Starting chemo January 2018
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Hi, everybody! I'm doing well out here--no side effects from tamoxifen, getting back in shape, and heading off to my first breast cancer survivor retreat at the end of the month. My sister had her third round of ACT this week, and I'm glad she's moving through. Cancer is still on my mind, but I'm dealing well with the aftermath so far, though when I think about scans in a couple months I want to puke.
Here's to benign results and simple cysts for us all. Sending love!
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Homemadesalsa - congratulations!
33 rads? Yikes! You, ladies who need to get that many treatments(Insideout2 ), are my heroes! I only had 20 - and couldn't wait to be done. Homemadesalsa, it is also impressive that you could ride your bike during the treatment. I found on week 2 that my energy level went downhill rapidly. Still trying to pick it up....it's better but still not myself yet.
lmurphy, Insideout2 - gardening is so recreational, isn't it?:))
we built raised beds on our loan. this year had a great success with cruisiferous plants: broccoli, green and purple cabbages and kohlrabi. Yellow zucchinis are coming out of my ears, and had one whole cucumber lol. however my tomatoes, squashes and beans were not as prolific this year if any...
I am still waiting for my ultrasound appointment....so no news yet.
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The results from my ultrasound on a new find came back normal - whew! Still need to see the surgeon for a follow up.
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Great news! Here's to clean scans!
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wonderful news!!
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Hello All! It's been a while since I've posted anything. I had my bilateral mastectomy on August 14th -no reconstruction yet. It's been tough, but I'm getting through it. I found out last week that I need radiation on the left side - I figured this would be the case. He wants me to come in to start the planning process the week of Sept. 10th. I have to be able to get my arms over my head by then! Not sure if that is going to happen. I lost a LOT of mobility with my arms with this surgery. I have a physical therapist coming to the house today for the first time. I'm nervous that it's going to hurt working out with her, but it's for the best. I can't wait to be able to do things all by myself again! Had a low grade fever yesterday and felt yucky, but I think it's gone today, so I'm not too worried about infection.
Saw my oncologist for a follow up on Thursday. He asked me if I am done having kids and how would I feel about having my ovaries out? What?! I only half heard anything else he said after that! I told him I can't even think about another surgery right now. He said no rush, he'll start me on tamoxifen after rads is done and then we'll go from there.
I'm nervous about side effects from tamoxifen. I'm slightly worried about radiation, but I'm hoping it won't be that bad.
OkKate - how long have you been taking the tamoxifen? I'm glad you aren't having any side effects from it.
Olesya - I see you've lost some energy levels with rads - anything else? I'll be starting in a few weeks....
Take care!
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Hi, Paisley2916 , make sure you are in a very comfortable position for planning and mapping for radiation, because that is the position you will be in every single time. The positioning will take awhile and will be the longest time you spend in radiation ward. The following sessions are 15-20 min tops(including changing into a gown). the 1st couple of sessions will be a bit longer as the team will take additional images to insure proper positioning.
ask your radiologist about moisturizer. I was using the organic calendula cream. I was instructed to only apply it when needed. There is also aquaphore or something like that. Its water based. Basically the moisturizers need to be only water base so they don't create a film on skin. Apply is after the radiation, but not before.
I also found helpful to start the rads on Tuesday or Wednesday, that way you get a few shorter stretches before weekend, that allowed skin to recover a bit.
around 10th session the fatigue started to settle in. and still lasts 2,5 month later. first 1,5 months post rads were the worst. I was tired all the time, and my emotions were in a dump. I finished 20 rounds of radiation on June 5th. Still am recovering energy level wise. Skin held up. Just had a little crack at the base of my nipple(brushed my hand accidentally over it)-used polysporin on it.. 3 days later it healed. Redness was gone withing a week or two-ish, sensitivity of the skin is still present. and slight change in pigmentation( barely noticeable though).
My side effects from Tamoxifen(started in on April 23): hot flashes and night sweats. Which are amplified by Lupron. I don't know if they would be less intense if I was only on Tamoxifen. But right now with both meds my hot flashes are pretty severe. I sleep in towels and have a remote controlled fan(which is a God sent).
I also experience the stiffness of joints.
