Some good news at last!

Question

What a difference a day makes.

At last I have had some good news that I am absolutely over the moon about. I had my Oncology Review appointment today and my Oncologist, who has been away for the last two Docetaxel chemo cycles, was back on board.

She asked me lots of questions and had the report from the 'fill in' Oncologist about my progress. After telling her my hands and feet were getting worse not better with this round due to neuropathy, the bone pain that I still am suffering from even in week three after treatment and having spent some time in hospital with a fever, she was quite thoughtful for a moment and then she said "let's stop the last chemo then". She said that the possibility of the neuropathy becoming permanent and too much stress on my bones were her reasons for her decision. She even went and consulted with one of her senior colleagues who agreed with her.  Chemo is cancelled!

I was in shock I think. I expected maybe a reduction in the strength of the drug but not having it stopped altogether.  My first reaction was "will this effect the outcome or success of my treatment?"  But she assure me it wouldn't. I then couldn't stop smiling. After an hour long consultation which was a bit of a record although I was the last of her patients today in at Peter Mac, my husband Ian and I came away walking on air or shuffling on air in my case. I called all the family to tell them the news.

I feel so great despite my aches and pains right now. I think I will sleep the sleep of the unconcerned tonight. Of course I am still a bit anxious about my son but in my heart I think he'll be alright. Also I will be seeing the Plastic Surgeon and Breast Surgeon next Wednesday about my mastectomy/reconstruction which was planned for at least four weeks after my 'eighth' and final chemo which is not going ahead now so my surgery may well be brought forward. I guess I have to make the final decision about a double very soon but I'm not going to think of that tonight. I want to savour this good news a while longer. Hope my good vibes rub off on all of you lovely ladies out there. Good night to you all :)

Love from Jane xxxx

melg · Answer

Hi Jane
WOW that is great news for you... I hope you are having the best nights sleep right now knowing that chemo is over for you. I have been thinking of you and your son since I read your post and am sending you both lots of hugs. It must have been a huge appointment for both you and hubby :)
I can only imagine how you would be feeling as you work your way through the decision making involved in your upcoming surgery. I was lucky in a way that the decision was never mine as I had multiple cancers in both breasts that were made up of ductal, lobular and tubular cancers and none were able to be removed by a lumpectomy.
I have just had a friend have a single masectomy and she now regrets not fighting for her right to have a bilateral masectomy.
I believe the recovery from my bilateral masectomy was very good. Nowhere near as bad as I had imagined. I wasn't offered a reconstruction at the time due to the urgency of the surgery etc but for me I was never interested in having reconstruction and that has not changed nearly two years later. I am lucky in that I havnt had to have the extra recovery from reconstruction.
I know choosing no reconstruction is not everyone's choice but for me it has always been the right one. I was excited when mid treatment I got my new set of boobs in the form of prosthesis but I could count on one hand the amount of times I have worn them :)
My wish for you is that with the help of your hubby you are able to come to a decision that you are really comfortable with at this challenging time in your life.
Sending heaps of hugs to you and I look forward to hearing about your decision and an update on your son
Love Mel xxx

janey235 · Answer

Dear Mel,

Thank you so much for your reply.  For the first time in months I have slept all night. Didn't wake until 6.30am. I read your profile and I had a little weep for you. It's not fair that you have to go through all this again. I would be pissed off too.  This is such a hard road to travel once let alone twice.

That is my greatest fear having this b........ come back again and this alone has almost made up my mind about having both breast off to give myself every possible chance of a full recovery.

My thoughts and warm wishes are with you on your return journey Mel. Xxxx

nik · Answer

wowwow wow u are awesome! Yep mum home but pretty flat today, she is experiencing symptoms of UTI and constant pressure and needing to get up about six times a night to wee, she also said she can't work out where it all comes from as she struggles to drink a lot at the moment. Back to oncologist tomorrow with lots of questions. I think she might be worries that "something" else is going on but l have done lots of reading again and it seems this might well be due to the delightful Taxol which we were so hoping would be much kinder than the AC. My poor beautiful mum. Can't wait to see how ell you do now lovely, with that rotten stuff out of your system, hey ... i know it does great stuff BUT surely there is a better way. My mum says the treatment is more likely to kill ya than the the BC. Tough stuff for all you amazing ladies.xx
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janey235 · Answer

Hi Nik,

I'm pretty sure that Taxol and Docetaxel both are from the same family of chemo drugs know as  'Taxanes' so presumably have similar side effects. I had Docetaxel which my husband 'affectionately' dubbed Doceshit! I can sympathise with your Mum. This drug was worse for me than the AC as well. Let her know that it comes to an end and I am feeling better today already with less bone pane which I found to be the hardest to bear.

Is your Mum going to have any futher treatment after chemo? What was her diagnosis if you don't mind me asking.

I will keep in touch to let you both know how I get on in the coming weeks. Ask any questions you like. I have sent you a contact request so you can see my blogs and vice versa.

I think your Mum has a wonderful daughter Nik. Hugs from Jane xxx

nik · Answer

Thanks Jane that's great. My mum and l went along to the specialist together and they said prob 11A as grade 3 Bloom Richardson, but Oncoogist said they don't really &nbsp;look at it that way. Mum does have node involvement( 6 i think) so she had had the 4 Ac and is on number 3 Taxol today. The poor darling girl was told by onco that the Taxol is soooooooooooooo much easier to tolerate than AC as mum experienced most of the dreaded side affects and she is one hell of a strong woman with a great big pain threshold but hey ,this is not something she can contol wich is difficult for her to accept too. &nbsp;So far the taxol had been terrible, high temp if she doesn't take panadol every four hours, and l think a bladder infection (l am a vet nurse tho not a doc). Just feel so helpless some days.&nbsp;
Well you keep on keeping on the good track sweet.

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