Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?
Share with us: What are your proudest moments of 2024 and personal goals for 2025?
Take our poll: How are you feeling as we near the New Year?

Who is starting chemo in September 2016?

1…2930323435…63

Comments

  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270

    Ware.... You had 3 periods in one month?

  • vlh
    vlh Member Posts: 773

    Good grief, Ladies. What's up with the periods? If I get one more than a decade after menopause, I'm running away from home! 8-x

    Lyn

  • Ware
    Ware Member Posts: 63

    Yes. One month. 3 times. Sat. I started for the 3rd time. I go to MO tomo so I will ask him about this. But then he told me to use 2 condoms to be sure not to get pregnant so Im not putting much faith in his gynecological knowledge.

  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270

    VLH..lol...no period for a decade you better run away..lol

    Ware...wow...i am complaining about having one period a month..sorry lady...pls let us know what your MO says.

  • Dennyj
    Dennyj Member Posts: 84

    Ware....I moaned and groaned about the 1 that I had last week. I will never complain again! I laughed when I read your 2 condoms comment. Very interesting!

  • smilethrupain
    smilethrupain Member Posts: 133

    Ware, chemo has not touched your sense of humor :)

  • AngelaKS
    AngelaKS Member Posts: 67

    I saw MO today and she wants me to return to the clinic on Mondays after my treatment on Fridays for fluids and such to try to prevent me from getting so sick. I am getting bald spots but some is still hanging in there. Honestly, I wish it would just go. I showed my husband and daughter (15) and my daughter said, well that is different. It was kind of funny, but as my son (9) does not want to see it, I wear some kind of scarf or hat all the time, even while sleeping. I want to respect all their feelings. My husband keeps saying he didn't marry my hair but still...

    I am finally feeling better! Thank goodness for that. I hope y'all are doing okay and hanging in there.

    xoxo

  • vlh
    vlh Member Posts: 773

    AngelaKS, I hope the early intervention stops the problems before they get fully in play.

    Lyn

  • AngelaKS
    AngelaKS Member Posts: 67

    VHL thank you, I hope so too!

  • CC2016
    CC2016 Member Posts: 94

    On the period threads - especially the 3x/month - it might be time to contact your OBGYN. At least a nurse call to get some kind of answer or set the ball rolling for one. Gyn Doc will still be the best source for Gyn questions even during treatment, especially when you get a vague answer from the MO (who probably googled what to say).

    I went in for my annual last month and she was the one who brought up having an oophorectomy after treatment is over. MO still hasn't mentioned it but she acted like it is pretty much par for the course, even with a negative BRCA. Got a few more months to see if that comes up.

    Just sharing head cover wise. I found these on amazon - great price, pretty comfortable - still wanting to find something that I forget is there, pretty sure that's not going to happen. Really is one size fits all - on the large side but you can tie them as tight as you'd like and they stay put. Actually haven't untied them after the first time, just slide them on and off now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WLGAKOM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

    Stupid hair story: was weeding the front path, enjoying the low humidity and (finally!) comfortable temps, sunshine, getting my vitamin D...and get stung by a wasp. Just above the hairline on my neck, just below the cap line. Can't help but think that wouldn't have happened if I still had my hair and not the peach fuzz that is now there. Way to wreck a moment. Bright side, at least I found out I'm not allergic to wasps.



  • lmencken
    lmencken Member Posts: 77

    Thanks Nayda and kd...Waze. .wow..3x.ugh..Guess all our periods can be wacky!

    Mrs.mouse..I hear you about gaining self confidence in weird ways...I still WONT look at myself in mirror without a head covering however I go-to grocery store woth a hat where my side burns and back of head ook all thin. I only wear wig to work..it's itchy and annoying! Plus the wind blows amd it gets all messed!!!

    I too wear a hat to bed..my head is soooo itchy and I must have itched alot..my hat was full this am!!! So I know I have bald spots now! Cant look yet...didn't realize I'd be a.wimp about that but one hill at a time.

    THdaily..My metal mouth helped eating and drinking cold like jello..pudding..but had alot of food aversion and while I want to eat healthy..I eat what I can some days. I also exercise when I can...it makes me feel good ..and I don't beat myself up on days I come home and just nap!

    Welcome to the new ladies..

    This journey is a Rollercoaste for sure..hang on during the dips and ride out the better days with our hands up!!!!

