November 2009-Starting Chemo

doronet

Melinda:  Great news!!!  Good luck with rads!

BrendaShar:  I haven't experienced any charlie h. pain.  I still have the nueropathy in my hands, not as much in my feet anymore, but the hands seems to be getting a little worse.  Not too much to handle, though.  I also get very stiff if I've sat too long or stayed in one position too long.  Am wondering if it is due to the Arimidex or lingering SE from the Taxol.

Had a comprehensive mammo today.  They had to take extra pics of the lumpectomy side because the radiologist wanted to get a closer look at some calcifications that weren't there prior to the bc diagnosis.  I almost cried about halfway through because the smashing hurt like hell.  Tech was very sympathetic and fast, and apologized but couldn't have done anything differently.  Took 2 hrs. in all.  :P   I took 1 mg. of Ativan before the appt.  Next time, I'll take percocet  instead!!!   I'll see if I should be concerned when I see the breast surgeon for the mammo followup in 2 weeks.

Anyone who has had a lumpectomy considered reconstructive surgery?  I was told to wait at least 8 mo. before I do anything.  I'm not sure I want to have recon. surg., nor am I sure I want to live with half a breast and the scar that goes with it.

Alicia:  could you have anything serious after just having gone through chemo to kill all those type cells?

nite nite.  Nette

JustmeAlicia

I hope not Nettie ~ I would think I wouldn't have atypical cells after chemo, but he said I do !!!!

grrr...  I go to the Dr. Tuesday so we shall see.

I am so sorry your mammo was painful, I hope you get good results in 2 weeks.  Prayers....

micheleboots

Melinda, yippy skippy....such great news...who would have thought that it would be so exciting to get radiation...just goes to show how hard we are willing to fight to stay alive..

Nette, have you gotten your period back yet?  My onc said my achy joints are from lack of estrogen...makes sense to me.

Melinda41

One of the ladies in my cancer support group was talking about the very sore joints and she said it is caused by her ER+ medication (it started with an A but it is not what Nette is on). I am hormone negative, so I don't know about this stuff. But I was curious, are you going to get your periods back if you are on a hormone inhibitor?

I am still in chemopause, but it is just from the chemo itself.

I have decided that the weird area on my PET scan that is new was probably from working out the day before. My sister-in-law is a CT tech and she confirmed that that could certaintly cause an increase in the uptake. She also said that they could scan through my foob (I asked her since the techs never know the answer to that question so I always take my detachable boob off for scans).

I have lost 5 pounds since getting back on the weight watchers train. I was hoping it would all just be fluid and come off in a week or two, but I guess not. So it wasn't just the steroids, it was the doughnuts, who would have thought??? Ha ha.

JustmeAlicia

No period back here ~ my blood work that my gyno did shows I'm in menopause.  But he doesn't know if I will stay there.  I too have some aches in my knees and feet.  I figure that is residual from the chemo and probably the tamoxifen.  The A one is armidex I think?! 

Melinda ~ I have started back at the gym 2 or 3 days a week.  It is amazing how quickly wear down.  Today I had to get off the spin bike and lay on the floor thankfully I was just on the bike spinning not in the middle of a class !!!    5 lbs is great ! 

Have a good day girls !

suzieq60

Great news Melinda!!! The A one is Arimidex which I will start taking very soon - after the bone density test - very worried about the joint pain SE as I am in pain now!!!.

Hey, girls - I went topless for the last 3 days. I figured no one knew me where we were so what the heck. Just got home after lunch today and had to go and get food but put my Buff on - not really ready to go topless all the time. We went to a beachside resort for a conference for DH. It was a bit cold though but we did go for a walk down to the beach when we arrived.

Sue

suzieq60

I am too obsessed with my hair. Had a dream last night where I woke up one morning and my hair had grown several inches overnight. I could even feel the length in my dream.

Nette:  I had a lumpectomy but there is just a dent in the boob. I have large breasts so the surgery hasn't really diminished the size. I'm going to see the female bs I'm swtiching over to on Tuesday. She did mention I might like to even them up after rads if the rads shrunk it at all. My bras fit so I don't think it's shrunk too much. I wish the scar wasn't so ugly but I guess they can't do anything about it. The mammo sounds painful. Good luck with the results.

