Any 40-ish survivors?
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HI All,
For me it is an avocado sandwich. Can't touch it. Maybe this could be a start-up for a diet?
I can understand all of you regarding the hair. For me it was the most traumatic experience. You will think I'm weird but it was easier for me to decide on a double MX than to cope with loosing my hair.
Pre-BC it was really long, and was kind of my trade mark. I used a wig all throughout chemo. Since I kept working, I wanted to look as "normal" as possible.
Immediately as I was over chemo, and hair started to show, I couldn't use the wig any more.
I bought flashy glasses, wore my most colorful clothes, put hot red lipstick on and went out.
I decided to pull my baldness off. I felt so good and strong. I even felt beautiful.
Now a year and a half away It has grown 20 cms (yes! I measured) and I haven't decided if I'm going back to long.
Sorry for rambling. I just wanted to say that what started as a trauma, ended up being really empowering.
Have a good day all.
Hope all of you on chemo stay as SE free as possible.
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Good morning ladies, I find it so funny how alike we are. No matter which side of the world-- we can all seem to relate.
MiaTai, You are not a rambler...I always put the sorry in there cause I can't stop chatting! I think your right about the start of the diet. I felt the same way about my MX. I was not attatched to my real boobs at all. It was everything else...The control of your body and what goes into it. I still struggle with that some. I don't want any of the meds,but I will do what I need to. As someone else said ..I really want to be 50 someday . So happy your hair is growing back beautifully. Mine is still short and I have had people (I don't even know) say I love your hair. I think some women would like short short hair but are to scared to cut it. It is nice , and they have no idea but I say THANKS,
Hi to you slg2130, I sure hope you get back to mixing up that KoolAid! Isn't it weird how our bodies react to smell? I will say I can eat peanut butter and jelly now,but there are other things I can't. So maybe you just need a little more time.
Today we are travelling so I will try to catch up with all of you. Sorry for all of my long posts,I guess I try to touch base with each of you in some way.
Thanks to all of you. I hope you have a wonderful day and you are in my prayers.
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Starting coughing last monday - it's only gotten worse, dry hacking cough for 3 days, then last night, coughing spells! Saw my RO on Tuesday he said it was too early for lung SE from rads - I only have 6 days left.......anyone else have this? I have no fever....
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(((sagina))) - I have had two issues with coughing spells over the last few months...no rads for me but I am going with allergies or a summer cold.
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Once again, I can't keep up, so I just want to say a quick hello and try harder to check more often.
Gina - I haven't had coughing spells, but could it be allergies? Good luck with the last of rads, I found that last week went very, very slowly...
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Hi everyone: I had abnormal bleeding yesterday and today so went to GYN. They did a pap and are setting me up for a sonogram next Thursday "just to rule out anything serious". AAHHH! What next?! I feel like my body is betraying me at 43.
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I have had a cough lately and really think it is just my allergies. Never thought about the possibilities of it being a SE of radiation.
Here's my question. Do any of you feel the air going in and out of your lungs when you are breathing? lol I do wheeze some but without a boob there, I feel like I can feel it hear it or something.
It has been over a year since my chemo and I still can't eat baked chicken. I didn't eat it during chemo but some was brought to our house after my MX. I can't stand the smell of it. Still lots of things I want but take a bite and can't eat. My hubby has been great and fix or buy something else. I hate it but it is just the way I am now. During chemo I could only drink one brand of water. The cheaper the water bottle...you know the ones that crackle when you touch them the worst the water tastes. That one has not left me still. I wish my love for Mt. Dew would have gone away.
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I love this thread.... you all are very strong women.... anyone have nipple replacement? I just got my surgery date set and nervous... I am having a skin graft and the skin used for nipples.... any advice or knowledge would be great!
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mom2one~ abnormal bleeding? I'm 42 and it all went away so far.....did you stop menstruating at all?
Foods I can't eat from chemo? Well my MO was very specific about not eating what I liked while on chemo - at all - so I ate all my vices the whole time - I don't think I will ever eat fast food again!!!!
