Starting Chemo Aug 09

Lilah

YoYo -- well I am one DD, one something growing (480cc's at the moment)... there are times when I wonder if removing only one was such a great idea (from an aesthetic POV)... I'm looking forward to the exchange (whenver that will be)... have another fill tomorrow but think it will be at least three more weeks (i.e. at least another 180 cc's) before I see the light at the end of the tunnel!  That said, I am really excited about my current metamorphosis!  And since she took the fills down to only 60 cc's at a time, I find my discomfort is limited to a day or two -- which is awesome!  Thanks for asking   And WTG on the positive attitude re: your current revisit to chemoland -- you rock!

Jenn -- thanks for asking about me!  I am doing really well so far (see above reply to YoYo).  So sorry to hear that you had an allergic reaction!  YUK!  I agree with YoYo -- you are building up some excellent Kharma.  The universe OWES you.  Good luck with the radiation.

Patty -- relax... enjoy that you are through this stage!  You'll still have stuff going on for a few weeks (fatigue, pain if you had pain, eyebrow/lash loss if you haven't already had that)... but the good news is NO MORE CHEMO and it only gets better from here.

Cheers,

Lilah

msmpatty

Lilah - It is so good to hear you are doing well, all things considered!   I'm hoping that after my last TX on Friday I'll bounce back quickly.   I haven't had any pain on the Taxol, only minor numbness in my fingers and my blood counts are all perfectly normal.   No doubt I would lose my eyebrows...IF I HAD ANY TO LOSE!  Those guys have been gone for weeks.

Patty

Lilah

Wow you are so lucky with the no pain on Taxol!  Well I'm guessing you'll be feeling pretty good in a few weeks!  Anyway I hope so.  I was tired and had lingering pain for 3 weeks or so... I'd say I'm back to like 90% of my old stamina now (still get tired at times, though that may also be due to recovery from surgery 6 weeks ago).  I'm like 10 weeks PFC (too lazy to figure it out ... last chemo was Nov 9).

LOL re: eyebrows.

I saw my mom this weekend (we drove to Boston from NJ for a visit) -- she was so excited that I had eyebrows again lol... I think she was relieved.

Lilah

Kim09

Yoyo - I am half way through my radiation now.  Will you be doing radiation?

Lilah

Jenn!!!!  Your Saints won!!!  Woo hooo!!!!!!

Lilah

jenn3

Lilah - the city partied last night like Mardi Gras.  From what I understand in all neighborhoods, mine included people were driving up and down the streets honking, yelling, fireworks going off and everyone came out of their houses at 10:30p just to see other.  Unbelieveable.  I was on the edge of my seat, pacing the floors, yelling at the television and when they won, sore feet and all I jumped up and down like a wild woman.  I woke up this morning and turned on the news just to make sure it wasn't a dream.  Through all of this mess the one thing I've had to look foward to week after week were the games.  This is a year to remember.  

So glad to hear you feeling better or tolerating the fills better.  I don't know much about reconstruction yet, but I'm guessing they can work with the side you didn't have removed so that you have and even look.  Wow - eyebrows already?  They grew back in fast.  I have to say I'm slightly jealous.

Patty - Glad to hear you did so well with the Taxol.  I can't remember - are you doing radiation?  I have my first one today. 

Hope everyone has a happy Monday!

msmpatty

Jenn - Go SAINTS!    It was a real nail biter at the end.   I'm sure New Orleans will be very excited for the next two weeks.    Hope your first radiation goes well.

I am doing radiation.   I have my "tattoo" appointment on 2//12 and will start at the end of the month. 

Lilah - Yippee for eyebrows!   I am so jealous!

Patty

gillyone

Jenn - we did not get dinner until 8pm  (west coast) last night as we were glued to the TV. Pretty exciting!!

Lilah

Wow Jenn sounds like such an exciting night to be from New Orleans!  WTG Saints!  I heard on the radio today this is their FIRST time in the superbowl... wow. 

Ladies your eyebrows will grow back soon, I'm sure of it!  I didn't lose mine til about 3 - 4 weeks after my last TX -- well the loss started to become noticeable around Thanksgiving and by Christmas they were completely gone -- not one hair left!  Then I went out and bought eyebrow pencils but by New Year's I could feel the hair coming back in... and a few weeks ago they seemed to look normal again.  So the departure was slow and agonizing but the return was quick.  Fingers crossed they don't fall out again (as I have seen reported by some).  They look thicker but I think it's because the hair is darker (the old brows were a mixture of dark and light).  Anyway -- yeah!  It feels good to have em

Ugh just come home from fill #6 (up to 540 cc's -- woot!) and there was a flood in my basement (which is finished and where I spend most of my time)... my good oriental rug is wet (at the ends)... and I am getting quite a workout vaccuming up the water.  Bummer!  (Currently taking a break). 