  • smilethrupain
    smilethrupain Member Posts: 133

    AngelaKS about your son not wanting to see the buzzed head. My son who is 9, also didn't want to see it, until he saw by accident. Then he asked me to look at it - he was like "you remind me of someone" and that is when I told him "yeah, I remind you of you; now that all the hair is gone, you realize how much you look like me". He smiled, and seemed a lot more relaxed. Since then, he has been more curious then anxious, when he sees me without a cover. He said yesterday that now that he was used to me bold, it looks normal. To me, I look nothing like normal: Ive had and maintained hilighted brown hair, now I have a grey buzz cut. What surprises my son most is how grey my hair actually is ... So, perhaps your son might come around. My 4 yr old thinks it's fun to point to my bold head and say "hi, boldie" - and Im ok with that too, cause she is all smile and she thinks it's fun. I'd rather they are having fun than are traumatized.

  • AngelaKS
    AngelaKS Member Posts: 67

    Thanks Smilethrupain! I hope he will come around too. He doesn't say much but they have been through a lot the last year and a half. I've had many health problems and it is hard on them. Your kids sound amazing :)

    xoxo

  • vlh
    vlh Member Posts: 773

    CC2016, thanks for the cap link. My friend, who is the one who recommended my oncologist, surprised me with a couple of hats that she wore during her treatment for ovarian cancer. I also bought four baseball caps, but was browsing beanie-style caps at Amazon and TLC.

    Lyn

  • Ware
    Ware Member Posts: 63

    Well the MO said 3 periods not from chemo so they made me an appointment with my gyno. I go next week. I swear if there is something else wrong with me.... But the MO did say that after my next treatment next week (half way) I switch to Taxol and he said he considers me 80% done and that usually SE are less with taxol and because I don't really have any SE he would expect little if any from the taxol. That made me happy because I was worrying about the change and SE.

    Smilethrupain I have to stay humorous through all of this, don't know how'd I make it if not. We laugh a lot here and find humor in most things. Losing my boobs and hair has left the door open for a lot of jokes...

  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270

    Ware....your right we gotta laugh to keep from crying lady...I know I do....I wonder what your gyno will have to say about that..b/c if you have never had 3 periods in one month..then I think..(I am not a dr.) but....the chemo has contributed to that if its never happened before right?

    I have a dozen questions for my MO on Friday...one question has to do with...before I started treatment my onc said that when I started chemo I would feel a difference in my breast and I have had 3 chemo treatments and my breast feel the same..it is still hard on the bottom and my nipple is still inverted...no change...kinda got me worried that the chemo isn't working....the only thing that has changed is that, the breast pain has stopped since chemo.

    Are any of you ladies feeling changes in your breast or can you feel that your tumor is shrinking since you started chemo??

  • Dennyj
    Dennyj Member Posts: 84

    Nayda-I don't feel any changes at all and I am praying the chemo is working.

    Finished my second round of chemo today. 4 more to go. I am hoping for a better outcome this time. The last round was pretty rough on me -


  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270

    Denny...I am praying too!.....I hope you have minimal/no S/Es lady...I know how you feel...that last one I had was very rough on me...I am dreading my last A/C this Friday...I told my husband I don't wanna do itBawling...lol.

  • Dennyj
    Dennyj Member Posts: 84

    nayda - you are going on your last one!!! That is great!!! Thanks for the good wishes. It would be ideal if this one is a little easier!!! Hang in there, you got this!!

  • nayda985
    nayda985 Member Posts: 270

    Yes 1 more A/C treatment...then 12 Taxol weekly Treatments...I pray they are milder than the A/CLoopy

  • BeachBabyK
    BeachBabyK Member Posts: 148

    Nadya - Yes! After the first round, it was obvious it had shrunken by about half. At my appt after the 2nd round, neither me or the Dr can find any sign of my lump with a physical exam. I won't be having a mammogram or other type of exam in the near future to check, but the treatment is definitely working for me. It certainly gave me peace of mind, especially knowing that the cancer was pretty aggressive.

    Also not sure how many people might be affected, but if you have hormone positive cancer and have an IUD, you may want to see if it has hormones. If so, you may need to get it replaced. :-|



  • HopefulYogi
    HopefulYogi Member Posts: 38

    so hard to keep up with everyone one here!!

