Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
Comments
-
Shopgal you look fantastic! Thanks for your happy, uplifting post
0 -
Shopgirl Yahoo looking good. Glad thing are going well.
I got a little frusterated with everyone commenting on my hair so I tried a shorter pixie wig. Sigh then everyone just commented on my wig.
Onward and upward. I am still in the game. Still struggling with numb hands and arms. They are referring me to a lympedema screening and if its not that they want to try a neurologist to see what is going on.
Its nice to get back to real life though I feel a bit like Matt Damon at the end of "The Martian" This reentry was tough. Everyone just feels like I can go back in at full speed and I am realizing that I need to be kind to myself and work through this on my own time and in my own way.
Everyone keep going ! hope all is well.
0 -
Shopgal - You look AWESOME!! I am so hoping for that look in another couple months.......
Exercise - Glad you checked in, I've been thinking about you. So sorry you are still having numbness, yuck. I hear you on "re-entry." I just wrote an email to a volunteering buddy asking after me, telling her I wasn't sure when I'd be up to getting back to work with the group.
I met my RO today and love him. My hematoma swelling is better than it was, but he and the nurse both gasped involuntarily when they saw it. I chuckled and said "I tried to tell ya...." He postponed my start for radiation treatment from today until at least April 14, hoping the swelling continues to decrease. *sighs*
0 -
Beautiful Shopgirl! Love your smile. I also love to hear updates from everyone. Please check in everyone! Cajun? Carolina?
I'm doing well. Started yoga and am loving it. Very sore though as I awaken muscles I have ignored for many months. Still have limited neuropathy in toes and finger tips. Maybe Yoga will help? Acupuncture weekly, too. I am struggling with eating healthy. I have no willpower. Hoping summertime fruits and veggies will inspire me. I have decided to reduce my work hours permanently to 4 days a week. Feeling good about it. Trying to live life more fully and be present more. Vitamin D is in normal range now and I notice far more energy. Still a frequent mapper though. How about you?
0 -
Had 4/14 Herceptin injection yesterday. My cholesterol has nudged up a bit since starting AIs, but going to recheck in a couple months before doing anything about it (other than maybe cutting down on chocolate and ice cream). For once I got a doc who actually seemed to care about me -- listened, sounded concerned about the chemo SEs that are still bothering me --- and SUPER YAY said I can have the next heart function check by ultrasound instead of the iv-infuusion-requiring radioactice gamma scan!!!
Also saw the rheumatologist: yes the inflamed joints in my left foot are most likely "old friend" vasculitis, which is apparently waking up after being blasted by chemo. The stronger, longer-acting antiinflammatory med she prescribed is already helping, and doesn't hurt my stomach like Naprosyn --yay! Still supposed to keep walking to minimum for a week, but already feeling more cheerful, now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel --- looking eagerly forward to more long dogwalks
No, I will NOT say "it's nice to be dealing with something not cancer-related" --- vasculitis sucks also.I hope everybody has an easy week. Thanks to everybody for posting updates --- it cheers me to hear that others are doing better bit by bit and finishing up their treatments. Sending sympathy and virtual hugs to fellow neuropathy sufferers, looks like mine has stabilized, partial loss of touch in all left fingertips plus right thumb, but so much better than it was with no feeling at all. I'm going to continue the B vitamins for awhile though, maybe the healing has only slowed not stopped altogether
0 -
My left foot pain has quieted down on the new meds enough that I can enjoy moderate walking with my dog again
But the pain in my mastectomy scar and that armpit and inside upper arm have gotten so bad that I need stronger pain meds again to sleep (tylenol/codeine). I had mentioned it to the doc on Thursday, but she said the first post-op check with a surgeon won't be until next autumn, and it's probably "just" scar tissue squeezing the nerves, "so there is probably nothing they can do anyway".
I am discouraged (and husband sarcastic or just bored) that as soon as I get one problem under control, another hurt pops up. I want to shout to my blasted cancer the trendy "curse" from my high school days "F*ck you and anybody who looks like you!" Grrrrrrrr.......
