Starting Chemo July 2019
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I can't stop crying and I have no idea why.
I am finally getting this thing removed on Thursday and I know I should be excited. I am ready to have it gone but I am so scared of the pathology report and what it will say. Will I have a long happy life, with plenty of time to right any wrongs or will my days be numbered and filled with the same fear and sadness that I feel right now?
This sucks.
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Deanders, I'm not a doctor or anything, obvi. I can say that whatever the path report says it's not likely to give you a definitive "you will have a long happy life" . I think you will may very well still have fear and sadness so I say talk to your doctor and line up a therapist and or meds to help you find balance. We just don't really have any guarantees on big fat life spans and it's hard not to let that worry paralyze us.
If possible be happy you will soon have the bugger removed and that will bring a good amount of mental relief.
xoxo I'm thinking about you! PM me if I can help
Victoria
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You've got this deanders. Take it one day at a time.
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deanders, in three days the cancer and the tissue it infected will be out of you and if you are like me, you can check one more thing off your list of things you need to do to get rid of this bugger. I was bummed to get a pathology report showing some residual cancer but after a small pity party I readjusted my plan, met with my MO for a new plan and now I know what needs to be done. Try to take it slowly and be thankful there are so many new drugs that are working so well for many people. I have you in my prayers. 🙏💪💕
Julie
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It’s ok deanders. It’s an emotional time. One day everything is “normal” and the next we’re diagnosed with breast cancer. The process of going through it is rough. We’re here for you!
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Thinking about you today Deanders and hoping you are having a good Monday. Can't wait to cheer you on as you have this doggone surgery and begin recovering!
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deanders- I understand how you are feeling. I'll be thinking of you on Thurs. I'll be having surgery the day before you. I've been anxious about it the past few weeks...I can't wait to get this over with. Congrats to everyone who has finished up. I'll be doing rads next.
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deanders and divergent you both are strong beautiful women. Look how far you’ve come and never knew you had this type of strength in you. Go in there believing that God will lead that surgery, the surgeons and all the other staff that have their hand in your care. That He gives them the knowledge, tools, and peace when they operate on you. I pray that He gives you peace and clarity. Whatever the outcome, it’s His plan and timing and not ours. We all will be here praying for you, supporting you, and loving you in the good and bad. Please let us know how your surgeries go as soon as you feel able. 💕💕💕
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prayers for divergent and deanders 🙏
May God surround you with love, peace, and healing before during and after your surgeries. 💕💜💕💜💕💜💕
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You guys are all amazing in your support and care. I am so glad that I found you all and have been able to be so open and vulnerable. The value in having a group of ladies that understands exactly how it is is immeasurable. I hate that we are together for the reason that we are but glad that I have you all the same.
Frantically trying to get everything ready for my hospital stay and coming home - totally not prepared. Oh well - if it doesn't get done, someone else can do it for the next few weeks
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Good grief, I don’t post for awhile and stopped getting notifications!! I’m so behind...
The end of 2019 year was such an epitome of the year that it was surreal. Our nine-year old dog had a minor collapse on the Friday before Christmas (breathing really quickly, clearly nauseous, not wanting to come up to bed with us), on that Saturday we were looking at metastatic liver cancer and we put her to sleep on Monday. Our second dog in 2019! Christmas itself therefore was very quiet. The weekend following was celebrating a cousin’s wedding and then a major family meltdown that we walked into after the party. So glad when the new year started!
I’m healing well from the mastectomy and reconstruction, with random appearing aches and pains that only last for a couple of hours or maybe a day. Has anyone used silicone strips on their healing abdominal scar to keep pants from irritating it? I can’t wear jeans or anything with a real waistband for more than an hour or two. I’m still getting Herceptin, so waiting to get the port out until closer to July when the infusions end. Not quite used to the new way my body looks, but then so many things have changed that I’m not quite sure what to expect. Hair on my head is coming in pretty well but still only about 1/2-3/4 of an inch long. Eyebrows are slowly returning, as are eyelashes. Everywhere else hair has returned as normal. Still dealing with neuropathy and fingernails that look like I took a cheese-grater to them. They just will not grow out without shredding at the ends.
My DH is very much in the mode of, okay, cancer is over, on we go. I can’t get there yet. He was incredibly supportive, helpful, and loving throughout, but I think he was so stressed out that he’s ready to return to normal.
I’m so glad that everyone continues to reach out and share, good things, bad things, ideas, new experiences, life lessons and laughs. It’s helped keep me sane. Thank you ladies!
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deanders and divergent - wishing you kind nurses, talented doctors, supportive friends, easy recovery and good news!
Diane
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I'm at the hospital now in the wee hours of the morning waiting for the surgery to start! Thanks Melmax, jjpope, dvhmouse for your kind words! Good luck to you too dranders.
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sending prayers to you divergent. Good luck and may your surgeons and nursing staff be at their utmost best today! You got this! 💕💪🙏💪💕
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hoping all is well Divergent and that you have an easy recovery !
Xoxo
-Victoria
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So I got my surgery times - I have to be there at 6:30 for the nuclear medicine injection of the radioactive whatever (not sure what all that is) and then wait until noon for my surgery time. Think they are keeping me overnight (I'd rather come home but there is comfort in being watched) so home on Friday. Hope the surgeon is able to give me some hope of a good outcome but know I won't get the path results until next week (ugh).
