**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

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  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 556
    edited June 2009

    Hair thought... As predicted by y'all and others, my hair is slooooooowly coming back.  I can barely see it, but it's there...  Here's the situation:

    My hair is coming back in the form of a mohawk!  I can see a lot more hairs on the top of my head than on the sides and the back.  THEN, I thought... OMG!  This is my payback.  I posted that stupid picture of me WITH a mohawk when we firsted started chemo.  Oh boy...

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  • Janet0527
    Janet0527 Member Posts: 141
    edited June 2009

    Lol at Jan's Mohawk post. ;)

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  • chick717
    chick717 Member Posts: 58
    edited June 2009

    Jan and I are on the same page- started our rads same day and like her, I have no SEs!!  Only the inconvenience of going daily and remembering that I am a "cancer patient" - but so incredibly grateful that is goes well.  The treatment facility is close to my office - my daily appt is 7am and I am literally at my desk by 7:20 every day.

    Also like Jan, my hair is FINALLY creeping in very slowly, soft white hairs, sort of like the hairs on my arms.  But there are a couple of strange bald spots "northeast" of my temples - on both sides.

    If anyone is interested, I can tell you exactly what the rads process is like...how they mark you for calibration,etc.   

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  • bwbly
    bwbly Member Posts: 82
    edited June 2009

    Hello ladies!!! Been awol for awhile ..... internet connection been on the fritz. Finally caught up reading - again.

    I had #11 of 12 Taxol last Tuesday. All still going well, with very minimal SEs. Numbness/tingling in fingers, minor swelling of feet/hands, nosebleeds and the ever-present exhaustion.

    I will have final Taxol next Tuesday, then a week off before I start bi-weekly AC for 4 rounds. As is usual these days, my mom will come stay with me when I start the new drugs. She worries, you know LOL.

    Last Friday was my last day at work til this is all over. Short-term disability til the end of August. So I'm a lady of leisure. Sure wish I had some spare time to enjoy it LOL.

    Hope everybody has a good week!

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  • pickle
    pickle Member Posts: 1,409
    edited June 2009

    Bwbly: Great to hear from you. Wow # 11 of 12....that's great! I am glad you are taking some time off from work....Lady of leisure....treat yourself well.

    As far as your Mom goes......once a Mom always a Mom....We never stop worrying about our kids. Nice that she can be with you.

    Have a good night

    Beth P

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  • sakura73
    sakura73 Member Posts: 467
    edited June 2009

    Hello all. Hope you are all happy and well - or as well as can be. Mohawks and all!

     Day 4 out from final AC and boy am I sick of Biotene. I know it has saved me a great deal of potential pain and inconvenience, but I am so ready to ditch it. Am I going to need it for Taxol?

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  • jdeking
    jdeking Member Posts: 408
    edited June 2009

    Hi all!

    Finished chemo, yay! It wasn't too bad. Kind of like the first - I was dreading it and terrified, and it turned out to be fine. I am feeling ok today so far too.

    Yay Bawbly on almost being done with Taxol! On to the next stage!

    Sakura- I don't think you'll need the Biotene for Taxol. I don't think it dries your mouth out as much as the other chemo drugs do. Anyone else know for sure?

    Jan - I have to laugh at your mowhawk! My hair is coming back too, but I am not sure if it will fall out again after yesterday's tx. The nurse seems to think no, so I will hold out hope. It is all very fine and white, and I am a little bald in the "cradle cap" area, much like a baby! I also noticed a little leg fuzz! Too bad that hair can't disappear for good!

    Hope everyone is well!

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  • Alyad
    Alyad Member Posts: 817
    edited June 2009

    congrats on being "done" janine! I know you won't really be done til you pass through the next week or so, but isn't it nice to know you don't have to do it again? I can't wait- June 18. I am just pulling out of tx 5 Se's finally.

    Congrats Rachel! I think the Taxotere alone shouldn't be as bad as the AC? I hope! If I had it to do over again, I might choose to do it the way you did, AC, then T instead of TAC. I had extensive TRAM surgery 6 weeks before chemo and I think the fact I was still recovering from that, plus doing the all in one TAC regimen was A LOT. I'm glad to be over with it sooner, but its been a rough road.

