Neoadjuvant TCHP - Post Results Here
Comments
-
Yay cchix! I'm happy you're done. Like CassieCat said..time to start healing. Hang in there. You can do it!
0 -
congrats cchix feels so good when you know you're one!! When are you thinking your gonna have surgery mine is scheduled for sept 21 I'm not happy I have to wait so long that's over 6 weeks since my last chemo but she's on vacation of course she has been on vacation for all of my big moments ugh she's a really good surgeon though
0 -
Gingersnappy -- Ugh... that IS tough timing! But hopefully you won't have bad SEs and will breeze through!!!
cchix -- Congrats on getting your last cycle of chemo! Just hang in there and know it will all get better! I was totally wiped out after chemo, but I was happy to be done! I think I went into surgery a week or two later-- and was worried I might have to postponed because I was still anemic and weak... but it all worked out, and now I'm just done with radiation and almost don't know what to do with myself now that all the major treatments are over!
You all will be there, soon! It goes pretty fast after chemo is over!
0 -
how long did you ladies who are done have to wait for surgery is 6 weeks too long??
0 -
Stephmoen:
My surgery was about 4 weeks PFC. I completely understand your sense of urgency. If you are concerned, talk with your MO and BS. Ugh..this whole cancer thing just stinks.
Amy
0 -
my surgery was right at 6 weeks. Last chemo was May 26th. Surgery was July 7t
0 -
Stephmoen--mine was two weeks after my last chemo. It was suggested three weeks, but then my BS was on vacation, then the week after that my PS was on vacation! I wanted to get it done sooner rather than later, so they pushed it up a bit.
0 -
thank you all for love and Encouragement. I am happy even though I am in the dark pit right now. I see the surgeon on Aug.27 but I know I will not be ready for surgery. Yay...just doing the HAPPY dance in my mind. Thanks and God Bless.
0 -
CChix, I'm so happy you're done with chemo. That is such a relief. Hopefully you will have a little time to recover from chemo before surgery.
My surgery was 6 weeks after chemo ended. My next surgery to replace expanders with implants will be mid-Sept. Can't wait to get that done. In the meantime I'm getting physical therapy twice a week to improve both shoulders range of motion. That's really helping a lot!
0 -
I don't think 6 weeks is too long to wait for surgery. My BS wanted me to wait about that long, maybe 5 weeks, but I pushed to have it done sooner. I'd been out of work since starting chemo and really wanted to get back to my regular life as much as possible. So he watched my blood counts and agreed to surgery about 3.5 weeks after finishing chemo.
0 -
Mine was six and a half weeks after the end of chemo and the BS did not seem concerned about the amount of time that had lapsed at all.
0 -
had a pet scan post chemo done this morning already got my results nothing lit up was written that my breast cancer is resolved
very happy and feel lucky I was able to get this chemo regimen that killed my cancer next step surgery sept 210 -
what wonderful news!!
0 -
YAY!!!!!
0 -
Steph, congratulations! Best news possible!
0 -
so happy!!!!!
0 -
Ultrasound done today tech spent about 15 mins trying to find something anything then she got the radiologist he couldn't find anything either!!! So happy
won't know for sure until surgery but I like to believe it all gone0 -
Hi all,
I'm starting TCHP chemo on Sept 17th. I'll have mastectomy and radiation/herceptin afterward.
I'm going to read back on this thread to see if there's any advice or things that helped you get through it.
Also - did anyone work while doing this regimen? I'm planning to and am wondering how feasible it is.
I'm in the middle of a whirlwind and trying to be an informed patient.
0 -
That is wonderful news Stephmoen! Very happy for you!!!
0 -
edws mom - sorry you have to be here, but welcome. Below is a link w/lots of tips for chemo.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/...
I also suggest that you check on the active tread for the current month chemo - August chemo. It was so much easier going through chemo w/others who are experiencing the same thing. I did not work but I'm sure someone else will chime in.
