Starting Chemo May 2019
Comments
-
April, CONGRATULATIONS on crossing the finish line! You are right that aromatase inhibitors are, usually, given for 5 years, but could be longer in individual cases.
Jrominger, congratulations to Nat with the No 10. Blood counts' fluctuations remain a complete mystery to me. With No 11 I had great WBC but low RBC and hemoglobin. Yesterday, my RBC and hemoglobin were really good but WBC was borderline low. Go figure! I will pray for improvement next week and the week after, so that Nat can finish with flying colors!
Palmetto, HappyAnyway, we are waiting for you in this week ´done with chemo' club
))UpStateNYer: I will meet my RO next Tuesday and will find out how many sessions I am going to get. Did you start the AI already? Which one? I will be starting Aromasine at the end of October.
Mightlybird, success today!
Sending loving thoughts and prayers to all.
0 -
Love the picture April! Thank you for sharing. It gives me such good vibes for my final chair appointment tomorrow! Jrom- sorry the counts weren't up, but at least they were within limits and Nat got #10 out of the way... two more and she will be at the finish line! Good luck in the chair today, mightlybird!
I had a follow-up with my surgical NP yesterday. Kind of bummed as it seemed it was just stuff she could have accomplished by talking to my PS team, the BS's scheduler, and to me over the phone... especially since I had to wait 1.5 hrs past my appointment time to see her. Ugh. I'll be getting another MRI soon and will have my pre-op bloodwork done/ go over MRI report on 15 October. Things are coming quick!
Hugs and healing thoughts to each of you.
0 -
I was curious what proportion of breast cancer patients go through chemo. With a little searching I found a link that says
38% of Stage 1 and 2 patients are treated with chemo
82% of Stage 3 are
66% of Stage 4 are.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326031.php
They are pulling it from the 2016-17 American Cancer Society report. I think there is a more recent one, too, but the stats on that wouldn't have changed very much in a year.
I'm not sure this is important for us to know, but I found it interesting!
EDITED to add, here is a link to the most recent ACS report. I don't know where within it those particular stats are, but if you like stats, you might be glad to see it.
0 -
Hi all,
Not sure if I had posted before, but if not, congrats to April. Loved the picture at the juice bar with all of your wonderful supporters present.
Palmetto- hoping your MRI is clear and following txt. comes through seamlessly for you.
Jrom, Mightlybird01 -thinking of you.
Lacombattant- I will be finished with rads next Wednesday for a total of 16 txts. no boost needed as I had IORT during first lumpectomy. I guess that counted as my boost. Let us know how many sessions you'll need. I started anastrozole(arimidex) on Sept. 5th. So far so good as I am not noticing any se's.
Mountainmia- thanks for sharing the article/reports. Very informative.
Happyanyway- so excited for you about tomorrow being your final chemo. So happy that your loved ones will be there to see you ring that bell. Please share a picture if you can.
Prayers and gentle hugs to all. Pat
0 -
I’m done!!! Super sleepy, but so happy this milestone has been achieved. My surgery is the next step. MO suggested she may put me on Zoladex in addition to the Tamoxifen. I have a lot of thinking to do about those recommendations. But I won’t start those until I’ve been cleared by the surgeon.
I rang the bell! I had my parents, my boys, two work friends, my MO and all the nursing staff look on. Afterward, my family and friends and I went to brunch to celebrate. I left the nursing staff and my MO some balloons and cookies as a thank you0 -
palmetto- congrats!! I hope you rang the crap out of that bell
0 -
Congratulations Palmetto! You must be so happy!
0 -
congrats Palmetto!! Welcome to the finish line!!! Woo Ho
0 -
High five Palmetto!
Love to all.
0 -
Palmetto, Thank you for sharing that photo. Inspiring! Ever onward!!!!
Happyanyway. BIG day for you tomorrow! We also expect a photo!!
Blessings to everyone
UpstateNYer, BIG day for you next Wednesday. Best wishes on finishing rads
Thinking and praying for everyone!
Jay
0 -
CONGRATS Palmetto. 👍 So happy for you. 🎉
0 -
This is so cool to read.... yay for Paloma all the finishers!!! Sending everyone energy and healing. I am so proud of you May warriors!
0 -
CONGRATULATIONS Palmetto !
HappyAnyway, keeping you in my thoughts today!
0 -
Everyone, I apologize for not interacting very much lately. This past week has been different. The fatigue lasted longer than usual and I had a day or two when I was dizzy. I had so much to say to each of you, but was in my own head.
