November 2009-Starting Chemo
Comments
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Nette,
Just before I read your reply, I had another look. Talk about obsessed!!!
Actually it's like watching grass grow
Sue
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Mabelle I have the numb toes and by the end of the day numb feet. My onc's PA recommended to have my husband massage feet and that has helped alot and they dont bother me so much when I am trying to sleep. Also using a electric massager on them too she said it stimulates your nerves to wake them up. My knees still get really achy she isnt sure what that is from but I am hoping it will get better soon.
Hair is coming in pretty good, I heard that those of us on Herceptin may have a slower growth. Alicia's is alot thicker than mine. My husband uses that Nixon so I think I will start using it too. I have been using Head n Shoulders I had heard the zinc helped promote hair growth.
Happy hair growth to all
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Mouse, don't get to carried away with the hand massager, I hear you could go blind.....or is that just men?....LOL
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I still have some of the neurapathy in my toes, but it isn't as bad as it was right after my last Tax. TX. It seems to be at its worse in the evening, maybe because I've been on my feet so much during the day. I'll def. have to try massaging them to see if that helps. At least they aren't, keeping me awake during the night any more..no, that would be the discomfort from the radiated nip. And even that is getting better, as the only burned area now is the boost area...that boarder is so distinct that you could draw a line one it. There is still drainage from the sides of my nip. Would like that to go away, but I guess it will in due time. There's still swelling about my nip, too. I do have another week of my "two weeks to calm down" time.
I hadn't heard about zinc helping hair growth, but whatever works...whatever works. My hair is almost long enough to cover the "bald" birthmark on the back of my head, so I plan to color my hair when that place is covered. Should be within the next two weeks. I'll be a t ad nervous, since I haven't colored my hair all over in years, nor have I colored it after any chemotherapy before. I'll def. do the "skin test" this time, though it might be hard to do the one where you trim off a small section of hair to do the "time test"...that will be challenging.
Happy Sunday. Nette
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Nette too funny on the "time test". I put a glaze on my hair yesterday ~ just made the fur a bit darker I think, I was trying to warm it up a bit in color. I will head to my hairdresser once I have enough to style.
I had to go to a fundraiser for a friends son who is losing his sight last night so I was seeing people I went to high school WITH ! I went with just my crew cut ~ I am so sick of a darn hat. I look worse with a hat on. I wore nice jewelry and a lot of makeup to compensate. I got a lot of compliments but what else are they going to say??!!!
You girls with the numbness I am so sorry ~~ you are almost to that finish line!!! Then you will feel a bit better each day. Does the herpecin have side effects or is that for the most part doable? Hang in there sisters!!!!!!!
Hugs ~
Alicia
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Michele I can still see just fine..LOL
The herceptin just kinda drags you down for a few days and brings on the hot flashes for a few nights other than that all is ok. Oh yeah you smell it in your urine and reminds you of chemo days...YUK.
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Hi Girls,
Just giving us a bump up. Got an 8am radiation zap today, so I'm up early. DH has gone off for a few days golfing and left me all alone. Usually I'm happy to get so much time to myself, but this time I really miss him. He's been sticking so close to home since this all started that now it feels strange to not have him here.
I'm still looking in my hand mirror to see if my hair has grown in the last 5 minutes
It is actually looking and feeling thicker. I might pop in to the hairdresser today to see if they think I should get a buzz done to even up the length - then it might look thicker. But I like the long white fluffy fairy hairs so we'll see.Good luck for you girls with taxol treatments this week.
Brenda: Send me your hair pic so I can post it for you.
((((HUGS)))))
Sue
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The hairdressers reckon to just leave it and see how it goes. The traffic was horrible coming home from the radiation. Why did I ask for early times? It is getting me in the good habit of getting dressed earlier.
Sue
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Sue, I too was checking my hair in the mirror after your post...how depressing...I think I will wait a few more weeks to do it agian. On the up side my lashes are now last stubs...should be soon that I can put on mascara and curl them,...
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Woo Hoo, micheleboots! Grow, eyelashes, grow!! Mine are almost long enough, too, for the ol' mascara. I tried curling them the other day to help with the length, but they still didn't "show up." Should be soon, though.
My hubby told me the other night that he liked me better without the wigs and with the really short hair I now have. When I asked why, because I know for a fact he much prefers long hair on women, he said it was more appropriate for "people our age." WHAT???!!! Not sure where that was coming from, especially since I've gotten so many compliments on the "naturalness" of my wig and I'm not ready to go "topless" yet. Would like to have at least a little length on my forehead since I've always had bangs. I"'l probably wait until I know I won't be subbing any more this year before I go without. I don't want to freak any of the kids out.
