Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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thanks Annie & Lisa for the info. Will get both this weekend. Gotta make the most of the weekend before ac #4 wed.
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An easier day indeed. Loving these crochet hats - lots of color. Very cheery!
Operation Brown Cow is a go! Sitting a bit easier today.
Still at risk of blowing myself up. #prunabomber0 -
Scotland - Thank you again for the advice not to shave. Washed my hair with bar soap & warm water in sink just now and gently rubbed for five minutes. Tons of hair fell out. I'll just do that daily until it's all out: much better idea than risking in-grown hairs.
(For those comparing where you are, I had first round A/C chemo Sept 22, second A/C Oct 6. Each were followed by a Neulasta injection next day.)
This is one weird process. - Lisa
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Hoping port sx went well Grey!
Well good news, my WBC went up yesterday. Done with chemo #3 out of 4. So glad not to be delayed. But, boy was I worn out last night. I'm usually good Thur nad Fri then flat like a lead baloon Sat n Sun. Feeling somewhat ok today. Didn't get much sleep even with Ativan. Had to pee like 7x.
oh and they upped my Neupogen from 5 to 7 to now 9 days. I hate needles.
TGIF everyone :-)
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Lisa: My husband asked if I was going to get my friend to buzz me. At the rate it's falling out, there's not much point. I think I'll try the shop vac. Am attempting to embrace the weird.
To all of you who have posted pictures of your follicle-ly challenged selves: thanks! I was better prepared, and feel a bit more normal because of your excellent company
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I never shaved my head. Not for any other reason other than that I couldn't bear to do it, and hubby got visibly anxious whenever I suggested he do it, then I got too sick feeling to go to the salon, and next thing I knew: it was gone on its own. The lint roller did help. I do have wisps left at the sides that stick out under a hat. Will keep those for a while if I can. And all the other hair in other places? thinner, but still there. sort of aggravating. But I wouldn't be surprised if it left too, after round three
Octogirl
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Day 5 post second round but first round of Adriamycin. My hair, or the fuzz that's left, is starting to feel sore. All the hair on my face is gone, but my arms are still hairy. I still have half my leg hair and half my pubes. It's all starting to thin though. I imagine it'll all be gone soon.
My bone pain is just an ache at this point. So yay! I feel deflated though. Like someone took my batteries. I'm just laying here exhausted but not sleepy.
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I tried the short hair cut and lint-rolling it for almost 5 days after donating my hair. Every time I bathed, I'd get out, look behind me and see a shag carpet on the floor of the shower. I was sick of the hairy palms. Sick of the itchy scalp. And sick of the short hairs stabbing me as I tried to sleep. I really love the clean-shaven feeling and I'm sleeping so much better. I'm glad I did it in stages. I'm really glad I didn't drag it out too long, though. #HairyWookie
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Short hair cut.
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Skittle- Yay! Short hair don't care!
Any of you ladies know what Ipsy is? It is a monthly subscription that sends you 5-7 cool new high end makeup and beauty supplies to try out. Some sample size, some full-size. I'm canceling my subscription. Last month I got a full-size bottle of blow-out gel for my hair. Just got a peek at my bag for this month and it includes eyebrow tweezers, a pumpkin hair mask, and mascara (also a lipstick and face scrub, but still!) 3 body hair related items. So cruel. It's like they are teasing me!!!
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Got lab work done at infusion center. Let me do it there even though haven't started chemo so I pay $0. MO approved a nice discount for me since I am cash with her (she doesn't take my insurance). So yay!
Got picc line out but tape did a # and created a hole so have this thick abx bandage on with the white mesh netting over it. So doesn't feel different, still achy and feels like line is still in. Then there's the port starting to be uncomfortable on my chest from yesterday's insertion. Can't wait until is all settles down so I can have a break before all the great SEs ahead! :S
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Lindy! feeling for you as the Jays are in the 13th inning! At least you're in a box so it will be warmer!
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Hi Arista Im not sure whether to go Picc or Port. I really would love to avoid another surgery so Im leaning towards Picc. Im hoping to be to get my third infusion done intravenously. The closer I get to the end the more likely I will choose picc. What are your thoughts.
Hope the next 24 hours are not to crappy for you. Take painkillers Im all for meds to help with all this crap xx
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Grey.. that just sucks! But you did it and that matters. Let us know you got home safe and dry. We are here for you
Octogirl
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Grey Im not sure what to say I feel so bad for you. Please stop by pharmacy and see if you can get some meds for pain and/or to help you sleep. PS shame on your medical team didn't they go into medicine because they care about people??? Your situation has been made so much worse than it needs to be by these insensitive....well I cant type what I'd like to call them.