    Everyone please add my friend Mary Ann to your thoughts and prayers. She is a super-fit 60 yo hiker friend who lives in Northern GA.  She was diagnosed about a month ago, found a lump herself and had it checked out- sure enough , BC. sux, I hate that someone else I know has to deal with this too.

    She had an MRI and they found ANOTHER spot  in the other breast, also cancer! Neither of them showed up on a mammogram. She had a double lumpectomy and SNB, at first look nodes were negative and even what she was told was the final pathology was negative, then she goes to to the onc the other day (like 2 weeks after surgery) and they tell her she's got a 2mm micromet. She was already slated for chemo bc she had two cancers. Interestingly enough the two tumors had different pathology- both were ER+, but one was also HER2+, so that changed the chemo she'll be on to TCH.

    To top it off, she got an infection post lumpectomy and had to spend 3 days in the hospital and thus that has delayed her start of chemo a few weeks.

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  • pickle
    pickle Member Posts: 1,409
    edited June 2009

    Alyad: So sorry to hear about your fellow hiker friend. I have definitely added Mary Ann to my thoughts and prayers list. Extra hugs and warm wishes being sent to you today....tough for you to hear news like that.

    Jdeking: Way to go....so gald you are off the chemo train. Hope you have minimal SE this week.

    Hair Topic.....sprouts on top (standing straight up) and bald as a baby on the sides.....on the bright side....should stay cool through the summer!

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  • didle20Diane
    didle20Diane Member Posts: 404
    edited June 2009

    Dayla, heartfelt thoughts go out to your friend Mary Ann..........one of my best friends from childhood was diagnosed 3 weeks to the day after I was ......when I got BC it was like getting a new car....you notice everyone else that is driving your car....wish it wasn't the same with BC but almost everyone I told about my BC had a story about someone they knew with this dreaded disease, too.  Way too common. It is getting OLD....I know in my heart that there has to be a cure for this in our lifetime.

    I am walking in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure tomorrow morning in DC........I will post pictures tomorrow afternoon!

    hugs

    Diane

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  • PattiB
    PattiB Member Posts: 421
    edited June 2009

    Prayers to Mary Ann and JDEKing - Congrats on your last chemo.  Diane - Good luck at the Walk,  Have a great weekend everyone.

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  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 553
    edited June 2009

    I had no problem with my mouth being dry  and my eyes finally stopped watering on the Taxol.  I didn't use Biotine, just baking soda rinse.  Hope this helps.

    Went to Doc. today.  Palpated breast,  tumor has shrunk and is softer.  I am schedule for MRI June 29th and surgery July 7th.  I wonder how long after surgery until I start Rads.

    My neighbor, 35, just told me she was DX with invasive BC.  She had PET and all looked well.  She sees doc next week for plan.  She is the third woman in my neighborhood of 18 diagnosed in past 6 months.  Scary.  We are all under 46.

    Good vibes to all...and congrats to those finishing up.

    Chris

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  • didle20Diane
    didle20Diane Member Posts: 404
    edited June 2009
    Chris, THAT is scary.....What the ???? is going on? 

    There are supposed to be over 50,000 on the mall tomorrow for the walk/run.  I bet a lot of pink shirts, too.
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  • moborn63
    moborn63 Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2009

    It depends on the dr. My twin sister who was diagnosed 1 week before me. Her doctor did her chemo first and she just had her surgery this week. Where as my dr did my surgery first (in dec) and then my chemo. We will both have to have RAD. But it does depend on the cancer type. The tumor size and the dr you got to and what they feel bets the best results.

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  • bethr
    bethr Member Posts: 259
    edited June 2009

    Hi All,

     Congrats to all who are finished with chemo...  I'm envious and extremely happy for you all at the same time...  I've got two more left.. ugh...  And the fact that I'm simply getting tired of it along with the side effects isn't helping.

    MOB...  Just remember your new mohawk is probably the most beautiful mohawk in the state of TX!  Hell, it's probably the most beautiful mohawk in the world!...  (smile)...  Here's wishing the rest of your head catches up, which I know it will!

