Hello new here to Team Pink

but I'm older and did not have mastectomies.  I had 4 rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxin and it is quite doable.  Not easy, but doable.  I remember thinking "I should feel really really awful, but I don't".   Drink drink drink plenty of fluids, take all the meds they give you to prevent side effects and expect the unexpected.  I had a pretty easy time with the TC, but I had many many side effects no one told me about.  I found that keeping a journal/calendar helped me anticipate the next cycle and my side effects and good days were pretty consistent throughout.  For example I might be weak and shakey and I'd look back on the previous 3-week period and sure enough, I felt the same way around the same time.   It was sort of reassuring to know that in X # days I'd be my old self again.   The calendar also helped me count the days off and gave me a sense of accomplishment as the time went by.  

I take Tamoxifen and have no side effects.  It has been 3 years since I completed treatments.  It took me over 2 to actually stop constantly worrying about recurrence.  I'm good and life is good.  Hope you get to this place soon.

Suzanne

I can tell you're a funny girl!  Love that  I'm a yr out and had IDC, too.  Mine stayed in the duct w/no node involvement.  I had a bilateral but no chemo or rads and take Tamoxifen being 98% estrogen positive.  I was stage 1.  I had Diep flap reconstruction.  I'm not to the point Suzanne is, regarding not fearing recurrence.  Wish I could be.  Maybe someday! I'm wishing you the best during treatment and truly can feel your great attitude coming through the post!  Keep in touch w/us.  Hugs, Linda 

CypressCynthia said:

You ARE going to kick some

You ARE going to kick some butt! 

My younger sister's story was about identical to yours and, I believe, she is about 15 years out now.  Her only difference was that she chose not to do radiation, had a local recurrence 6 years out, then had surgery and radiation anyway...lol.  She was also then put on femara and has stayed on it since (by then she was postmenopausal).

I was Stage 3 and just 33 when I was diagnosed (about 7-9 years before her dx).  My path has been rockier.  I had an 18 year remission and then have been Stage 4 for 8 years, but doing fairly well now.  I will be a 27 year survivor in Feb 2014!

I am sorry that you had to join the MB because you have cancer, but know that you are welcome and that many here will try their hardest to help.  Hugs and prayers! 

P.S. Our daughter, Katherine, was 4 when I was diagnosed and I used to pray that I would just make it to her 8th birthday.  She is 31 now and getting married in April.

Hi.  My experience is very similar to Suzanne's.  I am almost 4 yrs out since diagnosis and still worry about recurrance but not as much as I have in the past.  The best advice is the drink, drink, drink.  This board was very valuable to me during teatment as there are a lot of things that come up and there is always an answer for the question.  You can do this!!!

disneyfan2008 said:

Hello and welcome..
I did not

Hello and welcome..

I did not have chemo so I do  not have any advice-just good thoughts heading your way with some pixie dust!

Denise

Welcome, Loriell -

I was 40 when I was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago with invasive ductal carcinoma in one breast and invasive lobular in the other.  ER+/PR+, Her2-, BRCA-.

I had bilateral lumpectomies -- surprisingly (at least to my surgeon) all my sentinel lymph nodes were negative, and I was staged at Stage 1.  I chose to do chemo anyway -- 4 rounds of TC, then 33 radiation treatments.  I've been on Tamoxifen for 4 years.  Other than a scare a couple of months ago that required a biopsy which turned out negative, I'm doing very well.

A couple of large, well-respected studies have come out in the last year that shows Tamoxifen should now be taken for 10 years, not the traditional 5 years -- many doctors are now recommending that.  Every person's health situation is different, and I'm sure there are differences of opinion among doctors -- just be prepared for that if your doctor changes his/her recommendation once you get to that point.

Traci

Loriell said:

Thanks

Thanks for the pixie dust Denise!! :-) 

So nice to meet you --    I will be sending you cyber hugs - strength, and prayers.

Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

Vicki Sam

Jennifer1961 said:

Hi.  I also had stage 2a,

Hi.  I also had stage 2a, estrogen +, Her2-.  I had a lumpectomy, then 6 rounds of TAC.  Since my tumor had very thin (but clear) margins my doc recommended mastectomy.  I opted for bilateral with reconstruction.  It's been 3 years since I completed treatment and am going strong.  I was 48 when diagnosed, three kids 5, 9 and 11.  So hard to go through this stuff when your kids are so little.  Keep the faith.  Before you know it it will be a distant memory.  XO

I'm new to this journey, too. I'm invasive breast cancer too, but we don't yet know if it's ductal or lobular. I do have lymph node involvement, so I'm either a stage II or III. I have a PET scan on Monday to check the extent of metastasis. We do know I'm ER+\PR+ but HER-. Because of my mets, I'm doing everything in reverse order from you: chemo first, then radiation, then surgery.

I'll keep you posted on how the chemo goes! I meet with my oncologist on Friday.

LoveBabyJesus said:

Same extact dx here

Hi and welcome!

I am sorry you had to join us.

I was dx at the age of 32 with the same cancer you had. I had stage 2A, estrogen +, HER2 -, BRCA neg. and vascular invasion too! (with no nodes involved.) We are very similar.

I did ACT (8 weeks, every other week). There is so much to know but the first thing to always remember is WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT. Things have changed so you might not get any side effects. I personally got the most side effects from the nuelesta shot! Will you be getting one after each treatment? That was quite the ride, for 2-3 days. But very doable!

First thing first:

-chew on ice during your infusion to prevent mough sores

-try to eat 6-8 small meals a day (and I mean really small, like a fruit, a salad)

- DRINK lots of water! (at least 8 glasses daily, to wash out all those chemicals

-keep stool softerners handy (this was my worst side effect. And it was really bad.)

-WASH everything you eat! Well. Try eating only cooked things. If eating raw food, make sure you wash.

-Have someone clean the bathtub for you so you get no bacteria in your nails or on your feet.

-Don't be around sick people (try weairing a doctor mask if you are)

-Eat a lot of green veggies and fruit. Foods with strong colors.

-SLEEP. Let your body rest at all time.

-If you experience anything abnormal, call your DR. Don't wait.

-Don't take any meds without talking to your Dr. first. Some meds interfere with treatment (and even foods! like grapefruit.)

-Surround yourself with loving people. EXCLUDE all negativity.

-Have Faith. Believe you will be Fine.

you can send me a PM if you would like to chat.

Good luck with everything!!

 

XOXOX

I was diagnosed on 4-12-13, I had 4 tumors in my rt breast. I had a bi lateral mastectomy May 15  with expanders put in and started chemo on June 27. I was er+ and PR+ HER2- and had no lymph node involvement. i had 4 rounds of adrimycin( red devil) and cytoxin then just yesterday finished my 12 rounds of Taxol. I have my silicone implants put in on Jan 8. I was offered radation but chose not to. I will be on tamoxifen for at least a year then may be changed to another drug. I turned 50 in Feb, 2 mos. before my dagnosis.

Chemo is tough but can be done! Hang in there

Good luck, Dolores