TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

I had Herceptin with my 6 chemos and have had one Herceptin-only, that they ran over 60 minutes. I haven't had any arthritis-type pains at all. I did have muscle pain though, during chemo, and I figured that was either the C or the T. Now that I'm done with chemo I don't have those aches anymore.

I'm still doing my Herceptin infusions at 30 mins. Not sure I want to spend an extra hour there. I have stiffness when I get up from sitting or first thing in the morning. My last chemo was in November 18th so I don't think it's leftover from that, is it? I'm exercising about 60 mins a day, 6 days a week (3.5-4.5 MPH jog/walk). Not only do I still have stiffness, the damn scale hasn't moved at all!!! Is that normal? Is it from menopause or Tamox? Will I ever lose this weight??? On a positive note, my hair is coming in pretty good. Thick but a little too curly and fluffy. Did I also mention it's the wrong color?

thanks, Specialk, I hope it's left over from chemo too. My patience has been wearing thin lately. This whole Cancer killing process is taking too long! I know it's a process, and things are moving as well as I could have hoped, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. The 15 pound weight gain in the last 3 weeks is for me the most frustrating thing. MO says its from the chemo, I accept that, but when does it start coming off? I'm overweight to begin with, and was losing weight prior to chemo/diagnosis. I'm trying to move more now that I feel up to it, but this muscle achiness is for the birds! Now with surgery coming up at the end of the month, my activity level will go down again. What a roller coaster

If you have a rapid gain it is most likely fluid retention and some people have used diuretics - myself included.  Always mention this to your MOs though - could be issues with Herceptin and heart function, or could also be kidney function issues from chemo.  I stayed on the low dose diuretic for about a year after chemo was done, then weaned off.  I did not lose the chemo weight, then gained on hormonal therapy too - even exercising and eating sensibly.  I finally had to try an anti-inflammatory diet (elimination diet) to take off that 20 pound gain.  I now weight what I did prior to diagnosis.

After my diagnosis, I started following the diet that I followed when I had gestational diabetes (eating carbohydrate controlled meals every 2-3 hours) plus cut way down on fat and sugar and added tons of veggies.  When I was on this diet when pregnant, the weight just fell off, and the same happened after my diagnosis.  I lost over 20 pounds while on chemo just doing this and now have plateaued at my ideal body weight still doing the same diet.  I do have a big love of chocolate so my sweet treat would be a piece of dark chocolate-I have now found a 99% cocoa bar so the entire bar has only 1gram of sugar.  For those struggling with the weight gain, do you have access to a dietitian at your Cancer Center?  I met with one just today to see if I needed any supplements or additions to my diet and to talk about diet to prevent recurrence.  I found it to be very helpful.

rleepac - AMAZING since 2007... you will be ok. Although I popped around, every 3rd week, when ready for chemo, I was within 1/2 pound of what I had been before the previous chemo. Sucky cancer won't ruin your hard work. My second opinion onco, told me, this is not the time to worry about weight, keep it where you are or a little above, you need the strength for what you are about to go through. As to superficial, any complaining when chemo is fighting to beat your sucky cancer is superficial... hence, we all are superficial. Each of us has different concerns, and as someone who has been through it, guess what, those concerns change.

For what it's worth I didn't gain any weight during or after chemo. It fluctuated, of course, but I'm still right around my usual weight, give or take a pound or two on any given day. I was only on steroids for three days every three weeks. After surgery I retained fluid, but that's all gone too.

As for worrying- losing my hair was really hard on me. Superficial as well, I know, but difficult nonetheless. It's coming in now, but I went from long, thick hair to basically nothing. I loved my hair. I'm guessing it'll be a good 2.5-3 years before I get my length back.

Definitely some encouraging comments! I've had so many people (who haven't had cancer/chemo and aren't my doctor) tell me to gain weight because I'll lose too much during chemo. I just smile and nod and say 'yes, I suppose I'll need the strength' but down inside I'm saying HECK NO, I'm not gaining weight on purpose!!! If my doc tells me I'm too thin, then I'll do something about it. Otherwise, I'm hoping to maintain where I'm at. Sounds like that will be possible and even if there's a little gain, it should come off after treatment. I think I can manage that.

I gained about 8-9 pounds during chemo which was all water and fell off in about 1.5 months pfc. I ate normal during chemo and snacked a lot. When you are home all day and have a bad taste in mouth and food itself still tastes good you tend to eat to overcome the bad taste even for a few minutes

I am back to my prechemo weight, which was actually above my ideal weight by about 10 pounds. I will continue to eat normal until I finish rads. I am planning on reducing my portions a bit and working out once rads are done.

Your body needs a lot of nutrition and protein during this time so eat good things snack on what makes you happy and don't worry about the scale.

If you do end up swelling in your lower legs and feet like I did towards the end, consider wearing compression socks if you will be on your feet a lot or sitting at work in the same position for hours.

My weight fluctuated during chemo, I'd lose as much as 7 pounds the week following tx, but it always bounced back to normal by the next tx. I probably could have easily lost some weight during this time, but I was going to have DIEP recon and needed my belly fat so I made myself eat. I've lost 10 pounds since surgery and would love to lose 20 more. Maybe when PA defrosts and I can get outside and be more active that will happen.

Looks like MO finally got around to digesting the SOFT study results.... She's pushing me to do an AI instead of Tamoxifen, even thought I'm technically pre-menopausal (though in chemopause). The problem is she talked so fast that I missed the names of the meds I'll be taking. (And, I've had a lot going on at home with one of my sons with autism so I didn't ask her to repeat herself.) I guess I'll have to call her nurse.

Meanwhile, my LX boob is still swollen -- MO thinks it's due to fluid buildup. Maybe, I should have left the drain in longer? I left a message with the surgeon's office; I wonder if they'll want to drain more or just wait to see if the fluid is absorbed.

Mommato3,

I will be getting an ovulation suppressor, if that's what OS stands for. I just forget which one. It's not Lupron because my health insurance doesn't cover that yet. It's a monthly shot of some kind. I'm 47. We did talk about the fact that AI's can have a negative impact on bone density, and discussed what she recommends for that.

patty, I was supposed to have 6 of TCHP but only made it through 4. I kept getting too dehydrated and was hospitalized several times for it. I wholeheartedly agree that if you can stay ahead of it with fluids, it's a good plan. I got my fluids but it was always too late. You will fare better I do believe!!

Being well-hydrated is so important. If we can't do it ourselves then getting extra fluids via IV is key.

I'm 44 (almost) and wasn't close to menopause as far as I could tell at DX, and right now MO is saying Tamoxifen for me. I'm still in chemopause, but I don't know how that affects the decision (or even if it does). I won't start until after radiation, so I've got another 6-7 weeks at least.

SOFT trials - I'm confused. Why do OS, why not just yank those puppies. I'm 49, but was still mensing ever 28 days to the hour, so although I'm currently in chemopause, I think I'm still pre-menopausal. I need to read up more on SOFT