Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

lisasayers

Firni glad to hear you are doing well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for all the well wishes for my sister.  She is home and doing okay....I keep harping on her to move her arms!  That is what big sisters are for! 

Tricia...congrats on ending chemo...one more thing to check off!

Bobcat I hadn't really though about a survival date until you asked.....I guess I would say the day I was diagnosed, because I made up my mind after I found out that I was going make cancer regret it ever invaded my body...and I did!  It's outta here!!!!!!!!!!!

Make it a great day!

BonnieK

Lisa -- I'm so happy to know that your sister is at home and doing reasonably well.  It sounds like you are going to keep her on task, so she's in good hands.

Firni -- I'm so happy that you are doing well.

Tricia -- It's great that you are done with chemo.  For me, that was the hardest part of all the treatments.

Bobcat -- I'm starting to think about choosing a survival date too, and will probably go with the date of my diagnosis because it was a day that changed my life into a battle with cancer that I do not intend to lose. 

I started radiation yesterday and will have 27 more treatments and then be done!  Aside from having sore arms after holding them above my head for that first planning session and treatment yesterday, the radiation took about 10 minutes and was totally painless.  I'm so excited to finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Take care everyone.

Bonnie

Texas357

I plan to use the date that the first scan/test indicates NED (No Evidence of Disease). Then I can say, "I've been X years cancer-free".

swest

I am choosing my mx date as my survival date.  That is technically when the cancer was removed.  I guess use the date that feels the best for you. 

Good news!!!!  I have a hair appointment at 2 PM today.  I am having those long grays removed that never fell out.  I'll let you all know how much longer my hairdresser says I have to wait to color.

Have a wonderful day ladies!!!!

havehope

Hello everybody, 

I am due for TX 8 tomorrow and can't wait to get to the end of May. I am getting more tired with each treatment but still going to work everyday. I am now worried about the swine flu since I go to NYC.

My hair is growing, but I don't think it will last. It's thinner than I had before chemo. My nails are ok, neuropathy is very light -comes and goes - and I usually get one day of bone pains but not strong. I have not taken yet any pain killers. My taste is off a little, but my tongue is bothering me. I feel like is bigger in size, my DH said is the same, and I feel like I have something sour in my mouth all the time. Not the taste but the sensation on my tongue.

My MIL had her second round of chemo and the tests show the tumor is shrinking. It is hard on her; she can't eat and lost a lot of weight. She has 2 more EC and then 4 Taxomere then surgery.

I was also thinking of the date that the scan/test indicates NED. My DH thinks it should be the surgery date since that's when the cancer was out.

Have a nice week-end.

Texas357

Simvog, so sorry that your tongue is bothering you. Don't you wish you were slurring your words because you'd just had a delicious pina colada instead?

Remember that your hair is growing WHILE you are still getting chemo, so the first growth won't be as thick. Hang in there, okay? Start your countdown -- it's almost over.  

EleanorJ

I'm not getting any test done to indicate NED. Like everyone said, we're all different and pick the date you're comfortable with. Some people pick dx date, some pick surgery date that removed the tumor. My reason for picking my last tx date is, like I said, I won't be getting any scans to prove NED. Yes cancer was removed in October, so if it was all removed than why the chemo & rads? So I told myself it was remove all cancer left and the last tiny bit will be removed with my last radiation. That's what gave me the strenght to go through all this, thinking it was removing ALL that was left instead of doing chemo/rads JUST IN CASE there's anything left. It didn't make any sense to me to put my body through all this for 6 months just for the fun of it because they took it all out with surgery.

We're all different, and I bet no doctors would agree on survival date either!

EleanorJ

By the way, swest, how's the hair cut? I'm jealous

Firni

I wasn't sure what I was going to use as my cancerversary date.  But I think I'll use the date I was diagnosed.  That date will forever be burned in my mind where as some of the others aren't as much.  I won't get any tests for NED either.  I've been surviving cancer since the day I was diagnosed, so diagnosis date is it.  

 Caroline, I'm jealous at how much hair you even have in you avitar.  I got nothing going on yet.

swest, when did you finish chemo? 

bobcat

simvog - good luck and be careful in NYC.  Swine flu and all.... even if Bloomberg rides the subway!

