Who is starting chemo in September 2016?
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Nayda and Smile - Kinda tried to block the whole drain business out... Only pain I had was once after stretching too far which pulled on the glue, then later when one of them was removed by the BS nurse. Mostly they just got in the way. I also had a home care nurse to check on the incisions, change the dressing and measure the drain output. Wasn't allowed to shower until they were removed. (If you can't, both Walgreens and Walmart have some good cleansing towels.) Luckily I got the drains out after a week. Washed hair in the sink with help.
Speaking of hair... I agree that it should grow out as fast as it left the scalp! At first most of what was growing was white (had a few strands here and there pre-chemo, but not noticeable). Now I have a fine sprinkling of darker hair coming in up top. I can feel a difference from last week, so I guess it's growing fairly quickly. Just has quite a ways to go.
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Hyatia--That's what my hair is doing as it's coming back. It's white and sticking straight up on the top. Sides are dark, back is mixed white and dark. When did you finish chemo? I finished on Friday and have been seeing hair growing back for the past 6 weeks or so. I'm glad there is hope that it will come in as something other than white fuzz. Our hair can never grow back soon enough. I told someone today that I would have rather had worse side effects from chemo than lose my hair rather than the opposite.
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I've had a bit of hair throughout chemo - just straight random hair sticking straight out. During taxol I kept thinking I felt new growth coming in and then it was gone and then more came and then the darker original hair disappeared. It was really weird. Anyway the peach fuzz has finally started filling in which has been encouraging, just no color. Until yesterday morning there was darker strands. And today even more. But in the hair that was already there it suddenly changed color. Just so weird. But it's coming back! That's a win in my book
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seq24 - Friday will be 8 wks PFC. Have a lot of very light or no color hairs with the new darker spots so the overall look is a blurry colored fuzz. Weirder than the color is that under the occipital bone, there is very little hair at all. It goes from fuzz to practically nothing. As insane as it may sound, I've been more vain about losing my hair than my breasts.
CC2016 - Any hair (on the head) is a total win!
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Update--After 5 days of extreme worry, I had the ultrasound today that was ordered on Friday, due to some changes I had noticed in the breast I had surgery on. I was very worried, based on the urgency of the ultrasound, and from the reading that I had done, that this was the start of a new cancer. Thankfully the ultrasound was normal and there was no sign of cancer at all. I have postponed being happy that I finished chemo last Friday until I got the news from today. Now I can celebrate!!
The process to start radiation begins Monday. Port out next Friday. First radiation treatment is Feb. 13.
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Whew! What a relief. Congratulations!!!
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Great news seq24
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seq24, so glad to hear of your good news
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Great News Seq...so happy for you lady!!!!!!
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Hello Ladies
Had my meeting with BS surgery is scheduled for Feb 27. I will.have a lumpectomy she said I will have 1 drain that will remain for 2 weeks. Had my first herceptin yesterday hoping for no SE. Been feeling a little down because of the continued neuropathy and week muscles in my legs. This is awful and has.broken my.spirit. difficult to walk..I feel like a burden to.my family. Im use to having control and doing eveything myself. Just different for me. I just pray this neuropathy gets better soon.
Hahlyn
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Hahlyn--just something to share with you that I learned from a friend with neuropathy. Were you taking any B6 vitamins throughout chemo? The right amount of B6 can prevent neuropathy but too much can cause it. They can check your levels and see if there is too much and adjust accordingly. I hope it goes away for you soon.
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Thanks Seq24
I asked my onc while going through chemo could I take b vitamins and I was advised no. I had saw other women taking b12 b6 biotin vitamin d etc.. but I was told no. She just recently cleared me to take b12 2500 micrograms but I'm afraid it's too late. I'm trying to hang in there out of all the SE This is probably the worse because unlike the others it won't go away. Although nothing is worse than loosing my hair
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Hahlyn--Definitely the absolute worst part is losing our hair! I would rather have had worse effects to chemo or more extensive surgery than lose my hair. Mine started growing back about the middle of Taxol, so 6 weeks ago, but it is way too slow of a process for me. I'll be starting to take biotin next week. As far as the B vitamins, I was told by my MO to take B complex, B6 (100 mg) for neuropathy and D3. I have to continue the B for at least a month PFC and the D3 apparently for the rest of my life. I was told it helps in preventing recurrence. I find it interesting the different opinions of different doctors.
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hi ladies. Hope you all are doing well. Apart from chemo brain and general fatigue I am doing better. My labs were worse than I felt so exchange surgery is postponed once again. Delayed reaction to chemo. Once my hair started coming, brows left, and when I grew back enough brows to wax them, lashes fell it seemed overnight. Now new lashes are growing so I don't look as sick as I didn't when's my eyes looked "naked" ... I am 9wks of course and my hair is coming considerably greyer before beforenchemo. Still have bold spots and generally not thick. Would love to hear how
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smilethrupain, looks like your hair is really coming along if that is 9 weeks!
My last TCHP treatment was Dec 15th, I have barely stubble so far coming back in, maybe 1/4" or a little longer in the best places. Top of head is really thin toward the front. I haven't seen much going on with my brows or lashes since starting all this, maybe they thinned a bit mid-way thru the long TCHP phase.
Not sure if/how Herceptin affects it, I had my second treatment yesterday. Will be interested to see how any side effects materialize as some of the TCHP SEs have faded out, or at least I'd say they are downgraded in severity by now thankfully.
