TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
Comments
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Bren, interesting to hear that. I haven't gotten bloodwork since I finished chemo - is there some reason why you still do? I do know that as soon as Chloe went to her first day of daycare in October, she brought home a nasty cold that neither she nor I could shake for at least three weeks while my husband didn't succumb at all! I asked my MO but she thought my counts would be back to normal by now. I'm okay with speculating though if it means not getting poked :S0 -
Marlene, I got blood work before every Herceptin infusion.0 -
Marlene, during chemo, I got blood work every three weeks when I saw the MO, sometimes just CBC, sometimes CBC and blood chemistry. During radiation I got CBC every week. I have just 3 more electron boosts, then done with rads. Yea!!! Visit with MO Monday had CBC, blood chemistry, and vitamin D test. I'll just be taking Herceptin every three weeks for 6 more months, see the MO every 6 or 9 weeks and have blood work each visit with the MO.
Getting close to the end of rads! Radiated boobie is tan, has three small areas that are peeling, including nipple, and lots of very tender scar tissue, including around SNB. All in all, it wasn't as bad as I feared. I think the electron boost is making the nipple area more tender. See the RO Monday, then in one month for followup. May get a pet scan some time after that. Not sure about that.
Most of the chemo SEs are clearing up. No more watery eyes. Yea! Hair is beginning to come back. It's about 1/2 inch long, but, sigh, it's still just straight, gray and mouse colored--no exciting change in hair texture or color. Finger and toe nails look horrible with Beau's lines and peely ridges. May lose one big toe nail. It's loose about half way down. Anyone know how to keep from getting infection under the nail? Or how to keep it from coming off completely? Only real bothersome SE is neuropathy in fingertips and feet. Also, had a DEXA scan last week that showed "mild osteopenia." Starting calcium and D supplements and gentle walking until neuropathy resolves (I hope--MO says it may resolve in a month or so or may not). My health conscious son is going to help me get back into shape--healthier eating, supplements, exercise.
Except for the Herceptin and Arimidex, I'm done with treatments on Monday. So far, only mild SEs from Arimidex. Keep your fingers crossed! Feels good to get all the yucky stuff behind me and start getting my life back to normal--well, as normal as one can get after the big C. Thank you all for your encouragement and knowledge. I couldn't have done it without you...0 -
Marlene: I finished chemo in June 2011, Rads in August 2011 and was going to onco for checkup and complete bloodwork every 3 months, now I'm at every 4 months, then I'll change to every 6 months. She's very cautious and at first I hated it but I'm good with it now. I have a Triple Negative friend who didn't go back for a year and her counts were all messed up. I think had she gone back sooner, they would have caught it sooner and got her back on track. All doctors do it so differently.
SpecialK: Did you see Target (and hopefully others follow) removing hair products with the Cocamide (spelling) from the shelves now that they are linking it to cancer.
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Arlene - thanks! I had not seen that, and I linked an article (with a pic) about it. If you look at the picture it is actually the ingredient after the cocamide DEA that I am allergic to - the cocamidopropyl betaine, but it is also a coconut derivative that creates lather - so I am guessing it isn't good either! Glad I stopped using it a long time ago, but it is shocking how many shampoos have these ingredients in them, and because they are close to the beginning of the ingredients list, it means they have a lot!0 -
Karen three more boosts and YAY!!!! Happy for you.
Much love to all.0 -
karen - make sure your toenail is cut as short as you can to avoid any leverage lifting. If it is lifted further back, so that there is space under it, you might consider doing a foot bath in a bleach and water solution periodically - this will help control bacteria and fungus. I had a fingernail that just continued lifting as it grew out - I finally had to have it completely removed and it took about six months to completely grow out.
marlene - I saw my MO every three months for a year and he did blood work at every appointment and an annual PET scan. Now I see him every six months and still have blood work done, CBC/CMP/Vit D/CA 27/29. Don't know if he will ask for a PET this year or not.0 -
Marlene, I see my on every 3 months yet and get cbc, cmp, and mag. Test when I go. Got the same every chemo and when I got Herceptin only I got cbc. . I go in for port flushes every 6 weeks. But because of my low mag levels it's more like every 4 weeks and lately every 2 weeks
Like today I just got another magnesium infusion again. So i see the nurses and the PA way to often! LOL. Much love to all.0 -
Karen I never got any infections in any of my nails (they all lifted. Lost several toenails, one big one had to be removed.) Try not to traumatize them though. My toenail got so lifted that when I walked it would push back on the nail bed. We eventually removed it but the nail bed was damaged. Nail does not lie flat. Most of my fingernails didn't go flat either. Probably because I was typing here too much.
I did hear that vinegar solutions would also take care of bacteria but I don't know if you need to dilute it.0 -
YAY...DONE WITH RADS TODAY....GOT TO RING THE BELL......
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Congratulations, Chickadee! hope you rang that bell, and didnt let go!0 -
Yipee Dana- Congrats...0 -
chickad - yay!0 -
Happy Dance for ChickaD..0 -
Thanks my friends...feels so good!
Lol Miss Lago
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ChickaD!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! Congrats my dear!!!