0 -
Edwsmom-I worked during TCHP. I usually had chemo on a Wednesday and took Thursday and Friday off. The hardest part was the physical and mental fatigue. I'm lucky that my employer was very understanding (I work in a hospital laboratory). My MO prescribed zofran and phenegan for nausea and recommended taking them for 2 to 3 days after the treatment. She said nausea is easier to prevent. Once it's started it can be hard to get a handle on. She also recommended having some Imodium on hand in case of diarrhea and she prescribed some lomotil in case the Imodium didn't work. Most of the anti-nausea meds cause drowsiness. After the first treatment, I had some major skin flushing on my face and then broke out in little pimples all over my face and chest so I didn't always look lovely at work. 😀 My best advice is to listen to your body and rest when you need to. If you need to leave early from work then do so. Good luck with chemo! TCHP worked well for me.
0 -
I had LX surgery less than 2 weeks after my last cycle was completed! I wasn't sure I'd be able to go through with it because my blood counts and other things were still pretty messed up from chemo. I had to go in early on the day of my LX to get more blood tests, just in case! But they did the surgery and I was fine.
I did not have a complete response to TCHP, so I guess it was just as well that I had surgery quickly... but I would think that having a bigger wait-time wouldn't be bad. After all, people sometimes wait months before any treatment at all is started... and at least after chemo, most all or all of the cancer should be killed. Even my tumor had shrunk, so at least the cancer wasn't growing. Anyway--the docs all seemed unconcerned. I think I just had surgery quickly because my surgeon wasn't on vacation or anything.
-----
Funny... my nails are nearly back to normal now (end of chemo was at the end of April). But my toenails started getting dark spots on the big and second toes. I'm not as worried, though, since I went through this on my fingernails and they looked weird for a while and started separating, which was creepy and scary, but they stopped before coming all the way off. Interesting, though, that these things are popping up months later.
My GI tract is still a bit funky (getting upset easily and getting heartburn now and then when I never had any before), but is MUCH more normal than it has been during and since chemo.
Hair seems to be taking forever to grow in. It's still less than an inch on my head. I guess I'd just better get used to wearing a wig for a long while to come...!
0 -
Hi edwsmom - I just finished my last TCHP chemo on August 13th. I worked throughout the 6 cycles. Each cycle was on Thursday, so I took Friday off and all but the last cycle, I took the following Monday off due to the SE that kicked in on Sunday. I'll admit, the side effects were not fun but you get through them.
Surgery is scheduled for next Friday (3 weeks PFC) and then rads. I have my MRI tomorrow and echo on Monday which should tell me how well the TCHP worked and if it affected my heart.
Good luck and sorry to be a part of this group.
0 -
pumpkin - welcome & also sorry we all have to be here. Congrats on finishing the chemo & good luck w/upcoming surgery.
0 -
stephmoen--great news!
I love that there are success stories. I love reading all of your experiences. I do have trouble keeping track of everyone, so if I miss congratulating you by name, forgive me. I celebrate all of your successes and commisserate with you in your dark moments even if I forget to mention everyone by name. I only scroll back a little bit when I check the board each time.
0 -
I can't remember if I shared or not, but my mammo came back clear. I'm entering year 2 now feeling healthy, strong and as cancer-free as I can feel. (Pap came back negative too - yay!).
0 -
that's great cassiecat hoping to be right there with you soon
0 -
Great news, CassieCat!!!
0 -
awesome Cassiecat!!
0 -
Sorry, haven't been on in a while. That last treatment was rough and I am still riding the waves of nausea. I am still very weak and side effects still kicking in...gooey eyes, poor vision, splotchy fingernails, tender skin, the D, heart burn, and who knows what else...Just riding it out and ust knowing no more TCHP helps the mind. Now if body would just kick in. I met with my surgeon and first comment was...WOW...he could not feel anything of the tumor and expects my lymph node to be sterilized. So I have choices now. Mx or breast conserving. He sounded disapproving of my choice for BMX. I just want it over and will not miss the girls...especially the one that tried to kill me. My surgery will be Sept. 14th. Thats 4 weeks after last chemo. I do not know when or what other treatment will be yet except for herceptin every 3 weeks until May 2016. Any comments on surgery and after treatments would be appreciated. Most of all prayers please. Praying for this sisterhood too.
0
