March 2011 chemo-lounge
Comments
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Fluffqueen-Good news it's not cancer!!! Are you still nervous since they don't know what it is?
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Fluff,
So glad to hear your news! Hope you can relax for awhile!
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Fluff - what a relief!!! So glad...I am sure you are a lot more relaxed after getting that news.
Husker - good to hear from you!
Dee Dee - glad you are done with the big "H"
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Colo...yes I am still nervous...wondering exactly what the mri shows. Does it show if there is something around the lymph node, or just in the node. However, nothing showed on the ultrasound.
I am just trying to go with it for now.0 -
Hugs to you, Fluff. Cancer sucks and so does the unknown of it.
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My onc just emailed me and said she had no problem putting me on Metformin. Is any of my other March chemo gals on this? I am excited..
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ksmatthews, what is the Metformin for?
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Lily - Thanks for the info about the stiff joints, I was wondering how long it would take to feel relief. Since the last "H" treatment it seems my joints are stiffer and hurt more than they ever have with the past treatments and i am definitely more exhausted. I have to laugh at myself because i move around like a 90 year old woman. I think this last dose of "H" was stronger than the others. At any rate I look forward to the time my joints will stop aching and i will have more energy. How did your dad's b'day party go? Wow you cooked and baked quite a bit..hopefully your brothers weren't to exhausted from bringing the sodas and making sure parking was adequate..lol
Fluffqueen - Glad the ultra sound and mri showed no cancer. What a relief, like Penny said her lump was scar tissue, hopefully that's what your's is too.
Penny - I love the backgound of your pic where did you take it?
MaxineO - I have an appointment with my MO tomorrow..I'm gonna ask him about Zometa.
Maria - what a lovely toast i "ditto" everything you said.
((((Hugs)))
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Metformin is actually a diabetic drug that they think is helping in no reoccurances! I am on the TNBC group and alot of those woman get it, I think maybe they think it helps TNBC patients. I am super excited!
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ks...I asked my onc about metaformin, but he said no. However, I'm on the TN thread too and have seen all the comments. I get my bloodwork this week for 9 month (9!) onc check next week. My regular doc ordered Vitamin D levels checked (started that 6 months ago) as well as cholesterol, plus the usual panel of everything else. I am pretty sure it will be high-ish, it usually is. So then will suggest the metaformin for that!
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Ksmathews...I was all set to be part of the study when they realized my tumor was a smidge too small. I showed my pcp the study and he had no problem prescribing it either. I do not run it through insurance as it is free at our local grocery store and only $4 at Walmart.
In reading all the study info, I think it is good for anyone. The onc at the med center said they believe that it prevents cancer from feeding off the sugar in the cells or something along those lines. I would have to hunt up my info again. She really believes there is something to it, although she said it would be interesting to do a study of those that are significantly overweight versus those that are not. She said since many diabetics are overweight, it would interest her to see if the metformin had a more significant effect.
I am not trying to generalize anyone who is overweight so dont get mad....I could stand to lose a few. That was her thought process as the studies progressed. In the info that I received, it noted that out of a few thousand diabetics with breast cancer, they noticed that the ones on metformin had a much lower recurrence than those on another drug, but she said they did not monitor body type.
On the initial papers, I had to fill out an extensive diet and lifestyle form, and they said I would have to complete a new one every few months.0 -
UGH! My eyelashes on the right eye are falling out again. This is the 4th time. Here's what they look like if you are looking at me. -- ---- I have a big gaping whole in them and they'll stay like that for a week or two and then they'll all fall out. Anyone else have continuous loss of lashes?
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Mine have not all fallen out at one time again but they thin every few months. They are thinning again right now. Grrrr!! Enough already!!!!
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My primary doc prescribed metformin to me back in September, she said my sugar level was high 117....but never got the prescript filled, guess i'm gonna get it filled ASAP.
I saw my MO today he said all my numbers were good and I don't have to see him again for three months. It's kinda scary to be on my own now and not having to take some form of chemo every three weeks, but i am thankful everything is going well and that part is behind me.
Now if i can just get these 21 extra chemo pounds off...i've gained 3 pounds in three weeks. For some reason the pounds keep on coming..and coming..and coming......................
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Well I am not part of a study just asked my onc to research it, she just emailed me and said she had no problem prescribing it as long as I new it was not a for sure thing to prevent reoccurance. I def. could use some help to lose some weight. Think I will pick up the script tomorrow!
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Chiming in on lash thinning. Over the last ten days, I have noticed eyelashes on my cheeks periodically. No gaping holes though.
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I'm back!!! Sorry for not posting while in Florida, but was having such a great time with the horses, DH, brother and sister-in law that I just didn't want to think about cancer for a while.
