March 2011 chemo-lounge
Comments
-
Sweltering hot here too!
DivineMrsM: I hope your re-excision is the LAST one. I'm glad it is scheduled so soon so you can move on. I feel for you.
bikenyc: I am so sorry to hear about the thyroid! I wish you could catch a break. Thinking of you.
I was supposed to start rads yesterday, but will start today. Just a scheduling snafu. I hope those of you facing it are doing ok.
Penny, are you doing anything special to try to avoid lymphedema? Is that possible? I haven't heard any tips for things to do DURING rads. Oh, my presentation went great! Happy to have it behind me.
I had a "non-scare" from the RO doctor on Monday. I went in to get a blood test, and she sat me down and prefaced the conversation with "I'm telling you this so you DON"T get scared. This is to calm you down." Yeah, right. Then she pounds on my back and side and asks if it hurts. No. Then she tells me that my CT scan that I had to do for rads showed a spot on my spine and a spot on my liver! She compared the scan to a CT scan I had in November and the spots were the same size, so she says they are just cysts or something. Presumably they would have shrunk during chemo if they had been malignant. So, I didn't really break down until much later that day while telling my DH. He keeps telling me "You didn't dodge a bullet because there was no bullet!" But it completely brought me right back to those days following my initial diagnosis. Waiting for scan results, wondering what was going to happen. And a niggling part of me keeps telling me that it really is the bc spreading around my body. Even though I just finished chemo, I can't seem to convince myself that I'm fine.
You said it, DivineMrsM, an emotional roller coaster
0 -
MrsM, I've totally given up the wig for hats and scarves. At first, I wouldn't be seen in public without a wig, but I am sooooo over it. It's been about 95 degrees here every day, and high humidity. I'm spending a lot of time indoors. Hoping you get clean margins on the 26th. I will be meeting with my RO for the first time that day.
Lilylady, glad you are starting to feel better. I know it has been a long, slow process for me, and I'm still having problems with fatigue and an intermittent cough.
Someone from my MO office called the other day to say I needed blood work to recheck my liver enzymes which were high last time. My husband answered the phone and told the poor woman off. He said I'd been "stuck" enough already. My arm does look like a war zone. I'm putting it off till the end of next week.
ksmattehews, sounds like you are opting for lumpectomy. Hope surgery goes well for you. Let us know.
0 -
Taxol #9 of 12 in this morning...only 3 more to go.. then I can join the PFC club! Also sweltering in the Twin Cities but missed some of it last weekend when we went "up north"...mid 80's there but the lake breeze helped....took a drive up to Thunder Bay thinking it HAD to be cooler there...WRONG...but saw some beautiful scenery and enjoyed the drive.
Maxine O: sorry for your scary "non scare"..certainly they would be able to confirm what they see are cysts...I would ask your doctor for reports from your two scans. Does anyone know if it is routine to have a CT scan prior to rads ???
Not sure if this helps anyone, but I'll mention it anyway...everytime I take a shower , I raise my arm with the AND and give it a good massage with the soapy water...hand to armpit...supposed to stimulate the flow of lymph per my LE consult.
Thinking of those of you facing surgery and hoping all goes well...
0 -
MaxineO--I had something similar which is why I had the second CT scan now, PFC. The first scan showed a spot on my lung but the MO didn't think it was much of anything although he wanted to check it again after the chemo was done. I wasn't too panicked about it because an xray tech told me I had a scar on my lung and that was 35 years ago. The second scan will hopefully show no change and confirm it.
In retrospect, the xray tech probably shouldn't have told me any such thing. I can't imagine how he could have known for certain that it was a scar and not something that needed to be explored further. But it was 35 years ago and I doubt that it's now something to worry about.0 -
Hi Ladies,
Just a quick update here. I am now two month PFC, I am feeling GREAT! Wow, I have my energy back, my sense of humor and basically feel like my old self except for....I HATE the way my body looks. I had an awesome rack before BC and now I am flat on one side with a long scar. I have an appt. to have a TE placed on the 27th. I am excited yet nervous about the surgery. My hair is growing in nicely but I still look like a cancer patient. I also get horrible hot flashes and night sweats. Plus......it is like a 100 degree here!!
