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CMF Question

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Comments

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2015

    Amy - feel free to come here for stress relief!  Hope the results will be good ones.

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited August 2015

    HI Amy! Wishing you good test results. And do come here for stress relief.

    If it is any consolation, I found rads much easier than chemo. While you have to go every day for rads, if the center is orgaized, you will be in and out in less than an hour.

    And good luck with your eldest's college applications.....before you know it she'll be finished and those grad school applications will be out and about. Some of the questions they ask on the application essays are kind of strange---"what would appear on page ___ of your autobiography" stands out in my mind. I can't remember what my daughter wrote......


    Take care and have a great day!!!

    Hugz to all.

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2015

    OK guys, crossed off 6 of 6 on my calendar yesterday. A few days of SEs, a bit of rest, and then on to rads...

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2015

    Sue - Congratulations!  Rest and get through this last one.  I never had Rads, but you can do it! 

  • amyfsw
    amyfsw Member Posts: 51
    edited August 2015

    good news! All genetic tests are negative. So relieved. No more surgeries in my near future! Round 6 of 8 this week. Feeling so grare fully this is almost over!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2015

    Yeah Amy! I'm so pleased for you. That is such a relief. Two more and you'll be all done!!!

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited August 2015

    Hey Sue! Yea! No more chemo! I think you will find the rads much easier!

    Great news Amy!!!!! We love to hear good reports! You are on the downhill slide now, gal! :-)


  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited August 2015

    Haven't heard from some of you gals in awhile. Hope that is a good sign that all is going well for you and that you are enjoying the last little bit of summer.

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2015

    Hey there!

    I'm doing okay on Letrozole.  Aches/pain in joints, hot flashes from hell and anxiety, but plugging through.

    Sad to see summer go and the kids go back to school.  Two more weeks of summer.  :)

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited August 2015

    So glad to hear that you are doing well and plugging through with the Letrozole. Continue to hang in there! Our schools around here have already started. We live in a college town and they college students are back. They bring in lots of revenue for our town but make it much harder to get around and get into the stores and restaurants.

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2015

    Thanks so much!  I literally am plugging through some days.  You know...some days are easier than others.  I keep telling myself that I have it so much easier than some other women.  I have a follow-up appointment with my MO the first part of September.  I want to be honest with him and will be.  We'll see.

    We have several universities in the area so I know what you mean.  They started last week.

    My daughter is a senior in college about 4 hours away.  She starts back 8/30.  My son starts his freshman year of high school after Labor Day and my daughter started 8th grade the same day.  My son doesn't want to go back, but knows it is a necessary evil.  My youngest is ready to go back.

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2015

    I will start on Amastrazole following rads and am most apprehensive. I already have arthritis and anxiety, and obviously don't want them exasperated. Anyone else on this drug and, if so, how are you doing???

    First post-dx mammo tomorrow. Praying for good results.

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2015

    Sue - praying that all will be fine!

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited August 2015

    Sue, I did four years of arimidex after one year of tamoxifen...I did have pain above my joints..whatever caused that. I finished up and it went away, but occasionally it comes back for just a while to remind me..It was bad at first but did get better..

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited August 2015

    Got my fingers crossed for good mammo results for you Sue!


  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2015

    Thanks, guys, the girls came through with flying colors. Interesting, though--I never found mammo's particularly painful, but after surgery and breast reduction, YEOOOOUUUUCHHHH!!!!

  • Maryland2014
    Maryland2014 Member Posts: 51
    edited August 2015

    SueH58, I haven't been on here for awhile( trying to forget the worst year of my life!) but moving on now, and feeling more like my old self. Even while on Anestrazole! I had some other complications while doing my 6 months of chemo and 4 weeks of Rads., and was not anxious to start yet another drug. Even told my MO that even though I finished Rads on 5/1, I would not start the Anestrazole til we came back from vacation the end of June. I refused to have to worry about SE while on the trip to Puerto Rico, that my family had planned for the end of my treatments.

    I suffer from arthritis, insomnia, and reflux already and was fully expecting all of these things to get worse. My MO said the Anestrazole is a good drug to start with and we could always switch if I had problems. After 2 full months, I can honestly say, nothing seems much worse than it was before. Had my 1 yr post op visit and mammogram last month, see my MO next week, and follow up with Radiation oncology in Dec.

    Rads were a breeze compared to chemo, you'll sail through and it will be over before you know it. Use your cream after every treatment, it really does help.

    Hair loss has finally slowed down, though I still loose more than ever before. It got thin, especially on the sides and VERY soft, though everyone at work said they could not tell. Believe me I worried and was sure it would never stop falling out, but it did and things are getting better. Trying to keep life as normal as possible.

    Hang in there, nothing is set in stone, you'll probably do fine on the Anestrazole, and if not, there are other ones they can try. Believe me I have worried enough for everyone in the past year!

    A Special Hi...to Mandy( Va. Beach) and Ritajean, glad you all are doing well! Can't believe summer is over, where did it go!!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2015

    Marlyland, thanks SO MUCH for your reassuring post. I had a lot of hair loss after treatment 6, but it does seem to be slowing down. Also seems my lush eyelashes have thinned.

    I will start radiation soon, then anestrozole.

    I feel I'm through the worst, and appreciate your thoughts.