My MRI is tomorrow morning, and then I will be seeing my MO in the afternoon and he will give me the results. I don't know what the spot is on my bone scan, but I am convinced it's not cancer. The pain in my arm and shoulder is slooooowly getting better. I think getting off tamoxifen and getting thyroid replacement is making the difference. I was unaware that hypothyroidism can cause so many terrible things: myalgia, depression, fatigue. I have been weepy and tired, but am improving with time.
Hormone tests show I am officially post menopausal, so I fully expect my MO to put me on Arimidex or something similar. Yuck.
And Colodisneylover, my eyelashes are falling out again too. At least I have hair, but have decided to leave it short and grey for now.
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Hi Jules - glad you had a good holiday. its a good sign that the shoulder pain is getting better, fingers crossed for tomorrow.
I have been on Arimidex since August now, and yes I am much stiffer than I was, but nothing like as bad as some of the stuff you read on it. I just have to make sure to stretch alot, and make myself exercise.
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Welcome back, Jules, and good luck with MRI and appt. I'm sure it will be all good! I had blood work today for my onc appt next week. It will be my 9-mo post chemo appt. hopefully it will be routine, but still a little nervous. Being triple negative I don't get the Armidex or Tamoxifen type drugs. Good news/ bad news I guess. I am also stiff and have some joint pain. Don't know what he will suggest, if anything. Nothing excruciating, don't even take Motrin. This will be the the first time I've seen him since LE dx and trmt. I need to get back to the walking routine. Have gained 7 pounds sfter losing 20 during chemo..had kept off until the holidays. SIGH. So much WORK to stay healthy and still not a sure thing. But I know I would feel better!!
Be sure to let us know how it goes. I don't have school Friday so am looking forward to that! Hope you all have a great day and restful, sunshiny weekend!!0 -
Good news. MRI confirms no cancer to my humerus, just some arthritic changes in my shoulder (which has never bothered me). No explanation for the pain in the muscles of my arm and shoulder, but it's slowly subsiding, so that's good. The MRI was quite an ordeal. My appointment was for 8:45, and I didn't get out of there til 12:15. Over 2 1/2 hours on the MRI table, plus delays getting started...pure misery.
MO is starting me on Femara. My DH had heard horror stories from an acquaintance about Arimidex, so to ease his fears, my MO, his NP and me decided to try Femara first (after my failed attempt at living with the side effects of Tamoxifen). They explained they all have side effects, everyone's different,you just keep trying one til you find one you can tolerate. MO told DH it's absolutely essential that I take something to prevent recurrence because of 7 positive nodes. MO says the Femara is just as important for me as the chemo was. Hoping DH is now convinced, and I find the side effects minimal.
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Jules - I am so pleased, I can empathise about the MRI though - I hated the MRI, seriously claustrophobic, and then all that waiting. Its brilliant that its nothing nasty.
I think your MO is right - I certainly feel I need to do whatever possible with that 7 node thing hanging over me. I was dreading Arimidex, way too many horror stories, maybe I have just been lucky, side effects are not that bad. Hopefully the Femara will be the same for you.
DeeDee - the picture was taken at Sandy Cape Tasmania, miles of golden Sand and nothing else. Drove down the beach for 20 miles and camped behind a sand dune
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Jules- I am relieved to hear that it's nothing. Sorry about the MRI. I think my first breast MRI was my lowest point on the cancer ride.
DeeDee- my MO said zometa would be a good idea, but because it is not 'standard of care' yet, she is checking on insurance coverage.
Penny- I hope you have some more adventures planned! We are taking a family trip to Prague later this month. My daughters are most excited about the plane ride!
I am on tamoxifen and zoladex, and I have certainly noticed some joint pain. Nothing bad at all, though. I hobble a bit more when I get up from being seated for a long time. The hot flashes, though, are truly miserable. From what I understand, I could go on another prescrip for that, but I'm really bummed to need so many meds to counteract other meds' side effects.
I am going to attempt to get a haircut today...my first since getting new hair. I look an awful lot like a poodle right now and need some shape to this hair.
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Girls I need some advice..I have had a cold/sinus drainage for about a month. With this I have coughing spells, which leads to shortness of breath. Sometimes when I have a coughing spell which is mostly at night. I have a spot in the middle of my back that starts hurting. I am on my 2nd round of antibiotics. Should I ask for more tests? I think I am due for another ct scan in April.
Also I think I may have arthritis in my left knee. It pops and cracks all the time and now it hurts. This has been going on for a while. Should I ask for a bone scan?
I am so scared! I dont know what to do..
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Hi
just popping in from the oct chemo group.
I discovered a few things. Thought I knew it all!
in my last chemo round one of the other chemo ladies suggested tea trea oil for nails. Mine look kind of icky brownish. But saw it at one of those breast cancer/hat/mastectomy stores and the clerk said you apply it to nails and it soaks in. helps prevent brown icky nails.
