CMF Question
Comments
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Hi girls:
Carol, you have been so efficient with your dr. visits, that is great, maybe you can afford to take the summer off...?
I'm with you, never a problem, only bc (but we CMF ladies don't let a little touch of cancer trouble us, now do we) then whammo!
Good to get that mole off, it can only be to your benefit to be vigilant.
Thank you so very much for sharing the oopharectomy info....I will be grilling my gyno and my onc that same way and I am insisting out they come. Why wait around to have something come back and bite you? Did she have any reason to give you as to WHY all the drs. decline to do it? Is there any benefit to keeping those little suckers after we are done with them? Seems quite reasonable to me to make that decision. They can pull everything out as far as I am concerned. Who needs it. Good for you!!
Rita, I am glad all is well, but for heaven's sake, what a thing to worry about and go thru...they could have let you know! Well, now you can really enjoy that weekend!
Harley, now I want a steak, and I just broke a big molar yesterday eating pretzels and have like a shard left. If they can fix it tomorrow, I'm getting a filet too!
Everybody have a great weekend.
love
annie
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You gals have me thinking about a steak, too!
Annie, how's the tooth? Did the chemo or rads do a number on your teeth, too? I think I finally have mine all taken care of until something else pops up.
Carol...cute picture and neat bulletin board. Isn't it amazing how wonderful some people can be?
Lisa...so good to hear from you again. So you've had liver problems recently? I'm glad you're doing better. Wow! You'll have to post a picture of the new you! That's alot of pounds to lose. My hat goes off to you! What differences do you notice in the way that you feel now that you are through with the Arimidex?
Jill...hope you are doing well and are just busy! This nice weather has me hopping from one project to another. I love this time of year!
Harley... Hi there, gal! It was you who started this whole steak issue, wasn't it ....with that wonderful birthday dinner? How's things going this week?
Anyone have big plans for the weekend? We're golfing with another couple tomorrow if the rain holds off and Sunday is going to be catch up day for me. I have lots of odds and ends that need to be completed. Then I think I'll hang out in the lawn chair on the deck with a James Patterson book...and maybe a glass of white wine.
Have a great weekend!
Rita
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Annie,
How are you doing, hon??
Sorry about your tooth!! How is it feeling??
I lost everybody's posts, and I can't remember what everyone said... I HATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS!!
Yes, Carol seems to be getting some answers about the ovary removal question... I wondered if I needed to get mine removed, but my drs. just don't seem to be interested at all. I don't want another surgery, so maybe I'll wait til my Tamoxifen 2 years is over, and then see what they say... or I could just wait til I see my onc. nurse, in July...
Rita,
Glad that you got good news from your tests!!
Yes, I guess I started it, with the steak!! It WAS GOOD!!
I'm doing good... You know, sitting on the screened porch, with a glass of wine, and reading either James Patterson or another of my books sounds like a GREAT IDEA!! I just may do that... and nothing else, all weekend!
Hugs
Harley
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WOW! What happened??? My post just 'posted' itself, but I wasnt finished yet !! This site has been doing some pretty strange things lately...
oh well... hope everyone has a great weekend!
Harley
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Harley.....guess what we're having tonight for dinner.........steak cooked out on the grill! LOL
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. It's cool here!
Rita
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Rita,
I hope you enjoyed your steak dinner!! I think that steak cooked on the grill has the best flavor!!I got a bill in the mail today, from my ps... charging me $605.00, for the tattoos!! I am really mad, but, they WOULD have to deliver it on a SATURDAY, and there is nothing I can do about it now, so I may as well wait til Monday, and call the ps and my insurance case manager, to see if they can "fix" the problem. I am just so mad, because I must have called a million times, to make sure everything was ok with my insurance, and that it WOULD cover getting tattoos of the aureolas AND the nipples, too! I wouldn't have done this, if they were not going to cover it! My guess is that the ps office used the wrong code for this, and I will check with my insurance co., to see what needs to be done. My case manager just called me last week, to tell me that since it's been a year since all this started, they are probably going to 'close out my case'... which I think is STUPID, since I will ALWAYS need help getting all the necessary authorizations for all these specialists I need to see... Maybe I will explain this to my 'not too smart' case manager, and maybe she'll 'get it' this time!
