Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Jen, You always make me smile! Such a good attitude - that's half the battle so you're half way there then! The heart test is routine and a breeze, compared to all the other tests you could have. I did pretty well with the A/C cocktail - not too much nausea - best tip (that nobody told me) say on top of the constipation (which you could get from the anti-nausea drugs). Good luck girlfriend. Strength, Ellen > > Good Morning All... > > Had my chat with the oncologist yesterday and I don't think I could have > found anyone better to poison me : ) He was very exact and clear in his > explanations and plans for treatment and acted as though he had all the > time in the world (actually, his nurse had to unlock the door to let us > out as everyone else had gone home : ) My receptors turned out to be > negative so I get to skip the Tomoxafin and/or Arumidex (did I kill the > spelling?). As a consolation prize, however, it was HER2 over expressing > (and had been fully expressed at the time of surgery). If I understand > that correctly, had I not had my mammo until later I would have been in > deep doo-doo (that's a technical term, by the way : ) > > I will be getting A/C (that would be the " kool aid " one, right?), > followed by Taxol, and then Herceptin. Treatment will take about a year > (and gee was I happy to hear that, I mean I was afraid it would last for > a LONG time ha, ha). My grand adventures with toxic chemicals will begin > on the 12th - I'll get my port on the 11th. Oh, and I have to have a > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) to make sure my heart is > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, that does boost one's > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). > > e, I hope your first treatment went well (?) I'm right behind > you, girl...and I mean that, literally! : ) > > Blessings to All! > > - Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Jen, You always make me smile! Such a good attitude - that's half the battle so you're half way there then! The heart test is routine and a breeze, compared to all the other tests you could have. I did pretty well with the A/C cocktail - not too much nausea - best tip (that nobody told me) say on top of the constipation (which you could get from the anti-nausea drugs). Good luck girlfriend. Strength, Ellen > > Good Morning All... > > Had my chat with the oncologist yesterday and I don't think I could have > found anyone better to poison me : ) He was very exact and clear in his > explanations and plans for treatment and acted as though he had all the > time in the world (actually, his nurse had to unlock the door to let us > out as everyone else had gone home : ) My receptors turned out to be > negative so I get to skip the Tomoxafin and/or Arumidex (did I kill the > spelling?). As a consolation prize, however, it was HER2 over expressing > (and had been fully expressed at the time of surgery). If I understand > that correctly, had I not had my mammo until later I would have been in > deep doo-doo (that's a technical term, by the way : ) > > I will be getting A/C (that would be the " kool aid " one, right?), > followed by Taxol, and then Herceptin. Treatment will take about a year > (and gee was I happy to hear that, I mean I was afraid it would last for > a LONG time ha, ha). My grand adventures with toxic chemicals will begin > on the 12th - I'll get my port on the 11th. Oh, and I have to have a > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) to make sure my heart is > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, that does boost one's > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). > > e, I hope your first treatment went well (?) I'm right behind > you, girl...and I mean that, literally! : ) > > Blessings to All! > > - Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Jen, You always make me smile! Such a good attitude - that's half the battle so you're half way there then! The heart test is routine and a breeze, compared to all the other tests you could have. I did pretty well with the A/C cocktail - not too much nausea - best tip (that nobody told me) say on top of the constipation (which you could get from the anti-nausea drugs). Good luck girlfriend. Strength, Ellen > > Good Morning All... > > Had my chat with the oncologist yesterday and I don't think I could have > found anyone better to poison me : ) He was very exact and clear in his > explanations and plans for treatment and acted as though he had all the > time in the world (actually, his nurse had to unlock the door to let us > out as everyone else had gone home : ) My receptors turned out to be > negative so I get to skip the Tomoxafin and/or Arumidex (did I kill the > spelling?). As a consolation prize, however, it was HER2 over expressing > (and had been fully expressed at the time of surgery). If I understand > that correctly, had I not had my mammo until later I would have been in > deep doo-doo (that's a technical term, by the way : ) > > I will be getting A/C (that would be the " kool aid " one, right?), > followed by Taxol, and then Herceptin. Treatment will take about a year > (and gee was I happy to hear that, I mean I was afraid it would last for > a LONG time ha, ha). My grand adventures with toxic chemicals will begin > on the 12th - I'll get my port on the 11th. Oh, and I have to have a > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) to make sure my heart is > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, that does boost one's > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). > > e, I hope your first treatment went well (?) I'm right behind > you, girl...and I mean that, literally! : ) > > Blessings to All! > > - Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 > I will be getting A/C (that would be the " kool aid " > one, right?), > followed by Taxol, and then Herceptin. I finished my a/c 3 weeks ago - i started with herceptin/taxotere (it depends on the doc which " tax " they use - my