TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

momma - my onc nurses said to use a condom - to reduce the possibility of infection for me, and to reduce the possibility of exposure to chemo agents for the DH.  My advice on how to handle things when you start hormonal therapy - use it or lose it. Seriously.  It helps keep the skin thicker, but some need extra help with lubricants.  The thought about exercise is that something that burns calories, is weight-bearing to strengthen your bones, and can help you maintain a leaner BMI is the kind of exercise to do.  This is more for after treatment - I don't think anyone expects you to be in the gym lifting weights right now - unless you feel like it, lol!

I love reading all the posts on the exercise thread.  They help to motivate me!  I certainly don't feel like sex today!  My chemo treatments are 3 weeks apart so I usually feel pretty good about 10 days out.  Last time I was able to exercise on the treadmill those last 10 days.  I'm certainly not lifting weights!!    Unfortunately I haven't had chemo pause yet.  Got another period last week.  It sucks to go through all this plus that.  Seems like I should get a break.  I figured we'd probably need to use a condem.  I have read posts on Tamoxifen and I Want my Mojo Back.  Scares the crap out if me.  I'm scared we're never going to have sex again!  

I'm sure a lot of marriages crumble because of prior issues.  There may be some that are unwilling to put up with the nonsense.  We have a great marriage but sometimes it's hard to imagine things getting back to the happy place we were before all this.

mommato3-I didn't have much sex during chemo as I developed an infection in the expander and had surgery of some kind pretty much every two months for a year. We had small windows, lol.

I was 55 when diagnosed and not at all on menopause. Chemo, surgery and whatever through me into menopause immediately.  I have the WORST hot flashes ever. I have also developed some atrophy, even though I am doing the "use it" fairly often. I just signed up for a study testing moisturizers and lubricants, one of two kinds, with counseling, or just counseling. Waiting to hear what arm I end up in. I had to do a vaginal ph test. Mine was 6.5. It said call your doctor, lol. Which I did. They put me on an antibiotic for a bacterial infection. It actually seems to be helping a lot. I'm convinced I got it during my PAP test, as things have been weird down there since then, but not yeast infection like.

I was on tamoxifen for almost three years and my most recent pap showed endometrial cells. So, the GYN talked to my ONC and they started me on arimidex. Said that was all I needed. I didn't believe him, so I also saw a gyno onc at a different hospital who agreed with him. Said he would do a d and c only for my own peace of mind, but without abnormal bleeding of any kind, he thought it would be overkill also.

I am trying to go with the flow, but I get twingy in that area, and can't really tell if it is bladder or uterine related. It's annoying. Something is just now right, even if it isn't uterine cancer.

I'm going to give it another week and then start with the GYN, and maybe move to my kidney stone doc if that doesn't work. Too bad there isn't some test that can look at the bladder and uterus all at once.

Fluff, so the one arm only gives you counseling without the lubes?  Does this mean they think it's psychological?  

momma, there are three options. Two are different brands of moisturizer and lubes, with counseling, and maybe a vaginal dilator ( not sure I need that quite yet. I think it is optional.). The third arm is just the counseling, that actually gives you tips and suggestions of things to try, not necessarily in your head stuff, but actual things to help. I think they want to see if the lubes and moisturizers actually make a difference compared to other suggestions. They are both brand name products. MD ANDERSON is doing the study. The doc got a $100,000 grant. You don't have to go to the site at all. So I figured it can't hurt.

Mommato I'm not like I was at 25 but I'm doing fine. Yes I still use AstroGlide (still love that name. Every time I see it I hear the Jetson's dog Astro saying it) I did use Replens every day for a month after chemo the as directed… till eventually I didn't need it at all.

Lago-what is replens?  Is it over the counter or script?

Yes vettegirl it is OTC. I bought it at walgreens but I do believe I saw it at Costco the other day. It was my NP who told me to use it every day for a month then go down to what ever it says on the package.

Football I would really try to see if they can reduce your dose. I too have trouble with narcotics making me nauseous, spacey etc. Even on shingles I only took Aleve because 1/2 a norco made me feel even worse. Tell your onc and see if maybe a different narcotic may not make you feel as bad. BTW does your mouth feel better with ice? I know they have sugar free popsicles down here. (Don't worry about the artificial sweeter right now. You need to get through this). Hang in there. ♥ ♥ 

I looked up the info on Replens and Astroglide.  On the Webmd site, a bunch of people complained about the Replens.  I'm assuming they are ones that had a reaction to it.  This will be used after chemo?  While on Herceptin?  Astroglide is sold at Walmart and the reviews are great!  This product I'll use now.  

