Starting Chemo June 2017
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Hap2... I will take care until surgery. Tonight, though, I am having a glass of wine! I haven't had a drink since this thing started.
Thanks Pink and Julia. I do feel better about the path forward. I'm glad your radiation went better today, Pink.
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Peachy, I’m happy to hear that you are considering a unilateral. I’m torn, I only have problems on 1 side, and I could care less if they aren’t symmetrical. I’d prefer just 1 side but my breast surgeon says theres always a chance for it’s to show up on tne other side so doing both won’t be be problem. I’m pretty conservative which is why i chose a lumpectomy and that didn’t exactly work out. My husband wants me to get Brac tested to help decide. This web site seems to be really pushing flap reconstruction but that has a lot of complications. Reading the options they seem to be against implants. My dr says I won’t need radiation but I’m not sure I believe her and I need to make a decision thinking I’ll problably need radiation. The 2 peop,e I know who had flap recon have had plenty of setbacks due to that surgery.0
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Thank you HapB, I totally agree
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Sounds like you have a plan, Peachy. That should relieve the stress. You will do well I know. Try to relax and enjoy the time you have before your surgery. Maybe you'll get lucky like I did and not need radiation.
Susie, a vacation from the chemo doesn't sound bad at all. Round 8 will be the clean-up round. Enjoy your break.
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Hi LTWJ,
Sorry to hear your news. Praying for you. I had a bilateral mastectomy back in April. I was out on a hike in two weeks. I thought it would be really difficult - but it was not for me. I had immediate saline implants done as I already had implants since 1999. I was fearing the surgery - but my fears were SO MUCH more than what it really was. I struggled with doing just a unilateral - but I just went for it. Turns out the left breast tissue had hyperplasia - which are abnormal cells that have a higher chance at becoming cancerous. Looking back I am glad I made that decision - but it certainly is different for everyone.
Congratulations Kim on 'getting it done'!
Take care everyone - you are all in my prayers.
Sue
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Lilsuzq,
I’m interested in tne direct saline implant. So you did not need tissue expanders, they just put them in? I’m not wanting to go bigger, same size or smaller B cup. That flap surgery just sounds too much for me. Did you need radiation? My breast dr says I won’t but I’m not very trusting at this point and I’m afraid after pathology comes back, that she will decide I do
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Hi LTWJ,
I did not need tissue expanders since I had breast implants previously. My general surgeon did the mastectomy and the plastic surgeon put the saline implants in the same day. I was home by 3 pm ...lol...Yes I agree that the flap surgery sounded like a lot - with exposure to infections, multiple surgeries , etc. I do hear, however, that the results can be nice and look very natural. My previous saline implants were filled with 365 cc's and my new ones are 390 cc's (same size but with breast tissue being absent the surgeon explained that the implants would need to be filled more for same size result). I am a small C cup. I did not need radiation as there is no breast tissue to radiate and there was no lymph node activity in the two that were taken out. It is my understanding that the chest wall itself can be radiated if needed.
The whole saline implant experience, both times in my life, were positive. Also, I wanted to get back to work ASAP. I was able to do that after the mastectomy and the implants.
I hope this helps and let me know if I can help further. It's such a personal decision. If you have any doubts about your doctors - get a second opinion. I did....
Prayers,
Sue
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Chemo is over. I didn't cry...just felt relieved and wanted to go home. I am ready for this to be the "last" bad week of post side effects and want to start feeling "normal" again. I think it will really hit me the chemo is over this Friday, when it is not a day spent in the chemo chair.
I did ring my cowbell quietly, because I didn't want to scare others. My DH said I really need to ring it, so it took it and rang it loudly for us both. lolPics are giant again - sorry.
Video is somewhere in the cloud. I am not good with clouds.
Thinking of y'all often with so many decisions and continued treatments ahead.
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Kim, fantastic news and great photos! Onward and upward we go!
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Kim so happy for you 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 end of the tunnel!!! 12 weeks of taxol .... tough!!!
Can’t wait for me to get there ...... 🙏🙏🙏🙏 God please help me!!
Love the pictures and the cake !!
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kimpossble818
Congrats and I love your sweatshirt!! Cake looks delicious too. My taste buds are starting comeback, only 7 weeks post chemo, took long enough. We just ate out lunch at a restaurant I swore we’d eat at as soon as food tasted good. I’ll say it’s 70% back.
