Starting Chemo July 2019
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Last chemo - September 9
Last time I shaved my head - September 28 (I didn't want any chemo damaged hair left).
The crown and right side is coming in way slower than the back and left side.
I did lose my eyebrows and eyelashes in November (REALLY bothered me), but it looks like it was new growth pushing out the old. I think my right eye has two long lashes and a bunch of li'l ones.
I think of you all often. Keep up the fight.
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looking good fairydragonfly!
I think we were uploading photos at the same time. 😊 My hair picture didn’t show up so I’ll try to redo later.
My poor fingers and toes. I don’t recognize my fingers anymore. Tired of the neuropathy and dropping things all the time.
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What is my problem? I finished my last chemo on Friday - got to ring the bell - and have been a fearful emotional mess ever since. I know that I felt a little reassurance by going in for chemo knowing that I was doing something to fight it off but now I just feel like it's going to grow like crazy in the next few weeks before I can have surgery. I'm terrified and for some reason can't fight the fear back. Did this happen to any of you? I should be having surgery on Jan 9th, I confirmed with them today that we are still on track but I'm scared.
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deanders Sounds like you're having surgery 5 weeks after last chemo....I'm having surgery at least 6 weeks out since last chemo. I'm feeling the anxiety too. Wondering how much it's growing during this time. Last week I had an MRI and Echo, this week I meet with the surgeon, and hopefully next week I have the surgery. I've tried my best to get these appts sooner but they don't seem to care. There is nothing wrong with you. The waiting is ust so hard.
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fairydragonfly, your new growth looks great. I’m still waiting to see any new growth but it’s only been 3 1/2 weeks since my last chemo.
Melmax, you definitely have some new growth happening also. I am battling an infection on one finger now from the chemo. There was puss under the nail this weekend but yesterday as I was sitting in the wait area to get my dye injections the puss started coming out. I was able to squeeze it all out over the next few hours and this morning it looks so much better. A couple of other nails look similar to yours. My MO put me on gabapentin for the neuropathy which seems to be helping.
Deanders, I definitely know what you are feeling. I had the conversation with my surgeon and she was adamant that the surgery take place no later than 4 weeks post chemo. I also had my first targeted therapy treatment last Thursday so I’m feeling ok about not letting anything grow back. Will we always feel this way if we aren’t in some type of treatment?
I’m going in for my BMX in a couple hours. feeling confident in my surgeons but prayers definitely accepted 🙂. I’m doing it outpatient so I should be home Laer tonight.
I’m not sure why no one talks about it but I wish someone had prepared me for the pain of the dye injection. That hurt! Oh well, I’ll never have to go through that again!
Wish me luck!
Julie
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made it out of surgery and came home yesterday. Really sore to say the least but I’m making it. Dr. Says he thinks everything looks great. Follow up is Fri.
Have a great day
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jjpope1 good to hear your surgery went well. Will continue praying for your speedy recovery. 💕
Flnana2 praying that all goes well with your surgery today. And wishing you a speedy recovery too 💕
I never thought about the dye shot. Ugh!
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finana have a good surgery! Wishing you a surprisingly fast recovery!!!
Deanders it only makes sense you are worrying! I hope that you are able to spend most of your time enjoying life free of chemo treatments for the rest Of this month - xoxo
Love the pictures a very beautiful bunch of women we have here
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Just a comment about not having your surgery within four weeks of ending chemo. I didn’t have my surgery until 5.5 weeks after ending the Taxol. I also had an MRI at the end of chemo, which indicated the tumor had shrunk, but not by much. Imagine my surprise (happy!!) when I got a pathology report showing complete pathological response and absolutely no evidence of any disease in the three sentinel lymph nodes the BS removed. So, long story short, a somewhat extended break between chemo and surgery may not be detrimental.
Flnana2 - I hope your surgery goes well!
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dvhmouse thank you so much for that reminder 🙏 I knew you had a great response but didn’t remember how far out your surgery was. 😊💕😊💕😊
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Finana and jjpope, thinking of you and best wishes for a speedy recovery! Finana, I think I must have blocked the dye injection out of my mind. I remember having it, but I can't remember how it felt.
I had my port removed today! Was going to make it into a Xmas ornament, but promptly lost it on the way home. Somewhere out there someone is picking up a Ziplock back full of WTF!! I think the universe is telling me "You don't need a reminder of 2019 ... let it go, lady!" Now I need to take it easy ... doctor's orders. That means binge watching Grace and Frankie, which I am currently obsessed with.
