Chemo starting April 2018
Comments
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Hi Frog,
I'm glad to hear you are doing better.
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Frog I too am usually positive. I think it's just all this treatment crap. I know I'm supposed to be thankful that I was able to do chemo and radiation but to be quite honest with you I'm angry about it. I am worried about what the future holds and what has happened to my body since all of this treatment. I'm pissed that before all this started I would not even take anything for a headache. I tried to either stretch, drink some water or use something natural like a topic rub. All I kept hearing is that you're healthy and you'll do fine with chemo and all I kept repeating is yeah I'm healthy now but what about when it's all said and done? My SO keeps reminding me that I was told this early stage. Yep. I am quite the negative Nelly right now.
I'm also very much aware that there are people on this board that are going through this more then once. I think I really need to get a grip and quit being such a Negative Nelly about it all. But alas it is a struggle, I'm finding myself not being close to people, you guys are the only ones I really talk to these days. I can't sleep at night and I'm totally exhausted during the day. I'm sure that's part of my disposition problem.
I just finished radiation Monday so I am 4 days out. I do believe I'm more tired now than I've been. I've chosen during my staycation to clean out my closets and just get rid of a bunch of crap that I don't need. These past month since I have been home I have looked around my house and thought why would one person need all of this stuff. It's been really kind of nice clean it all out and get rid of it.
Engine I think waiting is an excellent idea. Nobody wants to go through all that again. Especially If Dr. is telling you it will probably heal on it's own.
Underago and Gawarrior how are you feeling since your surgeries?
InnaB how many more rad treatments to go? How is that going?
DebA have you gone to see the medical specialist. Cant remeber what type it was. Sorry.
Maggie I have been meaning to ask if you are you taking any hormone inhibitors? I am taking anastrozole. Some nights I have to ask myself how am I going to go through this for the next 10 years. Sometimes my hands and joints hurt so bad. But then the next morning I get up and it's fine. Seems to hit more at night, don't know if it's the way I'm sleeping or if my arm gets cold or what. I'm going to wait until after I'm totally done with radiation and give it a couple more months to see if it goes away before I start complaining to the doc.
DJT, Duffy, Notered. Hickinglady, how are you all doing? I hope well!
Ingerp Enjoy you vacation!
Signing off for now. Have a nice weekend if we don't chat before then.
Sorry if I misspelled anyone's names I'm doing this by memory and we all know how well our memory is right now. LOL
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Life, I have been doing the same thing declutter the apartment not to say theres clutter but stuff I dont use material stuff. Im doing well still at PT and first appt. With RO for overview Nov. 6th. That means I should be done with radiation by end of Dec. Ive noticed that I keep finding stitches sticking out of my skin. Hmm. I thought they wld be resolved by now.
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White chili chicken
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 3 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons chile powder,*divided
- 3 tablespoons cumin, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided, plus more, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
- 3 cups chopped onion (2 medium)
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic or more if you love garlic (4-5 large cloves)
- 3 15-ounce cans white beans, drained
- 2 4-ounce cans chopped green chiles (hot or mild, depending on your preference)
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 4-6 cups low-salt chicken broth
- 6 cups shredded cheese, divided (half Monterey Jack, half cheddar)
- 2 cups sour cream, divided
- Garnish:
- Chopped scallions
- Chopped cilantro leaves
- Your favorite hot sauce
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- • A note on chili powder: One of my secrets to great chili is to use two or three different chili powders for a great depth of flavor. For this chili I used New Mexican and Chipotle chile power.
- Spice and Roast the Chicken:Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spread chicken out in a roasting pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 tablespoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch or two of cayenne. Roast for 30 minutes. Shred or cut into bite sized pieces. Set aside.
