Starting chemo August 2014
Comments
-
CassieCat, me too, with the hair. I took a razor to my head in the shower right after tx #3, so about 7 weeks ago... I'm more than 4 weeks post final chemo, and still the dark-hair stubble from that shave has not grown beyond what it did the 1st day. It's just enough to velcro to my hats & scarves. I do have some very, very fine white peach fuzz, so fine I can't even feel it (I can see it when the light hits it in a maginfying mirror), and a few crazy white hairs that have been growing all along, some that are like 1/4 inch long now, but they are fine and a weird texture. I hope they fall out & don't come back! I've been taking close-up pictures of the back of my head & see 4 or 5 fine, 1/4 inch long dark hairs, but nothing to get excited about.
With all that crazy stuff going on, my head looks kinda gross, really, but I can't bring myself to shave it again.JustAmy, hope everything goes ok with today's treatment!
Bippy, the RV weekend sounds wonderful! We only have tents & I'm not sure I'm up to that quite yet.
Today will be rad tx # 15 out of 35 (25 full breast & 10 boost). I had the sim scan for the boost set up yesterday, so we will be ready whenever. So far, not too red & not too tired, and more than half done with the full breast zaps. Maybe I will make it all the way through & do the boosts at the end. The only SE now is a very itchy rash on my chest up to my collar bone & between my breasts, but not on the treated breast. RO says it's reflected radiation & the skin on my chest is already sun damaged, so it doesn't respond well. She said to use the calendula ointment that I'm already using on the treated area, along with cortizone cream and to take benadryl. Benadryl makes me sleepy, so I'm only taking it at night. The other stuff is not helping at all. It itches like the dickens! RO said don't scratch it, but that is impossible! It's been over a week and it's driving me batty!
0 -
Hi all.... This is the best round ever so far. Omeprazole early in the morning does miracle for my GI SEs. Boost has soy...:-), MO told me it will be ok twice weekly . Triple positive..It's getting really cold, below 30s....... Brrrrrr...
I'm counting the days too cassiecat. Dec 2 will be the last of my traditional chemo rounds.
Gatomal sorry for the delay.
Justamy hang in there ...
Nurseshark, bless your heart had to get through the induction overnight and sent home...:-( Levi will come on his own pace...:-)
Have fun Bippy...
Catie57, fingers still crossed for minimal SEs.....:-)
Busy again at work, hunting and cold season....:-)
Hope everybody has great weekend!!!!
Stay strong ladies. Hugs to you all
Shirley
0 -
Cassie: I have had the nuelasta shot each time except last time and it works great for me. The reason I was in the hospital and have low counts now is because they didn't give me the shot last time. I had 3 nupagen shots in the hospital which raised the wbc but only for a few days...hopefully I can just get through the next 5 days till the nuelasta shot kicks in.
Hair (or lack thereof )has (for some reason) been the easiest SE for me to deal with. I actually would have hair if I didn't shave it weekly,but it would be patchy...I think I feel in control more if I shave it...there's very little I am in control of with this BC. That Velcro thing really bothers me too. The GI issues bother me much more than anything. With that said...I can't wait to have a full head of hair again!
0 -
Had #3 of 12 yesterday. I feel better the day after treatment than the day before. Must be the steroids. The two days before my tx I was sooo, sooo very tired and slept almost all day on Tuesday and Wednesday. Finally received prescription for acid reflux and it is helping a lot, although it hurts to swallow so they believe my esophagus may be irritated. Will wait to see if it clears up if not they will do additional follow-up. Back does not hurt as bad today -- again not sure if it is the steriods easing the pain. Hopefully fatigue will not set in as bad but I her it is cumlative. Other than that I am pushing, pushing and moving and kicking cancer's butt!
Bippy, love your humormakes me laugh to read your post.
Nurseshark I was hoping Levi came today on my birthday :-). My daughter was induced and it took 5 days for those twins to finally come. Actually she had to go into labor twice, the first twin came and then she closed up as the boy just did not want to come out. They had to induce her again and he finally came out 6 hours later. So she has twins that were born 6 hours apart. They almost took him via C section.
0 -
I have completed 8 rads. Got X-rays this week after 5th rad to make sure all Is lined up. So far what I've noticed most is my nipple pretty sensitive and at night it hurts to lay on that side. That area is tender. A little pink but not much. I'm really really struggling with sleeping. Had a great talk with oncologist this week. She says to rest and give myself a break. Only out of chemo barely a month and in the beginnings of radiation. She said many people can get very depressed during this time because the are done with chemo and they want to feel better and they don't. Many people around us think as we complete a treatment then all is well and back to normal. My MO said we can face side effects etc from all this stuff up to a year or so. She said your not gonna feel 100% right away when your body has been through so much. It was a great appointment with her. Everything I'm feeling and how I described it, she assured me it was normal and also that it will get better, just gonna take some time.
I am supposed to start Arimidex in 3 weeks. Anyone else gonna have to go that route?
I hope you all are doing well.
0 -
StrongEnough, I'm glad I'm not the only one taking pictures of their hair/scalp.
15 out of 35 rads already - so great!Shirley, omeprazole has really helped me too. I take one tablet every morning now and it makes a big difference.
Justamy, I hope the next five days pass uneventfully! I'm glad to hear the Neulasta has worked for you in the past.
Angie, my throat started hurting yesterday, and I don't know if it's chemo-related or not. I'm keeping an eye on it.
Hope50, I will admit that I am very jealous that you can talk to your MO like that. I hate mine. In the back of my head I'm trying to figure out when it's appropriate to seek out another MO, since I can't stand seeing this one. Intellectually, he's been spot on, but I need to be treated like a person. No arimidex for me; I'll be doing tamoxifen though, when the time finally rolls around for that.
