Starting Chemo June 2017
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my hair before I dyed it! A little under 3 months post chemo.
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Peachy, I forget. Where do your parents live in Florida? It is beautiful down here right now. Glad your nose is better.
Susie.Your hair is longer than mine and it's been almost six months since my last chemo, Patience I guess until my fuzz grows out. I still wear my turbans when I get dressed up but go without in the daytime. My receding hairline is showing though and I don't like that. I'll be having the back and sides trimmed while the top grows out. Still painting my eyebrows too. Sending good vibes to all of you June Chemo sisters.
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HapB...thanks for the kind words. Sorry your still muddling through. Life is getting easier without appointments but the side effects linger. That is a new obstacle for people to understand. My family and friends think just because chemo and radiation is done I should be back to my old self. What i want is a year vacation to recuperate!
JuliaJazz....your hair looks good! I wish I could tell you what I did different but honestly I did nothing. I didnt take any vitamins, because I always forgot! I am trying to take vitamins now. I stopped wearing my hats and wigs 2 weeks ago. At first people didn't recognize me, then I had my pharmacy tech ask if I cut my hair! I said no this is my chemo hair coming back! My eyelashes finally came back. My eyebrows are there too but not as thick as they used to be so I just brush them with a little bit of brown eyeshadow and they look full.
I'm hoping to have a full head of hair before we take our 2 week vacation to England in October. My husband wanted to renew our wedding vows this year but I said let's wait. It might sound vain but I don't want this hair to be in pictures!!
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Thinking about you Hap B. Muddling is good enough. Susie, October is something to look forward to for sure. I'm vain too. No photos on facebook yet. Just here with my sisters. What a nice community we have created.
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Sooo Im glad to see everyone is doing fairly well despite all we have been through. I finished 26 out of 30 radiation treatments today and finish next Thursday. I told the techs today I hope I never see them in that place ever again after all this is over but meant it in the most lovingness ways of course. After radiation I have to have my gallbladder removed and then I will still have Herceptin infusions every 3 weeks until the summer. I was thinking of joing the Livestrong program ay the YMCA to gain some strength back especially since I have been having issues with cordingin my right arm since my double in November. I am so thankful to have found this group. I never posted a ton but when I did you all were so encouraging and to see others were going through the same thing put me at ease in some strange way. Not that I was happy we all were feeling crappy at times but it was nice to know I was not alone. I cannot wait to put all this crap behind me and to move on with my new normal.
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hhuey, so nice to hear from you. How great that you are almost done with rads. Keep us posted on your gallbladder surgery. My dad went through that at 90 and did well, so I am sure you will do just fine. Good luck with that exercise program. Sounds like a good plan. The new normal is just ahead for you.
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- hhuey..... woohoo you're almost done! I work in the gastrointestinal field and I just wanted to make sure you are aware, in case you experience it, that after your gall bladder is removed a common side effect is diarrhea. Some say they go up to 5 times a day. There is a pill to help this. So if it happens to you don't wait 5 years to ask if it's normal! Good luck!
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Susie! Looking good, girl! I've always been amazed at how much the human body can take whether from disease or the medications. We are strong beings and we can bounce back. Renewing your vows is sweet. Maybe an intimate renewal for just the two of you ("relope" someplace in England) and then have a larger celebration to share with family/friends at home on a later date?
My aunt had her gall bladder out and is experiencing the gastro disaster. She tries to eat gluten free now and it seems to help but her diet is restricted to a few things and she's bored with it. She says things change, too. Like one summer she was able to eat as much watermelon as she wanted and then the next she couldn't. It happened with a few things so it's hard to know when something will turn on her. She won't try anything new unless she is close to home. What is the pill you refer to?
JuliaJazz The hair is coming in! My folks are in The Villages. They said it's been warm lately.
hhuey glad you found comfort here. I think shared experiences bond people more than anything. Whether you share a meal, a day on the beach, a concert, or even a disease. It reminds us we are all connected. Good luck with your surgery. I had some cording, too. I had a few physical therapy sessions and continue to do some stretching at home. I have one large-ish cord left but it has stretched so much it doesn't hurt or impact my range of motion.