I'm still shaving my head because the chia pet thing is awfull - comes in for a couple of days and then looks sickly.  The grays are longer than the darks.  I get lots of compliments on the bald look so staying with that for another couple of weeks.  Today in town walking to my car, a guy turns and says "girl, that is a good look on you!"  I just said thanks I had no choice but a big smile to him.

I think I will take surgery date as my anniversary date because that is the most significant in my mind other than the day I got the call that my tumor was IDC.  We are beating this C thing and that's all that matters right now.  You ladies rock...and I love you all.

sdavis

I think you will find that no matter what date you pick the doctors and others pick the day of your first surgery as your aniversary.

I choose to think of my self as cancer free after chemo was done. I think January but the doctors and every one else things August. Now with the reoccurance I have to start over and I usually state "Cancer one was 03 and cancer two is 09. Oh and I aint doing it again so dont ask about cancer three"

mmliv

OK gals..... why pick just one date? Im thinking of celebrating: when I have to get a hair cut! when I can go a month without seeing a doctor! when people quit asking "how I am doing?"! when I can run 5 miles (that may be a long time)!..... anyway you get the idea! 

I've been on Femara for about a month and am doing OK. There have been a some joint pain, but I have been working out with weights and that took care of it. My skin is drier; but I don't know if that is still from chemo or from Femara.

My hair - well my DH calls me his fuzzball. I suspect in a couple of weeks the wig will be gone - not because I have a lot of hair,  but because it is driving me NUTS!!!!!!!

Sue - nice to hear from you again! 

Mary L 

swest

Hi ladies!  Hair cut went well.  She mainly cut off the grays that would not fall out during chemo.  She evened out everything and shaved my neck.  Now my hair is still short but it looks like it is cut for this short.  I am very happy.  I'll try to take a pic and post it.  Oh, my last chemo was Feb 13th.

Well I am off to see my ps.  Hopefully I get my drain tubes out today!

Firni - How are your new girls?????  I hope they are soft!

Great to hear from you Mary, sdavis and simvog!!!!

Firni

Hi Mary L. Good to hear from you.  I'm glad the Femara is going ok for you.  

swest, the new girls are pretty sore, but soft, soft.  He did some pocket revision and scar removal. PS prescribed Lovenox blood thinner injections again.  Last time DH gave me the shots, this time I'm doing them myself.  It's much easier than I thought it would be.  I wish there wasn't the drop and fluff phase.  Always something we have to be patient for.  Good luck getting those pesky drains out.  Everything seems so much easier once those are gone.

sdavis, I didn't know that the docs use the surgery date.  I think my onc. actually uses the last chemo date.  All I know is the last part of '08 and the first part of '09 have been very unpleasant. 

Chemo SEs continue to go away.  Taste buds are pretty much normal now.  Everything tastes a little too good.  Leg muscle strength is coming back.  Finger tip pain is going away except the hand where I have lymphedema, which my onc still thinks it isn't. My feet are still a problem with neuropathy and swelling.  And still no hair.  It's been 5 weeks since my last chemo.  Shouldn't there be some hair starting to grow somewhere?

mmliv

Firni - I really didn't start growing hair until 7 weeks from chemo. At 8 weeks I quit asking my family if there really was hair (I could see just a hint). Now at 12 weeks my hair is about a quarter inch long...... the hair seems to be about the same color and texture.

Mary L 

horsercn

Hey ladies....did anyone have their hair start growing back before chemo ended.  Mine has been growing back and the sides are now dark like it used to be and about 1/8 of an inch.  The top still has the white fuzz going.  Hope everyone is doing good today and have a wonderful weekend.

Texas357

Yes, horsercn, my hair started to re-grow when I started the taxotere. But it was very slow. After 9 weeks, it was only about 1/4" long -- but at least it was there! Now three weeks later, it's about 1/2" long but still completely bald in some places.

Guess I'll have my own layered look.

lisasayers

Mine continued to grow all through chemo...but I just kept shaving it and continued to shave it for about a month after treatments....it is growing like a weed now!  Same color, including those "silver highlights" and still poker straight!

horsercn

Thanks...mine started growing back when I was still having the Taxol txs

Tricia

Bold

Hello my sisters: I read everyday and keep up with all our progress, but do not post. I am on the HER2 thread and now the May Rad group. I still have you all in my prayers.

