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Comments

  • vegas
    vegas Member Posts: 151
    edited April 2007
    Hi Melanie! I kind of lurk here like you do on the FORCE boards! Probably cause I started with them. But I have to check in daily now and see how everyone is doing here. You do know, Mel, that we have an Alloderm "GhostBust-ers" tradition where you have to name the "girls," so start putting your thinking cap on. I hope Beth is able to give you the green light tomorrow - please let me know, and if she does we can talk live on the phone. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

    Leah, I was so excited by your news I was doing a happy dance, and hope your liver results are just as good or better! Praying for you!

    Sammy Kay, I am very passionate about the advocacy thing and patients rights, now, especially after this journey through not only cancer but insurance and doctors. I was so excited today when another gal on the FORCE web site pinned her oncologist down about the benefits of Taxol for her and also found that it was only 3% in her case. And she was having such HORRENDOUS side effects her doctor agreed immediately that she should come off of it. But if she had not said something first, he would have continued the treatment. Too many women are being overmedicated out of the medical profession's fear of being sued, in my opinion!

    Marsha, our imaginations are usually always a bit worse than the reality is, thank goodness! But stay on the Internet doing your research and keep your docs on their toes! And how is the fundraiser coming?

    Welcome Windtalker! Hope you find much comfort here. There is nothing like being able to share experiences with others that "get it." Our friends and family may love us to pieces, but unless they have been on this particular journey it is just not quite the same.

    Carynn and Catherine, you two always sound so happy and positive and always seem to be doing something productive! You are an inspiration!

    Hillary, Linnie, Jan, Terry, Lisa and everyone else that is tired or sick right now, hope you are feeling better soon and you are all heroes for putting up with this cr** with so much humor and grace.
  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited April 2007
    Windtalker -- welcome to a fellow triple neg. There are a couple of us on this board. I'm doing dose-dense AC, followed by dose-dense Taxol. Today is my second T.

    Phyl -- How was your bar trip yesterday? A little hung-over today?

    Catherine and Sammiekay -- Sending you cyberhugs for today.

    There are several of us that are still missing from the boards ...

    Monday - Phyl, Jen (?)
    Tuesday - Hillary, Catherine, Sammiekay
    Wednesday - Marsha, Wendy (?)
    Thursday - StephJ (1st taxol), Piper (1st taxol), Terry, Pat, Tracy (?), Kim (?)

    -- Hillary
  • ErinsGram
    ErinsGram Member Posts: 150
    edited April 2007
    Morning all - just dropping in for a quick update. Taxol tx #2 went well yesterday and feeling great today. Lots of work to do so I've gotta get back to work. Best of luck to all at the bar today. I'll post later.
    Hugs to all.
    Phyl
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited April 2007

    Hillary, Catherine and SammieKay.....big hugs going out to you guys today. Phyl, glad to hear from you and that #2 hasn't kicked your ass (yet). I try to get stuff done t hose first couple of days afterward and just lay on the couch days 3-5 LOL. Jen? How did it go for you? Write more later.....off to have blood work done before drinking at the bar tomorrow. Marsha

  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited April 2007

    Oh BTW Windtalker, My Her2 was borderline and they sent it off for the more diagnostic testing called the FISH test. That came back negative so maybe your initial screening for it was borderline like mine. The FISH is the final word on it. Hugs, Marsha

  • wendypetru
    wendypetru Member Posts: 34
    edited April 2007
    Hillary,

    Yes, I will have AC # 5 tomorrow (Wednesday)!

    Wendy
  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited April 2007
    HI! I'm back from the bar, totally zonked, about to get into bed. RBC were a bit low (10.1) so I had an aranesp shot after the taxol. I still go in for my neulasta shot tomorrow.

    Good to hear from you Wendy -- I've ammended bar reservations to remove your question mark. Jen, Tracy, Kim -- what's your status for this week?

    Monday - Phy -- ACCOUNTED FOR, Jen (?)
    Tuesday - Hillary -- ACCOUNTED FOR, Catherine, Sammiekay
    Wednesday - Marsha, Wendy
    Thursday - StephJ (1st taxol), Piper (1st taxol), Terry, Pat, Tracy (?), Kim (?)