Have a great weekend, ya'll!
Harley
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Hi girls: Just popping in to say hi before off to PA to see my daughter at college. She is home in two weeks, wow, college time is different than high school...they seem to be out more than in. Can't wait to see her~!
Rita, I hope you thoroughly enjoyed that steak dinner!
Harley, boy your case manager does need a shakeup, and you are just the girl to do it, too. Good for you!
I've had so many screwups on the financial end of things, it's really good to connect with one person, whose name you know, and deal with them each time. Document everything.
Oh, if your insurance won't pay for stuff..........the golden rule is to submit all documentation from the dr. involved, including a letter that this was a medical procedure, and do it at least three times. It seems they cave in then, it's just too much bother.
IF*** it was an outpatient procedure in your ps's office, and he doesn't take insurance plans, it may not be covered at all. My ps makes sure he uses the hospital for any revisions so it is covered by bc otherwise, it won't be.
Good luck!
love to all
annie
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Annie,
Hi there... Hope you have a wonderful time visiting with your daughter!
I'll try your method, but my insurance is very stubborn! They wouldn't pay for my Oncotype test, and they didn't wait for the Genomic Health co. to appeal them three times, which is what they do...after the FIRST appeal, they sent a letter to Genomic & me, stating that NO they would NOT pay for this test, so they will NOT accept any more appeals!!
My ps is very nice, and he usually DOESN'T take Tricare, but he agrees to do breast reconstruction, as a favor to military and their family. I believe that he would probably just write it off, if he doesn't get paid, but... if there is a way to get paid for it, I am sure that they will do whatever is necessary. Unfortunately, since ps is usually cosmetic, the people who work there just don't really know much about insurance, and they don't know how to file claims, or which codes to use.
Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekends!!
Harley
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Annie...I hope you enjoyed your visit with your daughter. It's hard to see them go off on their own. Hey, I still miss my son and he's married and has two adorable boys. There's so many times I wish I could just get in the car and arrive on their doorstep, but I refrain from being the domineering Mom and wait until it works for everyone! Believe me, I never need to be asked more than once!!!
Harley.....yikes! Just what you need...insurance problems. I must admist that I've been pretty lucky so far. Perhaps I should knock on wood immediately. LOL
No golfing for me this weekend. Hope you have good weather Carol and can get out there. When it hasn't been raining here, it's been windy and cold so I've worked at things that need to be done inside instead.
Now I'm off to the library to return some reference materials. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend and feeling well.
Rita
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Hey gals,
Been having a busy fun weekend, went to the Mariners game on Friday (lost again!), worked in the yard yesterday, and played in a couples tournament last night. We took first low gross in a scramble format (Rita will know what I'm talking about!!!) Had a great time, a potluck is part of the fun.
Today, the dh and friends golfed 18 holes, I met up with them on the back nine, weather, company, and the golf was all good. Off this afternoon to try and find some end tables that go a little better with the new furniture. Probably should be working in the yard, but shopping is calling my name. I have been feeling great this past week, not really looking forward to Weds. infusion. But we must get through it!!!
Harley, lets hope the tat's bill was an oversight. I have found that I get all kinds of statements, I call and they always seem surprised when I say did you file this claim with my secondary insurance as well. So far its worked out, but you almost need a degree to get through the paperwork.
Jill, how's the corn growing??? Hoping you would pop in so we know how your doing.
Annie, I was two for two with the docs advising having the ovaries removed. I will be taking that info with me to my onc on Weds. Age definitely has alot to do with it, I very well could not hit menopause for a few more years, so I'm feeling good with the decision to induce it in a big way. Heck I'm already dealing with the night sweats, hoping that it won't get much worse than it already is.
