Post by babe on May 21, 2009 9:30:11 GMT -5
Greetings all,
Well I have survived through 2 rounds of FEC and although the first one was very very tough, the second was not quite so bad. However, it dropped my white counts so low that I was unable to have chemo last week. Going in this afternoon for round 3. I feel much better now and really hate to get knocked down but I know I need to do this. They FEC will be reduced by 20% to prevent my counts from getting to low again.
I did talk to the doctor about the ER+/PR+ thing. It seems it doesn't really matter as they are connected. However he did say that if your PR is stronger than ER like mine, you actually have a better prognosis/survival rate. He also feels that because I had the FEC before and I was clear for 4 years afterwards it should be successful this time. We will see. My next round of bone/liver scans will be the 6th and 8th of July.
The bone pain in my back is mostly gone, I get occasional twinges but nothing like it was before. I am still having trouble with the femur and left hip, mostly if I am on my feet much. So we try to do short gentle walks and sitting frequently. It frustrates me as before the back pain got really bad I worked out with weights and ran or power walked almost every day. I haven't been able to do any of that since October.
We got connected with home care this week and I will be having a nurse come out. I also have physiotherapy available to me and I am going to inquire about that so I can get some exercise and know exactly what I can and can't do.
I am continuing to work, thankfully I have the most amazing employer ever! They set me up so I can log into my computer from home if I am not feeling up to going in. I have a desk job so it's fairly easy to manage. This has been very important of late as my husband is currently laid off for 2 months because of the slow down. He works for a 2nd tier manufacturer that supplies truck frames for GM and Ford.
Other than that things are well. HOpe everyone here is as well. Sorry I don't pop in often but I think of you all everyday!
Love n hugs,
Colleen
Well I have survived through 2 rounds of FEC and although the first one was very very tough, the second was not quite so bad. However, it dropped my white counts so low that I was unable to have chemo last week. Going in this afternoon for round 3. I feel much better now and really hate to get knocked down but I know I need to do this. They FEC will be reduced by 20% to prevent my counts from getting to low again.
I did talk to the doctor about the ER+/PR+ thing. It seems it doesn't really matter as they are connected. However he did say that if your PR is stronger than ER like mine, you actually have a better prognosis/survival rate. He also feels that because I had the FEC before and I was clear for 4 years afterwards it should be successful this time. We will see. My next round of bone/liver scans will be the 6th and 8th of July.
The bone pain in my back is mostly gone, I get occasional twinges but nothing like it was before. I am still having trouble with the femur and left hip, mostly if I am on my feet much. So we try to do short gentle walks and sitting frequently. It frustrates me as before the back pain got really bad I worked out with weights and ran or power walked almost every day. I haven't been able to do any of that since October.
We got connected with home care this week and I will be having a nurse come out. I also have physiotherapy available to me and I am going to inquire about that so I can get some exercise and know exactly what I can and can't do.
I am continuing to work, thankfully I have the most amazing employer ever! They set me up so I can log into my computer from home if I am not feeling up to going in. I have a desk job so it's fairly easy to manage. This has been very important of late as my husband is currently laid off for 2 months because of the slow down. He works for a 2nd tier manufacturer that supplies truck frames for GM and Ford.
Other than that things are well. HOpe everyone here is as well. Sorry I don't pop in often but I think of you all everyday!
Love n hugs,
Colleen
