Starting Chemo Aug 09

Lilah

Donna -- here's hoping it's nothing!  I have a smaller than a pea sized bump near my scar and ALL of my doctors (Onc, PS and BS) say it's just scar tissue formed around a stitch.  It bothers me though and I may just ask if there is something they can do to look at it.  That said, it has not changed at all in 5 months (or if anything it feels smaller, if that's possible) and I'm inclined to believe them when they say it is nothing.  I had a similar thing form on my TE and then it was gone for a bit after exchange and reformed... so not sure why it forms there but that is twice now.

gillyone

Hugs for Donna!

msmpatty

Donna - Well at the least the preliminary news is good!   Waiting for the surgeon's appt. is no doubt a drag...but try to stay positive ('cuz there's every reason to be).  You look so pretty in your new avatar!

Patty

jenn3

Donna - glad to hear that the doctor feels that it's "okay" and I'm crossing my fingers, toes, arms and legs that the news from the follow up doctor is the same. 

Today we're headed up to see my DD, they have a ball in which the father or a male figure in the family presents the newbies to the sorority.  It sounds like a lot of fun and we'll get to meet some more new friends.

Hope everyone is having a good day and/or weekend.

Edited to add this...

Went to see Life as we know it........... it was predictable, cute, but not as funny as I expected.  Looking forward to Morning Glory next.

Lilah

Hi Ladies! Back from a three day weekend away with my BF; was a nice break to our usual routine. 

Jenn -- yeah I think I'm going to put Life on my netflix list but can't wait to see Morning Glory!  I have always had a crush on that Harrison Ford   And Rachel McAdams and Diane Keaton are both, in their own way, adorable!

jenn3

Lilah - where did you go?  A three day weekend sounds wonderful!!!

The ball was nice and it was good to see my "baby".  She was beautiful in her white gown, the dress seemed to made for her.  I'll have to find a way to share a photo with y'all soon. 

Lilah

We went to Atlantic City   We had fun!

jenn3

Lilah - Atlantic City sounds like a blast.

Tomorrow we're off from work so a group of us are getting together to go have lunch and do some shopping at the outlet malls in Gulfport.  I'm not a big shopper, but the group going is so much fun to be with I couldn't say no. 

gillyone

Have fun Jenn!

Lilah

Aw that does sound fun Jenn!  Yeah I'm not a big shopper either but do like to go with friends - enjoy the company and the exercise!  Mall walking is serious walking!

buccaneersdj

Ok ladies update* I went to see the surgeon today and he thinks it is scar tissue, but because of my CA history he is sending me for an ultrasound, if the ultrasound can see something he will have them do a core biopsy, if not he will numb it up back at his office and cut a chuck out and send it off to the lab. That way I can be sure! So I wait! {{{HUGS}}} Donna

Lilah

Prayers that he is right and it's just scar tissue!

gillyone

Fingers crossed for scar tissue Donna! But the waiting game is hard. Hang in there.

jenn3

Donna - thanks for the update,crossing fingers and saying prayers that it's scar tissue.

Well.......I didn't go shopping because my sister called and we haven't done anything with just the two of us in a long time and she is going through a rough time.  I cancelled on my work friends, guess that means we'll have to get together again another time.  My sister and I went to the show, lunch and roamed around a very expensive furniture store day dreaming and realizing how different we are in style.   We went to see Morning Glory, which we enjoyed very much. 

Lilah

Oh Jenn that sounds like such a lovely way to spend your day with your sister.

And that reminds me: Morning Glory is on my list now!  I can't wait to see that and Due Date.

msmpatty

Donna - Good news that your doc thinks it is scar tissue.  I hope the ultrasound confirms that...doesn't sound great to have a 'chunk' cut out.  Ugh.   Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Patty

jenn3

Checking in to say hello and I hope all is well with everyone.

Yesterday we went to the LSU game, my daughter's school was playing them.  It was expected to be an easy win for LSU as the school my daughter attends isn't a football school and doesn't have the players LSU has, but LSU paid the school $850,000 to play them.....well worth it.  Anyway, we tailgated, walked around and had a really good day.  Today, cleaning and bills - ugh!

Have a great Sunday!

Lilah

Sounds like fun Jenn!

We saw Due Date (kinda dumb even though I do love Robert Downey Jr) and went out with friends.  A quiet weekend.  We had meant to see Morning Glory too but the time got away from us.  Guess we'll do that next weekend.

Lilah

OK so I can't believe I forgot to tell you all this but I had my chemo port removed last Tuesday!!!!!  Wahoooo!!!!!!!!  I still have some steristrips on the incision (it took an HOUR for her to get it out because it had migrated about 2 1/2 inches from the incision point) but no pain... I DO have a bump though (scar tissue I think) around where the port used to be.  I hope it will go away.  Did any of you have a port and was there a bump after the removal?  And did it go away?

gillyone

Lilah - I had my port removed in May and it was swollen for quite some time. Now it is a very ugly scar - very red and bumpy. The onc said "keloid" I think the word is which seems to mean more scarring than usual, but nothing to worry about. Congrats on getting your port out - another milestone.