My daughter has class at 11 and then rehearsals after lunch until about 6:30pm. I'm going to watch later this afternoon and make some notes for our props people. Helps me feel normal and useful. I'm feeling pretty good overall - my legs ache every day, and my taste buds are off. Water tastes bad to me, which makes it hard to drink enough. I have to add lemon or something to it. I don't want to drink too many sweetened drinks. I had a big salad for lunch yesterday and feel like I need to try and get more fruits and vegetables into my daily diet again. They just don't sound good.
Then again, not much sounds really good these days, but at least I have some appetite and can eat. It could be worse, I know. 5 more days until round #5...0 -
Hope - Thanks for update on your progress and discussion w MO. I am right behind you. One more chemo treatment on 21st. Absolutely dreading it. I feel so weak now, I know it's going to knock me down more. Meeting w RO on Dec 5th. Will do rads and Amirdex to follow. Glad to hear you are doing well.
0 -
Cassie cat= Change MO. I really like mine and liked the one I had in Baltimore. I had to put my trust in these people. I wanted someone I could relate to and could relate to me. This is not a date. This is someone you are looking to for one if not the most important issues in your life. Get some names and make a consult with someone else. This is about YOU!!!!!
I am now having a creepy feeling in my esophagus like something is stuck there. I have tried tums. That did not help. My taste buds are not as off as they were last chemo. I started to drink Boost for a meal. Just to get some protein. It is not horrible. Still doing eggs for dinner.
Hope=Glad you are doing ok. I think our bodies are going to take quite a while to bounce back.Basically,we poisoned them. You have to give time time.
I start radiation on Dec10. Yeah!!! Next round of fun. My BF keeps telling me. Another opportunity to excell in life.
Justamy=Looking forward to having hair too. I am sick of being bald. I only wear scarves and I swear people stare at me. Might be my imagination. I thought I looked like I was wearing a wig when I had it on. So,just gave up. Also,made my head itch.
Everyone I wish for minimal SE. After this journey. I will miss you all. I will NEVER be able to express how much this board meant to me. It was PRICELESS. I wish all health,wealth,and happiness in this lifetime.
0 -
Levi Emmanuel born Nov 14 @211am
5lbs 12oz. 18inches. Doing amazing going home tomorrow:). Note to self if I ever have opportunity to give birth again I'm GETTING AN EPIDURAL 
0 -
Nurseshark. Congrats. Levi is adorable! So happy got you!
0 -
What a happy day! He looks perfect! Congratulations! I can't wait to get these babies out so they aren't getting chemo anymore. Aww, new baby smell is better than new car smell any ay!
0 -
Congratulations and welcome Levi! He is adorable.
Such happy news. 0 -
Congrats Nurseshark! Levi is adorable. Such a pprecious gift from God!
0 -
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nurseshark. What a beautiful baby. ONLY THE BEST!!!!!!!!
0 -
Nurseshark- he is gorgeous! Congrats!
0 -
Nurseshark, Levi is so beautiful! Congratulations. I hope you are feeling okay.
0 -
P.S. Love the hat.
0 -
Nurseshark, congratulations! He is absolutely adorable!! I hope you are doing well. So so precious! Take good care of you!
0 -
Nurseshark - Congratulations! Welcome Levi! Hope you are both resting comfortable this evening after a very busy morning.
0 -
Oh my goodness he is adorable, Congrats NurseShark!
0 -
Nurseshark, well done, Levi is beautiful!
0 -
nurseshark congratulations !!!!!!!! Adorable baby Levi is finally here !! Lots of kisses..
0 -
Congratulations, NurseShark, and welcome Levi! What a beautiful boy!
0 -
Congrats Nurseshark on your beautiful new arrival
The mods
0 -
Awwww!!! Welcome baby Levi. God's precious babe. Love, Jean
0 -
nurseshark, I am so thrilled for you! Levi is beautiful! And, you will forget about the pain if you are blessed with another one!! Enjoy!
0 -
the BCORG aunties are in love! Welcome Little Baby Levi Nurseshark! Glad he and mommy are doing well.
0 -
Back from camping and it was fun. I could only do one leg of the bike ride, had no zip and it was pretty warm out. Still, nice to hang with pals and forget about this chit.
Now, back to reality.
Meet with rad doc tomorrow and have an appt with breast surgeon after last chemo. Am hitting the low point we are all talking about emotionally now, very tough. Force of will only carries me so far now. Meds not working well enough....think it is normal though, trying to be a beast! So hard. My husband is so unbelievable, he reallly deserves some kind of prize. Always there for me, boosting me up, taking care of me, being strong. I know I am very lucky.
I did learn that I am getting Herceptin for a year total, and I think onco said Perjeta too....she thinks I should keep the port and okay I guess I will. She just thinks it will be too much for my veins over time.
Ladies, I too just want the last chemo and surgery done now. I want to get some kind of normalcy back.
catie, me and you on Nov. 21, who else is in the chair with us Friday?
Cassie, I agree with Eileen, though technical skills cannot be denied. Sometimes it is okay to put up with an offsetting bedside manner if the tech outweighs it....my onco is caring and very relatable, and also very technically astute and on top of everything. I got lucky there as there are many arrogant docs here.
Be well everyone, blech to Mondays
0 -
I'll be having my first weekly taxol this fri nov 21 too! Can't wait to see what it's like.
0 -
I'm having taxol number 3 Friday. Hopefully. I have been so sick with fever and a cold. I hope it is gone by Friday. After that just one more!
0
