Starting Chemo in Nov. 2011...anyone else?
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Phyllis - thanks for the info. I was told there is no money to help me with the cost. I can apply and in two weeks get an answer to which foundations would help me pay for the medicine. I can't wait that long. I had two more biopsies on Monday. I get radiation to my right breast area. My surgeon biopsied a lump on my left side. I am no being treated in that area. I get the results this Monday. My husband contacted the pharmacy and paid for half the prescription. I will start it on Monday.
I am afraid of the side effects because I am staying alone during the week. I drive myself to treatment. So thankful that it is only five minutes away. I really don't want to do this again.
Are you still taking Xeloda? Did you have bad SEs? Could you still function while taking it? I will try to find the thread.
I hope everyone takes time to enjoy the beautiful colors of spring. I know I am. This is the first time I have really looked at spring and seen the beauty of it.
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I'm sorry you have to do this again, Beth. It's really so unfair. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
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Beth, you might try calling them directly, if you haven't already. Genentech Patient Resource Center (PRC) 1 (877) GENENTECH (436-3683).
I'm not taking it any longer. Since I took it at the same time as Ixempra , I'm not sure about individual SEs. Sorry!
Phyllis
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I got the generic form of Xeloda. I take two pills a day. The only side effect I have is loose stools. Not too bad. I get radiation to my entire chest area. I am praying this works.
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bethu Thinking only positive thoughts Easy SE's and treatment that works
Hope everyone else is dong well. We seem to get one day of spring here in NE and 3 days back to what feels like late fall. Eventuall we will get there.
Nel
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Beth-I am glad that you are seeing the beauty of spring but so sorry that it is taking all the fear and pain of this recurrence to bring it to light for you. I am praying that you are healing as you go through these treatments and that your side effects are few and light.
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I have officially lost 35 pounds now and had a good check-up yesterday at the regular doctor's office. I am so glad to be rid of the weight! I still have 17 more pounds to go, but at least that number is much more manageable than it has been for years. The doctor told me to stop taking my blood pressure pills now and then he said I can also stop taking my cholesterol pills in a couple more months. He wants me to go off them 6 weeks before my next blood work is due in August. That way he can tell if I will be able to do without them. So I guess all the miles I walked on the treadmill and the elliptical machine are paying off!
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Congratulations Bahamamom! That's great. Keep up the good work!
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bahamama WAHOOOOO!!
Hope everyone is doing well
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WTG bahamamom! How exciting!
P
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Thanks to you all for your nice comments about my getting to kick the blood pressure pills. So far, so good, no big rises. I also would like to wish you all a very happy Mothers' Day!
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Is everyone doing okay? I hope all are busy with this nice Spring we are having. At least it is nice here in NC. Green is everywhere. I have been planting flowers when I am home. I am feeling the effects of the radiation but only two more weeks to go!
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Beth, I'm ok. I've been redoing my kitchen. One thing leads to another. Now that the walls are nearly done I think I need a new countertop and sink and cabinets refaced and got to have new flooring. Why did I ever start this project? I'm glad to hear you only have two more weeks of radiation to go. I hope you're tolerating your chemo ok and minimal side effects. I've been on femara now for 2 years and 1 month and 18 days but who's counting? Side effects come and go, but most are tolerable. The one that seems to be getting worse is my hands going to sleep. If I'm holding something for very long the feeling goes right out of my hand. I see my onco June 6 and am going to talk to him about it. I have kind of neglected my yard and need to get out there in the flower beds. My irises have all been blooming and it is so calming to sit out there. I only had 1 tulip that bloomed, but my daffodils bloomed later than usual and now need cutting back. What kind of flowers are you planting?
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Beth, I spent most of my childhood in N C and still visit a few times a year as my mother and some brothers and sisters still live there. It is a beautiful state. I am glad you are feeling well enough to enjoy the spring and your flowers. I can't seem to get much to grow. Every year or two I plant day Lillie's, tulips, daffodils, but the next year they either do not come back or they come up but never bloom. So then I have to buy more and start over again. I try to blame it on lack of or too much sun, but I know that when we bought this house 12 years ago, there were lots of flowers growing everywhere. I never had time to care for them until the last couple of years, though, and now they are mostly gone. Guess my thumbs are not green... Grandma, is your onc still saying 5 years on the femara? I keep reading that 10 years is better, but that the standard of care is stii 5.
