Chemo starting October 2017
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Thanks, Kim. I've heard from many people how uncomfortable the expander is, and few of us are wusses who battle breast cancer!
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Final chemo tomorrow!! I've been so emotional today about it....constant tears! Can anyone relate?
Petey-- keep us posted on your SIL.... hate to hear it is sounding more advanced. Well. This stage 3c girl is cheering for here!! And Hate hearing that your SEs have been tough. These drugs def build up in our systems. You can do this!!
DKK--'love the cartoon, and hoping you feel better as you head into your final Taxols-- you got this too!
Lisa-- sounds like you are gathering great info re surgery. Big decisions to make.... all so personal. It is great that you are being given the immediate reconstruction option-- That eliminates expanders and additional surgeries! Praying for peace in your decision!
Sending love-filled vibes to everyone! ☺️🙏🏻🦋💪🏼
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Mama i was very emotional I didnt even want to ring the bell since i still return every 3 weeks 4 Herceptin. Its ok hugs.
Thanks for 🔥 flash advice lol goodness..
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MamaFelice- I was just thinking about yesterday how much my attitude toward chemo has changed. When driving to the cancer center, I use to want to keep going on the interstate instead of taking the exit to the center. Now I look forward to going, and think how sick it that. Looking forward to chemo. Chemo now is associated the feeling that I am actively doing something to kill cancer in my body. I have 3 treatments left. Last one is 7 weeks from today, the first day of Spring is my last chemo.
Lisa- One of my SIL's did direct implant from mastectomy. She wasn't TN, but early stage I believe ER/PR+ HER- because she never had chemo or radiation. She is average height, very fit/thin, about 5 yrs older than me. She wears bikinis all the time and I never knew she had a BMX until after I was dx. She wanted it done in one surgery and surgeon argreed.
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Jennnifer, glad to know someone else has done direct to implants. I'm getting warmed up to the idea. Still hoping to get a recommendation from my BS, but I think it was the expander that was freaking me out, not the actual implants.
So, my friend got me a mini Instant Pot the other day. Does anyone use one? I'm searching for easy, healthy recipes to make in it. It seems as easy as throwing a bunch of spices and veggies in the pot along with some frozen chicken breasts and cooking for 10 minutes. Does that seem right?
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DKK - That's hilarious!
Lisa - You have so many options. I know it's a stressful decision, but I'm glad you have options! The instant pot is so crazy. My brother loves his and I think the chicken timing is correct. There are tons of recipe sites and books out there. I couldn't convince myself to pull the trigger at Thanksgiving and get one. :-)
Kim - That's a bummer that they are uncomfortable.
Mama - I can understand the emotion even though I'm not there yet.
Still anxious to hear about my SIL tomorrow. I will let you know what they say.
My primary changed my new blood pressure med and cut it in half. She thinks that might be a little of why I felt extra crummy. My blood pressure this morning was 99/84 - super low for me, but my heart rate was 119. She said that the heart rate can go up in response to the blood pressure going down. She thinks that may also have contributed to the tiredness (a little), the dizziness, and the stomach ache. I'm hoping cutting it in half helps a lot! I see her next Tuesday, so we will give this a week and see how it goes!
How is everyone else doing so far this week?
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C I jump in here and share my surgery experience? I’ve had cosmetic implants for years and when faced with surgery choices I just assumed I could take out the old and plop in the new. Not happening said my team! I was given options all the way from a new implant but only after radiation, to a flap reconstruction to nothing at all. None sounded at all appealing but I was running out of time so finally conceded to the flap surgery, and I have to say if it weren’t for Xanax I’d still be flipping coins trying to decide what to do.
After all the harangue and angst I have to admit...and freely, at that...best decision ever. My bff calls it my “tummy tuck boob job” and my brand new beautiful breast is truly a work of art. No nipple, but at my age who cares???
I had great drugs so very little pain and discomfort, just bone-numbing fatigue, something I fear I will always have to cope with. Now if chemo had turned out to be so easy I’d be in great shape but that’s another subject.
However, at 69, I’m down 15+ lbs and fitting nicely into my old size 6 jeans!
So nice to have found this group. Should have been here six months ago!)
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Welcome Tewks! Glad to hear you are happy with your decision.
