Starting Chemo Aug 09

gillyone

Donna - good to hear from you. I had a bad boob only mammo in March, but will not have a regular one until September. My bad boob is very firm compared to the other and along the scar it is very lumpy and hard - scar tissue. Last year (after surgery in June) I got full range of motion in my arm fairly quickly mostly from a lot of reaching overhead helping DH fix the canopy over our deck. But now, I notice everything seems very tight. Did rads do this? Or just lack of exercise on my part. Anyane else dealing with this?

buccaneersdj

Gilly, I too am very stiff...this seems to be worse after I use my arm alot (ie. golf, playing wii bowling) I cannot lift right arm up over head at all. Boob is also firmer, smaller and red still after rads. Onc says the red is from Lymphodema. I knew I had some in my arm by my elbow but I didn't know you could get it in your breast.

By the way, my chemopause is over, I started my first period last month, exactly 5 months PFC. And it was very long about 13 days...the onc is not too worried since my tumor was TN. It just sucks after all the weight gain and hot flashes it's back! My breast used to be tender at that time of the month and now they are very tender!

Gilly, did you have alot of pain when you had the mammo? I was sore for a week...onc also said I have Lymphodema in my boob also, ( I just repeated myself again) which is why sometimes I have depression marks here and there when I remove my bra and could have to do with the tenderness. I hate to complain too much, but sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice with the lumpectomy and rads???

I was sent to a physical therapist for the Lympodema, but I never thought it was that bad, so I never went...I guess I enjoy my dr. free days too much!

My primary dr. called me the other day to remind me that he is my primary dr. and my onc. is not, I haven't been to him since my cancer diagnosis, I guess he misses me or something...he reminded me that there are other health issues to monitor besides "Cancer"....even though in my head everything "must" have to do with Cancer. I injured my hip while golfing and was convinced for a week while it was sore that my cancer had spread to my hip bone, but of course the pain went away after a week, I had just pulled a muscle. I guess thats why I am now on Xanax, which by the way helps alot...I do take less than the dr. prescribed. I don't want to be an addict or the crazy lady! {{{HUGS}}} Donna

Lilah

Donna -- LOL re: your PCP missing you!  Sorry about the lympedema... hate to say it but you really should go see the therapist. 

Gilly -- I think you have to just stretch the muscles.  Do the wall crawl thing for over the head stretching (stand facing a wall and crawl your hands up as high as you can go... do it 3 times a day and you will see results soon).

NavyMom

My PT gal also has me lay on the floor and do "snow angels"   when I am at home.  Seems to help..........because if I skip a day I can notice that the tightness comes back.

Navy

jenn3

Hi all!!!   I know this is weird and can't seem to figure it out, but when I have a hot flash, my knees hurt more.  It is so weird.........I'm going to see my primary for a follow up later this month and will mention it to her and then next month when I see the onc I may mention it as well.  Strange, strange, strange.

Yo - so glad to hear from you and glad to hear you're on the mend.  Whoo Hoo to the hair growth!!

Donna - I am so sorry you're dealing with lymphodema and tightness.  I haven't had to deal with that except right after my surgery.  A lot of the women on these boards have gone to a PT and said it really helped.  I know you don't want to do that, but it may be worth a try.  I'm wishing it to go away and that you feel better soon.  Ugh!!! to lady nature deciding to come back. 

buccaneersdj

Hair update at 5 1/2 months PFC...still very short now getting curly. Today when I took one of the dogs to the Vet. the office manager, whom I haven't seen for a year and didn't know about the Cancer said WOW your hair is so cute. She thought I did this cut on purpose..haha! So far I've colored twice and cut once. I hated to cut but I was growing wings on the sides and still bald up top.

Lilah

Wow looks fantastic buccanneer!

gillyone

Donna - you and me better get exercising - one sided "snow" angels here we come!

jenn3

Donna - your hair looks great. 

I've got to get off my lazy butt and post a picture, it's pretty thick.  It's actually about the same length as my co-worker's hair - that she has cut short.  I just don't know what to do with the curls other than wash and go.  The upside is I spend no time on my hair.

msmpatty

Gill - On my final check up with the radiation Onc yesterday I was told that my radiated boob might feel firmer as time goes on.  So it appears the firmness is "normal".   As for the scar tissue...my surgeon said massaging the scar will help.   I've been doing that with Emu Oil for the past two months (during and after radiation) and my lumpectomy scars are virtually undetectable now.  I'm trying massaging the oil into my node dissection scar and it seems like it is both fading and feeling less "tight".   Might be worth a try...

Lilah - Writing teacher?!  I'll have to watch my grammar and sentence construction a little more carefully on this board.  HA!   Hooray for going "topless"!   I've been really tempted lately, especially in places where I don't think I'm going to see anyone I know.   How did it feel to get a trim?  We've waited so long to get what little we have, I'm afraid to have even a millimeter cut off!

YoYo - I hope your aches resolve quickly.  Congrats on the eyelashes and brows....head is next!

My surgeon's office called and I'm getting de-ported on Friday afternoon. Bye-bye port, hello one more scar.

Patty

Lilah

Patty -- no worries ... I'm not on the job here   As for the hair cut... my hair stylist is a survivor and she is just amazing.  She buzzed my hair off for me (for nothing) when I started chemo and also refused payment this time as well.  Her hair is really LONG (glossy, black, gorgeous!) and she lost all of it when she went through chemo.... so she's my cheerleader.  She said she buzzed the chemo ends off too when it got long enough... I have to say I did not want to go out topless prior to the cut because my hair looked so scraggly.  When we went out to dinner with my friends, one of them said my hair looked "almost intentional" LOL... which is to say it almost looked like I meant it to be this short.  It's still a tad short but at least it's neat.  I too only go without the wig when I feel comfortable that I won't see people I know (except of course the dinner).

msmpatty

Lilah - Love the "almost intentional".  Perfect!