FBN-I hate hearing how bad you feel.    I would point out you are almost there...only 2 left!!  But I understand that it doesn't matter when you feel so crappy.  I still have 2 more ACs and then 12 weekly Taxols!!  I'm sorry to have to tell you that Payton Manning and the Broncos are going to beat your Jets!!    

My diet hasn't been the greatest either.  Everything tastes like crap.  I had a big glass of chocolate milk yesterday.  The chocolate tasted really good.  I've made potato salad twice in the last week.  It seems like I'm eating every couple hrs because I'm tired of the weird taste in my mouth.  I had managed to gain back 2 of the 12 lbs I lost.  This week I'm back down 3 lbs.  ugh..

mommato ure right re the broncos and PEYTON. They are actually my team. I made a pathetic mistake calling the jets mine. "My" was supposed to say ""NY". 

What a dreadful typo!!!!

Lol

Lago, I'm learning that people seem to only want to post the bad stuff.  

FBN, of all the times to make a typo!!  Of course I spelled Mannings name wrong!  My nephews name is spelled Payton, after Walter Payton.  I always have to think about it when wrapping his presents.

Moon, thanks for the support.  I know it will eventually get better.  Just wish it would hurry up!!

FBN - I wanted to quit and not do my last taxotere, literally begging and crying to my BS and MO.  I felt so horrific.  My BS took me by the hand and told me just to do the one last one and he said "I promise you it will be worth it" - it was, I had a complete response to neo-adjuvant chemo - HANG IN THERE!

sex - yikes so painful and zero desire.  I am trying but nada - feel bad for my DH.  I know its my estrogen depletion bc when I was off the ova suppression for a few months I somewhat got my mojo back.  So very frustrating and depressing - dried up at 45! I will check out those threads Lago

FBN, I feel so sorry that you are feeling so horrible.  I'm not sure what perc is - percocet? I haven't had any experience with it, but from what I understand it can make a lot of people feel quite sick.  I had terrible pain with Taxotere, and I took Panadeine Forte - now I'm not sure what that would be where you are - but it's a codeine based drug and while it can make some people feel sick, there's not as many as with the percocet.

It would be a good idea to see if you can get your dose reduced the next time to see if that gives you a bit of relief. I meant to say the other day about the crying - that's totally normal on Taxotere. I did that too - not sure if it was the steroids or the Taxotere or a combination of them. There's nothing you can do about it - just go with it, have a good cry. (((Hugs))))

I could eat very little on Taxotere, hard boiled eggs and some chocolate icecream where the main things, and only in very small bites spread over a long period of time. I lost 5kg (something like 12lbs I think?) in 5 days on Taxotere. The bid D was pretty horrendous. You have to force yourself to take in enough liquid to counteract the D if you are having it.

I'm really feeling for you 
Trish

xoxoxo

I listened to the pod-cast.  No actual tips but a preview of what they are going to be addressing.  I did like the fact that they mentioned breast cancer being a chronic disease.  I know a couple of you on here had their MOs say the same thing.  She did talk about survivors that are 10, 20, 30+ years out from diagnosis.  I imagine the hormone therapy aspect of it should really be addressed.  Women that are triple negative May have the short term issues with chemo or maybe long term if it puts them into earlier menopause, but they won't have the addition of hormone therapy that sucks the rest of the estrogen out.  There are times when I've wished for TN vs TP for this reason.  Even some of the TN posters say it's better because they don't have to deal with it.  It all sucks but I'm going to concentrate on the fact that not everyone has major problems.  Just like I keeping thinking that because this damn thing can come back doesn't mean it's going to!!

Triple negative is better if you make 5 years NED but otherwise not so much. I lost my chemo buddy (Well she was starting chemo when I finished but I was doing herceptin so I was her chemo buddy). Our tumors were the same size. She had nodes and was triple negative. We got the same treatment except she got Rads and I got hormone therapy. I'm here she isn't. She was 10 years younger than me with 2 young kids and husband. Their 10th wedding anniversary would have been this week.

It's so aggressive. But my 26 YO friend is approaching the 3 year mark with her triple negative from diagnosis. She had a local recurrence but is currently NED. Things look good for her.