TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

ChickaD I am so sorry you are dealing with all of this after having BC. (((hugs)))

Hi all! Just got back from a week in sunny Florida with my family and my son's girlfriends family. Was a little worried as we all stayed in one big house, but turned out great. We had a blast!

Nicky, I know what you mean about pt and doc appt s. I tripped up a step in July and sprained both my pcl ligament and my side it band ligament in July. Then, wiped out on some water on my tile floor in September, spraining the front of my foot and aggravating the toe that is having surgery on Tuesday of the opposite leg. I've been through tons of pt for my knee, and finally finished right after Christmas. It is a lot better, but not normal. Foot got better reasonably quickly, but it hasn't been fun. Hopefully the surgery on Tuesday will give me some additionally flexibility with my big toe, and a lot less pain.

Dance-I was in the Taxol/herceptin treatment. My onc was on some international board and said they were doing that regimen in Europe a lot with great results. When I got that same response from a major cancer center here in Indy, I decided to go with it. 

I'll be at the three year mark next month and want to do as many tests as I can talk the onc into, so I guess I will learn if I am in the 98 percent.

Pbrain, I laughed when I saw your suggestion as that was what I was going to say. I always take a Valium or,something before the mri's. Helps me lay still better.

Good Morning-----my first one cuz I usually go back to ZZZZ's--but I want to say GM to everyone hoping everyone has a  decent day and all app't turns out well.

hi chick glad to have you back but sorry about the neuropathy and swelling. You know, one of the side effects of taxol and Taxotere is swelling ???  I will send good thoughts that it is is no way CHF. As for the neuropathy, b vitamins are good. When I started Taxotere I asked my MO if I should start a b complex vitamin (little did she know I was already sipping vitamin waters daily). Well she is a stickler for research and said no vitamins were needed; research had not proven them to be beneficial. Oh well, I continued to drink my vitamin waters and .....no neuropathy for me. Could b a coincidence but I like to think otherwise. 

My brother has diabetic neuropathy and was part of a clinical study on vibration therapy at Willamette University.  He said by the end of the study the pain was basically gone he could feel his feet again (it had been years since that happened), his stride improved, after each treatment the "good" lasted longer and longer, but unfortunately the study ended, and after a few months, the good was all back to pre-vibration.  The machine costs something like $15,000, and there is nowhere locally for him to access the machines now that the study is over.  

There are some studies now that say that chemo induced peripheral neuropathy is different than diabetic, and that some treatments work better than others for each.  Also, I think that it's ALA, alpha lipoic acid that is supposed to help with neuropathy, but only if you take it before you get it. 

Oh Dana-  so sorry to that you have neuropathy and now possible CHF. Prayers for good test results.  Also hope that your huband's eye is doing well..    Take care and stay warm!!!

Congrats on your 3 year anniversary with NED! Hope you have many more!!!

Thanks everyone for the constant support.  Went to neurologist yesterday and they did some electrical tests on my hands and besides the neuropathy being confirmed they also diagnosed me with severe carpal tunnel which never has bothered me in the past and I've typed for the last 30 years at my job. Doctor changed up my medicine again an added a few things to try and get me some relief from the severe neuropathy. I go to the heart doctor tomorrow and I also take my husband back to you the eye surgeon to see what's next in his medical plan..... what a pair we are!

Thanks for all the love! ♥

Dana, keep us posted.  Ask your cardiologist for a proBNP or BNP test.  Make sure you know which one he runs because the normal values are different.  It is a very sensitive blood test for heart failure, and usually way more sensitive than an echo.  I had mine done about 3 weeks after finishing chemo (but still taking herceptin) and I was at the high end of normal.  I was very relieved by that, so much more so than the "normal" echo results.

Fluff, that doesn't look like Indiana.  Where are you and can I come join you???  Cute picture!

Ok, so I'm trying to help my mom.  She has micro-calcifications which haven't changed over 6 months.  She'd skipped her mammo for 3 years and went ~7 months ago.  They found the calcifications and her radiologist told her he was ok watching them.  At 6 months they hadn't changed at all, but she saw a new radiologist who wants the stereotactic biopsy (like I was yammering about a few posts ago).  She's leaning towards not getting it done, but waiting for another 6 months for another diagnostic mammo.  In the meantime, she will see a breast surgeon, who I know will give her his thoughts.  I'm not sure how to advise her...she is asking me my thoughts and I'd love to see her skip the procedure if she can...she is 78 years young and has always been healthy...not too overweight, exercises, peppy, wears me out when I visit...sigh...I'm feeling so unsure and do wish I lived closer.  I'd go with her and hold her hand.  