Patty

Lilah

My friends have a very dry sense of humor

weety

Happy Mother's Day to all our breast cancer moms!

gillyone

Hi Weety - hope everyone had a good day. I have a 3 monthly visit with the onc on Tuesday and will discuss de-porting. It doesn't bother me and I like visiting the onc nurses once a month so have to decide if I am ready. (They are so nice!!) I am 6 months PFC.

jenn3

Hello - Happy Monday to all!!!!

Lilah - If memory serves me correct, tomorrow is your surgery.  I know you'll do fine, but wanted to send (((HUGS)))) your way.

Weety - thank you!!! Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day.

How is everyone?

msmpatty

Gil - I just got "de-ported" last Friday.  It is a really simple procedure, much easier than putting it in.   I was pretty sore the evening after it was removed, but just three days later I hardly notice it.  It is really nice not to have that hard lump on my chest and the weird vein going up my neck.

Lilah - Thinking about you and your surgery tomorrow!   Try not to worry, I'm sure everything will go just fine and you'll love the end result.  Maybe I'll skip breakfast tomorrow morning in sympathy for your day in surgery.

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day.  

Patty

Lilah

Jenn and Gilly -- aw thanks for remembering!  And Gilly that is terribly sweet of you!  My surgery is scheduled for 1 PM.  Can't wait to wake up in the recovery room!!!

weety

Good luck Lilah!  Can't wait to hear about it!

gillyone

Lilah - Patty was so sweet, not me. But I'll be thinking of you tomorrow too!!

Lilah

OMG Gilly you are right!  Thank you Patty for the "in spirit" fasting ))  I'm a ditz... I blame chemobrain. 

I do thank you for the good wishes though Gilly... and you too Weety! 

I'll report as soon as I am able.

buccaneersdj

I'm thinking about you Liilah! Hoping all went wel! {{{HUGS}}} Donna

buccaneersdj

Gilly, How did your onc appt. go?? De-porting??, I have an onc appt. tomorrow to get my mammo results (regular annual) 1 year since my bad mammo, wish me luck! I already had the bad boob mammo results last month and all was well but since it just happen to fall on my regular yearly mammo time I had it done again this month, why not double check..hehe! Also 6 months PFC!!!!!!

Lilah

Thanks Donna!  I am home and I am DONE!  I am sore and tired but I can handle that, knowing it will not last.  Not quite as painful as the MX... though since it was a uni, Im a little more hampered now that both sides were worked on (so need a little more help).  The new implant, a gummy, feels SO natural.  And the pain I had for the last two months in my shoulder, shoulder blade and arm are GONE, which is a relief because while I thought it was from the TE I feared it was LE (it's not).  So today I'm resting and pumping the tylenol (I hate narcotics so always try to get off of them quickly).

jenn3

Lilah - glad to hear the surgery went well, and what a bonus the arm/shoulder pain went away.  Rest, rest, rest.

msmpatty

Lilah - Great to hear it is OVER!  Sounds like everything went well.   Pop those Tylenol and have a good rest tonight.

Donna - Positive vibes going your way on the mammo tomorrow.  Congrats on your 6-month chemo-versary.

I'm so excited for my hair appointment on Monday!   Getting rid of this awful color and a little trim to reduce the frizzies.  Can't wait.

 Patty

gillyone

Lilah, good to hear you are doing well.

Donna  - my onc appt went fine and we have decided that I should get de-ported. Now I have to wait for the referral, but I would prefer to wait until next month when school is done. Are you exercising your arm? I'm trying to remember to stretch out every day!!!!

I am getting a hair cut tomorrow. She might laugh at me - I really don't have that much. But I don't like the scraggley (sp?) (is it a word?) bits round my neck. And I want to get a professional opinion about color.

Patty - we can compare hair notes.

Lilah

Patty and Gilly - I had a similar hair cut last week and it made a huge difference to me to get rid of the scragglies!

Jenn -- yep resting is what I am doing.  I slept more than I was awake yesterday!  And broke down and took some vicodin last night.  I feel slightly less sore today (yay)!  But still pretty tired.

YoYo44

Hi ladies,

Glad to hear you are doing well Lilah and the surgery went well.  Such a relief about the shoulder pain too.

I have not been on much as I started radiation last Friday.  So far so good, but it leaves me with no extra time.  I am getting 31 treatments.  I am happy to be able to say 1 week down 5 to go.

Have a great weekend all!

Yo

jenn3

YoYo - it sounds like you're nearing the end.  Feels great doesn't it?

Lilah - I know you hate taking pain meds, but sometimes taking them helps you to rest better, thus healing better. 

Gill/Patty - haircuts....wow.  Once it starts to grow, it goes crazy.  I don't know what to do with mine - it's a bit wild.  Maybe I should do something too.

Tomorrow my "baby" graduates high school.  I just can't believe it......where does the time go?  Today has been a bit crazy, we are having a crawfish boil for the entire family and friends after graduation tomorrow (she decided she could have more people over doing that rather than a nice lunch) and tonight she has another prom (her prom date from last week, has his prom tonight) and she's leaving for the beach on Sunday.  We're trying to get her ready for the dance tonight, get the house and food ready for tomorrow and get her ready to leave early Sunday morning for the beach.  Then all of the craziness will calm down until she heads off to college.