Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
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Spunky -- For the first month that I was on tamoxifen, I had some sleeplessness and uncharacteristically vivid dreams.... they were crazy, my dreams are usually kind of boring! That settled down after a month, and then I didn't really notice any side effects to speak of.
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Happy birthday girls! I hope you have a fabulous day and get fabulous tattoos!
Lisa - good luck at the med onc. Let us know what your treatment plan looks like.
Spunky - I have been riding the tammi train since June. I had hot flashes a lot for a while but I take effexor and that helps. I was really tired the first several weeks but now not so much. The only other side effect is my lack of "mojo"...if you know what I mean.
Madismom: It is freezing and flurrying now! Even if it's not sunny there...it is much warmer than here! Hope you are having a good time.
Lemondrop - glad you are feeling a bit better.
Lisomomeof4: Are you still cleaning closets? I have a few that could use your touch!
Mak - glad you checked in and are doing well. Good news on the scholarship. You must be so proud!
Hawk - glad the Wallace stuff was good. I am on a cooking hiatus this week as my DH is in Australia for work. He's gone so I am pulling from the freezer and taking a break from cooking! I will try the meat next week though.
Hope you are all having a fabulous day! Stay warm! It's freezing out there!
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Thanks everyone for the Birthday wishes.. Been going since 5am. Had to get to Rush by 7. Delievered cookies to my BS and the chemo team… wanted them to celebrate my birthday too. Also visited a friend till 11:30 at Rush. Makingmore cookies right now then off to get inked.
Rene do you think I should bring that in for my PS to copy?
Donna you didn't miss it. It's today (as well as Corinne's)
Makmak so good to hear from you.
Adey that is so weird. I too was thinking about Carolyn yesterday.
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BTW new gals, Carolyn is in the beige shirt and I'm in front of her kneeling (next to onward).
Later!
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Lago and Corinne ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
Ok Ladies here is the treatment plan..
3 weeks X 4---So 1x every 3 weeks..with Taxotere and Cytoxan
then on Tamoxifen for 5 yrs.
Opted for a port so waiting to get date on that surgrey.
Have to go on friday for a 1 hr training for Chemo...
Any input on these drugs would be great.
Thanks
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Happy Birthday to Corinne and Lago! I sure hope you both have a fantastic day!
Lisa, that is exactly what I had when I had chemo. But then I had arimidex as I was post menopausasl. I did pretty well on the chemo. Of course I felt sick on the third day (would get it on Thursday afternoon and it set in on Saturday,Sunday and Monday) and then I would feel better. I lost the hair about 14 days after the first chemo infusion.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAGO AND CORINNE. Hope you both have a wonderful fun filled day. Getting inked on your bday priceless:) Things have been so crazy busy here that I need a vacation... oh no I have to wait until March. sniff. I hope you all are staying healthy. We have so many sick munchkins by me.There is noroviris going around here... tummy aches, stuffy runny nose, blah feeling you name it we have it. lol
Zap...thinking of you, dd and new baby to be. It will be soon !!!
Jackie...have you heard of or read the book God calls?? Very spiritual and powerful reading. My prayer group is reading from it now for our teacher who has bc.
Lisa...hang in there. Sending you a hug.
Makmak....sorry to hear the Gabby is sick. Hope she is feeling better soon. Busy is good and glad to see you are stable and doing well yeah!! miss you
Adey...are you running yet. I too was thinking of our dear Carolyn as this is her one year anniversary. She is in a better place looking down on all of us and smiling. thank you posting her pic. That was a really fun lunch that day. Who had the wig purse ??
Hawk are you up and running too.
Smerf...San Fran, trolley cars, chocolate yummy. Have a great time. miss you. lunch soon.
Laura..how did things go for you? Good I hope
To all the other girls I missed I hope you all are doing well.
Stay warm as it is really cold out there tonight. Now it is time to relax and chill....
Have a warm and toasty evening.
BJ
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Lisa I did TC X 4. It was not that bad. Feel free to PM me if you like. You will be done in 9 weeks! I know it seems overwhelming....it will be OK though. Hugs!
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Lisa - I did TC X 4 as well. The actual process was doable. I do have neuropathy in my feet from the chemo. Look into ways for minimizing this - doctors (at least mine) never talked about it.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BIRTHDAY GIRLS!