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When I saw him in February he said 5 years. I've seen on some of the threads that some oncs are already putting their patients on 10 years. My onc is strictly by the book so until the gold standard changes I doubt he will. When I see him in June I'll see what he says. I'm so hoping 5 is just as good as 10. I really don't want to do 10. I have aged so much the last 2 years. I hate to think what this has done to my bones. I'm due for a dexa so he'll probably have that scheduled.
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I'm trying to plant whatever flower looks pretty to me. I can't plant them myself. My husband does it for me. We are having beautiful weather. Not too hot yet.
I have severe burns on my chest and under my right arm. So painful. I never had burns like this the first time I had radiation. I was going great until the cancer spread. Now they are doing my last set of treatments. Six days/12 treatments to go. I cannot wait. I cry a lot now and apologize even more. Trying to picture being done with this. I want to stop treatment until I heal but they think I will be fine and have said my skin looks better than they thought it would. I'm gonna get some Domeboro and soak the area today to send if that helps with the pain.
Enjoy My Friends!
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Good morning all,Beth, a gentle day to you. cry as you need, enough already! Hoping that you find relief from the pain and discomfort,
Nel
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GrandmaV, I go back and forth with wanting to take arimidex for 5 years or 10 years. Part of me even thinks that if the pills just delay the cancer til I stop taking them, then would I be better off to have that happen before I get a lot older. But I will say that I had my dexa a couple of months ago, and my onc was pleased and a little surprised that so little change was noted. She said I am still in the good range. Beth, just try to take one more day at a time and know that the radiation treatments will be over soon. Feel better soon.
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Finished my treatments yesterday. Let the healing begin!
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Wahoo!!!! Relax, enjoy and heal
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beth - so glad you're done with those treatments! I hope things ease up for you now.
I had clear 6 month CT scans on March 27. A couple of weeks ago I found a puffy place next to my Mx incision and over my sternum. A bone scan last week revealed hot spots on my sternum. I'm waiting for the results of the CT scans we did immediately after the bone scan.
Gotta say that this stuff sucks! Beth, you are on your third time around, right?
Phyllis
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Phyllis,Yes this sucks! No other way to say it. Gentle hugs and positive thoughts
Nel
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Beth, so glad you're done. Can't imagine how sore you are. Hope it found all those stray cells and zapped them into oblivion.
Phyllis, my heart goes out to you. I'm praying the hot spots turn out to be something else.
I saw my onc on Friday. He always asks if there's anything new and I tell him about a new pain or ache, he says side effect from femara. He still says 5 years for the femara. But it does seem to be working so I shouldn't complain.
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The stupid CT scan showed a one inch lesion on my peristernum. Now they are scheduling me for a PET and a CT guided core needle biopsy. I'm wondering if I get a fake ID will all this crap go away?
I used to like being me, but I'm rethinking that strategy!
P
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Phyllis, praying it is nothing yo be concerned about. I had DCIS in 2008, IDC in 2011, they didn't know what to call it in December, biopsies in February and March so I don't know how many times. I think five. Each time they did a biopsy, it spread because it was in my dermal lymphatic and blood. I thought I had a rash. I didn't 't know it was cancer.
I am getting better each day. Can't wait for the skin to heal 100%. Going to Indiana next week. I need some grandbabiez time. I felt so depressed because of the pain and my top layer of skin being gone. None of my doctors told me it would be okay. They told me it was only going to get worse. Not too happy with my team right now.
I pray no one ever hears those words about cancer ever again.
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Phyllis,Positive thoughts coming your way. Keeps us posted.
Nel
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Oh Phyllis, I'm so sorry you have to keep dealing with this.
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Phyllis,
How are you. Just checking in?
How is everyone else doing?
Nel
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Nel, I'm doing ok. Just everyday life problems. How are you doing?
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Doing well. In California for a week, a few days vacation with my kids and then work conference and kids will hang at the pool. Off to San Diego Zoo this AMMaking memories
Nel
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