Hi I am Carol

Hi all, I was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer last halloween. I fall in the 1 % that does not show up in the breasts but goes right to the lymph nodes. I completed 12 weeks of adrianmycin/cytoxin at every 3 weeks. I now just received my 7th dose of taxol/herceptan today. I have 5 more weekly doses, then surgery. I thought the A/C was bad but I have so many more symptoms on T/H. Most bothersom anre low blood counts. 2 weeks go had to have a blood transfusion. pain in my bone and joints. The pain has gotten worse the more treatments I receive. I have been tweaking my pain meds with my onc. I am a surgical nurse and have cut my hours down to 3 8hour days instead of 4-10 hour days. Another really annoying symptom is theat the chemo is effecting my brain and thought process. I just hope I get my brain back after treatment. I really feel like an old lady. I am only 46 years old. I would appreciate any feedback on the T/H regime. I would love to hear from you. Take care and God bless.........Carol

HI Carol,

 Hats off to you for working. When I did taxol it knocked me on my butt. Was ok with the a/c but taxol made every part of  my body hurt. I did have to take shots for the blood the day after each chemo - neulasta- and that also causes joint pain. The mind does go but it does come back.

I am triple negative, stage 4. I even tried herceptin even though I am her2  negative. Had no bad side effects from the herceptin other than it did not work.

As far as feeling old ......well that does seem to happen. I am 58 going on 110.........BUT I still look 80 something.

Carol you sound like a very strong person (working long hours) you will do well.

God Bless Sue

 

On 3/20/2009 Palmcoast wrote:

HI Carol,

 Hats off to you for working. When I did taxol it knocked me on my butt. Was ok with the a/c but taxol made every part of  my body hurt. I did have to take shots for the blood the day after each chemo - neulasta- and that also causes joint pain. The mind does go but it does come back.

I am triple negative, stage 4. I even tried herceptin even though I am her2  negative. Had no bad side effects from the herceptin other than it did not work.

As far as feeling old ......well that does seem to happen. I am 58 going on 110.........BUT I still look 80 something.

Carol you sound like a very strong person (working long hours) you will do well.

God Bless Sue

thank you for your reply. I wish I could not work at all but I have not been at this job for long and I have NO disability. When  I go out for my surgery I will have No long or short disability. That really sucks. The people at work are trying to raise money for me. When I go out I will be able to get social security disability. I have faith that God will carry me thru this. Thanks again for writing. How long ago were you diagnosed? And are you doing well now?...................Caol

HI Carol,

I was diagnosed in 10/06, started treatment in 11/06. Lost work for 10 months because I work for the post office and if you are not 100% you can not work. I did have a private disability insurance because the post office has none and social security refused me because cancer is NOT a disability. Still am under a lot of debt but you can not get blood out of a stone. I made the mistake the first go round by putting everything on credit cards. Now I make payments monthly and nothing goes on the credit card. The plastic surgeon is going after me for non payment but he screwed up so he will be the last one to be paid.

My story in short form. Found a lump on my upper left side that would come and go. Went and had a diagnostic mamogram and ultra sound and it still did not show up. When the doctor asked me to move my arm it shot up and he sent me straight to a surgeon. Had invasive infiltrating lobular carcinoma along with lymph nodes. Went and had ac/t chemo, then double mastectomy and reconstruction. Stage 3A. Wow your cancer is gone.

Had a rash during reconstruction and it turned out to be cancer which I even asked the doctors if it could be cancer and was told no. When I had my expanders in they had shifted and when they put my implants in they put the left one in the wrong place. Plastic surgeon came in and said that is not where I wanted them come back in 6 weeks and we will re-do. I was back in for re-do in two weeks cause I needed to get back to work. I have been in pain since then and that was 7-11-7 so you can understand why he will be paid last.

Then in 10/07 I went to a dermatologist to have the rash checked out and told him at least we knew it was not cancer. Wrong...now I am stage 4 with metastatic adenocarcinoma. My cancer is on the outside of my body so we can see if it gets better or not. Have new wonderful oncologist and have been on lots of chemos since 11/07. Hanging in there but getting tired.

Sorry for the long short story.

Every day I say......Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.

Sue

 

Hi Carol:

I am new to this site; decided to write today as my Mom was just told last week that her liver tumors are increasing (don't know how many she has...she was told she has multiple tumors).  She's been on navelbean, Xleroda (sp?), she's had radiation for the bone pain, and others that I can't recall the names of right now.

I can't even imagne what this journey is like for you; no one can really know if they haven't been in your shoes.  I hope you have supportive family and friends that are helping you.

 God Bless You with your Fight.

 

Palmcoast wrote:

HI Carol,

I was diagnosed in 10/06, started treatment in 11/06. Lost work for 10 months because I work for the post office and if you are not 100% you can not work. I did have a private disability insurance because the post office has none and social security refused me because cancer is NOT a disability. Still am under a lot of debt but you can not get blood out of a stone. I made the mistake the first go round by putting everything on credit cards. Now I make payments monthly and nothing goes on the credit card. The plastic surgeon is going after me for non payment but he screwed up so he will be the last one to be paid.

My story in short form. Found a lump on my upper left side that would come and go. Went and had a diagnostic mamogram and ultra sound and it still did not show up. When the doctor asked me to move my arm it shot up and he sent me straight to a surgeon. Had invasive infiltrating lobular carcinoma along with lymph nodes. Went and had ac/t chemo, then double mastectomy and reconstruction. Stage 3A. Wow your cancer is gone.

Had a rash during reconstruction and it turned out to be cancer which I even asked the doctors if it could be cancer and was told no. When I had my expanders in they had shifted and when they put my implants in they put the left one in the wrong place. Plastic surgeon came in and said that is not where I wanted them come back in 6 weeks and we will re-do. I was back in for re-do in two weeks cause I needed to get back to work. I have been in pain since then and that was 7-11-7 so you can understand why he will be paid last.

Then in 10/07 I went to a dermatologist to have the rash checked out and told him at least we knew it was not cancer. Wrong...now I am stage 4 with metastatic adenocarcinoma. My cancer is on the outside of my body so we can see if it gets better or not. Have new wonderful oncologist and have been on lots of chemos since 11/07. Hanging in there but getting tired.

Sorry for the long short story.

Every day I say......Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.

Sue

 

 

Hi Carol - Just wanted to send you a note to say keep your chin up.  I am 18 years out from my first occurrance and 6 years out from my second occurance.  I know what you mean about feeling old and your brain not quite being what it use to be.  Hang in there.  One day you will suddenly realize that "Hey I don't feel that way anymore...when did that happen?" It is slow, but try not to be discouraged.  I am 50 and a couple of years ago I felt 90....but now I no long have many effects (I can not longer add numbers in my head - but according to my husband I never could anyway - I just thought I could - Ha!)  Hang in there, be patient and God bless.