    -- Hillary
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited April 2007
    Well, I am back fromthe bar (abraxane/avastin cocktail)... the waiting is the worst part (checked in at 9, got started past noon... done an hour later). So far I feel like nothing happened to me, in fact I have felt so normal this past week that I caught myself several times forgetting about the whole thing!!
    My main concern right now is that DH came down with stomach flue or 24h bug, whatever, and has been very sick these past 2 days (no fever, though) and is exhausted... so while trying to be good nurse, I am hoping I won't get it... He had the opportunity to discover the wonders of Ativan to alleviate the nausea and make him sleep... I am glad that my "inventory" is still high (did not use it at all the last 3 weeks or so). He seems a bit better today (took me to and from the hospital), but just wants to sleep, which is probably the best thing...
    The weather is positively Brittany like: non stop rain since last night and windy... great for trees and yards, and crops to be... but definitely a day to stay warm with a good book and some music, and cuddly dogs...
    Which is just what I am going to do...
    It is now the waiting time until pain and tingling, etc. kick in... My blood counts where significantly lower than after Neulasta (did not get the shot with abraxane), but they did not seem to have any problem with it... hopefully it will get stable and not keep going down... I was a bit surprised because I never felt tired the whole 2 weeks... I keep wondering when fatigue is going to hit me... and I do not take decadron...
    Thinking of you all, good luck to those at he bar tomorrow and later this week...
    Hugs all around,
    CatherineH
  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited April 2007
    Catherine -- I just woke up from a three hour nap and will probably zonk out again. My dh is also experiencing diarhhea, which he attributes to the stress of life, the end of the semester, and being a good nurse for me. Our diagnosis can be hard on our caregivers and it can take a tool on their emotional and physical health. I'm just happy that dh's semester ends soon, so maybe he can relax a bit.

    Dh just arrived with ds, so I need to be "up" for ds for at least a few hours. As soon as he's asleep, so am I ...

    Sammiekay -- how is taxol? Is this #11/12 or 12/12 -- I've lost track ...

    Marsha, Wendy -- cyber hugs for tomorrow ...

    -- Hillary
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited April 2007
    Hello all...

    I am amazed at the range of reactions to taxol. It is hard to imagine what spells the difference between all the differences.

    I got the scan today from the liver. It shrunk a little, not as much as all the other things. But no new lesions seen anywhere (chest, pelvis, abdomen)so that is good.

    I am going to have the lumpectomy, but the surgeon didn't give me an acceptable answer about what the breast will look like after. She said I will have an "indentation". That's all she said. Guess it is back to the web for me to see what this looks like. Due to the fact that the tumor is deep, and toward the outer edge, I guess it won't be pretty. We still don't know what we are doing about the nodes.

    I am exhausted, as I went through all that and then went to my therapy appt. I am beat. So checking out for the evening, and will go read for awhile. Love to all. thanks for all the good thoughts!
  • Windtalker
    Windtalker Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2007
    Glad to hear that all the "inbibers" are doing well.:)

    Naberthmom: Hope your cocktail goes down smoothly, as well. Yay, for the Triple Negs! LOL (oops!)

    Marsha: You're probably right. I was going to call the doc and clarify, but what you said makes sense. This report is final and confirmed. I've already got my marching orders, so it's full steam ahead!

    Catherine: I hope hubby gets better soon, and you don't pick up any little gremlins.

    Vegas: You're not such a lurker. I've belonged to one board for 2 years and have only 87 posts! Yet, I'm there every day! Kinda hard to just "jump right in" now.
  • Windtalker
    Windtalker Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2007
    Hi Leahrc!

    First, let me tell you how much I've enjoyed reading your posts. You are absolutely encouraging and inspirational!
    I'm glad to hear of your good news today. You deserve it!

    Here's my first attempt to share my experience with someone else, and I'm glad it's you.

    I had a Lumpectomy and SNB on 3/10/07. I don't know why I didn't realize it, and nobody told me to expect it, but I never even considered that there might be some deformity of the breast after surgery.