Zap - The little ones are adorable!
lemondrop - CUTE AVATAR! Hang in there, it sure is a roller coaster ride, but you can do it!
Donna - Glad you checked in! Miss you lots...
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I will do my very, very best to meet you girls on Thursday.
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Have been busy with a free-lance project and interviews. Whew... lol AND of course, Words With Friends. Hey to Rita, Caryn, Connie...
Hope everyone's doing well
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Hugs to WendyTY!
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ADEY - So glad you posted that pic...blast from the past!0
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Happy Birthday Lago and Corinne!
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Hi Girls... Im popping in because I need some advice, and I know I can trust you guys - you have always helped both me & my mom out.
1. My old onco moved away, so I went to another guy in the same practice. This guy didn't examine me at all & told me that "someone should examine you" - and then he suggested I go back to my surgeon for exams on a regular basis - he also said "I'm not familiar with your recurrence anyway". Well then why the h*ll do I need to see an Onco every 3 months ? Does your Onco examine you and/or do bloodwork ?
2. I've been having mod-severe pain on entire side that was radiated - I know there's a lot of scar tissue, but it feels like there's something else... sharp shooting pains, etc. (I had my reconstructed breast plus all nodes zapped 33x). Rad Onco doesn't seem to have much to offer as far as help on this... who should I see for this ? Some days the pain is excruciating for hours.
I just feel like I was chopped up, chopped again, zapped, and sent on my way..."hey good luck to ya, even tho you feel horrible!" People always ask if I'm cancer free & I'm like "Uh, I hope so ?" I just feel like I'm not getting any good aftercare & it's starting to depress me. I've got other new, serious issues to tackle!
I'm waiting to hear from Mayo clinic to be seen for my Dysautonomia... meanwhile I'd really like to just feel better about the BC stuff, ya know ?
Sorry if I seemed to just pop on here & rant away.... I owe u all a martini.
If anyone has any advice, or any MD's that you love that aren't far from the NW burbs of Chicago (I'm still in Schaumburg) - please share with me. I'd be most grateful (feel free to just PM if you want...) Love & miss you guys... Julie / aka Princess Juliet
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Julie, 1 year after BMX my schedule is once a year BS and once a year onc alternating so I see one of them every 6 months. I don't get any blood work. I did get a liver scan but that's just a follow-up because there were some questions but I think if this one is clear I won't be getting anymore. No other scans.
Sharp shooting pains could be a number of things (many of them benign) If your rad onc, onc and or BS is not responsive go get a 2nd opinion. Pain should not be ignored. If it is something benign that might resolve in time (like nerve damage issue) then they should tell you and suggest or prescribe something for the pain.
that's my $.02
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Julie I sent you a pm
Bj0 -
Julie - I see the onco every three months ( she does labs and breast exam) and the BS once a year (he does a breat exam). I get a mammo every six months on the bad side and once a year both sides. Also an MRI (which I had to really fight for) and DEXA annually. I had a lumpectomy, chemo, rads and am now on Arimidex.
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Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold - but so does a hard-boiled egg.
- Author Unknown0 -
Julie....your 'real' questions aren't being handled. I hope you can find a Oncologist who will....I think maybe the intentions may be fine....but Dr.'s know we bc patients really educate.....so maybe feel we don't NEED more explanatory dialogue.
I go every 3 months. I see NP who does a really good session with me the first 3 times and the fourth is always with the Oncologist. It could likely be less around here save for the fact of using the V.A. I am hoping you can get this resolved.....questions.....actually by both sides should have as complete an answer as possible.
Laura...you are so busy.
I hope you all have a fantastic un-slippery day.
Hugs, Jackie
p.s. I thought of Julie when I saw the above quote so that is why its there.
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Julie...yes. a second opinion is what i would do in you rcase.!This needs to be resolved as this is too much discomfort and ficklong. It is so hard to pinpoint and know what exactly you are dealing with. Scar tissue does sound like a viable reason too?!
adey..Great pic and Hi back!
Donna
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Julie - Not only yes to a 2nd opinion, but I would go back to that Onc and tell him what you think of his bedside manner. It may make you feel better
BJ - Friday I will be half way through rads, yay! But because of the redness / tenderness, I am walking and not running. The bouncing is painful!
To all - looks like we may actually get some colder temps this weekend. Stay warm!
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Hello Ladies..