I had chemo this morning, but I was nauseous and so tired this morning before I went. My bp was 88/64 with a HR of 120!!! This new med is a little powerful I guess!! The nurse at chemo checked me a couple of times. Between the nausea meds, fluids, etc. I actually feel better after chemo than I did this morning. I can't wait until this all gets evened out. I got chastised a little because I haven't been good at taking my nausea meds. The zofran makes my eyes go goofy and the compazine makes me a little sleepy. So it's a balancing act of side effects vs. how I'm feeling. After feeling the way I do right now - I kind of realize how crappy I was feeling and I really should bite the bullet and take the meds a bit more often. Five treatments down - seven to go!
Sister-in-law finally called (I really had to fight myself from bugging her, but it was hard). All three lumps tested positive for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma - which is the same as mine. That's a relief to me because if it was inflammatory, that would have been bad. It has spread to at least one lymph node, so they are doing the bone scan/CT scan, etc. on Monday to make sure it hasn't spread anywhere else. That will help determine if surgery or chemo comes first. She sees an oncologist on Tuesday. Hopefully, by then she will have her hormone markers and grade back. (I'm surprised she doesn't have the grade yet, but maybe she doesn't understand yet the difference between grade and stage.) She will likely do the genetic testing (I think she should), but she will probably come back negative for the gene. So, it's likely she will have a single mastectomy. It could end up being a double, but more likely it will be a single. There will be chemo and radiation, I'm sure. I am relieved that it isn't as bad as I had feared. As long as it hasn't spread. I feel so bad for her. She home schools her oldest, who is in 1st grade. The other two are preschool and just months. In the fall, they just moved an hour away from all of us in town and live in really small town now. To get to their house takes forever, so it's not easy to just run out and go help. And as someone going through it right now, I just feel for her for the long road ahead. Oh...and her mom...who is recently retired and relied on a lot, fell and broke her leg on Saturday!!! Just a sucky situation all around. Thank you for all your positive thoughts, please keep them coming for good results from the bone and CT scans!
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Tewks, I'm so glad that you're happy with your DIEP flap surgery. I haven't really considered it because it's more risky and much more involved than other procedures. However, I've seen photos and they really are amazing.
Anyway, I have a stupid question: If you lose weight, am I assuming correctly that your breasts get smaller, too? If so, that's another dealbreaker for me because I need to lose another 30 pounds, in addition to the 22 I've lost since DX. I'm doing it the correct, healthy way, slowly and focusing on good nutrition, but my breasts have already shrunk considerably. If I lose another 30 pounds, I fear I'll end up a negative cup size!
BTW, down the road I'd definitely consider a tummy tuck to get rid of the fat cells that remain after my weight loss.
Petey, glad your SIL got some good news along with the bad. Good luck to her in the upcoming months.0 -
Petey - I'll be praying for your SIL. Please let her know she has a whole group of us pulling for her. Oh, and take your anti-nausea meds!! :-)
MamaF - Hope your last chemo went well. I definitely relate to the end of chemo tears. Jennifer explained it really nicely. We've been actively involved in fighting the cancer and making connections with the doctors, nurses and other patients. It's a weird separation anxiety for me.
Tewks - Nice to meet you. It's good to hear your are happy with your results and the pain wasn't so bad.
LisaRx - The decision process it tough. I hope your upcoming meeting with the breast surgeon gets you closer to a decision you are happy with. As far as breasts reducing with weight loss I can tell you my experience. In the past when I've lost weight my breasts shrank proportionally, for instance from a 36F down to a 32F. However, when I gained a great amount of weight about 8 years ago I went from that 32F up to a 40H. I would definitely discuss your anticipated weight loss with both the BS and PS.
So yesterday was my first day back at the office for a full day. I thought I'd get there last week but it didn't happen. Good news: I didn't pass out from the heat of wearing my wig all day! People were so nice. One younger woman who I don't know that well (different department) stopped me in the hall to tell me she'd just been thinking of me the other day and she's been praying for me. I was so incredibly touched. I'm excited to finally feel up to getting some normal back in my life.