    I assumed that a "simple" lumpectomy would remove the tumor, and all would go back to normal. I guess, I forgot to factor in that the tumor 'occupied space'.

    I can tell you that the swelling has not completely gone down, but as it decreases, it becomes more apparent. My tumor was 2cm at 4 O'clock. If you picture your breast being a wider verision of the letter " U ", it now looks a little like someone sliced off a rounded edge, horizontally. Does that make sense? (maybe I should stick to lurking) I have really dense, size D cup breasts. It really doesn't look that bad at all. I have two scars, one approx. 2 1/2 in. at the surigical site, and one approx. 2" starting at the outer edge of the axilla, and continuing into the axilla, for the SNB.

    I hope this helped you out at least a little, but if you have more questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited April 2007
    Hi all! Hope all is well with everyone!

    Well, I hate to actually put this in writing, but I’m thinking right now that the worst day on Taxol is better than the best day on A/C. For me, the fatigue is (unbelievable, but true!) worse, but the upside of that is that I’m actually sleeping now! I did get the bone pain in my lower back, knees, and ankles, and while it’s uncomfortable, it’s been manageable.

    I’m staying in the office longer, and getting a little more done at home; but when I’m done, I am DONE, and done for the night!

    Leah – It sounds like your trip was so fun! We haven’t gone anywhere since I started tx, but we are thinking of making a trip to Central Arizona to visit some relatives up in the Pines. We usually go several times during the summer months when it’s hot in Phoenix, and nice up in the Pines. If all goes well, we’ll probably go in the next few weekends.

    Karen – Have you done any looking around as far as switching Oncs? I know what you mean about delaying tx, but like someone else mentioned, maybe you can switch to a partner without having to delay. Or, take a look on the QT and see if you can find someone willing to continue your tx along. It certainly is worth a try. With all the stress we have already, you certainly don’t need to be dealing with a Doc that you hate.

    Terry – Hope you are feeling better. Like I said, I really think it’s easy for us to get a bit down because of the number the drugs do on us. I wont give you unsolicited advice, but I will say that enjoying something you love may help to pick you up. You know, something simple like watching a comedy, or even some retail therapy. Sending a big hug your way!

    Jan – I just love the statue! How big is it? Did you choose a place of honor for it yet? How are the rads going? Do you have many left?

    Melanie – Thanks for the drink suggestions! I seem to lose my taste for the entire week after tx. It comes back week 2, not normal, but sooo much better. It’s hard to get the water down that first week, so I’m going to give it a try after Taxol # 2. BTW…love the nicknames for the various reconstructed names for the girls.

    Linnie – It’s so good to hear from you! Are you feeling any better? I hope that you’ll keep posting and let us know how you’re doing. It’s ok if it’s not always a “happy post,” we’re just glad to hear from you!

    Windtalker – I’m one of the other triple negatives on this cruise. My .02 on being triple neg is that the category simply helps my Onc know how to best treat me. There is a great article on the trip neg board about tx posted by No Surrender. Be sure and check it out.

    Vegas – Thanks for the shout out! How’s the golf game? Played anymore lately? Hope you are dong well neighbor!

    Wendy – Hi Stranger! Glad you checked in. How many more A/C?

    Hillary – Are you doing better today? Big hug to you too!

    Catherine – I think our weather system moved your way. We had an unexpected day of below normal temperatures and rain. It’s back in the 80’s now and summer is on the way. Most people complain about the extreme heat, but I love it! It’s so much easier for me to cool off than to warm up – I say bring it on! I cant wait for lazy days by the pool with a good book and a glass of tea (ok, maybe an occasional margarita!) Anyway, hope you are feeling good ad that DH is on the mend.

    Leah – Great news on the shrinking! Sending thoughts your way that it will continue to do so. My Onc said last time that it is looking really good for a lumpectomy for me as well. I have a lot of the same questions as you. I know that under the law insurance has to cover reconstruction to restore symmetry, hopefully it won’t be necessary! Please pass on any good links you find, and I’ll do the same.