I had my 2nd infusion postponed on Thursday due to low white blood cell count. I got a neupagen shot and that did the trick. I was able to get it yesterday. The Herceptin and Perjeta were only 30 min each so it was a shorter time in the chair. I was a little concerned about that after reading some have had bad reactions when they cut the timing. But, so far so good. Once the chemo part is over (2 more) time should be even shorter.
Hope you all have a nice weekend. Keep on keeping on!
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Susie and Julia,
Your hair, brows, and lashes look great! Whatever you're doing, keep up the good work!
Before chemo, my hair was wavy and dark brown. Now it is straight and light brown. The "chemo curls" that my doctor predicted have yet to materialize. I also have a white "skunk stripe" down the middle, but I rather like it (my mum had the same stripe from the time she was 16). I just may keep it.
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Susie, Your hair has grown a lot!! Looks just fine! People at church went on and on yesterday about how curly mine is coming in. I feel I will need a cut in a month. It seems to be about the same color, so I am happy for that.
hhuey, 3 more days and you are done! I know that feels good. I will be done next Thursday. Very ready!
Think of y'all often. Agree with HapB that we shouldn't put off what we really want to do. We just never know. It certainly is a time to reflect on all we have been through and how things may change going forward.
Remember how beautiful you are to those who love you so. We are much more than the color of our hair (or our hair itself). I am ready to just rest from all my body has endured!
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Kim, the pill to help with diarrhea is Questran. It comes in powder and pill form.
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Susie, Look at your beautiful face. I like your new picture. I sent a picture of my hair coming in to my hairdresser and said I may need to see you in a month! It's been a while...ha
Thanks for the link, HapB. I know this is my BIGGEST weakness going forward. I did tell my DH if we don't bring stuff in, then I won't eat it. Since he's healthy, he can handle eating whole foods. He does that 90% of the time anyway. How are you?
4 more rads boosts, and I am done this Thursday. Seems surreal.
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Good morning June '17 ladies! Boy am I glad it's Saturday. I had Monday off for President's Day but this week sure felt long. I was so pooped by last night. I got a good 9 hours sleep but still feel like I could go sneak in a few more z's. I'm going to soak, instead. I have some aches and my calves and feet easily cramp these days. Time for some relaxation.
Hope all are hanging in there and enjoy the weekend. Moving forward one day at a time!
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Kim, I sent the same message to my hairdresser! The back of my head and my neck will need some serious attention in a few weeks. Rocking a mullet is NOT on my radar! ;-)
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This was me exactly 2 weeks ago on the way to church It's grown even more, and you can definitely see more curls. Just glad it's coming back.
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Kim, you look great! Love your hair color and waves!
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HapB, I am sorry about the hair. Stay positive! It is going to be behind you for good sooner than you know it! I am on Letrozole. It really was causing joint issues the first 6 weeks, but they aren't nearly as bad now. I took an Aleve yesterday morning and felt pretty normal all day!
Only 4 more zaps! I am beyond ready to have this behind me.
Hershey, You should see my hair today. Those waves are becoming curls...haha I put mousse in it to spike it a little...ha It always has grown fast, and it is coming in my natural color with a few extra grays - earned those for sure!
Y'all have a great day. We will see the low 50s today, and I am going to the Chicago Botanic Garden with a girl I met from radiation. I think they have an orchid display. Maybe I will have her take my pic there.
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Beautiful, Kim. Have a great week, ladies. I am heading to Colorado with my skiing husband who is meeting some classmates from college days (50 years ago). I will get a vacation from my cat who wakes me all night (long story) and from my daily visits to my parents. I have hired someone to take my mom to see my dad every other day. It will be good to relax a bit. Good to see friends I haven't seen since before my life took a little detour.
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Kim looking good, girl!!! I can almost part mine. Almost. Right now I'm still spiked up.
JuliaJazz Colorado is one of my favorite places and I've only skied there once. All the other visits were non-skiing. The only "land locked" place I could imagine myself living. Enjoy your much deserved time away.
HapB it's been real rainy here, lately. We'll get a few days this week before the rain is back at the end of the week. Glad it's not snow.
Yesterday I got hit with lower back pain/spasms big time. Thank you Neulasta. Grrrr.. Last time I didn't have that. The bone pain I felt was more in my thighs and knees. This was different. Couldn't really sit or lie down. Thankfully, Tylenol toned it down and a heating pad helped -until I'd get too hot! By the time this morning rolled around, I was better. So Saturday was fatigue, Sunday was back pain and today I'm ok. Not too bad.