Boob continues to heal from the rad. The large area is now all brown, but the boost area is still very red and my nip is still "draining" and tender, but less so than a few days ago. Will have to "bite the bullet" and wear a bra tomorrow, as I have to wear work clothes to sub in the school. Am excited about working again because I truly love being in the classroom, but am also apprehensive since I haven't subbed since last June.
My darling daughter comes home from college on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Tuesday! Nette
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Nette, Happy your daughter is coming home for you Ya-Whoo!~~Sounds like your up to a whole new schedule of things with subbing and all. I think you will feel good to get back in the classroom. I have been "topless" since week 2 post chemo. I never did much like wigs at all, not even my own hair thingy I had made with my own hair. (Hip-Hat) Waste of money there. I have enjoyed the shortness of my hair as it is soooooo comfortable. My DH is worried I'll never want my long blondie head again.
BOOBS another story, like you still sore! The nipple is almost done peeling now, but now it is lighter than my other nipple, go figure. The boost are is still very red and sore as well.
Mechelle, You go with the lashes, I don't have any, not sure I ever will. Oh well!
Alicia,
YOU DO look just great without a hat. You may not believe them, but you can trust us, we know!! You are truly just beautiful without anything atop your head.
Suepen, I took a couple good shots of my hair close up, just don't know how to get them in hair!!!
TAMOXIFEN, not my fave med. I have been queasy to the tummy and I am grouchy as all get out lately. Having headaches also, like shooting pains. I find myself very depressed of late and don't understand. Chemo and rads is over and now I'm getting depressed. I think I need a vacation. I have worked through tis whole ordeal and now I find myself totally exhausted and it's over,
GO FIGURE
"Warrior Women" have a great day!!!
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Number 11 today! I am a little concerned about the amount of fluid I seem to be retaining. My fingers are swollen, my face and neck are swollen. I hope this is not a symtom of some cardiac issue. But, I have my echo on Thursday, so if something is up, we should find it soon.
I had a dream last night, the Onc was withholding info from me and had told my mother they needed to remove half my brain!
Hope everyone is doing well.
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MELINDA- WHOOT-WHOOT - One to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Soooo Happy for you
You call that a dream sweet thing,
Nightmare on Chemo Street
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Brenda: No wonder you're exhausted - just the radiation drive would have exhausted me after 1 day. If you can have some time off, now is the time to do it. I've sent you my email address in a reply to your pm. Your hair looks much thicker and longer than mine.
Nette: The rad nurse told me to put some pawpaw cream on the nipple, so I got some yesterday. I'll see how it goes. I also asked about them covering it during treatment and they looked at me like I was nuts. It doesn't sound like it would do anything as the radiation would still get through the covering. Great news that you are going back to work.
Melinda: Good luck with the echo - mine was excellent apparently but then I didn't have AC.
Well girls, I'm going in to the city tomorrow to visit my work colleagues. Now that will be so weird as none of them have seen me since I've been off work. Our office has moved since I've been away but is now at a more convenient location for the bus, so I won't have to walk from the bus stop - it's right outside the new building. Hope my id card works on the new place.
All the hair checking in the mirror is paying off - it's definitely growing
My friend and I have figured out that the 3 weekly taxotere is harsher on the hair. She had weekly taxol and her hair was really great by the time she had finished rads. So, I'll just have to be patient. I'm now - as of today - 7 weeks PFC - woohoo!!! and almost half way on the rads.
Sue
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Chemo #11 put on hold, doing echo tomorrow and if it is OK, I will do chemo on Thursday. If the echo is not OK, I may be screwed.
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Melinda: Hang in there. If you have to stop at least you were almost at the end. Better than if you were in the early stages of the chemo.
Sue
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Suepen: the sticky foam was to keep the nipple down so it wouldn't stick up as much during the rad treatment. Techs said that raditaion appears to collect more in "higher places," so it would end up with more radiation than it should. Weird, huh.
Nice hair, BrendaShar!
Sorry to hear about the swelling, Melinda. Hopefully, there is a simple, non-threatening explanation and the chem TX will go on as planned on Thursday.
Alicia, where are you??!!
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Melinda ~ Hoping all goes well with the echo.
Nette ~ sorry for making you worry. Had a day of exhaustion. Think I have been over doing it ! Cooked all weekend and had friends over ~ it caught up to me yesterday.
Other than that all is ok.
Hope you are all doing well.
HUGS !
Alicia
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I forgot Brenda nice blonde hair.
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Hello .lovely ladies....Melinda, hald a brain...lets hope it was teh half that was suffering from chemo brain...I don't know about you but I need as much brain as I can get...
