Calling all TNs

@gailmary i love this gal on YouTube , She specializes in older adults. I’ve doing her workouts off and on for 2 years. I especially love the 15 minute HIIT workout . https://youtube.com/%40aimfitnessactivitiesinmotion?si=n3XWdnlwfWAMgLbM . She also has a series for gardeners and golfers, which I’m not lol… but might be worth checking since you garden. Slow but steady exercise definitely has helped me with stamina and mood. I feel healthy all things considered, I know the working out each day helps. I have other recommendations for YouTube gals if you don’t like Meg/ Aim fitness. Let me know. Good luck with the AC. Resting when you are out of breath makes sense, listen to your body.

I’m doing well so far on the Carbo / taxotere. Broke out in a rash last week, my skin always reacts to treatment. But the antihistamines have it under control, so all is good. It’s always something, side effects are what we manage lol…. Am still on vacation and loving the quiet time. Reading and listening to music, my favorite things.

Wishing everyone a very happy new year ! 🎊 And the start of new or next line of treatments with generosity for the experience, lots of companionship here on the boards, and knowledge that support and hugs are just a click away ❤️❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rhonda

@rlschaller great news about your MRI results, thank you for sharing! Keep us posted on your PET scan results. Thinking of you.

@moderators thanks!

@justsnapd8 my MO changed it to Carbo / taxotere as she didn’t want to repeat Taxol. Have infusion #2 tomorrow. The 1st infusion was manageable. Felt off for a few days starting on day 4, but not bad. It was a familiar chemo feeling, energy was sludgy, felt not quite right a little spacey but no fever as the magic potion went through my body lol..and low appetite, but I still managed to gain 4 pounds over the holidays. It all passed quickly. No nausea or diarrhea, or bone pain, and by day 9 or so felt normal. Felt great actually. Unfortunately, I Had a major rash though on my torso front and back, on day 15 woke up with it. But not a big surprise, as I tend towards skin allergic reactions , I get a rash of some kind with each treatment. Though it was shocking at first. But I started antihistamines (xyzal in eve, Pepcid morn) and called the covering MO the next day, and as it didn’t get worse we stayed the course. It took a week, but it’s all cleared up , used steroid cream and CerVe cream.
So as you know, each treatment brings its own opportunities and challenges, it’s getting used to it , turning toward it and accepting and letting go so the uncertainty doesn’t creat a mind fog or meltdown. Mindfulness of body, mindfulness of thought and emotion helps me a great deal. But that doesn’t mean I don’t react lol.. but I do recover quickly. If this is my new treatment plan I can do this, I know what to expect now .

How are you doing? ❤️

@justsnapd8 wishing you a speedy recovery from surgery . Rest as much as you can. If they put a drain in, it can be a little overwhelming at first, but manageable once you get the hang of it. Hopefully you are not in too much pain, if any. Keep us posted. Sending love and light.

My PETscan was more great news. No new lesions, no evidence of disease. Had infusion #2 yesterday, hopefully no new rash this time, but we’ll see. I’m hanging in there, feeling good.

Take care all. It’s cold outside, it’s 30 degrees outside here, but brrr feels like 13 degrees due to the winds. Doing my steps/ walking inside lol. I found a new YouTube excersise channel for seniors called https://youtube.com/%40thegirlwiththepilatesmat?si=HfKyADIFPtZc_aAa love her! Gentle and effective for balance and strength.

@justsnapd8 so glad to hear surgery went well for you. I hope your recovery continues without a hitch.

Rhonda, glad to to hear of your great news. May your success continue for years.

My first week after AC has been much fun. I confine myself to home and have been a mad quilter. A favorite pasttime. Any SE have been crazy mild. I am aware it may not stay so easy thanks to stories from you and others here at BCO.

Quite delighted that dh is showing interest in exercising with me at home.

I have both a treadmill and bike and weights and bands. We could workout together. He is 77 and decided this year he is too old to get so cold working in the woods. But we are likely to regret doing nothing when we try to do yard work in spring. Of course I will want a speedy recovery from my surgery tentatively planned for early April. Gardening is the other favorite pasttime.

I hope it being quiet here means everyone is doing well.

This past October 2024 at age 60, I was diagnosed with TNBR, clean margins, no affected lymph nodes. CT and bone scans negative. Scheduled to start CMF chemotherapy tomorrow. I’m thankful to hear from other women with similar stories. Very scared right now that life as I know it will not be the same after chemotherapy.

