TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

tld2017

NYMinute, I used Penguin cold caps and had great results. I am 4 weeks PFC and still shedding, especially on wash days, but it is getting better. No one can tell that I've lost any hair but, of course, I can! I would say I've lost about 20% but I started out with a ton of hair so there are no bald spots, just areas where I can tell that it is thinner.

Here are the links to what I used on my hands and feet. Not gonna lie - these were harder for me than the cold cap. But, that being said, I think it worked. I did get some neuropathy in my hands and the doctor put me on Gabapentin, which worked very well. I have not felt any pins or needles for quite some time. They are going to wean me off of it here in the next few weeks. My nails did very well. No discoloration, no loose nails. However, I did feel some discomfort in my nails during chemo. I never pulled the cap off my head during chemo, but I did indeed pull the mitts off my hands on occasion, when the cold just overwhelmed me. I took Xanax and Motrin before every chemo to offset the discomfort. All in all, I'm glad that I did all of it: caps, mitts, and socks!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L4WOKG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H6G55G/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ingerp

Photogirl you are beautiful!! Thanks so much for the inspiring story—it does really help to see women who are out the other side.

Taco1946

Great pics, photo girl! Thanks for sharing them.

Homemadesalsa

I got my port taken out after radiation #6 today. It's been bothering me for months, and the onc nurses sortof dismissed it, "nobody ever is bothered by a port." Turns out the little bugger was infected along the catheter section- no wonder it bothered my neck so much. Harrumph. So a couple stitches later I am port-free but no antibiotics necessary since my WBC counts are back up. Just another insult to my body, right?

deni1661

Photogirl thanks so much for sharing your trip with us and the wonderful pictures! You are so beautiful. I think it’s inspiring to share these moments so those who are newly diagnosed, still in treatment or post treatment can see there are good days ahead and life can be great after cancer.

Homemade thank God you persisted and got the port removed! The infection certainly does suck but good news you don’t need antibiotics. I hope you are on the mend and feeling better soon!

coachvicky

Photogirl ... What great pictures. You look wonderful!

Vicky

SpecialK

photo - beautiful pics and beautiful you! Glad you had an adventure!

homemade - eeeks on the port infection, glad you got it out!

LTWJ

I have my last Herceptin on July 30 and I thought my new insurance ded started again Aug 1, so port removal, echo and any other test would all cost again but I just found out it starts Sept 1. Last year I had chemo on Sept 1 and they wanted The whole ded $6,500 that day. Glad I have a month to fill with apts now, still free.

My port has been clearly visible through my skin for about 2 months now. No pain just bulging like it's about to pop out itself. My breast dr said they just remove it in tne office, no surgery or anything. Is that right?

Too hot here in TX to do much outside, hit 107, heat index 112 yesterday. Get to watch fireworks to night and then a parade tomorrow. Sooooo much better than last summer!

SpecialK

ltwj - many have had their ports removed in the surgeon's office - using a local anesthetic, some by interventional radiology in a quick outpatient procedure, mine was removed in conjunction with a scheduled reconstruction surgery by my plastic surgeon - which I was happy about because I knew she would leave a pretty incision. My port was installed during mastectomy under the skin flap before the expander was put in so I had no scar initially. Yay for the upcoming last Herceptin!

bareclaws

Photogirl, you rock! My youngest kid is planning a trip to Slovenia next summer to visit a friend and run and an ultra. I’ll be sharing the info about the the park you visited.

coachvicky

LTWJ

My Breast Surgeon put in my port as a separate operation. He removed it in his office and it was a piece of cake. Thanks to a cream SpecialK recommended my scar is barely visible. LTWJ ... After all you have endured, trust me ... port removal is nothing.

I was surprised to see a scar hole at my neck but it is fading too.

About the nurse that said something like no one has problems with a port ... I felt mine everyday. Not unbearable pain but I always felt it. I still find myself getting PO'd when I hear someone claim X and they have never walked our paths.

Here is what I did with my port:

Tresjoli2

coach I have the hole in my neck too. I hate it. They wouldnt let me keep my port :-(

coachvicky

Tresjoli2 ... I got some strange looks when I asked for the port. I reminded the nurse who paid for it. My Breast Surgeon was cool about it.