I brought my nurses some yogurt, honey, granola, apples, bananas, strawberries and grapes. I wish I would have taken a picture. I also made some pumpkin crumb muffins from scratch this morning. They were still warm when I got here.
I narrated my first infusion. I thought I would my last, too. I slept a couple of hours last night. My mind was all over the place. I am fortunate to never have missed an infusion. Never to have missed the ☠ that I pray has eradicated my cancer. That is so twisted to me, but I am grateful.
Just got my lab results. They look good! I was informed that I will be getting Neulasta today. My wbc is within normal range, but dropped. Better safe than sorry. Oh well, it's my last treatment!
Getting ready for my premeds.
0 -
Prayers and warm ((hugs)) to you. You are at the end of this leg of your journey. Better days are coming for you, sweetie. Pat👋
0 -
Thank you. How are you?
Finished Taxol. Administering Carbo shortly.
My husband is here now. My girls and sister should arrive just in time. L
0 -
Happyanyway I’ve been praying for you this morning. Congratulations!! Happy that your WBC’s were ok. Now flush the stuff out and let’s get you back to feeling normal!! On to the next phase of total recovery!!
0 -
Thank you, Jrominger. You and Nat are in my prayers, too.
0 -
Beautiful picture. Everyone looks so happy. There are tears in my eyes as well. So very happy and pleased for you.👍
I just came from my 13th radiation txt. Saw RO, who told me that my skin looks really good. She also reiterated the fact that taking chemo txts, due to my high onco score ,I have really reduced my chance of distant recurrence as well. For once I came out of her office feeling a lot better. Next Wed. is last rad txt. Then follow up with RO in 5 weeks after that.
Thinking of everyone. Prayers to all daily.
0 -
Beautiful photo, HappyAnyway!
What a nice family, the love you share shines through!
And, of course.... Congratulations on reaching the milestone and finishing the chemo!0 -
Happyanyway THANK YOU for sharing your picture. What a spectacular family!! It brought tears to my eyes as well Great things ahead for you!!!
UpstateNYer fantabulous news. All that sounds so positive!!! Great things ahead for you as well.
I’ve caught a cold. What the heck. You can’t be more careful than I am!! Wearing a mask and staying away from Nat as best as I can. Should be right as rain soon!
Blessings to everyone!
0 -
What a great picture, Happy! This is so great.
0 -
Congratulations HappyAnyway! To finishing chemo and to the beautiful family!
jrominger, hope you feel better soon!
0 -
UpstateNYer, I cried. Didn't think I would because I was spent. At least one of my nurses cried, too. Those ladies took such good care of me. I will stop by to see them every time I have an appointment with my MO. My family held it together. We are all just so thankful for me, really us, to move on.
What a blessing that your RO was supportive and encouraging! You deserve nothing less.
LaCombattante! I value you and appreciate your support. 😘 How are you feeling?
Thank you, Jrominger. I want nothing but the best for you and Nat. I hope you feel better soon.
Awe, MountainMia. Thank you for being here for me.
Thanks Mightlybird01! I like your new picture, how lovely.
I feel relieved this evening. I hope you are all well.
0 -
Congratulations HappyAnyway!! Beautiful picture
0 -
Congrats Palmetto and HappyAnyway! Loved both your pictures. It helps putting a face to these strange names we all have.
Happy, I felt the same way you did the last week. Just down that whole last week. Remember, this next week is just like the previous weeks. Things won't start changing until you don't put the drugs in your body next week.
3 weeks out, I still have that taste problem. Every other side effect seems to be getting better. So, there's hope!
0 -
Palmetto, Happy: BRAVISSIMO!
0 -
HappyAnyway!! Omg I love that pic. So much love!!
I can’t wait to NOT get chemo next Tues. today I am exhausted and so eager to get back to feeling my normal energy level. Thanks Bamr for the reality check. I got it in my head that I was done so I should feel better than I do.
Jay, my husband got a nasty cold last week too. He stayed far away from me. I hope you feel better soon.
Upstate... very happy you had an encouraging appointment.
Hope everyone has a really nice weekend.
0 -
For those of you finishing, like April, and want to feel better right away, maybe you won't.
I felt the very worst after I'd been done for more than a couple of weeks, and it lasted about 3 weeks before things turned around. As we've seen with everything else, we all react a bit differently, so your mileage will vary! And I hope you all have smooth sailing and no problems. But realistically, you won't know until you're well past. hugs and peace to all of you.
0 -
PS you may feel like crap after rads too, if you have a lot. of sessions... I had 28 and I think the most tired I was in all of treatment were the week or two right after finishing rads.
0