Today I saw the dermatologist. He spent a long time looking at my big toenails. He thinks I might be able to keep them since they are still attached on one side. He told me to wear band-aids on them everyday so that they don't get snagged on something like a sock and lift more. Not sure why I didn't think of that myself. I got a Rx for Latisse for my eyelashes and brows. There were good coupons on GoodRx.com since it isn't covered by my insurance :-( He told me to start using Rogaine, so tonight was my first application. In true MSK fashion I was told not to take biotin supplements until at least after surgery. I didn't even bother asking why not.
I finally met my plastic surgeon today. The consult went well. From his plastic surgery point of view he thinks that the lumpectomy + bilateral reduction I want is a good option for me. He thinks it would be successful. I saw before and after photos of that procedure and the outcomes looked good to me. I still don't see my breast surgeon for 3 weeks. A lot depends on her. I'll either have the reduction the same time as lumpectomy or as soon as the pathology on the margins comes back. I really hope this is the procedure I can ultimately have.
Hope everyone is having a good week!
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Petey - So sorry to hear about your SIL. It hurts to hear about others getting the DX We know the road they have ahead of them and I would hate for anyone to go through what we have gone through. You will be a great blessing to her. I am thankful she will have your knowledge, experience and support.
-Tewks- You have found an awesome support group! They are the best! Someone is always there when you need them. It is strange how you can get so close to a group of people you have never even met. I feel so close to this group.
Mama - awesome the you are done but I feel the same emotions. I have 2 more and my husband is so excited about ringing the bell and I am so fearful to cut the ties with my wonderful chemo nurses. He keep saying, " two more babe !!!" And I just shoot him a dirty look. I am not sure he understands. I'm not sure I understand 😉
Lisa - Last year I used my instapot a lot. There are many recipes online. It is fast and easy. I keep wanting to get mine out again
Well here is my Taxol challenge of the week...
My treatments have not been to bad compared to A C. Rarely had pain that a Tylenol couldn't handle.
With #9 My neck started to swell and ache at the sides where your glands are. The pain and swelling went across both shoulder blades and into my under arm where I had surgery all the wat to my elbow.
When for my #10 Taxol today and told my DO. She put me through a dye X-ray to make sure my port was not leaking. The port was perfect no problems there. On Monday I am scheduled for a CAT Scan to make sure more lymph node aren't affected
I would appreciate any info you have and prayers that things go well on Monday..
Waiting and worrying for the next 5 days...........
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Lisa - I was just reading this thread: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics... because of my sister-in-law. Weight and symmetry is mentioned a lot in it. You may want to read through it.
DKK - Many prayers for you! I'm sorry you have to wait until Monday for it too. I swear half of this whole endeavor is us sitting around waiting and worrying! Positive thoughts for you!
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Thanks all for helping me sleep tonight. Wish I'd found you all a year ago
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Hi friends. Been quiet awhile. Lots of appointments this week. Therapist. Lymphodema massage etc. I can honestly say this second round of Doxetaxel has made me way more tired. Boooo. Good news is I only have one more!
I am consistently having four or five hot flashes a night. Yuck! Has anyone explored medication for these or have been experiencing the same? I’m going to go off caffeine and sugar to try and curb them. They are awful and severely impacting my rest. Cranky sara!
Insurance called. I’ll be off work the rest of the school year and be going back .4 in the fall. I’m relieved that they made that decision for me and I don’t have to navigate that. My MO said it can take up to a year to recover from active treatment so I am very grateful to be offered a reduced schedule.
I, too, am feeling lots of sadness and anxiety as this phase comes to an end. I should be rejoicing. But instead I have lots of fear. I have been seeing a therapist, who is a survivor, to work through these feelings and fears.
Still winter here. As cold as -30 with the wind chill at night. We have five calves. Three singles and one set of twins. Two of the calves are getting bottles which makes my husband very busy
I’m praying for all your families. Especially those dealing with new diagnosis. Those are not fun days at all 💜.
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Intriguing comment about your toes. I finally bought a ghastly dark red polish for my fingers and toes, just to cover up the dark spots and white streaks on my nails.
My doctor said they'll most like fall off and I can see where some could become loose at the cuticle, but my question is what to do? Will they grow in or fall off on their own? Bandaids on my big toes wouldn't be so bad, but on all ten fingers, too? Talk about scaring people away... I can see the dinner party running for cover now!
