ER-, PR-, Her2+ Roll call

Should I be concerned that I’m getting magnesium for the third time since chemo?

I bought the NatraCure brand from Amazon. Wear thin socks and thin cotton gloves so you don't get frostbite. I bought my gloves in the pharmacy section at Walgreens.

@grammie2 I forgot to respond to your question but I had an almost immediate response to chemo. I could not feel my lump after two. My oncologist told me after three it just felt like dense tissue now. An early response is most desired.

I didn't qualify for diep flap; so went w implants. Planning on getting 3D nipples tattood this July though I'm getting used to the Barbie boobies!

Hi all! Happy hump day! So does this sound pretty expected? It seems on the level based on what I’ve read here. Tomorrow, I have an echo appt and, on Friday, I’m scheduled for port placement. After the echo, I can start chemo right away, although the exact timing is still up in the air. We discussed neoadjuvant therapy before surgery, and I’m starting an antineoplastic chemo regimen consisting of Taxol, Carboplatin, Herceptin, and Perjeta. The second two (for the HER2+ component) will be administered as a shot, w/infusion sessions available if needed due to tolerability issues. The duration for all 4 chemos together is six cycles, once every three weeks. I’d have regular evals to monitor blood counts and adjust chemo doses accordingly, etc. I’d have follow-up appts every three months for examination and blood work to monitor tumor markers, vitamin levels, and overall health. This is followed by my double mastectomy, radiation, and, all the while, the continued targeted shots therapy for at least one year.

I feel better with a clear roadmap for my treatment journey. My inner control freak loves a good plan. It’s happening so fast my brain isn’t totally keeping up. In a way, that’s a relief. And tells me I’m already trusting my team on some level. I just realllly also want to get the MRI and PET scan over with and hear it’s not creeping everywhere. That’s on Monday (MRI) and then the week after (PET). Also, my reconstruction surgeon is calling for an appt already.

Thank you, @aborayis. You are all helping me so much, and I’m so thankful for it! Have the ice mitts and booties, ordered the compression stuffs that should be here tomorrow, and dug out my mom’s roll-y bag and soft cooler from storage. They are animal print 😁 We lost her to multiple myeloma in ‘19. I’m carrying the torch for her, fighting the good fight. Using her things is a little weird but feels a little like my Rambo bandana.

Hey all. First chemo was 4/18 and things went fairly decent. But I've had to get magnesium twice a week since and next chemo is next Thursday. They acted like it was common and no big deal, but said it is hard to get magnesium to build back up. Little discouraged. Finally went up 1 yesterday. Anyone else have this issue? Hair is coming out by the handfuls so gonna shave this weekend. Any recommendations for lotion on the scalp? Thanks people!!!

@djschmidt1 thanks! They didn't check it prior to chemo so my magnesium could have been low before. Who knows. But I did have some ankle swelling Wednesday after the infusion the day before. So when I went yesterday, they reduced the saline amount when they gave the magnesium to me. I told them that I'm not having any D or vomiting and that I am staying well hydrated. I think my body was getting overloaded with fluid. So yesterday I cut back on my water intake, but ankles still are getting puffy today.

Can you take magnesium supplements? How about tolerating food yet? Get you some dark leafy greens like spinach and kale, nuts and seeds (especially almonds, cashews, and pumpkin seeds), and I think whole grains like brown rice and quinoa (yum!), legumes like beans and lentils (red lentils are full of iron as a bonus), and some fish like salmon and mackerel.

@bailey.boo I don't think she wants me to do any supplements. I did buy a Gatorade Electrolyte today and it has magnesium. And love all the foods you mentioned but everyone has warned me about eating raw veggies like lettuce, kale, spinach because of bacteria that normal bodies can tolerate, but chemo bodies can't. I love salads and am missing those so if anyone can correct me on that, please do!!

oh no. I hope they can get your levels all good by your 2nd chemo session. I’ve switched to all salads to cut that sugar out, but I see this is the wrong answer soon! I wonder if cooked is ok? I went on Oceanofpdf dot com (tip of the day— if you’ve never heard of this, check it out!) and downloaded every cancer and cancer cookbook they had on my list.

I just called and got a stat put on my Echo results and scheduled my 1st chemo day as a tentatively on Tuesday. I’m chomping at the bit to start and halt this evil in its tracks. It keeps me up at night, worrying it’s spreading.

Oh my what a time!!! My port is Bard as well. Power port I think. I kept thinking my skin looked bruised where the port is (weeks after the placement). Come to find out, the port color is purple. Why on earth would the company think a device planted just below the skin should be purple?? LOL. Glad you are doing ok!!

@bailey.boo I worried my husband to death because I thought I had a clot or something LOLOL. I will say that the port for chemo has been a blessing so far. It is so easy for them to access and even without the numbing cream they gave me, it is just a small stick when they do it. I had always turned my head when they accessed it, but happen to see her take it out yesterday. I had to laugh because it reminded me of someone pulling out a thumbtack.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in this group. How is everyone doing? I had my first visit to my hairstylist since my diagnosis in July of last year. Half my hair is long and half is about three inches. She dyed away my grays and changed my part to cover the short hairs. It’s not perfect, but wow, it feels good. Also scheduled nipple reconstruction in September followed by tattooing. @snm, you’re scheduled for tattooing in July? It’s coming up!

Well, ugh. I’ve just been diagnosed with Graves Disease. I think this is why I’ve been so tired, weak and shaky for the past few months. I’ve been tachycardic too but we’ve been chalking that up to stress about cancer and treatment. Getting started on meds, and I should hopefully be feeling a whole bunch better. I’m happy to know what’s been going on and excited to feel better!