- Cook the Chili: In a large pot heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sauté onion and garlic over medium heat for 5 minutes or so, until tender. Add beans, shredded chicken, chilies, oregano, 2 tablespoons chile powder, 2 tablespoons cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (or more, to taste). Add 4 cups of chicken broth, reserving the rest for thinning the chili to your desired consistency. Stir to combine and simmer gently on low for 20 minutes. (to keep the chicken tender, do not let the pot boil)
- Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes or so before proceeding. With the pot still off the heat, stir 3 cups of cheese into the pot, 1 cup at a time. Then stir in 1 cup of sour cream. (add all 6 cups of cheese to the pot and 2 cups of sour cream) Bring the pot back to a gentle simmer over low heat (to keep the dairy products from separating, don't boil). Simmer the chili for 15-20 minutes,
- Serve chili in bowls with garnishes on top or on the side
Enjoy your weekend..0 -
Life, I don't take any hormone inhibitors. At the initial biopsies, the DCIS was diagnosed as barely weak ER+. The mastectomy pathology also showed an IDC component that was Triple Negative. MO and BS felt there was no reason to take inhibitors after chemo. An acquaintance was prescribed anastrozole. The side effects were so bad the doctor switched her to Tamoxifen, which she seems to tolerate, though she didn't have radiation to wear her down. Like you said, maybe give it some time as you aren't even a week out from completing your rads.
Ingerp, your chili sounds perfect, given our damp, dreary weather. At least snow is now off the forecast for this weekend. At both the port placement site and the implant incision, I still had stitches that hadn't dissolved at 5 weeks. I guess some of us must like to hold onto our sutures!
It has been helpful reading how some of you are feeling emotionally. With all my treatments and the reconstruction surgery over, I'm now having very similar emotions. One of the MO's had said that many patients will feel as if they've been abandoned and "what now"? With every minor ache or headache, my thoughts immediately jump to "has the cancer spread". As Frog said though, the feelings pass quickly.
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WOW! I was in a negative mood last night to say the least.
Thank you Maggie for that information. Glad to hear you don't. They can get tuff. My radiation doctor also told me that my emotions would probably get to me after everything is over. I have decided to start seeing a therapist to work through this emotional roller coaster I am on.
Undrago thank you for the receipe. Cant wait to try it out! I went to the farmers market a couple weeks ago and got some roasted peppers. Maybe I'll use some of those. Also, I had a couple of stitches as well. I also had one were my port was taken out. Whatever you do don't pull on them. A gal thought she could get my Stitch out where my port was and kept pulling and pulling in it kept getting longer and longer so I made her stop. Went to the doctor and the doctor said it's a good thing you didn't keep pulling because she could have caused me problems. They could have been pulled apart and they're meant to dissolve. She cut the tip-off and I never had problems again.
Huggs everyone!
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Hi y'all, I'm catching up on posts. I'm doing well after my BMX last week - just laying around, watching movies and being spoiled by DH and DD. Oh, the PS took out my port, too. I don't have much pain anymore, just some annoying pulling on the stitches and itching. And, my breasts are completely numb, so I'm having some areas that itch but I can't scratch them because they're numb, if that makes sense. No amount of scratching makes the itch go away. Nerves waking up, I guess.
My pathology came back with no residual cancer and a clear SNB. I'm very happy and very terrified at the same time, This means I'm about to be released with no further treatment to make me feel like I'm actively working to keep this from recurring - it's just sink or swim and "good luck to you." Life, I am totally feeling ya right now - I'm in the Negative Nelly boat, too. Maggie2, that's exactly how I feel - abandoned! Being cooped up and not able to do much isn't helping either. Okay, rant over...
Ingerp, have a blast at Disney!
Life and Frog, love the hair! I'm super jealous! I finally have dark hair coming in among my peach fuzz. I also have eyebrows again and lashes that are very short. Frog, yours are beautiful, as are your eyes. My lashes were never as thick and long as yours before chemo. Maybe they'll come in better now.