I also had no idea of the wonderful post mastectomy bras they had. I just came into one of those stores looking for a hat and came out with a new bra/with insert which insurance paid for. she sold me special comfy bra for rads/ then she put me in new bra that even out me girls and put squishy insert in TE side. (I kept the left) now when I put on my new bra it all looks even.
I thought I didnt need one of these since my original plan was for TE exchange after chemo-that was pipe dream. now full recon puts me starting in the fall.
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Hi gang!
I'm going to do an abysmal job of catching up with everyone but...
Fluff and Jules - congrats on your test results. Thank goodness no cancer.
So sorry for everyone that continues to deal with various crap (lily -- pun intended!! and kay -- did you have any symptoms of your polyps or was it only the gyno finding them??? curious because I'm also on tamox.)
I go to all my doc appts and not in any rush to cut any of them out. Figure if insurance covers it AND since some of them are brief AND since they don't cover scans unless we have a specific symptom, the more docs that see me and check me out, the best chance to catch something if there's something to notice.
ksmatthews - Try not to be scared. I do understand it. I have a lot of sinus issues (chronic) and when I have a bad flareup, it doesn't go away quickly AND it hurts as I'm trying to bring up yucky phlegm...) So it doesn't surprise me that your back might start to hurt. Having said that, I would want additional testing to reassure me that there isn't something else to be treated. The sooner you make that happen, the sooner you'll get psychological relief. KEEP US POSTED. SENDING HUGS.
In general I'm coming to grips with the fact that we WILL have scares and most of the time they will be just that -- not a real cancer problem but a scare -- but we want to stay on top of it and not let something slide...
I've had hand/feet pain and my doc put me on Metanx, a presecription formula of B vitamins. Usually used for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. I'm not diabetic but he thought it was worthwhile (he's integrative). For me, I now have less pain so I'm happy with it. I'm walking daily and doing Pilates twice a week - think this is helping my mood.
Getting hair trimmed and colored today. Top is still thin. Very poodlish here too. Lashes are fine thank goodness.
Getting bloodwork in a few weeks to see if I'm menopausal. If yes, onc will switch me from tami to arimidex. Not sure what to wish for.
Divine, you look smashing! So great to see you and get your update.
Hugs all around. I love you guys! (Sorry I won't be in New Orleans to hang out in April, Penny!)
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Forgot to mention in case This applies to others: tamoxifen is making my hot flashes more sweaty. Hard to sleep so just got pj's that wick away the moisture. Used for first Time and they helped!!
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Maxine, Silia - looked in the mirror yesterday and had the same thought as you - must get a haircut, I think we defnitely need something a bit more stylish than this sticky out golliwog look.
Maxine,Prague sounds wonderful. My kids have been when they did the backpacking round Europe things and say its wonderful.
For the hot flushes I carry a fan in my handbag, either a pretty one, or at the moment I am using one with an Australian flag on it. I was a bit doubtful about people's reactions at first to me madly fanning myself, but this is Aus and hot so most people just seemed to think it was a good idea anyway. Try getting one, its better than sitting there sweating.
ksmatthews - firstly, if only to stop yourself worrying it can do no harm to ask for scans. but realistically it is almost certain the knee is arthritic - its one of the first places arthtritis gets us.
The chest would be worrying if it were not for the fact that you had the cold/sinus drainage - so you know what has caused the coughing, it did not start with the lungs. What happens is the sinuses drain down your throat overnight (its called a post nasal drip - sorry if this is too much information) and then you end up with garbage in your lungs and cough all night. I have had this and it goes on for ages.
I guess we are all at the stage where anything we get ( many of which we could have had with or without the big C) gives us that inner dread that it has come back. We will all have a different fear threshold in terms of when we decide to go back to our Oncs for scans etc. My feeling is that, if the worry is making our lives miserable we should bother them as much as we want. Once we have had a few of these things over the next year or so we will probably learn to cope with it, but at the moment we just need to know its OK.Silia - good advice on the scares
Going to ask my onc about Metformin in a couple of weeks. This forum is invaluable in providing info like that - would not have known about it otherwise - thanks ladies
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Fred...keep your fingers and toes on ice during chemo to help. Or you can use frozen peas.
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Thank you all for the advice. I took some Aleve and the pain in my knee is gone. So I am sure it was nothing. The cough is getting some better. I am going to try to take an allergy pill or something at night and see if that helps.
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Jules and fluff, congrats on the good scans! Great news. I hope the Gemara is easier on you. Silia, I didn't have any symptoms from the polyps. Had the transvaginal us last week. Have an appt. next week with gyn to go over it. I think they saw there have been changes from the tamoxifen. I have only been on it since mid november. Ugh. I am going to talk to mo about switching to something else.
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