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Rhi View Drop Down
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Joined: Mar 05 2013
Location: Pontiac, IL
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Points: 20 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rhi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Started Today
    Posted: Oct 01 2013 at 2:17am
I posted once in the newbie section a while ago. 

I Finally started Chemo today, after so much.  I feel like I ran a marathon to get to today and while I don't want to do this, I know I need to and am satisfied that I finally began.

I don't have a signature..because there is no way I can fit it all in 200 characters, I tried.

I was diagnosed Feb. 27th after finding a lump in early January.  Had my first ever mammogram (35 is my docs recommended age and I was 35 and would have had one some time in the next month or so without finding the lump) and then a needle biopsy two days later.  So then was told TNBC, and tested and was positive for BRCA2.  Had a Bilateral Breast MRI (worst test ever) and another needle biopsy on my left, thankfully that was clear.  Skin-saving bilateral mastectomy on April 4th.  My tumor was 1.5mm and my sentinel lymph nodes were clear, Stage 1, grade 3.    Followed up with 6 more surgeries during a 10 day hospital stretch for complications including deep infection & wound vac's that would have been too painful to change awake, finally got to the point where they could change them in office...yeah right, I screamed loud enough for the women in OB to hear me, after that they used locals before trying to change them and then the vacs quit working and had to pack & unpack twice daily at home including tunneling for about a week.  Finally gave up and had the skin removed on June 2nd.  Was looking great for about two weeks until the seroma in my right side gushed out a hole in my incision...that turned into a 12+ week ordeal of leaking fluid.

Finally! Finally, it was all healed and I had my first cycle of Cytoxan & Taxotere this morning (Sept.30)....25+ weeks after my original surgery and 17 weeks after the final one.    Whew!  I am to do 4 cycles, the last should be on Dec. 2nd pending no problems.
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Loveforlife View Drop Down
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Joined: May 30 2013
Location: Buffalo NY
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Points: 40 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Loveforlife Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2013 at 11:23am
Rhi,
WOW! Just want to say I am glad you have made it through your post-surgery ordeal and that you are on to chemo.
 
I hope that the chemo is tolerable for you and that you are able to get to December 2nd with no problems!!
 
You are obviously a strong woman to have been through all you have so far. You can do chemo no problem!
 
Laura
Dx 1/2011 2b, Gr 3, TNBC, AC/T chemo, L lumpectomy/re-excision/lymph node diss/rads. DX DCIS R Breast 4/2012 - Lumpectomy/Rads.
DX Lung Spine mets 5/2013 Carbo/Gemzar 10/2013 Xeloda 1/2014 Ixempra
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MaryFox View Drop Down
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Joined: Aug 20 2013
Location: Vero Beach, FL
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Points: 46 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MaryFox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2013 at 12:23pm
OMG!!  What an ordeal!  Hope the chemo treats you more kindly than the surgeries did.
Mary
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arabella View Drop Down
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Joined: Jan 28 2013
Location: Alabama
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Points: 288 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote arabella Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2013 at 3:36pm
You did indeed run a marathon to get to the chemo phase!  I hope that chemo will be easy for you.  Considering everything you've been through, surely this will be the case.
Sending you ++++ vibes for peace and healing and remember that there really is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel....you'll make it.
Please keep us updated, Rhi.
Hugs,
Kaye
Dx TNBC 1/2013; age 63; 1.1 cm; Stage 1, Grade 1(?); lumpectomy clear margins; ALND -; severe SEs to first TC and treatment stopped; radsX25; BRCA -
Recur 6/2015 Mastectomy
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ctlindah View Drop Down
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Joined: Nov 06 2012
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Points: 71 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ctlindah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2013 at 3:44pm
Hi Rhi,
 
OMG you've been through so much just to get to this point!  I'm hoping it will be smooth sailing from here on out - you certainly deserve a break!  Keep us posted on your progress.
 
