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Post by Artista/CN on Aug 30, 2020 22:01:50 GMT
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Post by Artista/CN on Aug 30, 2020 22:02:38 GMT
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Post by Artista/CN on Sept 3, 2020 18:07:00 GMT
I'm 5 years out. Chemo ended March of 2016. Radiation June 2016. I've had surgeries for implants and matching sides. I've been done with cancer for 4 years now. I only take anti hormonal meds for my type of bc which hopefully reduces chances of progression. I have periodic scans. That's it. Just so it's clear as people who obviously don't follow this thread think it's all about cancer. Hasn't been in a long time..
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Post by Artista/CN on Nov 2, 2020 20:07:53 GMT
Decided to keep this thread health related and the life one, not.
Oct was a quiet month. 5.5 years into this, it gets tiring going for appts. I had to get a new onc since mine went into palliative care. She was awesome. At least she's at the hospital still if I ever need palliative care.
Today was my second time with the new onc. He has me on the every 4 mo plan probably cuz I'm new. With my old onc I was about to become annual visit I think. She had me every 6 mo. It's same ole but they need to check to make sure. Asked me about symptoms. Same ole. Fatigue, low energy, brain fog... If they ever come out with another med then he may try me on that just cuz these ses suck ass. But it's same ole for another minimum 5.5 years. See him in 4 mo.
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Post by Artista/CN on Nov 5, 2020 23:31:49 GMT
Cardio had booked my appt back in July for tomorrow. Didn't think it'd be in person as they scheduled it. It's not. Told office today when they said no coming in that it's same ole. Just refill my 90 day meds. This years rx insurance has my usual monthly meds at 0 copay. But I pay more. In Jan I have a plan where it's half the premium of now and only a couple meds are $7 copay. So I'm getting my 90 day refills that will cost in Jan now to save more money.
On to next Fri when it's labs again and port flush. Then the following Mon is Kilaru my plastic surgeon to check my implants making sure these recalls from last year's notice is fine. This is in person. Pcp a couple days after, phone this time...
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Post by Artista/CN on Nov 7, 2020 4:08:33 GMT
One thing I've noticed with a knee replacement is while you don't feel it per se (unless you touch it), it will let you know when you need to shift its angle of flexion. It'll become uncomfortable to almost hurting if you keep it as is, unlike your real knee. Once in awhile it does ache some for no known reason. I think it's part of having an implant. My fake boobs will still occasionally have some pain. Same with my port. The human body is just not meant to have foreign objects implanted...
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Post by Artista/CN on Nov 13, 2020 20:43:54 GMT
Labs and port flush. Was hard to get blood flowing through the port. Then it worked for 3 tubes and stopped. No one had ever seen this before. They reclined the chair. Flushes were no problem but blood draw was stuck. 3 other people tried before it started again. It stopped again but they had enough in the last tube. Quite the ordeal. Yeah they could have tried to find a viable vein against the odds but still the port needed to be figured out. Since the flushing had no problems, they didn't think it was a clot. Tammy my rn friend there said it could be a cumulation of proteins in the blood that happened to be there. Next flush is Jan 13...
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Post by Artista/CN on Dec 16, 2020 7:53:05 GMT
Saw Kilaru after having cancelled appt in Nov. Always eye candy and nice to see him. It's been 4 years since I went from tissue expanders which I had for over a year to permanent implants. They don't advise putting anything permanent implant in until after rads. Pretty common sense why. The left radiated side will always looked radiated. The chest area and under arm too. Rads has a cumulative effect and that last week sucks ass as you are lobster if you are getting large doses with the bolus like I did.
Office was cute. Staff are always kind like family. Known them for over 5 years now since my bilateral mastectomies and recon. They had a tree up. Other doc offices don't.
Kilaru examined his work. Since I have the recalled textured implants in he sees me every 6 mo to make sure nothing is wrong. There's a 1 in 3000 chance you can get leukemia so it's not a huge chance. I have to be careful and watch for capsular contracture since I was fried. I always forget to do the foobs movements. So I see him in June next.No appts till Jan...
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Post by Artista/CN on Jan 14, 2021 6:18:19 GMT
Port flush today. Warm January. 68 today and sunny. I forgot to put emla cream! 😫 RN had tough time with it so like last time I was doing shoulder exercises and reclining. So it wasn't quick. Thankfully I got one of my RNs that's been with me since day 1 today so she accessed the port in one try. Last time it was a few tries and it hurt even with the emla because she wasn't experienced enough.
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Post by Artista/CN on Mar 20, 2021 6:33:44 GMT
Mri, port flush, labs, ekg, pcp, onco appts done. Seems no change in stuff..
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Post by Artista/CN on Apr 4, 2021 2:34:56 GMT
7 medical appointments completed in March. We go from nothing for awhile to everything is due! All seems well. Going to see my gastro on Thursday. Was supposed to have a follow up colonoscopy in 2018 but put it off. Now it feels weird there. Doubt it's anything big but it's uncomfortable!