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So sorry to hear of your SIL Petey. This disease is so awful.
Mama- hope all went well on your final day! I feel the same way about nearing the end. A lot of unknowns ahead.
Tewks- welcome! So glad you found the group. It feels so good to talk to others who understand.
Agatha- so glad you had a nice transition back go work. I went back in Jan. and in a lot of ways has helped me. BC is not in head constantly as I keep busy. Downside is the fatigue!
DKK- praying for you that all goes well on Monday. I had scans in November and know how you feel. The process is not bad but the emotional side is tough. Hang in there God is good.
Sara- hooray for you that you have only one more! Best of luck.
Taxol #8 for me on Monday. 32 more days.
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Petey, thanks for the link.
Sara, I'm so happy that you're on a reduced schedule so you can focus on the most important thing, which is your health!
Tri-Lady, you're in the home stretch. It'll fly by. I only have 2 treatments/13 days left. It's so crazy how the time crawled after I first got diagnosed, to the point where I'd pray for the passage of time so that I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now it seems to be flying by.
So, I met with the BS today and we decided on... a lumpectomy + radiation. She assured me that it made no difference what surgery I chose in terms of my #1 concern, which was survival. So I opted for the less invasive procedure. My reasoning is that since I'll be done with chemo in 13 days, and presumably disease free after surgery, I want my body to recover as quickly as possible from all the trauma I've already put it through, so that it can become a cancer fighting machine again. I don't want it to be distracted from this goal trying to recover from a major surgery/implants, etc. In my opinion, having surgery after you end chemo is one of the downsides to neoadjuvant treatment, because your body is already so vulnerable.
While I'm not thrilled having to live with the fear of recurrence, I was barely a B cup to begin with, and I've already lost a lot of breast tissue through weight loss and chemo already so I'm confident I'd be able to feel a new lump. Plus I'll be getting mammograms every 6 months. Once 2 years pass, which is the time that she said that ER- patients like me should be most concerned about a distant recurrence (the risk drops off significantly after 2 years), then I may revisit the mastectomy option, as the 10-year local recurrence rate drops from 7-10% (L+R) to 3-5% (M). (For lumpectomy w/ no radiation, the odds are a whopping 40%. Egads!)
While she assured me that my prognosis is very good, she also reiterated what I've been reading: There are things that I can, and must, do to mitigate the risk of local OR distant recurrence: 1) Exercise moderately at least 30 minutes 5 times a week; 2) Eat a healthy plant-based/low-fat diet; and 3) Maintain a healthy weight. (The others were to quit smoking and drinking, which are not issues with me.)
I left feeling both optimistic about the future and motivated to keep working towards a healthier lifestyle...and scared to death that I'm making the wrong decision.
So there you have it! The Outpatient surgery is scheduled for 2/28, so I should be completely done with all treatments by mid-April. Halleluiah!
P.S. Oh, and the NP said that my MO might want me to keep my port for a year because I'll be getting labs every 3 months. I thought that was kind of silly. I mean, I used to give blood once a month, and those catheters were ginormous. Having to get a stick every 3 months so that they can fill up a few vials is nothing to me.
Glad to have this decision made, but of course still nervous to think about jumping off that springboard into the unknown.
BC is so much fun, some days I can hardly stand it.
P.P.S. Hot off the presses, an article re exercise benefits: http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/exercise...
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Lisa, glad you have your surgery decision made. Sometimes I wonder if I am going overboard with a BMX and I have to remind myself, I really think its the best choice for me (along with my MO and BS). My D cup breasts are so lumpy, MRI showed cysts and a non-mass enhancement, found out a year ago I have microcalcifications, BS identified me as fibrocystic. I don't feel confident I could find another lump, as it all feels lumpy. My cancer lump actually created a visible lump I saw in the mirror one morning. I try to feel for it now and I am just not sure what I am feeling is normal tissue or my cancer lump. It's definitely reduced but want it to be gone! The MO will feel around on Monday and see how I am doing. I don't get the meet with the MO often, usually they leave you with a NP who doesn't have you undress. But last appt I asked for another US since 1/2 through taxol and she had me meet with MO since its not standard procedure.