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Cinque- I had a picc in until this afternoon but got it pulled after the labs were drawn. Check out my thread I had posted to the fine ladies of the board getting their opinion, since I already had a picc in. I had my port sx yesterday...
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/835455?page=1
But I just saw you are toward the end of chemo so maybe picc. The thing is with a port you can keep for years. Picc you can't, it's not safe to do so and a pita with this no getting it wet. It's more uncomfortable imo than the port I had placed in yesterday. With the port you just need to go in every 4 weeks to an infusion center to get it flushed. If you have a power port in like I do, everything can be done: labs, contract dyes, etc. I have small veins and needles hurt so I have Emla cream to apply an hour before they access the port so I don't feel it and I keep my arm from looking like a druggies. My right wrist is still swollen from 2 weeks ago hospital IV nightmare, and that's not the side where nodes were taken out.
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Wow grey so sorry to hear! Call 911 and get an ambulance to take you there if you can't drive, which actually you shouldn't for 24 hours due to anesthesia. Infection is serious. I just went through 3 weeks of antibiotics and it worked because I moved pretty quick on it. You don't want infection and you don't want to die. Your frustration is talking. What assholes you have. So sorry to hear but you fight and don't let them or any obstacles stand in your way. You and I are fighters in a special category: the category of being alone and 0 help around.
I would also check out cancer society site. They offer free of charge driving you to your appts. I bet they could help you with transportation for when you can't drive.
Good luck and get to the ER by ambulance please if you can't get to urgent care by some other means, not driving yourself! IMO--- xo
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We care about you very much. You are feeling like shit for good reason it will pass I promise you. Get that ambulance now.
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You need to first not be driving and second get seen asap to prevent infection. Don't wait until it happens. I caught mine early and it still took 3 weeks to recover from it. If you have an infection, you cannot start chemo! Don't risk all this. Get it checked NOW, not tomorrow. They will probably give you antibiotics as a precaution. DO NOT TAKE THE RISK OF INFECTION by blowing it off..deep down you do care.
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Hello beautiful ladies!
Wow! Im taken by all the post. I haven't post much but Its refreshing to come to a place where everyone has so much in common and to feel that Im not all alone in this Journey.
Im getting ready for my 3rd round of AC on Tue and 24 hours after I inject myself Neulasta. This week is my off week and I tried to catch up at home and spend time with my girls. I have a lot of the same SE than most of you. I was trying the cold caps and unfortunately they didn't work
I still have some hair but it shedding every second! Im dreading to shave my head but it will happen. (Im just not ready) My teenage daughters are my daily motivation and support along with my supportive BF and my family.I have experienced the ''senior moments" or forgetfulness and I have mixed up my girls lunches or forgot what I was doing , its a weird feeling!
This is a long road and a painful one for all of us , lets keep stronger together and pray for healing.
Have a great weekend,rest and take care of yourselves!
Hugs xoxo
staykarlastrong
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Hi ladies, just checking in. I'm 10 days past my first round of TC. I was amazed at how not awful it was. I felt a bit queasy for about 2-3 days, but I only threw up once. My most annoying symptoms were diarrhea and dry mouth. The dry mouth is still going on but otherwise I feel perfectly normal. My blood work at 1 week out was close to normal, whites slightly down but not enough to need Neulasta. I cold capped and so far my hair is staying put. Drinking lots of water and getting in some exercise every day. If all of my chemos go like this I will be so happy!! 3 more to go!!
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I'm very happy that things are going so well for you Tshire! onward and upward!
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Tonight was the night. I cut ponytails off of my hair and my husband buzzed the rest. It was falling out so fast. I am 2 weeks out from my first infusion. Wow. When ithe goes it really doesn't meas around. I had thick hair and probaby could have waited a couple days. It was getting so messy and he went out of town until Monday night. My almost 2 year old seems ok by also wants me to keep my hat on. My wig will be here on Monday. We tried to prepare her as much as we could.
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Grey - I am so sorry I was deep asleep when you posted this. I hope you sought help (per artista) and are doing better in the morning.
You medical team does not sound like they are good listeners and I'm sorry for that as well. Assuming your port incision got / gets the care it needs, here's a weird tip my caregivers gave me for keeping it dry. It's a kitchen product called Press and Seal. You tear off a piece and seal it around your incision. It works: keeps the incision dry in the shower, when you're traveling.
