Chemo starting October 2017
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Thank you so much Tewks! I must say the wig doesn't bother me and it is exactly the color of my real hair. However I will be glad to not have to wear it over the summer as I am hoping for enough hair growth to go without it! Good luck with your surgery 2brandy! My MO said no scans for me either unless there is a problem. I'm a little worried about that but will try not to think about it. Simbody great to hear of the clear scans! Petey so sorry to hear about your SIL hope she is doing well now. Lisa- sorry to hear of your husband's aunt. Good luck returning to work! Jennifer sounds like you are healing well! I have one more week of radiation then I will be done. Can't believe after all this treatment I will be done. Such a weird feeling but I am looking forward to an amazing summer with family and friends!
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Hello ladies.
Met with MO this morning and my treatment is exactly what I was expecting. I am starting Xeloda on Monday. He says for 6 to 8 cycles depending how it goes. Two weeks on and one week off. I am not upset about it, I just keeping rolling with what I can do. MO says its improves survival by 9%. 9 more women out of 100 alive to be there with their family and friends.
I got my final 2 drains out on Friday. And Saturday jumped right back into life with taking daughter to swim lessons, out to lunch, Target, Grocery store..a typical Saturday for us. My mom drove as it was a lot that day. I am going to start driving small distances today. I am jumping back into normal life a little more each day.
I can see my eyebrows growing! Yeah! I check every morning in a magnified mirror. We have a birthday party picnic this coming weekend. It will be the first time I am out around my daughters classmates and parents. So trying to look less like a cancer mom as possible!
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Thanks for letting us know, Jennifer. Xeloda sounds like a great option. You're recovering just in time for summer! I'm so happy that the October '17 group didn't have to miss out on much sunshine in our treatment plan. Wouldn't want to be cooped up now!
Have a great week, everyone!
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Hello ladies, jumping in to let you catch up with me as I've been reading your posts and kept up with you but I haven't added to the conversation in a while. I wish we could all be in the same place, that is, done with everything cancer, for ourselves and our loved ones. I must say I never understood the magnitude of this disease until I found myself in the middle of it. I sometimes still can't believe I was diagnosed.
I'm two months past chemo and I've finished my six weeks of radiation. The radiation didn't become uncomfortable for me until the last week, when the “burn" really set in. This week I am taking Advil and continuing to lather up with lots of Aquaphor. I have a couple of lotions with lidocaine in them and they help too. I think I'll be much improved after this week as I'm peeling and without the daily dose of radiation, my skin is starting to heal. I was concerned that I should have radiation on both sides and the tumor board considered my case a second time to conclude again that radiation was only needed on one side...thank goodness 'cause Ouch.
I have struggled with hot flashes for months now, and since I'm starting Tamoxifen tomorrow I'm concerned about the hot flashes getting worse. I'm close to asking for a sleeping pill but even the Advil PM makes me more groggy than I'd like to be in the morning so for now, I'm just getting by with little sleep. This is the new normal I guess. I'm still functioning and my mood is even better now that my treatments are done, but I feel like some good sleep would really help. I went to our local natural foods store to ask if they had anything for hot flashes and haha they did
Today was supposed to be the first day I didn't have to go for any treatment or procedure but then I was due for a port flush...so Tomorrow will be the first day with no visit to the doctor's office. I have lots of follow-up appointments on the calendar and also my Annual and a dentist appointment which I'm thinking of canceling. Enough already!
I've been going without a hat for a couple of weeks now. I have just barely enough hair (refer to Peony's pic from sometime back) to do this comfortably, but I was so over the hats. My son said bald is “in" right now and he thought I could pull it off. Haha I WAS bald, the hair I have now is long! My eyebrows and eyelashes are growing and I was close to callling in for an eyebrow wax but I am honestly hesitant to pull a single hair from my head!
What else? My nails are still messed up but they don't hurt anymore. I went in for a manicure a couple of weeks ago but since my nails were “like nothing ever seen before" they wouldn't do much but paint them. Today I think they would give me a full manicure. I'll take it!
Coming to grips with my BMX. Some shirts just seem to accentuate the “flatness." I guess I've come full circle as this was life for me at fourteen. Still debating my next move. I consult with a plastic surgeon at the end of June.