Was recommended by my oncologist to take Calcium 1000mg per day. And Glucosamin to help with joint stiffness.
Weight gain is happening steadily too. But I still consume carbs and sugar. Not crazily but apparently its enough for pounds to pile.
I take Tamoxofen in the morning. some take it at night. see what works for you.
Good luck with both.
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Thanks Olesya for all the info! It's very helpful. It's disappointing to hear about the fatigue lasting that long. I just want to be done with all of this and feel normal again - which I know we all do!
Physical therapy is going well. Not there yet, but on my way. I will see her again on Wednesday and then Radiation Oncology appointment is on Thursday. If I can't get my arms over my head for Thursday, they said they'd just skip the CT scan that day and I could just meet with the doctor to go over all the info again and ask any questions. I want to get this going, so I'm going to do my best to get my arms working. My PT said today, to start lying in position for as long as I can since the CT might take up to 20 minutes....ugh. It's going to be UNCOMFORTABLE! Oh well - it's just like everything else with BC treatment I guess.
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Hello, ladies,
I hope everyone is doing well, and it looks like we are, with most of us done or getting closer to ending the treatments.
I've been on Tamoxifen for over three months now. I take it at night. I didn't have any serious side effects - no hot flashes. I was a bit dizzy at the beginning, and my MO said it's to be expected, with the body adjusting to the hormonal changes. Everybody is different, of course.
I'm back at work, and had a pretty good summer. My energy level is back to normal, and life is again pretty hectic - work, kids, etc.
It's amazing how easy it is to put this whole thing behind, once treatment is over. BC is becoming a distant memory for me, and I hope it stays that way. Just thought I'd mention that. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Lots of love!
R
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Hi, All! Long time, no hear! I'm coming up on the anniversary of my diagnosis, and I'm heading in for scans this week--my first since finishing treatment. I'm feeling pretty anxious, and am wondering if others are doing this too, and how you're managing the anxiety. Hope you are all doing well. I have been!
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Hi Okkate! My diagnosis anniversary was a couple of weeks ago and I thought about how far I'd come. Hopefully the cancer is out of my body now and the aromatase inhibitor is keeping any other cells from forming. My hair is unbelievable curly and I haven't had it cut since I lost it all. It's about time... ; )
I go in for blood tests this week and see MO next week. The following week I have mammogram and appt with PS. Will be very glad to have these appts behind me and hopefully can focus THIS year on holidays!
Here's hoping ALL of our scans/tests these next few weeks go smoothly. I'll be thinking of you!
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Hello, ladies. Great to hear from you! Fingers crossed for good results, and hope everybody is doing well.
I’m doing fine, and have been back at work since early September. This was mostly fine, as I’m feeling energetic and happy to be, but some of my co-workers looked at me like they’ve seen a ghost. One asked me if I needed special assistance going down the stairs during a fire drill. Grrr... I try not to let it bother me.
Hair is growing nicely, but also very curly. I had a couple of haircuts, as my hairdresser and I are trying hard to make it stylish, but I’m not quite close to the Jean Seberg I was aiming for.... I still wear my wig at work, and it’s getting hard because I have hair so it feels like wearing a hat inside
I am meeting with my PS in December, and my MO next June. I won’t have any blood work done until then, which is a little odd. Maybe they do things differently here in Canada? I had an ultrasound last summer because I had some pain at the surgery site, and the results came out clear.
Otherwise, I’m trying to be vigilant and keep a healthy lifestyle....
Hope to hear from all of you soon! Wow! Remember when we were all getting ready to start the chemo? Seems like ages ago.
Lots of love
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Hi Okkate, my dx and treatment dates are almost identical to yours. (The only difference in our treatment is that I was allergic to Taxotere, so had to switch to Adriamycin.) No scans for me, but my mammogram will be early January. They wanted to make sure that I was good and healed up before that visit, I guess. But I am anxious for having to wait so long. Good luck with your scans.
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hello Ladies,
So happy to hear everyone is doing fine! I finished rads at the end of July and I am on tamoxifen now. I also just got my first Lupron shot and yes, I am seriously thinking about removing my ovaries to avoid those monthly shots. I think I would rather mechanically get rid of my period than keep taking Lupron every month...any opinions on that?
