Starting chemo August 2014
Comments
-
Eileen, good luck with your appointments and blood work and tests and everything! So sorry about the new "friend" of yours. Yuck.
Amy, good luck with your appointment too. I've yet to venture down the recon road, but I think once we're back home next week I'll start setting up some consults. I can't do surgery for a while anyway. I hope you can get your sleep sorted out. I'm not sleeping very well anymore and it's frustrating.
Herceptin #14 tomorrow for me - glad for the treatment options! But tired of going in for infusions.
0 -
Well my appointment went well today. I have another surgery date (July 30th) to tweak the look of the girls and put larger implants in. I have 600 silicone high profile implants now and I will go up to 800. My PS did say that despite than the few problems that can be fixed my implants look better than 90% of the cases. He was fine with doing the revision. No reason to have worried! Now I just have to go see my psychiatrist tomorrow and get through being told off for getting fat..sigh...lol
0 -
Gatomal: I found radiation hard emotionally I cried during first couple...than here and there throughout.. I liked the techs but I felt like they thought I was crazy....the social worker would meet me a couple days a week to check on me...which was nice but it made me feel like they'd never seen anyone get upset before...which in turn made me feel like I WAS crazy for getting so upset..i say..let it out!!!
Levi started crawling. He's 7 months old last week!!! And 20 lbs 28 inches tall!!! I'm going back to work July 2nd only one shift a week for the summer (12h shifts)
Yesterday started getting swelling in my hand also feels heavy and occasionally tingly....see my surgeon Monday but is suspected to be lymphedema ....F!!!!!!
0 -
second rads appt today. Did better. Posted last night but site crashed and ate it. Got some Ativan, but didn't take it today. Walked faster there today than yesterday. Stronger today? Experienced good male tech today w kinda not so good female tech from yesterday. Got me lined up in like 2 minutes as opposed to the 12 it took yesterday. Did not inspire confidence. Much faster overall today, but 11 passes of radiation, twenty seconds on front of Breast, and then another twenty seconds underneath me. Frickin scary. They talked about some lung tissue scarring from the supraclavicular node irradiation. Hope that I don't lose lung capacity too. I'll be relieved when this is over. Doing okay on Femara and supression. No real hot flashes. My estradiol was 15, that's normal if you are a 1-9 year old. Must be getting younger
0 -
Amy, glad to hear that appointment went so well!
NurseShark, I can't believe Levi is crawling already.
So amazing how time flies.Gatomal, glad today's rads were a little better. Your comment about getting younger made me chuckle.
My platelet counts have been a tiny bit low the past two checks. They were up a bit today compared to three weeks ago, so that was good, but they're still below normal, after finally recovering after chemo. Tamoxifen? Herceptin? Anyone else have any blood counts that haven't quite returned to normal yet? I got Herceptin #14 under my belt today, and I think I have three more to go. I walked to and from my appointment and almost started crying on the way home. This whole cancer thing is still somewhat surreal at times.
0 -
Cassie. So strange to be reading your posts on the spring rads board as you were going through it and now it's over! Sorry your counts are low. My husband said to me" don't feel bad that you're not as strong as you want to be yet, you've been getting your A&$ kicked for months, give it time. "
It's good to cry, especially walking. I have not been asked once for change on the street. In San Francisco, that's unheard of!
0 -
nurse shark and Gatomal I hope your feeling better.
We are back for our trip and back to real life. Tomorrow is a year since I was sitting in the doctors office getting mammograms and ultrasounds and biopsies! Next Thursday is a tear since that infamous "you have cancer call." To hit it all home I have an appointment with my PS that day and even better news, my husband had some kind of lump in his breast and is having an ultrasound that day. He and his doctor think it is some kind of infected ingrown hair or something. I'm really worried, the doctors told me mine was nothing too and look where I am. We haven't told anyone but I just needed to get it out there.
0 -
kellogg=Big hugs from me to you and your husband. Hoping for ingrown hair follicle
Nurseshark= Our baby is getting bigger. How fantastic. Crawling. Lymph edema I had that. I wrapped my entire arm and fingers three times day for 2 hours and elevated on a pillow. IT DID GO AWAY!!!!!! Also,worn compression shirt. Got it at Sports Authority.
Cassiecat= I have rarely ever had a normal blood counts. I went ever Monday up until 3 weeks ago for a daily blood draw then neupogen shots. All my counts were low. For platelets you can tell when they are low by when you floss if your gums bleed. My have now gone up to normal. My WBC still low. Told me this was completely normal after chemo and radiation.
I go next Friday to meet MD about colonoscopy and endoscopy. I am anxious. I do not want to hear COLON CANCER or METS. Trying to keep my head normal. Praying it is hemorrhoids. I feel like this has to stop finding something wrong. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
Justamy= Sounds like you got good news. Hope you mentally start feeling better.