Thanks for the article and the reminders of healthy eating and exercise. I have made changes to my diet such as I have blueberries/raspberries almost every morning (antitoxins), I limit beef to once a week (use ground turkey more), not eating pork anymore outside the occasional nitrate free bacon, salad for lunch most days, eat 2 cuties for snack most days, eating more broccoli and cauliflower (cruciferous vegetable), reducing cheese consumption, eat fish for dinner once a week and eating tuna fish a few times a week at lunch. I have more I want to do, I have been wondering about adding chia or flax seeds. I remember reading once to buy the ground version as the whole seeds go right through you. I want to meet with nutrition oncology, this is my reminder to call today and make an appt.
That article mentioned metabolic syndrome and another article I read the other day made me think, ugh! I probably have that. Here I am thinking my glucose is usually fine, so it doesn't apply to me. But it also mentions BP, abdominal fat and triglycerides. Which my numbers have been in the higher than normal but not high enough to medicate you for several years now. More reasons to exercise, eat right and lose weight. I am 5'8" and around 205 lbs, so just into that obese range. And I have been here for 10 years or so. I was 163 lbs when I met my husband 15 years ago.
Do they draw your weekly or bi weekly labs from your port? I have never had that happen. My labs are drawn from my arm and only chemo in my port. Ports will have to be flushed, I think every 6 weeks. So another trip to the cancer center. My BS was going to ask my MO if I could have it removed during my BMX. I don't know the answer yet. I am not holding my breath since TN and no hormonal therapies are being used/available post chemo/surgery/rads.
I am having some anxiety lately over the BMX. Never had a surgery before and only been in the hospital for childbirth. I remember Joyseeker~Sara saying UMX wasn't too awful and I try to remind myself about that. I got myself freaked out by reading about the nuclear medicine injection and some people saying it's the most painful thing ever ("barbaric") and others saying they were numbed and it wasn't bad. But like everything with cancer, what choice do I have. I have to do the treatment to live.
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Jennifer. I can’t say the injection was painless, but it wasn’t barbaric. And the mastectomy itself wasn’t too bad at all. If I didn’t have a fractured ankle at the same time I could have been out walking the next day
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Jennifer, believe me, I was on the fence between a DMX and a lumpectomy. I completely understand the need to remove the fear of local recurrence. The odds of recurrence are pretty low for either surgery, but a higher risk for lumpectomy + radiation definitely exists and I hope to God I made the right decision. If I wasn't confident that I could detect a new tumor on my own, due to having small breasts, I wouldn't even consider a lumpectomy because my tumor was so aggressive. (Proliferation rate was 75%!) If having a DMX gives you peace of mind, then that's absolutely the right decision for you. For me, the thought of reconstruction was so overwhelming, and the thought of going flat so daunting, that the best choice for me right now was to punt and do a lumpectomy. I can always do a DMX later if I find that I'm freaking out about every lump.
I'm so glad that you're committed to getting healthy. I need someone to help motivate me to stay on track! I was 210 at my heaviest and I'm only 5'5"! I was 175 for a long time, but once I hit 50, I gained 30 pounds almost overnight. I'm down 22 pounds right now (but I've plateaued!) but have 8 to go before I'm out of the "obese" classification and 37(!) before I'd be considered "normal weight." So still a loooong way to go. But if having a Grade 3 tumor doesn't motivate me to find a new path, I don't know what will.
And now I'm going to get off my butt and go work out.
12 more days of chemo/2 treatments!
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Jennifer, believe me, I was on the fence between a DMX and a lumpectomy. I completely understand the need to remove the fear of local recurrence. The odds of recurrence are pretty low, but a risk definitely exists and I hope to God I made the right decision. If I wasn't confident that I could detect a new tumor on my own, due to having small breasts, I wouldn't even consider a lumpectomy because my tumor was so aggressive. (Proliferation rate was 75%!) If having a DMX gives you peace of mind, then that's absolutely the right decision for you. For me, the thought of reconstruction was so overwhelming, and the thought of going flat so daunting, that the best choice for me right now was to punt and do a lumpectomy. I can always do a DMX later if I find that I'm freaking out about every lump.