I worked on my Komen 3 day site as well this weekend, here the website if you want to sneak a peak ... http://08.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/SeattleEvent?px=1727098&pg=personal&fr_id=1189
Having friends over for dinner, the local store has king crabs legs on sale, hmmmm ... maybe a little tenderloin with it!!!
Take care my friends, Carol
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I just completed CMF and I had a very positive experience - all things considered. I go to an integrative oncologist who prescribed a rigorous regimen of natural supplements. As a result, I had a lot of energy through my 8 week cycle. Amazingly, my immune system remained strong - my kids managed to get both strep throat and the flu and I managed not to get it. I also did not lose my hair, nor did my hair thin.
I did get nauseous for about 4 days after treatment - I basically tried about 5 different meds until I found a combination that worked. If what your friend is taking is not working there are lots of options - not all drugs work for everyone.0 -
Hi back to you Rita...
I do feel better now that I finished with the arimidex...I am now able to lose weight (but I do have to follow a diet religiously). I couldn't before..some of the aches and pains still remain. I thought they would stop..but not so.
They figure the metotrexate in the CMF was the culprit for my liver damage..of course, they also gave me vicodin when I did the neupogen as I had a very bad reaction to that...so ...what is , is...and I have to deal with it...this isn't new...happened probably the last month of chemo, but the blood tests really didn't raise any red flags...
Hopoe you had a good weekend...
SoCal
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Hello Everyone.
With this great weather we are having, I've been busy working outdoors and many other projects. My garden is coming along. All 3 of my puppies have discovered my strawberry plants!! (no berries left). My DH and I took a day trip down to Bisbee yestarday, (to pick up a vintage travel trailer- his passion) it was a long haul for one day but nice to get away.
Carol- I give you so much credit in joining in on the 3-day. I plan on making it a goal of my to be physically and emotionally ready to do it in 2009.
Well Thursday is the Big day- MY LAST TXT!!
. Not that I'm celebrating early or anything. Everyone have a wonderful week!
Jill
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Jill, thanks for the update, Kent and I talk of our visit with yourself and Craig quite often with our friends up here. In fact your names came up tonight at our dinner table.
Kent I know got a kick out of Craig's passion with the "old" travel trailer gig ... as I recall, Bisbee is way down south, I visited friends in that neck of the woods about 13 years ago. Did the Tombstone thing while there.
I'll be thinking of ya on Thursday, time to celebrate in a big way. I'll be getting number 9 of 12 on Weds., I'll probably be wondering what the heck I got myself into with the 3 Day come Thursday morning!!!
I can just see your pups in the garden, I'm sure our two would be just as naughty!!! We just bought some new family room furniture, hoping that their nails don't screw up leather, we'll see...
Off to bed, the 5:00 wake up call is not far away!!!
Take care my friend, Carol
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Jill,
I'll be thinking of you on Thursday, as you celebrate your last tx!! Yes, you SHOULD celebrate!I'm not saying EVERYONE should do this, but after my last tx, we went out to dinner with some friends, and we bought a bottle of champagne, and shared it with them! I had a glass of champagne, and it tasted SO good!!
Hope all goes well, with your LAST tx!!!
Harley
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Hey Jill! Way to go! Thursday is the end of the road for you! You're just about there!
Lisa, please stop in and chat more often. You are such an inspiration! I will have been on the Arimidex for a year in August. I've become accustomed to the aches and pains but had hoped that they would disappear when I finally quit the medication. I do like the weight loss capability after Arimidex! Good for you!!!!
Carol...I was pretty active during treatments, but you have me beat! It seems like only yesterday that I told you this was "doable" and look at you now!
Annie..How'd your weekend go with your daughter? Will she come home for the summer or will she stay in the college area to work for those months? It seems that once they go off to college, everything changes and they're no longer our "little" kids.
Harley...thinking of you as I always do and hoping that this will be a good week for you.