Had an appointment with an implant ( silicone) plastic surgeon today. Have a Deip Flap surgeon on Wednesday. I was leaning towards the flap surgery all weekend but now I’m leaning back towards the implants. Still more reading up to do
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Glad you celebrated in style Kim. Looking good!
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That cake was so good! Lol. Wow has sugar been the thing that has gotten me through the chemo months. I need to watch it for now (as I stare down my Halloween candy). (A friend sent me that sweatshirt. Want that perfect timing?)
LTWJ, I almost feel guilty that I don’t have such decisions as many of you ladies. I wish I could offer any helpful input. I cannot with certainty know what I would do. I pray that you will have amazing success with whatever you definitely decide.
If anyone saw the Today Show this morning, near the end, they had ladies who had decided to “go flat” post MXs. What surprised me most was that they showed them fully on tv. How brave of these women, and to bring more awareness as October is ending.
Paulette, YOU can do this!!! You truly can.
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Kim, during taxol period I have been eating a lot of sweet also. As soon as I finished taxol I need to cut sweet down I worry about my blood sugar. I didn’t see Today Show, maybe I can catch it later.
I will try my best to reach to the finish line, only thing holding me back is neuropathy.
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Congratulations Kim!!! So excited for you to finish. And yes, you are right, the best day is after the worst of the SEs have passed and you DO NOT go into the chemo chair as usual. Rest up!
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WooHoo Kim!!! You did it!! Congratulations.
Paulette...you're up next!
LTWJ...good luck with your next appointment. I like the idea that a diep flap procedure would keep things "all me" but there's not enough of me to go around. My surgeon said I probably didn't have enough tissue but I'm going to ask the plastic surgeon on Wed to confirm that. I don't know if I like the idea of the additional area of cutting/healing. Nothing about this process is a slam dunk, easy decision.
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For the several of you still making reconstruction decisions, every one of us is different and what is right for one person is not right for another. I'm not trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking at all! Just wanted to say that for me, I have been happy with no reconstruction. I don't go "flat" really as I usually wear foobs "fake boobs" or external prostheses instead of internal ones. These help balance out my curvy hips. If I were really thin I could probably go flat in clothes and no one would notice.
Each type of breast forms have advantages and disadvantages and I choose a different one depending on what I am doing that day. I have three types:#1 - knitted knockers (weightless); #2 - foam ones slightly weighted which are very perky but feel a bit firm when someone hugs you (ABC First Form Weighed Style 926); #3 - lightweight silicone ones (Anita Softtouch 1052X2) which are a bit heavier and sag and move a little bit when I walk around or if I lie down they flatten out as real ones would and in general look much more like the boobs of a 68 year old person. These forms are covered by insurance as are six bras a year (pocketed bras keep the forms in place. I am going to cross post this on a discussion board where they talk about what bras and forms to choose but thought I would post it here to give you a sense of the reality of this decision. I didn't want ANY additional surgeries and I like the fact that it would be easier to spot any recurrences (on the chest wall) without implants. Best wishes to each of you in making the decision that is right for YOU.
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Julia: What I've noticed with women is that the older you are the less you care about having boobs. I was lucky to be able to have lumpectomies but if I'd had mastectomies I would also have chosen no reconstruction. But then I've always been small so as you say no one would have noticed. As it is I haven't worn a bra since my operation in April and nobody notices. I wear a camisole. Breasts have never been a part of my identity because I've never had any being small. But for the majority of women it is part of their identity.
Kim: So happy for you. You look amazing in the picture. Pretty hard to tell that you've been through chemo. Some days I think what shall I do today now that I don't have chemo to worry about then I remember, oh ya, I have to go to radiation.
Well, it's true what they say about radiation being short. It takes more time to go there, undress, redress than it does for the treatment. Even with me having radiation on both sides and the lymph nodes it only takes about 15 minutes. It takes more time for them to set you up than it does for the actual radiation. I'm following Hap's advice and not using any lotions or deodorant. 2 down and 18 to go. One more piece of advice, make sure you do those exercises they give you. I didn't think I'd need them but even with only 2 treatments I can feel the muscles starting to tighten up already.
This week I've actually started to get my energy back. Taste buds are almost there. Sugary things still taste kind of bitter. My nails have three lines of bumps on them. Eyes are still watering but I think they're getting better. Nose isn't running anymore. I counted and I've been through 9 boxes of Kleenex since the end of July.