    Best to anyone that I missed and to those at the bar today.

    Hugs to all!

    Carynn
  • southtx
    southtx Member Posts: 17
    edited April 2007
    Hey all you tough gals!!! Just recouping from #4 A/C on Wednesday. Not as bad as #3, but takes a while to get my feet back under me. My operated breast (mastectomy) always swells and hurts for a few days after A/C each time, does anybody else experience that? I had the mast/tram flap repair in December, but had several seromas and a surg to close an infected wound in it. So I guess it's just still irritated with me....I know I'm irritated with it too...
    My "shingles arm" is red, but doesn't appear to be flairing up again...yet...hope nobody else experiences it, but thank God, I caught it before it got really bad...
    I've gotten so far behind on posts...some weeks I just had to deny the whole bc thing...but it's interesting to read back on the old posts though and see how far we've come.
    Thank God you've all been here, this would have been impossible to do alone!!
    Hugs to everybody and thank God for XANAX!!
    Tracy
  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited April 2007
    Updated bar reservations for this week:

    Monday - Phy -- ACCOUNTED FOR, Jen (?)
    Tuesday - Hillary -- ACCOUNTED FOR, Catherine -- ACCOUNTED FOR, Sammiekay
    Wednesday - Marsha, Wendy
    Thursday - StephJ (1st taxol), Piper (1st taxol), Terry, Pat, Kim (?)

    Thanks for checking in Tracy -- congrats on AC#4! Do you start on a taxane next?

    Leah, Carynn, and Windtalker -- It is possible to have a good cosmetic result with a lumpectomy. You need to wait for the swelling to go down before you can tell. I won't lie -- I'm slightly smaller than I was, but I was small to begin with and padded bras do a lot! There are other reasons why I'm considering a prophylatic bi-lat, like LCIS and a fibroadenoma in the other breast. Because the cosmetic result is so good, I have no problems waiting till I'm fully recovered from lumpectomy/chemo/rads. By the way, I would have had to do rads anyway, as the lump was too close to the chest wall to get really good margins.

    Jen, Kim -- Are you having chemo this week?

    Sammiekay -- Drop us a note to say you're back!

    So far, no taxol-specific side effects, but definitely feeling the exhaustion. I must say, I'm in awe of my chemo nurse. I've never had any problems at the injection site. I would recommend HUP to anyone if only to be able to take advantage of the awesome chemonurses in the bc suite. And the private rooms with TV/VCR players are nice. I watched Cary Grant in "To Catch a Thief."

    Pleasant dreams all ...

    -- Hillary
  • wildabouthorses
    wildabouthorses Member Posts: 458
    edited April 2007
    Carynn, the statue is about as big as my hand. I have it sitting near the little boy with a wire balloon that says HOPE in it (from my cousins) My rads called and said no rads today machine is down for the first time since I started rads. We had tornado warnings out late this afternoon so was kinda glad I didn't have to go to rads after all. 7 more boosts and I'm done. Finally was able to sleep on the left side for a change last night even though there is still a raw spot there.

    Windtalker I had two lumpectomies, one each breast each done by different surgeons months apart due to a second opinion and changing surgeons. One scar is about 2 inches (.7cm tumor in Nov left breast) and the other is about 5 inches (1.5 cm tumor in January right breast) I have 44d breasts and at first the depressions/indentations were very noticiable but now they look normal again like they have filled in with fluid. The biggest thing that is noticiable is that my right breast doesn't hang as low as the left as the scar is from the top to the nipple and seems to have pulled up the breast after the lumpectomy.
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited April 2007
    Leah, so glad to read your last news... this is very encouraging. You are in my thoughts a lot... have a great week.

    Hillary, thanks for all the hard work to keep up with all of us. Hope you'll sleep well and will not have too many
    side effects.

    Marsha, Wendy, cyber hugs for you for tomorrow...

