TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

coackvicky,

is cold cap covered by insurance?

Elizabeth7,

I swam during chemo. My MO didn't mind. Then again, I taught during chemo, too. Lots of germy students! I felt somewhat protected by the Neulasta shots I got the day after chemo to encourage white blood cell growth.

I didn't swim during radiation, though. RO said that it would dry out my already-fragile skin.

Tunegrrl and Elaine..thank you. I know Perjeta isn't approved up here in Canada for my case, only for Stage 4...and I know my chances are still pretty low for re-occurrence. I just wonder if I had known I was triple positive before my surgery if my doctor(s) would have made different choices, or if I would have (M instead of L). I know I am getting very good care, and that I'm very lucky I found it so early. I just hate the fact that decisions were made and I didn't know that I didn't have the whole picture when they were made. (I was thinking mastectomy, BS convinced me to do a lumpectomy, but also said it would be "just" lumpectomy/radiation since I caught it so early...chemo was never on the table....until my MO tracked down my receptors. Then, chemo started within a week...it was kind of scary it was so quick....like, we should have done it sooner). It just all makes me think...and I know if I ever have to do this again, I will insist on having all the info before I do anything. (not that I plan on doing this again....this all sucks)

I'm scheduled for my 4th TCH treatment this week. Here's my question - I haven't lost my eyebrows or lashes. Is that still to come? Also never lost all of my hair although I buzzed it right before 2nd treatment.

BCS2016

My lashes and brows thinned a couple of weeks ago. I started chemo 23 August. I have my third round of Herceptin today.

Everyone is a little different I think about what happens when.

I am using castor oil as a topical application to help my lashes and brows thicken

Coach Vicky

I never completely lost lashes or brows - the brows thinned but I just used more of the same tinted brow gel I had been using prior to chemo, lases became more sparse and uneven, so I wore a lot of eyeliner and I don't think anyone noticed. I also never went completely bald, but definitely didn't have enough hair that I didn't need to cover my head with something.

I had taxol with herceptin weekly for 12 weeks and then just herceptin. While getting chemo, I also received an anti nausea med and steroids, via my port at the same time. I had a prescription for zofran melts. I took acetyl l-carnitine, a b complex, vitamin d. Iced my fingers and toes. Didn't really have too many terrible side effects. Virtually no nausea, other than the occassionaly queasiness. I will say that the first couple of times that I got the heavier does of Herceptin on the three week schedule after chemo, I did not do well, but thanks to this board, I had them slow it down and it helped a lot. Doc also said I could have continued weekly.

He did bloodwork everytime I went before I had chemo. After a few weeks, I went over the day before when I was out and about, had them access the port and pull bloodwork so that I was ready to go when I went in in the morning. I had some neuropathy in that my hands and feet were ice cold continually.

Hair stayed wearable but thinned until about 6 weeks or so in. Then switched to a wig, but never did shave it. Just looked like beetlejuice. Eyebrows and eyelashes never fell out. Then three weeks after chemo was over...boom...they fell out. But they were already growing in.

My tastebuds totally changed. Hot food and meat just didn't cut it. I had a smoothie every day with kale or cucumber, apple, carrots, celery, banana, whatever sounded good. Wine, which I love, tasted like acid.

I think that is all I can think of now. I took a light snack and my smoothie and an iced tea to all my infusions. I also did not like sitting out in the main room, so asked for a private room whenever possible. I just liked to chill, watch tv, read on my ipad and not have a chatty sesion.

I felt great for 24 hours afterwords, ran around worked out, stayed up all night due to the steroids. Started to come down around noon on day 2, day 3 slept a lot, then by the weekend, I was usually pretty good and could go out.

suburbs - I regard chemo as essentially a poisoning just short of a lethal injection, so any and all side effects are possibilities. Neulasta, while needed, is just piling on. I too found that bland stuff was best, and thanked heaven for potatoes, in any form - they were my saving grace. Smoothies, yogurt and fresh fruit, particularly melon for the tolerable texture. I ate a lot of red meat in the 10 days prior to the next infusion, but I couldn't taste it or enjoy it, I just knew I needed to ingest it.

Hi Kattis. I believe it's normal. My surgeon told me prior to starting rads that the area of the lumpectomy would get hard and it did. She said it takes about 6 months after rads are finished to soften. For me it's been almost 8 months, and it's still hard. She ordered an ultrasound to be safe. Apparently a seroma has formed. She said it should dissolve on it's own eventually.