Hey Kymn,
So glad to see you are doing better. I know you had a hard time during chemo.
Take care ladies and enjoy the summer. I will post about my TE experience. Hoping it will be easy, my little one relies on me.
0 -
Hello ladies,
I'm sitting in the herceptin chair and thinking about all who have posted on this board and how far we all have come. WOW... it seems like a long time ago since our first chemo treatments started in March.
Blessings and good luck to all of you.
Have a great weekend !!!!
HUGS to you ALL.
0 -
Hi ladies. I'm 3 weeks PFC and I'm having a unilateral MX on the July 25 with delayed reconstruction. Still not sure if I will need radiation or not. I'm really not looking forward to the surgery and recovery. I have two little ones and luckily, my mom will be staying with us to help out.
0 -
timerdog, it's amazing that you're already 2 months PFC! Good luck with the TE procedure. You're in my prayers.
youngmama, you too are in my prayers and best wishes as you have surgery for the unilateral MX next week.
DeeDee, I agree, how far we all have come since March!
0 -
Youngmama good luck with your upcoming surgery. I too had a unilateral MX on February 17th with immediate reconstructive surgery. i'm getting ready for the final stage of my reconstructive surgery next month. The MX wasn't as bad as i expected..now granted it was uncomfortable for while, especially with the drains in, but i had little pain. I only took the pain meds my doc prescribed one or two times. You are luck to have your mom help you with the little ones. I have one little one and i had a whole lot of support, which was truly a blessing. That helped with my recovery. Hang in there..you'll see it will be behind you before you know it.
You and Timerdog are in my prayers.
Have a good evening ALL !!!!
0 -
Maria - I still think those of you with kids deserve a medal. We all break down but you have that extra responsibility of providing a stable emotional environment for them which is awfully hard at a time like this. I am sure you will find your dream home in Chicago, take your time and get the right one.
Kymn - there is no ordinary any more is there, all sorts of strange behaviour becomes the norm - I was talking to the RADS research nurse the other day and she said - Oh can I look at your armpit. I had this strange flashback to what my response to that would have been a year ago
. Hope you have a great weekend camping, great to get away to nature.Ksmatthews sorry about the stomach problems, but sounds like the cocktail has done its work if they don't have to remove much, which is the best news.
lilylady - I am not having any boosts, but they are basically irradiating from underneath the MX scar right up to the top of my neck and then across unxer the armpit. The worst effect seems to be on my neck which is now going quite pink and a bit itchy. Don't like the sound of your weight loss - make sure you keep your fluids up.
Divine MrsM - here's hoping for good margins on Tuesday,
Maxine - glad the presentation went well - I am prepping mine now. I am not doing anything specific to avoid lymphoedema but I do alot of arm exercise (boxing and weights) There are some places that say exercise is bad but also some fairly new ones that talk about exercise reducing the incidence. I can definitely feel the arm movement getting restricted, presumably as the RADS start causing scar tissue, so I am working hard on stretching that area. The "non scare" still sounds traumatic - they are not even bothering to rescan the spots they found on my liver - makes me a bit nervous, but I suspect we all have spots/scars in all sorts of places that are nothing.
Jules - can understand why you are over the wig in that heat, I have decided to do the presentation in the headscarf - don't feel so fake. I can so empathise with not wanting any more blood takes. The last woman who stuck me (for Vit D and calcium pre Arimidex) made a right mess of my last usable vein. Don't worry about RADs they are a breeze compared to chemo.timerdog - so glad you are feeling good - to hell with the appearance, that will come back soon.
Stilts and those of you still going, it will be over soon and you will feel good again
Good luck to all of you having surgery next week.
I am feeling quite good physically now, getting nearer normal. Strangely though I cried for the first time in a doctor's surgery yesterday - I had hoped that I could still do the Canning Stock Rd 4WD trip, driving and camping for 3 weeks through the Aussie desert. The trip leaves immediately I finish RADS. My RADS doctor told me yesterday that she cannot approve me going as its too much a risk of having to be airlifted out with an infection (no showers/toilets for 3 weeks). I was gutted - I had kind of decided that going meant I was well again.
0 -
Penny - so sorry to hear you can't participate in the 3 week trek. I hope you go next year and it's that much sweeter for having to miss this year.