    Carynn, you make me dream when you evoke the pool, books and margharitas... we had snow this evening, and I rushed out to take a few potted plants back to the garage for the night (basil, jasmine, peonie)... it should warm up very nicely starting tomorrow (that's the great thing here, bad weather never lasts)... I'll warm up my achy bones on a chaise longue in the sun... in a couple of days probably... still not taking any B complex or glutamine... hopefully se's won't be much worse than the first time...

    Linnie, Tracy, nice to hear from you. Hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel...

    Windtalker, good luck with your treatment.

    Well, time to call it for the day... DH is on the mend but very sleepy (in 25 years, this is the first year he had a cold, and now this bug... may be from being around more people, teaching physics in college..?? and doing all the shopping...).

    You all take real good care of yourselves.
    A bientot,
    Catherine
  • SammieKB
    SammieKB Member Posts: 164
    edited April 2007
    Hi all my dear travelers,
    Today was 11/12 Taxol. No reaction. I get 8 mg of Zofran before Taxol and 2 mg Decadron. I went to physical therapy after and then to Walgreen and Dollar General. I was gone from 12:30 PM until 6:15 pm. I am sleepy tonight, otherwise good. The fatigue usually starts on Fri.
    Hugs to all, especially my "bar mates" Catherine and Hillary.
    My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
    Oh, I went to be measured for the arm sleeve for flying. Yikes, they are 75 dollars. Hopefully the insurance will reimburse me.
    Sorry to hear about the dh's stomach viruses. That has been rampant in Texas.
    Will write more tomorrow. The bed is "calling me". Love yu all, SammieKay
    P.S. what is FORCE? just curious.
  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited April 2007
    Have just read another page of postings. Was on very quickly yesterday whilst at school. Really needed the hugs sent by SammieKay and others as I was feeling absolutely exhausted having had two very busy days at school and had a long meeting to attend.
    Today thank goodness is a national holiday here. It is ANZAC Day, our Commemoration day. Didn't get up to go to the Dawn Parade but watched later on TV. It is probably one of the most important days here as we see this as being the real beginning of our country's identity. I was surprised and delighted yesterday when so many of the young teachers (20-30s) were going to get up for the early services.
    I am sure the bloods are low as I have so little energy. DH, DS and DDs are busy shifting furniture etc at present. Both daughters are shifting to different houses. Well one is moving to a new place and the other is shifting to her place. I was tired after clearing out some boxes for them so have stayed behind.
    Book me in for the bar on May 3 which will be 1st taxol. i am reading all the posts about SEs with interest.
    When I tell friends I am tired they sympathise but saying it here I know that people really understand what I mean. Hugs to all, rest well and hope all bar appointments go well.
    I must go and get some of my spring bulbs planted - they are beginning to shoot.

    Alyson
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited April 2007
    Windtalker,
    Thank you so much. That helps a lot. I have small B breasts, so I am trying to picture that. I looked at lots of pix on the web, but couldn't find any that looked like me. You are right, though- it *does* occupy space, and they take it out. My tumor is sligtly smaller than yours, at 3 o'clock. So we will look similar, except that my breasts are small and don't really hang down. I will try to picture what you described- you were great! Thanks for wanting to help.
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited April 2007
    WIndtalker/Sammie Kay:
    I find it interesting that for basically the same size tumor (2 cm and 1.5 cm) that there is such a difference in the lenght of the scar- 2 1/2 inches to 5 inches. Hmmm. 5 inches would circle my whole breast! Hope she cuts small!
  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited April 2007
    Good morning --

    Leah -- I had a 1.5 cm tumor and my scar is less than 2 inches, probably more like 1.5 inches. I'm guessing it depends on the location of the tumor (how easy it is to access). My tumor was so close to the outer edge that the bs could easily find it without wires, etc.

    Twink -- I know from your website that you have taxotere #2 on Thursday. How did your meeting with the PS go? Please check in -- we miss you!

    Alyson -- Nice to hear from you. Glad that you are listening to your body to take it easy when you can. I hope that you find taxol easier than FEC! It think that if it wasn't for the crushing fatigue (probably exaggerated because of anemia), taxol would be a breeze compared to AC.

    SammieKay -- Next week will be taxol #12 -- woo woo!

    Catherine -- We have much in common, as my dh is also a physics professor!