doc perfers taxotere...) herceptin is an amazing find--my doc called it one the greatest breakthroughs in cancer treatment in the last 30 years...having to have a year of it sucks though... Treatment > will take about a year > (and gee was I happy to hear that, I mean I was > afraid it would last for > a LONG time ha, ha). My grand adventures with toxic > chemicals will begin > on the 12th - I'll get my port on the 11th. the port is a good thing--really - even though i complin about it--i'd rather have it and not get stuck while the nurse looks for a vein... Oh, and > I have to have a > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) to > make sure my heart is > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, that > does boost one's > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). it also give a baseline of your heart funtion - it's more sensitivee then an echo-cardiogram, and can register tiny changes in heart function before the echo can. > > marisa __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 > I will be getting A/C (that would be the " kool aid " > one, right?), > followed by Taxol, and then Herceptin. I finished my a/c 3 weeks ago - i started with herceptin/taxotere (it depends on the doc which " tax " they use - my doc perfers taxotere...) herceptin is an amazing find--my doc called it one the greatest breakthroughs in cancer treatment in the last 30 years...having to have a year of it sucks though... Treatment > will take about a year > (and gee was I happy to hear that, I mean I was > afraid it would last for > a LONG time ha, ha). My grand adventures with toxic > chemicals will begin > on the 12th - I'll get my port on the 11th. the port is a good thing--really - even though i complin about it--i'd rather have it and not get stuck while the nurse looks for a vein... Oh, and > I have to have a > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) to > make sure my heart is > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, that > does boost one's > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). it also give a baseline of your heart funtion - it's more sensitivee then an echo-cardiogram, and can register tiny changes in heart function before the echo can. > > marisa __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 > I will be getting A/C (that would be the " kool aid " > one, right?), > followed by Taxol, and then Herceptin. I finished my a/c 3 weeks ago - i started with herceptin/taxotere (it depends on the doc which " tax " they use - my doc perfers taxotere...) herceptin is an amazing find--my doc called it one the greatest breakthroughs in cancer treatment in the last 30 years...having to have a year of it sucks though... Treatment > will take about a year > (and gee was I happy to hear that, I mean I was > afraid it would last for > a LONG time ha, ha). My grand adventures with toxic > chemicals will begin > on the 12th - I'll get my port on the 11th. the port is a good thing--really - even though i complin about it--i'd rather have it and not get stuck while the nurse looks for a vein... Oh, and > I have to have a > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) to > make sure my heart is > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, that > does boost one's > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). it also give a baseline of your heart funtion - it's more sensitivee then an echo-cardiogram, and can register tiny changes in heart function before the echo can. > > marisa __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Marisa Steffers wrote on 9/1/2006, 10:45 AM: > > herceptin is an amazing find--my doc called it one the > greatest breakthroughs in cancer treatment in the last > 30 years...having to have a year of it sucks though... What sucks more is having it weekly vs. every 3 weeks. Apparently the European trials were Herceptin every 3 wks and the North American were weekly, so my doctor is sticking to the weekly regime. But I'm over half way finally! It's an inconvenience, but nothing like the AC. > the port is a good thing--really - even though i > complin about it--i'd rather have it and not get stuck > while the nurse looks for a vein... You can get a prescription for Emla cream, to put on the port area an hour before it is accessed. That numbs the skin > Oh, and > > I have to have a > > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) to > > make sure my heart is > > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, that > > does boost one's > > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). > > > it also give a baseline of your heart funtion - it's > more sensitivee then an echo-cardiogram, and can > register tiny changes in heart function before the > echo can. I requested echos, because I'll do about anything to avoid needles. My onc. was OK with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Marisa Steffers wrote on 9/1/2006, 10:45 AM: > > herceptin is an amazing find--my doc called it one the > greatest breakthroughs in cancer treatment in the last > 30 years...having to have a year of it sucks though... What sucks more is having it weekly vs. every 3 weeks. Apparently the European trials were Herceptin every 3 wks and the North American were weekly, so my doctor is sticking to the weekly regime. But I'm over half way finally! It's an inconvenience, but nothing like the AC. > the port is a good thing--really - even though i > complin about it--i'd rather have it and not get stuck > while the nurse looks for a vein... You can get a prescription for Emla cream, to put on the port area an hour before it is accessed. That numbs the skin > Oh, and > > I have to have a > > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) to > > make sure my heart is > > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, that > > does boost one's > > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). > > > it also give a baseline of your heart funtion - it's > more sensitivee then an echo-cardiogram, and can > register tiny changes in heart