0 -
You're looking great, Shopgal! I'm getting some hair at last but don't have that much just yet. Looking forward to ditching all the hats I've been wearing.
Finished rads last Monday and it's been great not having to go anywhere unless I want to. I've noticed more soreness and fatigue this past week, but the RO did warn me about that so am trying to be patient.
I think a lot of the discomfort is from having to wear the lymphedema sleeve all day and a wrap at night. The PT told me to do that all through rads and for a month afterward. I do give myself every other Saturday night off and tonight's my night off. These things get very uncomfortable after a number of hours and put extra pressure on my surgery scar and rad area. I don't know how I'm going to handle wearing a sleeve this summer. They're hot! And I've never been fond of hot weather anyway. Have a feeling I'll be slacking off a bit more as the weather warms up. Lymphedema really sucks.
Glad to hear that many of you are feeling better and sorry about those having to deal with more issues. I hope we all get back to some sort of normal soon!
0 -
Hello everyone! I've spent the last hour or so catching up with all of the posts. All the hair growth looks great! It is good to hear so many of you completing various stages of treatment and doing well. I'm also sorry for those still experiencing difficulties.
I am 3/4 of the way through my 33 rad treatments and doing OK. I have a fairly red rash on my chest and upper back but the Alra and Aquafor help. Sometimes I also use hydrocortisone cream when it really burns and itches. Rads have also made my TE feel tight so I make certain to do my stretching daily which seems to help. I have had good energy most days but sometimes I just feel wiped out. Got to go with the flow!
My hair is coming back pure white! I actually like it even though it is growing in many different directions. I have stopped wearing scarves, hats and my wig and even went to a client business event sans a head cover! It's very liberating! I too was worried I might get weird looks but no one really seems to care. I do get comments from some strangers (women) who recognize the post-chemo hair growth and that have been very encouraging. This is me 8 weeks PFC.
My very best to all of you sister warriors! Love
0 -
Woohoo Lila-Claire66! You look great! Love your white hair --- and cool earrings!!!
My hair is coming in a patchy salt-n-pepper with a darker brown than it ever was --- used to be "light mousy brown" but have colored it for years. Feels so freeing to not have to keep running to the salon for root touch-ups and full colorings, I think I'll keep this crazy new hair for awhile. With lots of earrings!
0 -
Lila-Claire - Good for you! We're at the same stage of hair growth and you are inspiring me to go hatless in public (as soon as it gets warm enough for that up here). I had been thinking about it and your example has sealed the deal. Thank you.
Luzeelu & Tessa - I join you in wondering when-the-heck this is all going to end! My seroma (swelling after post-op internal bleed) is s l o w l y resolving, but I wonder if I'll even be able to start radiation in two weeks. (That's how long the RO put me off after seeing the swelling.) Hang in there. We're going to make it.... eventually!
0 -
Lisa MN so sorry you have had the swelling and issues from surgery, yuck! The warmer weather here also helped me to toss the headcovers. Hope you try it too!!
Carolina Amy, I've been thinking about you and hope your surgery went well.
Tessu thanks for your kind comments! I read an article about the hair fashion trend in Europe is really short platinum (or white) hair! So I am really fashionable, ha ha!!
Neuropathy is still plaguing me. Especially my feet when I spend too much time standing/walking. It's marginally better and hope it continues. Lisa, thanks for your earlier comment about the research you did about resolving neuropathy. No help out there in the medical field. My MO said it may take a year or more to go away but may never completely clear up. Oh well, could be so much worse!
Love to all
0 -
Valerie you look beautiful! It is really great to hear from you. Lindy I hope you are ok and can check in also.
Thanks gals for all the kudos on my hair. I was scared to post my pic but I really wanted to finally be able for you all to see a face with the name. Wow cancer has really made me braver than I would have been a year ago. I am approaching my year anniversary for my mamo that found my official cancer at the end of this month. I do have mixed feelings about whether it is my actual cancerversary or not. I wonder what we go by? Is it the original mamo, the biopsy, the surgery, the chemo, or for some the end of rads?