I'm so glad that you're committed to getting healthy. I need someone to help motivate me to stay on track! I was 210 at my heaviest and I'm only 5'5"! I was 175 for a long time, but once I hit 50, I gained 30 pounds almost overnight. I'm down 22 pounds right now (but I've plateaued!) but have 8 to go before I'm out of the "obese" classification and 37(!) before I'd be considered "normal weight." So still a loooong way to go. But if having a Grade 3 tumor doesn't motivate me to find a new path, I don't know what will.
And now I'm going to get off my butt and go work out.
12 more days of chemo/2 treatments!
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Thank you for mentioning that Thread Petey, it helped answer a lot of things for me. It made me feel less alone in my requesting a BMX, I went into my BS office upon diagnosis with that in mind, but after the first BS said I needed only a lumpectomy then I stopped thinking about it. But since I did not feel impressed with her, and requested the head BS at the hospital and when she reviewed my reports said I needed a mastectomy due to the wide spread path of my tumors. After that, my thoughts of a BMX were back on the table. Reading that Thread helped me realize, I am not the "only one" considering it for multiple reasons... one being symmetry, the other for piece of mind. I no longer trust mammograms. I had a mammogram in Dec. 2016, then found my lump in July (6 months later) myself. Mammograms would give me no piece of mind and having the extra radiation from them every six months would feel needless. My BS was not too supportive of me asking for a BMX and so I did not push the question. But after having time to think about it, I am going to really push for it when I meet with her in a few weeks, because it is "my" decision. As I had mentioned here before, I really want to have the DIEP for reconstruction, knowing it will be a longer recovery time, but I do not want a hard foreign implant in my chest and I have read that the DIEP has more recovery up front, but in the long run no maintenance for the rest of your life versus implants can have to be replaced. Also if I do have re-occurance of cancer & need radiation, I will not have to worry about an implant failing, all this helped me make that decision. I only wish I could have my mastectomy/then DIEP the same time... which I read was possible... but my PS said I would have to wait, so they could run pathology reports after surgery to make sure all the cancer was killed??? And if there were traces then I would need radiation or maybe even other chemo who knows. Lots of questions for my BS when we meet!!!
As to the Port Jennifer: My MO said I could have it taken out at time of surgery or keep it, totally up to me. He said most of his patients kept them for at least a year, to make sure they did not need them (I guess because of reoccurance??) but they always did my blood draws from my port prior to my chemo, and he said that I need to come in for blood checks every 4-6 weeks anyway so the port flush could be done at the same time... but if I chose to take it out, then blood draws could be done by veins. I have good veins so that would not be a problem... I was leaning toward getting rid of it, but now wonder if I might need it??? Decisions, Decisions.
I had my second week of being back to work, and I do enjoy getting out of the house and not thinking about cancer all the time, but also REALLY miss taking care of myself... I try to get up and move as often as possible, but seem to not have enough time to eat properly or take long walks or exercise like I would like. By the time I get home at 6 pm I am SO exhausted I can hardly walk up the stairs much less workout, and then I have to fix supper etc...I really wish I could stay out until after surgery, but I am running out of sick leave and already will be using all my built up vacation for surgery recovery...and maybe LWP. Hopefully my energy level will keep improving the more time I have from last chemo. The other negative about work is the exposure to "sick people"!!! But I will survive.
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Hiker, I'm glad that you are finding your voice. Too many times, professionals disregard women's feelings because they think that they know better. Doctors might know the statistics, but they are not the ones who have to live in our bodies, and deal with cancer. They need to quit patronizing us and listen to what we are saying.
If you want a DMX with DIEP, then keep demanding it until they schedule it. I know women who've had prophylactic reconstruction before they ever had cancer because they wanted peace of mind. That is their right! Women have also fought really hard for the right to have reconstruction paid for by insurance companies after breast cancer. (Can you imagine your insurance saying that it wasn't covered??) Take advantage of this unique circumstance to get DIEP paid for now, because they certainly won't pay for it as an elective surgery later.
Sorry that you're exhausted after work. I think that getting out of the house and being productive is as good as a workout. I need the exercise! And I miss my co-workers, too.
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Hi friends. I went for my first session of float therapy today. I highly recommend it. Amazingly relaxing. I can claim it as “therapeutic services” through my health insurance. Maybe you can too? So soothing....