I had my lumpectomy July 2014 and have just recently noticed that my scar is starting to soften and the area of hardness seems smaller in size than it was.

I am maybe beyond scared for this to come back so freaking out about most everything. A headache I go directly to brain mets. I threw up the other night I go directly to mets somewhere and so forth. Not sure how to handle it but will try to figure it out since living with constant fear is not the way to go. It is just so random and out of control it is hard to let it go and just live.

Maybe I am being hard on myself but also disappointed I am not starting to exercise as I was suppose to..I am blaming the exhaustion of my laziness but was lazy before cancer too...so now I just have a reason to continue laying around not doing yoga, walking or taking good care of myself. I am so used to take care of everyone else around me so it is difficult to start now all of a sudden. I am getting a bit isolated with the illness at this point and need to at least start trying to be more social and basically " have as much fun as possible".

I have always travelled a lot with work and that came to a complete halt so also "stuck" with treatment. I would have to change my carrier in order to work, so I guess that is not going to happen any time soon.

Heading for the dentist since I was told to do that at this point. The fright kind of dawned on me when I was told to keep my port for at least 2-3 years just in case...well...

Kattis894, I am still new to this but can completely relate to your comments. I am living in a state of high anxiety and paranoia, worrying about a recurrence when I have not even gotten through initial treatment. Every twinge, ache, pain, what-have-you has me imagining that my diagnosis was under-estimated and that I am worse off than the reports say. 22 years of mammograms seem like a cruel joke.

Anyway, I see how far you have come in your treatment and I think that you have come a long way in a short time. The myriad of "shoulds" and "don'ts" are daunting. If it helps, just your list of accomplishments (e.g. Therapies you have survived) are an inspiration to a newbie. Thank you for sharing those dark thoughts. It helps me feel more normal.

kae - I took 100mg of B6, just a regular capsule daily. I iced during Taxotere only. I brought bags of frozen peas for fingers and toes, and a big insulated tumbler of ice chips that I held in my mouth. I did not chew them just held them until they melted and then got another mouthful. My Taxotere infusions were over 60 minutes.

Hi-- all chemo is finished-- and waiting for an MRI that will show if the tumor has shrunken in the left breast and then if there is something else going on in the right - if so assume they will biopsy and then set a surgery date--

Cant decide if I should do a lumpectomy or double mastectomy with reconstruction. Saw the post that said they were thrilled with their reconstruction but isn't there a touch recovery?

If I understand, if I get a double mastectomy, I do not need radiation?

Everyone has told me the chemo is the worst part and that is over but when I think of a double mas- is that true?

When I spoke with plastic surgeon, he mentioned that if I choose a lumpectomy - radiation could deform the breast and then there is no corrective measures to take?

Plastsic surgeon showed me the hoops they put in the breasts and I cant imagine that they are comfortable for 3 months or however long reconstruction takes?

Someone said get reconstruction because then you wont be scared everyday of your life- someone said get a lumpectomy so you don't have to go through 6 -8 months of surgery........ Not sure what to do? Scared enough that they may find it in the other breast---

Will say that my emotions have calmed down a couple weeks after the last chemo and that is really helpful--

My surgeon seems to push the mastectomy since my breast is so dense- another doc said do what is the least invasive---- because its my breast- feel like I just get a politically correct speech-- any direction? I have two more weeks until the MRI and while that may help drive my decision, wondered what others thoughts-- thanks so much for any help or direction you can provide-

Hi Sportsmom!

I chose a lumpectomy because my post-chemo MRI and PET scan did not pick up on any active cancer. In my case, I would have had radiation regardless of what surgery I chose. No, radiation didn't make my breast deformed, and no, I don't feel deformed because I have a small scar on my right breast.

I was just looking forward to the quick recovery and avoiding reconstruction. It sounds like Coach Vicky had an awesome reconstruction experience, but many women undergo multiple surgeries during reconstruction. I really don't need that in my life. I have twins with autism who require hands-on parenting. I have a full time job, and I enjoy my work. In fact, I went back to work the day after my lumpectomy (part time).

I was also looking forward to retaining sensation in my breasts.

I am not opposed to double mastectomies on principle; in fact, if I have a recurrence, I will probably opt for one. I just thought that you can always take off more later, but that once my real breasts are gone, they're gone.

Good luck!