Gatomal= Glad it was a little easier.
I know I forget someone. Sorry. Love all you gals!!
0 -
Ellenpg - I have my fingers and toes crossed that the colonoscopy goes well. I have confidence for you that it will all work out ok. You are in my thoughts daily.
Gatamol - Each day the rads will become easier. It helps when you like the techs. Usually I found the techs to be very sensitive and fun loving people. They know how much you've had to been through by this point. Hang in there.
Kellogg - Hoping for best outcome on DH situation.
I saw my MO today because the Arimidex was making my hands hurts and I had tingling up both arms. Stopped for a week and that all went away. He put me on Femara and said most people have less SEs with this one. Luckily I had other options rather then stop taking all together.
Meeting with wedding planners to get a handle on tent wedding cost. First estimate was a sticker shock. It would probably be cheaper to rent a hall then rent all the equipment and tent. My DD and fiancé are pretty set on it here so will stress the budget and keeping talking to caterers.
Wishing everyone a good weekend and little if no SEs
0 -
Eileen good luck on the colonoscopy, having another worry is terrible and fingers crossed for hemorrhoids.
Gatomal glad the radiation appointments felt better. I had all sorts of fears and doubts before starting it but I got used to it pretty quickly. It will get better. I did mine in prone position and found that it helped.
Amy glad to hear your PS appointment went well. You should be satisfied with the outcome and glad your doctor understands that. Sometimes I feel like doctors think we should be glad we are saved from a life threatening situation and not worry about other things but it does not work that way.
I hope everyone else is doing great. I came back from chile Tuesday morning, stayed home slept and watched the entire third season of Orange is the new black. It was really nice. Then I had to go to Orlando for training and got back late yesterday. Just happy to be home and sleeping in my bed. The best part of chile was the food and wine. I overdid it and will have to work on losing what I gained there now
also feel guilty about all the wine I drank. It truly sucks to feel bad about something so basic!0 -
windgirl=Give it up. Just be happy you feel so good. I love wine
Cassie= Can we come to wedding. I would love to be a surprise visit for you
0 -
Eileen good luck with the colonoscopy! Hugs to you!
Windgirl chili sounds amazing! I hear you on the few extra pounds! I overdid it on vacation too!
0 -
went windsurfing today! Big first for me
it was very short like half an hour only and there was almost no wind so I rigged my smallest sail and just slogged slow back and forth" feels great to be on the water. My PT had not given me the green light yet due to my lymphedema not being stable yet but I figured i will give its try in the least effort way possible, small sail little wind etc., wore my compression and success, no swelling!! And I did use my hand quite a bit when carrying the stuff, putting it together and deregging. So happy about it I had to share left the gear in my car, will go again tomorrow for a little bi0 -
welcome home Windgirl & congrats on your first wind!!
Eileen, thinking of you and best wishes. I need a colo also.
I'm gearing up hopefully to go to San Francisco in a couple weeks. I joined crunch gym today! I love it there. I decided to get my ass off the couch, since I'm having trouble telling the difference between the two.
0 -
Bippy=Funny and thanks for thinking of me. Go to gastro Fri to meet him and set up time. Feeling better about test. Breast cancer NEVER goes to colon. Doubt I have another type of cancer. All blood work good.
0 -
Eileen, I had some rectal bleeding a few months ago. All my blood work was normal. My dear sweet onco wanted to do a rectal exam. I've known him for 20'years....I said you have lost your mind. If I bleed a bunch I'll go to the ER ....I have a GI doc and have had a colonoscopy before. They gave me some suppositories that cleared it right up. No more bleeding...no outer hemorrhoids. So I bet you will be just fine. Try not to worry.
Can't remember if I told you all Dr. Confirmed stable lung mets, and brain was clear. If I didn't have chemo brain I could remember if I had already posted
0 -
Beatmom= I will try not to worry. it is hard. Thanks!!!
0 -
beatmon, yayyyy! I was wondering about ya.
0 -
Hi Ladies, sorry I've been away so long again... Had some down time & got all caught up today! Wow, so much going on!
LadyB, so happy your mammo came back clear! And your hair looks fabulous!
Kellogg, beautiful pics of Ireland, I'm so jealous! My hubby's family all just got back from a trip to HI for like 2 weeks w/o us... we couldn't afford the trip or the time off work... Both those places are on my bucket list. Hoping for best possible news on your hubby.
Catie, I've been having terrible joint pain also, for months, from the chemo and then ran right into the side effects of the hormone blockers. I already changed meds once, due to cost, but still a lot of joint paid every day. I've just been trying to work through it & taking glucosamine & chondroitin supplements, which seem to help some. I see MO next month. I might try quitting the meds for a week before to see if it goes away. My tumor was only like 25% ER/PR +, so really, is it worth all this pain for 5 years? to block 1/4 of the possibility of recurrence? IDK...