Wish me luck ladies - I'm freaked out after the plastic surgeon drew the cut lines today for the general surgeon to use. Now I know a little more what I'm up against. This is gonna suck.
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wishing you the best today deanders. Prayers for you, your surgeons, the nursing staff and all that will be caring for you. May you find peace in knowing that you are in His hands. 🙏💕🙏💕🙏
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Deanders you got this! And they should give you some meds to relax you. Just know this is another thing you will have checked off in your journey and it will be behind you. We love you and know you are going to get through this.
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Met with Rads Doctor today. He squashed around on my very sore breast, felt my neck and under my arms, had me lie down so he could see how my breast falls and said everything looked good. He's hoping 20 radiation treatments but won't know for sure until they do the "placement and simulation" another day. I may have to do 30 treatments. Going back again tomorrow for a CT scan. And then another appt. for placement. And then hopefully we can start. More info next message...
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He said radiation will not cause my neuropathy to get worse despite all the research I've done. He said a sliver of lung would be radiated and that can't be helped. No radiation to heart. Fluid in my breast after surgery may take up to 6 months to re-absorb and radiation will not make the fluid worse. Fatigue and redness, etc. will set in approx after 3rd treatment. I can only use Aquaphor nothing else. No aloe, no Miaderm cream. He also said don't take antioxidants.
Just putting this out there for others who may or may not have same experience with Rads
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I find it so interesting how we all receive different information from different doctors for basically the same situation. I too met with my Rads doctor yesterday. I was told i have to use either aloe vera or a calendual based cream, along with aquaphor. The brands my Dr. recommended were My Girls, or Desert Harvest Releveum which contains both the calendula and aloe vera as well as 4% lidocaine. Using straight aloe vera is also fine. I am to apply 3 times daily and the goal is glistening skin.
The difference in the number of treatments is totally understandable. I am getting 25. I too will have a small part of the lung exposed to the radiation and the Dr. said she has never had a patient have any problems from that. I will be using the breath holding technique.
Melmax, you will be starting before me so please let us know how it's going. I won't be starting til approximately Feb. 10th since I have to have my tissue expander filled before they can start radiation and I had my first fill two days ago. Apparently my Dr. wants 10 days to get the CT scan done and placement solidified before starting.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Julie
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Ok so my not so fabulous post lol had my face waxed today because of the facial hair growth. It’s the blonde like peach fuzz. I called and spoke to a holistic health lady and she does laser hair removal and other treatments. She said since it wasn’t dark hair I needed to get it waxed because nothing she does will help. It would be a waste of time and money. So I went today and MY GOD IT FELT GREAT..... SAID NO ONE EVER. I could not ever imagine how it would feel to get your vajayjay waxed 😳😳😳 well now my skin has red bumps all over it. WTH I don’t know why it broke out but I look like I have the mange 😩😩😩 my sister said use frankincense oil on it so maybe that will help. Only me.
I do have one quick question. Do you or have you gotten small bumps all over your arms? My skin bless it’s heart Is just struggling. They are just small bumps all over. I’ve had them for a few weeks. Not white heads. I put the frankincense on one part to see if it helps at all. If you do have this what did you do to get rid of it?
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Ouch!!! 😬 I think I would tryaloe. I've never waxed so had no idea waxing could do that. Could it be because our skin is still so sensitive from the chemo?
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is it possible the wax was too hot and you were burned? Whatever the cause, waxing is not your friend. Hope you heal quickly ❤️
I have never tried it, but have a girlfriend that does blading. I think it’s just being shaved with a really sharp razor. She likes it. I tried threading once, but it was too painful for me.
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I have had my lip and chin waxed before and did use Nair for the light colored hair on my face last weekend - no I’ll effects. My advice is you should call your primary care physician or if you have a dermatologist. Does your face itch or burn it looks kind of like an allergic reaction
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it burns some and itches
And just to give a laugh, when I was little I washed my hair with nair. My mom about had a stroke. Thank goodness nothing fell out 😂😂
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I bet it’s a mild allergic reaction - I would still call a doctor and see about taking. Topical Benadryl :-) I hope you feel better ASAP!!!
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jjpope, waxing is harsh. It looks like irritated skin (folliculitis). My friend waxed her upper lip and ended up with an angry red mustache shape for a week! Not the best. You can see a dermatologist but it'll probably resolve before you get to the appointment.
Instead of waxing, you could try dermaplaning. Your face will be smooth as silk. It removes the hair and any dead skin with a blade. Sounds awful but really not. I've had it done and my skin was glowing and smooth.
Re: radiation. Just getting started is taking so long for me. Before Xmas had fluid removed from my expander on the unaffected side so it that skin would be out of the way and a CT scan. Though I would be starting rads in the New Year. We went home to visit family in the UK for Xmas (was lovely). Come back to messages saying I need another CT scan (breath hold this time). Now they want more fluid out (appt this Monday) and a third CT scan. Good Lord! I'm hoping to start next week ... sometime ... who knows? Not sure if 25 or 30 treatments. It all seems quite half assed compared to the chemo where I knew exactly what to expect.
Hope everyone is healing well and feeling stronger by the day!
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deanders and divergent - sending positive vibes and lots of prayers. Hope both of you are doing well after surgery. You’ve got this! 🙏💜 🙏💜🙏💜🙏💜
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after loading up on Benadryl pills and cream and hydrocortisone cream it’s calmed down a lot. Still bumps but no where near as bad.
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