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Hi Ladies, well I can say that this week I am really tired of Cancer.!!!!.. Tired of scarves, no hair, nails not sure what they are doing, they look like I stubbed a few and have white paint on others. The nose bleeds and running nose are sticking around. I'm just over it. Have lost most of my eyelashes on one eye and just some on other and this has just been within the last few weeks. Really, how much more can we take. Good part is I am starting to get my energy back. It's been a month since I stopped chemo and just hoping that everything gets better sooner than later. Wish I could say I lost weight but 3 months of steroids and emotional eating has made all my clothes tight. UGH!! Sorry, knew you girls could relate and just needed to get that off my chest. lol.
Petey, sorry to hear about your SIL, I will say some prayers for her.
Agatha and Lisa seems like you have your surgery decisions made and that should feel good.
Hiker, hang in there and make "your" decision. I don't understand why so many BS/PS have so many different opinions. I had my flap surgery at the same time as my mastectomy but my ultra sound did show no sign lymph nodes were affected and surgery confirmed that. We didn't know whether I would need chemo or radiation until after the surgery. He still said if I needed radiation that the flap would fare better than an implant. I didn't need radiation and I was glad.. It just doesn't make a lot of sense unless its the individual diagnosis. Oh and talk with Tewks she had DIEP.
Mamafelice - congratulations on finishing Chemo
Would love to know who on here is now or will be starting Herception. I have had 2 infusions and so far so good. They say it is not anywhere like the chemo SE.
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brandy I also 2 down on Herceptin next one is 14th. Fevered first time. Dry icky nose too. Second time swollen fingers from all the fluid i think... Lol seems like treatment will be just a another step for us. Tons of hot flashing n sweats lol hope it burns calories bring it on lol.
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Hello, ladies. As of today I'm down to just one more Taxol in 7 days and I'm done with chemo. I have mixed feelings like a lot of you. It will feel so strange not to be in that treatment any longer.
Before my infusion I had acupuncture at the chemo center. I will get it once a week for 6 weeks. The acupuncturist said that they've done a lot a trials and it absolutely helps some patients with hot flashes and neuropathy. If after 6 weeks I am not helped, that means it just won't work for me for those symptoms. I have to find out if the fees apply toward my insurance deductible. I hope so, but I don't know.
The bloom sadly came off the rose of my return to work yesterday. Last year, before I was diagnosed I didn't follow through on something I'd said I'd take care of. The thing is I have NO memory of why I didn't take care of it. It's not like me and it's a really big mistake. It's taken a few months for the fallout to hit, and boy did it hit yesterday. I've NEVER been spoken to as harshly as I was by the director of my department. All I could do was apologize and tell her I understood her position, tell her I had no explanation or justification and present my plan to fix it now and going forward. She really didn't want to hear it, just wanted to chew me out. All I could think was, "I'd rather be in a chemo chair than deal with this nonsense. Doesn't she understand this isn't that big a deal in the grand scope of things?" The other problem yesterday was a very cold and almost hostile reaction from a woman I looked at as a friend. She runs another department but my absence has put some strain on her people. She's stirring up trouble with higher ups about why I was allowed to take unofficial leave. The day was just so intense. Later that night I saw a friend who pointed out both of these women lost their mothers to breast cancer. Maybe they have some conflicting feelings that aren't 100% about me? Thank God other people continued to be kind. Even Mr. Uber Boss stopped in his tracks when he saw me and gave me the biggest hug and even had tears in his eyes. At least he's happy I'm back! He far outranks the two women who are being so intense and aggro :-) I hope Monday is a little less stressful
DKK - I'll be praying for you and that the swelling in your neck turns out to be nothing of concern. All the best for Monday's CAT scan - the waiting sucks. Wish they could have done it immediately for you.
Sara Joyseeker - Congrats an getting more time off to heal. You're definitely using the time productively and hope it helps. Re: hot flashes: I just had my first acupuncture treatment for neuropathy and hot flashes. I'll definitely let you know if I get any relief. When you get the lymphedema massage is it just preventative? How often do you get them? I've always wanted to do the floatation tank but I can't imagine my insurance covers it. Maybe I'll look into it.