On YouTube suggested vids to watch are people battling various cancers. It's been a long while that I watched so I thought I'll check some out. Wow. Shocked how many in their 20s, 30s have a high stage cancer, 3 or worse, 4. The cancers vary from colon, colorectal, lymphoma, stomach and on. My heart sank. I was diagnosed at 50 but it would have been a lower stage in my 40s had I not liken my breast pain to changing hormones. Let alone these younger folks. Some posted their po box addresses if anyone wants to interact.
There's one 23 year old with advanced stage lymphoma in her chest near her lung. Started with a cough that kept getting worse. She'd go in and was told it was everything but cancer. So a few months got wasted because she was too young to even think cancer. So of course when it was revealed it's advanced stage.
This is the common thing in these young people's stories. Docs don't think cancer in those ages so by the time they go in with worse symptoms, advanced stage. Absolutely heartbreaking.
These youngsters on YouTube are blogging their entire journey which is cathartic. It's like when I started this thread. It was far more for me.
I have sent the young lady who is the sweetest thing with a happy positive attitude some gifts from Cali. Just the sweetest thing. She's in the Netherlands and her vids touch me more than others although I subscribe and care about them too.
Moral of the sad story with these 20 30 somethings is you have to push for scans. Something doesn't feel right and it's worsening, go to a doc that will check you out to make sure not cancer. It could make a difference in being in remission, maybe cured, but at least a lower stage. That's not something you want to say hindsight is 20 20...
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Post by Artista/CN on Apr 25, 2021 3:13:36 GMT
Here's an important tip for all kinds of cancers. If there are any cancer cells found in the lymph node(s) and chemo can work, take it. Don't wait. I had 1 node that wasn't even palpable so my surgeon said good chance nothing in lymph nodes. Hurray! No chemo then, just rads. Nope. After surgery it was found in a sentinel node. So while I didn't want to do chemo I got talked into it. Thing is, all it takes is for 1 cell to have fled and is out in your body. Rads won't get that. It only targets the local area where the tumor is/was. Chemo is what is systemic and your hope of getting any rogue cells.
It sucked us. I've never fully recovered because I also had pulmonary and infection complications. Several hospital stays, a couple being told I may lose my implants.
So go in with yes chemo is on the table if even a small amount is found in a node. Stage 4 means meds and feeling shittier most of the time for the rest of your life, and who wants that... do your research no matter how highly qualified your team seems.
Note: And not everyone qualifies for chemo. If you are not healthy enough to get through the poison pumped in you then it won't be given to you.
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Post by Artista/CN on May 3, 2021 21:46:42 GMT
Diet during chemo is eat what you can keep down. So there is no diet. High protein is a must to help rebuild damaged cells. After it's done then but not during chemo. And there is no sure thing. I've seen people do the low carb no sugar thing and it still comes back. A major issue with cancer, and why there's no cure.
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Post by Artista/CN on May 4, 2021 20:11:40 GMT
Myth I hear a lot... but, I've always been healthy. No one is immune from cancer. Of course being healthy is a good thing but doesn't mean no cancer for you. It's a crap shoot. I know a couple marathoners from the cancer boards who are vegans/vegetarians, don't eat sugar, low carbs, and they started at stage 4. If only it were that straightforward... The only thing you can do is stay healthy. At least if you get it you'll have better energy to go through sxs, txs, and complications that can come up that can kick your ass on top..
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Post by Artista/CN on May 20, 2021 17:48:46 GMT
Port vs IV... most get a port like I did, and still have. Some chemos like what I had are too caustic to be put in veins. Plus inserting IVs is not a pleasant feeling. With a port you get the rx emla cream, put a glob over and around it a bit 2 hours prior to access, and you don't feel a thing. Bonus. Port placement was easy. 45 min under local or general anesthesia (I had a choice) and home same day. No pain or anything, unlike the mastectomies sxs..
I kept mine. I need to do labs every 3 or 4 months if not more frequently if values calls for it. I numb my port area 2 hours prior and go to the infusion center. Depending on the surgeon and what's to go in the port, you may be able to use it for sxs. My last one last year the surgeon used it for abx. It helps that I'm out of chemo for that decision.
I go every 2 months for a port flush either alone or with labs. I enjoy seeing my team there as they've become friends. But a lot of folks what it out asap after txs. I forget I have it but I can see if you can see it under your skin or feel it without touching it. You can keep it however long you want as long as no problems where they say it needs to be removed. Had mine for 5.5 years now. March 2016 was my last chemo. I'm high risk for recurrence so another reason to keep it. Since they may not be able to put it back in the same side due to possible scarring. I don't have bp, needles, etc done on my left side. I had nodes taken out and so I'm at risk for lymphedema. No cure for that. No thanks. So I'll do the flush every couple months.
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