Thanks for being here. I wish I could give you all a hug.
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Trees - I'm right behind you with being done! Congrats on starting to turn the corner physically!! I know the burn hurts, but I bet it heals quickly. My RO gave me a week of boosts in the middle because I started to burn. He also gave me a steroid prescription, and silvadene cream. With all that, I healed up so well and so fast. The last week and a half barely even affected me again. It made the last round of treatments way more bearable.
I'm curious about your hot flash pills. I'll have to look into them. They are one of the few lingering SEs right now for me. I start tamoxifen soon. I could start tomorrow, but my MO said if I wanted to take a week vacation I could. I haven't decided yet if I'll dive right in or wait. I also finally trimmed the last of my curving nails and am dying to get a real manicure. I'm not sure they are healed enough to go back to my acrylics yet though.
Once my neuropathy gets markedly better, I'll truly feel "recovered" I think.
I'll probably be checking in less and less now, but I love you girls and thank you so much for being there and being such an amazing support system.
You ladies are beautiful inside and out and are strong warriors.
Love you all!!
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I really miss seeing posts from you ladies. You all got me through chemo! It helped comparing how we felt, side effects, and having another person really understand. I know most of you are done or almost done with treatment but I hope you check in from time to time and let us know how you are doing.
I am not checking the message boards and googling as much anymore. As time goes on and I don't look so much like a cancer patient (have enough hair to go without hats), I feel like I will be able to distance myself from it even more. Even with starting round 2 of chemo and then my exchange surgery which I guess will take place around November. My husband had a hard time with me needing to start another chemo. He was happy I was getting to be like myself again and worried about the side effects this next round will be. But understands why I am doing this.
My eyebrows are really growing now. Yeah! No eyelash progress yet. Lisa mentioned bumpy skin and yes I have that too especially on my arms. I didn't even notice I lost the hair on my arms until a few weeks ago.
End of last week, I went through 3 nights with hot flashes again. I need to document them but I really think they happen around the time my cycle would be. I seem to get them and then not for several weeks.
I am not sleeping well this week, 5-6 hrs of broken sleep. Just can't get comfortable. I thought once my drains were out, I could go back to sleeping on my side but it hasn't been that easy. I do feel better each day though. My mom has been here to help and is planning on leaving after this weekend since I am driving again and can pretty much take care of myself and daughter on my own.
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Petey we have been on the same schedule, and generally all of us, what a journey. Hang in there Jennifer.
I have not cleared the hot flash supplement with my RO yet and a pharmacist friend says I need to avoid Soy. This is not the first time I've heard this but when I asked my RO about it some time ago she did not think it was necessary (at the time I think I specifically mentioned Clif bars which have some soy ingredient and a friend who is ER+ said I had to avoid). In fact an ingredient of the hot flash supplement is SoyLife Non-GMO Isoflavone Complex (from soy). I will report back what the RO says. Hot flashes continue. Does anyone know, without cancer in the scenario, would one expect to have hot flashes thru menopause for a year, two years, the rest of our lives? aaagh.
I still have a few hot spots from the radiation and I may ask for a perscription for that cream you mention Petey. I have patches of skin that look almost completely healed but still a few (very) hot spots.
I am low energy after a week of work and I'm reminded that my body is still healing. I think I'll go watch a movie!
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Trees and Petey, I've read a lot on what to eat and what supplements to take, etc. The jury is definitely out on soy still. I don't really think you'll find a definitive answer out there. I take away from that to go ahead and eat it but in moderation.
Jennifer, I went through a period of not sleeping well right after I was okayed to sleep on my side. I wasn't completely healed yet and I kept flopping all night trying to find a comfortable position. Then I started suffering from hot flashes, which are very common after chemotherapy acc to my NP. The only thing I'd even consider taking for hot flashes is Melatonin, which honestly didn't help much. Then last weekend we slept outside in our screened in porch at our lakehouse, and I slept like a lamb! It was in the low 40s and raining like cats and dogs on the steel roof.. Zzzzzzzz. Well, I couldn't convince my husband to keep the bedroom at 40, so instead I bought a powerful desk fan and blasted it away at my face all night. I was amazed to wake up the next day and realizing I'd slept through the night. The downside is a really dry throat, which I don't need because my sinuses still haven't recovered from Taxol dryness. Aw well, you cannot have it all.