Tewks - I totally agree that 10 finger tips bandaids would definitely freak people out! Luckily my fingernails aren't too separated yet. I just keep them VERY short.
Tri-Lady - I can't believe how tired I was after a full day at work! I fell asleep by 8:30. It IS good to be around people again after so long just feeling crummy in my apartment. Did end up having some bad interactions, but the good outweighed the bad.
LisaRx - Glad for you that you have come to a decision re: your surgery and now have a surgery date set. I hope any doubts you still have ease over time. Thank you SO MUCH for linking that the article about exercise. I know that I have no choice but to make it part of my life for the first time ever. I got a fitness tracker, mostly for my heart rate, but it's counting steps, too. I mean to work my way up to a healthy daily number. Then I'll be in better shape and can take on the more intense exercise I know I need to.
Jennifer - Good luck with on Monday with your meeting with the MO. How many Taxols do you still have? My tumor continued to shrink on Taxol so it would be great if yours did, too. I'll be partners with you and Lisa in encouraging each other to improve our weight and fitness levels! Re: chia and flax - I LOVE chia seeds and use them in smoothies, sprinkle on everything for salad to oatmeal, make pudding and fruit spread with them (they get a gel-like consistency when wet.) They don't need to be ground and you can keep them in the pantry. I'm vegan and they are a great source for me of protein, calcium, Omega-3's and other good stuff. I don't use flax as much. You pretty much have to grind the seeds fresh every time you want to use them. They should live in the fridge, too, since they can go bad quickly. I've been spooked by reading about some of the pre-op stuff, too. The only take-away I got was make sure to ask for EMLA cream before the procedure and apply and cover it up at home so that it stays put and has a couple of hours to work.
HikerVA - I really hope you can work with your BS and PS to get what you want with the DIEP flap reconstruction when you want it. I have to wait a few weeks to meet with my BS to find out if she is going to insist we wait on pathology after my lumpectomy before I can get the reduction surgery. I really can't afford to prolong the surgery/recovery period and be out of work so long. I totally get the after work exhaustion! I've only done 3 days and I can't believe how tired I get - and it's an office job!
2brandy - we've all been there! It's been a rough few months. I'm still overly emotional, and now my brows are mostly gone. My numb fingers are so damn clumsy! I carry a whole box of tissues in my bag since my nose runs so much. I firmly believe it will get better over time so I hang on to that. Feel free to vent with us any time!
Have a good Sunday, everyone!
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tewks,, regarding nails, I lost most of my toenails 6 months pfc. they just kinda pop off, no pain, nothing gorey. There is a new nail under them. It is extremely thin but a nail none the less. They thicken up over time.
To all who have finished chemo Congrats! If u wake up one morning feeling off, like you are coming down with the flu, check your calendar. You maybe having a chemo flashback. Ex: if your chemo was every 3 weeks count from your last chemo to see if this would have been a chemo day. This too shall pass over time. They say any side effects left after 2 yrs will be permanent, but for me it was more like 2 1/2 yrs. Just give it lots of time. Take care
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Agatha. I go twice a month for lymphodema massage. Yes. Preventative. She also works on my other aches and pains. She’s a 17 year BC survivor so it’s also like therapy. I have been given the acupuncture advice a few times so I’m going to pursue it this week. My pharmacist friend said to try EVERTHING before a drug like Effexor as it is very hard to get off of. Last night wasn’t too bad.
Re: float therapy. I am so fortunate with my health care through my job. I have a health spending account which is quite flexible. That’s where I plan to claim it. It is 140.00 for three one hour sessions. So relaxing!!
My daughter’s trainer from Calgary is down this weekend. My day will be spent in a cold barn. Brrrrrr. It’s -20 and snowing. -35 with the windchill. Go away winter!!
Interesting about the chemo flashback.....
Happy Saturday friends.
Sara
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Hi everyone,
Most of us are winding down to the end of chemo...yay! Some of us are doing Herceptin til October, ugh.
My question is this, as I am starting to worry...a lot. I finished Taxol, 12 weekly on January 12. Not one hair is growing back. Has anyone experienced any regrowth? Also, I breezed through Taxol but Herceptin is making me tired and giving me loose stool daily. Without warning, when I feel it come on I must find a bathroom. Anyone else?
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