Linda
 
DX IDC TNBC 10/12 age 48, Stage 1, Grade 3, 1.5cm
Lumpectomy DD AC & Taxol BRCA- rads X30 finished 5/13
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denise07 View Drop Down
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Joined: Jun 26 2010
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Points: 997 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote denise07 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2013 at 10:56pm
Hi Rhi,
WOW you've been through the ringer and back so sorry you have to deal with this.Hopefully chemo will be much easier for you and remmber dec-2nd is not to far away I know easier sad then done.Sending...positve vibes your way for an easy street for your chemo treatment and for a fast healing treatment for you through out this journey.
Please keep in touch...
Will be thinking of you...
Hug's
Denise 
DX Idc 10/07,st2,gr3,2/6 lymphnodes
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Jgari View Drop Down
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Joined: Feb 27 2014
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Points: 18 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jgari Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 02 2014 at 8:29am
My tumor was 1.8 grade1 stage 3 nodes clear too. My heart goes out to you with the chemo...hoping it goes well for you. They font really tell us what we're in for with this whole cancer trip....I haven't started chemo yet, soon. Best o you, jeanne
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Rhi View Drop Down
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Joined: Mar 05 2013
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Points: 20 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rhi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 02 2014 at 1:09pm
Hi Jeanne, 

Chemo was actually not too bad for me.  My last treatment was Dec 2, so I am 3 months out now.  I have hair growing back and am slowly getting my energy back.  I only felt bad for about a week after each treatment and really the 2nd and 3rd day were the only really bad ones.  I would lay in bed for those two days and then be able to get up and sit in a chair for the rest of the week.  I never got sick to my stomach, only felt a little queasy and didn't get that as long as I remembered to take the meds they gave me for it.  Had some dizziness, of course my hair fell out, I was tired and had a bad taste in my mouth for that first week and my mouth was sore inside, but I never got the open sores in it (my husband would go get me a cherry or raspberry freeze, which did two things...soothed my mouth and kind of masked the awful taste from the meds).  I would say the worst thing for me was that I got severe heartburn  to the point I had to sleep sitting up and even had a couple episodes of actually breathing the acid into my lungs!!!  Sadly I still have the bad heartburn... that stuff sure messes with your stomach.    I am still discovering some things happening even this far out, the last couple weeks my fingernails have loosened from their beds, so I have trimmed them real short and am being careful not to hit them on anything or use them to open stuff, mine never turned black like some of the other women's that I read about, so I am thankful for that.

I will say a prayer for you and be thinking about you!  I hope your chemo goes well and your in the clear!  
IDC diag. Feb 26,'13, brca2+, skin saving dx, necrosis & infections, wound vacs, removal of skin, seroma with leaking for 2 months post op, 4 rounds chemo Taxotere & Cytoxan last treatment Dec 2, '13
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Jgari View Drop Down
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Joined: Feb 27 2014
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Points: 18 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jgari Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 02 2014 at 5:06pm
Wow that sounds about what I've been hearing from others, to top it off I have these breast expanders in where my breasts were, they fill them up a little each week until your skin is stretched enough to fit a small implant and they never told me this would be so sore. Should be fun!! Talk to you soon. Happy for you that you are finished xox jeanne
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Rhi View Drop Down
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Joined: Mar 05 2013
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Points: 20 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rhi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 02 2014 at 5:10pm
Oh yes, I have heard those expanders are horrible!  I didn't have reconstruction immediately afterward...good thing too because I ended up with lots of complications.  I am still wary about having reconstruction, so I am kind of on the fence about it.  No rush I guess, I can decide down the road if I want to do it or not.
IDC diag. Feb 26,'13, brca2+, skin saving dx, necrosis & infections, wound vacs, removal of skin, seroma with leaking for 2 months post op, 4 rounds chemo Taxotere & Cytoxan last treatment Dec 2, '13
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Jgari View Drop Down
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Joined: Feb 27 2014
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Points: 18 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jgari Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 03 2014 at 6:33pm
It's kind of nice because you feel like you have little boobs right away! I'm very happy I did it this way, he saved my nipples and the incisions are under the breast itself . I get my first fill tomorrow, staying small and perky :) don't get the final silicone implant surgery till after chemo ends.
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