    Tracy and all you other lurkers -- You don't have to put it a long post or even read the older posts, but do check in to sigh hi every once in a while!

    {{{{Hugs}}}}} to Marsha and Wendy for today's bar trip ...

    Monday - Phy -- ACCOUNTED FOR, Jen (?)
    Tuesday - Hillary Catherine, Sammiekay -- ALL ACCOUNTED FOR
    Wednesday - Marsha, Wendy
    Thursday - StephJ (1st taxol), Piper (1st taxol), Terry, Pat, Twink, Kim (?)

    -- Hillary
  • wildabouthorses
    wildabouthorses Member Posts: 458
    edited April 2007

    Hillary I think you could be right about the scar size could depend on where the tumor is. The smaller one of mine is near the edge of the breast and the other is closer to the nipple, about 2 inches directly above it. Ironically the longer scar is the nicer looking one of the two. You can barely see it now. The other one is wide and ugly looking yet.

  • vegas
    vegas Member Posts: 151
    edited April 2007
    Sammie Kay, FORCE is a web site started about the genetic cancers, but there are plenty of people like me there as well who just have plain old sporadic BC but love the people! Very active site and lots of wonderful women. You can go to www.facingourrisk.org and browse around.

    Where did you get the compression sleeve? I need to get one as well and wondered where to start.

    Hey back at you, neighbor Carynn. Didn't get to play Last week except for a few holes as there was the ladies member guest tournament and this week it is the men's. First time I have ever missed the ladies, but no way did I have the energy for three straight days of golf! I could barely make it through one and had to take a three hour nap afterward. Chemo takes a while to get over.

    Having an awful time trying to sleep the past few nights. Not sure why but it sure is irritating!
  • swimmingmom
    swimmingmom Member Posts: 121
    edited April 2007
    Leah-good to hear that the liver spot did shrink some. My tumor was 1.5 cm and it is hard to see a difference but we have different size breast. Mine are ds.

    Carynn I am going to a new oncologist on Friday. They assured me that my chemo will stay on schedule. I am praying that it goes better.

    Catherine-I hope your husband has recovered. Love to hear about the gardening. A little too early here yet.

    Hillary-how are you doing? I remember last week or so you were down a bit. Looks like the taxol is going OK for you other than the dreaded fatigue.

    Will have to write more later. I am going to go in to work for awhile. A little late but still want to get something done.
    Hugs to Marsha and Wendy at the bar today. ((((((((hug))))))
    Karen
  • wildabouthorses
    wildabouthorses Member Posts: 458
    edited April 2007

    Karen, good luck with the new onc! Hope it all works out!

  • steph_j
    steph_j Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2007
    Hi everyone!

    Just checking in before my first Taxol treatment tomorrow. I've been going through the posts to see what to expect, and the main SE I am seeing is fatigue. So I am just trying to prepare myself, but it is hard not knowing what I, personally, can expect.

    Hillary - regarding your post last week about how down you were feeling, I understand 100% because I was feeling the same way last week after AC#4 the previous week. It took an entire week to just begin to feel better, and even then I was just so tired. I met with one of the PAs at my practice, and I just started crying when I told her how bad I was actually feeling. She said that my RBCs and hemoglobin were low, and that in combination with the cumulative effects of dose dense chemo were the reason and it was normal and expected. I guess I just didn't account for the emotional and mental drain chemo puts on us. She is actually a 7-year BC survivor, so talking to her actually felt therapeutic because she actually understood how chemo-fatigue felt. Since then, I am feeling better, but I am still just not myself, as I have been very irritable and short-patienced, especially with my kids. It's been tough. Then I am trying to work as much as possible without feeling bad about those days that I just have to be off.

    Everyone is telling me that the taxol is much easier to tolerate than the AC, but if fatigue is the main issue, I don't know how much better it will be for me. The fatigue is what is really keeping me down. The other thing is the lack of taste - which is the pits.

    Linnie - I also can relate with about the whole hair no hair thing, as I really hate it as well. I'm resigned to have to deal with it, but I'll never look at hair the same way again after this experience. I still have thin eyebrows and a few eyelashes, but should I expect to lose them with the taxol?

