanks, Ladies for your help and ideas. I think I am leaning toward trying the Prozac, but I need a few Xanax for MRIs, and assorted other tests I despise, and the Ativan for instant calm and sleep. I will see what he thinks. I am a little afraid of the klonopin, and the extra SEs from all of them!

    Eileen, I'll bet ypour shoes are nice! I love shoes!

    Ally, That CDiff must have been awful, and I. too hate the zombie feeling. Prozac shdn't do that, I hope. Waiting for a call back from my ONCO NP, to discuss before I call shrink back. Have a headache and just took more decadron, Zofran and Colace...Neulasta injection at 6p...blaaah.

    Thank you, Ladies!

    arlene

  • anothernycgirl
    anothernycgirl Member Posts: 821
    edited March 2015

    Arlene,- I took all the anti-nausea meds after the first chemo, and yes, - had headache from them. Did you get Emend? That is the best, and I relied on that almost entirely after the first chemo. ( I did take whatever they gave me at the infusion, - decadron i think, but once home I avoided those meds. ) I also found Ativan to be terrific for my nerves, and for sleep, and even as an anti-nausea. Even 1/2 pill helped during the day.

    If you are going for neulasta, - TAKE CLARITIN!! (one 24 hour, 10 mg) It helped me TREMENDOUSLY.

    Lucy, - I hope your camping weekend is relaxing and wonderful!

    Shari, and all here, - I send hugs and as always, BE WELL wishes!

  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 246
    edited March 2015

    Thx, anotha, I drank some coffee, headache a bit better. Plan to drink 80 oz of water a day and 20-30 min on bike. At infusion the y gave me decadron, 20mg, Pepcid, emend and benadyrl, the TC. Had to take decadron and Zofran this am. I sspoke with my MO...the heck with the Prozac for now. I seemed nutz yesterday because I was exhausted and getting first chemo! so happy Mo felt same...love her. I like the Ativan prn best.

    Thx for your help!

    love, arlene

  • KJSUN
    KJSUN Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2015

    SpiritBlessing, I was born and raised in the Seattle area and wish I were there now! Visit Pike Place Market for me. I know you must be in good hands with all the facilities and research centers in the area. I am sorry the trial you were on didn't work out. My cousin and another relative by marriage have been treated out there and had very positive outcomes. We are a bit more limited here in South Florida, but I drive 3 hours to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. I had my first surgery there in 2014 and everything went well. I never expected to have to do this again, but here I go. I have my DMX April 6th. Getting really nervous and to be honest, scared. My first breast cancer was estrogen receptive and I didn't feel bad, I just found the lymph nodes in the shower. This is much different. I haven't felt well for months and am not as strong as I was before. I am starting to fall and just getting weaker. I don't know if that is common. I hope whatever chemo they decide on is something I can tolerate well. Sorry to just jump in like this, I guess I am getting anxious for my surgery and not getting much sleep. I was glad to see you were going camping for the weekend, being outdoors in the Pacific NW always felt like it was healing to my soul. I wish you the best for the next course of treatment they start you on.

    Katherine

  • eileenpg
    eileenpg Member Posts: 431
    edited March 2015


    KJSUN= Hugs and wishing you the best on April 6th. Sorry you had to do a repeat preformance of BC. UGH!!

  • Luvmydobies
    Luvmydobies Member Posts: 476
    edited March 2015

    KJ, so sorry you are here but don't apologize for being here! We welcome everyone like a big family. It sucks to be part of this but we are here for each other. So we will be here for you too! I pray every day for this "family". XOXOXO!!!

  • Cocker_Spaniel
    Cocker_Spaniel Member Posts: 1,188
    edited March 2015

    Lucy so sorry to hear about the node but glad you are going camping to take your mind off things for a while. Sending heaps of prayers and warm hugs to you. 

    Eileen I never saw a psychiatrist and wouldn't have wanted to. Just  knew this was something I had to go through to get that fecken cancer out of my body and the quicker the better.  I felt so much better after my operation that at least it wasn't there anymore but the thought of chemo scared the living daylights out of me.  Then again looking back it went so quickly and rads even more so. 

    Katherine you needed to jump in here and you are very welcome.  This site is nothing but support, concern, love and prayers all mixed in together.  I do think you need to see your oncologist urgently though regarding the "starting to fall" and "weakness" and the fact you haven't felt well for a long time. Sending big hugs and praying that he can put your mind at rest.

    Shellbeach7 welcome to you as well.  You are just as beautiful and brave as anyone else on here.  It's a great place for support and love.  Hopefully your generic testing will come back ok and your surgery goes well.  Will be thinking of you and sending warm hugs.

    Shari nothing like a good nights sleep to help you cope better.  Cancer sux and always will.