Rita
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Hi ya'll,
Carol, I think it's great that you are keeping so active, during all your txs! I know I got so very tired halfway through tx, tx #3, but the last one was worse and the fatigue stayed with me for at least a month! I would still go out for walks, but not every day, cause I was just feeling too tired a lot of the time! You are the best!
Annie, I know that you enjoyed your visit with your daughter! Thanks for your posts on my hair color question, too. I've been considering some more 'natural' hair color options, but the one I have been reading about is "Light Mountain" hair color. It is vegetable-based, henna hair color. It sounds good, until you look at the directions for mixing it up! lol You need to be a chemist or something. You have to use distilled water, bring it to a boil, then you have to buy some kind of plastic bowls or something, since it doesn't come with an applicator. Then you mix it up, and wait for it to cool before putting it on your head... maybe it is TOO much trouble!!
Rita, I'm thinking of you, too, and hoping that you have a good week, and oh!, those aches and pains from Arimidex! I'm taking Tamoxifen, but as I may have already told you (I can't seem to remember anything), the plan my onc laid out for me was to take Tamoxifen for two years, and then to switch to an AI for 3 years. I am not looking forward to those se's from the AIs! I am not too happy right now, with the ses' from Tamoxifen! I've been getting more aches and pains, joint pains, and a stiff neck, too!! But, I'm still glad that we ER+ gals have something we can take to help prevent bc recurrence.
Well, I better go. I'm meeting a friend at the coffee shop, and I'm going to take her to a cat shelter, to look for a new cat, she is ready to adopt a second cat, to keep her cat company. I seem to have taken on the role of ... helping to pick out a new pet!!
Hope everyone has a great week!
Hugs,Harley
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Hi all:
Rita Jean: yes, thank you!
We had a wonderful visit with our daughter, tho she and I ended up altering a cocktail dress for a dance right on her in a dressing room.I had come with needle and thread, but that was pretty funny.
It's typical of the kind of thing we do together, usually one of us gets an idea.............well, things go on from there.
Re: popping in: boy, I doubt you'd ever be anything but welcome...I wish my mom in law had just popped in more often! Tho of course, the way I keep house (or don't) she'd have been horrified more likely. I can't imagine anyone not loving to see you or less likely to be thinking you would be an intrustion. I'm sure you are a very beloved grandma.
But how right you are, my daughter is my absolute treasure, and I miss her so much. It helps that she text messages me about 5 times a day and we chat online alot. We share a similar sense of humor, so we really enjoy (at least I think we do
) our times together. Oh boy did we have some fun times with road trips to see colleges. laughed ourselves sick. When we dropped her off at college and left for that first night, oh wow, it was like I was disembowelled, but it got better when I realized she hadn't vanished. Girls do tend to stick around, I hope she does. She's very loved by the entire extended and enormous family, so she's needed! She's been so protective of me during this that I tend to downplay everything alot so she doesn't worry, but she is now wanting to be on the phone the entire time during chemo and I think I will just let her come if she wants to next time, so she can see it's not a mad scientists lab or something. Just boring mom and dad, sitting in recliners.Yes, she will be here for the summer, making me rest like the old lady she feels I am!
....I want her to see me upbeat and energetic and almost wish she'd stay in PA to miss the end of chemo, you know?Carol, you are one energetic lady!! Tell me you aren't serious in walking the three day one day after chemo? Please? I can't even imagine that..but I sure do admire your gutsy spirit. You are almost there, kiddo. I am one behind you! We will all be toasting you at the end of your journey very soon!
Jill, congratulations (in advance, why not?) So good to hear from you and so wonderful to know you are almost there. We will think of you in our house and celebrate with you. This is like balloons being launched, one by one in celebration.
I will be going on arimidex afterwards, and I had always understood it was a lifelong drug, not the five years tamoxifen is?
Guess not. OH well, I was hoping to stay on it and continue feeling protected, but I guess once the boob is gone, that's pretty much the end I hope. And with chemo, we've all crushed the beast I think.
Hope everyone is doing well and I know carol is active!! wow!!
Feeling guilty, I went for a walk.
