Chemo starting October 2017
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Love the tattoed brows, Agatha. They do look very realistic.
Went to visit my husband's aunt and cousin yesterday. She has Stage IV liver cancer and is ready to start a new experimental drug on Tuesday. Praying hard for her. She lost her husband in December and found out a week before his death that she had cancer. Oh dear. Anyway, she saw my hair and has advised me to ditch the caps. She said, "It looks 100% better with your hair vs. those stupid hats." Well. Okay! I'm still a wuss about it because the front part still has bald patches.
Jenn, I haven't met with my MO since mid-January. He says so little that I don't find him to be very helpful at all. In fact, I'm meeting with my NP again for the 6-week follow up as my MO is out of town. I sent an email after surgery asking them to confirm that I didn't need additional treatment, because I wasn't due to meet with them until, and the NP answered the email. I know you must be anxious to get your final treatment in. I'm pulling for you.
Off to pick up my BIL for radiation. Hopefully he'll have the right anti-anxiety medication in place today so that there are no delays. He's having quite a bit of difficulty lying still with his head strapped to the gurney for 20 minutes.
Wishing everyone a great, SE-free, fear-free Spring day.
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Lisa, you're brave to go head-cover free, good for you! I think you posted a photo a while ago and you had grown more hair in four weeks than I have since early November. I'd love to see it again now cuz it sure did look great!
For your BIL, I'd just like to share what's worked for me in radiation. I have only four more treatments left, each one takes about 40 minutes usually with a minute or two break halfway through. Roughly one hour before my appointment I take one .25 Xanax and then again almost exactly at appt time I take another one. So if my appt. is at 9 pm, 8 pm is when I take the first one. Then while I'm changing into a robe, ready to go in the treatment room at 9 I'll take the second one. Having become so accustomed to lying still, the last few days I've tried taking a half pill for the second one and that's worked fine too. My team plays a Pandora channel of my choice, something elevator-ish that I'm not tempted to tap my toes to, and I zone out to the music. Before I know it, I can relax my arm for a minute or two and then suddenly we're done. By the time we leave and I'm back home, about 45 minutes, the Xanax has worn off and I'm back to my cranky self again. This was all at the suggestion of my RO a had the Xanax leftover from my surgery and chemo days. This is just an idea, I thought it might help your BIL...heaven knows none of this is easy for anyone so I wish him all the best and tell him I'm hoping he gets through it with as little discomfort as possible.
You're very sweet to help out your family as much as you do...hope you're taking care of yourself too!
Stay positive!0 -
Lisa, based on your picture. I think you can ditch the headcovers too. I know I am sick of wearing them. I have started just putting a baseball cap on, especially on warm days. How are you doing with your healing? Are you able to drive yet? It's only been 2 weeks, so I would be surprised if you are!
Agatha, I love the brows! I need to find some place that does that. I literally have one eyebrow hair on my right eyebrow. I don't know if right now is the best time since surgery coming up. But once I am back in the swing of things, I definitely would get it done!
Spent some time this morning talking on messenger to a girl I went to school with. I don't know her well but saw a facebook post, she was just diagnosed with BC. Triple positive and just in the setting up scans and treatment phase. I have not posted on FB anything about my BC, but really felt the need to support and answer questions to any other woman needing it.
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port scar = tattoo, like a small butterfly, a rose, feather, dragon fly, or something fun, sponge bob, bird or script etc. after my chemo I got my very first tattoo other than my rad markers. I was 60 yrs old. Not painful, sore but no pain. Google chemo port tattoo.
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Tewks, thanks for your strategy for getting radiation. I'll certainly pass it on to my BIL. He's a big guy and it kills me to see him so scared and anxious. I keep reminding him that his prognosis is really, really good (90%) and that we just have to get through 30 more 20-minute sessions.
Jenn, I've been driving since I got my drains out on Day 9. My paperwork said I had to be off narcotics for 24 hours and have the drains out before I was cleared to drive. I didn't go too far at first because I was still pretty sore at the time. I was confident that I could handle sharp turns if I had to, but if I had to make a sudden movement, it was going to hurt. Re hair: I'm going on a walk in a few minutes, and I'm going to put on a baseball hat. Thanks for the tip.
FYI, I tried to color my platinum (nice way of saying gray) hair a medium brown today, using a temporary color, but it didn't take at all. I don't think a permanent color would be good for my hair right now, so I guess I'll just have to suck it up.