I'm happy to report that since I got the fan, I'm sleeping quite well. I've even quit getting up to pee most nights. Last night, for instance, I slept from 11pm to 8am. Fresh air, sunshine, and exercise make all the difference.
Tomorrow I start the LiveStrong program. There are about a dozen participants in this class, acc to my instructor. It meets twice a week for 12 weeks. Tomorrow is apparently meet and greet and assessment day. If you're interested, check the website and see if it's offered in your area. It's free to most people.
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Lisa - I think you are right on the soy thing. A lot of people say avoid it, a lot of people say it doesn't matter. I even read one article (in a magazine at the RO's office) that said it could be helpful in a regular amount! Who knows....
Question girls - Did anyone have peeling, irritation on the face and neck way after chemo or after radiation? I don't know if this is an allergic reaction to all the tree pollen or if it is some odd sort of side effect/healing process from chemo and radiation. Here's a picture. Fair warning - I look awful!!!!! I even put on a heavy moisturizer two hours before this. It's so bizarre. It's been going on about three days.
I start LiveStrong this week too. It will be interesting. Hopefully, it's a fun group of people.
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Peter, I haven't had any peeling on my face, but I wouldn't be surprised if I did. Chemo is a crazy toxic drug.
LiveStrong is going well. Did our assessments and a Meet n Greet. Wednesday I was able to do 45 minutes on the elliptical but was really sore the next day. Ah, the price you pay for getting off your butt. And tennis is getting a little better every time I play.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms
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Hi Ladies, Happy Mother’s Day to all, no matter whether your brood has two legs or four legs or you have both in your world, or you have none! I hope we’re all celebrating our victories over the past miserable months; we all have so much to be thankful for!
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Thanks gals. I'm still not really sure what caused it. I'm guessing an allergic reaction though to what I have no clue. Hydrocortisone cream has made a big difference though it's not gone yet. I started the LiveStrong program at the Y today. I highly recommend it.
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8 weeks since last IV chemo. 5 weeks since double mastectomy. Day 2 of Xeloda.
Happy my eyebrows are mostly back. Eyelashes started making progress and I have enough in the last week to wear mascara again. Waiting on the head hair to fill in, wearing baseball caps now.
Still struggling with sleeping. Last night I sleep on the couch because my back hurt besides the uncomfortableness of the expanders. I find I hurts on days I go for walks. I am only walking 1.5 to 3 miles. But will still keep doing it as long as I can. May have to stop if I get hand and foot syndrome from xeloda. I wanted to start the livestrong program but assume I have to wait until treatment is done.
Calling the surgeon today. My right arm I can not extend out and up without pain and tightness around my inner elbow. May need some exercises or physical therapy?
But overall even with the aches, pains and sleeping issues. I am doing good and jumping back into normal life.
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Jenn, looking good. I had a hard time sleeping until I could sleep comfortably on my side. I think it was about 10 weeks post surgery. You need a doctors ok to start LS. Don’t think you have to wait til after treatment because some people are in.continuous treatment. But you’ll definitely want to be able to do cardio and weights. There’s are some people whove been out of treatments for 3 weeks and others who’ve been done for 5 years.
Yesterday I did a consultation for microblading. Overtweezed in my 20s and they never recovered. I’m also going to check out cool sculpting for this gut of mine.
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I never like side pics of me, but it shows off the hair progress more than a straight on face pic.
I learned about a new hair color product last night, if you want to try some crazy colors. Its called Clorista by Loreal. I am tempted to try pink or purple (when I have enough hair). Am I too old for that? It only lasts 4-8 shampoo's.
I always had big bushy eyebrows that I am sure most people were thinking, why didn't I tweeze those things. It made it hard when I lost those, since they were a big part of how I looked.
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Hi Everyone,
Jennifer - I just picked up the purple colorista when I was at Target this morning. I'm 64 , so no you're not to old. What have you got to lose - its temporary. My hair is growing back 90% white so I'm xcited to give it a try. Then I'm going to wear it to the Prince museum at Paisley Park.