I am having blood work every 3months for the next 3 years and mammmo every 6mo on cancer side and every 12mo on the other...
Other than that I got on with life. My hair is growing-unfortunately no curls for me. It grows in a finny way straight up and to the side. If I dont properly style it I look like Christopher Walken a lot 🤣
Take care Ladies and please drop a line from time to time
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My Doozie Chemo ended May 8th, lumpectomy May 23rd, re-excision mid June and started rads in July. After Hell on Wheels with the rads, ended up doing 16 with no boosts. They said it would cause "constant and chronic pain" if they did the boosts. As it was, after 6 weeks landed in the emergency room from absolute pain and Costochondritis and the inability to pull in a full breath. A month later the oncologist mentioned possible breast Lymphedema. This sent me to a specialist to do massage and, what a game changer. After dipping into surgery meds and contemplating a mastectomy because it hurt so badly, this was the answer to my prayers. Chemo was a walk in the park compared to rads, for me.
In all of this, I have had Herceptin every three weeks. My last one is December 26th and the port is scheduled to come out December 27th! My daughter says my gift is to "have the plug pulled". Ummmm.
I will not have my next mammogram until "six months after radiation." This puts my first scan in February. This is good because my Porno Swollen Boob cannot take being mashed right now!
I cold capped and kept most of my hair. It got thin and dry and I've had several haircuts since. It has grown in completely curly in the back and straight in the front. It is super thick! No regrets with cold-capping. No one knew I was undergoing chemo unless I told them.
I never stopped teaching, but did take a week off after each chemo and a week after each surgery. I even taught summer school during radiation.
What a difference a year makes! A year ago this month, I was going in for my first-ever mammogram.
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Hello everyone! I just had my mammogram today and spoke with my breast surgeon for my yearly follow up appointment. Everything went well
I have 2 more herceptin treatments left, and I get my port out on December 14th! I’m so glad you ladies are doing well and my hope is that it continues. Every one of you have been so helpful to me during treatments I couldn’t have gotten through this without y’all! Thank you
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Hello Ladies!
Glad to hear that our group seems to be doing well. We've come a long way!
I finished chemo in June, ended up with taxol induced pneumonitis and ended up in the hospital for 9 days over two different visits. This delayed my surgery for about two months while I was treating the pneumonitis with high dose steroids (NO FUN). Ended up in the hospital again for 3 days for rapid a-fib (they think due to chemo)Had surgery in August and then physical therapy to get the use of my arms back after surgery. It was a VERY rough summer.
I'm just over halfway through rads now - 14 more to go. Getting so sick of driving there every day, but glad that it's going quickly. My skin is getting red and I have some brown discoloration in a couple of spots that I'm going to have the doctor check out today. Getting a little short of breath (more than usual) and going to bring that up today as well since I'm paranoid about getting any more damage to my lungs. And I NEVER EVER want to have to take steroids again! A little tired, but not too bad. So far, this has been WAY easier than chemo or surgery! Hopefully it'll stay that way.
After radiation is done I'll be starting tamoxifen which I am nervous about.
We got a puppy at the end of September - a german shepherd. His name is Bruno and he is doing a very good job of keeping me active! I've been losing weight since we got him because of all the walks and playtime! He's been a great addition to our family!
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Oh, Bruno is so cute! It's amazing how good a new puppy can make you feel. Our black lab is now 13, and he's mostly sleeping. We had a pretty rough year when we got him, and the puppy was great therapy. Although I could have done without the chewing
Good luck with the rest of your rads, Paisley2916! I've been taking Tamoxifen for 5-6 months, and honestly wasn't that bad. I felt a bit dizzy in the first couple of weeks, but didn't have any unpleasant side effects. Whatever hot flashes I had I had during chemo, so that part was over.
XO
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I'm back from my mammogram, and I'm happy to report that the thing they were ultrasounding in my right (non-cancer) breast was a benign cyst! So glad to be through that check up! Next up: MRI in six months. Phew.
Congrats on the new puppo! Bruno, you are so cute! Cheering you on through the rest of rads, Paisley. You rock.
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Okkate, Congrats on getting through your mammogram and with such good results! What a relief!
Paisley, sorry for all of your challenges. I remember getting to the halfway point in radiation and knowing that I could get through the rest of it. You can do this, almost done. Love the puppy with those big ears!
