Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
-
Molly, so glad that mastectomy turned out to have been strictly prophylactic!
0 -
Congrats Molly!
0 -
Molly - Hooray for your benign pathology report!!
0 -
congrats Molly
0 -
Molly, great news! I'm so happy for you!
HUGS!
0 -
Yay, Molly! Great news!
0 -
Peggy... I may change to Summit. My NP is with Summit now and I really like her. Once I get the Oncotype results back I'll use Summit for me second opinion to check them out.
Thanks
0 -
Traci, I'll let you know how I like my MO. Obviously, you may not like someone I do. But it will give you something to go by.
HUGS!
0 -
Traci (tsoebinn?), please don't get stressed. I know it's hard to be told one thing and then have to wait to have it confirmed. My experience was the same. I really thought I was home free when I was told Stage 1A, small tumor, no node involvement. My BS said she would be shocked if I needed more than rads and AI. She did say however, that she has been surprised before. My onco test came back at 20, on the lower side of intermediate. My MO gave me all the data with the onco which gave me only about 4% advantage so I had basically made up my mind to skip chemo and go straight to rads. The next day, my MO called to say he wanted permission to the Prosigna test done on my pathology. I still felt so certain that I'd be skipping chemo, but felt I owed it to everyone to make the right decision with the most information. I must admit I was stunned when he came in and said I was not going to like my number. The Prosigna is a genome test which measures 57 specific genomes of the cancer cells removed during surgery. Dr said it is specifically aimed at gleaning more info for intermediate onco scores and they are finding great results with it. My dx originally was IDC, grade 2, but they also found some DCIS grade 3, one was 1 cm. My MO explained that my cancer cells may be tiny, but the latest test found that they are more aggressive than originally thought. As the result, he highly recommended I go through chemo. My family (who were all with me plus DH) agreed. My final realization is that while surgeons, medical oncologists, etc. may put their best guess at a dx., sometimes we just have to wait for more definitive test results. And realize that there is always the question "Is what I"m doing the right thing?" As many have told me, you just have to make the decision with as much knowledge as possible, and then don't second guess that decision. You'll be OK. Waiting is the hardest part of all this. And when the results come in, if you aren't sure, ask for second or third opinions until you feel as secure as possible with your decision.
Sloan, thanks for the info re your experience with IV. I called my MO's PA this evening and talked to her about it. She suggested I go ahead and try it this first time, and they can always schedule for the port. The PICC line won't work for me as she said it needs to be flushed each week and I don't want to do that.
Hi to everyone else. Have been following all the issues with glucose and foot. Hang in there everyone. Two more days till the weekend. :-) (But being retired means everyday is the weekend:-)! )
0 -
Peggy...I think he is who she works under as a MO NP.
0 -
Thanks tons Dara. I appreciate you explaining the process.
0 -
Traci, that would make it a small world, wouldn't it?
Dara, you do an excellent job of explaining how things changed for you. I know how distressed you were when you found out you need chemo. I think sometimes it's the shock rather than the fact you have to do it. You have to turn your thinking around 180°. And yes, being retired is nice!
HUGS!
0 -
Dara - I had chemo for the first 3 (maybe it was 4?) infusions but ended up getting a port. I drank so much water and yet my veins were progressively getting worse. It was the best decision I made.
I am officially getting tired from rads. After today, only14 left. It still feels like a lot.
0 -
On the other hand, I never got a port (for four infusions of C/T). I had read here on BCO about many women getting them and asked the MO about it. He shook his head and said I didn't need one. I was worried at the time but it turned out that for me he was absolutely right.
They always did the infusion on the non-LX side (important), and I drank lots of water. (a good idea during chemo regardless, I think). Then, before doing the stick they'd warm my arm with an electric heating pad. warming up the area is supposed to help a lot. it seemed to do the trick. It also helped that the same nurse did it each time and she was good. I never had any problems and was very happy with MO's recommendation to skip it.
Hugs to all!
Octogirl
0 -
Molly, so happy to hear everything turned out to be benign. That has to be a huge relief!
