Starting chemo July 2014
Comments
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Like BoxofRockStars says, Puffin, I do a little gel. I just use whatever he's got. It's a creme gel - brands Axe or Fructis, both at Target. That helps keep it from puffin up on top. I usually spray a little water first and use the blow dryer to keep it flatter. I hate the puffy head! Once it grows out it might be cute. The pixie was really cute, too, but it's getting a little longer now. It doesn't really bother me - I'm just happy to have hair!!
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maiden I hope u feel better. Be gentle to urself and do nothing.
I've always had curly hair. I use mousse or gel. If u do comb it, just spritz it with water to de fuzz and whatever product u have in ur hair will stiffen it up
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Are we 'allowed' to finally let everything catch up with us? We had to put our dog to sleep on Friday, it would have been my mother's 90th birthday, so I told the kids, Gampy would come get her and bring her to Gammy. She would not be alone on her journey and they would love her and keep her safe, until we could see her again. We were all at the vet's for this and fortunately they have a separate room for this, with a comfy padded floor and a blanketed bed for the dog. My husband and I got her 6 months into our marriage, so each child came home to her. We were a crying mess. Today I read some report from 2014, that my overall 10 yr survival rate with HER2 cancer with chemo and Herceptin is 84% and my Disease Free for 10 years is 73.7%. I'm sure I had seen this before, but today, it just knocked the wind out of my sails. I think I am at the point where this is all just too much. I wake up daily so stiff I have to stretch and do little rolling motions in bed for 3-5 min, to even be able to get out of bed, the presumption is this is due to the Herceptin, as I'm 3 months post chemo and haven't started Tamoxifen. I'm just 'down' today.
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kmntwins -- sorry to hear about your dog. It really is like losing a member of the family. At least your dog left this world in some dignity. Our 15 year old lab passed away on a hot day in our backyard while DH and I were stuck at the ear doctor's with our sons for three hours.
I'm having a down day, too. One of my sons with autism has been having behavioral problems since November, and we're trying all kinds of remedies to address them. He seems to be really depressed and anxious (kids on the spectrum don't cope with puberty very well). Well, it's Day #19 of the Great Prozac Experiment, and he still seems really depressed and anxious. I know it can take four weeks or so for Prozac to "work," but I hate seeing him this way.
I'll be re-starting Herceptin on Wednesday, kmntwins, so you won't be alone in that journey. Now that my surgeon finally drained my seroma, I'll be doing my rads sim on Friday. What fun!
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Elaine - re-starting Perjetta - what? Did you not due the 6 rounds prior to surgery or are you getting more? If so, why? Because of the positive node? Did you not have a pCR? What clinical stage did you start at? I'm sure you have told us all these things before, but I can't remember ...
I think dogs know, your dog did what it thought was best for your family. My 11 year old son, is having issues with us 'killing her'. I so hope the Prozac works for your son, the waiting is so hard. My kid's therapist just retired. Although we only use her for emergencies, PTSD for my daughter after a food allergy reaction, and both twins (age 11) after my cancer diagnosis, I liked having her as back-up.
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kmntwins -- that was a typo -- I edited to read "Herceptin" after I realized what I'd typed.
I probably started at Stage IIIa (big tumor with nodal involvement), but they's gone for now. I just have Herceptin, rads, and hormonal therapy left to do now. Ten years of hormonal therapy -- aarrgh!
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Dear knmtwins - I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to your dog. May she forever rest in peace. I am a big dog person and I know how difficult it is to let them go. It's the hardest part of dog ownership. Big hugs to you and your family.
Elaine - I am sorry it's been rough with your son. I sure hope the prozac kicks in for him. It's a fine line with that stuff isn't it? Big hugs to you too.
I am also kind of in the dumps *sigh*. On Friday night kind of by my armpit it was sore so I thought it was the radiation. I felt it and there is something there and now I am freaked out about it. I also have some intense tenderness below my rib cage. Hurts. I see my RO on Wednesday so I will discuss these things with him Whatever I am feeling close to my armpit has really got me scared. I went to get frozen yogurt last night and I burst into tears. I haven't cried in several months. The area that I am feeling is being radiated, but who knows. I am so done with all of this.
Hugs,
Nancy
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Oh Nancy! How scary. Lucky that you have an appointment with your RO on Wednesday so it won't be too long before you get some answers. Hope you feel better soon.
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thanks Elaine. I asked to see my RO today instead of Wednesday. The pain below my ribs is not caused by radiation so I have no idea what it is. My RO felt the lump. He thinks it's fatty tissue and it's not anything. We are doing an ultrasound tomorrow. I hope he is right. I so hate this.
Nancy
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Nancy - good job getting an appointment today and an US tomorrow. No need to go through days of unnecessary stress if you can get things done sooner. Prayers and good thoughts are coming your way. I'm glad the RO thinks it is nothing but is understanding of the stress this causes us and is getting you in tomorrow. Keep us posted!
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thank knmtwins - I had an ultrasound this morning. False alarm woo hoo. The technician (I've had her before-she's great) felt the lump before we startedand said it felt like fatty tissue just like RO said. Ultrasound showed nothing but tissue. My entire boob was checked and it all looked good. I am so relieved. I think I'm going to go eat a Reese's peanut butter cup. I deserve it lol
Nancy
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Good news, Nancy! I'm all about reward eating, so go grab a Reese's for me. (Nothing is worse than grading season. "Hey, I graded another five papers -- what's in the fridge?")