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such a cute puppy! He looks like our German shepherd, Baron, when he was a pup! He’s 11 now, and an old curmudgeon but sometimes I’ll still seea glimmer of puppy in him
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Hello, ladies!
Haven't been here for a really loooong time! so happy to read good news:))))
I am also approaching my canceversary( Nov.28), and first mammo/ultrasound/biopsy anniversary(Nov. 15-16).
I'm going for my follow up MRI on Nov. 19, and I consider this day as my official time that will let me know that I am cancer free. I had my scans in in end of July but found a small lump after that(benign, thank goodness). So it did not settle in my head as a confirmation.
My energy level is coming back steadily. I've been moderately exercising every day for now 8 weeks ,which I think helped tremendously with stamina and mood.
It's been 4 weeks since I began taking Effexor-and what a game changer it was! My hot flashes and night sweats don't bother me anymore. I don't turn fan on,just open the blanket to cool off. As a result, I think I sleep much better, therefore better rested. It took about 2 weeks for my tummy to adjust to this medication(just felt a constant discomfort). I had prescription filled back in June, but I didn't start it till mid October.
I had 3 job interviews, and had been offered a supply ECE position at two school boards. Very excited to go back to work and a bit terrified, as I haven't worked outside of house for 3 years(Mat leave, home daycare, cancer chaos:)))
I agree with Roxy - the memory of treatment is fading away. I still have 5 more herceptin treatments left. last one is on January 17.the port will be taken out on Jan. 28. can't wait. even though it doesnt bother me anymore(took almost 8 months for it to finally feel like a part of my body).
Post radiation sensitivity in breast is pretty much dissolved.
DxAt37 - I asked my oncologist to change the Lupron dose for a slow releasing formula - shot every 3 months. Less poking,same effect. I get it on Fridays, and it seems that the hormone blocker is releasing close to weekend each week. that when my hot flashes are a bit more intense.
Roxy13 - you are in Toronto, right? Have you attended the Boobyball on October 12th by any chance?
Lots of love, ladies.
Stay positive, and stay healthy!
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Great to hear you're doing well, Olessya!
I also have a prescription for Effexor. I took one or two, hoping they would help me sleep, but they made me wired at night. I guess I should have taken them in the morning. In the end, I decided not to take them or any otFCher anti-depressant, although I might ask my doctor for a script for sleeping pills. I still have trouble sleeping.
I am in Toronto, but I didn't go to Boobyball
To be honest, I'd rather avoid anything that has to do with bc, other than participating in this forum, which I love. I haven't even gone back to "get my nipples done", as I like to say. I probably should, I just don't have the stamina... When I change at the gym, I make sure I turn towards the lockers so no one can see my breasts. The scars are still pretty red, anyway, so even with reconstructed nipples my breasts would look scary. Oh well.XO ladies! Stay healthy! And warm!
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So happy that this thread is filled with good news these days! I also saw MO this week and my exam and reports all turned out great. Can breathe easy for another 6 mos. Haven't cut my hair yet and it is long and curly and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I remember how hard the holidays were last year while recovering from surgery and I'm really looking forward to actually having fun this year!
Happy holidays everyone!
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Does anyone have recurring ear pain as a long-term side effect of Taxotere?
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I don't have ear pain, but I have tinnitus from the Carboplatin. We noticed it on round three, stopped three and four, tried half dose round five and nothing round six. It doesn't hurt - just constant buzzing. Ear, nose throat doc said it's probably permanent along with the hearing loss.
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Is everyone else getting mammos now? I am not slated to get mine until six months after radiation, which puts it in February 2019. My first (ever) mammogram was November 28th 2017 when the lump was found. I only ask because my chemo ends in December and the port comes out the day after last chemo. I feel like I should have some sort of scan before it comes out? (Although, with the oncologists blessing, I'm the one wanting the port out.)
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My docs said the first mammo should come about six months after treatment. They won't do further scans unless there's a sign that a scan is necessary. It sounds normal to me! Congrats on getting the port out soon!
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DiagnosisD- My first post-treatment mammogram will be in January, and I finished chemo/radiation in May. Congrats on the end of chemo!
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