1st Chemo Wednesday

I got my diagnosis 4/15/10.  I had a lumpectomy on 4/12/10, my mammogram showed nothing and my ultrasound only showed a cyst.  I work with doctors so my surgeon friend said if I wanted the lump out he would remove it.  Thank God he did.  I was diagnosed with DCIS, LCIS, and infiltrating adenocarcenoma triple negative.

I forgot to ask you if you've had your Vitamin D3 level checked?  Most of us with TNBC have very low levels of D3 at dx.  Ask your onc for a Vitamin D3 test.  They can do it at the same time they draw blood for other testing. 

Here's a thread talking about the importance of D3:

http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/vitamin-d3_topic5338_page1.html

Also, the EDGE-CAM at no surrender website has thorough research about the importance of D3, especially with TNBC.  Here's the link:

http://www.nosurrenderbreastcancersurvivorforum.org/post?id=4698965&trail=20#1

I'm curious about the CT's etc.  I had my surgery on Jan 28th.  Was unable to start chemo until last Tues, April 27th due to wound healing.  There were 2 of 27 nodes positive.  I thought they would check to see if there was cancer anywhere else before chemo, but the oncologist said only if there was labwork to indicate spread.  Insurance doesn't pay for it otherwise I guess.  Did your insurance pay for scans, etc?

Dear TysMom,

What a blessing that you opted to have the cyst removed. I am sorry it was malignant, but still a blessing that it was found sooner than later.

It sounds a though you have a good chemo regimen lined up. Also, taking part in a research study helps you to be more involved in the knowledge of what is what. I did a clinical trial and I felt as though I got the best "standard of care" at that time, plus some. I hope your experience is the same.

Yes, that 14 years old son needs his mother and you WILL BEAT this thing.

Love in Christ,
Lillie

I have not had surgery but will begin my neoadjuvant chemo cycles next Thursday of Taxotere and Cytoxan.  I was dx on 4/19/10.

I too am doing the neoadjuvent course of treatment, I was started with adriamyacin/cytoxan every other week for eight weeks, then taxol every other week for eight weeks. I really didn't have much trouble with any of my treatments. I had very mild nausea which they gave me meds for. I did get tired while on A/C, fell asleep on the couch most nights and took naps during the day. Taxol did give me some bone and joint pain, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with a few pain killers. I think the fear of the unknown is always worse than the actual thing we have to do. I was just convinced that I would be so sick that I would be bed ridden - well that was certainly not the case. I am now very nervous about my surgery exactly three weeks from today - Yikes. But I think it will all go well. I am being treated at Mayo Clinic in MN, they have given me the best care I could ever hope for, I never have to wait more than a few minutes for any appointment there and all the doctors and nurses treat me like a person with feelings and not just a number.  Good luck to all of you that are just starting out - it is sometimes a tough road, but not something we can't do - we are women after all, we can do anything!

Hi Tysmom,

Edited by trip2 - May 06 2010 at 5:37pm