Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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Scotland the chemo weight will come off fast. I lost 12lbs in the 6 weeks since last chemo. Clean eating and gym with treadmill and elliptical helped. Walking is great esp if the weather is good. Went for a walk today to get outta the house after the huge snow yesterday. That and shoveling helped sweat out even more post chemo crap and rad treatment tiredness.
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So many positive entries! Yay! Good luck to all with surgeries and rads this week.
In the garden that is Shelly's body, the nose hairs are starting to sprout. This was pretty exciting for me but when I announced it to my husband, he was not really impressed.
. I also notice very fine cheek hair beginning to show. No eye lashes though. 😕 I am now 5 weeks PFC and will get my scan results on Tuesday. It is nice to see so many of us moving forward and others are very close to finishing chemo. Hang in there! PFC feels really good.
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Hi Hippi! Welcome to BCO, and glad you found us!
We too are wishing everyone much love and good thoughts for All receiving treatment this week!
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Regarding immunosuppression after chemo: I called and asked when I was 3 weeks PFC, because my white cells had always normalized before every dose. Doc said even if white cells come back up, they consider the immune system to remain weak until about 5-6 weeks PFC. At the moment there is a lot of infleunssa and other resporatory viruses going around town; she advised me to wait awhile before hitting crowded places like the music center or movie theaters or stores at peak times. I had gotten a flu vaccine in the middle of chemo, but doc said it probably doesn't give enough protection. I meet with (yet another different) oncologist tomorrow for today's blood test results, an AI prescription, and the re-start of Herceptin. I have to remember to ask about Herceptin immunosuppression, and also whether a second dose of flu vaccine would help.
Wishing everybody who's moving on to rads a very easy time. And wishing everybody still doing chemo --- or moving on to just Herceptin --- the least side effects possible
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SouthernCharm: Are you having your surgery during your Herceptin treatment? The junior oncologist I asked about prophylactic removal of my left breast said I would have to wait until my Herceptin course was done (late next autumn)plus 4 - 6 weeks. I'm wondering whether that might be because I'm so much older than you (almost 60)?
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Tessu I'm still being careful at 6 weeks. Can't hurt to be extra vigilant.
Shelley I had face fur too. And on the underside of my nose. Yuk. What the heck is with that? I did take it as my inner nose hair was returning. Nose hair is a good thing. My nose still runs but not constantly.
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Carolina - Adorable pic!!!
Cajun - I hope your little munchkins get over that flu bug! Has the taxol pain diminished?
InSF - Thanks for the articles. I got alot from the Tamoxifen vs exemestane study.
Exercise - so jealous I can't wait for my TE swap!
Shelly52 - I have a nutrabullet! It was a gift and I couldn't us it much since when I was on chemo and wanted to avoid any possible illness due to not washing my veggies i puree in it. I love it and it's so easy. I have a juicer too but the nutrabullet keeps the fiber from the fruits we puree, where the juicer does not. BUT I love juicing ginger for anything, from tea to smoothies to cocktails (pre-cancer DX). I need to start wheatgrass shots pretty soon I hear it is very good for you. I'll have to check if I can do it during rads.
I have not had the conversation of tumor markers or scans to follow up my treatments yet. I will post what she recommends when we meet with our MO again.
I believe this is the study. The team who proposed this to me worked out of Houston.
HAPPY MONDAY!
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Tessu, I will be receiving a Herceptin infusion tomorrow, and my lumpectomy and SNB is Friday . My MO said it wouldn't interfere. I'm 52 and don't think age is a factor. My MO told me that's important not to skip a beat with Herceptin, so I'm thinking that maybe it has to do with recovery time. With a lumpectomy, my recovery time shouldn't interfere with my next infusion in 3 weeks. But then again, one thing I have learned the past few months is that our doctors are so different when treating us.
Thanks everyone for the well wishes for surgery this week. I am so nervous!
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My MO said that I would not be immunocompromised while on Herceptin.
For surgery, he just wants to make sure I am not in the hospital following surgery when I should be getting a Herceptin infusion. My MO said I could have surgery the day after Herceptin and it would be fine.
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El Tigre - great link about estrogen, I had been looking for more information about estrogen causers, thanks for sharing!
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Hi Beautiful Warriors!! Its so good to hear most everyone is moving on with all treatments,surgeries and rads.
Im 4 weeks past last chemo treatment, I'm feeling less tired and I have resumed my power walks/runs in the mornings. Im awaiting on bilateral mastectomy surgery date. Has anyone here has had a bilateral mastectomy? please share!
keep up the great spirits and blessings to all !!
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I had BMX last Aug. It was an easy operation for me. Not much pain. The only thing was the last 2 drains didn't come out until 5 weeks later so that was a drag. I'd say chemo is a bigger pain in the butt than the sx was. Good luck with it!
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Greetings!
It's 1:00 in the morning and I can't sleep. 😕
Staykarlastrong - I had single mx but with diep abdominal surgery. I would take surgery over chemo any time. The drains are a pain but the chest recovery goes quickly and the pain is manageable. It's scary but over before you know it. There's a good feeling that comes from removing the bad tissue and moving on. Good luck to you!
Anyone want to talk about arm pits (pitties, as my son called them when he was young) (it stuck). Have others noticed minimal sweating and no odor since hair loss during chemo? I haven't worn deodorant in weeks. I still have no pitty hair but I think I am starting to perspire more so have been applying deodorant - just in case. This raises the question of safe deodorant. I wear Dove. Are you switching to a natural deodorant? I plan to ask my MO about it but am curious what you are doing. I'm not sure it's proven that deodorant has relevance to breast cancer but who knows?