Ferni: I wanted to tell you that I am now Day 19 day out of last Chemo. I still have very sore finger and the bottom of my feet are still numb. I too have swelling in my legs to the point that I think that I might have some soft tissue injury or something. I am so sick of it. If you think that you have lymph. You should go to an specialist and get measured and maybe P.T. and a sleeve. Do not wait for onc to agree the more it swells thats where it stays so get a second opinion as soon as possible. Do I sound like a bully I am sorry not my intent. I just pushing you because I do not trust onc to know everything and its your body you know. You have helped me so much Thank you.

I hope everyone is doing OK. Sound like it.

Cheers

Firni

Hi Bold,  You are not sounding like a bully.  I know I need to go see someone, but my insurance requires a referral.  I'm calling Onc. today and demanding that as well as something for the fluid retention in my legs and feet.  Five weeks out of chemo and that swelling should be getting better by now.  When I went for my pre-op with my regular Dr., he agreed that my hand had lymphedema but he didn't want to refer me and step on any toes.  Can you imagine????  Our health is at stake and they worry about hurting each other's feelings.  Any way, I hope to have some kind of resolution today.  Thanks for thinking about me.

swest

Well the PS removed my drainage tubes!  Yea!!!!!  I feel much better.  Still get that tight feeling from the TEs in the pockets but I can definately live with this.  I go back next tuesday.  

I hope everyone is doing as well!

Sonia

Firni

swest, everything is better without drains.  As my muscles relaxed around the TEs I didn't even have much of a tight feeling until the last fill.  I'm glad you're feeling better.

bobcat

Glad everyone is doing well this week.  I had my first nipple tattoo session yesterday - what an odd experience.  Sort of like being at the dentist and waiting for the pain that never really comes.   When she was finished I was all shaky and sweaty.  Had to take an hour before I could drive so will definitely take someone with me next time.  I just thought it would be a piece of cake.  Anyway, got to choose a color (weirdness) and size (more weirdness) but they look good in the mirror even though I have smother them in vaseline for 10 days.  So back to wearing 'certain' tops - I sure hope this is all over soon - I'd love to wear somthing sexy

lisasayers

Hey Bobcat...thanks for letting us know how it went...I'll be getting nipples next...some time in June. 

Were you shaky and sweaty because you were nervous?

bobcat

Hi Lisa - Yes, shaky and sweaty from nerves and anxiety.  I'd never had a tattoo before and even though there is little feeling in the new breasts you can still feel pin pricks and there was light bleeding.  Also, no activity that causes heavy perspiration for a few days(I'm a runner and a spinner), no swimming, scabbing, extra care when bathing for 10 days.  These instructions each time I have the procedure which will be 2-3 more times until they get the level of color and look they are seeking.  It's completely doable after all I've been through but just wasn't expecting this much attention to this detail especially that I'm starting to feel better all the time.

zuffa

I have ot posted for a while and have been on a somewhat different schedule from most of the December ladies as my chemo was neoadjuvant.  I've had my surgery two weeks ago (mx and 16 nodes removed).  I am triple negative and my tumor was over 10cm -- so Stage III triple neg. Post surgery, my report is that I achieved a complete clinical and pathologic response.  No cancer in any of the tissue -- and no evidence there ever was any cancer.  Being triple negative, this greatly enhances the chance for overall and disease free survival -- and this type of response, I was told, is very, very rare in cases of advanced breast cancer such as mine.  For added reinforcement, I will go on to radiation.  I am grateful to the combination of faith, science and medicine that brought me to this point.  And, although I have not posted nearly as much as most of you, I am grateful to all of you for your support and compassion. 

Texas357

Zuffa, congrats on getting through the surgery and on the test results. That's awesome and very encouraging! When do you start rads? How many will you be doing? Hope you are recovering quickly from the surgery and node removal.

Firni

Hi Zuffa, What great news!!  with being stage III and triple neg, it has to be a huge relief to be NED.  Good luck with rads.  I hope you're recovering quickly from your surgery.  Get those arms up and moving around.

zuffa

Firni --- Arms up and moving around since the day after surgery -- my surgeon is amazing -- I have had no pain and rapid healing!  On the way to a celebratory brunch.  I feel great and hopefully will continue to do so.  And yes, it is a huge relief to be NED.  According to all the literature I've read, overall, triple negs with a complete PCR do very well afterwards. 

 Texas - II will have 5 weeks of rads and a couple of boosts.