Lori - I'm almost 4 years out from treatment

Diseases & Conditions Breast Cancer
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and I was the first in my clinic to receive the Neulasta shot. I also had chemo before surgery which was really new back then - it was because I had a 5 cm tumor. On my first Taxotere treatment I was in the hospital with low white counts and got the Neuprogen shots - horrible!!! On the second treatment I had low counts and had to give myself IV antibiotics - (gross!) and they gave me the Neulasta shot. The next visit with the onc, he told me that I had to quit chemo - due to "quality of life" issues. So I had the surgery, did rads and since my nodes were positive I got to do more Taxotere treatments. Now, knowing what I knew, I decided that yes, I could do this if that's what it took to get rid of it and have a good quality of life again. The onc also explained that all the research was in on Neulasta and promised that I would/could stay out of the hospital with those shots. Yes, it was awful, but only 2% have the really bad bone pain. I was the side effect queen on Taxotere - the pain was almost a relief from the other side effects. Since my onc was able to manage the pain, it was definitely doable and that's the whole point - we can do this!

Hugs,
Cathy

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Cathy, thanks for the point of view. See, I knew that I had not heard of neulasta when I did chemo....just seemed that most people did ok without any kind of booster shot, but I knew that some did have problems with it. Just goes to show how no 2 of us are the same in how all this affects us...we have no control over a lot of it. That is why I took control of what I could, just part of my coping.

But most exciting is that you said you were coming up on 4 years out from treatment! WOO HOO! A big hug for that one!
L&H,
Lori

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Thanks! Can you believe it? And you gals have been through it with me through thick and thin! Thanks for that!! Now, let's go snuggle with that new grandbaby! Oh! and YOUR GETTING MARRIED!!! Can I dance at your wedding??? Shoot I'm still sore from the lua this weekend - well, cuz I was dancing with the grandsons!!!

Hugs,
Cathy