Starting Chemo in July 2017
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Paulette...I was glad to have a break on Christmas day and New Years Day so I could have two weeks of only 4 days of treatments. I have been sleeping without a top on some nights. It seems to help when my skin gets a little tender.
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Runnermum, it is too cold in Bay Area to sleep without top, hummm, maybe I should give it a try! Thank you.
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Paulette I live in ND where the actual air temp this morning was -20*F (yes that's negative!!)! Wind chill has been even colder!! You will be just fine!! 😉 I do think the air helps!
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Good morning ladies,
Today is 28/30, my third boost of five. Skin is very red, like a color I've never seen before, sore, itchy and flaky. The area in my axilla that's receiving a boost has started to peel. Each morning I get up and realize everything is a smidge worse, but still manageable.
So glad to read all the updates.
Purple, I see you post on the fb page, I understand how it's easier to chat there.
Jen, I saw your hair pic on the FBI site, its growing in beautifully, glad your exchange surgery went well. Your just checking off the boxes now, rads will be behind you in no time.
LoJo and Jen, I started using my nice shampoo when it was obvious my hair was starting to grow in. In hindsight I should have started sooner as the dry scalp immediately resolved once I did. Hair is downy soft. Curious how long it will stay that way.
Paulette, you might start back to work Good for you. Like your hubby, mine is so over protective now, it will take time for them to settle down again.
Runnermum, the aches and stiffness after chemo hit me too. Just realized in the last few days that somewhere along the way the eased off. Yay! Your half marathon will be such an accomplishment, please keep us informed. You go girl!
Dmjmom, how are you doing?
Gotta run and head over to radiation, hugs and prayers
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tesse, have you alerted the doc to the color of your skin? Best do so they can figure out a plan,
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Teese, I’m doing 22/30 today, my skin turned red and nipple got sensitive since last Thursday. Just wonder is boosts going to be worse or better than whole breast. I know it hit my nodes that will turn even more burn. Did you use the green tea as we discussed before?
Runnermum I did what you suggested over the weekend it helps, nipple got better, thank you.
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my boob got lite pink, i showed yo doc, we were close to end but i knew a woman out in midwest who did not sa8y anything, she ended up badly burned
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proud you’re right we need to keep our RO notices. I saw my RO just last Thursday and I know I will see him again this week. He tried to meet me weekly. I’m just happy he retuned from his vacation,
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Wow Tesse! Only two more to go! Whoop! My RO had told me that I should expect the symptoms to get worse for a couple weeks after treatment finished, but that wasn't my experience. I hope your skin won't get much worse than it is now. I'm more than five weeks out from my final rads and my treated side is just a bit tanned.
A new mole appeared on my upper back during rads treatment, it's kind of sunken in the middle, odd looking...don't know if I mentioned that here. My RO said, "Have you had skin cancer before?" My response, "No! Do I have it now?" He said that the rads could not have caused that mole to appear on my back, but thought I should have someone look at it. My MO said I should show it to a dermatologist, but there was no hurry. I have an appointment set up for the end of the month.
Paulette, I found the boosts to be easier than the whole breast treatments, but if I've learned anything it's that we are all different!!
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Dmjmom, how big is your mole? Sucks! Praying everything should be fine for you. I got more freckles after chemo, I wont be surprised I got more from radiation.
I got burned more from my nipple and now I feel the heat on my collarbone. Armpit was bad on the second week, now it is more of swelling but not as sensitive as the other part.
I would not eat lobster for awhile, because I feel like one now!
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I'm sorry for your sensitivity, swelling, and pain Paulette. Soon it will be behind you.
My new mole is slightly larger than a pencil eraser tip. Not too big, but bigger than any other mole/freckle/spot that I have.
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ive had full body checks by dermatology doc, funny as he removed a couple of moles on back of my leg that i thought were normal and thought one i thought suspicious was nothing! But sounds like a visit to derm is in order
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Thank you all for your concern about my skin. At the beginning my RO said due to my coloring, pale, freckled and Irish, I'd have a substantial reaction, and I have. He's aware and I saw him yesterday. He actually said I was doingbetter than he thought I would, no blisters, slight peeling but no cracking or oozing.
The boosts have not caused me any problems. My axilla looks better today than last week. I don't know why but I'm so glad.
Tomorrow's my last one! Woot!
I get full body checks at the dermatologist every year and just had the last one just before chemo. So when everything is back to normal if I see anything weird I may have to go back early.
Paulette, sorry for the swelling, I have some slight swelling that started about the second week but everyone feels it's just a result of tissue stress and not lymphedema. They say it'll resolve once I'm done. We'll see. Don't worry too much about the boosts, I did and now it's not such a big deal.
Glad the country is beginning to thaw out from the deep freeze we've had since Christmas. However for you gals in CA I'm so sorry for the mudslides after the awful fires. It just doesn't seem fair. Hope you're all safe and sound.
Prayers and hugs
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https://www.facebook.com/LisaSchwartzMD/posts/2068344670063558
We talked about how expensive BC can be, here is something to support it.