function before the > echo can. I requested echos, because I'll do about anything to avoid needles. My onc. was OK with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 > What sucks more is having it weekly vs. every 3 > weeks. Apparently the > European trials were Herceptin every 3 wks and the > North American were > weekly, so my doctor is sticking to the weekly > regime. But I'm over half > way finally! It's an inconvenience, but nothing like > the AC. I'll be having it weekly along with the taxotere for the next 12 weeks - then once every three weeks there-after > > >> > I requested echos, because I'll do about anything to > avoid needles. My > onc. was OK with that. my bil is an oncologist - and he uses echo's rather than muggas--i didn't care for the mugga - after you're injected with a radioactive substance, you wait for it to circulate--then you're laid upon a table, and a plate, extending from you head over your torso is lowered to within a quarter inch of your face - and there you lay-- had to be very zen about the whole thing - i didn't like not being able to move or turn my head...i felt trapped. but the picture of my beating heart was amazing! (my heart, btw, was " perfect " ...(and i thought, geez, *somthing* has to be - perfect, that it...) marisa > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 i second ellen - the constipation for me was--wow!..after the first a/c I bought senecot (the onc. nurse recommended it)--took it the morning of treatment, and then each evening for the following 3 or four days--for me, that did the trick. --- Ellen wrote: > Jen, > > You always make me smile! Such a good attitude - > that's half the > battle so you're half way there then! The heart > test is routine > and a breeze, compared to all the other tests you > could have. I did > pretty well with the A/C cocktail - not too much > nausea - best tip > (that nobody told me) say on top of the constipation > (which you could > get from the anti-nausea drugs). Good luck > girlfriend. > > Strength, > > Ellen > > > > > > Good Morning All... > > > > Had my chat with the oncologist yesterday and I > don't think I could > have > > found anyone better to poison me : ) He was very > exact and clear > in his > > explanations and plans for treatment and acted as > though he had all > the > > time in the world (actually, his nurse had to > unlock the door to > let us > > out as everyone else had gone home : ) My > receptors turned out to > be > > negative so I get to skip the Tomoxafin and/or > Arumidex (did I kill > the > > spelling?). As a consolation prize, however, it > was HER2 over > expressing > > (and had been fully expressed at the time of > surgery). If I > understand > > that correctly, had I not had my mammo until later > I would have > been in > > deep doo-doo (that's a technical term, by the way > : ) > > > > I will be getting A/C (that would be the " kool > aid " one, right?), > > followed by Taxol, and then Herceptin. Treatment > will take about a > year > > (and gee was I happy to hear that, I mean I was > afraid it would > last for > > a LONG time ha, ha). My grand adventures with > toxic chemicals will > begin > > on the 12th - I'll get my port on the 11th. Oh, > and I have to have > a > > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) > to make sure my > heart is > > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, > that does boost > one's > > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). > > > > e, I hope your first treatment went well > (?) I'm right > behind > > you, girl...and I mean that, literally! : ) > > > > Blessings to All! > > > > - Jen > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 i second ellen - the constipation for me was--wow!..after the first a/c I bought senecot (the onc. nurse recommended it)--took it the morning of treatment, and then each evening for the following 3 or four days--for me, that did the trick. --- Ellen wrote: > Jen, > > You always make me smile! Such a good attitude - > that's half the > battle so you're half way there then! The heart > test is routine > and a breeze, compared to all the other tests you > could have. I did > pretty well with the A/C cocktail - not too much > nausea - best tip > (that nobody told me) say on top of the constipation > (which you could > get from the anti-nausea drugs). Good luck > girlfriend. > > Strength, > > Ellen > > > > > > Good Morning All... > > > > Had my chat with the oncologist yesterday and I > don't think I could > have > > found anyone better to poison me : ) He was very > exact and clear > in his > > explanations and plans for treatment and acted as > though he had all > the > > time in the world (actually, his nurse had to > unlock the door to > let us > > out as everyone else had gone home : ) My > receptors turned out to > be > > negative so I get to skip the Tomoxafin and/or > Arumidex (did I kill > the > > spelling?). As a consolation prize, however, it > was HER2 over > expressing > > (and had been fully expressed at the time of > surgery). If I > understand > > that correctly, had I not had my mammo until later > I would have > been in > > deep doo-doo (that's a technical term, by the way > : ) > > > > I will be getting A/C (that would be the " kool > aid " one, right?), > > followed by Taxol, and then Herceptin. Treatment > will take about a > year > > (and gee was I happy to hear that, I mean I was > afraid it would > last for > > a LONG time ha, ha). My grand adventures with > toxic chemicals will > begin > > on the 12th - I'll get my port on the 11th. Oh, > and I have to have > a > > Muga Scan (which I understand to be no big deal) > to make sure my > heart is > > strong enough to withstand the treatments. My, > that does boost > one's > > confidence doesn't it?? (gulp). > > > > e, I hope your first treatment went well > (?) I'm right > behind > > you, girl...and I mean that, literally! : ) > > > > Blessings to All! > > > > - Jen > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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