2017 Diagnosed-- A Place To Share "Whats Next"
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Peachy, Sorry you couldn't get your infusion treatment today. When they put my port in, I had to wait one week to allow the port time to settle in before they started my chemo. It took a few weeks for me to for it to calm. It did get to the point where it was just there and not so annoying. I know my skin is super sensitive. I have had it out 2.5 months now, and the scar is still healing. Someone told me it took hers a year to finally heal. I find that strange, as I would assume the larger scars would have taken things harder. Maybe it is because it protruded and stretched the skin more for me. Who knows? What a journey this is, and no two people react exactly the same way. Just know you can do this. Finished 4/33 rads today. It took all of about 3 minutes. I suggested to them that they should have either snap or velcro tabs for gown closures, as I asked if most were BC patients getting rads, of which they said, "Yes." I reminded them many of us have had surgery or multiple surgeries once we get to rads and have a hard time making the arms work together right to tie that darn tie behind our neck. I don't want to go walking freely through the hallway, and should I really have to hold it to the side? I was polite, but let's think about this people.
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Kim, I had my port taken out in December and it has bothered me as well. I had no trouble at all with it during or after chemo. It was sore, very bruised and I still have a lump where it was removed. PS said it was a hematoma and it will take time to dissolve.
It's weird that you had back-tie gowns. That would be hard. We had three arm hole gowns that were pretty easy to put on. Some people just wore their own tank tops and dropped them down to their waist when they got in the room. That was pretty smart
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still counting my lucky stars. No pain I know of. No more weight gain. Very steady.
Wish me luck sisters. Feb 19th is consul at Mayo re polyposis w Cowdens syndrome. Cowdens is prone to many bleeping Cs. Latest colonoscopy showed gazillion polyps. All benign. Half of experts say every six month colonoscopy (automatic weight control!!!) while the other half experts say removing or resectioning colon. I have been eating all healthy stuff which has made me regular every morning in bathroom. Sorry sisters I could be so direct. I see a colonoscopy in the near future!!
The next day 20th is chk up at Moffitt. The usual, blood work, CT scan and bone density test. I am more nervous about Moffitt trip. The two days alone mean 500 miles of driving.
Work still stresses me out. Got better but I am so annoyed about frequent deadlines on any given day. I found a job postng by a company I really like. It would be a miracle in every way but I am going to apply over this weekend.
Happy Friday!!!!
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Okay, my hair is starting to come back - which is great, but... man do I miss not having to shave! Haha - there are some silver linings to chemo, I guess. How about you ladies - anyone rocking the super short hair after it starts to come back or are you still wearing your wigs/coverups? My 4 year old is like 'no, mommy, you have to wear your wig.' My 2 year old just likes to rub my 'fuzzy head' though
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Lexica, I have enough hair now to be able to spike it up like Chef Ann Burrell but since it’s winter and COLD, I go out with a lined stocking cap. My hair was down to my waist before chemo. Now I get cold easily from a lack of longer hair
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For those of you posting hair updates can you also post the PFC date? It would give us coming to the end of the chemo journey hope! 😘💕
Thanks!
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Joyseeker— my last chemo was 8/16/17 so I am 5 months out. Same color it was before chemo, mostly brown. Sure feels soft. It’s maybe 2 inches long.
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Im 3 months pfc.
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Just finished 5 rads sessions. 20 more To go. So far so good
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I am two months PFC. This weather definitely makes it easier to hide the hair loss. I'm thinking that when I start the hormone treatment + warmer weather, I might have to go without anything. Hot flashes and hot weather = okay to go bald in my book 0 -
Your hair pics give me hope! I have one more treatment. Still have “bangs” but not much else. Hoping for hair by sons grad in May.
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Joyseeker - still have bangs, that's awesome! Mine was totally gone. I'm sure you'll be ready for May, but even if you aren't, there are some great wigs out there!
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Awesome Jouseeker you still have bangs!
Two months PFC .... still wearing my beanie daily.
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Wow, you ladies have some good growth! Mine is 8 months pfc, Herceptin & Perjeta for us HER2+ folks really slow it down.
