Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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Just checking in with y'all.
I haven't been on heretoo much lately and just had time to catch up with all of you. Congrats to those finishing and those with all the good reports! There are so many SE's and I'm frustrated with the ones that keep on giving! I'm 6 weeks PFC and was so proud to have kept my eyebrows and lashes but...guess that little joy wasn't to be. They all fell out this weekend! Still waiting to see head hair get growing and this happens! Sheesh!
Rads are going well and that board has been very helpful. It led me to be more aggressive and force my RO to change up my program because he admitted it sounds like stray rads were getting to my stomach and esophagus! I am still feeling nausea and kept thinking it was the chemo but it's been six weeks since last Taxol!
So, they are rewriting it (only have 5 of the whole breast treatments left) and meanwhile I have 7 boosts (just to the tumor area).
Make sure to continue to speak up!! I sometimes do not want to bring attention to myself - well that ship has sailed....I decided that if I need to I will scream and yell!! Hope you all will too!
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I've been reading but not posting. Everyone seems to be doing pretty well. That's great! I'm skating through Taxotere with minimal side effects. In 2 weeks will be my final dose. Would love if I could just do it now and be done. Then it's CT scan to check on that lung nodule followed by rads. I've been going out without a cap. It's 70s here in N. CA. I can't recall it being this warm in Feb here. It's usually Jan we get a spring month but never Feb. I sure hope this doesn't mean we are in for a hot summer. Hate the heat, and with tissue expanders, it's even warmer feeling. Hope you all got a lot of love on Valentines Day! X
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I get Benadryl with my herceptin.
Surgery went well, just recovering now.
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Sailorgirl - Thanks for encouragement to be vocal during radiation (which I hope to start in about six weeks). It never occurred to me one might have to be assertive about it.
Skittlegirl - Congrats on making it through surgery! Happy healing.
Regarding our waits for hair to return....
Hair growth priority order: Nose (I should have bought Kleenex stock - jeesh), brows, lashes, scalp, legs, lady-area
Order in which it will sluggishly return: Lady-area, legs, scalp, lashes, brows, nose
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neuropathic itch? That sounds like a nightmare, sure hope not! Is anyone on here experiencing that?
4 rads down, 29 to go. Kind of wishing to bump up my dermatology consult as I have been suspiciously eying my skin, wondering if it too is waiting to betray me.
No hair regrowth here either. I thought there would be something but...nada.
Not feeling ready to return to work yet. Wondering if I should request more time off or just bite the bullet.
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Hope you're getting lots of rest and pain meds, skittle!
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tessu you look awesome with the sunglasses. Wow what a full head of hair! To all that are starting rads good luck. I have a week left. I can't wait till next wed to be done. My family is taking me out to dinner to celebrate the weekend after. I will finally get the big steak dinner I was dreaming about during chemo.
ElTigre I still rub my silky pixie even now. I actually bought headbands over the weekend to try in my hair. I gotta give the mouse grey some cuteness. I was thrilled the other day when someone said I looked about 35. Wow I went from being 45 looking 90 on chemo to appearing younger with short hair.
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Skittle, glad to see you checking in and that surgery went well! We want a full report when you're ready for it!
Well, I'm heading in for my final (FINAL!!!!!) chemo tomorrow. I'm in a lot of pain and the neuropathy is worsening, but it's not as bad as it was at its worst. I think this last one is gonna be rough, but at least I know it's the last time and my body can finally start to recover. (I'll make progress just in time for surgery, but c'est la vie.)
We just flushed my PICC line for the last time, and hubby said something about the supplies. I said I would be happily tossing them and he jumped with, "Don't do that! We paid for those and you never know when you might need them!". Seriously?!? I call BS:
A) most of those were given to me by my nurse under the table. We bought almost nothing of this.
I am not hoarding or otherwise hanging onto my cancer supplies. And that's MY decision. Grrrr.0 -
oh Amy good luck tomorrow. And toss that chemo supply crap. And do the happy dance. You are done gal! Woo hoo🎉🎉
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Don't toss it. Maybe vet places or places in need of such supplies could use it. I'm taking a bunch of unopened supplies to my MO office so she can pass it down to places in need. Never toss things others can benefit from as long as they are sealed. You should see the retail prices of this stuff. You'll make someone's day helping them.
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Skittle girl --best wishes for quick healing! It
C-Amy, congrats on last chemo tomorrow!! 🍾 I was so worried about my neuropathy but am happy to say that it is gradually fading. It took many weeks though so be patient if you can. I am still doing acupuncture- just in case it's helping. Not sure. Shopgal are you still doing acupuncture? What do you think about its effectiveness?
Mn Lisa - funny hair post! I did get my nose hair first. Hope you do, too. Then started seeing lashes, scalp and brows, then lady parts. Still no pitties or legs. Yay for that! I do hair inventory frequently.