Meanwhile, she still has a giant sense of humor.  She asked me if her boobs were hanging out of the holes in the table, did the radiologist and techs crawl under there like little hobbits to do her biopsy.  Rolling around and laying on the floor with big ole boobies in their face.  She's funny!

Fluffqueen, that's amazing (re: your aunt).  I had to read that twice just to let it soak in.  

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ChickaD, I hope the new med lineup helps your carpal tunnel and hoping the cardiologist visit goes well.  I was very worked up about an abnormal pre-surgery EKG and I went to different cardiologist and he said not to worry (I had gathered several old EKGs by the time I saw the second cardiologist).  I was on phen/fen for a very short time several years ago and it seems I've had weird EKGs for years.  I know your situation is different but I'm hoping the resolution for you is similar.  Good luck to your husband as well. 

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Pbrain, I can see why you're torn.  After reading what Fluffqueen posted I'm wondering if they couldn't put her on Arimidex.  It seems like there has been a recent study about doing preventative Arimidex for post-menopausal women.  I'm sure you're probably more familiar with this given your line of work but I'll post it anyway (and I'm sure it's already been posted here):  

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles...

My mom just turned 76 and was recently diagnosed with dementia.  I remember her saying she had calcifications years ago and she never went back for another mammogram.  I think her last mammogram might have been before I moved to California and that was in 1999.  Part of me would like for her to have a mammogram now that we have her corralled (she hadn't seen a doctor in years and she's now in a nursing home) but part of me says "no, it would be far too traumatic for her in her current state of mind."  Mind you (no pun intended), my mom has dementia and your mom sounds like she's not suffering from any type of mental decline.  It's a tough decision.  When I was going for Herceptin only there was a woman who was over 90 getting chemo.  She was hooked up to what looked like a bag of Adriamycin.  My husband was with me that day and we could overhear part of the conversation between the woman who was with her and the nurses.  She had lots of mental confusion and I couldn't help but wonder how hard that bag of Adriamycin would be on her several hours later.  It sure seems like it would be a lot easier if your mom could take that little white pill once a day.  Of course, it has its side effects as well...

Thanks guys, I'm thinking the same thing.  At the worst, it would be DCIS, which isn't so bad.  Let's see what the BS says.  She sees him this Tuesday and I've armed her with lots and lots of questions.

Fluff, sit back and relax with that foot and get someone else to shovel since we are in line for yet another dump of snow.  I always say to myself at New Years "you just have to get through January and February and then you are home free" because I hate Winter.  This year is testing my patience!  

Pbrain, I haven't been posting much, bit I have been reading. It's horrible that you now have to go through this 'from the other side'. I hope everything turns out ok for your mum, and I'm thinking of you both. 

I've had 2 weeks solid of at least 2 medical appointments every day - that's why I haven't been around much!

At least I now know what happening:

On 02/10 I go to the hospital for the day. I'll have more scans, see the anesthetist and the surgeon. Based in the scans and examination he'll then decide whether both areas (T2 & C1) can be cemented. He's not sure yet about C1.  Then on 02/20 I'll be admitted to hospital again, and operated the morning after. Looks like my back is getting sorted fast!

However, my knee is becoming an issue. Saw the orthopedic surgeon who operated  in my knee. Yesterday, he told me that it could take up to 18 months to heal, that I need to keep using the stick and PT in the pool. Not impressed!

Nicky

hi Camille, if they can't cement the other one then it'll be pins and plates. Don't know the full details yet, we didn't discuss it too much. Waiting to see if its necessary first!

The cementing is called a vertebroplasty. Cement is literally injected into the damaged bone to strengthen it. For me, T2 is now so weak that on an MRI you can't even see it! It looks like the bones above and below are floating. Spooky!

Apparently it can be done as a day case with a local anesthetic depending on the severity. It's an indication of what stage my back's at that it'll be done under general anesthetic and I'll be in hospital for a few days. The results from it seem to be very good; within 72 hours there's massive pain relief. Definitely looking forward to that!!

As for my knee - 😢😢😢😢😢

Nicky

actually, my knee is indirectly a result of bc. I have LE in my left leg which often leaves my foot feeling numb, and I can't bend my toes. As a result I often limp, compensating with my right leg. They reckon that's why I shattered the meniscus, and the fracture is a stress fracture. Now he says be careful not to do the same to the other leg!!

Nicky

Nicky, massive pain relief sounds wonderful!  

It's amazing what they can do these days.  When I was a kid (a LONG time ago) my dad had to have a couple vertebrae fused together (that's what they called it back then) and it required a 2 to 3 week hospital stay.  

Maybe if you can get some relief in your back it will help with the knee problem.