Still having lots of numbness from my 3/29 surgery. Lymph node and underarm nerve removal are what is causing problems. I see a physical therapist twice a week. I do have cording in my right arm, and very limited range of motion.
I also see a lymphedema specialist. I don't have it yet but I do have to wear a sleeve during all waking hours to prevent it.
My radiation treatment starts next week - 30 treatments.
I have already begun taking the AI Letrozole as well as Herceptin and Perjetta infusions every three weeks.
Once I heal from the radiation - approx 4 months after- the PS will do the reconstruction surgery - not sure if I'm going implants or diep flap.
The number of medical appointments is crazy. It's like a full time job to fight this monster. Congrats to all who have completed treatment
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HELLO OCTOBER LADIES!! I've been taking some time off the boards but have been thinking of you. It was good to catch up by reading your posts.
Petey, good luck with the redness/dryness in your face. I didn't have anything like that from chemo or rads, but with all the poisons we've taken in over the last 6+ months, who knows? Hope you get relief soon. And by the way, your brows look fantastic!
Jenn, good luck with the Xeloda. I hope it finishes the job and eradicates every single cancer cell still hiding in you. You are in my prayers. And I say go for the color! I think pink would look great on you.
Simbobby - good luck with radiation. My best advice is to drink TONS of water and if you haven't already started moisturizing your breast like crazy, start now before treatment begins.
Yesterday I finished my last treatment. I didn't ring the bell in the waiting room, but I did put a cute "Minion" sticker on the machine I spent most of my time on. I think I mentioned that it is the one often used by the pediatric oncology dept so the part of it that is close to your face is covered in fun stickers. It made it less scary for me; I hope it does for the kids as well! (When my hair first started sprouting I would kid with the radiation techs that I looked like a Minion with my glasses and 14 proud hairs.)
(I didn't want to ring the bell but we thought I should get a photo to send around to my family. My oldest brother said the coolest thing: that our father and grandfather already rang the bell for me when their broken clock surprisingly chimed last month.)
I'm starting physical therapy next week for the Mondor's Cords that developed under my lumpectomies breast. They are no where near as painful as they had been and so much better now that I'm not crushing them on that darn prone-treatment table every day. Also some restorative yoga poses help, too.
Have to say that I had a pretty tough weekend before these last two rads. Had a very emotional reaction to finishing up treatment. All my logic told me I should be elated, that I got the best result I could have hoped for, etc., but instead I felt like I was in free fall. I'm going to look into the resources that the hospital has for survivors going through similar emotions. This anxiety has really taken me by surprise. It's not helping that I still don't know if I have a job to go back to and the medical bills are crushing, but I really thought I'd at least be flying high about being done with treatment.
I've been working on being my active and eating better. That's going to be my next focus and it's an all-important one. Gonna look into the Live Strong program some of you have mentioned.. Lisa and Petey -- think it was you
I can't tell you enough how much I've needed all of you as I went through this past 6+ months. I'm single and live alone so sometimes I really had a tough time doing this all on my own. Being able to connect with all of you who were going through the same thing at the same time helped me when I needed the support. Thank you sooooo much!
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Jennifer - You definitely don't need to be done with treatment (several in my group aren't), but you do need a doctor's ok. I wonder if you have cording in your arm. I did. http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects... Seeing an OT helped. She gave me stretches and "rubbing" to do at home and she stretches and massages my arm when I see her. Your hair and mine are similar. I'm a little thicker.
Lisa - Be careful with the microblading. I just read a report about someone getting an infection from it! Lots of people have had it and not had problems, so I'm sure it's just random...but still.
Jennifer and Simboby - I would love to hear if the Colorista works! I know some people had trouble with other temporary stuff taking. I do also feel that with this short spikey hair, a more fun/sassy color is order.