For the ones coming to Gurnee tomorrow for lunch I am going to have to cancel due to a family
emerency..I am truely sorry for the short notice..
Looking forward to meet you all some day soon
Lisa
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZwpSwm_4as&feature=share
Hi Ladies, one of my friends on fb sent this linky to me. It was hard to watch. Warning: it does have the results of a double mastectomy without rehab on in. Made me sad. Onward
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Onward-Thank you for the link. What a powerful message and courageous woman.
-kelly
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I just wanted to say thanks to everyone - I've gotten several names of good MO's
Hawk - I already wrote a fairly scathing letter to that MO that I saw... thanks for basically validating that!
RO called & said he wants an MRI of my chest so we can look at the scar tissue & see if any of my nerves are damaged or compressed - so SCORE ONE for me, LOL
Actually going to call & schedule that now... thanks again so much you guys!! XOXO
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I really love my ONC and especially his PA. He always attends the breast cancer conferences in SAT and I really trust his advice. I see him every three months and today was the day. I had a discussion list ready and ended up being there for two hours. Very productive visit though. DH likes to go with me to the ONC appointments as he always has his own questions too. I had voluntarily stopped the Aromasin five days ago... Couldn't handle it anymore. Too much joint pain in my knees to climb any stairs (was doing that on my butt), shoulder stiffness and new depression. Ugh! Knee pain went away within 48 hours after I stopped taking the stuff and I can now walk up and down stairs, no problem. My ONC is putting in an appeal with MEDCO to get me back on name brand Femara..... No generic. Should hear about that next week. I did so much better on that. If I can't tolerate that, sounds like it will be Tamoxifin for me. So, until we find out what works for me, it will be every 3 months to the ONC. My Rad ONC still sees me every 6 months, but my BS is once a year.
My ONC does run tumor marker tests each visit, Vit D. and liver/kidney functioning tests. I have an annual DEXA scan scheduled for next Monday. I am also having a lower back MRI on Tuesday because I have a degenerative back problem and need to follow-up on that.
Julie, hope you find a good ONC that you are comfortable with. Sounds like you have gotten lots of good references. If you need another, let me know.
Lemondrop... Hope you are feeling better.
Have fun at lunch in Gurnee!0 -
Busters mom.......stabbing pains near radiation site?
Hi, I hope you are feeling much better. I do not come on here much but happened to see your post in my email. It sounds like you have a lot of pain, but as for just stabbing pains near the heart, I had that 3 years later, and now...and the radiation doctor told me to put arm high up over head and move around..and it helps it go away faster. But if you are having excruciating pain, this might not be what it is at all.
GOOD LUCK!!
Kater
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I was dx'd with hashimoto's but now last week's lab test showed that I have normal results. What gives? Anyone dx'd with hashimoto thyroid problems after chemo and radiation? I also have the thyroid nodules they are ultrasounding annually. My onc's wife had chemo for hers last year so he said make sure you watch that...
My vitamin b12 was 726 in 180 to 914 scale.
folate serum kind of low 9.3 with range 5.2 to 20 normal
negative anti nuclear antibody
13 microsomal Ab with normal 0-100, what gives? Is this the same antibody test I wonder that endocrinologist ran and it was sky high? Maybe it's a different test!
My MRI should have been back Tuesday but no word from neurologist yet. 8-(
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onward- freaking great video
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Hope everyone is doing well today. My tats look great. I'm happy.
Wow all these tests. I did get the results of my liver scan (Tuesday) from my NP. She said everything was fine "but needs to discuss with onc to see if I need to repeat in a year." So although I didn't have to do rads I think now I'm getting my share from the CT scans
What I did find interesting is I told them when I made the appointment that they would be accessing my vein in my foot like they did last time…no arm sticks. When I get there the tech mentions this then says "but we're not going to do that today." So I smile back and said "Well if we don't do that today I'm leaving." The guy was from Maine so he thought I was kidding. (We New Englanders have such dry humor that I can understand why he thought I was kidding.)
Anyway I told him I wasn't kidding. Sure enough he fessed up that he still hadn't done an IV in the foot and would have to get the other tech to do it. You really have to fight for this stuff. They really do what's convenient for them if you don't.
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Lago- An IV in the foot sounds... not fun. Is it more painful? I'm curious. Yay for colorful nips!
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