Sailor- I lost my brows and lashes right at the end, too. I am thinking that the new ones pushed the old ones out. 😊 My lashes are growing in fast. I even put mascara on today! Not sure why. Guess I just wanted to see if I could. My head hair seems to be slow growing. 😩
Artista- how wonderful that taxotere has been easy on you. Hooray!!
Cajun - if you can afford to stay off work, I would do it. Take all the time you need. Not just for you, but for your fam, too. (Hugs). Did that crud finally clear for you?
Tigre- I am now rubbing my head a lot, too. Rubbing in coconut oil before bed, also. Scalp is dry.
Exercise and Southern and everyone in surgery recovery-I hope your healing is still going well! So nice to have that part behind you, I know.
Hysterectomy for me on Thursday. Then Letrozole begins. 😬.
Blessings to all. 💋
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Lots of procedures and treatments for all....more surgery, radiation, starting hormone therapy, patiently waiting for hair and strength to return.....and not much whinging when we have so much we could whinge about. What an incredible group of women. I am 100% sure that the support we have given each other has helped us navigate this shitty road. Thank you.
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CarolinaAmy - Good luck with FINAL chemo today - hooray!!
Shelly - Hope your hysterectomy goes smoothly and that you recovery quickly. And thanks for the encouragement on hair, I would love it if mine came in the way yours has! (Forgot about pitties - those I could live without.)
Cinque - This group has been invaluable for me and I also share my thanks to everyone. I have learned so much and felt far less alone going through everything this process drags you through.
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Thanks for the well wishes for recovery. Thursday we were supposed to be at the hospital at 9:15am. We dropped the kids off at daycare since the girls didn't have school on Thursday, Friday, and yesterday. We got to the waiting room and waited and waited and waited. At one point, I saw my breast surgeon come out to talk to another family. I also saw my ENT surgeon come out. Both surgeons ended up having surgeries that took longer than expected, so it was after noon before I went to pre-op. They got my IVs started and then my family came back to hang out. My surgeons came in and we went over the surgery plans one last time. Each part would take about 2 hours. Both surgeons only expected me to need a 1-night hospital stay. But with 3 kids at home, I talked to my breast surgeon about staying 2 nights. He was fine with that, he just wanted to warn me that he wouldn't be around on Saturday morning for discharge.
They gave me 2 different drugs before leaving the pre-op room. By the time they wheeled me out of the door I could already feel the drugs taking effect. I remember a little about going to OR, but then just waking up and seeing that it was a little past 8pm. So I was out for about 7 hours. They transferred me upstairs to my room. My family saw that I was settled in and then they left. My husband had to go get our 3 kids. My parents and grandparents left to go get some rest. My nurse called up a clear liquid tray for me since the kitchen was getting ready to close. I was getting more awake, but ended up getting sick from being out for so many hours. The nurses got it and the bed cleaned up. I settled down and slept in between being woken for vitals, medicine, and emptying drains.
My surgeons came by in the morning. My ENT surgeon removed the drain that he had put in. Both surgeons said that their surgeries went well. The ENT surgeon ended up taking out half of my parathyroid since it was 4-5x larger than normal. My BS said that I had a good response to chemo. He found the clip in my lymph node that had been placed during the biopsy. Since the lymph node was now negative for cancer he didn't need to take additional nodes.
I had my follow-up with the ENT surgeon today. He took the steri-strips off and I go back next month for another follow-up.
The pain is okay. The Percocet puts me to sleep, so I double up at bedtime and maybe take another one during the day if I can nap. Today we were too busy for a daytime Percocet, but I did get a nap in before my ENT appointment. I probably am not resting as much as I should, but with a family of 5 life just doesn't slow down enough. There's still meals to cook, laundry to do, dishes to wash. My husband helps, but there is always more to do.
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Regarding hair regrowth - this is what I saw in the mirror today! Can anyone else relate????
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Skittlegirl - Thanks so much for sharing your surgery experience. I'm sending you lots of healing thoughts for recovery. I will still have at least two surgeries to go. My situation, like yours, is also a bit more complicated than just lx or mx.
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Skittle - prayers for a smooth and easy recovery. And you are right, with 3 kids at home, life just doesn't slow down, cancer or not.
sailor, how did you get my picture?
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sailor rest easy
Today is my last whole breast radiation then I start my 5 boosts. I am feeling crispy and under my boob is raw. Ouch. Hopefully no skin will break open. And I am 10 weeks pfc also so here ismy hair porn...lol
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That's a lot of hair for 10 weeks, Shopgal! Looks good!
Octogirl
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Wishing fast healing for skittlegirl and shopgal and exercise and southern and everyone else recoverng from surgery and rads and chemo and SEs and just plain stress of dealing with this bc (((((hugs))))
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Your hair is looking fabulous, skittlegirl! I had hubby electric razor mine off two nights ago. I'm sick of the patchy weird nonsense that looks so much more pathetic than bald. I decided to give it a few weeks PFC to see if it starts coming in a bit more evenly, but I am NOT walking around like a balding man in the meantime.