Lilah

msmpatty

Lilah -- water, water everywhere...TE...basement!   Hope you are getting everything mopped up, what a hassle.  Thanks for the encouragement on the eyebrows!

Patty

Lilah

LOL Patty!  Yes all cleaned up and now the carpet is just damp (and smelly) - lysol helps lol.  Interestingly, all that exercise this afternoon (pushing and pulling the vacuum... and myself) seems to have had a bonus effect: I'm not nearly as sore as I was this time last week after the fill.  Interesting!

Lilah

jenn3

Lilah - sorry to hear about the water in the basement - ugh!

Had my first radiation tx - all went well, nothing too interesting to report.  Happy to report that I see five o'clock shadow in the area of my eyelashes - whoo hoo!!!!  I'll be getting them soon!

This is our first Superbowl - I and many others have to keep pinching ourselves, is this for real?  The Friday before the playoff game our entire office and all of the branches were given the okay to dress in Saints jersey's or clothing.  A group of us took a picture and it made it to the news!  In addition, there were so many absences from school that the city may close public schools the Monday after the Superbowl.  My daughter is in private school and she was telling me that luckily they already have that day off for something.  She did say that most of her friends were either absent or came in late - and they didn't lie about the reason - straight up -  we were partying after the game.  She said nobody got in trouble..................... It is so exciting!!! 

Lilah

Jenn -- woo hoo on the lashes!!!  (And the Saints excitement -- it's historic!)

Water is all gone and so is the smell (which came from the oriental rug getting wet -- nice huh?)  We dried the rug out and all is well.  Amazing how even a tiny big of water can create such havoc!

Lilah

Kayel

Hi Everyone~

Jenn~ I am a little late but Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh for the Saints!  I was so happy that they made the superbowl and feel sure they will win it.  Sounds like a blast in your town right now.  Also, yeahhhhh for the eyebrows.  I never lost mine but they thinned out alot and have stayed thin for now.  My eye lashes have come back but not as full .  My hair is very short and very curly.  I remember when I use to perm my hair when I was younger just to have some curl.

I got my tattoos on Monday and I start radiation next Thursday.

It sounds like everyone is just about finished up with chemo so cheers to each of you!!

jenn3

Lilah - Again, so sorry you had to deal with that mess while your trying to get through rads and fills.  Ugh!!! Glad the smell is gone!!!

I officially started rads this week - so far all is going well or as to be expected.  All of the nurses are extremely nice and everyone including the doctors answers all of my questions in detail.  I have to tell y'all because it's getting funny now.  Had my port out Monday, nothing major, just numbing medicine and out it came.  The used a big piece of clear tape over the packing to secure it.  Guess what???? Had a terrible allergic reaction - broke out in blisters around the edges of the tape.  At this point I'm starting to wonder if there is anything I don't react to these days..........

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week - talk to y'all later.

Lilah

Geez Jen that is just not fair (the allergic reaction)!  Thanks for the info about removing the port - I have wondered how it's done.  Mine was implanted in me when I was in surgery, having SNB and second lumpectomy (to add insult to injury).  I was sore after for awhile... not looking forward to the removal from the soreness POV (but YEAH looking forward to the removal!) 

Hope radiation is kind to you.

Oh and yeah: woo hoo on the eyebrows!

Kayel -- good luck with radiation too -- again here's hoping it goes easy for you.

Lilah

gillyone

Yes I've been wondering about port removal. When I see the onc in a couple of weeks, that is something we will discuss. I had general anesthetic to put it in and have no idea how they will take it out.

Karen09

Hey ladies!  I hope you are all having a good day.  I don't get on here as much as I used to but I do catch up on the posts every couple days or so.

I'm going for my markings on Monday too and then I start radiation on the 8th.  I should be getting my PICC out around then and I'm very excited for that.  Hopefully I'll be starting Zometa around then too. 

Have a good weekend everyone!

gillyone

What is the Zometa for? Just wondered as I am TN and have finished chemo and rads and now nothing!!

jenn3

Gill - I'm TN too.... when we're finished we don't get anything.   However, they're are doing trials in different areas to see if bisphosphonates reduces the risk of recurrance in both positive cancers and TN cancers.  And........ some doctors will prescribe it to TN patients. Zometa is in the bisphosphonates family.  I did talk to my onc about it and he said no he doesn't use it for TN patients.  That doesn't mean if I research more I won't ask again later  .

Also, my port was removed by numbing medication and was over and done in 30 minutes.  I was really nervous, but it was very easy.

Karen - glad to hear from you and glad you're doing well.  Love the new pic!!

Karen09

They are hoping the bisphosphonates will help prevent bone mets and apparently a lot of studies are showing a lot of good numbers so far.  I was told by a nurse that if the studies work out the way they look like they will that a lot of breast cancer patients will have bisphosphonates as a standard of care in the future. 