Teese, you are going to finish radiation this week ... woot woot!!!
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Teese - My hair is coming in strong now and is still ridiculously soft. Even the gray areas are really soft! I hope it stays this way. I do have some curl, I was wavy before chemo. Will be interesting to see how it looks as it gets longer. I’ve been told that the chemo curl only lasts for a bit. We shall see. My hair did come in the same color as before, with a little more gray in it. But I already had gray before this, so I’m not surprised some more showed up. I may or may not color my hair. Kind of liking the look right now.
Paulette - thank you for sharing this article. I feel fortunate to have good health insurance.
Not the best pictures, but shows you what my hair is looking like these days. This is 3.5 months PFC.
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Happy new year, ladies! I'm so glad to read about everyone's progress!
Wow Lojo, your hair has grown so fast! I'm probably a couple of weeks behind you PFC, and my hair has been growing quicker but not as full as yours yet. Have you gotten the sides trimmed? I feel like I need to get my sideburns trimmed since they are out of control, and the grayest part of my hair growth so far. I am covering the gray sideburns with waterproof mascara for now since they're not covered by my wig. LOL I also have a patch of gray near my right temple, which is consistent with pre-chemo hair.
I'm about 3 weeks post-rads and my skin has been healing well. I still get occasional twinges in the back of my arm. During the first 2 weeks after my last session my skin did get worse. My skin turned red, then dark, then it started sloughing off. I freaked out when this started happening because I thought my skin was cracking and waited for it to start oozing. It never did and that's when I realized it was patches of fresh new skin underneath the burnt skin. Most of My skin is back to the normal color, but still darker in the axilla area where the bolus was.
Paulette, hang in there... I noticed some swelling during rads from my forearm to my elbow. I would do MLD massage most nights but was instructed not to massage any radiated areas if it was too sensitive. When I met with my PT last week she measured my arm and there was a difference of 0 - 1.5 cm. So wearing the compression sleeve during rads definitely helped! If you aren't using a sleeve maybe check if your PT or RO will allow it.
Yay Teese, you're almost done with rads! Hope the healing SEs are minimal for you. Your hair should start coming in quicker now. I felt like mine grew faster once I was done with rads.
I met with my MO today and since I wasn't having any issues with SEs, he started me on tamoxifen. The pamphlet that came with the bottle noted that common side effects are hot flashes, nausea, vomiting, weight gain/loss, fatigue, bone pain, dizziness... Boy, those sure sound familiar!! I stared at the bottle for a long time, feeling really anxious about the SEs. I sure hope it's easier than chemo!
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Today is 30/30!!!!! Thank the Lord!
LoJo, Wowie Wow Wow, that is a beautiful head of hair! That is amazing!
Sunny, I love the mascara on the sideburns, made me smile at how creative we have to be.
My areas not getting the boost didn't worsen but actually healed well this week while the axilla and scar line got the boosts. The axilla worsened since yesterday but the scar line looks the same. If the axilla continues to worsen at least it's only a small area. We shall see.
I've been wearing a mans white cotton undershirt since I started using Aquaphor. Coupled with a pair of jeans, I feel like a bum. Also since my left foot has some residual neuropathy and I read somewhere to keep your feet protected and in padded roomy shoes I've been wearing these large Reeboks with heavy cotton socks. I thought I'd put up with this uniform till I no longer need the greasy Aquaphor, at that point I feel I've babied my feet enough. I can't wait to get into stylish outfits again.
Be careful and don't let your guard down yet, the flu seems to be awful!
Prayers and hugs
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LoJo you got so much hair, I’m so envy now!
Sunny so happy to hear from you, yes I’m wearing my sleeve dailyfor about 10 hours, and I do MLD massage at night also, planned to check with my PT after few weeks post rads. I have to get my insurance approved before I can see PT. My RO said I shouldn’t use my pump for a month of so. From what I heard people don’t have much SE from Tamoxifen, don’t worry that much.
Teese congrats!!!! 🎉🎊🎈 so glad to hear that you finished! Woot woot!! Dress code ..... I even turn my tee shirt backside up so I will feel more comfortable. Then I have a fannel shirt over my tee shirt with my jean. So much style in there 😂😂😂😂 I still have neuropathy on my feet, how bad is your neuropathy? I thought you are doing acupuncture did it help? I’m thinking after rads I will start acupuncture treatment plus check into herb. Funny thing, my hand neuropathy went away faster than my feet. I wonder why?
Heading out to my radiation, #24 I’m coming!
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Paulette, my left foot has a slight off feeling when I'm barefoot. Like I know it's not 100% normal. It's not numb but weird feeling. I did acupuncture all through chemo and about a month after and then stopped when the symptoms became negligible. If I have on shoes or slipper I don't notice anything.
So tomorrow is your last whole breast, Woot! Then just boosts left. For me it was faster than the whole breasts, I was in and out in 10 min. Hopefully the same for you.