Engine, I'm glad you now know what Janice has (seroma). Hoping it resolves over the next months. I still have some (now minor) neuropathy in my feet and fingers, despite icing hands and feet for every infusion. I was the only one in the onco office who was doing it - I just brought in my own ice in a cooler and used baggies and socks with cold packs. I think it helped, despite having gotten grade 1 neuropathy. I know others on here have had it much worse. The MO says things get better in 1 month, then 3 months, then 6 months PFC. Hoping Janice's neuropathy improves quickly. Urdrago, that chili sounds awesome! We have a gloomy week ahead, maybe I'll make some. Thanks for posting.
Life, thanks for the warning about stitches and not pulling them.
Big hugs to you all.
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Hi GAWarrior,
That's great news about pathology report. I've heard of your post-op symptoms. That isn't uncommon. Janice gets the pulling feeling.
Our oncologist said the neuropathy will get better as the months go by. Hoping so for both of you.
Janice's attitude continues to be amazing. She simply will not consider any alternative than a cure, even if that is a ways off. I don't know how she does it. I get into the Negative Nelly (Nelson?
boat every so often too. I think Janice's attitude is somewhat of a false front.. But whatever gets you through this. 0 -
Thanks, Engine. Hey, feel free to hop into the Negative boat along with us. It's got to be tough on our caregivers. They have to be brave to support us, but worried about us, too, plus I know you probably don't feel like you can vent to Janice. And you and she have had more than your share to deal with, not to mention going through this before.
Like Janice, I'm usually very positive, I think my surgery is just hitting me hard right now.
Hugs to you and Janice!
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Hi GAWarrior,
Thanks.
Thankfully, medically speaking, things are going really well. I'm concerned about her job, which is very demanding and high stress. I don't like that a bit, but there's nothing we can do right now. I really wish she could quit.
I think once you start having less pain, you will feel better emotionally. The surgery takes a toll. Get your rest and try to eat as well as you can.
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Yes, Engine, it would be great if Janice could retire or at least cut back on her hours. I think stress plays a huge part in lowering our immune systems and allowing this to get a foothold. I'm counting the time until I can retire!
On the positive side, I'm feeling much better, emotionally, today. I got out this morning and did something normal instead of laying around like I have done all week. What do you do 8 days after a double mastectomy? Why, a breast cancer walk of course! This is me and my DD, who has been here since Tuesday helping me after my surgery. She made me a cool Wonder Woman cape, too!
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GAWarrior,
That is great!
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Gawarrior, love the Pic, and so proud of both you gals!!
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GAWarrior, congrats on your pathology! You and your daughter look great on that walk. You are not going to have radiation? That’s awesome! I credit acupuncture with helping me to avoid neuropathy. Try it, it really works
Janice, Frog, urdrago, I hope things are going to continue to improve for you.
Life, I am also feeling emotional. Keep thinking about recurrence and how to prevent it. It sucks that there are no guarantees. However, recently the doctor put me on Effexor to help me with hot flashes, and because it’s an anti-depressant, it started doing its job, I think. I seem to have become calmer since I started taking it. Can you ask your doctor for it
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GAWarrior, one week out of BMX and you're in a cancer walk...you're amazing!!
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Thanks,urdrago and InnaB. No, I'm assuming no radiation or other treatment...I see my MO on Wed so I'll get details then. All I know is that the surgeon said there was nothing remaining in the breast and nothing in the SN. InnaB, I know what you're going through thinking about recurrence. It's in the back of my mind all the time. Effexor or something similar might be a good idea, at least to help us get through the first few months after treatment until the shock of all of this wears off.
Maggie2, we had signed up for the walk awhile ago. I figure my legs didn't have surgery so why not go, lol? I paid for it, though - I was exhausted yesterday and hung out on the couch all day. Oh well, it was nice to get out and do something.
Wishing you all a good week ahead (and a Happy Halloween)!
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Twelve weeks and one day PFC. :-)
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Yay, Inger, enjoy Disney! Looks like pretty weather. Love the pic. Your hair is coming in nicely.
