Pam_E

Lainey,

My drain was attached with a stitch and couldn't be removed without snipping the stitch.  Take a good look under the gauze.  You may see it's attached with a stitch.  Might also be good to make sure there's no redness or infection, too. 

I had a mastectomy and positive lymph nodes.  The numbness on the back of my arm isn't as extensive as it first was, but there is still a little numbness on the back of the arm, across the center of my armpit and about an inch all around the mast incision.  I guess I've gotten used to it and it doesn't get in the way of living.  I had the zinger pinches, too.  I just kept telling myself it's a good thing - getting the feeling back.

Chemo is doable - take the anti-nausea drugs and remember it's not forever.  You will get through it!  Also, let people take care of you.  They want to help and it will help you heal.

Take care and good luck!

I had a mastectomy in August of 2007 (partly because I am small and due to the location of the tumor I felt it would remove too much breast to look good).  I couldn't drive until the drain was removed - about 2 weeks.  The reason is to keep from pulling out the drain.  But driving was uncomfortable for several months.  I used a small pillow on my upper chest to keep the seat belt from sitting on the incision.  My neighbors were wonderful and drove me to all my appointments until I could drive again (they did my yard work too!).

People often want to know what they can do to help.  Driving you and your kids is something they can do - let them!

Good luck to you.

I read this posting too and thought what the heck.  This looks like an ad!  Then I saw the website at the bottom.  Glad it was removed. 

They didn't put anything in my expander until 2 weeks after my mastectomy.  He started with 100cc the first couple fills but it was too uncomfortable.  50cc each time was more manageable.  It took longer to finish but they couldn't do the replacement surgery until I was done with chemo anyway.  That muscle needed time to slowly stretch.   I was supposed to fill up to 600cc but we stopped at 500 (I was big enough for the replacement).  I can't imagine how much it would hurt to have 400cc all at once!  Insist on the muscle relaxers!

Deb-

My fingernails and toenails were pretty gross.  I polis the toenails to cover up the brown staining and the black spots.  The fingernails have all pretty much grown out and are back to normal.  I didn't lose any, but some of them lifted in spots.  I just kept them short and didn't use them as tools like I normally would.

The toenails are growing SO slowly!  They are thick, too.  Is it a fungus or does the chemo just mess with them like it messed with everything else?

Pam

I had my head shaved about 2 1/2 weeks after I started chemo (4 AC and 4 Taxotere) because it was prickly and coming out in my hand.  My hair took it's sweet time falling out after I had it shaved.  I thought great, I had it shaved and now it won't fall out!  But it did.  It didn't come out all at once - just a little at time.  I used one of those sticky lint rollers on my head every day to get all the loose hairs off.  It felt much better when it was all gone.  The scarves and hats were more comfortable too. 

Good luck!

Just came back from my Ct/Pet Scan.  2mg Ativan did the trick.  I was calm and almost asleep.  To distract myself I spent the time in the scanner praying for all the people I know dealing with illness and grief.  A much better experience this time. I didn't need a towel over my face and I never even got a sense of being inside the scanner.  Gonna go sleep it off.

Thanks, ladies!

I just found out that the facility where they are sending me for my rescheduled PET scan has a virtual tour on the internet.  I checked it out and it helps immensely to see what the place will be like.  Not much difference in the scanner, but the office and uptake room (where you wait while the tracer is taken up) is much, much bigger than a semi trailer!  It's really gonna help to not be claustrophobic before I even get to the scanner (not to mention the Xanax).  Wish me luck!

I just remembered that for the Taxotere they put my hands and feet in bags of ice.  It's supposed to help prevent the neuropathy in your fingers and toes.  I don't know if it works, but I did it every time with my hands and only the first time with my feet.  I had worse neuropathy in my feet than my hands and the hands cleared up faster.  Both hands and feet are ok now.

I agree with Susan that it is hard to ask for and accept help.  This may be the one thing I learned from this whole cancer experience.  People want to help and it's ok to let them help you.  Sometimes I think part of being strong is knowing when you need help.  I am blessed to have the most wonderful neighbors and friends.  I had meals brought to me, people driving me to appointments when I needed a driver and neighbors taking care of my lawn and shoveling snow.  There's no way I could have done it myself. 

Carol, 

I had 4 AC and 4 Taxotere 2 weeks apart. For the AC I was given a prescription for Emend to take before chemo and for 2 days after.  It prevents nausea and works really well (it's really expensive though).  I always ate before chemo and never got sick.  After your first chemo you'll figure out what works best for you.  Don't eat your favorite meal - if you get sick, you might not ever want it again.  There is no reason for you to get nausea, they have drugs that will prevent it.

The day after chemo I was given a shot of Neulasta.  The Neulasta made my bones and muscles sore beginning the day after the shot and lasted for 2-3 days.  I sailed through the AC without any problems, only the pain from the Neulasta.  They cut the Neulasta dose way back because my blood counts would get too high (that's what was causing the pain in my bones).  I got a stomach ache after my first chemo and they put me on Prilosec for the duration of chemo.  The only other thing was the steroids.  I would get very flushed and my vision would be blurry for a couple days.

The Taxotere was not much fun, but doable.  My nails became stained and spotted and lifted in places, though I never lost a nail.  I had some neuropathy in my fingers and toes but it has since gone away.  I got very tired with the Taxotere.   

My last chemo was Jan. 17th. My fingernails are almost all grown out and look normal again (toenails will take much longer).  My hair started to grow back halfway through the Taxotere and is now about 1 1/4" long. 

If any symptoms come up, whether or not you think they're a side effect, be sure to let your ONC know.  They've seen it all and can help you out.  Be gentle with yourself and know that you can get through it.

Take care,

Pam