Harley, that cracked me up the lab experiment on the color. I ordered one kit too in auburn as my hair is now sort of faded red and white stripes. Interesting. I think it'd be worth it not to have the worry, you know? Hope we don't look like Lucilla ball after!
love to all
annie
p.s.: the dentist was so sweet' she said that I was "in a healing place" and she did not want to do any kind of root canal, etc., tho I do need one. She just put a big old composite in it and told me to be careful.
What a sweetie and what a nice way to put it.
thanks all for asking! Stay well girls and Jill and Carol good luck!
My number 5 is next tuesday of the 8 in total. We are all chugging along.
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DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK IN THE POST ABOVE FROM RACHEL5236.
THIS IS SPAM! He (yes, Rachel is a he) is a known spammer who's only objective is to make money off cancer patients by having them visit his website. DON'T GO THERE, EVEN OUT OF CURIOSITY, since it will just encourage this scumbag to continue to spam the BC.org website.
And please click on REPORT THIS COMMENT in Rachel's post if the comment has not yet been deleted by the Community.
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Annie,
I haven't ordered the hair color yet, because I still have to decide if I think I could actually do it myself. I used to use Natural Instincts, which is a temporary color, but it still has harsh chemicals, and once I got it in my eye! OUCH! Maybe I'll wait til you try it, and then see what you say about it... I am a big chicken!Glad you had a good dentist appt. You dentist sounds SO NICE! I wish she was closer to where I live, so I could see Her...
BTW, I called my ps office, and the woman who handles the insurance told me not to worry about that statement I received, because they had a problem when they sent out the bills, any pending insurance was included in the amt. due, and it wasn't noted on the statement under "insurance pending" column. So, I only owe $12 co-pay.... that was good news!
Hope everyone has a great week!
love you all!
Harley
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Annie's back and she had a good time! YEA!!!!! So glad you had fun this weekend with your daughter. My son and I were always pretty close but I did so wish for a daughter....alas, it just didn't happen! And now I have two wonderful grandsons so I have lots of men in my life!
It is so great to hear that all of you are doing well this week. Let's keep this positive wave rolling along for all of us!
Hugs to all of you. Can you believe that we actually had sleet here in Illinois today???? Mother nature was playing a very nasty trick on us. She just doesn't understand that it's golfing season! LOL
Hello to all of you. Catch you tomorrow!
Rita
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Just a "quickie" as the big bed is calling my name ...
Annie, the way I'm looking at it, I should have about 4 weeks after rads before the 3 Day in Sept. It would be a scary proposition to walk if I were still doing chemo, the gi tract doesn't give me much warning at times when I'm on my txt cycles.
Harley, saw my gf at her salon, my hair although still coming out (thinning), must be growing a bit too. Needed to get it evened up a bit. I told her that I thought I looked like I've aged about 10 years in the last 6 months. She said its the gray hair that I finally let grow out. I swear it emphasizes my wrinkles in my face. She would really like to color my hair as I have done for the past 10 years or so. Maybe next time in I'll go back to my old look, although much thinner!
Went for a walk tonight, about 4 miles, felt energized afterwards, planning on golf after work tomorrow (weather permitting here as well), and then I'll mellow out a bit come txt on Weds (yuckers)!
Night all, Carol
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Hi ladies:
Carol, my mistake, I had thought the three day for you guys was this week; I mistakenly assumed you were doing chemo, then walking the day after. sure glad to know you aren't, but anyone who can walk 4 miles during this crap can certainly pull off the three day. I wish you lived closer so we could all cheer you on!!!
Harley, I am no fazed by the science experiment, in fact, I cannot wait to try it! Sounds kind of fun. I have heard good things about natural instincts, it didn't "take" on my mop, but alot of people rave about it. You will look adorable. I just got all mine cut off, it took me two hours to do it the other day, and you and Carol looks so good, I just went to the salon and said "enough!" Off!" It's a big change for me, but it's gotta be better than the two hour thing.