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HapB Hmmm...maybe the Herceptin is playing a part. During ACT chemo I didn't have the tailbone pain. Now on CMF plus Herceptin and Perjeta I guess it's no shock things could be a little different. I didn't have back pain with the first infusion. I had it after the Neupagen shot, though, and then again 6 days after the Neulasta so that's why I thought that was it. I'm already feeling better, thanks! Hope you are, too.
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peachy, I got the back pain from tne neulasta. Haven’t had if I wasn’t getting the neulasta. I only got neulasta 2-6 chemos, had no back pain with 1 or ever since.
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Kim you look GREAT!
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Kim - looking great! My hair really short still - but it's getting there! So glad to hear your almost done with radiation.
Hang in there peachy - you are getting through this...
I added Perjeta on with my Herceptin. I can definitely feel more side effects - rashes, pimples, mouth sores etc. I think I have 4 or 5 more treatments to go.
Is anyone considering Nerlynx if you are HER2 positive?
Thinking of you all and so glad everyone is doing 'normal life stuff'!
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I posted this on the January Rads group:
I wrapped up my last radiation treatment and hopefully ALL major treatments on Thursday. I was so happy! It has been a long 10 months, but I am grateful to be on the other side of major treatments. Now to endure 10 years of Letrozole and hopefully have no major set backs along the way! God is good! I am grateful for His mercy through this. Grateful to these boards as an outlet to learn and know that I am not alone in this journey.
Sharing my video
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What wonderful news. Kim. Loved your bell ringing! Good luck with the letrozole. I am not having any problems with the arimidex after 5 months of treatment. I too will be on it for at least 10 years. There is some talk that they may decide they want on these for our lifetimes. I will just take it as it comes.
I am currently exploring permanent makeup after reading on another forum here that people who have TC often never fully get their eyebrows back. I have found that there is a place in Sarasota that specializes in this so I think I will go talk to them. I have gotten pretty good at drawing them on but was expecting that to be only for a few months. If it is going to continue, it will be a pain I think. So I will let everyone know what my decision and experiences are. The view out the window here in Snowmass, Colorado is awesome and we are having fun with 30 old friends from college days. My fuzzy hair and brows not quite so awesome. But life is good!
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Julia, What a beautiful view and lady! You've got lots of hair. My brows came back in fine, but if you want to have the permanently done that sounds like a wise option to me. I had never used a brow pencil until this experience. It wasn't easy to me!
Enjoy your time in CO.
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Yay Kim!! We need more cowbell! So happy you are done and moving forward. Wishing you nothing but good reports from now on!
Julia beautiful view! Glad you are enjoying time with friends.
Lilsuzq I've only read about Nerlynx on this site. My MO has not mentioned it. I will probably bring it up on Thursday when I have my next infusion. I'll see if that is in the plan or not.
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hey ladies..glad to see everyone is hanging in there..i am about 2 weeks out from my last radiation and it's funny because the fatigue didn't hit me until about a week ago. I feel like it is starting to subside a little but boy have I been sleepy. I am still getting my Herceptin every 3 weeks and wonder if anyone else on Herceptin gets strange headaches on a daily basis..they are not excruciating like a migraine just this ann I Ying pain sort of above my brow line and sometimes a pulsing feeling on the sides.. had a brain scan back in October and it was negative but not course I always worry about mets..any ideas..I'm not on anything else but the Herceptin and have been feeling this since about a week in to rads which would have been mid January but nice just chalked it up to a stiff neck from driving so much every day but since it hasn't gone away I'm starting to wonder
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by the way you all look great..I need to get my neck hairs shaped a bit as I'm starting to rock the mullett..and sadly I feel like my eyelashes are starting to shed again a little..hoping most hold on..I heard this can happen on and off from the Taxol
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Hi - I ws on the August thread, but since some of you girls finished chemo before me, I thought I’d ask you. I’m 10 weeks pfc and just finished rads last week. My MO said hot flashes should end around now, but no such luck. When did yours stop or are you still getting them? Mine are not as intense, but still hanging around! Thanks
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