Gatomal, glad to hear your good test results! About rads, I loved both my techs & they made it easy for me. The machine I used was like sliding the table into a giant doughnut. To me it felt like a very powerful place to be & some days I would pray in there, feeling like my prayers were amplified somehow while I was in there. Some days I counted the revolutions. Some days I just fell asleep. The first few treatments I was very nervous about breathing and holding still, but then relaxed and it became routine. Hope everything settles down and it all goes well for you. Also, your girls are adorable!
Eileen & Bippy, I have a colonoscopy scheduled for July 10. So not looking forward to that. I was totally freaked out when the gastroenterologist told me I needed one. It was several months ago, it's taken a while to get it scheduled and then I rescheduled once. I just couldn't handle even the thought of more (different) cancer. Like give me a break, I don't even want to know b/c I don't want to do chemo again. Now, since the bad mammo/biopsy scare, I'm kinda over that. I have a friend from junior high & high school who has been battling colon cancer for maybe 3 years now. She was told 6 months ago that she cannot be cured. Sucks. So lets all get cleared for that! And Bippy, congrats on the new job, and the blog post is great!
WindGirl, so happy you are back to windsurfing! Good for you! I would be hiking more if it were not 104 degrees in the shade here! I just got some fabulous new hiking boots, have worn them walking for a total of about 5 miles so far and love them! Can't wait to take them out on some more rugged terrain!
We are leaving in a couple days to drive to ID for hubby's family reunion, then going to spend a night at our cabin before heading back. Really looking forward to this small getaway. We enjoy the long drive (2 days on the road) through some stunningly beautiful country (past Joshua trees, Wasatch mountains & Hoover Dam, and through the Virgin River Gorge) and like to listen to audio books while we drive. It's great to read everybody's updates! Thinking of you all & hoping everyone continues to do well!
0 -
Strongenough good to hear from you. Hawaii is on my bucket list too!!!
Wind- so glad you got out surfing!!!
Today's the day. One year ago is when I got the call that I had cancer! And this afternoon my husband is going for some tests for a lump he has. To say I am nervous is an understatement. Good news is I had a great appointment with my plastic surgeon and he doesn't need to see me again for a year. I hope the rest of the day is full of good news too.
0 -
Beatmon, YaY! I was thinking about you and hoping you would post soon. Such good news!
Strongenough, so glad to hear from you too. Have fun on the gateaway!
Catie, have fun with the wedding planning as I know it can get stressful. Hoping the new med works out well for you.
Eileen, good luck with the colonoscopy. You got this girl and I hope you are not worrying too much. But we all know that is easier said than done. Thinking of you.
Windgirl, that sounds like so much fun! Live it up!
Amy, so glad to hear that appointment went so well and that you have a surgery date.
NurseShark, Levi crawling -- how time flies. He will be walking soon.
Kellogg, YaY! on the good Dr's visit. Praying for positive results for your DH and for you as you are there to support him. My one year mark was really hard for me. But I thank God for making it this year and for the support and growing friendship on this thread. Love my peeps!
Gatomal, Like Strongenough I ust let my mind go other places -- prayer, singing to myself, counting the revolutions and the seconds for each zap. I could tell when they went out of sequence or started in another position after awhile. LoL Felt like I was stepping into a SyFy movie. After the frist few treatments you fill find it becomes routine. Hope you are doing well with minimal SEs and that your skin is holding up.
Still attempting to settle in with the Tamoxifen. SEs have varied. The scariest one for me was the dizzy spells and vertigo that lasted for about a week. My MO has tested me twice for ovary functions and low and bold I am finally going into peri-menopause and the hot flashes are kicking my behind. She also told me to keep a dairy of SEs and duration as sometimes it is hard to tell Tamo SEs form Menopause. All in all attempting to adjust to my new normal. Still fatigued but learning to adjust.
Finally got the arm lymphodema (LE) under control and now my breast swelled up. I think I look lopsided. But my PT says there is only a slight difference. I wear my compression sleeve and glove almost every day. I also had to get a shirt and some cami's to deal with the breast and slight truncal LE.
Take care all and wishing minimal to no SEs for everyone.
-Hugs Always,
Angie
0 -
Angie - Glad to see an update post from you. You have been thru a lot with SEs. Sounds like you are coping with your new normal. Sorry u r having hot flashes. I know them all too well. I am hoping they don't last long for u. I remember mid winter standing outside in my t shirt and sticking my head out open car window. lol luckily not too bad anymore.
Kellogg - Sending good wishes to ur DH. Good news from plastic surgeon.
Gatamol - How is the radiation going now? Has it gotten any better? How are the techs?
