Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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my MO wants to use Aromatase inhibitors.
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My MO has talked about Tamoxifen and ovarian suppression. She's a very one step at a time type of Dr, so we haven't really discussed it at length. I'm hoping chemopause will be permanent so I can skip over the OS.
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Minnesota Lisa, thank you for that tip! I'm going to try it tonight!
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Annie I wasn't going to have chemo until I got the oncotype score of 36 back. I have my consult notes and my MO recommended low oncotype = Rads and Tamoxifen/AI's (5/5yrs); high oncotype = chemo, tam and AI's (no mention of rads so it's still up in the air for me).
I am post menopausal with my last period in July 2013.
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Jabe, how surreal it has to be that your dad was a breast MO. I know how much I've cried for my husband's mom these last few months; she was an OB/GYN nurse manager and I loved her VERY dearly. I can only imagine it from your perspective.
I got home around 5am just completely exhausted after having no sleep whatsoever. But then I discovered that, while morphine makes me stoned and loopy... it has no effect on pain for me. There is apparently a percentage of people like that. So the excruciating pain continued while I lay in bed trying desperately to get some rest. Thankfully hubby went out and got the oxycodone and that's helping somewhat. Hopefully this will improve after I get the next round of antibiotics in.
Thank you for the heads-up on constipation! Between the Zofran they gave me with the abx, the morphine, and the oxycodone, I need to start taking something. At least this might fix the diarrhea I've had for the last four weeks. The indignities just pile up: horrific C. diff diarrhea that causes hemorrhoids; suppositories to treat the hemorrhoids; yeast infections from the antibiotics for the C. diff; it's just neverending. I want them to leave me the heck alone right now.
I have no idea if chemo #4 is on for Thursday at this point. They are going to have to come up with a plan for this DVT and I don't know what's coming. Hubby is trying to get me ready for the likelihood that they'll need to go in and re-do it. I'm just at the point that these every-12-hour shots are the thing that's making me break. With everything else... this is a bridge too far. Thankfully, he totally understands and said, "No, I get that completely. No need to explain it." I was so relieved--that is not usually the case!! I'm going to beg them for an alternative, as I just can't do this for six months.
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Jackbirdie, sorry I can't really help you with cosmetic product comparison. I had to stop using all cosmetics almost a decade ago (even colorless lip balm) because I've developed sommamy contact allergies.
My hospital doesn't do oncology scores, or test for markers like CEA. Not sure whether large city's hospitals do that in Finland
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how long do they wait between chemo and radiation?
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thanks Amy. It is hard and I miss him so much. Good news? He doesn't have to see me go through this.
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Being stage 3 with positive nodes, they didn't need an onotype test to help decide about chemo for me.
It's been a rough few days for so many of us. Hugs to all.
A friend gave me one of these yesterday: https://www.naturallife.com/accessories/all-boho-b...
It's a super easy way to cover your head. There's also a company called Buff that makes something similar. It took a few seconds to put on, and stayed put all day
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Good morning everyone. Definitely feeling the cumulative effects of chemo. Taking longer to bounce back after #3. Oh and the hot flashes..oh my. Any tips for that? It keeps me up at night.
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Carolina Amy - I have been thinking about you a lot.
Ask your doc if going on Coumadin for the duration is an option for you. You would likely need to continue Lovenox until your blood-clotting level (called INR) is sustained by the Coumadin (a week or two maybe?).
I've been on Coumadin for 17 years - zero side effects. Only downside is need for periodic finger-pricks to test your INR (frequency anywhere from weekly to monthly), but that's a walk in the park compared to the injections.
Good luck and keep us updated - you're in my thoughts.
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Alrighty, it's done! I asked my 5-yr-old what he thought when we were done and he said, "You look like you don't exist!" Ummmm, thanks?
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Meg you did it gal! Beautiful. I have your brows too. Amazing what features we notice when we have no hair. I have had more people tell me about my cheekbones and eyes now that I'm bald. Tell your baby you are still his mama no matter what.
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Scotland I found something similar to the buffs in your link at Walmart for $2.88 a piece. They come in a lot of colors and prints. They are sort of like an open tube of fabric. You just slip them on your head like a hat and tuck under the open ends. Very soft and lightweight for around the house, in warmer weather, & under hats to hide the buzz fuzz that peeks out. And hot flash friendly as I can attest to.