    Hugs,

    Sue

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2015

    Diane - so glad to hear that your trip went well!  I too am trying to get over the worst year of my life to date and it is a day-by-day struggle.  Some days are great and some days not so great, but it will all work out.


     

  • Maryland2014
    Maryland2014 Member Posts: 51
    edited September 2015

    SueH58......you are very welcome. People on here were so helpful while I was in the " thick " of things. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Congrats on "passing" your 1st mamo!

    I lost most lashes on one eye only, crazy huh! Go figure! Did you find chemo changed the texture of your hair?

    How many weeks of Rads are you doing?

    Hang in there you are on the downward slide now!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited September 2015

    Maryland - I expected hair thinning, but never thought it would apply to my eyelashes (but why shouldn't it?). How long did it take for yours to grow back?

    My hair has become very dry since chemo. I try to only wash it twice a week, and use good shampoo and conditioner. Did you have a change to your texture and how long did it take to return to normal??? I wonder because my daughter is getting married Oct 3 and, while I'm thrilled to stil have hair, I'm wondering what the thickness and texture will be like in a month, as well as my eyelashes.

    I will see my RO on Wednesday, to get my radiation sentence. I'm guessing I'll need 33 treatments. How many did you have?

    Thanks for being there for me!

    Sue



  • Maryland2014
    Maryland2014 Member Posts: 51
    edited September 2015

    Sue, we all expected our hair to thin, but what does that mean? Guess it was different for everyone. I started chemo the first week in October. I did not start to loose hair til my 2nd treatment in Feb! But then it would come out every time I ran my hands through my hair, combed or shampooed, in the morning it would be all over my pillow. It was SO distressful! I would sit and pull, just to see how much would come out. Was afraid to do anything even comb it. I wear my hair really short, but finally had to give up in March and beg my hairdresser to do something with it. It felt like straw but has gotten so soft, and was too long for me to do what I wanted with it. All the while everyone at work said they could not tell. She gave me the first haircut I'd had in 4-5 months, and I usually go every 3-4 weeks! I tried the Nioxin products everyone raved about, but it did not help me. Just now use a sensitive shampoo, and lots of products to style it. There are a few I swear by, will get you the names if you are interested. The salon gave me something called Loma, that helps repair hair damage. It does seem to help, and I have been taking Biotin, which does help with length,but sorry, nothing has helped the thickness. I was told it takes a year after chemo for hair to return to normal.

    My eyelashes returned about 1 1/2 months after chemo ended.

    Your daughter will be so glad you are there, your hair will not matter!

    I had 20 radiation sessions, 16 regular and 4 boosts. some discoloration, a little soreness, but a breeze compared to chemo. Hoping for good news from your RO on Weds. Hang tight, the worst is over!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited September 2015

    Maryland, thanks so much for your feedback. How are you doing on Arimidex? That's next in line for me also. Any side effects?

  • Maryland2014
    Maryland2014 Member Posts: 51
    edited September 2015

    Sue.....seem to be doing ok. No hot flashes, insomnia no worse, some joint pain, but I had those before. Don't feel any different, and people at work see no difference in me. So, ok as far as I can tell, I see my MO tomorrow, will see what he says.

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited September 2015

    Maryland - great for you! I would love the names of the products when you have a chance!

    Thanks!

  • Maryland2014
    Maryland2014 Member Posts: 51
    edited September 2015

    Sue, Made out OK with my MO, don't have to go back for 6 months. Yeah!

    I use "Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel" and "Bed Head Small Talk Thickifier" followed by "Big Sexy Hair Powder Play" these have done the most for volume. Put the gel and the thickifier on damp hair after shampoo, work into hair and blow dry. When I'm ready to style, I use the powder. Use a very small amt of the thickifier til you see how it works, it can make your hair look greasy if you use too much. You use the powder on dry hair, sprinkle on hands and rub into your hair, it gives body to limp hair, by making it feel like it would a few days after shampooing. My hair is so soft now, it has no body, and these are the only things that seem to help, and I have tried many!

    Good luck with radiation, did you find out how many? It will go fast, could not believe how fast that month went after 6 months of chemo!

    Hugs

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited September 2015

    Awesome news!!!

    My MO said blood work looked great. Liver enzymes slightly elevated but he is not worried. Said most likely fatty liver. See him in 3 months.

    I will go every 3 months for 3 years then every six months until off of Letrozole.

  • amyfsw
    amyfsw Member Posts: 51
    edited September 2015

    hi all.this week is round 7 of 8


    I can feel the end in sight. So glad. My hair loss got pretty bad after round 5 and 6. My hair is very thin and soft. Going tomorrow for 1st haircut since early may. Been wearing headband daily to cover top of head thinning. Thinking of doing very short haircut tomorrow. Still not sure. Feeling pretty good in general and had nice relaxing vacation at Lake house in new Hampshire. Meet with radiation oncologist Wednesday to find out next steps after chemo in october. Glad all here are doing ok.

    Amy

  • Maryland2014
    Maryland2014 Member Posts: 51
    edited September 2015

    GOOD NEWS Amy! Radiation will be a breeze after 6 months of chemo. Good you were able to get away, we do need that after going through this crap!

  • suladog
    suladog Member Posts: 837
    edited September 2015

    Amy,

    My hair dresser gave me some sort of hot oil treatment to help my hair after CMF, which was pretty wrecked. Ultimately he suggested cutting it really really short which looked great and in fact so great that I wore it really short for years

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