Lisa - I'm sorry you are feeling so emotional! I get it though. And definitely find some support groups! I got really emotional after my first LiveStrong meeting because it really put things in perspective for me. Other people were dealing with so much more/worse stuff. I started feeling a bit of survivor's guilt in a way. But these people are also so inspiring and I hope to make some good friends out of this group. I have worked on walking every day. My friend started this a while ago and it helped motivate me. I'm also trying to snack and eat better. Not taking on too much and feeling overwhelmed, just little things here and there. Here's the picture we've been using to guide us, though I always try for at least 20 minutes instead of 20.
My face is a TON better. I don't know how the rash fits in, but I wonder if my face just peeled off the unhealthy skin left from chemo. I had so many people tell me my complexion looked so good and I looked tan. It was kind of annoying because I was like...no this my face darkening from drugs. When my skin was peeling off earlier this week, it was dark colored. I don't know if that's me making something up or not. And like I said, no clue how the rash fits in to the picture!! Oh well.
Hope everyone is on the path to feeling better!!
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Hi Ladies, I've been stalking everyone's posts for a while, not answering. Sounds like you're all doing really well and getting back to the "new normal." I wish I could bounce back faster than I am. The mind says yes but the body says, whoa...wait a minute! Turning 70 at the end of June doesn't help either. But I just keep telling myself that turning 70 is better than the alternative...
I'm trying to eat better the last few weeks, cutting out added sugar, drinking more water and eating fewer carbs. I'm hoping that eating better will result in more energy, more restful sleep and maybe more hair and nails! I'm also thinking of having more blood work since I came down late last Sunday with a really severe sinus infection. This is the first one to require antibiotics that I can remember in at least 30 years. My podiatrist said I got the nail fungus because my immune system was so ravaged by chemo and my PC dr agreed a while back when I also got the UTI, and on Tuesday she restated that might be the case when I showed up with the latest infection. I thought chemo SE's would have diminished by now but I guess not. Any thoughts? I've been in bed bone tired and sleeping since Sunday night and am getting rather frustrated.
Petey, your walking guide is great, thank you!! If the rain in New Jersey ever stops I'm on this big time. I've been using my fitbit again but haven't quite mastered how to get past 8000 steps every day. And there's something familiar about your comments on your skin darkening. It seems like that's one of the chemo SEs but I didn't develop it.
Agatha, I think I understand your comment about an emotional free fall. I vacillate between feeling "cured" which is what both my MO and my surgeon at Fox Chase told me when they said I don't need more tests or scans or anything unless "something" turns up...between that and feeling like maybe they've tossed in the towel and are just saying that to make me feel better. Have they checked me off of their To Do List and kicked me to the curb? Or is this really over and am I actually done and free to go? For so long I felt like I had a safety net of sorts, a gang of we-cure-cancer experts in Philly just waiting to tell me what to do next, and there are some days when flying solo just aint what its cracked up to be. I miss that Safety Net, big time. Feeling like I've been pushed out of the nest...
I've started to tell more people, a few at a time, and the reactions have surprised me a little. One much older friend revealed that she too had 3 Partial Mastectomies(lumpectomies) that she kept to herself, all during the last 22 years we've known each other. At first I was somewhat taken aback that she'd kept her condition private, but now I totally understand. I've done the very same thing, looking to avoid the label of "she's the one with breast cancer." As she explained, BC is so much more common now and in the open now, that no one's really shocked by it any more. It's more common to hear/think, "Oh, her too," and move on to the next subject. And women are living so much longer with the progress made in treatments, actually not just women but everyone with cancer.
Thanks everyone for the updates and supportive comments and suggestions! I'll be very glad when I have hair again, when I can stop taking the gabapentin, when I stop catching so many infections, when my underarm is no longer numb, when fatigue doesn't rule my day, but mostly I'm just glad to be coming out of this ordeal comparatively unscathed...minor annoyances aside
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Hi Agatha, nice to see you. I was thinking about you before you posted, wondering how you were doing.
Petey, yes I think it's cording in my arm too. I meet with physical therapy next week. If I try to raise my arms straight up in the air. My left is normal and straight up, my right I can't. It's tight around my inner elbow.
I had my six month post AC Echocardiogram this morning and all looks good. He said I have a strong heart and doesn't look like AC did any damage. No more Echo's needed! I remember when this appointment was made, it felt so far away. Treatment feels so long when your in the thick of it.