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Very smart sagina! I wish I had thought of that, I would probably be 20 lbs lighter
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Hi,
I had a bad cough while on TAXOL. The doctors treated it as a cold but it was a nasty cough. I think it was an allergic reaction to the chemo.
sagina - exactly the start-up diet. Hope I had thought about it.
MWS- I don't think I'm having an operation for the nips. I don't want to have another surgery. I will do the tattoos, but for some reason, I'm not bothered with it at all.
mom2one- Mymens. stopped with chemo and I am on LUCRIN since. So I can't expect any bleeding at all.
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Gina-i had no trouble with coughing, but I had some shortness of breath in the first half of my rads. i guess my chest muscles were inflamed. Does it hurt within your chest or more your throat?
This is a question for anyone who has flown since having lymph node removal. I am flying to Europe in 3 weeks and am wondering whther I should be concerned about lymphadema. Any one have any issues?
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SusanHG - have you asked for a referral to a LE therapist who can get baseline measurements and fit you for a sleeve??? If not, I would so so soon. Also during the flight make sure you drink a lot of fluids and get up every hour and walk around, raise your arms above your head, etc... That is a long flight and it is always better to take precautions rather then have to deal with LE...
You may also want to check in on the Lymphedema forum, there are some a great ladies there who can offer advise and suggestions to lower your risk.
Have a GREAT trip!
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Susan - I have flown twice since my SNB - a four hour flight to the west coast and a 10 hour flight to greece. I have had no problems. Well, at least not with my arm. My ass, on the other hand, was sore from sitting for that long. I did not take any LE precautions. I am not necessarily recommending my flippant approach, but so far, so good.
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Hi Ladies. I haven't been on the site in a while, but I do come back every once in a while to see "what's going on." I'm 44, was diagnosed 10/08. I've done the chemo, radiation, bilateral mastectomy, chemopause thing. I'm in the final stages of reconstruction. (hopefully) Too many complications to even get started on.
Anyway, just wanted to "introduce myself." I may be dropping in from time to time.
Cat
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Thanks Lisa and Michelle! I think I will at least look into paying a visit to a lymphadema specialist to be safe.
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Checking in girls! Wow, some days this thread moves so fast I can't catch up. So I'll just go with BIG HUGS to everyone!
Got my areola tattoos yesterday-I cried when I stood up and looked in the mirror. They're great. I had "tattoos" marked on the calendar and my daughter (11) asked if I was really getting a tattoo. I tried to explain what they were for, and she just said it was weird. Gee thanks, kid. Sheesh
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Im so glad they turned out so well Burley, hope DH likes them
. gues its more for you though. I have a questions can we drink RED BULL...does anyone know?0 -
Kymn - I only drink Red Bull with my Jagger Bombers 0
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Sagina: I have not had chemo yet. They are still deciding what to do for me so my periods never stopped. I am now having more bleeding 10 days after my last cycle. They are checking me with a sonogram next week. I am also scheduled for a PET scan on the 13th and still have an MRI of my brain to look forward to. I just pray all my scans will be clean so I can continue moving forward. Also getting a new fill on my TEs in 2 weeks.
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Hi Ladies; You all have covered many topics in a day!!
Mom2one,I want to think that the stress that comes with this diagnosis can cause cycle changes. I will say a prayer for you and please keep us posted after your appointment on Thursday.
Kittydog,I have not noticed any changes with my breathing or the sounds so far. Do you have any pain or is this just the sound only that seems different?
Hi susanhg, I have not flown since all this breast cancer business...I do however have some LE in my arm. If I were going to fly that far I would consider wearing a sleeve. If you are a non LE girl I would want to stay that way. It would be worth it( if you don't mind my two cents worth.)
Hi Cat, So good to hear you are ready for the final stage what a great feeling. I will hope that this surgery is easy easy.
Hi gina, I have not had any problems with coughing. Do you have much pollen and allergy related stuff in the air in TX like we do up here in Ky. I want to think it could be that too like the other girls have said. And back to the food topic ....I wish I had taken doughnuts or pastry. I would be a skinny girl!
Burley, congratulations....how great to be done !
Have a great evening!