As to the questions about blood sugar--a random, non-fasting blood sugar of 104 is NOT considered high blood sugar. Fasting blood sugars should be under 100, but some doctors will be okay with a fasting as high as 120 (too high for my taste.) Normal non-fasting blood sugar is usually about 85-125. It will jump up about 20-30 points right after you eat, but should come down to the normal range within 2 hours of eating. So, a blood sugar of 140 right after pizza and beer is normal, as long as it goes down to around 100-110 within 2 hours. A blood sugar of 140 when you first wake up is a big fat red flag!
0 -
Molly, great path report!
Dara, I had eight infusions, all with an IV placement. As fightergirl and octogirl mentioned, being hydrated is so important. Start drinking water when you get up in the morning, and take a water bottle in the car with you on the way. This backfired a few times for me, however. Since we had a 50 mile drive into Boston in the midst of the morning commute, which took up to 2 hours, some days we had to stop on the way so I could use the ladies' room.
0 -
Thanks Peachy, Octo, and Fightergirl! I only need 4 cycles and just TC which I think is a little easier than what you had. I'm going to go for it on Moday and hopefully not have any problems. I figure we can always add the port for the next time. I also have a 55 mi drive so I'll take note where the ladies' room might be!
Molly, so great about the report results, but how scaryAlso. Were you doing more than you should have, or is that just something that can happen post-surgery.
Poodles, I was dx diabetic years ago but it has been controlled with diet for the last 10 years or so. I know at the time, they said below 120, but now they recommend below 100 fasting. I asked my MO about any SEs from the steroids with chemo but he said to just check it frequently. My sister's went over 300 when she got an infusion and found that if she rode her stationary bike for about 2 hours (sometimes in the middle of the night) it brought the sugars down.
Hi to everyone else, I'm off to meet a friend for lunch and then the movie "Bad Moms." I figure it's exactly what my mood needs right now! Had a bit of a meltdown last night, but am fine today and looking forward to some irreverent humor!
0 -
Peachy2 I'd stop at the Dunks or Krispy Kreme on Route 1 whether I had to go or not.
0 -
DaraB--seconding (thirding? fourthing?) sympathy for the chemo. That really is scary--thinking you were going to escape it and then having it thrown at you. Honestly, none of this has really felt like cancer to me because I didn't have to think about chemo.
And I'm sure my in situ DX is why I was able to skip having any lymph nodes looked at. My BS said based on the tests, including the MRI, I was kind of midrange for whether or not to look at them so I said then let's not.
I just got a fairly large packet in the mail from my RO--post-cancer treatment stuff. Didn't particularly feel like looking at it in detail, but I really do need to schedule a regular old check-up with my PCP. I'm thinking September some time.
0 -
fightergirl, there is a Krispy Kreme on Rte. 1??? Road trip! We went straight down 93, and usually got off in Somerville when the traffic backed up. Several times we pulled over at the Museum of Science- that membership was worth every penny! Once when we were stopped in traffic in Cambridge I had to go so bad that I used the empty water bottle in the back seat. At that moment I lost the last shred of dignity that I'd retained after showing my breasts to strangers for the prior five months.
0 -
Dara, I am glad you have these wonderful ladies to guide you through chemo. I am sorry you are dealing with the shock of it. I don't think I caused the hematoma but I was having such an uneventful recovery it's possible. I didn't do any lifting over 15 pounds which was my restrictions. BS said it's very unusual for a hematoma to develop several days later. I think looking back I started noticing some swelling on Friday possibly Thursday. I was so focused on my mom I can't remember. I am very thankful for the PS who evacuated the blood out. I probably would have ended up with an infection.