Am putting an oldie on the jukebox for all of us - Pat Benatar's Hit Me with Your Best Shot. It talks about "you don't fight fair, that's okay, see if I care". Wishing everyone a peaceful and relaxing weekend.0 -
Penny, so sorry your RO told you that you couldn't go on your three week trip. We all need something to look forward to and I know you were really looking forward to that trip.
0 -
Thank you Penny and so sorry you cant go on your trip.
0 -
I have been reading and catching up with you gals. I am knee deep in the whole moving thing and a Harry Potter 5th birthday party that needs to be planned. I am glad to see so many of you still checking in! We have all come SO far since our first scared posts. That makes me feel good to hear how well all of you are doing and how far you have all gotten through treatment.
Penny: Sorry about the trip. That must be such a huge disappointment. Is there something else you can plan once the RO gives you the OK to just have something else to look forward to? I know it won't replace your trip....but I hate that you are bummed out.
BikeNYC: I hope the thyroid situation is under control quickly. FYI my mom is a thyroid cancer survivor...35 years now. Keep us posted....hugs!
Maxine: Sorry about the scare....horrible! I too am convinced my hip is full of mets...it hurts from sitting around after surgery. I talked to my doc and now I have to get a bone scan but I think she did it only because I was freaking out. It's hard not to think the simplest of things isn't BC spreading. I don't know how we move forward in our lives without being consumed by this......no one should have to live this way...it's sucky to have to think about this!
Divine: Good luck this week! Hope all goes well.
Jules: My arms hurt for a long time now after blood draws.....I am glad I don't have to get them done often anymore. THe last one I had a week ago hurt for a week! I hope the liver enzymes are OK and there is nothing to worry about.
Stilts: Great that you only have 3 more! You are almost there!
Timerdog: Good luck with surgery this week. The TE's are ugly and get hard but I had my exchange and the new implants are soft and comfy. Let us know how it goes..PM if you have questions.
Youngmama: Glad your mom is coming...recovery with little one's is hard. They don't understand "gentle"..... I hope surgery goes well...I had a BLMX in Jan and recently had exchange surgery. Foobs are good now......it's good to be done with that.
Dee Dee: We have come so far.....this is an amazing group of gals!
Silia: Love that song! It's a good one...
0 -
Hello ladies,
I haven't posted in a while
I don't think anyone remembers me:) I mostly read from my android phone but it won't let me post. I can't believe almost everyone is done with chemo. Not only done, but seems to be doing really well I see a big difference on the posts from early March and current posts. My last chemo was june 24 and my eyebrows are still falling out. There's still hair on my legs, arms and upper lip (figures lol). I have like 4 eyelashes left on the left and 8 on the right. Which reminds me of an incidence this past Friday. I got on the subway (4 train) with my kids (heading home from a doc appt) when a lady standing next to us exclaimed, "what happened to your eyebrows??!!!" I was thinking, omg, did it smeared in this 112 degrees heat. I nudged my 14year old and she just looked at me funny, so I asked my 7 year old, are my eyebrows still intact. She told me yes, but the other lady still demanded, "where are your eyebrows". I asked her, what do you mean, are they not there????!!! She then said, your real eyebrows, where are they???!!! At this point I was beyond mortified since she was speaking really loud lol. So I told her it fell out. Then she asked if I had chemo, I told her yes, then she asked what kind. I told her AC, and she said, no, what kind of, cancer (stuttering on the cancer part). I told her breast and she said good luck and half run/walked away. I was so shocked and partly mortified, but my two kids were laughing like loons
It was kind of funny. I guess my facial expression must be pretty funny when she asked that. My greatest fear is to have my eyebrows smearing and running all over my face lol.I wondered later if she was a cancer patient or was newly diagnosed. If she was and by chance reading this, I wished I could offer her some comfort or a hug
Well ladies, good luck to everyone in the next phase, whether it's radiation, surgery, trips or new life experiences. I'm havng a lot of trouble typing for some reason. It's 2am here, I have insomnia again and trying not to google or read too much
kim
0 -
Stilts, you're getting there! I have my LAST chemo tomorrow at 9. Yes! I am so ready for this to be over. Although, I'm not looking forward to MX and DIEP on Aug. 17, but it will be good to get that behind me as well.