Thanks Jen.  Thought I would put a picture of me up for a change.  And of course my little buddy Luke. 

msmpatty

I'm DONE!   Last Taxol TX done today!   Yipee!

Jenn- I'm surprised your Onc is not recommending the Zometa.  Seems like you TN gals would be perfect candidates.   Sorry to hear about the tape problem...your body is very picky about what goes in and on it!  Sensitive...like the Princess and the Pea.   (Gosh...now that I think about it, you would probably have an allergic reaction to Zometa!)

I have a month off now, in which I hope to get my port removed, and then I start rads the end of February.    Thanks for all the support, advice and encouragement!

Patty

Lilah

Yay Patty!!!!

Nice pic Karen   Cute kitty!

So are the biphosphonates any good for HER-2 positives?

Lilah

jenn3

Patty - so glad you're done - one step closer to the end.  My onc said that "right now" they aren't using Zometa on TN patients - I'm guessing because they're waiting on more information.  Or......maybe it's an insurance issue.  The insurance companies dictate a lot and it could be that they won't approve it right now.  I'll ask more questions next time I go in.  You're right with my luck I'd have terrible reactions to it.

Lilah - I think they're seeing good results across the board with Zometa / Bisphonphonates, but again I've only done a little research.

Today my daughter and I are going to go get a few last minute things before her trip to D.C. next week.  They are leaving Superbowl Sunday so they've all decided to wear their Saints shirts and jersey's on the plane ride and decided they will skip out on the evening plans with the rest of the groups that night so that they can stay in and watch the Superbowl.  Whoo Hoo!!!

Karen09

Congratulations Patty!!!!!!   Yay! 

Thanks Lilah!

gillyone

Hi everyone

Is anyone still doing chemo? If so how are you doing?

Anyone still doing or about to do rads?

It seems like some of us are done!!

I have 1/2 inch hair, but it hardly seems there, it lies so flat against my head. Except for that little cowlick at the front which is already sticking up. I can see I'm going to have fun with that!

Lilah

Hey Gilly -- I am done with chemo and didn't need rads (because I went for the uni MX).  My hair is shorter than yours... and still lies flat against my head so far.  Pretty even growth overall (slightlly longer in the back according to my boyfriend).  The best is when I take a shower it ALL sticks straight up lol.

Lilah

YoYo44

Hello ladies,

Haven't checked in much-amazing how busy one can get doing not much of anything! Glad to hear all the good news. Really happy to hear about all the port removals. It must feel wonderful actually feeling that the end of treatment is coming closer.

Good luck all you ladies on radiation (Jenn, Kayel, Kim09 and Patty and anyone I missed). I will be joining you probably sometime in April. I visit the rad onc for a consult beginning of Feb so will know better what my story is then (thanks for asking Kim09).

Jenn, sorry to hear about the tape allergy too. That must just feel like insult to injury. I am sure you are building up some great kharma for something! Best of luck today for your team. I had to laugh at the image of you jumping up and down like a wild woman. Glad the chemo has worn off enough for you to celebrate better.

Lilah, thanks for your support. What I have found is that I have been blessed to get little boosts from all kinds of people at critical times and I run with every one of them. It is amazing how I have gotten cards and gifts and phone calls on my lowest days to help get through things. Sorry to hear about the flooding but sounds like there was no permanent damage fortunately. A lot of work and worry though I bet. Glad the fills are going better too. I go in again this Tuesday.

So my news: my onc won't be buying me dinner unfortunately. Last Wednesday night I ran my fingers through my hair and a whole bunch of hair came with them! Only a day later than I was thinking it might start-so right on schedule. So much came out that I went in Friday morning and had it buzzed. So I am trying to figure out what it will be: wig, scarf, hat or just rotate between them all. The wig feels a little strange still and seems to ride up a little. I guess it has to conform a little to my head and maybe I can improve the adjustment. I feel pretty good though so that is wonderful. Unfortunately my white cells don't agree and are quite low. My onc said it was OK for now as they are now on the upswing (wow, how low were they?!? Oops!) and we shall see next week. Maybe I will end up with Neupogen too. My friend started AC last week and they gave it to her proactively. So number 2 will be this Thursday. Yay, almost half way!!

Have a great week everyone!

Yo

Lilah

YoYo -- good to hear from you and glad you are bearing up.  Sorry to hear about the hair loss though   I bought a wig cap from that TLC Direct catalogue that is available from the American Cancer Society and found it really made all the difference with wig wearing (wig hugs better but also just feels softer against the skin to have the cap there).  Maybe that will help you?

Yep the water is all gone and so is the smell.  We dried out the rug (which was the source of the smell) and all is good!  I got me some real bona fide exercise too -- imagine that  

Lilah

YoYo44

Thanks Lilah, will check out the wig caps.  May just stop by the wig store as I am in Canada and I don't think ACS would ship here.

Yo