One week of Xeloda under my belt and so far the only side effects have been my back aches from time to time, overall aches just like when I was on Taxol.And sometimes the bottoms of my feet look red but no pain.
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Hi, everyone.
Petey - Thank you for posting that walking program. I took it and am going to print it out for my fridge. Maybe it will stop raining in NYC for more than a day so I can get in the park (I live a block from a really pretty one and all the trees are flowering.)
Tewks - There might be something to your getting different infections that's still related to chemo messing with our immune systems. Good luck with the blood work. The fatigue could also be left over from radiation. Treating this monster really takes a toll on us.
Jenn - That's sweet that you were thinking of me... makes me feel good
. How long is your course of Xeloda? Is it 6 months? I hope the SE's don't get to bad. We're still on a similar schedule with somethings. This week I'm starting PT for cording under my breast and I go for heart tests on Thursday. Unfortunately A/C did do a number on my heart and I'm now on heart medication to bring my heart rate down. Yesterday I went to a breast cancer support group at my hospital. They meet monthly. It really helped to get some feedback from the social worker and other survivors that are a few years out. There are a lot more hospital resources than I realized for people they consider in transition (what I am right now) and survivors (which comes a year or more out from treatment.) I'm going to take advantage of as much as I can. I'm in a pretty bleak emotional place right now and need the help re: survivor guilt, finances, legal issues with losing my job, etc. Wish me luck!
I hope everyone who's still checking in is having a good week. I look forwarded to reading the updates. You've all helped my so much from that time we met up 7 months ago!
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Dear Agatha,
Wishing you the best of luck. Your pic - looking good. Dwell in your pCR and treatment completed. You've overcome the biggest obstacle with flying colors. Stay healthy & positive.
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Good luck, Agatha
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Hello Ladies! It was so nice to read the updates of how everyone is transitioning into their new life without treatments. I am a month out post treatments. I am finally starting to feel like my old self, more energy, fewer body aches, no more numbness in my fingers or toes and less dr appointments. YEAH!!!
I have to say my ending was very emotional too. I was so sick of Dr appointments when they asked me to ring the bell I said "NO",!! I just wanted to get the heck out of there. I was done with treatments and everyone wanted to celebrate. Everyone but me. I did mot feel "done" nor did I feel like celebrating. I still was fatigue & weak, sore, and had radiation burns. Each week got better and better and I got stronger and stronger.
I will soon be starting a trial study how weight lose, good nutrition helps reduce reoccurrence. One group will have only a magazine and written material about weight lose & nutrition. The other group will have a trainer/ support person, Fitbit, to monitor calories, excersise and weight lose. They are hoping to provide this for all patient as an extended part of treatment. I am excited to get started.
I am so proud of all of you who have started with Live Strong, walking and changing bad habits. I am just starting to have the energy to start. We all need to do everything we can to prevent this from happening again. It is up to us.
I also want to thank all of you for your support, couldn't have made it without you 😋 We need to all meet back the first week in October 2018 for more updates. Love and blessings to you all.
PS Hair is growing . It got really long and curly on the sides and back but still short on top. I cut the sides once, took my clippers and cut the sides and back to blend with the top, so it will grow in even. Did the color blonde too. I think another week and I can loose the wig!!! It's getting way to hot!! Take care!!
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Hi Ladies- so glad to hear everyone doing well and moving on. What a year we have all had and we made it! I have a question to those who already dyed their hair. Do you think my hair is long enough now to color it? I have never colored it on my own so need to go to my hairdresser but I don't know if long enough. Thanks ladies! Tracey
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Hi Tracey,
Congrats on the hair! I think you look great, but I completely understand wanting to dye it already. People complimented my white/grey hair all the time but I felt old, and that's all that matters!
You'll get varying opinions about when to dye your hair. I dyed it when it was about an inch long. Others say wait til 3 months or 6 months. Not sure why. Anyway, I've colored it twice now. The first time was about 5 weeks ago and it was an all over color that looked rather silly because it was monochromatic. Last week, I had an all over color to cover the grey, and then some blonde highlights. Be warned if you lighten it like I did, it may lighten more quickly than it used to. Mine looks much lighter than I wanted. It's also at a very odd phase where it's too short to lay nicely and too long to allow it to just stick straight up. I have to put gel on it and then comb it flat to calm it down.
