Starting chemo February 2020
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hray1993, yes. I had to actually shave my legs this week. The dark shadow on my eyebrows are my black hairs coming back and that makes me happy. My head is fairly full but since they are white I still look like a balding old man lol
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Dysonsphere- hopefully you’re surgeon can help you out today!
Hray- I am surprised that mine as come back as quickly as it has...I anticipated it to be much slower. Here’s a side view pic (I just can’t bring myself to take a full face pic..I am not cute with short hair haha)
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dysonsphere - ugh with the sutures. Mine did not open up, I hope they get close up for you. I’m having leaky drain issues, so I get the frustration of post surgery healing.
Hhray - my hair is also so slow. I see posts on FB groups and people’s hair is growing so fast. Mine is thick peach fuzz, but you can still see a lot of scalp.
Just met with my oncologist. She wants me to do Kadcyla, but not until after radiation is complete. So I stay on HP infusions through radiation and then start 10 months of Kadcyla, if I can tolerate it. I’ll be in treatment forever, until about August 2021. I just joked with my husband that I won’t have a chance for recurrence with this much treatment. Hopefully my body can handle it. And then my reconstruction would finally happen after all that. She also wants to wait on tamoxifen until after radiation. She doesn’t do the ovary suppressing shots until she’s sure I’m not already in menopause. I know I should feel lucky to have so many treatment options, but it’s overwhelming.
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"I just joked with my husband that I won't have a chance for recurrence with this much treatment."
I plan on doing Nerlynx after Kadcyla for that exact reason. 😃
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I agree mmorigan, I’m keeping Nerlynx in my back pocket too. There are so many advances in treatment, and I just want to keep myself as covered as possivle
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So I just had an appt. w/ my MO because I wanted her to let me know if there's anything I should be doing while I'm still Covid-19 positive. She prescribed Tamoxifen and baby Aspirin. So I'll be taking that until two weeks before surgery.
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yeah my MO is starting me on Tamoxifen and said to take a Baby Aspirin every other day. That was the first I heard about needing a Baby Aspirin alongside the Tamoxifen
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morrigan_2575, she says because of the risk of blood clots. And also it has risks of uterine cancer 🙄
She didn't want to prescribe me this but until I can go in for a hormonal blood test, this is the best I can take. They won't let me take the blood test if I'm Covid-19 positive. She says some of her patients have been psotove for weeks/months.
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I feel so relieved today. I got 2 extra surgical bras that feel much better than the one they sent me home with. PS said even though they are "leaking" excess fluid, I haven't lost a suture or anything so that's good news!
hray, my hair is growing so slow but I finally can see a lot of peach fuzz and my eyebrows are starting to getting a 5 o'clock shadow. No real hair yet though after 6 weeks.
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dysonsphere, link to the bras please lol
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"morrigan_2575, she says because of the risk of blood clots. And also it has risks of uterine cancer"
I knew about the uterine cancer, it's a small percentage but, it's there. Another thing to think about once I have a minute to breathe.
I wasn't aware of the blood clot issue until my MO mentioned it on Monday.
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Fucking cancer. Yesterday I had two random encounters with women with breast cancer... a friend of a friend called me because she just got diagnosed and has no idea where to start. Then I parked right next to another woman my age with a headscarf on (we were both sitting in our cars waiting for our kids to finish a test) so I rolled down my window and chatted with her for a bit. Then, this morning, my husband texted me that one of his young female partners was just diagnosed with triple-negative bc and "its not good". She has an 18-month-old.
I feel like women are under attack. WTF???
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Micdpowers- I feel ya. Over the last month I feel like cancer is everywhere in my life- my coworker that was dealing with a local breast reoccurrence is now waiting to hear if she has mets, a young girl (like 25) I know was diagnosed with brain cancer, my cousin has a (hopefully) benign brain tumor getting removed next month, and a young mom from my community passed away from colon cancer recently leaving behind two young kids. I feel like I can’t escape it!!!! Makes my heart hurt
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"Fucking cancer. Yesterday I had two random encounters with women with breast cancer... "
I'm the 3rd person in my office to get BC. First was 7 years ago, 2nd was 3 years ago and I was last year.
A couple of weeks after I told my family/friends. My friend calls me, her mom (79) was diagnosed with Stage 1TNBC 😒
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Yeap. It is everywhere. When I did ny genetic testing they gave me two forms with info to pass to my sister and mother. They were both at risk. My sister has not been checked but my mom is now waiting for the results of a biopsy since she had a lump.
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micdpowers - I agree, fucking cancer. I used to run a Stroller Strides fitness franchise when my kids were young (8-13 years ago). I had about 200 plus clients who were all like friends. In the last year, 4 of us have been diagnosed with breast cancer. So, I guess that equals the 1 in 8 number you hear, but we are all in our 40's. It's crazy and scary
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"So, I guess that equals the 1 in 8 number you hear, but we are all in our 40's. It's crazy and scary"
Up until my cousin was diagnosed about 10 years ago everyone I knew that had BC (and there were a lot) were all post menopause (50s and 60s). Now I'm seeing more and more people in their late 30s and 40s being diagnosed.