0 -
Had my MO visit this morning. Because I had a complete metabolic panel drawn by my primary 2 days ago (and brought the printout), I was able to skip the lab visit and not get my one good vein punctured again. The bad news is that Humana Part D denied her prior authorization for Prolia. She agreed that this is not a good time to get a Zometa infusion (the SEs last about 3 days, which would keep me from playing my gig on Sat.) but that I am not at high enough risk for recurrence (or fullblown osteoporosis yet) that I can’t let it slide a few months to see if I change my Part D carrier in Oct. whether they’s cover Prolia. She also agrees it’s not worth frying my esophagus with weekly Fosamax or even monthly Boniva. And I didn’t get lectured about my weight, because thanks to 2 days of Lasix I’m down to where I was at my last MO visit in Feb. (2 lb. less than when we left for Rome). 9 lbs. of water weight gone in less than 48 hrs! (No, I’m not going to stay on it any longer than my PCP says to).
0 -
Sandy, That sucks that you can't get Prolia. I hope you find a carrier who will approve its use for you. Nice that you didn't have to get poked or lectured. Hope Zometa doesn't cause issues for you when you finally do get that infusion. Play good this weekend!!!
HUGS!
0 -
Molly- so glad your news was good.
Jill- you look great- love your hair and understand hair not looking like a cancer patient.
Have tried to keep up but so much going on...know you sisters are in my daily prayers!
0 -
Sandy, btw, I have Aetna part D for prescriptions and they do cover Prolia. It's a tier 4 drug but at least they cover it in case you're shopping for a change in October.
0 -
Thanks, Dara. But Jazzy (over on the drinking thread) mentioned having SEs on Prolia. Are they worse than or equal to those from Zometa? Might switch Part D plans nonetheless, if I can get coverage for at least generic letrozole. (Humana wants me to “fail” 3 months on generic anastrozole first before they’ll even consider an appeal from my MO. Cheap bastards).
0 -
Letrozole is also covered and is only tier 3 so would be quite reasonable.
0 -
Sandy, I have AARP Preferred. Letrozole would be $10/month. HOWEVER, Prolia once per month would be nearly $400 with prior authorization of course. Aetna sounds pretty good. I'll have to check them out too. Thanks, Dara!!
HUGS!
0 -
Peggy, is that AARP Preferred a standalone Part B or D supplement, or is it a “Medicare Advantage" plan, which gives me less choice of providers? And I'm not sure that what AARP and Aetna offer in MI, WA or CA would be offered in IL. Heck, different plans are offered even county-by-county here in IL.
One of the reasons we picked Humana Enhanced was that our broker ran the most commonly used adjuvant non-chemo meds-- oral alendronate (Fosamax) and anastrozole--through various plans' formularies. We had no idea that neither drug would be appropriate for me. BTW, just picked up this month’s supply of letrozole (Teva, since my pharmacist can no longer get Roxane). It’s gone up by another buck, to $28.90. 7 months ago when I started the drug, the Roxane version was $9 (I filled it on the last effective day of my regular United Health insurance, just before going on Medicare). The next month it was $17, none of it covered. And then when I started getting Teva, the price went from $24 to $27 to $28 and now nearly $29. We can afford it (and $400 for Prolia would be a relative bargain--I pay over $300 for 3 months’ worth of Dexilant, the only PPI that controls my GERD). But it’s the principle. What really scares me is if I get to Stage IV--Ibrance is $9000 per month, and Medicare patients can’t use any of the discount coupons or co-pay cards that younger women use to lower or even eliminate their out-of-pocket costs. And any direct assistance available to Medicare patients is not available to us, as our income is too high to qualify.
0 -
Sandy, it's a Part D standalone. I also do not have a Medicare Advantage plan. When Chuck and I were trying to figure out what to when we turned 65, we went to Blue Cross of Michigan's office. There was a BC salesman there. He told us to get the Medigap F plan and we wouldn't pay a cent. he was right. No copays. Of course, not so easy about the Part D we need. Chuck was on a Blue Cross plan. I didn't need any drugs so chose the AARP plan. I think I will shop this fall although my drugs are covered and not expensive. I had to get a different plan (well, both Medigap and Part D). I got an F plan thru Premera BC. And the same AARP plan but I'm willing to bet that the coverage isn't the same. It is a maze. And while being able to afford your drugs is wonderful, that isn't the point, is it?
HUGS!
0