I am officially one day PFC!!! I kept trying to stay awake so I could celebrate a bit more and talk with my BFF who accompanied me, but the combination of IV Benadryl and Phenergan knocks me on my arse. (I'd just been moved to a bed to get ready for the removal of my PICC line. Hallelujah.)
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Carolina Amy - Woo Hoo! Congrats on your final chemo!!
Southern - So happy for your outcome and glad you're comfortable skipping rads. Your body, your choice in deed. You are one of my BC Battle heroines.
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Southern - Back atcha! My hair growth 3 wks PFC is non-existent. : (
I hope in another month I'll have close to your hair growth. (Anyone else without hair growth PFC wondering if you'll be one of the [very] few who never have hair return..?)
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I'm 5 weeks PFC and might have a tiny bit of growth. I'm sick of wearing hats but I get so cold! Most of the time I have to wear 2 hats.
Starting rads tomorrow. Gulp!
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I'm jealous Shopgal!! That is a lot for 10 weeks!!
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Carolina: I love your picture. Sometimes crawling accross the finish line counts more than sprinting. You go girl.
southern: I think you know your heart and your mind and should get to make the decisions for your treatment. I am somewhat annoyed because my MO acts like I have some say but most of the time I do not feel like it.
We may be a bit battle worn and muddy but dang it we are a kick butt team of fighting women!
I haven't been posting but I try to read every day and say a little prayer for each of you . I picture myself sending encouragement in the wind. Yes even all the way to Finland and Canada.
For those of you with hair growing in. Many of us posted on the Hair Hair thread. I did because El_tigre challenged me to. There was a day where my hair was white and straggly then like three days later my whole head had brown sprouts on it. I wish I had buzzed it because the hair that grew out is lovely but it is interspersed with weird straggly white hairs. I think I posted this if so forgive my post chemo brain fog. I still wear a beanie sometimes because my head is cold but I just can't stand my wig anymore. I could buzz to get of the white stragglers but now that it is 1/4 inch I cant face that again. 12 weeks PFC
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Ok I have finally done absolutely everything I can do to beat this cancer: I finally got brave and wrote an email to the one private cancer clinic in Finland, 500km away. They just answered that the chemo they would have given would have been exacty the same as I got here --- they don't give Perjeta early either, like in the States, nor do they have any trials with the HER2 vaccines. I had been dumping on myself for not asking for a second opinion when I joined these forums and read about what y'all have been given; now my mind is at rest in that respect
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Last Chemo tomorrow! I was wondering if anyone else finishing Chemo is feeling scared? I am happy to be finishing, but also starting to feel anxious. I've been going to infusion center since 9/24, each week they check my blood and give me meds to kill any lingering cancer cells. Now I will get last chemo and echo, and wait 4-5 weeks and then start radiation. I am thankful Chemo is done but on the other hand scared and nervous about not getting any treatment for 4 to 5 weeks. I was wondering if I am crazy?? Why aren't I doing a happy dance?? Every time I think about it, I get upset. I've been looking forward to this day for months, not sure whats wrong with me ....Anyone have same reaction to finishing Chemo or am I just nuts?
I am very happy to say my hair is growing in really good!!!! Gray but I don't care what color it is!!!
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Tessu I so know how you feel. I did the exact same thing about my treatment and Perjeta. I came to the same conclusion. I did everything I could to beat this thing and now I need to live my life with peace and not beat on myself for woulda coulda shoulda. This is a tough disease and we fight it the best we can with what we can. I will say that Herceptin is a very good drug and Arimidex is as well.
tkemp67 It is hard to finish Chemo and be on the other side. I didn't have radiation so other than arimidex and Herceptin I am done. I feel a bit overwhelmed with it all and disoriented piecing my life together. I am sure that many here feel the same way.
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TKemp - You are not alone in feeling this way. I'm going a little crazy waiting for my surgery next Tuesday having finished chemo over three weeks ago. Like you, I tell myself "Be happier - chemo's done!"
On my last chemo clinic visit, my PA told me "Many women feel abandoned when chemo ends" because you've become accustomed to being treated, tested, and checked on so regularly. I'll probably feel this way until radiation starts - and probably the same way when rads end!
Tessu - To echo ExerciseGuru: take it easy on yourself. We all do our best to make it through treatment - you've done a tremendous amount getting through this. <<<TransAtlanticHugs>>>
ExerciseGuru - Enjoyed your photo so much! (I'd post one, but I'm even more hairless than in my profile pic since eyebrows are now gone too.) Thanks for checking in with all of us even though you are finished with treatment. I coined "treatment fatigue" a few weeks ago. Maybe there's an " 'Wait, I'm finished??' fatigue" as well.
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