Vinegar works but the easiest and cheapest antibacterial is: salt water. Soak in saltwater. Make the water as hot as you can add salt. It can sting if you have open wounds but it works..0 -
yay ChickaD! So wonderful!0 -
My toenails have ridges and are so discolored-kind of purple...from chemo I guess. I'm not sure what to do with them. Should I soak them?0 -
lynn - if they are not lifted you just have to wait for them to grow out. Soaking will not change discolored or ridged nails, it is for anything funky underneath lifted ones. How recently did you finish Taxotere?0 -
Ive been gone a bit, but hope everyone is doing well. congrats to those finishing and those almost finishing.
On nails, mine are still not right. Very ridged and kind of peely, and just when they start to look really good, a couple of them will lift at the top a bit. It is weird. doesn't appear to be a fungus, but I havent had them test the nails recently either. Makes me crazy.0 -
I finished Taxotere about 8 weeks ago. They look atrocious! Maybe I'll just put some dark nail polish on them and forget about it! They seem to be taking a long time to grow out, I wonder if the Herceptin is slowing the growth-I heard that it slows hair growth.0 -
SpecialK: I think I forgot to add the DEA after the cocamide. Seems the DEA is the BAD dude.
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Thanks Special K for the herceptin side effects. I was wondering why I still have the big D. Nowhere near as bad as during chemo, but still pretty unpleasant. And my nose has just started bleeding again, probably because of herceptin and cold weather. I only have 2 more to go, as I calculate, and then I'm done.
I'm struggling with some low grade depression, I think. I am so worried that I caused this cancer and that I'm not doing enough to prevent a recurrence. I love wine and cheese and don't eat enough veggies and fruit. I'm overweight. I have to start exercising. I feel overwhelmed and guilty like I deserved this for being an ugly American.
I have the blues and just want to sleep. I think I need to start some sort of therapy. Anyone go through this funk? I don't feel like I have a future...0 -
pBrain - we cannot blame ourselves. Ever. I was miss granola crunchy, slightly underweight even when soaking wet, only drank occasionally, reasonably active and I still got it. I know someone who had a family history of bc, ate like crap her whole life, drank, never exercised, was always a bit overweight, and she's pushing 80 . . .
As for living to reduce our chance of recurrence-- we have to do what we feel comfortable doing, and focus on living rather than focusing on not dying.
*Hugs* but at the end if the day, if you feel like you need to talk to someone, Do! Does your MO or hospital have oncology social workers? If so they're a great place to start.
Congrats ChickaD on finishing rads!
My nails, too, are still not all better (5 mo pfc) I'm still keeping them trimmed short, but I have one that keeps lifting at the tip. Sigh.
One more option for infection prevention is tea tree oil. The nurses at my MOs office actually recommended swabbing our nails with it. It's a great anti fungal.0 -
ChickaD so happy for you !! Congratulations
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(((((Pbrain)))))0 -
Arlene - I figured it out! I am glad someone is finally looking at the crap that is in these products! One of my gripes about the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is its close ties with Estee Lauder - they make carcinogenic cosmetics for pete's sake!
pbrain - you did not cause this - never think that! It is common to become anxious and/or depressed as you near the end of active treatment. It is not a coincidence that you are almost to the end of Herceptin and feeling this way, your safety blanket is going away! I participated in a study with the U of S FL, a mindfulness based stress reduction study - quantified with blood/saliva samples to measure cortisol - it was aimed at breast cancer patients at the end of active treatment. It was great because it helped me see that I had to let go of worry and focus on the now - no good stressing about the past because you can't change it - can't worry about the future because you can't control it! Just be here now! To the extent that exercise, a good diet, less stress, etc., may or may not have an effect on recurrence - it does help to live in as healthy a way as you can, because you feel that you are doing good things for your body and mind. Take baby steps, set reachable goals. I use www.myfitnesspal.com and I like it a lot - it helps with nutritional analysis, tracks calories and exercise - very user friendly. Also, if you have the Livestrong program at a YMCA near you they provide a personal trainer and 12 weeks of free membership for cancer patients. On the Big D front - are you taking a probiotic? I had the Big D into Herceptin and one of the onc nurses said to start a probiotic - made a world of difference.0 -
Pbrain..If my calculations are right I just have 3 more Herceptin. I've been feeling a little like you do too. Maybe SpecialK is right. We are nearing the end of our safety blanket. I need to lose some weight too, I just can't get out of this funk. We just need to get motivated girl!! I think we all wonder what we did to get BC. It comes in all shapes and sizes so there seems to be no rhyme or reason there. Oh, and it seems to be the gift that keeps on giving! Ha. Stay strong and do what you can. Like SpecialK said, baby steps. I' m getting ready to start taking mine, how about you?0 -
Pbrain please don't blame yourself , you didn't cause/deserve this , no one does. I know women that eat healthy ,exercise , no family hx and had BC. Exercise and trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle are great but come with no guarantees . Do what feels right for you , what makes you feel good about you .
Pbrain you are a beautiful American !!!!
Hard to do for a lot of us but try not to have recurrence in the forefront of your thoughts. You're approaching the end of tx and its scary . Many of us during times in our txs go through some type of overwhelming feelings , very normal .This is some hard (expletive ) we are going through , it wouldn't be normal if we didn't have any emotion about it .
Anyway I wish there was something I could do or say to make you feel better , I hope you do so . Feel free to pm me if you need to talk .
{{{{hugs}}}}
Health n Happiness to you all !!!!0