Youngmama, good luck on your surgery. Hope everything goes perfectly. Good luck to you as well, Timerdog. Good luck to you to Mrs. M. And Bike NYC, hope it is all good news for your thyroid. It isn't fair to have to worry about two cancers.
Silia, I love that song! Here is one for Timerdog and everyone else who is PFC and feeling good.
I FEEL GOOD
James Brown
Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got you
Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So nice, so nice, I got you
When I hold you in my arms
I know that I can't do no wrong
and when I hold you in my arms
My love won't do you no harm
and I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So nice, so nice, I got you
When I hold you in my arms
I know that I can't do no wrong
and when I hold you in my arms
My love can't do me no harm
and I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So nice, so nice, I got you
Whoa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would
So good, so good, I got you
So good, so good, I got you
So good, so good, I got you
HEY!!0 -
Kay, so happy for you to finally get that last one under your belt, can't wait for that day!! Best of luck, will be sending you good vibes!
hugs all
0 -
Kay: will be thinking of you tomorrow morning crossing that finish line !!!!
Good luck to those with upcoming surgery and radiation. 0 -
Maria - Thank you for starting this thread what a blessing to all of us. I wish you continued success with your move and the 5th b'day party your are planning i know your little one will love it. You are awesome to be able to move to another state, plan a party and continue your bc treatments...Hell, like you said all of these ladies are an amazing group of gals.
Kay & Silia - Thanks for the songs..love them both.
Bikenyc - Blessings to you, I hate to hear about the thyroid cancer. Continue doing what you have to do to survive.
Dizzyakira - My last chemo was May 26 and i am strill losing eye lashes & my eye brows are almost gone i have one or two brows here and there..lol. I am curious to know how long PFC before they stop falling out and start growing back. Other than the hair situation i feel pretty darn good, not completely back to my old self but I'm getting there.
Penny - So sorry about your trip..you will have a blast next year
Timerdog - Yes the TE are ugly mine is very hard and uncomfortable. I guess it's got to be that way to stretch the muscles and skin, but..YUK ! I'm so looking forward to my exchange surgery.
Jules - I know what you mean about getting "stuck" AGAIN..... I'm trying to get like you, brave enough to get rid of the wigs. I have some fuzz on my head so I'd love to start rocking my short hairdo with some nice big ear rings,but i feel i have a little peanut head..lol... Well, i hope your meeting with the RO is an informative one on Tuesday.
DevineMrsM - I hope you get a good path report this Tuesday.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK LADIES !!!!!
0 -
DeeDee2, I had my last chemo on June 16 and my eyelashes and brows are coming out now more than ever. The other day, I washed my face, and when I was done, I had eyebrow hairs every place except where they really belonged. I have 2 eyelashes on the bottom of my right eye, and the top eye lashes aren't much better.
My hair is very slow coming back. I am getting no sympathy at all from DH. He says this is small, unimportant stuff, and that the main thing is we are getting rid of cancer. Oh well...wish I had that attitude. It's kind of depressing to be done with chemo and the SE just keep coming.
0 -
Kay - brilliant, all done thank goodness, hope you breeze through the last SEs
Jules - my eyebrows and eyelashes are also going now 4 weeks PFC, and a few nails are starting to go an odd colour. Never mind - I feel pretty well now, makes you realise how long this stuff affects you though. I had toremind DH that I am not suddenyl feeling emotionally fine though, I suspect its normal though for them to be like that - you are over the chemo so its all good now.
0 -
Good luck to everyone having surgery or finishing chemo this week! About the brows and hair...I finished chemo on June 16 and I ended up plucking a bunch of my last remaining eyebrows because I looked so bad. However, over the past two days they have started coming back in! Also, hair is coming back white and really feels like peach fuzz baby hair but I'm not complaining. I'm just glad to know something is growing back up there.
Have a great week everyone.
0 -
Just jumping in to ask when to expect the eyebrows and eyelashes to go, I am on round 2 of FEC day 6. Shaved my head over a week ago, hair downstairs was falling out so shaved that last week...hair on legs and arms is maybe thinning but still there...I did notice some funky wirey hairs pop up in my eyebrows LOL like a 90 yr old man!!