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For everyone undergoing rads, I haven't seen you post much about this, but I was just reading in a dental journal about how rads causes dry mouth and taste alteration or a metallic taste in up to up to 70% of people. These go away between 20-60 days after finishing rads. Zinc supplements are supposed to help. You also need to be aware that rads can cause more cavities because of how it changes the saliva, so use prescription fluoride if you have it/can get it.
Also, be wary of sweets, just like you were during chemo. Don't suck on candies or chew gum if your mouth is dry, unless they are sugar-free. Mouthwashes with chlorhexidine in them are helpful (probably have to get these from your dentist), as are candy or gum products containing xylitol (example: Trident gum).
Last, all of us should see our dentists now for a checkup, especially if we haven't seen them since we started treatment in the spring. That way you can catch any cavities/problems while they are small!
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Beautiful pics GA Warrior and Ingerp.
Thankyou for the tip on dry mouth Robin. I have been super parched and I thought it was only me.
I also feel that all the hair growth, nails and skin changes have hit a road block. Is it possible everything is going to the rad treated breast. I finished radiation yesterday.
Life, how are you doing? Hope things are better at your end. How did your staycation go? If I stay back home on holidays then I behave like a tourist, I try out a new fancy restaurant near the sea, roam around without having the super market or bank on the agenda. Things I would have done if I was visiting a new place. My hubby finds it really funny but is game.
Thanks for the chilli recipe Urdrago.
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Congrats on finishing rads, Frog!! Must be nice to have that off your calendar. A good friend just finished this morning and is doing really well. Off to the AIs for both of us. .
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Hi Warriors,
I'm dropping in from Chemo Sept '18. Loved reading your last few weeks, especially related to radiation as that is in my near future, but I'm really interested in your experience with Taxol and neuropathy. I start DD Taxol x4 next week. MO is adamant that icing is fruitless, but I'm planning to do it anyway. The data I've found is all over the board but no conclusive evidence that it is effective or that any other preventative measures pass the test. Questions to those who had Taxol: Did you ice? Did it work?
Thanks for your input. And thanks for the pics of HAIR!!! As soon as I get a face-framing shadow of hair, these head covers a GONE!
XOXO
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Piksie,
Hellos, as you're probably aware of we all are here to support each other thru the journey.
My personal experience I didnt Ice. Neuropathy was random as I felt the sensation and soreness in joints also working every day. Oh, my infusions weekly as my MO suggested the impact of neuropathy might be less than every other week. My hands and fingers probably had the most impact. Dark nail beds I seen visually after I was done with treatments. Hard to open container, or sort thru papers.
Im 10 weeks post chemo and nails are 2/3 of the way grown out. I still get neuropathy tingling sensations thru my legs, but overall doing well.
Happy fall !!Sending you Good vibes and stop back to let us know how ur doing..
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Hi, Piksie! I had DD Taxols and iced faithfully. I also had acupuncture. No neuropathy at all, just random zingers through my fingers now and then. Not painful and rather rare. Good luck
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Hi friends, I've been on the boards briefly to read and I'm just now catching up.
Engine, how is janice handling going back to work? I'm sure some sense of normalcy is good. I hope it's not to stressful.
LIFE, every one of us here is a negative Nelly or Nelson from time to time. This experience is hard. You are aware of it which is a good thing. We get it. Most others in our lives dont. I think the anger is there for everyone but maybe more so at different times during treatment. You are right on about the sleep factor. Definitely plays a huge part in having a good or a not so good day. Still waiting for an appt with the integrative medicine physician. I've been on arimidex for 5 months. Minimal side effects so far. Let me know if I can help you there
Urdrago, I have your recipe ready to go! I just saw you are from Michigan. Are you a wolverine? Lol
Maggie! I hope you are getting used to your new ta ta's and that you are feeling well. I'm scheduled for fat graft #2 in dec but not 100% sure I'll go through with it. Will decide next month.
InnaB I hope you are feeling better. I'm having the same feelings. Effexor may be in my future too. Holding my own for now but it's a challenge sometimes
Ingerp, looks like you had a great vacation!. You are beautiful
Frog, congrats on finishing rads. I hope you are feeling ok.
