Brooke's Friends

View All

Brooke's Groovy Groups

Tamoxifen

29 members
Crazy Sexy Seattle!

18 members

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE! HUMOR GROUP

199 members
CRAZY SEXY BREAST CANCER!

244 members

View All

Brooke's discussions

Welcome!

Profile Information

About Me:: Just turned 43. Diagnosed with BC on May 30th. Right breast lopped on June 30th. Her2/neu + ER/PR+ (triple +) lymph nodes clear (yippy) but seven sentinal nodes taken out.
I started chemo in August--AC bi weekly for 8 weeks and then T for 8 weeks weekly and herceptin every 3 weeks for a year. I'm an avid outdoorswoman, cosmic cowgirl, professor. No kids, never been married, but I'm very much loved and supported:).

Where do you live? (city, state, country): Seattle

Your Zip Code?: 98125

Relationship Status:: In a Relationship

Favorite Quote:: "What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about?"

Favorite Book:: too many to list

Your Website or Blog:: http://www.onebreastshy.com

What's your personal mission statement?: Laughter is the best medicine and or Just do it!

Comment Wall (11 comments)

You need to be a member of My Crazy Sexy Life to add comments!

Join this network

At 1:53pm on November 21, 2008, Lea said…: HIBrooke, I just realized that you are at Group Health?? Are you still going through them?? I ask because that is who my insurance is. I go to Dr. Feldman on Capitol Hill in downtown. I really like him, he is a great oncologist but I am having the worst time with my general practicioner . Do you have one???
AND~ how are you? how are you feeling? Are you still in chemo? I did six rounds followed by 24 days of radiation. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you, since we are neighbors!!! All my love and hugs to you! ~Lea

At 2:18am on November 15, 2008, Bren said…: Welcome love, I just sent a friend request, see my friends are already showing up. Looking forward to meeting you and if you need anything don't hesitate to ask. I look forward to chatting and learning more about you and gaining from your wisdom as well. Hope you are hanging in there...we'll do it all together, that's what we do here...xo, Bren

At 9:06pm on August 13, 2008, cathy summers said…: i would call your insurance company to check and or dr. gadi's nurse annette - 288-6352 - she may be may be able to help answer your questions. hang in there this week -

cathy

At 10:11am on August 12, 2008, cathy summers said…: hope your second round goes ok. of course, i'm bias about our faciity and would love to take care of you - but i do believe being at a research institution has many advantages. the md's are more focused on newer and more innovative protocols, lots of collaboration with other
docs too.

and if you chose to come to scca, and because we're connected - you would get some personal perks because of me! do what you feel is best. i respect your decision.

just let me know what happens. stay strong and well

cathy

and because we're connected -

At 6:35pm on August 9, 2008, cathy summers said…: hi brooke

what is going on for you? did you see the MD at seattle cancer care? did you have your first treatment? thinking about you

cathy

At 2:40pm on July 26, 2008, marla said…: hydrating after the chemo. . . i was given anti-nausea meds with the a/c (adriamycin/cytoxan) infusion, then pills and patches to use at home if needed. i didn't feel sick until late the 2nd day after each treatment. i did not get gssf??? i did get an injection the second day (when i went back and also got hydration) of neulasta to boost my marrow - same thing?? i did not get an antibiotic, except 2 times i caught something from the kids and then i took a normal 10 day dose of something. like you will, i did the herceptin after the a/c chemo. i was told it was better for your heart to do it separately. i had the echo-cardiograms every 3 months and my heart function actually improved as time went on! i had absolutely no side effects from the herceptin, it just sucked having to go in every 3 weeks and sit there for a couple of hours to get it! there was one woman on this site who had to stop the herceptin because of her heart, but most people breeze through. i think we have our relatively young(!) age and otherwise good health on our sides!
my cousin is the librarian at antioch, interesting about the k-12 schools! his kids go to a private school?!?
loved that book! his wife also wrote a similar novel - the history of love, have you read that one?
keep the questions coming!!!
m

At 12:58pm on July 26, 2008, marla said…: no, it was only 12:30 a.m.??!!! here, i think this site must keep east coast time, cause your note to me said something like 1 a.m.!!
great reply about mastectomies - i so wish i had known i was her2neu before the lumpectomy, but either way i don't regret my decision at all and i do have peace of mind.
where are you a professor? my son is looking at UW - he'll be a senior this year - yikes. i went to college in oregon, and i know he would love seattle, very into music and art, and green trees, which we have little of here in so. cal. at the moment!
keep me posted on how your treatment goes. also, are you scheduled to go back the day after your a/c to be hydrated? if not, ask for it - it makes a huge difference in how you feel - some people even go back every day for it.
best,
marla

At 3:34am on July 26, 2008, marla said…: hey brooke,

my protocol was ac once every 21 days 4 times, then taxotere/herceptin once a week for 12 weeks, continuing with herceptin only for a total of one year. i think dose dense is when the treatments are closer together. i started exactly a month after my lumpectomy. i then chose to have a mastectomy when i was done with the chemo, i wish i'd know more in the first place and saved myself a surgery, but it worked out well anyways.

i did accupuncture throughout my treatment, and still do. i did not take supplements during treatment, but i have been doing some and i have any appointmenth with a doctor at ucla this week who is doing great stuff with supplements and alternative treatments. i am excited to find out more and i will share!

the ac did make me nauseated for a few days after each treatment, but i recovered well each time too. no nausea with the taxotere - other stuff, the steroids they give you with that treatment are no fun, but i functioned well through it all and i have recovered well from my treatments and surgeries.

i ate a lot of soup, vegetable broth with ginger, mushrooms, and broccoli - helped my stomach and also helped when my taste buds were off. i also ate a lot of bean burritos during chemo - it sat well for some reason! i hadn't been eating bread or pasta for years, but did during treatment because it seemed to help my stomach, but it also accounted for some of the weight i gained. . .

got to go to bed - we've had a crazy day here!
more later,
marla

At 8:28pm on July 25, 2008, Kristen's Raw said…: Friends just means were friends and we can chat on this forum... posting on each other's page and stuff :)

At 8:06am on July 25, 2008, Betsy said…: cool, you're a prof! I'm in research too - work for EPA, an ecologist. love Seattle, one of my favorite cities. After college worked with USFS on Olympic Penisula, wonderful place.