0 -
I am about 7 1/2 weeks PFC. I had brows but very few lashes during chemo, but now my brows have thinned considerably.
I had to shave my legs because the hair started growing back fast on them. I have about a 1/4 inch hair on my head. Last week I colored it a medium blonde and I'm happy with how it looks. Softer than the darker color sprinkled with gray that was coming in. Still feel like I have a ways to go with the hair growth on my head.
0 -
Kay - congrats on last chemo - you will barely notice any side effects because it's so exciting that it's the last one!
Penny - sucks about your trip. I'm feelin' for you...I know all I want to do is get back to doing some of the normal things again. I don't expect totally normal, but I want to be part of the land of the living again and feel vital. You'll do the trip next year and it will feel even more meaningful (and you won't have any worries about your health and be able to enjoy it fully). I'm usually super hearty and I hate that chemo made me feel my fragility. I went to this big flea market in Brimfield Mass a couple weeks ago right after I got my mediport out. I was so excited to be there, but it was soooo hot and a couple times I really started feeling faint, and wondered if I was an idiot to be there. But I just drank a lot of water and got some really good crap!
My thyroid surgery went off without a hitch. One night in the hospital with a drain then home. I haven't even bruised. Just have some calcium issues because my parathyroids got jostled, but feeling pretty good. Started my lifetime prescription of Synthroid and am now staring at the Tamoxifen bottle...onc said I can start when I feel better from my surgery. Maybe tomorrow. Or not. Anyone started yet? What's your experiences?
Feel like I'm always venting about setbacks here, so wanted to post some "moving forward" stuff...HAIR! I'm about 5 weeks PFC and have a fine covering over it all. It's super white in the front (think it's been like that for awhile...I was just dyeing the crap out of it) so it's hard to see, but in the back, it's darker, so you get a better idea. The inside corners of my eyebrows have also started coming in and all the stubble makes them look like I've got newsprint smudges.
"
"
" 0 -
Hi Ladies, seems like so long since i've been here but only a few days lol dont feel connected unless I can pop on once a day. I went camping this weekend with the kids and boy am I pooped. Very frustrating to not be able to rebound so quickly from busy weekends. I am about 3 1/2 weeks PFC now and my body still hurts like I have been working out really hard which I clearly have not. Anyone else feel like they have lead in the arms and legs???? Sure wish this would go away.My energy levels are still low too booo. I am supposed to starts rads next monday sure hope I am feeling stronger by then.
0 -
Back form my last chemo. I can officially joing the ranks of the PFC even though I have to do Herceptin until the end of nest May. WooHoo! Waitin for you to finish Stilts and then we will all be done. I have surgery Aug. 17 to look forward to and meeting with an RO on Aug 3 to go over a plan.
BikeNYC the view of your hair from the top looks great! Glad the surgery went well too!
I noticed yesterday my eyelashes and eybrows are starting to come back. Great! My hair is about a quarter inch on Taxotere. It is coming in much darker than it fell out. I'm glad it's not grey. My hair was like a light auburn color. We'll see, I can always die it.
Here's one for being in the chemo chair today. My last one (hopefully):
Daniel Powter Bad Day Lyrics:
Send "Bad Day" Ringtone to your Cell 
Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to gray
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on
You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee you go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces every time
And I don't need no carryin' on
Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Will you need a blue sky holiday?
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on
You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
(Oooh.. a holiday..)
Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong
(yeah...)
So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Daniel Powter lyrics0 -
Congrats Kay!! And great song choice. Wishing you SE-free days ahead.
0 -
Love the song Kay smooth sailing now hope all SE are minimal
0 -
bikenyc, today I am 6 weeks PFC and my hair is nowhere near that good. Not as long or full coverage. Hmmm not fair!
I will say that I am slowly getting stronger, so Kymn although my arms and legs felt very heavy, they are getting better and my energy is returning. My MO says the life cycle of a red blood cell is 120 days, so expect to be a little anemic until then. He also said it will take as long to recover from chemo as it did to take it, so that would be about 4 months for me. Meanwhile, I'll be starting rads, which I hear causes fatigue, so I guess I'll never really know when I'm fully recovered from chemo. Going to meet my RO for the first time today.
0