    Well, I wish everyone the best with treatment and recovery this week, and I will check in if all goes well.

    Steph
  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited April 2007
    I was wondering the same thing about eyebrows Steph. Mine have thinned out a WHOLE LOT I just noticed today. I normally have not bushy, but nice thick brows and long but thin lashes. Today I was sittting in the car at a red light and looked in the mirror to check my makeup....wow...I have really lost alot of eyebrow hair! For the past 3 weeks or so I had been adding eyebrow pencil but today I could see more of the pencil and less of the hair. I'm going for 2nd taxol tomorrow and just wondering if anyone has continued to lose hair. I know it's still a little early in taxol therapies to know for sure. Before I started the taxol my nurse even told me "you may even start growing your hair back during taxol since it's not dense dose". Just hope that's my case.

    Tracey good to hear from you! About the op site pain you experience....I have it as well and even after taxol that feeling continues off and on. It feels like the area "tightens". I also still have some swelling just above the incision site that comes and goes. My oncologist says that it's the chemo doing it by destroying cells good and bad and therefore not really allowing the area to heal 100%. I asked at what point should I expect healing to be completed and she said by 3 months after chemo is finished. Then if there is still swelling and pain we will look into it more.
    With my radical mastectomy and the fact I started chemo at 4 weeks post surgery, it stands to reason my body hasnt' been "resting" and allowed to heal as it should. Hope this helps.

    Carynn, I hope your doing well. I haven't had any major discomfort and haven't had to pull the big guns out yet to medicate myself. Fatigue yes, but so far not near as bad as the AC. I'll be thinking of you on our 2nd taxol day tomorrow.

    Take Care All,
    Pat
  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 358
    edited April 2007
    Hi all,
    It has been a while since I did a longer post. I have been feeling better this week, although very tired. Tried to watch Idol last night but could not stay awake. Missed the entire show. But I guess that is what my body needed.
    Seems like the "blues" hit around day 6 or 7, after feeling crummy days 2 - 5....this week I feel pretty good. Of course, I go for a cocktail tomorrow, so it starts all over again.
    Catherine...I love your gardening stories. Do you plant a vegetable garden? or just flowers and herbs. You make me want to plant an herb garden, especially basil and dill. I already have chives and mint. (the ducks made a nest with 10 eggs in my mint) My tulips have just started to bloom along with my daffodils. The forget me nots and jonquils will be soon. My favorite thing is my miniature roses. I have about 30 plants and cut some each week for the girls at work. They bloom more when you cut them. I am looking forward in about a month to fresh lettuce and spinach. I also plant cucumbers (I usually can about 60 jars of dill pickles) and tomatoes and squash. You can make a wonderful salad in my backyard.

    Carynn...hope your chemo went well. Thanks for the comforting words. I don't know what I would do without you and all of my friends here. I feel selfish when I am feeling sorry for myself. But I guess we are all entitled to a little pity party once in a while.

    I am hoping to keep working at least a few more weeks - I need to complete some continuing ed credits for my life insurance license. Once I get them done, I may ask for a medical leave, as I am just exhausted. It isn't fair to my family that work gets the best part of me and I am sleeping most of the time I am with them. So we will see. I have chemo until the end of June, so it is still a long haul to look forward to.

    Well....need to go sort some laundry. and bake a cake..my oldest daughter will be 23 tomorrow. Don't want her day to be ruined by my chemo, so will have the cake ready!

    Love to you all....holding hands at the bar tomorrow!
  • Pepper1073
    Pepper1073 Member Posts: 49
    edited April 2007
    Saw my oncologist today and asked about my benefits vs not having taxol. He stated no studies have been done with a/c without the taxol so he could not give me any percentages. He used the example if you bake a cake without flour what happens? he strongly feels the taxol will be beneficial to me. But that since this is my second go around with bc he is treating it as node positive since my nodes had been taken out 18 yrs earlier.
    so off to outpatient at the hospital I go tomorrow.

    Piper

    Piper

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