Sue

doronet

Lumpectomy for me was pretty much the bottom half of my breast.  Probably wouldn't have been as bad had the bs not had to go back and take more tissue to have clearer margins.  Push-up bras are working, but the boob is not very pretty without clothing.  :P

I took my first trip over Memorial Day weekend.  The neuropathy in my hands was really acting up in the car, I guess due to being in the car for 6 hrs. with only 2 pit stops.  Even though I was moving my arm around a lot, the fact that the rest of me was sitting down probably caused my hands to go to sleep a lot.  And when I am in the throes of major tingling, my wrist aches, too.  Could be worse, though. 

Someone mentioned earlier another  "A" drug, other than Arimidex.  It might be Aromasin, which is another aromatase inhibitor.  (The 3rd one is called Femara.)  It's my understanding that all of them can cause joint pain. 

My DD and I bought some hair color rinse today to use tomorrow.  I can deal with the short style, but the gray is getting to me since I colored my hair religiously pre-diagnosis.  The gray, to me, is a constant reminder of the cancer...kinda like the no-eyebrow look.  No one in public gives me a 2nd look, but I don't like it.  I'll let you know how the rinse "comes out."  Pardon the pun. 

Melinda41

Nette: I am curious how the rinse "comes out". I have read that color may react weirdly to chemo hair. So if it does well, let us know the brand.

Have you trimmed any of the chemo ends?? I feel like if I trimmed the ends, some of that see through hair would be gone which would make me look less gray.

I think I am about to have a mental breakdown. I don't think I have cried since diagnoses. I think that now that the cancer is actually dead, I may cry. But if I start, I may not stop.

micheleboots

Melinda, go ahead and cry...tears are cleansing.  eventually you will stop crying and start laughing.

suzieq60

Melinda: A good cry is probably just what you need. It must be so hard to put on a brave face for the children. ((((HUGS))))

Sue

micheleboots

Hi there everyone, I hope you are all having a great weekend.  It has been raining here.  I feel bed for all the cancer walks being held in the city.  Big hugs to all.

doronet

Melinda; We have all said at some time or other that it is okay to cry. Who of us hasn't? And usually for no explainable reason. (is explainable a word?) Relief at making through what we've faced is a good reason to cry.I used the rinse on my hair yesterday.(Clairol Natural Instincts)It lasts for 28 shampoos. The color did not turn out like I had hoped, but not because of the chemo. The color I used prob. wasn't what I should have used and what it ended up was gray hair with some light-brown highlights. Unfortunately, not natural looking, I plan to wash it a lot in the next few weeks to try to get it to come out faster. DD suggested I use another color on top of this, but I'm afraid I might be pushing my luck then and my newly acquired hair would fall out! Will deal with the color as it is now and be satisfied with the gray for a while. I have only trimmed the hair growing on my neck. The rest of my hair has come in normally, though very soft, so I haven't needed to trim the rest.

Happy Monday. Nette

Nette Diagnosis: 9/1/2009, IDC, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

doronet

Whoa.  No idea what happened to my post!  Site must be messing up. 

micheleboots

Sending happy Monday thoughts to all.

JustmeAlicia

Melinda ~ I say if the tears are there they need to come out.  I like a good cry in the shower now and then. 

Nette ~ sorry your hair didn't come out as you had hoped.  I too have trimmed my caterpillar neck hairs that's about it.  It is growing in too slow for my liking.......

Michele ~ hope you are doing good !  And yes, HAPPY Monday everyone ~

Alicia

Melinda41

Nette, sorry the color didn't come out as you wanted, but are you saying that the product did what it was supposed to do, you just picked the wrong color?

I am scared to try and put color on my hair, afraid it will just dye scalp.

I just can't make myself have a good cry. They start to come, and then they stop. I figure I will have a flat tire or something silly and I will finally have my nervous breakdown on the side of the road and people will think I have lost it for freaking out over a flat tire.

Nervous breakdowns are just so hard to work into your schedule!!

Today is ODs 13th birthday, I officially am Mom to a teenager. I have 5 little kids in the house today, surprise babysitting duty.

I finished my first afghan, it came out smaller than I would have liked but I was getting bored with that pattern so I just finished it off. I learned how to crochet during chemo, so that is nice to have something pretty out of all that yucky.