    Those of you that are starting your second treatment already --- did you have an almost normal last week before treatment started again?? I'm on day 13 (of 21) of 1st treatment and other than getting tired easily and the remnants of this voice/allergy issue, I don't really have any chemo SE's left to complain of right now. Have a big wedding coming up this weekend and some other fun plans , so I'm really hoping to coast thru this last week!!What'd ya think???

    Best of luck to those in treatment this week and may your SE's be gentle❤️

  • Sam13
    Sam13 Member Posts: 49

    HopefulYogi - Emily is on day 15 of 21 after her 2nd infusion and she is doing great. The SE's pretty-much followed the same pattern as the 1st round with the last week before the next chemo treatment being fairly normal. Glad you are feeling good. Keep it going, you got this!

  • hahlyn
    hahlyn Member Posts: 128

    Hi All,

    Second treatment of TCHP today. To ward off hospitalization again my oncologist scheduled fluids twice a week. Praying that helps.

    Hopefulyogi - literally I didn't start to feel good until 5 days before the 2nd treatment. I would have what I called "magic moments" where I felt decent for a short amount of time. Then as magically as they appeared they were gone. Lol.

    I'm hoping for a better go of it this round but certainly nothing worse.


  • HopefulYogi
    HopefulYogi Member Posts: 38

    Thankyou Sam! Glad Emily is doing well right! Enjoy every moment! She's lucky to have you by her side.👫

    Thanks hahlyn. Sorry you only had 5 days of magic moments. I'm hoping you have many more the next round! 💗

    I'm being proactive and made an appt for Saturday to get buzzed and cut/styled in my new wig! 😳 I haven't really lost much hair yet, but Saturday will be day 16 and my daughter will be home from school, so it just seemed like a good idea. My hair is naturally thin & fine so I'm sure it won't take long once it starts going anyway. I'll get to start the new week on Monday with my new ( but hopefully not TOO different) look 💁🏻. Yes, I'm still trying to convince myself I'm ok with this idea!We'll see if I can be as brave as the others and share a photo of this experience.

  • LynnC1968
    LynnC1968 Member Posts: 18

    My hair is coming out pretty good now too. It's day 14 for me. I am hoping to get through the weekend since my son is coming home from college this weekend too. My hubby is going to shave the rest on Sunday. For better for worse lol!!! I have my second treatment coming up next Thurs. I was pretty lucky with the 1st one as far as side effects go. Hopefully the 2nd one is the just as easy on me. Prayers and good thoughts for all of you fighting this battle!!!!

  • Ware
    Ware Member Posts: 63

    I just had a humorous moment with myself I thought I'd share. I was reading another discussion topic on the discussion board and the writer was Denise and someone wroteDenis, which led me to this thinking...."hey I've noticed that all the people on here are women (except Sam writing for Emily), and I started to look to see if this was a women's only discussion forum".....and then I remembered that it is women who have breasts (not saying men can't get breast cancer)....and I had to laugh at myself because duh.

  • CC2016
    CC2016 Member Posts: 94

    Feel good story... was at infusion #3 this morning (not the feel good part, at all) and there was a lady there on her very last treatment after the year of herpecin. Made herself a last treatment poster (almost felt bad that there were only two of us there to celebrate with her ) and just about jumped out of the chair when her timer went off. And she had hair fully covering her head! Actually was complaining that it came back curly and won't straighten for anything - it used to be a light wave she could brush straight. And was talking with her companions about her surprise birthday party tomorrow (hopefully there will be some kind of surprise when she gets there since it sounds like she planned much of it!) helped me a bit since if I stay on schedule my last treatment will be on my birthday. #2 was not, #3 was, here's hoping #4-8 is

  • AngelaKS
    AngelaKS Member Posts: 67

    That is a great story! I cannot wait until I am done as I am sure all of us feel. :)

  • NotTheBoss
    NotTheBoss Member Posts: 52

    Today is day 17 of 1st treatment, or day 3 of 2nd treatment. I shaved my head this morning. I could pull out hair each time I ran my fingers through it, and thought that there's no way I'm going to be able to wash and dry it without it being a mess. I started it and husband cleaned it up. I think he felt worse than I did. I'm more curious about what my bald head will actually look like. That will change, I'm sure, when I have to go out in public. :( I have beanies and scarves lined up, but no wigs, other than my Halloween one, which I'm having second thoughts about.

    Feeling like I have the flu, but otherwise reasonable. But my head is already really cold! Gotta break out the hats, I guess.

    Have a good day, everyone!

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.