A place to greet and meet newbies to stage III
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Same story here - smallish tumor but LVI and node involvement.
I had had three clear mammos before THE one.
My breast surgeon couldn't even feel my tumor after it was seen on mammo and US.
My MO said that all breast cancer is different - some small masses with lots of node involvement, some huge masses with no node involvement.... they don't know why.
Last Taxol was TODAY!!! Haven't seen my PS since chemo started, seeing him on Wednesday maybe for a leftie fill - don't want rightie any bigger since she will get in the way of rads, but want leftie as stretched out as possible for recon after radiation. Radiation sim scheduled for 8/14, ooph scheduled for 9/2, radiation to start soon after that.
I feel great with chemo behind me, but we still have a long road ahead!!
Jen
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Yay, jenw/4!! congrats on last infusion! and i hope you breeze through rads too. it was the easiest part for me, since it was kind of 'invisible' and i just kept up with aloe off my plant, and lotion lotion lotion up with miaderm or maderma, whichever one is for rads, not the scar stuff! its pricy but they were amazed at how pliable and soft etc i remained. personally, i think it was the aloe too, unprocessed straight from the leaf. i have had long experience with it for its healing properties, inside and out, and i probably should have been drinking it for years.
Wintersocks, thanks for thinking of me. i am just feeling crazy about those nodes. as a matter of fact, after all the imaging at my treatment place, where they said they could not feel them (!!!!) i asked my pcp if he would send me for a mammo at the original imaging place i went to where it was first discovered, because they did such a thourough job of explaining everything. and he did, about a week ago, and the funny thing is, he did not descibe or see the biopsy clips that were supposedly placed in my left breast, from last january either, hourglass shaped, that my tx center said they put in. i am going to drop by there, possible tomorrow, and ask about it. the technician who performed it, when i told her why i was there, her eyes got big, and she told me that they couldn't do an ultrasound there,(crap, its why i went there, cause i trust the ultrasound more than anything) (they did before!) and that i should go somewhere else and have a full work up done. i don't know what my insurance would pay for, but i guess they would as a second opinion after the fact. but i am afraid it would pi$$ off the place i go to now, and what if the next place tells me im crazy too?(figuratively) because they are quite prominent, i can feel them, even if they say they cannot, and many women here were found to have a recurrence a big one too, while they were being followed. how could it get that big while they were still under surveillience? and i think it is them or somtehing on my bottom edge of the side of my shoulder blade, and up high in my axilla, that is causing the problem. i am just so done with being not believed about this. but it is impossible for me to swim this summer, because of the pain of it. sorry about the rant, newbies...
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Thanks Holeinone, for the welcome! It is odd, the strange node behavior but so then again so much about cancer is senseless....
and congrats Jenwith4kids!! Very happy to hear you've made it through the chemo....!!
(just got back from #5 session today myself...metal mouth, yuck!! ...but, only 1 more to go)Kathec, sorry to hear about your node ordeal! But no need to apologize for ranting, if this isn't the place to do so then I don't know where is! As a newbie I am sure to have plenty of rants incoming myself...! I think you should do whatever puts your mind at ease, second opinions or even third opinions are always a good idea if you feel there is something missed. And, there doesn't seem to be a lot of lymph node info out there that I've found any way, including our high risk for lymphedema
...best of luck to you, and keep us posted 
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jenn, woohoo!!! Last Taxol. Are u getting your ovaries removed, I think ooph? At what point do people get these out? some people are ER+ and they don't. Wondering about this myself. I just got my period today...wtf? Wasn't expecting that.
Kathec, ditto what Suhera said. rant away!!! We are hear to "listen" and read. What I've learnt from my story is to listen to my gut, and keep digging, so if u want a 2nd opinion, the 1st people should understand. It is not ridiculous.
Tomorrow I'm getting port in. I think I going to be a wreck!!!! Needles, surgery, only local anesthesia, ahhh!!!!
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seriously? only local anaesthesia? i have heard of that getting it out! what if you move??? Any way, i think you will be fine, and i am so glad i got a port too, i saw my friend who's arms were fried from chemo there. take it easy and be good to you!
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Hi All,
First time posting to this thread. I am beginning my chemo treatment on Wednesday. My MO initially offered AC every 3 weeks for 3 months. During visit last week she mentioned dose dense AC every 2 weeks for 2 months (X4) then 12 weekly Taxol. She suggested the 3 week cycle as it is easier than DD. Anyone with experience or familiar with DD (2 week) cycle of AC vs. 3 week cycle. Let me know if I need to give more info than what is in my signature.
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ladyb,
I did dose dense. 4 A/C, every 14 days, then 4 Taxol, every 14 days.
It seems that the 12 weeks of Taxol is more common, at least from what I read on these threads.. My surgeon said with dose dense, it gives another 2-3% survival. Also, it goes faster, but harder on your body, less time to recover. I had 7 Neulasta shots.
I was pretty sick with A/C, I did much better on Taxol. Other ladies say the opposite, it's really individual.
