Starting chemo July 2014
Comments
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Knmtwins and ElaineThrese - I agree better to know than not know. If it's something you can tackle it head on. If it's nothing you can both breathe a sigh of relief. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they're both nothing! Thinking of you.
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Twins, Elaine, hope all works out. I've been off boards of late. Living like I never had cancer.
I think we're always going to be wondering about everything that pops up. You want to think positive, but neglecting myself or thinking it's nothing is what got me into this mess.
I had a ab, pelvic and vaginal US. Yeah, that was fun. Elaine, how do u even get a Petscan? even in the stage 3ers, some people get em, some not.
Do u guys ever look at urself int he mirror and can't believe the past year
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dancingdiva,
My MO is really into scans; I call her "Dr. Scan." I am also a Stage 3er (IIIA), and MO wants to be vigilant. She is also very good at fighting with insurance companies. Originally, my insurance refused to pay for BRCA testing, but MO got them to pay for it. Maybe, Canadian healthcare is more difficult to bargain with (?). Great to hear you've been living life like you never had cancer!
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dancingdiva: Yes, I can hardly believe this last year. especially as I look back on major dates, thinking, a year ago I was having my first chemo, I'm enjoying my raspberries and remembering last year my onc didn't let me eat them. Received an invitation to a picnic today, which reminded me of getting the same invitation last year and having to RSVP that it depended on how I felt that day whether we could attend and the lady just couldn't understand why i couldn't make plans and asked when I'd know and I said "probably 2 hours before the picnic". There was no planning of anything ahead of time.
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The port is now gone as of yesterday. It was a day surgery deal that went just fine. Today I'm taking the opportunity to be a lazy person. I might just run it into tomorrow too!
I hope I'm the last one here to sport one of those unfashionable accessories! I thought about all of you. Wishing you all well. 0 -
YAY Coyote - glad you got to say goodbye to that port and that surgery went well. I think you should take a lazy week lol
Nancy
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Congrats on your successful surgery, Coyote! Alas, I still have my port. At the very least, I'll have it through September, which is when I'll be having my last Herceptin infusion. HER2+ breast cancer is a marathon, not a sprint.
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Congrats Coyote! The year I had mine I never went near it. It grossed me out. Now I relish washing my chest and enjoying having that part of my body back. It's the little things! Plus it's no longer an everyday reminder that crap happened and could still happen. I think it helps you move on mentally. Fingers crossed for all of us!
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Thanks all. It does feel better with it out. I didn't realize how much I could feel it there. I took the bandage off today and the steri-strips will remain for another week. I'm back in the shower in the morning.
I hope everyone is doing well.
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Coyote, my radiologist also told me no swimming for 3 weeks after my port came out because of infection risk.
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It's Protein Day! I'm getting ready for my PET scan tomorrow. MO wants to have another look at my femoral neck, a bone in the hip area. It's lit up on two previous PET scans, and, based on the results, MO may (or may not) order a biopsy. Wish me luck!
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Lots of good luck tomorrow Elaine. I hope those spots are not nasty C. I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Let us know how it goes. Hugs.
Nancy
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Puffin ~ Yep, no pool time for awhile, but he okayed the shower. It's tough because the pool is in the back yard.
.All the best wishes, Elaine, for a clean test. We say "No" to "c". Prayers for you.
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Just found my PET scan results on the hospital portal. It reads "Left proximal femur lesion is stable and remains concerning for metastatic disease." I will see MO in a few weeks; she will probably order a biopsy. Thanks for your good thoughts and prayers!
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Oh Elaine - I'm still hoping it's not. Two weeks is a long time to wait to see MO. Can you call and see what she says - maybe she'll order the biopsy now. At least whatever it is it's stable. I'm sending you more good thoughts and prayers. Hugs
Nancy
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Elaine ~ yes, I'm so sorry to hear that the PET didn't dismiss the issue. Nancy has a good idea to contact your MO to see if there is a way to expedite the process.
Hugs and prayers
Jana
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Oh Elaine - yes I too was hoping the PET scan put the questions too rest but so happy as you state that what they see is stable! Hoping you can expedite the process if that is what you want.
Hugs and prayers,
Angie
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Again thanks for your thoughts and prayers.... I'm just going to leave this hip thing in the hands of the Lord for now. PET scans are notorious for producing false positives, and this hip thing has been with me for over a year. (It showed up on my first PET scan, shortly after diagnosis.) I can live with it for a few more weeks without knowing what it is.
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Elaine ~ I'm glad that you are able to deal with the situation and reasonably at peace with the wait. Sending good vibs for a good result.
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Hello Ladies,
I hope everyone is doing well... So sorry I haven't stopped by in so long and haven't read back yet but did want to send prayers and positive vibes for Elaine.. I needed to ask my fello July Chemo friends a question. Is anyone who is taking Tamoxafin suffering from joint pain? I am not sure if it is an after effect of the AC-T chemo treatment or if it is from the Tamoxafin but it is very frustrating and painful. I do have an appointment with my MO on Wednesday night but just wanted to see if anyone else had this issue. I had my first mamo/sono since treatment and it was clear, although they did notice changes from the lumpectomy and radiation. There is scar tissue on the side of the lumpectomy they will do a followup scan in 6 months.
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Elaine -- I just wanted to pop in to say I'm thinking about you. I will continue sending up prayers that you get that biopsy and it shows nothing to worry about.