Lilah

Thanks Gilly.  Well my BS did say that a capsule forms around the port (which is an implant on a smaller scale, so for those of you who -- like me -- have an implant, you know what that means).  I guess I will wait and see what happens.  She used the old incision spot and that healed fine the first time (had become a faded pink scar - not raised) so hopefully I won't keloid.  Did you have keloid scars from other surgeries?  (I can't remember if you had an MX or a lumpectomy but either way both leave scars).  It feels better this week; and the bump has gotten smaller (which is actually under the skin and below where the incision is. 

gillyone

Glad your lump/bump is looking/feeling better Lilah. Hopefully the scar will just fade away. My old port scar was also used to get it out. This is the only scar with the keloid thing. My 5 inch long lumpectomy scar looks really good. I have to struggle to find my 21 year old c-section scar. But that might be because i have to peer around rolls of fat

Lilah

Maybe it's because they reopened the same scar (with the port removal)?  I still have steristrips so don't know yet what the scar looks like.  I kinda don't care either at this point because I'm just so glad to have the port out!

NavyMom

About the port scar.  My removal scar does not look as good as the original either.....chemo does a number on every cell in our bodies.  Maybe we just don't heal as well as we did before treatment?  

Hello to everyone.  Going on one year since I finished chemo...Some days it feels like yesterday.  Our lives are forever changed. 

Navy

weety

Congrats on all the port removals (although some were a while ago!)  I didn't have a port--I had a PICC line, so that came out pretty much right away when chemo was over.  I finished out my year of herceptin with just the IV and my good ol' veins. 

It's been a while since I've checked in on this thread, but I want to say hello to everyone, and say that I'm so glad that a lot of what I'm reading is NOT BC related!  I guess that means for the most part, we are back in the groove with our normal (well, somewhat normal) lives! 

Donna, I'm so glad they think your lump is just scar tissue.  I hate all these worries about every little lump, pain and bump!  I think I have (maybe imagine????) something new at least once a month still.  My newest thing is that when I get flea bites on my legs, instead of just getting slightly red and puffy (I tend to scratch them to death in my sleep I think) they end up getting bright red all around the bite and they are the color of a strawberry--almost a blood red!  And they seem to be a little speckled looking rather than a uniform red.  They are not bloody--it seems to be more of an inflammation/healing thing going on.  It's really weird, but I'm worried that something it still going on with my WBC's or platelets or something.  Ugghh....

I've been so busy now that I started back up at work and my own kids have baseball and gymnastics, etc after school, that I'm just exhausted!  I work at a year-round school, though, so Friday is my last day for a LONG 6-week vacation!  I'll go back right after New Year's again.  I can't wait to finally relax a little again and enjoy my kids rather than rushing around with too much to do and not enough time to do it in.  I always feel llike my sleep ends up suffering because then I stay up too late and wake up too early since I have to leave the house at 6:45 for work.

How is everyone's hair doing?  Mine still seems to be a bit short-only about 2 1/2 to 3 inches (and I only had one teeny tiny trim 6 months ago!)  but maybe it will start growing faster now that I'm done with herceptin.  It sure is a nice feeling though, when you go outside on a windy day and you can actually feel your hair blowing!!! 

Take care girls!

YoYo44

Hi Ladies,

Long time no write!  I have tried to go on line and read when I can but just have not had time to write.  I am certainly glad to see everyone is moving along.  It really is nice getting back to "normal".

 Work is going well, I have actually travelled a bit and all was well.  I did get a nasty 'bout of cording.  ouch!  That was surprising but is almost gone now.  I am still suffering the weird joint pain but it has diminished to the point where I can get on with my life at least.  Hair is good.  Everyone keeps saying I need to leave it short.  Argh!!!!  I think not.  Although I might cut it later I guess... My best news is that I will have the xchg surgery Dec 16.  Yay!!  I will be so happy to get these horrible turtle shells out!  Tomorrow is actually my 1 year BMX anniversary date.  hard to believe.

It is great getting on with things and the xchg will make things that much better too.  One less big thing to worry over.

Good luck Donna.  I am sending you good vibes.

Take care ladies!!!

Yo

Lilah

Yo -- good to hear from you!  I think the joint thing is a residual chemo SE.  I had it too but since I finished Herceptin it has largely gone away (yay)!  Yeah I am liking my short hair but glad it's long enough that it looks intentional now   Good luck with the exchange!

jenn3

Wow - I spend one day away and the thread gets super busy...... So glad to hear that everyone is doing well.

Lilah - I'm doing the happy dance, whoo hoo on getting the port out.  My onc had to cut a new inscision to remove my port, but that was because I had mine put in during my BMX.  I do remember it hurting really bad the day after it was out, then sore and puffy and now it's a small thin line and looking better each day.  I had mine taken out in Feb, so it's been about 10 months.  Wow.....typing the words 10 months made me realize how much time has passed. 

Gill - my sister had never keloid before and after one particular surgey she had really bad keloid scars (not sure if I'm spelling it right).  The dr said he didn't know why, but sometimes it just happens.

Weety - So glad to hear from you.  Sounds like you are up and running without a chance to take a break, but that's a good thing.  Wow, teaching a year round school must be hard at times, thank goodness for the holiday break.

Yo - glad to hear from you too....and congrats on your upcoming exchange surgery.  I know it'll go well.  Where did you get to travel?

Navy - congrats on finishing chemo 1 year........gosh, it seems like yesterday we were all introducing ourselves to each other.

Lilah

Jenn -- I know it does seem that time has flown!  But I am SO glad we are all here on the other side and back to normal lives.

weety

yo, what is cording?