For those of you in warmer climates feeling the heat ,I woke up to a winter wonderland today with snow still falling. Every year it either snows or rains just in time for Halloween. Poor little kids!
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Great advice Julia, it is such a personal decision. Speaking of which, I head back to surgery this Friday to exchange these rock-hard tissue expanders for silicone implants. I hear the recovery is MUCH easier than my BMX back in April. Wish me luck!
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Pink - I’m with you also, I’m older woman with small breast I hardly wear bra now. I feel much more comfortable.
Nice winter picture, no snow in California.
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Hi all,
Congrats Kim - love the pictures! Had my baseline CT scan yesterday...radiologist noted a concern:
"1.7 cm ill-defined lytic focus in the right posterior iliac wing, moderately concerning for metastasis, versus bone hemangioma. This can be correlated with a bone scan or PET."
What are the chances of a stage 1 tumor with no lymph node activity showing up as a bone met already? I am praying that it's not cancer - but now I can't even concentrate. My onc says it's highly unlikely and my logical mind thinks the same thing...
I have to wait to be authorized for a bone scan which means I'll be sitting with this probably the entire week or more. I did six rounds of Taxotere and Carboplatin and am still doing Herceptin. I was so anxious to be done and find my new normal - but I feel like I can't even think about anything now. Also I had the scan done at 2:45 yesterday and I had a missed call from my onc at 4:45 pm but the CT report was sent to my on-line portal so I was able to read it. I had to sit with that overnight without any explanation from my Onc.
I am so anxious and concerned. This was my 'baseline' scan - I did not have one done before starting chemo.
Anyone in our group had to deal with this?
Thank you for your any info or help,
Sue
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Pink, you are right about age having something to do with it. If I were 30 I might have felt differently. T-Sue good luck on Friday. LilSuzQ, waiting is the hardest part. We will all be thinking about you.
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Lilsuzq,
I’ve been there. Exactly where you are. When I went for my radiation mapping the CT scan results came to my portal and it showed a sclerotic lesion on my 5th rib. I had to call the RO to figure out what was up. She said it happens in about 15% of the cases and 95% of those turn out to be nothing. In my case, I had to have a bone scan and that came back “dirty” with more findings. That moved me to a PET scan. The PET scan came back clean. It was a 3 week stress ball. I couldn’t think. I was the most ineffective teacher. I am 2B with a micromet in 1 node. I was certain I was headed straight to stage 4.
From my extensive research it is highly unlikely that a stage 1 with no nodes would metastasize.
I’ll be thinking about you! You’ve done difficult things thus far. You can do this too
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HapB - I’m so sorry about your heart problem, I noticed my heart beats is going faster now we only have one heart we need to take good care of our hearts. Pray for you nothing serious.
Lilsuz - praying for a good test result.
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Julia...you always have a calming effect in your posts. Thank you for sharing your experience.
T-Sue...good luck on Friday. From what I've read, the implants are much more comfortable.
Pink..glad you are getting your energy back. I'm ready for Fall...not quite for snow just yet!
Lilsuzq...hoping the scan results come back with good news. I know it's hard, but try not to worry about what you don't know.
HapB...sorry to hear about your heart concerns. Will keep you in my thoughts and hope the cardiologist has reassuring news for you.
Pre-op testing for me in the morning and appointment with the plastic surgeon in the afternoon.
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Hap and Lilsuzq, good thoughts and prayers for both of you.
Peachy woke up to another two inches of snow today. Had to shovel the deck so the dogs could go outside. Surprised that I could finish it but also took quite a bit more energy than expected. Not like the old days where I could shovel the deck, wash the floors, vacuum the house and still have lots of energy left over. Now shoveling the deck is a major accomplishment
Yesterday’s radiation was ten minutes longer. Appointment was in the afternoon and I got the late shift. When I asked why it took them so much longer they said it was because they wanted to make sure they had the measurements right. A couple of times they left and came back a minute later to redo the measurements and then two of them argued about which one was correct. At one point one tech tried to take a measurement but hadn’t gotten me to hold my breath. The other tech had to correct her. One tech kept asking about doing bolus and the other tech had to keep saying no. Didn't give me the feeling that they knew what they were doing.