    Diane - I'll be thinking of you and alll the women on the mall today.  I'm in the DC metro area and won't be walking.  I WILL DEFINITELY BE WALKING NEXT YEAR THOUGH!!!  Can't wait to see the pics!

    My best to all of you for a great day!  I think the Sun's supposed to finally come out in DC today!

    Take care,

    Beth

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  • Janet0527
    Janet0527 Member Posts: 141
    edited June 2009

    I was also downtown in DC yesterday to run in the Race for the Cure.  My team raisded over $4000 - we had a fundraiser at a salsa venue that raised over $1600 through the cover charge, and I was able to get over $1700 in donations from friends and family.  It was a bittersweet experience - such a gorgeous day for a run, so many people lending support and raising money, but so many people with pictures and signs recognizing loved ones that they had lost.  It made me realize once again how very lucky I am to have caught this early.  Here's a picture of me (on the right) with a couple of my team members.

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited June 2009

    That is so great Janet that you were able to be there and raise so much money! I am definitely going to be at the one here locally next year!

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  • pickle
    pickle Member Posts: 1,409
    edited June 2009

    Janet: Congratulations! A true Warrior! 

    Great photo and thanks for sharingSmile

    Beth P

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  • Dawnmrn1
    Dawnmrn1 Member Posts: 446
    edited June 2009

    Janet!  I am so proud of you, great work, it's nice to hear of good things coming out of a bad situation!  great picture!  Dawn

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  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 556
    edited June 2009

    Janet... great picture and news!  Very cool indeed.

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  • Luv2sing
    Luv2sing Member Posts: 145
    edited June 2009

    Hello All!

    Haven't felt up to posting much, have been trying to keep up with the reading though.  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone.  Janet - I love the picture!  They were showing footage from the race on our local station and Richmond had some events going on as well.  Next year I plan to actually participate in at least one race.  Congratulations to all who have finished treatments (I look forward to that day) and I hope you continue to share how things are going in your lives. 

    Getting ready to hit the bed and wishing you all a good week with only pleasant surprises!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2009

    Sounds like it was a great weekend most places.  Not much on this board this weekend but good things... yeah.

    Janet, Diane  The race for a cure sounds like quite an event.   Awesome pic.

    Janine:  Hope you are making it through your last set of SE's okay

    Bethr:  I felt a lot like you after #4, happy for others but really down about still 2 moreto go.  It made it much harder.  #5, and the finish line in site seemed easier.  You'll be there soon!!

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  • didle20Diane
    didle20Diane Member Posts: 404
    edited June 2009

    387.jpg After the Race image by didle20

    Hi all...this is Julie and I after the race.....45,000 people there so I didn't get to run into Janet :)  Very inspiring to see all the survivors out there!  I ran this 20 years ago and I believe the turn out then was 5,000.....they have come a long way.  Got a bit choked up when we started....just another reminder of what we are all going through I guess.

    hugs,
    Diane

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  • Dawnmrn1
    Dawnmrn1 Member Posts: 446
    edited June 2009

    Diane and Julie!  How wonderful!  I am so proud of you, aren't these runs emotional, you see people of all ages, creeds and colors, bonded together by cancer!  Thanks for running!  Hugs, Dawn

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  • jdeking
    jdeking Member Posts: 408
    edited June 2009

    Diane, Julie, Janet - Congratulations on racing for the cure! You make all of us so very proud! I had a "Team Janine" for my local one back in march, but it was the day after a treatment, so I couldn't go. I will do it next year for sure! You all look wonderful!!

    Dayla and bethr - you are both so close to the finish! I felt the same when people started finishing all over the place, and I still had 2 to go. But I think those 2 went by faster than any of the others. Especially going from #5 to #6 - that just flew by! You will be there soon, promise!

    I have been very lucky this  last round, and no SE's other than pain from the Neulasta. I think they finally got my nausea meds right, figures it would be on the last one! Tongue out

    NYDeb - do you have 2 left or just one? Hang in there, almost done!

    Raymon - are you doing ok? Big (((((hugs))))) your way girl!