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Dancing Diva, Yes, I am having my ovaries out - probably tubes too - keeping my uterus. I reviewed several options with my MO yesterday ... I took notes, I'm happy to share them but I don't have them with me. I will try to do that tomorrow - Wednesday is my "down day" after my Monday infusion. Remind me if I forget!
Jen
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Dancingdiva, frequently they'll put a port in with "local anesthesia," but use sedation sufficient to put you sort of "out." When they put my port in it was with local, but I felt nothing and woke up afterwards with my "auxillary intake manifold" all nicely installed. It sure made chemo and labs easier.
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Kathec,
I agree with dancingdiva. I think your gut is telling you something is not right. It's too much to send you away without a proper explanation. It's difficult to understand your health care system. Can you go to the ER or is that not allowed? I really feel for you trying to get a satisfactory answer. I have been in that position too in the past. I felt destroyed by the time I got to the bottom of what was wrong.
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So I asked onc about dose dense. He was on the fence with it. But I want it, he'll do it. What the hell should I do ? Is everyone who is doing ACT dose dense doing it also for Taxol? And most importantly if u had the choice, why did u pick DD? Was everyone told that it definately gives yOu a 2-3% higher survival ?
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Hi ladies, I want to congratulate all of you for continuing to fight. You don't need a good attitude to succeed you just need to keep getting up each day and face the next challenge. We all try to figure out why we got cancer and why it wasn't diagnosed until stage 3. I don't have a good answer to that question. If at all possible try to let go of that question. It has no real bearing on what your future will be. I have more than one friend originally diagnosed at a lower stage than I who has experienced reoccurance or has gone to stage 4. Going through treatment is hard. You will certainly feel down and that's ok. Remember you are full of chemo and steroids. Both of those chemicals affect your body and your emotions. Be kind to yourselves.
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JFV, thanks for checking in here with us, you probably do have some idea how great that makes us feel to see how you are doing. You have cheered ME up considerably, today, anyway. Thanks..
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hi dancingdiva,
I was given a choice between DD TAC or ACT and selected the latter because AC every three weeks did not require growth hormone injections and weekly taxol is a little easier on your body.
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I could have been one of the first non-research patients to get dd AC and then dd Taxotere. It was January of 2003 and my onc had just been reading the preliminary reports on it. He had to contact the folks doing the research to make sure he got my protocol correct.
As it turns out I am glad I did it. I was unable to have a good run of AI's due to numerous side effects. I always tell people, take all the chemo you can if you are hormone positive because you never know about tamoxifen or the AI's. Despite having a huge tumor and many matted lymph nodes, an astronomical ki-67 of 75 percent, I have done well, no real scares.
(Not sure why my computer is switching back and forth between italic and regular script. Not something I am asking it to do!)
Love, to all, and delighted to see the longevity we are amassing, Weesa
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im thinking it made those italics just for me.
i think i needed to hear that. my stuff was very much like yours, but i didn't do dose dense.
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Kath sorry to hear about the ordeal you have to go thru. Can you go to the emerg or see another oncologist? You have a right to ask all the questions you have. There is no stupid questions!!
I agree with JFV asking the "why" question doesn't help much now. However, I was a bit upset with my GP as she didn't tell me that at my March 2013 u/s there was a new lump as I would have asked for a second u/s and a biopsy of it give my history of fibroadenoma. Think that would have sort of perhaps caught this think at a lower stage but maybe not. It makes me think as I went from a normal u/s (as they said) to cancer in a matter of a year and the lumps measured a total of 5.4cm. Now I am asking my GP for a copy of the 2013 u/s to satisfy my curiosity.
It is a day at a time now and keep thinking that there is ladies out there that have been disease free for 27years which its hopeful for all of us. And all we can do is take charge of what's in our control and everything will follow as it has to too.
It is worth investigating in some type of alternative treatments after traditional chemo/rads that could help our immune system become stronger and help us from future scares!!!
Good day to everyone!!!! It's chemo day for some of us!!!
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Lolis, i hope you breeze through your chemo today, and any days that you have left. it is horrible when you are going through it, but it DOES the JOB!!!! i hope it is gentle for you today..
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Dancing Diva,
My breast surgeon is my favorite Dr. Really easy to talk to, does not sugar coat anything. He said if my Muga test was good, this is what I would have my wife do, if she was dealing with this nightmare.
I do not know what muska is referring too, with the growth hormone ??? I did receive 7 Neulasta shots to boost the white blood cell count. If that has growth hormone in it, well, I have never heard that.
I am glad now that it is behind me, the chemo part anyway, that I did do dose dense. I was very sick on A/C....Taxol was easier. A/C to me was legal torture. If the infusions were 3 weeks apart, I probably would not of been so sick. But, I was so ready every 14 days to get it over with.
I truly do not know about the dose dense Taxol vs the 12 infusions ( once a week ). I think my oncologist said you get more of the drug. I assume that it is not as common because of the neuropathy risk. There again, I am glad I had the dose dense. Only 4 treatments vs 12. Not having to go so much to the chemo center, out in the frigid cold, bald....
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I was referring to Neulasta, my apology for inaccurate description - this is often referred to as growth 'factor' I believe.
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lolis, I missed the fact that your doctor withheld info. That is terrible ! If i were you I'd be asking some questions too ! Cancer patients do have to be advocates for ourselves. Hang in there !