Good for them to get it right but harder on me with my arms up above my head. Thankfully the next three weeks appointments are all in the morning.
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Just to let you know, I prayed for this group this morning. I come here to find many have new issues, and I am sorry. Please try not to worry about things. Easier said than done... Just stay on top of it as y'all are and make sure you get the answers you seek.
Pink, That would unnerve me a bit, but if you have that happen again, maybe express your concerns to your RO.
HapB, Stay on top of your heart issues. I have noticed the last two weeks a "tugging feeling" around my heart -- below my port. I assume it may ease since chemo is over, but I am certainly aware of it. I really think it is just the joint aches on my breast bone. Yesterday I had aches that drove me batty. Today seems a good bit better. Mon/Tues always were my worst days post chemo. Those are now gone.
Peachy, Thinking of you today. Such decisions, but we are with you!
Lilsuzq, I would have to google some of your terms mentioned. Try your best to hang in there. I think we are all entitled to be on edge when a new pathology report indicates something. I have to believe that as I age, new things will crop up totally unrelated, so I am going with that for myself. Let us know as soon as you get clarity, and trust this is nothing to worry about.
Julia, If ever I have another issue, I truly believe I would opt for no reconstruction. Easy to say now. You have given great options to make things seem natural as you wish. Perhaps age matters, too, in many of these decisions. Thanks for sharing your personal insight.
I had a CT scan of lungs yesterday. Four hours later I had the update from my Onc. They are amazingly fast. I am grateful. My previous nodules were all stable, but I have a new 2mm one in left lung. My Onc said she wasn't worried that it could be "reactive." I assume she means as in response to the chemo. She said we would discuss on our 11/28 appt and that all was good to her. She said we will repeat scan in 3-6 months. I simply told my DH I was not going to worry about that. They have a baseline prior to chemo and now we have something post chemo.
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Just checking in as I approach my last day of chemo on Tuesday. People keep saying the last 4 months have gone by "so fast" and I respond no they sure haven't! It's been a slog and I still have a ways to go, but extraordinarily grateful to get this part behind me. Feel like I will be able to breathe more clearly the moment I get up from that chemo chair the last time. I certainly will miss my nurses and the staff though - they have all been so wonderful. True angels who do this work.
Peachy, I apologize, I just saw your question about the direct-to-implant reconstruction. My PS said I was a good candidate because I am going to a smaller size (currently DD, going to a full B/small C), and I have enough "skin thickness" to stretch around the implant without issue. I am not doing nipple-sparing (plan on tattoos later) and the implants will be under the muscle. My PS said if this was 5 years ago I probably wouldn't have this option but they've come a long way in recent years. He's done a lot of this type of reconstruction and feels very optimistic that it will work well for me.
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Yesterday's radiation was much better. Different team this time. They seem to know what they were doing although they were almost as slow. It's touch holding your arms above your head for half an hour. I can do 20 minutes no problem but after that it starts to hurt.
More snow, more snow and more snow!
It seems to be taking for ever for my leg and hip muscles to stop being sore. At least my watery eyes are easing up somewhat. Taste buds seems to be stalled. I'm too impatient when it comes to this slow healing process.
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Curly, Heck no, 4 months of chemo didn't go by so fast! I totally concur!
I felt I wished my life away during that time, all while trying to "enjoy" the summer of '17. But, it is past. WHEW!I will definitely miss my awesome nursing staff tomorrow, but I am sure I can find other things to do. I'm calling it "No Lidocaine Friday!"
HapB, We will definitely hope and pray these lung nodules are a result of totally non-related issues of many years gone by. I know you have mentioned you have had cancer 3x, with BC being your 3rd. Do you mind sharing what else you have had to endure? If you don't, please don't feel obligated! I was just curious. It sounds like the radiation you had for another is what caused your BC? Did I interpret that right?
I feel noticeably better today -- less aches throughout, and it is a rainy, cold and damp day. Soaking in the tub last night with Epsom salts was soothing.
Pink, Please keep that snow up in Canada. I know it's coming, but I am not ready.
My dog LOVES it. So goes against her Southern heritage, but I let her enjoy as long as she wears her winter coat. Speaking of, here's a fun picture of her in her Halloween costume. Her middle name is Belle, so I was calling her my "Taco Belle." I know we've all shared our pet pictures before. Hoping she made you smile today. She has been a gift to me during this time!
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