70charger, I never was a tattoo seeker, but after my battle with BC, I might change my mind.
On Monday, I have my first post-surgery PT visit. I also scheduled an oncology massage for 4/10 (first available appt). I think I might also schedule a few acupuncture treatments to see if it'll help the neuropathy in my feet and this killer sciatica pain I've experienced since surgery. My BS thinks that it's from lying awkwardly on the operating table for 9 hours because it started really hurting me the day after surgery. I keep hoping I can walk it off but it's still aggravating me pretty badly more than 2 weeks post surgery.
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Recovery day 3 from right mastectomy with immediate TRAM FLAP.
Today feel so much better than yesterday. Could walk 50m at a time. Took antibiotic, meds for swelling n 2 panadol for pain. Bearing 3 bottles for fluid discharge. 1 from right breast n 2 from abdomen.
Surgery was 7hrs. When I woke up from surgery, had the most indescribable horrible n fearful feeling. I could see but can't feel my body. After I settled in ward n few hours later, I could feel pain in body - that's when I feel better.
Now I concentrate on recovery n hoping for a good pathology results in 2 weeks' time.
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Peoy, I'm so glad to hear you're doing so well! I did the same thing, left side, and just wait till your swelling goes down. You'll have the flattest tummy ever and it'll be gorgeous...not to mention the amazing new boob! It'll all be worth it, and every days gets better and better. Congratulations on your continued recovery and good luck with the pathology
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Congratulations on a successful surgery, Peoy. It'll take a few weeks to feel back to normal, but so worth it in the end.
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Ugh. I'm so tired of worrying. I leaned over our tall tub on Sunday to bath our puppy. As I leaned I felt A pain n my ribs under my healthy breast. It's now been nagging me all week. Why can't I think “you leaned awkwardly on your ribs and they are tender" instead of “it's bone mets and you broke your rib". Anyone broke a rib? I'm assuming it fairly painful which this is not. I can breath deeply, do my regular things etc. Tender when I cough. Not tender when I press or feel around. I. Hate. This. Worry
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Sarah - I'm sure that you're just bruised a bit around your rib. I don't know if we'll ever get past worrying at every pang, but hopefully we'll remember we had aches and pains before we had cancer and they were simple headaches, bumps, pulls, etc. I know I have to!
Peoy - CONGRATULATIONS on a successful surgery. I hope that you have a smooth, comfortable recovery.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend so far!
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So sorry about your worry, Sara. I know exactly how you feel. Living with the cancer monkey on our back is going to be our biggest challenge moving forward, IMO. My NP said that our next meeting will include a discussion on survival. She said that we will discuss what I should look for and have checked out over the next few years. If yourMO isn't doing that for you, I'll be sure to report back what I learn after my meeting.
In the meantime, in one of the videos that I linked to earlier (on Joan Lunden's site), an Oncologist gives some pointers for survivors trying to distinguish between innocuous pain and something that you should have checked out. One tip was that if a pain persists for awhile (e.g. weeks) and is not alleviated after taking a pain reliever (e.g. Tylenol), then you should have your MO look into it. They'll do a scan on that area. Another (for lungs specifically) is if you are doing routine things, such as climbing stairs, that you used to routinely do with ease, and then you begin having difficulty (e.g. you're out of breath), then you should have that checked out.
I've never broken a rib before, but I know a few people who have. If what they say is any indication, it's pretty darn painful.
Hugs to you.
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Thank you ladies. I’ll give it another week and see what happens 💜. Unrelated note. I think the radiation fatigue hit today. I’ve had 10/20 treatments. All day in my comfy clothes and on the couch
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Joyseeker, if u r still doing rads, ask your RO or the tech/ nurses about ur rib pain. Can't hurt to ask.
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Lisarx, I've found that my worry comes and goes, pretty much in line with whether I've taken my Xanax on a regular schedule. I'm sorry to say that this is all much easier to deal with if I take my regular dose, and I'm not completely comfortable with that. Anyone else using a drug like this to keep the anxiety at a manageable level? I can't imagine taking it indefinitely yet I can't think about being without it either. That's one of the major reasons that this site and all of you can be so helpful!!
I'm sure we're all extra fragile right now so I'm sending extra hugs for everyone today!0 -
Thanks everyone for the encouragement re: my rib. Bashing it on the tub wasn’t ideal but I feel it’s healing. So I’ll go with that and try not to let it consume me (hard!!). My joy today. My son and I after his provincial soccer win. How is this almost over?? He’s off to college in the fall.