Sorry if I'm not addressing everyone individually right now, but I want you to know ur in my thoughts all the time. This group has meant so much thruout this experience. To be able to talk to people that r experiencing things with you. It's hard to constantly talk to family about aches and pains. More on them then me. As much as they r there to support you, I just feel like I'm complaining all the time. I rather not! At least I know u understand and can suggest ways to deal in real time. Thanks for that....
Speaking of complaining, my DH is doing well. Two months after surgery and still dealing w his aches and pains. We r getting away next week with 2 other couples to Cape May. We both really need to get away!!!! He needs to get out of the house bad since he works from home.
BTW new hormone meds are working out so far. No SEs to speak of.
Wishing everyone a good weekend.
0 -
So glad to read all the good news.
Please keep sharing - I love reading about the trips, the life events, the good medical news all of it!We got DD safely settled in DC for her ballet intensive, and we go back out in 4 weeks now to pick her up. What an experience for her! SO far she's tired and her feet hurt, but she seems happy.
Tomorrow DH and I celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. Going out to dinner somewhere but haven't picked a place yet. He had an MRI done Wednesday for shoulder pain and found he has rotator cuff tears. Such a bummer. He doesn't know yet what the treatment options will be. I'm feeling good aside from the whole left breast area feeling sore every day. I am impatient for that to all feel better already!0 -
hi all! Still walking there and back. 17 to go. Doing okay, done days are harder than others. I have techs training on me some days, And when they have yo type my chin up, sometimes they get closer to my throat and it makes me sick. I get 11 zaps...feels like a lot. Clavicle tender and had nausea today. Did anyone get that? Still trying to run a bit. Ran seven blocks, but not enough support in my bra for more. In bed now, after some zofran. Femara and suppression are seemingly going okay too. No weight gain so far, a little loss, but that's prob from the exercise.
So happy to hear about beatmons stable scan, hope her husband is okay.
Love the wedding planning, dance intensives, vacations, and fun! Baby crawling? Go Levi!
Angie, hang in there, I've been doing LE exercises to try and keep it at bay. I even okay w hot flashes but I'm still taking one gabapentin each day. I've read that those can help too.
My kids are getting bigger, we r starting to pack up some things in prep for returning to Reno in late August. Hubby looks like he can work from home M and F do that means we have him for half a week.
I'm going to get to meet bippy in person soon! She's staying down the street from my apt.
Good weekend all.
0 -
cassie=Your daughter is going to have an amazing summer What a fantastic opportunity
Met with gastro MD today. Colonoscopy in 2 weeks. Told me he was pretty positive it was not cancer. So,I felt better.
Selling my house in Baltimore. So much work.Old house that needs tons of cosmetic work. Also,mildew problem in basement. A contractor offered me a low price .No inspection. Cash and I walk away. After having cancer I may take it. One less hassle to list my house. My house is in such poor shape. Since BS I really want to make life easier.
Wishing everyone a great weekend. Was suppose to have yard sale both days however,tomorrow expecting torrential rain.UGH!!!
0 -
happy anniversary Cassie! Best wishes to your DH. My SIL just has that surgery and it is no fun, but is much better now.
Catie, ditto to your DH and his recovery.
Eileen, you are wise to consider letting the Baltimore home go with ease. You can spend the funds to fix it up, but would you make out any better in the end dollarwise and health wise? Maybe let the contractor buy it and be the fixer. I support you either way. Great word from your doc!
Angie, my LE is stable and I got a sleeve for flying. Learning to be gentle in exercise and to do my MLD. You are my inspiration there along with windgirl.
Gatomal, woohoo! See ya in a coupla weeks in SF
0 -
Hi Everyone! Thanks for all the good thoughts. My DH has Mastitis. First time his doctor has ever seen that in a man. So he'll take some antibiotics and then go back for a follow up ultrasound. But makes me think, I had mastitis like 4 years ago before I ever had a child. It was in the same breast and same area that my cancer was. Related? Who knows but I might ask my MO when I se him next.
Anyhow, thanks again for all the thoughts.
0 -
Good news, kellogg! Surprising, but glad to hear it's not cancer.
0 -
Kellogg= Yeah to you and your husband. Lets all agree. WE WANT NO MORE HEALTH ISSUES!!!!!! We are tired and DONE!!! Going for colonoscopy and endoscopy next Thursday. Not anxious at all. I'm only thinking positive these days.
0 -
Yay for no cancer!! In other news went to get my monthly ovarian suppression shot. I was complaining of elbow and wrist pain so they had my arms measured by the lymphedema clinic and they are swollen. Which is weird they said because my surgery was almost a year ago, I didn't have many lymph nodes removed and the right is worse then the left but cancer was on the left. So yeh there's that! I'm going to be measured next month at my appointment and see what happens. The gift that keeps on giving.
0