Melinda41

BrendaSharon

Yes, Happy Monday for sure to all!!!~~~

Mechele, Just to let you know last week was CRAZY!!! 

I now know a granddaughter that I hadn't known of (for sure) until last week. It is too complicated to go into and personnel, but I can say we are getting to know each other now and it is wonderful. She is beautiful and sweet and smart.

Gosh y'all I need to loose weight soooooo bad!!!! I just can't seem to get the get and go to start a weight loss program for myself. I know I need to exercise and that is my biggest problem. I mean I do love to eat, but I really haven't done much physical exercise or other activity since -C- started.

The hair is coming in VERY thick but is not getting long at all. 3/4" since Feb. It's pretty much silver (very silver) with dark on the underside. Strange, but I kinda like it. Even the short length is pretty cool looking. Everyone says I look like Ellen Degenerates. Soft, OMG is my hair soft. It's amazing like a babies new hair growth. I love rubbing my fingers through it.

Hope all you girls have a good week, (((((Warrior hugs)))))

P.S. (had to edit) Melinda absolutley a beautiful blanket, I never was able to get good enough to do such beautiful work!!  Congrats to you!!! ~~~~ I love the colors

doronet

Melinda:  Yes, the rinse did what it was supposed to do, just the wrong color.  Gel is darkening it so I can cope with the off-color.   The afghan is awesome!!!  My knitting/crocheting DD was very impressed!

Yeah, I agree with BrendaShar and Alicia...is nice to have hair but it does seem to be growing veeeeeeeeery slooooooowly.  DD suggested folic acid supplement since it's supposed to promote nail and hair growth, but don't think I want to add a new pill.  I already take lots of vitamins/minerals/supplements, not to mention the prescription drugs.

Ummm, congrats (?), BrendaShar on the "new" granddaughter.  That happened to my mother-in-law with my bro-in-law, but my MIL doesn't get to see her, so you are fortunate.  When that happens, what are you going to do except to warmly welcome the G.D. since she didn't ask for the situation either.   She's lucky to have you.   

BrendaSharon

Thanks Doronet,

I am happy to have found my GD for sure. She lives very far from my home, but after a lot of chatting since last week, we kind of got to know each other and I am hoping to make her High School Graduation next May, because she actually wants me there and wants me to bring my son (her father). She will be 18 this June. And to think, I just thought I was old because my other granddaughter is just going to be a 13 year old teen ager this August, I am wondering how my she will take the news that she isn't the only GD I have. She always bragged to all the grandsons that at least she was the only girl of mine. Other than her, I only had sons - 3 of them and then I also have 3 grandsons. She should be OK. The point is I have been able to find this out and everything is going fairly smooth.  She has asked me a lot of questions about my cancer. I am glad I can share with her what has happened to me and that she needs to know to keep a close eye on herself.  

I AM LUCKY TO HAVE HER :-)

Melinda41

Brenda Sharon: Too bad you can't have a "new granddaughter" shower. I hope this new found family is all joy and no new family dysfunction.

Thanks for the compliments on the afghan. I am doing hexagon granny squares now. I don't seem to have the attention span to do the same thing for a long time, so I do little blobs and hope to tie them all together.

I thought my eyebrow area was dirty until I realized it is little black hairs growing back. Yeah!! Black, not gray!!

suzieq60

Melinda: Your blanket is fantastic. Excellent result for a beginner - you must be a natural. I haven't done any crochet for years.

Brenda: It's wonderful you have found your grand daughter. Enjoy every minute of her. I was surprised when you said you have grand children - you are way too young

My hair isn't growing fast enough either but seems to be thickening up. It is really soft too and I love to sit and stroke it.

Hope you all are feeling really well and have a lovely day.

Sue

JustmeAlicia

Melinda ~ great job on the blanket.  I would never have the patience.  It really is very nice!  Glad to hear your eyebrows are sprouting ~ woo HOO.

Brenda ~ congrats on the new found granddaughter.  Enjoy your new relationship and I hope it blossoms.

Sue ~ HI !  My hair is super soft too....  just needs some miracle grow.

micheleboots

Melinda, wow eyebrows and an afghan....you can do anything you set your mind to.

Brenda, congrats on the latest addition.

suzieq60

My eyebrows seem to be coming back too. I think I can see some lower lashes coming in. It's a bit hard looking through my reading glasses.