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I wonder if any of you have the same problem as I. Ever since chemo started Oct 17, my eyesight worsens. When reading too long, blurry. Rest my eyes awhile, sometimes Ok, sometimes still blurry.
Tewks, Lisa & Agatha - thanks for the encouraging words. Actually there isn't much pain, just discomfort, in TRAM FLAP surgery, backache when I walk too much.
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jobseekers: glad the rib is feeling better & your son is so handsome, glad you had family time today.
Agatha, wanted to say Whoo.hoohoo on your path. Report. Wonderful news
Peony so glad your surgery was a success & you are healing...such good news too.
I see my BS on Tuesday for post surgery. It has been 3 weeks since surgery, and she will go over path. Report. Afterward I see PS for my 3rd weekly appt. Still have the Nuisance Drains and hope they can GO this time, keeping my fingers crossed. I have been out enjoying some 50 degree weather on Friday walking over 2-1/2 miles & today got up to 60 walked 3 1/2 miles. I still have pain but much easier to ignore while enjoying all the spring flowers. Rest of week forecast is cold rain then sleet , maybe snow on Wed. Yuck
Everyone keep healing and try staying positive, it is a daily chore for me to pick myself up & move each day, but when I do the payoff is so worth it.
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Sara - What a handsome kid! Tell him all his message board fairy godmothers tell him, "good job!"
Peoy - Yes, I'm having some eyesight issues, too. I wear progressive lenses and I've been having a hard time adjusting my sight line to get clarity when it used to be second nature. Often it is worse, especially when I'm tired. I have to wait until my insurance allows for a new eye exam and lenses which is another 6 months. I have read that chemo can effect vision - hopefully it's temporary.
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Peoy Yes, my eyesight has changed and it felt like I couldn't see and or blurry. I was told it's normal and will subside, I'm using the past tense as 3 weeks PFC (past final chemo?!) I can tell my eyesight is improving. I was told to hold off getting my eyes checked until after all treatments
I haven't posted in a while but I'm with you all and thank you for vice versa. I think ultimately you are my peers in cancer since we did all start this around the same time, I know you all can most relate for sure!
TMI alert: I'm losing four toenails, two on each foot, and it seems possibly one on my right hand. All of the nails on my hands are brown from halfway up so I think I'm good when they grow out. They got so brown after the last chemo and then another couple of weeks later I got the energy to paint my nails, yay! They do hurt sometimes and I still feel some neurothapy but that's really improved also. I hadn't felt that much in my feet thank goodness and I feel for all of you that did/do.
Still getting and ugh it sounds like for a while will be getting hot flashes at night, but so thankful to get some better sleep now, without those steroids!
I go in for my first radiation treatment today...M-F, six weeks, and Done.
I am leaning toward a mastectomy tattoo.0 -
Hi Trees! I finally saw a podiatrist about my toes. He said it’s all caused by nail fungus which he says is very common after chemo. My two index fingers have pretty severe horizontal splits but the others seem to be healing okay. He removed my big toenails that were almost off and now I’ll have to let everything grow out. I’m a sandal and flip flop wearer so I’m hopeful I’ll have them grown in by spring.
Ugh...the things they don’t warn us about!!
Now I’m understanding why my new glasses were so hard to adjust to. I got them a week after the last chemo. No one told me not to but it sure does solve the mystery of a terrible prescription. Thanks ladies!! I’m going to return them.
Stay strong everyone!0 -
Agatha! Your brows look amazing!! I'd consider doing that I think if the Nioxin doesn't help.
Lisa - Prayers for your husband's family. Nice that she was so blunt about your hair!! LOL I'll be interested to hear about acupuncture if you do it! My feet and calves have been bugging me quite a bit. But I do need to get on the treadmill too. It's too crummy here weather wise still. I can't wait until it's nicer and I can walk to the lake!
Jennifer - You were good to message her. I think we all need the support of those who have/are going through it.
70Charger - That's pretty fun that you got the tattoo. I have one on my outer thigh that is all about my mom (who passed away about 13 years ago). I don't know if I'll get one, but I am certainly anxious to get my port out. It bugs me still.
Peoy - Congrats on being done with surgery! I hope you continue to feel ok and heal well. I had the eye issues too and my MO said it's totally normal. Blurry is normal, darkening vision on the sides is not. I was blurry all the time off and on. It was terribly annoying! It affected my ability to read, drive, watch tv, etc. But it's been better since I stopped chemo. The MO said that they recommend you don't do anything about checking your eyes or changing prescriptions until about 6 months after chemo.