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Meg you rock the buzzed look!
Years ago when my younger son was in early gradeschool, I went from natural mousy-brown but permed hair, to non-curly reddish-colored "helmet"- trpe cut (yesm it was years ago, LOL). When I came to pick him up from school he screamed and refused to get in the car, shouting "You're not my mommy! Go away!"
Kids can be so silly sometimes 0 -
Done with the dentist thing. Love my dentist. So nice. He's this older guy, of course. Hoping he never retires.. Got a temp fix on the broken tooth. Unlike most, while I don't relish going to the dentist, the drills and saws don't bug me because it's numb. What bothers me is keeping my mouth open WIDE for so long.
Annie: I'm to call the rad place 1 month before chemo ends so they can get me on the books. I was told 3 weeks between chemo and rads for "rest."
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Aggie Megs - You look AWESOME!
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Scotland - thanks for the link, I ordered two. I have a Buff that I got from REI, it's super easy and cute. Right now I'm looking for anything that will not overheat me, it's going to be 100 again this week
. Hazel_Nut I had a hot flash while I was driving last week and had to check to make sure the heated seat wasn't on in my car - nope it was all me! LOL0 -
mom2boo, yeah I always have to check with people around me...is it hot in here? nope just me.
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I fantasize about quitting. It's hard to believe that I'm only 2.5 weeks into 20 weeks of poison.
Annie, I'm waiting 4 weeks after chemo to start rads. Then probably another 2-4 for the ooph and hoping they can do left boob reconstruction contemporaneously because I'm not a fan of so much general anesthesia in 3 years (2 c-sections, msx, port placement, oooh) Then 10+ years of AI. It really never ends. My MO said that AI doesn't increase the risk of uterine cancer like Tamoxifen does so an ooph would be sufficient.
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Aggie, you look great! I have a one-year-old who can't really talk yet and I asked the dumb question, "Am I still your Mommy?" He shook his head 'no' and cooed/laughed at me. *heartbreak* (Didn't stop him from running up to me and hugging me as soon as he saw me, though. Not sure if he understood the question.)
Infusion #3 on Wednesday. So far, I've been having semi-queasy first weeks and medication free 2nd weeks; keeping my fingers crossed that the trend continues. I have WAY more nausea when I don't keep something in my stomach - part of me wishes I were losing 10 lbs instead of gaining 5; but the last nurse told me this was NOT the time to go on a diet if I wanted to keep my white cell count up and stay on schedule. I'm am learning to love the taste of prunes.
They're having a breast cancer awareness walk on Wednesday at work, too! I was specially invited to attend. Also, the Seahawks must not be doing so hot this season; a coworker gifted me one of their caps! Good thing, too. This morning, I was wearing one of my turbans and showed off a picture of my son when he was 9 months old; the person I shared the picture with asked if he was my grandson. *cries*
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does or did anyone get a pain in the armpit on the port side?
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No pain for me. 3 weeks later and there's a tiny little line for the incision.
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Same experience as skittlegirl - discomfort for a week. Three weeks later, just a weird lump at the port and a healing incision.
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It's been 10 days. I just ache across the port and into my armpit
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can't find the group on FB? forgot who posted about it.
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Aggie You rock that look!!
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My 2-yr-old just saw my bald head for the first time. He grinned really big and came running toward me with his arm out saying, "Touch Mommy hair?" then he proceeded to pet my head (ouch, but I let him anyway). Be still, my heart.
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About my oncotype.....I waited a month to get the score back only for then to say there wasn't enough carcinoma left so it was inconclusive. I wish I had the number. In a way it was good to forcelebrate me into chemo but I might have chosen a different regiment if I had a high number. I question my decision every day. Even more so because the major cancer hospital suggested the more aggressive treatment and I am going for the shorter one. I hope I don't regret it.
I am supposed to have my second infusion on Friday and I just want to run. I don't trust my local doctors anymore. It is too short of notice to get set up with a new set out of town. I don't know what to do.
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AnnieB43 - Definitely get attention for that. I don't think you're supposed to even notice it at this point.
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