Your radiation uniform sounds as bad as mine. I don't have a flannel shirt but an old red sweater that's lost all its shape that I wear to complete the ensemble! 😂😜
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Teese, we are sooo stylish ! Soon you can wear the regular clothings. Let us know what happens to the next couple weeks. Most people said the two weeks after rads can be tough.
My #24 is not bad. I can feel some tingling from my breast and I’m so tired now. I slept on my way home I don’t know I can stay awake for long. I might my half an hour break again,
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LOJO....look at ALL that hair!! Awesome!
Teese....Congrats on finishing rads! Yay!! I bet it feels WONDERFUL!! Hope your nueropathy heals up soon!!
Paulette..you will be soon!! Hope your nueropathy gets better soon too!
Sunny...so how does life on the other side of treatment feel? I started tamoxifen almost 2 wks ago. A few annoying se's but we are getting along ok. Will be on tamox until June then will have either a hysterectomy or oopherectomy and switch to armidex.
I completed rads #22/33 today. 11 to go, 5 of which are my boosts. Also had my 6 m recheck with my BS! Hard to believe its been 6 mon sonce my lumpectomy. Scheduled my mammo for June. It feels like a time to start celebrating...my life is returning to normal but 2 wks ago we found out my husbands PSA came back high. He had it rechecked this week and still high. So now we move along to a biopsy. Could be a few things..inflammation being pretty common but of course the ugly C word is another possibility too. Hubby is not happy about having bx but we will both be happy whem we have an answer either way. It sorta feels like a nightmare that doesnt end. The worry amd anxiety have returned to our lives. Mostly I am just pissed off right now. If you pray say a few for our family.
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Runnermum, we are about the same on radiation, I have 6 more to go. How’s your skin doing? I need my mammogram but I think my RO said I should wait couple to three months. That will be April for mammogram. So sorry to hear that your husband PSA is high, Yes will pray for him. My neuropathy is getting better, feet still have numbness but hands are fine.
Teese for got to talk about neuropathy, my feet still have some numbness sometime it went up a little to my calf but most of the time are fine. Might try acupuncture after radiation see that will help.
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Teese - Congrats on the last day of rads!! w00t! You will see that the skin will heal quickly now. I was shocked at how fast it started looking (and feeling) better!
sunnyjay - I haven't had it trimmed yet, but I just said to my husband last night that I think the time is near! I have a trip next week, so will probably do it when I return. (The trip is a week long vacation in NYC, and I cannot wait!!).
The hair growth has been interesting. For the longest time I wondered if it was going to get thicker and if my scalp would stop being so visible, then one morning I got up and it looked much thicker. It felt almost that immediate.
Still on the tamoxifen, and doing well. Hot Flashes are the only big side effect (which I already had going on from chemo-pause). I'm going to start taking primrose oil to see if it helps with the hot flashes. Will report back!
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lojo, gee your comment about hair regrowth and thickness hit home. Mine used to be seriously thick but so far only coming thin. I am thankful to see it returning but have been wondering on the thin look
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So nice to see everyone chatting again! So glad you are done with rads, Teese, and Paulette, almost there.
And Runnermum, of course you are pissed off! So hope the PSA elevation turns out to be something non-serious
Not much to report, just feeling almost normal and growing hair.....I shaved legs and armpits for the first time today.
Now for some 2 months pfc hair porn:
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Leatherette, your hair is growing faster than mine. I’m 8 weeks PFC now. Got my eyebrow back. Yay!!
Okay 5 more radiation to go, today friends came over visited me so no nap and I’m doing fine. Skin is holding up fine, next week will be boosts.
Here is picture of my hair now.
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hair porn... I love it!! I had a haircut this week and got my brows cleaned up! They're still splotchy but they were too wide ...
I start rads on Monday. Glad to get that going. Also getting a Lupron injection next week (I think). Lobular carcinoma respods best to AIs + ovarian suppression (if you're pre-menopausal), so that's my plan. My MO did all the menopause lab work, and though I haven't discussed it with her yet, the results show I'm firmly chemo-pausing (is that a word?). We'll see what happens. I also have an appointment with a gyn-Onc on Feb 1 to talk about the ovaries, PALB2 gene mutation, etc.
have a great weekend!
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Paulette, that hair is looking strong! You don't look like you have wimpy, wispy, downy hairs, just tough, bold ones!
And Jen, your hair is the Ron Jeremy of hair porn. Grow on!
I think I’m still losing eyebrows. My daughter got me an eyebrow stencil and powder for Christmas, so that will be used for a while, unless I want to shell out for microblading.
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bwahahaha The Ron Jeremy... I love it. I’m grateful for it though. Hoping it stays healthy as menopause hits....
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Leatherette, stop using the eye stencil, having eyebrows back it’s so much easily. I used to have soft think hair, I wonder what kind of texture am I getting now. My left eyebrow is missing part of it, I’m waiting for a month or two I might do microbalding.
Jen, we all so envy your hair ... Ron Jeremy 😂😂😂😂
Have a good weekend everyone!
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