Went to see the new female bs this morning. She does seem quite nice, so I'm glad I've switched over to her. She's expecting, and the delivery date is my birthday 24th September - I told her not to call the baby Susan.  She thought my hair growth was good for the time frame so I'll calm down about it

I discussed my thyroid with her (they found a goitre on my CT scan) - she's an endocrine surgeon as well. She ordered an ultrasound and blood test. If the ultrasound shows it's not cancerous (she did say it's very rare) then she said we don't need to operate unless it causes any symptoms like inability to swallow. Didn't sound like an easy operation so I'd rather leave it alone. There seem to be quite a few cases of bc patients with thyroid issues. I wonder if they've done any research into it. I'll leave the tests until we come back from visiting our daughter in Adelaide - we go next Tuesday. She also gave me the papers for a mammo, ultrasound and MRI for October.

Well, that's enough of doctors for me until the next herceptin. Oops - spoke too soon - bone density test tomorrow, then I can rest.

Sue

BrendaSharon

Just want to Thank everyone for their well wishes with my newest addition. It is working out wonderful so far and our relationship is blooming quicking. I am very pleased!!~~~

Sue,

Good luck with your bone density test~~ I'm kinda scared to know what my bones are like., as they tend to be achey a lot. And there is no cancer in that goitre ~~ a warrior pinky promise

Alicia,

You cracked me up last night when I read "Miracle Grow" that is one of my hubby's fave things for growing his garden and i just imagined it on our heads. Lil chia heads !!

Melinda,

Again, not only was your work nice but the colors would go really well in my "Sugar Suite" !

Nette,

They had you do the comprehensive mammo. I'm sorry I know how much that had to hurt. My Rads Onc. said I won't get a mammo until August which is 1yr. to date that I was diagnosed with my breast cancer. I think I may have probs too, because there sure is a lot of lumps in there now. When the Rads Onc. was checking me last Friday, she was poking at it and it hurt like hell. She kept saying "Does that hurt you?" I said "I'm not yelping and moving away from you for no reason!" then again "It really does hurt?" I said "YES!!!" So, I don't look forward to any mammo.

I am still experiencing charlie horses/cramps/muscle spasm in my body at any given moment anywhere on my body. Last night I had one in my neck again, only briefly thank goodness, but I really think it has to be from the Tamoxifen. I am drinking water like crazy, eating my bananas, oranges, taking x-tra potassium ` so I'm hydrated and eating right so I don't know what else I can do. My blood tests from last Friday where normal so I just don't know what the cause is, it has to be the Tamoxifen. Maybe my sweats are releasing my fluids quicker than I can drink them. I just don't really know.  Any suggestions?

Have a good day girls, chat soon!

doronet

BrendaShar:  you might have mentioned this earlier, by why, if you are post-menopausal, are you on Tamoxifen instead of Arimidex or another aromotase inhibitor?

Is weird that I have an occasional shooting pain in the joint of one of my big toes.  Not sure if it is due to the Arimidex or to the neuropathy I still have in my toes.

I loved Alicia's Miracle Grow suggestion, too!! 

BrendaSharon

Nette,

For some reason my Onc. felt it was best for me to do two years of the Tamoxifin, then he is going to switch me to an Aromatase Inhibitor. He feels that the combination of the two will give me a good fight on the -C- without too many bad side effects on my body. He said both medications would have side effets but each is different so he wanted to break it up. One is x-tra hard on the body and the other on the heart, etc. That is the best explanation I can give from what he said to me. I wondered why I was on Tamox as well

suzieq60

I did some googling regarding thyroid problems and breast cancer. In one study 50% of the bc patients had a goitre but the studies say there's not a conclusive link between bc and thyroid issues. It seems a lot of people have low iodine levels due to our diet. In Japan where they eat a lot of seaweed/fish etc there is a low incidence of bc. It was all very interesting as the breasts compete with the thyroid to process iodine. Sounds like a link to me. It might explain the epedemic of bc we are seeing.

Can't wait to get that bone density test out of the way this morning, then I can start packing for our trip next week. Really looking forward to seeing our daughter and the new pandas at the Adelaide zoo and sampling all that lovely wine down there. Adelaide is surrounded by several of Australias biggest wine regions.

Hugs to you all

Sue