Need Friends/New to site

Vanetia

I was diagnosed on 10/03. Had a mastecomy on Halloween. I have had 6 of my 8 chemo treatments. I have support, but not anyone who has been there. I am 38 and am phase 2, 4 parts of a/c and 4 taxotere. the shot that you get 24 hours later that builds white cells makes me hurt so bad in my hips and legs. Because I am premenapausal, they will put me through it with harmone therapy for 5 years after treatment. I am going through the reconstruction, I have the tissue expansion in. I am finished with the saline part. Will get the finishing reconstructive surgery 2 to 3 weeks after treatments are done.

I had started a new thread earlier, but it is gone.

I saw 3 replies and appreciate them. I just need to talk to people who have been there or are there now.

I hope I can be there for some of you also.

hummingbyrd

Welcome to the site Vanetia. I was 38 when I was diagnosed, I'm 42 now, Praise the Lord!
I know what you mean about the shot, makes the bones hurt so bad! I've been told Motrin and Alleve help, to be honest I don't remember what I took. Hang in there girl, you are 3/4 of the way done! There is life after chemo! Just get plenty of rest and water and don't push yourself too hard. You can email any of us on the site, just click the envelope below the message of the person you want to email. I'll be glad to help any way I can. I had a lumpectomy so don't know much about the reconstruction part. I think you'll be glad you came here, lots of love and lots of support from a lot of wonderful ladies.
God bless you, hope you feel better soon.
hummingbyrd

tlmac

You've come to the right place if you're looking for friends who understand what you're going through. I had both breasts removed on February 6, 2003 with no reconstruction, yet. My chemo following surgery was 4 cycles of AC, no radiation required. My stage 2 grade III invasive ductal carcinoma was estrogen receptor positive so I'll be taking Arimidex for 5 years (1 down 4 to go). I had neulasta shots to promote production of white blood cells after each chemo but was lucky that the bone pain was minimal. The pain I did have made me fully appreciate what some friends in my Reach to Recovery group were going through. Hang in there. Sooner than you realize you'll be replying to someone else's request for help or advice by saying, "it does get better."

DJC

Hi Vanetia - I'm currently going through relatively the same process as you are - I just finished chemotherapy (4 cycles of A/C and 4 cycles of Taxol) in December and should complete the reconstructive process utilizing an expander this coming Spring. I'd love to share experiences, etc.! Write me at this site, if you'd like. My best to you. Donna

Ronee33

Hi Vanetia ... I responded to your earlier post but did want to add my 2 cents about the pain. I had to take 5 shots of Neupogen (1 a day for each day following chemo) and my joints hurt so bad that sometimes I cried. I talked to my oncologist and was told that the Taxotere also can cause joint pain. But the good news is that the joint pain was really bad only the first 2 Taxotere treatments. I had discomfort for the last 2, but not as bad.
I'm premenopausal too, but I'm not hormone receptive so I will not have the hormone therapy.
It's a lot to go thru all at one time. It's nice to have support.

Vanetia

Thanks alot for all the encouragement. I know it will all be over soon, as far as the treatments, I will be going on and hoping for the best after. Which is all we all can do. I have tried the Aleve it seems to do okay. It makes it bearable. Usually by Sat. I start feeling better.

Anyway, we must carry on, and do the best we can, with what we were given. There are people in worse conditions, so we do have something to be thankful for.

riley1

Hi Vanetia, I too was diagnosed in Oct. 2003. I just had a lumpectomy. i've had 4 rounds of A/C and have 4 rounds of taxol...i only have ONE more taxol thank heavens. I've really had alot of muscle/bone pain with taxol. I've found that taking extra strength tylenol BEFORE treatment and taking regular helps alot with pain...don't wait till the pain starts. I need to have more surgery on lymph nodes and then i'll do radiation.....hang in there....it is hard not to get discouraged....but this site is wonderful.... you can find most answers you need from women that live the problems.... best of luck

MsNaisy

riley1 said:

Hi Vanetia, I too was diagnosed in Oct. 2003. I just had a lumpectomy. i've had 4 rounds of A/C and have 4 rounds of taxol...i only have ONE more taxol thank heavens. I've really had alot of muscle/bone pain with taxol. I've found that taking extra strength tylenol BEFORE treatment and taking regular helps alot with pain...don't wait till the pain starts. I need to have more surgery on lymph nodes and then i'll do radiation.....hang in there....it is hard not to get discouraged....but this site is wonderful.... you can find most answers you need from women that live the problems.... best of luck

Hi I was reading your message and I want yuou to know that you just need to hang in there. I had a lumpectomy and I also had the GCSF shots ( year 1998) what the doctors do not tell you is that they may cause drug induced arthritis but what choice do you have? Since it is drug induced, it is possible to get rid of the arthritis. The shots made me so stiff that I could hardly move any thing below my waist but after the last shot I could hardly tell that it happened at all. Best of luck to you. Write me whenever you feel the need. God Bless.

twicebitten

Hi, I just had a mastectomy with removal of 18 nodes 10 days ago for Stage IIIb breast cancer. I am 35. I had 4 rounds of AC followed by 2 doses of Taxotere. I had no significant response on Taxotere, in fact the tumor seems to increase on it so surgery came up fast for me. I am doing well now, just anxious to resume treatment. I can't get more chemo til 3-4 weeks postop even though I feel fine. I only logged onto this site a couple of days ago after seeing a tv commercial for it and have found that already it helps. You will feel better just checking in here and seeing what others have to say. I go by "twicebitten" on this site because I had cancer when I was 12 years old also. I had synovial sarcoma and had my leg amputated below the knee. At that time, I had 10 months of chemo as well. This time it is different though. Now I am married with 4 young children! I pray everyday that I make it through this one!
Good luck and God Bless!

beenthere2

hello how are you I am person who has been the I had a lump,and doing well it has been 2 years and doing fine