(For fellow patients whose ports incisions (like mine) have healed, the nurse also recommends it for using over EMLA cream pre-needle insertion. She says it keeps all the medication working, versus bandages which soak up some of the meds.)
Grey - Please reach out to your local cancer society. My local "Pink Ribbon" group here in MN has a wide variety of aid available and I'm hoping yours does too. Your life matters. Alot.
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I'm scared, and I hate this cancer, and I especially hate all the Taxotere side effects, and my lymphedema.
Please skip my whine below, I just had to put it somewhere ---
I woke up with much worse right hand edema --- couldn't even make a half fist because of pain stiffness/swelling. Had to stop compression sleeve and glove two days ago because of small skin breaks in the web between my thumb and first finger, which are healing without infection, but aren't gone yet; from falling asllep with my poorly fitting glove still on.
The numbness in my fingertips is worse and toes are now tingling. I still have another dose of Taxotere in two weeks
I feel ashamed for complaining so much, when so many of you have much more serious problems to deal with, but I am pretty much alone with my BC, and husband still gets angry if I talk about BC issues at home. I had too much Neulasta joint pain to make last Tuesday's psychotherapy session (could hardly even stand let alone walk or think straight), so I guess that's adding to how awful I feel now.
Why the h*ll can't somebody come up with surgery and chemo that just treats the cancer without destroying your body in so many other ways???? Yes, I am "so very grateful to BE alive to complain about side effects", but today that is especially hard
I hope everybody else is having an easier day today than yesterday
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Grey--sweetie, I'm so sorry that every aspect of this seems hard for you. Because I love you like everyone else here does, I'm about to give you a little tough love and hope that you will take it the way it's meant.
You should not have been driving ANYWHERE. It's not only a danger to yourself, it's a danger to others. There are reasons for the medical advice you are given about things like that. If you WERE to be driving anywhere, it should have been driving your ass to a hospital to get those dressings properly taken care of! I know it's hard, I know you feel alone, but it's time to legitimately research the options out there for help. We have offered to help you find them, and it sounds as though you're in a populated city where there certainly would be groups like this. This IS your choice, as the nurse rather bluntly said. You need to choose to find the services available and get them for yourself so that you will beat this thing. There's a little bit of this (not as much a percentage as there should be) that is up to you. Fight this, and we will help. And please hear my heart behind this.
Tessu, I'm so sorry. Edema and neuropathy are miserable and nothing to take lightly. And sometimes it's expected that we should just be so grateful to survive that people lose sight of the fact that the process is indeed miserable. If the symptoms were an actual illness, they would be taken seriously and treated seriously. Isn't it odd?The head-shaving thing is interesting. I wish we had more guidance on the process. I'd gone straight to a 1/4" buzz from my long hair so that I could donate it, but based on what y'all are saying I think I went too short too fast. I did lose a ton on day 20, and then hubby shaved it down with his electric razor so it would be less patchy and weird. But I wonder if the reason all this stubble is sticking around (and annoying me) is because I went early before it all fell out from the strain of hanging on. If it's gonna be bald, I want it to be bald, not this "legs that were shaved two days ago" thing that just makes my knit hats stick to it. How genuinely bald--as in smooth, no-hair areas--are y'all??
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Greytmph---American Cancer Society will help you find the cancer assistance resources in your area. Their phone number is available 24/7 year-round. (800) 227-2345. Please call them.
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That's awesome Tshire!!
I'm doing ok now first few days I was achy, tired , basically flu like symptoms. Now constipated 😩.
Hair still there ! My head does fell itchy, not sure what that means. Oh well.
The one thing that does bother me is a constant headache. Anyone have that? I do have epilepsy, so that might have something to do with it. Idk
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Shout-out to Tessu - The edema sounds miserable, yuck. Hang in there, lots of good thoughts coming your way.
CarolinaAmy - I too wish I had more guidance on hair-loss. Thought I was handling it pretty well: buzzcut day before Round 2 last Monday got me accustomed to almost-no-hair look.
Yesterday's sink wash got rid of a fair amount. Problem this morning: remaining stubble now hurts like heck! Augh. I'll try another sink wash, but not looking forward to the pain. GO AWAY ALREADY, HAIR!
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Whoa! Just tried vacuum cleaner on low setting with upholstery brush on my sore scalp. Used it very gently, no scrubbing, just gentle brushing a bit away from head.
It worked! The cool-air draw was surprisingly soothing and I assume loose hairs were sucked up. New routine until it's gone - give it a try if you're frustrated (as I was) with remaining stubble bein' stubborn/painful at this point.
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