It's stupid but with surgery coming up, and relatives due to visit, I am more obsessed with my lack of hair than I was before lol. Not sure how I will handle it with people visiting, at home I've been used to wearing caps that don't look too great. With people around, I may have to upgrade that which won't be as comfortable. And how does that work in the hospital for surgery, will they have me just going with my near-hairless head exposed, or will they give me a cap in recovery - don't really want people seeing me without any type of cap or whatever, I look like a big pale worm :O
Guess I can hope for a huge acceleration in hair grown in the next couple of week so I feel more comfortable with people seeing it ha.
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seq24. Great news ! Congrats!
Smilethrupain - I think your hair is looking great! I'm looking like a chia pet. Thin fine soft hair just sticking straight up and out ! Just finished up my 6th & final TCHP so hoping I won't be losing any more. My eyebrows and lashes thinned a bit but no too bad so far, thank goodness.
The wigis going to stay for a while, the world is not yet ready for this head!
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good luck with surgery mislil- I go capless a lot at home just because of hot flashes -but generally outside wear my wig. On very cold days here in mass I wear a hat sans wig -carry the wig in a bag to work and switch. I would ask my MO in march about when to color the hair - don't want to rush it, but I'd love to ditch the wig, if can find a color and style that doesn't age me
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I've been wearing a wig consistently to work, and with cold weather definitely either the wig or a different head covering is best. I have some warmer caps and I found a hat style that works to go outside when it's frigid. My favorite to wear in public other than the wig has been one of the shirred Chemobeanie soft caps with a scarf on top of it - twice the coverage lol and it helps keep the scarf from slipping which is one reason I haven't worn scarves around the house.
At this point, anything is a little itchy with the stubble just starting to sprout - hoping that will become more comfortable once the hair grows out a touch more. I have more often tossed the cap around the house in recent days, but only the dog knows
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So happy to see you got good news Seq!
Smile, your hair looks great! Emily's is starting to come back, but it is very slow.
She had her first week of rads last week and all went well. Still struggling with neuropathy, but her MO says to give it time. Really hoping to see some improvement there. In the meantime, lots of foot massages!
Best to all!
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Misslil- I finished treatment on 12/14 and barely have any hair either (and not in front yet
) I think it takes a while for the taxotere to work it's way out of your system. I have been using rogaine and will continue to, hoping it helps... Smile - It looks great! Sorry about the gray, but that's what dye is for! I have a few weird gray hairs that seem to be sprouting up. Hopefully most of it will be brown.
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Beach baby- I finished the same day as you did- I'm just happy the hair is growing with all the Taxotere commercials, etc! Those are some great hair pics ladies!
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BeachBabyK, sounds like we're in a similar boat. I haven't taken anything to promote hair growth. My MO has been averse to my taking any supplements along the way. The most he's allowed so far was to prescribe cheeseburgers to try and get past my anemia issues. Maybe a light iron supplement in a multivitamin if I could find one.
If I don't see much progress on the hair front, I'll ask him though, or maybe the clinic R.N staff who can be more forthcoming.
I was happy to see the little bit that was starting to sprout but now I'm in the impatient phase. Should give it more time, I know
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I've been trying to keep up with everyone's successes on here but haven't posted in a while. So happy for you guys!
Two questions:
Finished last radiation treatment Friday, and I'm so happy. Hair is growing in fast and furious and is black and furry. My daughter loves feeling it. I finished my chemo November 18 and have recently started having pain in my hands, wrists, hips, and legs. My fingers are pretty stiff in the morning, and I hurt when I get up after sitting or reclining for a time. I'm guessing arthritis, but this is all new to me. Does anyone know if this is a side effect from chemo? I asked my gynecologist last week, and he said "everyone is feeling that way this time a year from the change in the weather." ?????? Well, I didn't feel that way last year.
My right boob is sore from the radiation. Trying to keep gel on it to relieve the pain. How soon after radiation can we start wearing deodorant again???
My thoughts and prayers are with you guys.
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I saw my MO last week for the first time since finishing chemo back in November. I also finished radiation and started hormone therapy. My tumor marker came back low and my doctor says I'm "cured." He likes that term better than NED. I still have some lingering neuropathy and the 30 lbs I gained while on chemo but everything else is pretty much back to normal, or at least the new normal. I have some other side effects from the rads and the hormone therapy that I won't go into here. I lost the last of my eyelashes only about a week or so ago but thick stubby ones are growing in right behind. All my hair is coming back, even where I don't want it.
I haven't dyed my hair in three years so I know this is the same color my hair was before I lost it. It is growing in very thick and is velvety soft. I can't stop touching it. I stopped wearing wigs and scarfs a few weeks ago. People are probably just being nice but they all say they love how the short hair looks on me. I love the low maintenance.
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Bagsharon, I've been following your progress. Congratulations on your good news. Like you, I feel like people are just being nice when they say my hair growth looks good. I know it doesn't. I look like a boy, and not even a cute boy.
Thank goodness for these wigs.0 -
I love all of the hair pictures and hair updates. My hair is slowly coming back and I cannot wait until I can put the hats away. I am 3 days away from my mastectomy...I am pretty scared. Any thoughts or helpful tips?
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Denny are you getting a double mastectomy??
I see my BS next Monday to schedule my surgery....i am nervous and scared too.
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GonnaBePoz- could this be neuropathy? I finished mid-Dec and still feel some lingering neuropathy and heartburn.
Dennyj and Nayda- I'm going in tomorrow for my BMX with reconstruct. I've been so side tracked with my daughter's health (chronic migraines) and trying to prep the house for me not being able to do anything, it's just hitting me. For some reason chemo now seems easier lol. I'm happy to share whatever I learn. I got some good hints from a couple of women on another board too.
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thx ajbclan 😀
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I feel like I should know this, but I'm confused when everyone talks about their 'tumor marker' came back low/high. Is this a blood test result? A scan result? None of my docs have used this terminology at all..
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