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Last month, about 6 months PFC. It is very soft, like baby hair. Came in a pretty silvery color but has now grown into a mousy looking brown. I think I might get some color next month. Not my of choice of stylebut I do think it looks like just a really short haircut. It started growing back about 6 weeks into my taxol treatments. I only wore scarves during chemo and stopped wearing those during summer. I had a baseball cap with hair that I wore twice. That was a waste of $100 for me. It was cute but i never felt comfortable in awig.
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My last chemo was 10/27. My hair has always grown fast. Seems to be same natural strawberry-blonde, with a few extra earned grays!
My brows are back fully (didn't lose those until a few weeks after chemo ended, along with lashes, which are also back). I had a natural wave, and it appears it will continue to be wavy at the very least.Lego, Your hair looks wonderful after 6 months. Just beautiful! I donated my unworn wig in December. I am definitely not a wig girl!
Looking good all you lovey ladies!
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LOoking good Kim. That is good growth for only a couple months. I'm jealous that you grew back the same color- happy for you though.
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Ladies .... you all look good, nice hair!! I dong like wig also, will need to put that on this coming week because I need to take DMV picture. They won’t let me to wear a hat or beanie, isn’t it?
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This is what is next for me. My therapy dog. Meet Felix 💜
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Joyseeker—— ahhhh. Felix I s soooo cute!!
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DodgersGirl, that is great to hear. I am on week three of Tamoxifen and so far so good. Finally feeling back to normal and even sleeping comfortably on my right side. Now all I need is Spring to come! I am done with winter, ugh. Once I see my perennials poking green shoots up I will know I've closed this chapter. Hoping all the best for all of you.
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Kim, just replying re gowns that open in the back. My hospital had lovely robes to put over them but a coed patient waiting room. Awkward. I did see women bring their own caftans/robes/cardigans which looked very chic.
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Joyseeker:
Adorable!!!
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Kim & Legomaster - I have had the SAME issue with my port scar after removal. I'm at week 6, and it is just starting to look pretty good. They said it may have been because it was done only 3 weeks after radiation, but who knows! I swear my mastectomy scars healed faster! :-)
Joy, here is a picture of my hair growth. I'm 4 months PFC, as of TODAY (yay!). It is about the same color as before chemo, maybe a bit more gray. I kind of like it, we'll see if I decide to color it or not. I officially need a trim to shape it a bit, and the hair itself, even the gray, is soft, soft, soft. Also, I just got back from NYC, and was able to walk a lot without major fatigue (did get a 20 minute power nap in most afternoons). We walked a minimum of 6 miles a day, had an 8 mile day in there somewhere. So, I hope this gives you hope for the other side! I know reading others posts who were out of chemo really helped me when I was in it.
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Love the doggy picture.
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No therapy like dog therapy! Felix is a handsome boy.
My port is feeling better. It doesn't ache anymore but I know it's there. Hard not to know as it looks like a little marble under the skin. The steri strips are still on and I have a little bruising but not too bad. I'm anxious to get moving again with treatment.
I picked up Scar Away silicone strips for the scar under my arm from the lymph node removal. Seems silly to worry about the breast scar since I still have an exchange to go through. Has anyone used these? The box says to wear for 12 weeks. Not too concerned right now about scars but thought I'd try them. It was an impulse buy while I was picking up band-aids.
I am 4 months post chemo and have a very dense crew cut. Nothing long enough to part or style but it is becoming long enough that I wake up with 'bed head.' I'm not complaining. I hope growth will continue while on Herceptin.
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I’m also planning on getting those strips for my SNB scars, I’d say it’s the only place my scars are visible to others and they’re most visible to me, I’d like to think that there will be a day when BC isn’t the first thought of my day, and not having a big old visual reminder would be great.
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LoJo, That's a great head of hair! Wow. Who knew the port area would be such a drag post removal. I am wondering if it is because it stretches the skin (sure did mine), and it hooks into our veins? Maybe it's just more traumatic that way. Who knows?! They just didn't prepare me for that. Surely thought it would be the easy-breezy heal.
Joy, Felix is adorable!! Type? Kind of looks like my mini-schnauzer did when she was a pup - just different coloring. There's nothing cuter than puppies!! When will you get him?
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Hubby went and picked up Felix last night. We are getting busy with calves on the farm and he had a few spare hours. I’m recovering from neulasta so I didn’t go. He’s a Morkie. Yorkie Maltese cross. And I absolutely love him. So cuddly.
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Oh, Joyseeker, now I want a Morkie!
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