Sara - I'm sorry for the worry. I imagine we will do that for a long time. I had a pain on my right side (healthy side). At first I panicked, then I realized I had a zit in my arm pit!!!! LOL How bizarre is that. Then I hurt again in a different spot, but I think it's just my port hurting me. Worry is not good, but I think it's very normal.
HikerVA - I get you about the weather. I'd love for actual Spring to come!
Trees - We are on the same schedule. :-) I'll be glad when it's all over. I didn't have the nails issues you did. I did ice my hands every Taxol treatment and I stopped Taxol three treatments early. I got a brown spot on my right thumb nail a week or two after the last treatment and they hare definitely curved and yellow at the tips (and sore and neuropathic), but they aren't falling off. I hope yours isn't too painful and they heal quickly!
Tewks - I can't believe no one told you not to get glasses that soon or warned you about the nails. :-( I hope the glasses are easily returned and the nails heal quickly!! I am glad my team communicates so much to me!
I had first radiation today. It was easy peasy. I was on my back like you thought Agatha. I also have to do 33 treatments instead of 20. Kind of a bummer but oh well. The RO said that in order to treat the first two levels of my nodes effectively and not get too much radiation in the breast at once, they needed to do the standard fractionated course instead of the quick course (or whatever it's called). As long as I'm done before my son gets out of school in May, I'm ok with it. I have aloe and a cotton bra coming, but we'll see if they are even that necessary.
I did go to the grocery store this morning, but now, I'm going to get my butt up, eat a salad, do my arm exercises, and walk on the treadmill. No being lazy for me! Talk to you all soon!
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Good blood work today. All a go for last chemo tomorrow!
Got my MRI results. The good, can barely find my tumor "almost imperceptible". No adenopathy in either axillae or internal mammary chains.
The questionable. I have a 10mm mass behind what was my tumor. Mammo and ultrasound never saw it during dx. It was on the dx MRI. It's stable according to this MRI. So wonder since it didn't shrink or grow, if its benign or another type of BC (ER+). I would think if it was TN it would have changed like my other tumor. Surgery pathology will tell me the answer.
Finally got my consult with RO, that I have been asking for 6 weeks. Just want to know the possibility of rads or not.
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Jennifer congratulations on your last chemo!! Way to go!! I do hope the mass turns out to be benign. Will cross my fingers for you.
I have my last proton radiation on Wednesday and wish I could throw a week-long Party for getting through it...
Stay strong everyone!!0 -
Went to my first post-DMX PT appt today. She said that I’m healing well and should continue light stretching but shouldn’t push it yet. So I’ll be going 1x per week for the next 2 weeks then 2x per week for 4 weeks.
She also said that most MOs decide whether to remove the port based on tumor grade. Since I’m a grade 3, he will probably want to keep it in for another year. Boo but I can handle it.
My eyesight was checked a few weeks ago. I don’t need glasses but my eyes are still really dry. I have used artificial tears since mid-Taxol and that really helps.
Talked to my boss today. I plan on going back to work in May. Kind of weird to think about it. I’ve been out since October.
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Jenn, congrats on your last chemo and on the MRI showing that it's been obliterated. I'm wondering if that mass isn't a fibrous mass. My breasts had lots of them along with my dense breasts.
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Lisa, congratulations on such positive news! You’re so lucky, you’re on the home stretch...happy for you
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Hi, Jennifer - congrats on your last chemo! It's such a good feeling to be done. It's great news that your MRI showed your tumor to be almost imperceptible. I hope your surgery proves that any remaining tumor or mass that the MRI picked up is cancer-free. That's what happened to me. The pre-op MRI showed possible residual cancer, but pathology showed absolutely none.
Petey - Good luck as you start off on the radiation. I love to hear you are feeling more energetic and getting on the treadmill and eating right. You're inspiring me!
Lisa, are you going to have radiation at all or are you all done with treatment?
Hope everyone is having a good week.
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Chemo #10...last one. Rang the bell. "Ring the bell and run like hell"
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Jennifer.....that’s a beautiful sight! Congrats!
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YAY, Jennifer! Congrats. You look so pretty and happy. Look at how healthy and pink your cheeks are. You made it through chemo in top form. Way to go!
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