Canadians in British Columbia
Comments
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Sneaky thanks so much!! It's amazing & so good to hear how things worked out in your support & financial help from coworkers etc!! woohoo! keep your eye on that holiday!!
well.. I left the Onc appt in confusion tears yet happy. The ONLY check I have or will have is him feeling my chest/scar. No blood tests, no scans...nada! I had/have concerns as my GM had liver cancer (passed from it) & asked if due to my high risk (due to smoking) if the BC would possibly raise my risk for lung/liver cancer. Nope not at all he said. He (ONC) also changed the original decision of Femara to Tamoxifen. As NOW he more readily agrees that because there was only a TINY bit of estrogen in my tumor, its decided to use Tamox. Yesterday was my LAST appt with him. I find this all odd. He said as far as they're concerned 'I'm cured" my prog is about 98%. I just don't understand why I even need the Tamox? I did read in the papers (& my concern is a blood clot of course) that it Tamoxifen MAY also have anti-cancer effects not related to the hormone estrogen. so that's the reason I'll stay trying it. Took my 1st pill last night. a tad of headache is all so far.
I just don't know what to make of it. I asked oh, if I was stage IV then i'd have further test/follow-ups? he said yes. but as I said to him, I've read on here, that other women with same as me got BC or mets not even that far off from original date.. he poo-poooed that.. Am I nuts to feel like I'm missing something? my GF had stage IV & there are NO follow-ups either. No tests. But on here I read that the majority do have further testing just to make sure. I was stage 3 & the lump was near enough to surface that anyone could feel it & it wasn't there a few days (or wasn't at surface enough) when I showered. this is why the Surgeon believed it to be TN as the #'s were so low for estrogen, but even a tiny bit makes it ER+ I get that.
I guess my biggest concern is that
1. my GP said he did'nt think the skin lesions were anything, and they were (same time as I found the lump) AND it also did not think the lump was anything to be concerned about...ugg! 2. I've so many bumps/lumps throughout my scar/chest all the way up to collar bone & underarms HOW am I to know what's from scarring & what I should be suspicious of.
Onc said for me to stop worrying about the possible future of it. He believes I won't get it back..any kind. Am I being a nervous nelly? Am I being negative? Am I supposed to watch what I eat (estrogen) as It was only a tiny bit. so many questions & only ones to turn to are you wonderful women who've travelled these roads before me.
please tell me I'm nuts or I'm not. I"m not going to stay worried about all this.. but my whole life I've had to push Dr's for answers... I'm so tired of it
Thanks a million
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ps.. sorry for the lengthy post
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Cher: first of all that's good news. Second of course you are nervous, we all are. For the past year we have been monitored, checked and scanned... now we are 'cured'... bye bye. I dont know what your GP is like, but if I was really worried, I would call him/her. someone here may be able to offer you a better answer. As for the tamox... the first few weeks I had headaches.... they do go. Dont let them get too bad. Tylenol got rid of mine. ((((hugs)))) and I hope you can get the answers you are looking for.
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Cher, Your family DR should be doing 6 month check ups, that will include blood work, checking vitals, checking your lymph nodes & making sure that you don't have any blood clots in your legs. Did they tell you to take an 81mg aspirin every day? I'm sorry that you have to push for everything, that sucks. I don't think you're nuts. But soon the feelings that you have will lessen, but it does take some time. Call the Cancer Agency & see if they have someone that you could talk to about this. There are lots of things available to us here in BC, you don't have to go through your Onco. Do you have a Breast Health Centre in Maple Ridge or close by?
I talked to my DR about just that very thing, I feel like I think about recurrance alot. He's had cancer & says eventually you will think about other things. ((hugs)) GG
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Cher my surgeon referred me to Keary for my lymphedema concerns. They have a good reputation and I was quite happy with the results the few times I've been there. You can usually find free parking on the side street farthest away from the hospital.
On the question of using family doctors for cancer follow up I love it. My doctor knows me. When I mentioned having fatigue after starting Arimidex I was sent for a MUGA to rule out chemo as the possible cause instead.
I just had the cast removed from the wrist I broke end of November. The orthopedic doctor said I didn't need physio. I was hurting. I had an appnt with my family doctor re the Arimidex and bone density drugs and SHE gave me the referral. I had 15 nodes removed on that side which of course makes a difference with swelling.
Kathy (should be able to drive out to Langley by Feb for the gathering)0 -
you gals are awesome! Truly you are! thanks for input.. it surely helps! Great news about the cast off Kathy! hope your arm is good! Thanks too for the good report on Keary PT!! Seeing Janet next week! I know I just have to change my mind set. & yes, I'm getting back into work-mode more (p/t) I have so many other health issues before & now after, wish I could just STOP all these health things argh! It just feels that that with the added pills, it's not a 'moving on point' right? cause still dealing with SE's .grr. lol.. I just have to shrug & say..ok, i'll move onto whatever I can. My GP is a poo-poo'er.. if you get my drift. BUT on the good note, if I want referrals to anyone I get them. I already get swelling in lymph nodes (did previous) & pain, due to other illness's, so of course it's like.. omg..what is it.. this or C?
I didn't take my 2nd Tamox pill. I already had fatigue from other things, then the chemo fatigue, then added the new tamox fatigue.. just toooooooo much! The worse headaches were the chemo/anti nausea ones for the 1st few days, but thats behind, no no one told me about the aspirin and THANK you for that!! great idea! I'm having issues with heart & BP since chemo, so having a angio/CT as less invasive & have a huge family hx with anurisms & heart disease (3 of my cousins had recent heart bypasses (we're in our 50's & 2 in 40's) & my bio dad had quad by-pass in 2011. I mentioned it quickly to Onc, but since I have my own specialist, he'll keep him in the loop, as I have a tiny feeling the Doxy chemo left me a reminder gift.