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Thanks Elaine lol I used to be a high school math teacher and I would give partial credit on tests. Took me forever and a day to grade so I feel for you. I loved teaching - yep even high schoolers and junior high, but I hated all the prep and tests/ quizzes to grade. Too bad I can't seem to teach my dogs to behave ha ha
Good luck with those papers
Nancy
When do you start radiation?
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Well, I have my sim on Friday. RO wanted to wait a week after I'd had my seroma drained. So, I'll probably be starting next week.
Yes, grading is the WORST part of teaching. But, it's the only way for you to know what THEY know and what you have to go over again.
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ktwins......so sorry to hear about ur dog. I haven't had any pets.....closest was my kids coming home wiTh some goldfish this summer and I got really attached in a few weeks and of course they died. I did not feel really good so I cannot even iMagine with dogs.
I'm feeling like crap too. 3 wks post surgery and I just feel like a 90 yr old. I hate the way I feel..I hatedthe way I look. And with all the snow were having, I don't even want to venture out, if I could even drive.agh..
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Nancy, what a relief it was a false alarm, have a Reeses for me too!
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Nancy ~ That is great that your "scare" was just that - a scare, but it really good that you took the aggressive approach and went right after it. That is what we all have to do now. My MO told me that vigilance is a big part of our after care. Good job!
Knmtwins ~ I'm sorry about your dog. I know how hard this is. They are four footed family and hold a place in our hearts. Hugs.
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Thank you everyone
Nancy - prayers answered. So glad they did everything quickly!
Dancing - first 3 weeks are the worst! After 6 you start to feel more normal. If you are a side sleeper... life is even worse. Someone on one of the posts said pillows behind you and lean against them, so the underarm area doesn't get all the pressure. Mind you, that is closer to 6 weeks than 3. Just stay well drugged! Muscle relaxers and if your PS and MO will let you, naproxin sodium instead of narcotics around 3 weeks post surgery. Do you still have your nipples? If not, that might be a HUGE part of why you hate the way you look. Put the circle bandaides where you think they should be. I keep reacting to them so I can't but when they were on, it made all the difference when I had a quick look in the mirror. Also, do you still have drains? Once they go, looking isn't quite as bad. I'm HER2, so still have my port, Herceptin infusions every 3 weeks for a year, that still freaks me out, especially in the shower.
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I agree knmtwins. The port is very uncomfortable. My oncologist is letting me get mine out with my reconstruction. That will be my favorite part of that surgery! He wanted it in for three years, but I can't take it anymore. You can't feel "normal" when there's a daily reminder that you're not.
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I lost the toenail on my left little toe yesterday. Just popped off, not painful. 4 months PFC.
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Mags, so sorry and thanks for the warning - but YUCK!!! You know PinkNinja is going to freak! BTW - I'm 4 months PFC, so I'm now freaking. Did you have any idea it was going to happen? How did you know? Yick, Yick, Yuck!
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Mags, kmntwins -- none of my nails have fallen off, but they're all pretty weak. Every time a nail reaches some length, it's guaranteed to break. I should just keep them clipped short.
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knmtwins, LOL! I can't actually see my feet, so I was just feeling a little weird sensation in that toenail. Reached down and it kinda felt loose but I couldn't really tell. Asked DH to look at it and he was so grossed out he wouldn't touch it. I finally was able to reach it enough to give it a tug and it just fell off. I still can't tell what it looks like.
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I've had more trouble with my nails in the last week or 2 than I had during chemo. Haven't lost any, but they're all split and cracking and jaggedy.
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Puffin, mine are the same but I found keeping them polished helped them from breaking off so much and I think the biotin supplement helps too. My DH swears his osteo bioflex pills make his nails grow really fast. I can't manage swallowing those big horse pills.
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Hello Again
) I am sorry to read that some of you are having down days and so very sorry about your dog knmtwins
( that is so sad.. sending positive vibes to all of you and hoping the days ahead are brighter ♥ I loved all your comments about my hair lol... First I wanted to be sure everyone knew that I died my hair... My hair came back completely white/gray 100% and I wasn't having that lol...
- Before Breast Cancer I used to dye my hair but obviously never let it get out of control enough to realize how much gray I actually have.
I do think having chemo does change your hair... I am lucky as I see that I have the amount I do in just 13 weeks since my last chemo. My lashes and eyebrows fell out completely after Taxol and grew in probably around week 7 or 8 after my last chemo. I am still wearing wigs because I am not comfortable with the length or amount of hair that I have so far but soon it will be all me again
) I have completed 24 radiation treatments and will be finished on March 9th after my 7 days of boost treatment. I am looking forward to putting this journey behind me and continuing forward with a new outlook on life as I have since my breast cancer journey began.
Hugs and Love to all xoxoxo
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hello ladies!
First - knm - so so so so sorry about your dog. I have a much loved four footed fur baby, cannot imagine :-(
Had my exchange surgery this week. Seem to be recovering well although I am SUPER CURIOUS what is happening under all those bandages.
Fingers crossed this is the end of this chapter for me. I am looking forward to putting my life back on the rails..
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Nancy just commented in another post I have here at BCO, I wasn't aware that this thread was still going! I have it in my favorite threads so not sure why I haven't been getting notifications BUT... it is sooo good to see all of you guys still posting here! I haven't been here in over 6 months so how are you guys doing?!
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Hey chaos, great to hear from u. Last I heard from u , u didn't know if u were getting a mastectomy or not and u had something else grow while u were on chemo. What happened? I just had my BMX on feb 5. Still in pain.
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