Kim
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Burley - LOL. I guess nipple tattoos are not in with the preteen crowd, huh? It is good to hear that they turned out well and that you are happy with them. It is amazing how all of this works.
Cat - welcome!
Kymn - i hope the question about red bull is a sign that you arebetter, not dead! I can't imagine why you would not be able to drink it. But I really don't know.
So, my cancer related news for the day - I think my period may be returning. There have been slight signs of it for about a month, but today was the first time since late October that I opened the tampon drawer. I am excited because I really hate the idea of being a 40 yr old menopausal woman and am concerned about the health issues that go with that. However, no period has been nice. I also have not missed PMS boobs and the lower abs bloat that I seem to have right now. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. Figures. My first gyn appt since chemo is Monday. This is either bad timing or perfect timing - can't decide.
I hope you all have a great weekend!0 -
no pain and I have been watching it more since I have an appointment next week. I really think I am just noticing the wheezing before it gets to the point of needing something. My Asthma is cough related. I guess call me a hypochondriac.
Hope everybody has a great weekend. I am feeling kind of down. I hate being broke all the time and then today my nephew was cutting a limb out the tree. It fell on our pool and tore it up. We can't afford to replace it with what we had but we are looking at trying to afford a cheap intex one. I just feel like screaming. Then I had my hubby pick up my Femara. For some reason they charged him $98.00 for it. I was paying $10 with a coupon that expires on the 15. Even without the coupon it was normally a $30 copay. If it's not one thing it's another. I need a break.
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Hi everyone, I've been radiation fatigued and coughing since Monday. It's a dry hacking cough, I haven't been outside since Wednesday, except to go to Rads. The coughing gets worse at night and the force of the coughing sends me to the bathroom with each fit to pee. I told my mom today that I think I might just try to sleep on the toilet, I'm that tired, bet I could. lol.
I've read about radiation pnuemonitis, but it fits so many other symptoms too, and like the RO said it is too early for that side effect, usually manifests 2-6 weeks after rads if at all.
We do have horrid allergens here, but I can't remember having a cough like this for over 5 days before.
Now I have a kind of gross question for those done with rads: does the dead skin flake off? like in the shower? I saw little bitty pieces of something in the shower on my skin that rinsed off.....
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HI sagina, You may want to mention the coughing to your RO again. I think sometimes we have to stay on top of them to be heard. Even if it could be allergy related maybe they could give you something for that cough so you can sleep. And to answer the gross question....yes mine fell off in big pieces sometimes. I had a prescription cream because I burned at the end and it helped.
Kittydog, I don't think you are a hypochondriac. I think all of us are listening and watching our bodies more than ever and we probably need to. I hope you will feel better.So sorry to hear about your pool. Sometimes you do just want to walk in the backyard and scream! I'm sure my neighbors would love that!!
Have a good weekend everyone,
Kim
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Gina- Oh yes! I have huge brown chunks falling off my skin all the time
. It is a good feeling though because I am s \tarting to see my real skin coming through.I slept on my stomach for two seconds yesterday and my boob has been hurting ever since. Can we ever be normal again? Ever? I am 4 days post-rads...
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Kim and Susan, I'm guessing the skin under the arm? or everywhere that there are "polka dots"? and I think what I saw was skin from right around the nipple....I have really pink patches there, not burnt pink, like new pink....oh what a journey isn't it? Thank you all for sharing, and thank goodness for this avenue for us to communicate. I would be sitting at home wondering "is that normal" without all of you.
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Hi there Gina, Yes, you are correct it was under the arm and on the entire radiated area really for me. I did crack under there and I was dark brown and the "dead skin" would form kind of like a scab and then it would kind of fall off or I would peel it off (gross hu?). I completely agree with you it is so nice to have all you ladies to bounce all this crazy stuff off of . BTW: I may have burned more than others too and it did heal very quickly. I don't want to sound scary!!
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kim-thanks for the advice about the sleeve. i think i'll get one just in case....
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I am sloughing everywhere, Gina! Not so much under the arm, but my whole breast is actually getting lighter than my underarm. Looks funny! The nipple is almost normal now...
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