Morning Ladies, hope everyone is doing well, we had a big snow last Thursday most of it is gone from the roads just mainly on the grass now, so I met with the radiation doctor and he said there is no right answer for me, he said he really cant say I need it or don't need it, he said having radiation will lower my recurrence by about 5-10%, but since the tumor was so small and no node involvement even tho it was triple negative, he does not think it is coming back, I told him well it did after 17 years but that I would take another 17 cancer free, he said no hurry think about it and since I see my surgeon for a check up in Feb I can talk to her and see what she says, so who really knows

Gail, I also had shortness of breath with the slightest exertion during treatment, feeling a little better now tho

@tammy3116 welcome to the TNB thread. We are here for you ! Chemo is a journey for sure, and life won’t be the same . But fear and worry do not have to rule the day, they are there but also is hope, and laughter and knowing that all experiences always change us. I have found that there is the good and the not so good along the way. And to be honest it can be an opportunity along with the challenges. Opportunity to turn towards yourself with kindness for one thing, and allow your feelings and aspirations to lead you to enjoying life as it is. That’s my 2 cents lol. You might look to see if there is an existing thread already for your specific chemo cocktail magic potion, and if not, perhaps start one and others will find you. I post on a taxotere thread and no one else does lol… but I figure those who need to know what my experience is will find it and learn how to manage that drug. And we learn to manage, to cope and flourish . It takes a commitment and energy, no mistaking that, but you can take your life in your own hands, that is the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the two years I’ve been managing treatments. Everyone’s body responds differently to the drugs, which is fascinating really. But you have a lot more you can control than you think, your lifestyle choices, what you eat, how you move through a day, even how you think about what is presented in each moment. Lots of support out there, and here on these threads.

@rlschaller thanks, I'll check out the Xeloda thread. They are planning on doing radiation, but I'm not sure how long I'll be on Xeloda, so it's still up in the air as for a schedule.

@justsnapd8 as I did not get PCR prior to surgery and there was cancer still in one lymph node, my MO put me on 8 rounds of Xeloda. I'm currently on round 7 but I had to take a 4 week break between round 5 & 6 because of a side effect (stomach pain)… pain has not come back after the break. I have had some HFS but it has been very manageable, hasn't stopped me from doing anything. I do keep my hands & feet well hydrated. I joined the All About Xeloda thread, it has been very helpful. It is the most active thread but it is mostly Stage IV ladies on there; some like @Cookies54 have been on Xeloda for a long time and managing fine.

@tammy3116 welcome, these boards are a wealth of information. Chemo is doable… one step at a time… and it may not seem like it right now but it does get easier. I've been diagnosed with TNBC twice now and both times I catastrophized on initial diagnosis … but as time went on I realised I was not going anywhere anytime soon and despite the fact that I am still on chemo, it doesn't rule all my thoughts all the time anymore. You are right, your life will never be the same but echoing @rlschaller, that is not necessarily a bad thing, it can present new opportunities. I am not the same person I was before cancer, but I love the person I have become 😊… I have a very different outlook on life.

@rlschaller great news on your PET scan !! Whoohoo! You must be so happy.

@gailmary sounds like you are managing AC well, hope it continues. I don't quilt but I crocheted a lot during my last chemo infusion sessions. My MIL (who also happens to be my neighbour) is also a mad quilter. Since moving to acreage, gardening has become my new hobby … it has required a lot of removal of weeds before planting so it has the added bonus of actually becoming a great workout as well.

2 more rounds of Xeloda, 3 more rounds of Keytruda, then PET scan to confirm if all clear… counting down to hopefully finish all treatments soon…

@gailmary checking in, how are doing? Hope AC and se are still manageable.

Happy Thursday to all ❤️

Good morning ladies, and happy Sunday! Not much has changed for me since my last update. it's weird not having boobs! The pain from my double mastectomy is much better. I take a pain pill at night but more for sleep purposes than for pain. I'll see the MO on February 5 and from there, we go to Xelota and I guess radiation, oh, and Keytruda let's not forget about that! I think I get the Keytruda on February 5 as they have me scheduled for an infusion. I hope everyone here is doing as well as they can be.

@tammy3116 please check in with us when you can and let us know how you're doing.

Rhonda, Gail, Dawn, and anyone I missed. Y'all sound like you're doing great. Hang in there and take one day at a time. Because that's really all we can do.

Morning Ladies, hope everyone is doing ok, I have a new development, I have noticed a thickening in the skin not where my surgery was but same breast , my cancer was on the left side of the breast and this is on the lower right side of the breast, I have finished all my treatments, I sure hope this is not a new cancer so soon after my treatment has ended, doctor appt this afternoon for a punch biopsy, ughhh

@pinkone501 we are here for you , hope it turns out to be nothing. Keep us posted. Hugs!

I had my third infusion last week and saw my MO, who did not like the look of the rash under my armpit, thought it looked suspicious but she wasn’t sure wants to think about it. Deep breathe. We are going to wait till my next infusion to decide on next steps as needed. If it is cancer in the skin again, the RO texted me that they could do partial radiation to that part. I’ll talk to them both on Feb 19. Meanwhile liquid biopsy this Friday from MSK so we are covering all the bases as best as we can. ❤️

Wishing everyone well today. Hang in there.

That's great to hear, @pinkone501 😊