JoeysMommy -- I had joint aches on Tamoxifen. I'm not sure it was what I would call "pain", but it certainly was uncomfortable. Definitely talk to your MO. I'm sure there are things he/she can suggest that will help you be more comfortable.
I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing so well and moving on!
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Elaine - I'm glad you're ok with the wait. You must be a very patient person unlike me. lol I will keep you in my thoughts as always
Joeysmommy - I take tamoxifen and I haven't had any joint issues. I also take 1500 mg of Glucosamine and MSM (Costco's kirkland brand). Not sure if that makes a difference, but I'm pain free thankfully.
Nancy
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I have been on tomoxifen now for 6 months and have some joint pain but what's disturbing is how easily I injure now. My knee has been messed up now for a month and all I did was scrub my tub. I have broken my toes two different times now by running into furniture. I have done these things pre dx and never had these problems. I feel as though my bones, muscles, and ligaments are weakened and more prone to injury. I know of someone else on bco boards who is a runner and she has injured her knee also twice now and feels about her muscles and ligaments the way I do. Would love to do a bone density test but am switching insurances so I'm in a waiting period. I chose to take a break from tomoxifen to see if my joints and vision( also affected) improve. I know my sleep hasn't but I've only been off of it for six days.
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Thank you Ladies, Kebab, I will agree it is not really pain as much as it is aching. It is worse when I am laying in bed and when I wake in the morning then it subsides during the day but never really fully gone. I will see what MO says tomorrow night. I have read joint pain is a side effect with menopause, after effects of chemo and tamoxifen so I imagine it is a little of all 3. Has everyone else gone into menopause after receiving treatment with chemo, if you haven't already been before chemo? I was still pretty regular prior to treatment but have only had one cycle last August and nothing since. My last MO appointment was 6 months ago and he said my estrogen level was pretty low. I hope it doesn't come back lol
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Aleve worked well for me, for the tamoxifen aches. It's not something I wanted to be in the habit of taking every day though. Hopefully your doctor can give you some suggestions.
My cycles stopped when I started chemo but started again, irregularly, when I stopped tamoxifen. :-/
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JoeysMommy - I do not take tamoxifen or anything else and I've had joint pain, mostly in my hands, shoulders and hips. Morning it worse, then it gets better, but not gone. Someone told me its from a lack of estrogen...? Something about estrogen lubricates the joints? My oncologist suggested taking the condroitin and glucosamine. I dont want to take ibuprofen or any pain reliever everyday. Please let me know what your doctor says. My next stop is my family doctor since nothing is happening.
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Hello WalleGator
I saw my MO on Wednesday afternoon and that is exactly what he said. Tamoxafin does not cause joint pain in itself, the joint pain is due to the abrupt change in estrogen in my body. When women go through menopause it is a gradual decline but having chemo and tamoxafin. It is a sudden halt ... he said eventually your body will get used to having minimal or no estrogen.. One thing I did notice is... I am not a water lover... In fact, I hate it... during chemo I drank it to keep my body flushed but normally I drink ice tea or power ade.. The other day I drank a few bottles of water and I started to feel a little better... MO said as we age our thirst does not match our need of water... it's time I change and start drinking water all the time... The joint stiffness and aching is definetly not something I want lingering... I fought breast cancer to survive and live happy not to now have constant aching in my body that makes me feel miserable hoping you are doing good keep hydrated it definetly helped me I agree completely with not taking advil type meds everyday ... 0 -
Thanks JoeysMommy! I'm glad to see a doctor confirmed what I had heard. Totally makes sense, too. I've learned which movements really cause pain and don't do them (more kid help!). Maybe if they get a rest, mostly shoulders, that will help, too. I think I will buy the glucosamine & condroitin since that's made for joints. I drink iced green team, mostly, and am not a water fan either. I have done water with lemon or lime squeezed in, so I'll get back on that wagon. Thank you for the info!
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Update on "the thing on my hip" that showed up on my PET scan. The thing only shows up on PET scans, and does not appear on CT scans, which often guide biopsies. So, we're going to do an MRI on my hip and see if it shows up there. If it does, we will schedule a biopsy. MO just wants to rule out cancer. No one wants a met eating away at their hip bone and reducing their mobility. I'm good with that. We're happy that the thing is stable and that no other "things" appear on my bones. I also had a clean mammogram, so there's that. Hope you ladies are finding some relief from your aches and pains! I'm not on Tamoxifen, but my AI (aromasin) isn't much fun for many of our sisters. The "Life on Aromasin" thread is full of misery and complaints.
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Hi - I'm beginning to understand that life is a series of tests. CT's, ultrasounds, now an MRI in the works. It's an ongoing lower back pain issue that no one has an answer for. Is it kidney or is it a post radiation rib issue? Or is it "something else"? Like you, ElaineT, I want to know if it something I need to deal with, or something that I just need to live with. Nothing showed up in CT and nothing showed up in ultrasound, but the pain remains - situated over my right kidney, along the lowest rib - just below the rib that became inflamed during radiation. I appreciate that my doctors are there for me. They actually had a phone conference to decide what the next step should be.
I'm working on a new/old project that I'm not certain I've discussed much with you. I wrote a children's book several years ago that got overcome by life events, including the World Trace Center disaster. I've been working on it again. It is out on "beta" read and some of the comments that have come back are good. These are from an elementary school librarian and another Library Sciences educator. I've not determined exactly what I want to happen with it, but I do know that I am physically going to hand make limited edition books while I decide what to do. I'm excited to get this done.
Stay well and stay busy.
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