By the way, I did dose dense ACT. My Taxol was every two weeks. Many of my friends took tacos weekly. One thought.... if you are the fence about dose dense or not you can start with dose dense and change to three weeks later.
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JFV...lol...weekly tacos? Sign me up!
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Thanks Kath. I won't feel any side effects until Saturday. It wasn't fun having those ice packs on my hands and feet this time around.
My oncologist said that if my cancer was hormone receptive I would do 8 treatments in total every 2 weeks but then I don't know perhaps based on the pathology report she decided to switch me to 6 treatments every 3 weeks.
I just learnt that my PICC line will be taken out during my last treatment. It would be interesting to see it come out and wondering if I would feel it come outn kind of looking forward to it
DD how are you feeling?
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Lolis, when my PICC line came out I hardly felt a thing. A little tickle, maybe. And watching that long white snake slither outa my arm was weird, but I was glad to be rid of it!
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OMG, I just read this long white snake coming out of your arm and I need Emend...how do u girls look at this stuff????
LOLIS, I used my vein instead of the port since it was still tender and it went well. I hardly feel the port. So far day 2 is ok.
So on the fence with dose dense. Difficult to find info on it aside from people's experience. I just want to live as long as I can.
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My experience with dd AC hit me hard and elected to go with weekly Taxol instead of dd. So glad I did...I was able to function better mentally and physically. My hair started to grow back on weekly Taxol. I have no regrets going with weekly Taxol. In fact, my last infusion almost landed me in the hospital with a blood transfusion but rode it out and within 2 days my red blood cells rebounded.
Go with what your inner physician is telling you.
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WoW lots to get caught up on! First welcome to all those that are newbies who stopped by to say Hi!! Love hearing from our "oldies" who so graciously give wisdom or encouargment like Weesa, JFV, TZANE2, Joy and Karen1956!!
Weesa I always love reading your posts and comments and Congrats on almost 12 YEARS!!!! Congrats to Joy on 5 years, Karen1956 on 8 years and TZANE2 on 8 years. So thankful we can say years and not months...so grateful for each of these years and the encouragement it gives us all!!
Denise-G, thank you for your blog...loved the info from Johns Hopkins in regards to broccoli sprouts and BC. Grow my own broccoli sprouts now and put in my smoothies!!
Jenwith4kids, Congrats on finishing Chemo...thats huge and you saw it through..that took courage!!. Hopefully you'll start to see the beginning of new hair soon! Being tired is normal so rest when you can!
Dancingdiva, hope the port went smoothly. I had a PICC line, but I would think its all the same as it just makes it all that more real. Proud of you for taking each step and that you keep showing up...there where those days where it all seemed so unreal I just wanted to escape my life!!
Ladyb1234, welcome to the gang! Glad you joined us! I too had 12 weekly taxol treatments. They are doable and you'll get through them.
Lolis, I too had a PICC line and didn't feel a thing when it was removed..Hope the same for you!!
Thankful for my BC sisters. You all help take the edge of loneliness and fear out of my life! It is true that time does ease the fear. Its less moment to moment and more day to day now. Some days BC is so far away other days it drags my heart to a dark pit....thats when I really need all of you! Its funny how the last comment by a doc or person can either give hope or make you doubt you'll get through this! I hope that makes sense....so grateful for those here that encourage and offer hope...this is a tough journey and each of you on this journey are some of the strongest woman! Our stage IV sisters take the top honor though...they amaze me!!
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With Stage IIIc, Grade 3 IBC, I confess I sometimes get impatient reading so much early-stage, low-grade "drama". I always considered myself to be very compassionate and empathetic, but it appears I still have a ways to go.
I once had to bite my tongue when someone I knew with DCIS years ago and a lumpectomy as the only treatment started tsk-tsking over my choice of surgeon (hers was the best, in her not-so-humble opinion, saved her life he did!) and questioning why I had to have "so much treatment", as if it seemed all so unnecessary because I "looked so good!" I had to remind myself that she was a sister survivor and simply had an easier journey, with limited insight into another's more difficult one. But I so wanted to bite her head off at that moment. So much for handling all this with grace and good humor. I think I managed a half-way coherent explanation of why it was necessary to throw the book at a very aggressive form of BC, but I don't know if she really believed me. Oh well.
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The one that always bites me in the a$$ is You're all done with treatment now - right? Nope. Herceptin till Feb and hormonal treatment probably until I die from something else. Not to mention PT for my shoulder and reconstruction surgery next spring. Grrrr. On a brighter note I had my first haircut yesterday since shaving it all off 13 months ago. Herceptin really slowed down my hair growth but now it's almost looking like I cut it this way on purpose. Hadn't realized how gray it had gotten as I always kept it colored.
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Shycat,
Loved your post. I am about 6 months ahead of you. I have several friends that were dx & tx with a much easier road.
One month ago started the 1st anniversary of biopsy, surgery. All the anxiety & stress of last summer still is fresh. I mention that to my golf partner, her comment was "that's over". Ah, ignorance is bliss.
Dancing D, lolis, how's it going?
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