I'll restart the Tamox in a couple weeks. I'm just not feeling so great right now. I am working with a Therapist at Abby CC. she's great. but her main concern is my sleep.. as I only have naps through the night & up for hours, but so far, I can't get it different. so no caffiene again, but for 6mths & especially through Chemo I couldn't tolerate coffee, it really didn't change my sleeping. yes I take drugs for sleeping...I was able to talk to her prior to my appt with Onc and express my fears/hopes etc.
thanks ladies!! hugs for the day!!
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Good morning ladies
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Morning Ossa and Ladies. Is quiet on these boards a good thing? Does it mean we now have some semblence of lives again
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Ossa... didn't mean you aren't a lady too - hee hee!!
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LOL
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Good afternoon friends! (I'm +8 hours lol)
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And good morning to you all! Things are quiet, but I'm far from having a life anytime soon. Halfway through chemo though, that's reason enough to do a bit of a happy dance this weekend, right?
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Sneaky YESSSSS you're on the home stretch, it's a great reason to celebrate! You'll be done before you know it.
G'afternoon to all!0 -
sneaky: Absolutely that's a good reason to celebrate - enjoy !!
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Yay sneaky almost done
good afternoon all0 -
whoo hoo...last AC treatment on tuesday....goodbye red devil .....hello Taxol and Herceptin....i really dread those next 4 treatments...5 and a half hours????....dont really know how those will go...
I told my boss that it looks like me coming back to work in June of this year after Rads...that would make it 10 months off total....he said fine...job is held for me.....yeah...
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Doesn't it legally have to be held for you? Can they really let you go if you take 'too long' to return? Best of luck on this next round, Pands. I was happy to be done with the red devil as well. I can't even think of red liquid without feeling the need to puke now. A friend poured a fruity red drink for me the other day and I just couldn't even look at it.
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Hi everyone,
Been hanging out with the sept chemo girls, I probably have some catching up to do.
I finished rads last Thursday, I had 16 rounds, and my skin held up fine. It was so much easier than I thought. I can barely believe I have done surgery, chemo and rads. What a long 8 months. I am feeling great, other than this cold I have acquired in the last 2 days. Nose is dripping like a faucet and I don't know what I can take while on tamoxifen and herceptin. And my last chemo was Nov 14, and my hair is growing at a snails pace...will I ever be able to take the hat off....I am hoping for at least a pixie cut by summer. Like the rest of you the thought of the red devil makes me cringe.
Pands 4 more, you got this, you will be back to work before you know it.
Sneaky half way, yeah!!
Cher I hope you feel better soon.
Ossa hope things are good in Chilliwack, you will probably be seeing blooms in a month or so....
Tazzy I hope things have been good for you since you are done!
Everyone I hope you have a great week!0 -
pands.. woohoo almost done.. both you and sneaky should start seeing your hair slowly coming in
As for job.. they do have to hold a job for you, not necessarily the one you have/had, but equivalent in pay and hours.. Most places will hold your job for you though.. At my workplace they moved another personinto my position while I was gone, then I worked with her for a few weeks to catch up on everything new in the year I was gone
Bearcub.. have missed you.. glad you are ok... can't wait for the flowers to appear. though we have not really had winter.. A bit of frost, no snow to talk of..
Have a good day ladies.. Make sure you drink lots (water lol) to flush your system and get rid of the colds going around
Hugs
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Yay Pands... almost there.
Good to see you back bearcub. I am doing well. Like you said, you look back at the past year and its hard to believe what has been done to our bodies. But we got out the other side... smiling.
We have snow forecast today. Hope its the last we see of it.... looking forward to Spring.
Off to work now - have a great Monday all.
xxxx
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Thanks everyone, great that you are all well, snowing here too, not to bad though, -7.
Tazzy you are so right our bodies have been through a lot...we are on the other side, smiling. I am practicing that I am a "breast cancer survivor", instead of "I have bc".
Have a great day ladies!0 -
Bearcub good to hear that rads are over and also that your skin held up well even being a redhead. Gives me hope for my turn though I will have the full meal deal.
Pands, tomorrow A/C over for you and Taxol for me. Taxol way easier on my system (so far - must not speak too soon!).
I am getting excited for Sneaky and Red Mtn. retreat.
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Started celebrating early Pands, it's Tuesday here!
Bear so happy to hear your skin held up!
I finished with the red devil 17 years ago and yep .. I still cringe lol.
Tazzy is so right, the last year has been hard, but you're coming through smiling!
Hugs all around!0 -
You guys are the best,, you have all forever touched my heart.. Thank you for being you..
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Off to BCCA in half an hour for that last Taxol! Yay! Hope to have a video to prove it.
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Marianelizabeth Way to Go!!!!!!!
Last Taxol Yessssssssss.
Thanks for the encouraging words.
Take Care J
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Well done Marian!!! You should be proud of yourself - now time to recover from the chemo and prepare your body for upcoming surgery.
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YAY Marian!!!! Congrats Chemo Grad!
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Marian so happy for you, it just seems like yesterday we were just starting out with our DX. I posted just today the recipe for the saline compresses on the sept. 2012 chemo thread. If you start to pink up when you do rads it sure helps. I started to pink up day 3 but settled down after that.
Ossa, She, Tazzy, and all you ladies have helped guide us, thank you for all the advice...
We are under a snowfall warning...ugh!0 -
marian: woo hoo last chemo over and done and dusted - congrats and welcome to the Chemo Grad Class
Was discharged by my RO today - woo hoo.... hot tub here I come.
As lots of thanks happening here today - thank you all and Ossa you reached out to me when I first posted on these boards and was a newbie and knew nada - lovely post by the way.
OK, off to think about dinner now.
Hugs and good night ladies xxxx
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