I hope everyone else that I didnt mention is doing well. Djt said it once..I think of ALL of you often even though we may drop off the boards from time to time.
Ok GAW.. I'm going to reveal our secret! GAW and I are meeting for coffee next weekend!! Our family will be in Atlanta for a wedding. A real hug will be so much nicer than a cyber hug. Looking forward to it ! Hopefully we can take a pic to post!
I hope you all have a nice weekend. Sending good vibes to each of you.
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DebAl, yes I am Go Blue.. Omg, Thats absolutely the most amazing news about ya'll meeting. Give her a hug from me too..😎
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I’m part of a fb group (we met through College Confidential—all had kids graduating from hs the same year) and have had a number of IRL meet-ups—always a surprise for the group and always accompanied by a picture. Please post one
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Frog, I'm SO happy you're done with rads! Congrats on another completed step! Your hair, skin, etc will be able to bounce back and start growing again now. On to the last step...
Yes, I'm excited that DebAL and I are meeting in person next weekend! You all have become friends so it's great to be able to actually sit down and chat in person. As she said, she'll be in town for a wedding that is about 20 miles from my house so I'm going to pop over and have coffee. We'll definitely post a picture! Anyone else passing through Atlanta, let me know so we can meet, too!
Piksie, I had 12 weekly doses of Taxol. I iced through them all and also through 3 of 4 ACs. I think it helped, despite some problems I had. I got some neuropathy that started about week 4-5 (?) - VERY sore fingertips and sore nails after each infusion. That settled down about 2 days before the next T (they were still sore, but not as much). My feet did well until week 8, when it started feeling like I had socks bunched up under them. 5 nails turned green (!), but I didn't lose any. Both big toenails turned black, but I didn't lose them. I'm a dental hygienist, so I need to have finger dexterity and I worked through all 12 Ts without losing it (can still button tiny buttons and pick up small items). I'm now 8.5 weeks PFC (gosh, that happened fast!) and everything is probably 85-90% better. The green nails are about 2/3 grown out, fingers are slightly tender at the very tips, nails are not sore at all. I expect to be 100% by year end. We are all different at how we experience chemo, plus I did 12 doses vs your 4DD, so if you ice, YMMV. For me, I would definitely ice if I had to do this again, God forbid. I think I would have been so much worse without icing. I figured it couldn't hurt and might help, so why not do it? FYI, here's a thread on how to improvise icing, if you decide to do it: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics/863169?page=1#idx_22 ... Good luck!
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Hi everyone,
Janice is doing well. Work is the pits for her, but then we expected it would go back to being that way. It's the nature of the business. I so wish she could retire.
We are off in two weeks to spend Thanksgiving week with our son in Chicago. It's hard to believe we are already just about in the holiday season, but we are. Christmas ads are all over the TV
A local radio co-host who works at the station that I worked at just after college was diagnosed with BC. It appears to be stage 2 and she will have double mastectomies this coming Friday and then chemo. I reached out to a friend of mine who still works there and said if she has any questions or needs support, ask her to email and I'll put her in touch with my wife and with this wonderful group.
It's great to hear that GAWarrior and DebAl are meeting next weekend.
Take care everyone.
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DebAL and GAW, how exciting that you get to meet in person!! My mom, sister, and her family all live in the Atlanta region. I've waited in those Hartsfield Airport security lines too many times LOL.
Piksie, I had taxatere, not taxol so my experience would be somewhat different. I did icing for both hands and feet during treatments. My BS was very pleased that I had no neuropathy issues. She said she likes to collect the anecdotal evidence of icing's success, as there aren't results from formal studies yet. I would certainly suggest icing.
DebAL, thanks. I'm still wearing a bra 24/7 and it still feels foreign, though better than having the expanders. Good luck with your decision on fat grafting #2. I still have several months until my PS will talk about any revision surgery, if necessary or desired.
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