Only problem is I have gained quite a bit of weight, and the hair kind of balanced me (or so I tell myself), so that's not good, well, I know the fix. Lose weight. Haha.
Everybody have a great day! I feel awesome too, do you ladies think there must come some point after the mid cycle chemo where you do improve? It's kind of weird. The only thing is Carol, I am walking alot too (no four miles tho! Wow!) and it is energizing and I will be interested next tues. and for you how Wed. afterwards goes.
Perhaps we have begun to find something out here that could be helpful to others going thru it.............
love to all
annie
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p.s.
speaking of hair, Rita Jean is that a natural wavey hairdo? If so, lucky lucky you!!! What a beautiful grandma, kind of hard to believe.
No wonder you have all these men in your life, lady.
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Annie, okay, where's the pic of the new "do"???
I'm only slightly nuts, but there's no way I would have been walking the day after chemo, well wait a minute I might be actually jogging (to the restroom that is!!!!!)
Will check in tonight, back to work now ... Carol
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Annie,
Yes, let's see a pic of your new hairdo!! I showed you mine, now show us yours!!
Rita, yes, your hair is beautiful!! I LOVE the curls!Take care, all,
Harley
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Yes gals, my hair has natural waves (curls). It's been this way since I can remember and how I hated it in high school when the straight, one-layered page boy cuts and bobs were in style. I spent hours straightening my hair only to have it frizz right back up when I went outside. Then we went through the decade when wigs were IN...and not just for chemo patients. I could have my straight hair! Finally, I just gave up and have worn it layered and kinky every since. Isn't it funny how we always want what we DON'T have?
Thanks for the compliments. It's the easiest hair style I've ever had...I just wash it, blow dry it, and go.
Hope everyone is feeling good today!
Rita
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Hi all:
Oh god ladies, no photos at the moment. My butt has gotten so large it has its own eco system and is revolving around the sun as we speak.
but(t) ha ha if you google Definitely, Maybe movie trailer, I got Elizabeth Banks 'do. She has the same shape of face and it works fine, just easier to deal with, and less clumpage trauma. I can just shake and go, oh soooo easy.
And Rita, if that's frizz, hand it over. Mine is Stick straight crazy Red and white striped. Natural curls..........sigh, what I'd give for them!
Everybody have a beautiful day! I refuse to believe this weight gain has a single thing to do with massive quanitities of ice cream, and am blaming it on the chemo. Works for me.
Good luck tomorrow, Carol!!!! One more down...........
love
annie
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Hi everyone!
Just got back from my vacation with my aunt. Lovely, special time! So many posts to catch up on. Quickly skimmed and here are a few tips:
- Re: night sweats and hot flashes---they are a pain, but actually become less intense when you finish chemo. Hang in there, this too shall pass!
- Re: constipation, sore bum...been there
(actually revisited this with travelling---ouch!) Stool softners (2 in am, 2 at noon, 2 at night---are helpful) for the action part, believe it or not, lots of chocolate gets the action going (yummy too). As for sores...vaseline is good and there are these suppositories you can put up your nether region to heal that, with cream that has analgesic in it. This too shall pass! - Re hair: yup you get wavy weird hair that starts to grown even before chemo is finished. I cut my hair shorter and kept getting it cut until all that funky hair is finally removed (1 cut away from this) now I am trying to regrow my hair longer. Went through a kind of "helmut head" big hair phase for a while (was teaching and some students were commenting---who is that lady with the big hair?. This too shall pass!
- Re tummy upset: been there too! Steroids help all the other meds work stronger. Take what ever works and don't stop taking it until "chemo holiday" time. This too shall pass!
So glad to see everyone is hanging in there and doing really well! I'm off for an ultrasound of my thyroid. Have hives again (amazing had none on my holiday---very thankfully) Hope to sort this all out soon. Know there is a correlation between thyroid, bc and urticaria.
Keep telling myself---this will pass too
Love this beautiful spring weather---grass is green, magnolia in bloom...
Take good care,
Ginny
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