    Dayla - June 18th is almost here! Woohoo! I will also pray for MaryAnn. That is a rough road for her, glad she has you for advice & support.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2009

    Janine :  Good to hear they finally got your meds right.  So glad you didn't have to suffer like the last time.  

    I have only one left, June 19th.  It feels like we have been doing this forever.  I sometimes feel like I am just back to normal.  I spent all day Saturday running around doing yardwork, boating, took an hour long motorcycle ride with DH, even had a beer by the lake.  Then on Sunday, my legs are like lead and my eyes are twitchy. Guess my body was telling me to slooow down. 

    This will all be a distant memory before we know it.

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  • Dawnmrn1
    Dawnmrn1 Member Posts: 446
    edited June 2009

    Deb!  My last TAC is on the 23rd, I have twitching eyes, bloating, muscle cramps, and I'm sick of being sick! Thanks for making me feel "NORMAL"< my DH just read your post and said, she's like you!  Safety in numbers I guess!  This too shall pass!  Can't wait!  Dawn

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  • 7timewinner
    7timewinner Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2009

    Blessings on all the ladies who ran at the Race for the Cure...I sure hope to participate locally next year. You all look wonderful, too :)

    And blessings on those of us in treatment again this week. My day is Thursday, just two left including this week. I have been running the whole spectrum of emotions about being so close to finishing...joyful, scared, elated, hesitant. I've also finally noticed a pattern I have of the week before a treatment:  very little sleep, edgy, agitated. Even though I'd call myself a pretty calm person, those feelings have a way of making themselves known at times of high stress, lol :)

    Yesterday, I was feeling pretty down, so my sister took me to Sephora to pick out some new makeup. I also got an eyebrow kit from Anastasia that includes a brush, wax, varying colors and 4 different sized stencils. Ladies, I cannot tell you how much of a difference this silly kit has made in my mood, lol...My eyebrows are beginning to thin quite a bit and touching them up with this kit has been so helpful. I feel more like my old self already :)

    Whatever it takes to get us through, right? A little makeup goes a long way for my self-esteem :) I've even included a new pic in my profile shot, one of me smiling more.

    Warm hugs to everyone,

    Nadine

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  • ginagina
    ginagina Member Posts: 327
    edited June 2009

    Hi yall. We are getting soooo close. My last chemo is on the 26th. I am sooo ready to be done..but I will be right here with everyone. 

    Way to go Janet and Diane!! 

    My best friend from grad school was out this weekend for a visit and I dragged her and my daughter to Seattle's Race for the Cure. We really took our time. It was a WALK for the Cure for us!!  We stood in line for 30 min to register. And again for 20 min to use the bathroom before a slow mosey over to the start line. I think the 5k walk started at 8:30 and we strolled across it at 9:00! It was a great day and I am glad I did it...though it was a bit surreal at times. I picked up a survivor t-shirt but never wore it. Dont know why.

    Syd had a wig on too! but of course there are no pics of that because it ended up in the backpack pretty fast. A bit too hot and itchy for a 6 year old.  Best part of the day was hooking up with fellow bc.org gals (active on the Crazy in Seattle thread) and we all walked together with our kids. It was good.

    This is Carol, Susan, me and Jean. Jean was diagnosed in March, then her mom was diagnosed just last week. I tell you, this is a crazy disease.

    I didn't do any fund-raising, but I think that's ok. Maybe next year.

    Nadine - your post cheered me up. And I love your new pic!!! I have been hiding behind my glasses and baseball hat (yesterday it was the pink wig cause I didn't want to disappoint the seattle gals) because my eyebrows and lashes are long gone. I tried some makeup...but I must be a "hands on the face gal" because I couldn't keep from smearing or wiping it off. I never new that I was such a vain girl...but I am. I cant stand the way I look right now. Maybe I just need an Anastasia kit too.

    Hugs to all  

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  • Dawnmrn1
    Dawnmrn1 Member Posts: 446
    edited June 2009

    ginagina!  You go girl!  Proud of you and yours, it looks like you had a great time!  Syd is adorable and will always remember this and why???!!!! Great job, wonderful role model!I don't know about this disease, 2 of my neighbors have it and there are only 15 houses on the street! Very scary!  hugs to all of you! Dawn

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