As far as the procedure, it was done in my surgeon's office. The area was numbed with a novocaine injection. This stung a bit but nowhere near as bad as getting numbed at the dentists office. When the area was numb, she made an incision along the same incision line from the original insertion. A few interior stitches are snipped and the port slips out, pressure is held until the bleeding subsides, then she cauterized some tissue (I could smell the burning tissue), and finally she stitched me up. The incision is covered with gauze and a Tegaderm dressing on top. Have to avoid getting it wet for 48 hours, but then can remove the dressing and leave it open to air. All in all, not bad and I'm glad to have the thing out.
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1 week post opt and doing ok. I think the worst part for me is my back. I can’t stand up straight and it’s about to kill my back. My worst day was initial surgery day Thursday. I can tolerate the chest and stomach pain, just not my back. Having to walk with a walker to take the weight off my back and more in my arms. I still can’t eat for some reason. My last full meal was last Wednesday. From what I can see my boobs look good, haven’t seen my stomach yet. Go for my follow up in am. I hope to get these damn drains out 🤬🤬 I have 4 and they are horrible.
Flnana2 I hope you are recovering fast.
Melmax my toenails look the same 😩
Anyone still aging a hard time focusing on small/fine print? Like when I text or read smaller stuff I can’t hardly see if and wonder if it’s due to the chemo? Will it go away or should i go to eye dr?
I hope you all have had a great week.
He is on mama watch 24/7 0 -
jjpope, ugh ... the drains were the worst. I hated them with a passion. I had four also. My PS didn’t remove them until 3 weeks and four days (believe me, I was keeping track) after surgery. He was waiting for drainage to subside. I was threatening to “accidentally” pull them out myself. The removal felt so good.
Re: vision. I had my eyes tested today. Pressure was fine (which was a relief because I was worried about glaucoma), eyes are healthy but my eyesight is much worse and he couldn’t say for sure if it was related to chemo or the steroids. But, fact is, my eyesight worsened during the past five months of chemo for sure.
Hang in there, every day things will get a little easier. Your pupper is absolutely adorable!
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thanks for the update jjpope. I hope you get to have a couple drains out soon! And the rest
Soon after . Happy Friday everyone. My dog ate my good glasses so I have readers I bought from the drug store so IDK how my eyes are doing LOL !
Hair pic 1 week post chemo and about 7 or 8 weeks since the day I first felt stubble
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2019whatayear 🙌🙌 growing fast!
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3 drains out WOO HOO! He said everything was healing good. He asked what I thought and the crazy part is I haven’t even looked 😂 go back next year week for another follow up and hopefully last drain out.
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jjpope1 🙌🙌 yay!!!
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Great news JJpope! Three out - woo hoo!!!
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Lumpectomy and sentinel node surgery was scheduled tfor Dec. 23rd. That's 6 weeks and 3 days since my last chemo. Told them to call me if they have a cancellation next week so we can bump it up. I want this done. Still afraid of the unknowns like more surgery after this due to unclear margins, more lymph node removal, or more chemo, etc. but trying my best to chill.
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Jjpope, congrats on getting 3 drains out and having a successful surgery.
My surgery was successful also. I went in at 8:30am, surgery started at noon (1 1/2 hour delay) and I was released at 8pm. Surgery was 4 hours. My BS told hubby that there were no surprises and she only had to take one node. I have felt fine since I’ve been home. I’m taking ibuprofen (prescription strength) and gabapentin only. I sleep in a recliner which has been ok and easier to not roll on either side. I have two drains and they are producing less fluid each day so that’s good I went to my hubby’s Dr. appointment yesterday and for a walk today. I see the Dr. on Monday and get my pathology report on Thursday
2019whatayear, your hair growth is amazing! I can’t wait!
Britgirls, my eyesight has definitely diminished I’ll make an appointment next year.
Melmax, try to chill. Enjoy the season as best you can. Prayers for an easy surgery and clear margins
Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Julie
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Glad you are doing well Julie! Sounds like (based on the only taking 1 node) that you should be getting a good path report!