I guess I forgot about the wire in the neck.

Vicky

hapa

It never occurred to me to ask to keep my port, but I think I will. My plan is to sprinkle some glitter on it, loop the catheter, and hang it on my Christmas tree. Print "2018" on the silicone part and make it a souvenir ornament.

I'm kidding. Maybe.

Photogirl81

oh Ladies,

Thank you all for your kind words. You made my day and you also made me blush. I honestly hope that the pics will help a few of you really believe that "all this too shall pass".

Plus, for those who are eager to know how fast hair grows back (cannot even tell how much I have tried to google that), well, mine has always been a slow grower. Between 1/3 and 1/2 inch per month. (About 1 centimeter) You see in the photo how that looks now...

Hugs,

Photogirl

Cowgirl13

Re the port hole in the neck--would my port have been connected somehow in my neck? Creeps me out but I'd love to find out. Thanks!

Photogirl, you look marvelous!

moodyblues

Ingerp, I would go ahead and plan, I did so well on Herceptin and never cancelled anything around that time.  Have fun!

moodyblues

Photogirl, you look amazing!  I am so glad that you shared the picture with us.

Tresjoli2

my understanding is all ports need to incision in the neck...not sure why but something about how they access the vein to your heart.

I have no scar from my lumpectomy...zero...you'd never know. And no scar.from my port. But my sentinel node scar is vicious and then I have the hole in my neck scar which drives me crazy cause its gross and visible.

SpecialK

I have no neck incision, but I’m thinking it’s because all the vasculaturewas accessible to my surgeon during the mastectomy and he went under to thread the tubing. I went with a friend to her consult with another breast surgeon at the NCI center where my surgeon had been the chief of surgery. We briefly discussed my surgery and he specifically asked whether I had my port placed that way - he said my surgeon had trained him but he felt uncomfortable doing it so he placed ports during mastectomy with external incisions. I thought that was interesting.

bareclaws

I had port placed and sentinel node removed at the same time, before chemo and surgery and nowhere near my neck. I didn’t know until reading this thread that anyone had them there!I asked surgeon to make it invisible while wearing a tank top and she complied. Even so I was glad to see it gone after 18 months.

BellasMomToo

My port wasn't in my neck either. My surgery to insert my port was done at a hospital and she just did the port insertion -- no other procedures were done. And when it came time to remove it, my surgeon removed it in her office -- I didn't have to go to the hospital. I still have a scar from the port, but that's only on my upper chest.

shelabela

So I am currently waiting for my MO to call me back. The last few days I've had the most horrible cramps. I am officially in menopause according to my drs. And bloodwork. Haven't had a period since February of 2017. Not even spotting. I am freaking out.

Suburbs

Hey shelabela, hang in there. I hear you. Ihope you get a call soon. Keep us posted.

deni1661

Hey Shelabela - hang in there. Saying prayers everything is OK...keep us posted on what the doc says. Hope you feel better soon

Jstarling

I had my delayed 5th chemo yesterday without the Herceptin. I am to have another Echocardiogram the day before my last chemo so we can hopefully resume the Herceptin if my flow rate goes back up enough. Now just wait to feel crummy for awhile. We went for a walk this morning and will have my Xerxio shot and take a nap. Maybe we’ll watch fireworks from the car tonight. I love Independence Day

moodyblues

Shelabela I hope that they get back to you soon, but with it being a holiday, they may wait to call you till later. I hope that you can get some relief soon.

moodyblues

Ladies, I went on a mini vacation with five grandkids, it was tiring but fun. Lots of swimming and walking, I barely thought about cancer except for the pool , I hesitated because swim suits are made to show boobs and I was aiming to cover them up somehow (I couldn't find a new suit that gave me the support I needed in my right-real breast) A covershirt did the job. Before I went on vacation I was looking at my pathology report from a year ago and just sobbed. It still seems like it's impossible that this has happened and yet I saw it in black and white... approx 2 cm IDC. Boy oh boy cancer sucks. Vacation was great and I didn't allow cancer to steal my joy. Life is Good!

PhoenixCruiser

Moody, glad you had a wonderful vacation, sounds fun!

Tresjoli2

Shela I am thinking about u and hope you are ok. Hoping it's nothing serious...