It's a nice change to talk about pitties instead of poop, don't you think?
S.
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Shelly - I am not aware of any specific evidence regarding deodorant / anti-perspirant and cancer. That said, I am not using any aluminum based deodorant because of the lymph node removal. There are concerns about using chemicals in that area because of reduced lymph drainage.
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Shelly, yeah I've noticed less sweat but I still had some pitty hair
When the time comes to wear deodorant I'm going to use an all natural (non-aluminum based kind)
Staykarlast - I also had a BMX last August. I had tissue expanders put in. The worst part was the drain like artista said. My lymph node one (left arm pit) came out after 3 weeks. Better to leave it in longer than take it out early and have the docs drain that area. Are you having TE or DIEP?
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hi ladies! I am 7 days PFC and caught the flu from my kids, boooo. That is somewhere between the worst day ever and the gates of hell. But, the chemo pains are fading, now I am just sick.
Thinking about all of you heading into surgery!
Staykarla, my bmx/snd/and was easy. I had the drains for a little over 3 weeks.
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I don't use regular stuff on my skin anymore. I do have some odor under my arms. Part of being Iranian I guess. :P I posted a thread on deodorant and what all natural stuff really works as it's really hard to find something that does it for me.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topics...
I'm also big now on soaps on my skin. These folks have THE softest best soap around, and I've tried a many! I use the charcoal soap for clarifying like you do on your hair from time to time. They have purity soap with oatmeal as a scrubber and it's awesome. The castille soap is awesome, very lotion like.
If you are ER+, they do have soaps that are without soybean oil. These are the essential oil ones. You don't want to get fragrance oil ones. And the soaps last a long time! I love that they are fam based. Love helping support small fam biz.
https://goatmilkstuff.com/Soaps
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those look so luxurious Artista! (goatmilkstuff)
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Anybody who had the 12 week taxol regimen: Did you feel increasing fatigue even 5-6 days after infusion?
I've started falling asleep during my infusions, taking naps on my "bad" day (Saturday), and after trying some Rum cake I have been absolutely tired. Swimming helps get my blood flowing. I wonder if I need to get up and walk around every hour or so. I think I'm a little more worried that I've caught my son's cold again. *sigh* 8 days until my last infusion.But who's counting...
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They are El Tigre! They've been on many shows. They have some shots of these on their sites. Every kid does something in the biz, after home school. They have great customer service and so very nice too!
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OMG they have cheese & fudge!
I just might need to order some with my charcol soap
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Because it's made from goats milk, the fudge while very tasty is on the soft side. I haven't tried their cheese yet. I heard their caramels are good but it's a little pricey. I'll wait until they send a coupon code in their newsletter.
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Yum! good plan
Whoa yeah $12 for 8. Maybe a coupon code, they'd make a great Valentines day dessert.
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DLcygnet - I'm right with you - today I had weekly Taxol #11 out of 12. One more week and I'll be PFC!
After my Tuesday infusions, I'm amped by the steroids through about mid-day Wednesday. Fatigue flattens me mid-day Wed and lasts about 24 hours. By Friday I'm starting to feel conscious again. Have your providers mentioned the Taxol fatigue being cumulative? It has been for me. Like you, I've found exercise helps a lot. Good wishes for fighting off the head cold and congrats on being so close to finished!
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Yay MN Lisa for #11 Taxol! I had #10 today, reduced dose and reduced steroid too along with Perjeta and Herceptin. So just two more Taxol then one last Perjeta and I will ring the bell in 3 weeks.
Yes DLcyngnet very tired all the time from Taxol. Usually nap 2 hrs everyday I can.
The reduced steroid was due to my blurry vision. didn't know that was the culprit. I can't wait to see normally agai. I have to carry strong readers and a magnifying glass everywhere!
Shelly52 re pitties (ha) I have just used powder at this point. I want to try to product mentioned from piperwai.com as it's hard to find all natural without aluminum. I have switched to all natural lotions, make up, shampoo etc through "100percentpure.com" I love the products and feel good about the ingredients.
Staykariastrong - I agree with posts about MX or BMX, not too bad. I had MX and only too pain pills for two days then Tylenol. Drains are a bit of a pain but mine were out in a week. Do you exercises to stay limber but Do NOT overdo. I did after a week and had severe bruising. It did clear up.
End of tunnel, yahoo!!!!
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Lisa, the Taxol was definitely cumulative for me. I'm 2 weeks PFC now and still feeling wiped out. Tired most of the time and my legs and back are still achy and sore. Also waiting to lose more fingernails (that's from the AC), eyes are still runny and I remain a bit congested.
I wish I could exercise more. Had a follow-up appointment with the surgeon today and got way too much exercise hiking back up my steep snow-covered driveway. Had to stop a bunch of times since the snow was still 8 or 10 inches deep, plus I was carrying a few extra items. Had to lie down for a while.
I'm running out of patience to start feeling better and I know they're gonna want me to start rads soon. Dealing with lymphedema is yet another indignity.
Sorry to be so cranky! Yearning to feel better...
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piper wai comes in a jar. It's like soft clay. You rub it in. I like the mild herbally scent myself.
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Just found this on the Web but Heck yeh!!!!
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exercise LOVe the tunnel!! Yes, that's how I feel!
Luzeelu - Cranky-are-us, it's 0K Cuz we all have those days. I am annoyed that my right thumb nail is listing an now looks like my left is going to as well. Boo hoo
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