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So I've made it through my first week with no chemo! It was strange not going to the infusion center - I kept feeling like I was forgetting to do something. Now that I have gotten over my hump of freak out I feel really proud that I made it. I was reading through all the posts and it occurred to me how much of a flurry we are all in. Surgeries, MRI, targeted therapies, pathology, fear. We really are amazing. I remember thinking when I was first diagnosed that I would be done with chemo by Christmas and feeling like it was going to be forever. And now we are here trying to enjoy the holidays with depleted reserves of everything (physical, emotional, spiritual). I haven't started shopping for gifts yet and I have to say I don't feel the typical panic. It seems so trivial compared to the last 6 months of events that who cares if people don't get another widget or whatever this year.
It is funny how different I feel this morning compared to the morning after of chemo. My heart isn't racing from the steroids, I can catch my breath, I'm not dizzy, my eyes aren't blurry and weird, my mouth doesn't taste super gross, my ears aren't ringing. It's the first weekend in months that I haven't woke up feeling like I just went on a massive bender. We'll see how I feel later today, I know I will overdo it but at least I feel like I can for the first time in ages.
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deanders perfectly written!!
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deanders, isn’t it wonderful to not be chemo-sick. Chemo is by far the hardest part and I would happily do everything else twice if I could have skipped the chemo.
My surgery was the day before yesterday and I don’t know how it’s even possible to have a major surgery and have absolutely zero pain. I have not even taken a Tylenol. Maybe I’m having a delayed redaction, but I feel fine and can move well too. It might also be because I didn’t have reconstruction. I decided on a flat closure and so far the results look pretty good. I got two drains and have a followup the 19th. I do seem to have a lot more bruising that most of the photos I’ve seen on Facebook. That is probably due to my anemia though.
I would recommend trying to find a compression garment that fits well around your arms before surgery. All I received from the hospital was ace bandages and they are hard to get on and off and itch.
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she’ll I girl so glad your surgery went great and you’re reconvening well! I also waited for reconstruction and was so glad I did! The compression bra the hospital sent me home in was HORRIBLE and tore my skin up. When I went back for my 1st follow up the nurse saw it and told me to stop by this specialized store when we left. It was a store that specialized I fitting women for bra’s and had all kinds of bras for breast cancer patients. It was WONDERFUL and soooooo soft. She fitted me and I received 2 bra”s and 2 inserts to look like I had breast. It also had lil pockets to hold drains in it. Now I will say thank God I had insurance because the initial bill she sent was 600.00. I just about lost it when I saw how much it was because all I could think about is how many women that need this but couldn’t afford it because they didn’t have insurance.
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Shelligirl - i do would rather have the surgery again than chemo any day of the week. I also chose no reconstruction. The recovery was not bad at all-- probs in part b/c so many nerve endings were cut.
Day 10 post chemo here. It's great to be done!
Glad you are having a hangover free weekend Deanders (LOL) here is to many more!
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Shellgirl, congrats on a successful surgery with no pain!! That’s amazing. I agree..I’d take surgery over chemo any day.
Deanders, isn’t it wonderful. I woke up the same way. I probably feel the best I have in 6 months. Clear headed is the best part for me.
I’m off everything but an antibiotic. My non cancerous drain has produced less than 12cc in 24 hours for two days so I’m hoping the surgeon will take it out tomorrow.
I hope everyone has a great Sunday!
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Hey ladies! Hope you've had a great week. Santa's coming soon, hope you have all your goodies and presents ready. 2 weeks post op and doing good. Still having a hard time eating 😩😩 but pain is good, back is doing a lil better. As a whole I think I'm doing great and a lot better than I ever anticipated. Went to MO yesterday and starting Jan 1st tamoxifen. Woo hoo big fun. Hoping I have minimal SE's. Got upset while I was talking sign him over the only coming in every so often doing blood work and worrying if it does come back we won't catch it soon enough. At this point I've done 100% everything I can do and now it's in the Lord's hands and will. But he did explain to me better as far as me questioning the Pet scan and further testing. He said even if we did pet scan catching it then vs 6 months would have no difference in outcome. He said at that point there isn't really a lot we could do, that if it's meant for me to die there's nothing we can do to change that. I just feel like I'm waiting for the next bomb to drop. So that's that. I hope everyone is doing well either in chemo, radiation, recovering from surgery, or finished with it all. Oh and my hair has grown evenly so far, not a lot but no bald spots. Eyebrows and eyelashes are growing back good.
Have a good night 💕💕💕
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