0 -
Hi ShopGal and all:
Just popping in to say high (seen many of you on other threads) and to say how much I appreciate seeing pics showing that most are doing well...it is a good question about the cancer anniversary, and one I have pondered myself. I probably would date mine to the day I got my biopsy results. Bad memories.
Octogirl
0 -
beautiful pics Shopgal and Valerie! I hope everyone's rads is going smoothly. I was on lyrica for a neuropathic itch and I stopped taking it on 3/19 and no itch returned. It faded over a few months from my last taxol and I hope everyone's neuropathy does as well.
I start my trial on 4/15/16 for herceptin and possibly a protein E75. We shall see how that goes.
0 -
Today was # 15 (Radiation) Things are going Ok. Did everyone get a sleeve b4 they started rads? My Radiologist keeps talking about it but I still do not have appt. Was wondering if anyone else had a lot of stiffness/soreness in legs during radiation? (knees ankles hips?) Every pain or ache just scares me!
Great Pics Shopgal and Valerie.....I am finally starting to go out w/o a wig some. My hair is approx. 1 - 1 1/2 on top and a little longer in back, really gray and curly.....just so thankful to have hair covering my head........
El Tigre- While you were doing radiation, did they do films almost every time? Trial Herceptin? Protein E75? They keep talking about putting me on Taximofen. (not spelled right) and they have talked to me about a trial drug and I found out that I may or may not actually be taking the drug, it could be that I would be picked for the placebo and never know. I am not sure what to do...I assumed our treatment had been pretty much the same up to this point that we would be on same drugs after treatment. I guess its because I am a lot older than you. Hope you are doing well!!!
Luzeelu - Glad you are almost finished. Hope you are doing well...........
0 -
i had gotten a sleeve late, my 2nd to last rads apt. They did recommended that I wear it throughout radiation but i procrastinated on getting one.
tkemp - they did films every wednesday and no boosts.
Yes a trial for herceptin and the e75. I'm "HER -" but I'm really an HER 1. the rating scale goes from 0-3+. 0 & 1 are HER- and 2 & 3 are HER+. Since I am a negative my standard of care (like yourself) does not included herceptin. This trial gives everyone herceptin and a 50/50 shot at getting a E75 protein, it's like target therapy they have had great success with for people who are HER 1. If it comes back it could come back HER+ for me. Too many damn components of our tumors!
I am on Tamoxifen and started on it a few days after rads. I could have gone on it during rads but the SE might have been amplified so I waited.
I have been on Lupron since last summer and will be on it for another 4 yrs or so or until I get my ovaries out. I'm scheduled to be on Tamoxifen for about a year then switch to Aromatase Inhibitors.
lupron - 5 yrs total
tamoxifen - about a yr
Aromatase Inhibitors - long time....
fun times ladies
0 -
tkemp, I've been wearing the sleeve since around halfway through chemo, therefore well before radiation.
And yes, my legs have been stiff and sore through radiation and prior to that actually. Sometimes it helps to sleep with a small pillow under one or both knees, but not always.
I had films ("images") once a week.
I hope the rest of your treatments go well!
0 -
a pic from last week on vacation at Joshua Tree National Park
Happy Tuesday
0 -
Woohoo El Tigre! Great to see you traveling and enjoying life!
I am also planning a trip for next month, down to Helsinki to visit family and friends and play tourist a bit --- not quite as exotic as yours, but gotta start somewhere! Till then, I've started checking out the museums and other tourist sites in my hometown --- I've lived here over two decades, but somehow have always been "too busy" to visit more than a couple. Time to get up off my rump and LIVE
0 -
hi everyone! It's been a while but I wanted pop back in and see how you all are doing. I'm back mostly at full speed, though the tamoxifen seems to make me a bit more tired. I have a good pixie cut going on and am exercising most days with the C25k app (couch to 5k). I think about all of you every day. Strong women unite
0 -
Hi friends,
I am on #26 rads today and yes I too have had leg pains and jumping especially when I go to bed. Although I am very tired it takes a while to fall asleep cuz my legs won't stop moving! the neuropathy in my feet is slowly getting better, now just my ugly nail-less toes are numb! My hair is growing so SLOW but I read Herceptin slows the growth which I am on until Nov.
Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend
0 -
tessu, have fun in Helsink! A vacation is well deserved/needed for everyone on here!
0 -
Lila-Claire66: Hi! I'm on Herceptin until November, too. My hair started to grow after my last chemo dose the end of Dec. but has slowed to a snail's pace since I restarted Herceptin (the end of January), too. Same with my nails. The Biotin supplement I started a month ago doesn't seem to be helping. However, although my hair is super short (can't even call it a pixie cut yet), it has thickened enough that my head doesn't feel cold, and has filled in with dark brown, so it's now salt-n-pepper instead of just gray (which grew in first). I'll take it! Thanks for mentioning the reason might be the Herceptin. I get Herceptin as a subcutaneous injection into my thigh every three weeks.
Wishing everybody here an easy, happy, fun weekend
My younger son is visiting from college, so mine will be 0 -
Hi everyone!
I hope you're all doing well today!
I had radiation #12 of approximately 30 today...still chugging along.
My hair is growing so slowly too (I'm on Herceptin until October). And, unfortunately for me about 3/4 of my head is white/gray so I look really old with this super short white hair (I'm 44 y.o). I'm thinking that I might go and get a box of hair color and just color it myself to get by. I normally go to my hairdresser for color, but with it so short, it's not really worth it.
I'm getting to that point where I'm getting sick of wearing the wig. And as the weather gets warmer I'm going to want to wear it less and less - too hot. I don't want to walk around with this super short white hair, especially at work. ugh.
Has anyone's hair gotten long enough to color it?
0 -
yep, I colored it w/ the powder Henna coloring. HEHE it's about an inch long. My hair came in light at first then the color returned to it. I had more grey than i strated with but i'll take it
0 -
I tried Clairol Natural Instints medium golden brown and left it on for ten minutes. It turned an ugly yellowish color. I've been washing my hair twice a day and its almost all gone.
I've been going out more and more without a wig or hat. It takes a little courage at first but it gets easier. My wig was getting too hot to wear as my hair grew. 15 weeks PFC today.
0 -
twiggyOR.... The same thing happened to me. It was the golden brown that did it. immediately went back to the store and bought just a regular medium brown and use that and it turned it a little darker and then I went back and got dark brown which ended up turning it to more of a brown color. I believe what I used had No ammonia in it and it was not permanent. it was one that came on after 21 Washings.
0 -
I bought one that had no ammonia and it didn't cover my gray. Now I'm stuck with this strange orangey-light brown-silvery color.
I think I'm just going to go buy regular medium brown and use that. I just want it to be a normal looking brown color for now. I used to have a lovely chocolate brown color with highlights thanks to my hairdresser. Really looking forward to getting back there again.
0 -
hiya edwsmom it's good to hear from you. I got the ok from my mo on 3/30 to use permanent color. I was officially 4 months pfc on April 9th. Just today I had my close friend who is a stylist color my hair using permanent color. She used a level 5 permanent brown color, no golden tones. Here is how I looked before and after. I did notice that I was starting to have darker roots as I found a few hairs that were dark brown at the root and white in the ends. I thought about keeping it grey brown for a bit and letting it turn back brown, but then realized that the crown area of my head was truly grey and was not ever gonna be brown without help. Maybe coloring it will jump start my hair to grow pigment again and keep it brown? Wishfully hoping for brown roots when my color grows out.
0 -
I'm so tempted to color my pure white hair! But I've decided to go natural and am surprised with how many compliments I get. I might try the Henna powder to see what it looks like temporarily.
Had my 28th rad today. I have had a painful burn, rash, eruption on my chest which is on previously sun damaged skin. Oh does it hurt!! 5 more to go
0