Sue, have a great visit with your coworkers...
Melinda, good luck withe echo. I am sure it will be good.
Brenda Sharon....LOVE THE FUZZ
Nette, have fun with your daughter...
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Melinda - did they postpone #11 because of the swelling or for other reasons? I've definitely noticed that I'm puffier than normal - and I've gained 4 pounds in just a week!!! I'll have my echo (or muga) on Monday. 2nd to last taxol is tomorrow!!! Yehaw!
So it doesn't sound like any of you had the numbness travel up your legs... I think I'd better tell the onc about it. I can't seem to find anything about it on the web.
Sue - you make me laugh - how often are you checking your hair? sounds like every 5 minutes. If you think its made your hair grow faster, I'll start checking all the time too! I like to rub my head every chance I get. I love the feeling! Unfortunately, it feels like more than it looks.
I hope I sleep tonight! I have to be at the clinic for a 7am blood test. Maybe one of my wonderful little sleeping pills would be a good idea. So long as I can wake up!
Hugs to all!
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Nette: Thanks for the info on the nipple thing. I thought you meant it was to protect it - chemo brain again.
Mabelle: Glad I make you laugh. I think I'm funny too
It really is noticeable growth - definitely in the last week. I love stroking it too. Good luck with your echo too.I'm officially half way in the rads - yippee!!!
Sue
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Mabelle: they postponed since I am swelling plus have shortness of breath. Hopefully, I am just fat , with a cold. If the Herceptin is causing cardiac problems, I am worried about my options.
Lovin' every one's fairy fuzz!
Hope all you rad-ders are kicking butt!
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Melinda: ((((HUGS)))) Sorry I forgot you were on herceptin. Fingers crossed for you!!!!
Sue
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Well, maybe looking in the mirror all the time has paid off. Steve came home this afternoon after being away for 3 days. He says my hair has definitely grown while he's been away. That felt really good.
Sue
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Mabelle: Good luck with #11 today. Hope your tinglies are not a bog problem, nor the weight gain.
Suepen: good job watching that pot and making it boil!
Michelle, Nette, Alicia, Brenda Sharon: Big Hugs, unless you are fried from rads and then I give you a gentle sideways hug and a noogie on your fuzzy heads.
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Melinda, I'll take that sideways hug~~~
, BUT, ((((Double HUGS))))) back at you, I feel so bad for you. Bless your heart you have so much to deal with. It makes me feel like a boob, no pun in tended, ha-ha. When have they rescheduled your echo for? I hate to take your #11 smiley off, you deserve it for all the hell your going thru and it was really great only having one left to go. So, what now? Maybe they should cancel #11 all together!!~~Suepen, Knew your hair was growing, (mirror mirror on the wall)
but I know it feels good to have someone notice, especially the DH for sure!!!! Funny too, to just be always looking at ourselves. Like Mechele said a while back we have come full circle, first waiting & watching on it to fall out, now waiting and watching it grow back i! Whoot-Whoot for the 1/2 way~~~ on the rads
oh, and I was also told the ALOE plant was the best for the nipple area, better than anything you can buy. My nipple still hurts so, I am getting a plant from a friend that has a bunch of them growing wild in her yard.Alicia, You where tired, what's up with that? :-) just kidding. I love your hair!! I wanted to have dark hair when it came back, but oh well I'll take what I got. The same ole, same ole! It's HAIR!!
To all with numbness, ((group hug)) so sorry, wish I could take some of your pain away for you.
(((((((WARRIOR HUGS)))))))) to all
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The problem, as I see it, is not missing the last two chemos, except for the fact that I am very competitive and hate to have flunked out of chemo class, but that Herceptin may be doing damage.
If the H is what was going to keep cancer from getting me, but it rots my heart first, hmmm what to do, what to do.
If my heart checks out OK today, I will get the chemo tomorrow, so just put a hold on my smiley. I did show up and everything, I get credit for that, right??
I never thought I would be hoping I am just a lard ass...hopefully all this puffiness is from crab rangoons and not heart failure. So send me fat ass fairy dust!
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Melinda ~ good luck with your heart scan today. I hope it is just the weight gain and a little cold maybe?! Hang tough girlie !!!
Mabelle ~ good luck with the 2nd to last Taxol today ~ woo HOO ! Let us know what the onc says about your numb leg.
Hope everyone has a good day !
Alicia
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Here's a pic of Brenda's hair - I'm so jealous!!! But, with the rate mine seems to be growing it might be like this in 4 more weeks.
Sue
Diagnosis: 10/13/2009, ILC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/5 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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