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Thanks Lisa you look great!! I love the color as well. You're right about wanting to color the gray. Mine is like a salt and pepper. It is at that length where it is starting to peek out of the wig. I figured I would color it and wear the wig for 3 more weeks for work then I am off for the summer. Then I hope to just wear it short. Thanks for the advice!
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Specifically to Tewks-may I suggest, from your symptomsthat you look up and try the spit test for candida? I am 12 weeks pfc from TCHP rounds for HER2+ and personally went through the infection hell that sounds similar to yours for 3 months. The only thing that got me out of that crazy loop was a round of anti fungal meds, a STRICT anti-candida diet and probiotics to replenish good gut bacteria. The whole experience was less than pleasant and resulted in the loss of 20 pounds (1/5 of my body weight) that I am now trying to gain back. I’m glad I figured it out because no one in the medical community suggested this could be the issue but readily agreed with me that’s what it was when I presented what I had researched and home tested.
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Lisa you have so much hair! Mine is still too short to comb in any direction but I was the last to finish chemo here (I think). Its salt and pepper too. The pepper is much darker than I was pre cancer and it seems like the salt is lessening or less noticeable at least. I haven't gone out without my baseball cap yet.
I started physical therapy this week for cording in my right arm. It's getting better and PT thinks I will only need 5 or less sessions. I also have a lymphedema evaluation scheduled at the end of the month. I am not having any symptoms, but since insurance is paying for it might as well go and see what they say.
I am on my first off week for Xeloda and feeling better each day. Really the worst of it so far has been my back aching and its lessened to nothing in my off week.
I was cleaning off my desk the other day and came across my path report. Read it over again. Noticed it said I had duct ectasia in my right breast, a benign condition that mimics cancer! This had never come up on mammograms or MRI's. Sure makes me glad I went ahead with a BMX.
Before surgery, I signed a consent to tissue bank my breast tissue for research purposes. I read they didn't want my tissue because of a lack of a definitive mass even though I had 7mm residual. Not sure what that means but it sounds like good news. Maybe the swiss cheese effect people mention? I will have to ask MO about it.
I hope everyone is doing great and have some fun summer plans!
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Hello, ladies! Just checking in to say hi. I miss you all. I hope everyone is putting past treatments behind you and enjoying the start of summer. Jennifer and anyone else still being treated: Keep up the good work - I'm still rooting you on.I can't believe my 4 month MO check up is this week! I was in the hospital yesterday for another appointment one floor down from the chemo department. In one way it seems like I easily could have been checking in up there, but at the same time that seems like lifetime ago.
My hair is growing back, but slowly. I'm 100% scarf-free right now. Lots of compliments and people telling me the pixie is chic. Even if they're just being nice it feels good to hear. And I love to run my fingers through something up there :-)
Physically I'm doing well. I do have a seroma in the area of my lumpectomy but am told it's normal, even if a little uncomfortable. Should go away in a few months. My skin survived radiation with no more than some tiny areas of peeling that are wrapping up. Physical Therapy took care of the strange pain I had around my ribs after surgery. Life's good! :-)
The only bad news I have is that yesterday I officially lost my job. I was on unpaid leave more or less since October, but they decided not to have me back. Last week I knew it was coming so started sending out the resumes. A lot of companies ask for submissions on line and ask for info on whether or not you have presently or have had a disability. Cancer is listed. I'm not sure if I did the wrong thing by answering "yes". Next week there is a day-long conference I am attending sponsored by a non-profit "Cancer and Careers". I hope to get some idea about how better to navigate questions like that in the application process.
My financial pressures have really hit a critical level and I decided I had no choice but to start a Go Fund Me campaign for myself last night. That was a hard pill to swallow but I did it. This disease doesn't really allow us to stay in our comfort zones, does it? Maybe it's a good life lesson that it's okay to ask for help sometimes... just trying to find that silver lining :-)
OK, ladies. That's about all I have to update for now. Let's all go outside and move since the weather is finally getting nice!
Love, Agatha
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