Hopefully they're studying this to see if there's something causing it to develop earlier. Or maybe it isn't and it's just perception? I don't know but, something is going on.
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mmorigan - I agree, the premenopausal cancer rate seems to be rising and it's concerning. I worry for my daughter, as me, both her grandmothers and aunt all have had bc, and all of us pre except one.
Anyone have any surgical drain issues? I have one in my armpit that just leaks all the time, and it's making me crazy. My skin is irritated around it, so it hurts, and I feel like i'm getting cording in that arm. The drain is so irritating that I find I am not using the arm much, which is bad for my post surgery recovery. I can't tell the output, because most of it leaks out onto my body/shirt. I'm only getting like 10-15cc's in the bulb in 24 hours. I have had it checked 2x and they said sometimes they leak, but my drain is ok, and I can just put some dressings around it. I don't want a seroma, but I'm about ready to rip this damn thing out. I think I'm going to tough it out this weekend and then call Monday morning and tell them it's time.
Speaking of cording, anyone know anything about that? My left arm skin is so sensitive, but now I feel like it's getting kind of hard in the muscle. I have an OT appt for lymphedema on Tuesday, so I'll definitely ask there. And I'd really like to have the drain out for that appt. I meet with my radiation oncologist Tuesday too.
Oh, and my inlaws fly in from CO on Tuesday. So stressful, they are anti-maskers, but assured my husband they'll follow our guidelines. They aren't staying with us, but want to spend about 3-4 days hanging out. I'm so conflicted on letting them into the house, do I make them wear masks? They plan on visiting other family, and I don't trust that they are being cautious. Covid is the last thing any of us need around here right now. But I don't want to be an awful daughter in law keeping the grandkids from their grandparents.
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Fab4mom, as someone that has been super healthy but Covid-19 positive, I wouldny let them in my hiuse. We can meet at a park and social distance. If they don't like it, then too bad for them.
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I agree SE and we have a great forecast, so outside visits it is. I just have to make husband the one to enforce. How are you feeling now
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Doing great. I'm getting tested again this coming Tuesday. I'm on my 2nd day of Tamoxifen and Aspirin.
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COVID during Cancer just sucks. I have to make so many decisions and alter plans. I just got invited to a baby shower (I can't even understand how that's happening in NJ). It's at the end of August and I have to call and ask if it's outside, how many people will attend, have to ask my MO and RO if I should go.
I want to go. I want to see my family and feel semi normal again. At the same time I don't know it's the best/right decision for me or my 84 year old mother (who is high risk even beyond her age).
In other news...have you found your tastes altered? Not in a bad, everything tastes awful way. I just find that I now like food I never did before.
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morrigan_2575, I'm not brave enough to try new foods lol
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I haven't either this was more of an accident. I got takeout that came with a salad and when I ate it, it had red onions in it. Normally I take them out because I hate red onions but, I forgot and ended up liking it. Now I can't eat a salad without red onions. Same thing happened with another salad, it had shredded cheese and I normally hate cheese on my salads...after Chemo I'm loving it.
Frankly...Chemo has made me crave salads in a way I never have before LOL
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I have been very picky since I was very little. I don't eat fruits, vegetables, or seafood. I know it is all in my head but I can't get around to trying new things. I'm scared lol
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i hate fish...I love shellfish (muscles, clams, shrimp, lobster, crabs) but, Fish? 🤢
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lol I'm learning to cook it now for my fiancé. They are slimy.
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LOL You guys are cracking me up with your food preferences. My personal baliwick is Lima Beans. Talk about slimy. Not far behind are Black-eyed Peas and Okra. My list of taboos goes on and on. I am also craving salads! How strange.
My nephew and his wife are expecting their first child (baby boy!) soon and I did not attend the baby shower. Broke my heart to miss it, but too scared of covid-19. The outdoors party sounds smart, just like visiting extended family at the park is smart. Take care.
Thankfully I was just tested for covid-19 a few days ago and I am negative. Got my port removed Friday. Surgery was no big deal. Once that heals I will be out of the woods. I will be in the surveillance category for the next five years, then they will be able to declare that I am in remission!
Best Wishes to you all. Enjoy every day.
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Sweettalker52, congrats. We want all of this to be done with.
I have a feeling my port flipped. I touched it yesterday and it feels different. I'm glad there's no use for it now.
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Thanks, SE. I have been wearing the port bracelet for months. The surgeon suggested that we cut it off a few minutes before I went into surgery. Another right of passage, like ringing the bell! Now my wrist feels naked!
I don't think there's room for a port to flip, but I swear mine was two inches lower than when it was inserted! The mind is a funny thing, isn't it
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