August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

MizMarie

Nothing special for hair growth - I have been using Johnson's Baby Bath because everything else made my scalp dry and itchy.  My stylist told me to take Biotin and Vitamin B12, but my MO said there really isn't any specific trick to make hair grow - just a well-balanced diet.  My multi-vitamin has both, so it can't hurt, right?

DebinUtah

Happy and Healthy New Year to All!

Congratulations, Lucy, on finishing such a long chemo ride!  MizMarie--good luck with your blood values. Do you feel like there are any side effects of the Herceptin only?  I've had two H only infusions and I feel like my nose runs constantly. Oh well, it's a hell of a lot better than poison!

I'm 6 weeks PFC, 8 of 33 rads, and my hair is slowly coming in. It's much darker than my pre-BC hair and a little patchy--one half of my head is definitely thicker than the other.  I simply cannot wait to go wigless/hatless! 

NWArtLady

Congrats lstreett!  I was on the exact same regimen as you and finished the day after you did! Feels good to be done with that component of treatment. Now for a little break and then daily radiation for 6 weeks... I'll also be doing Herceptin-only for a year, so I'll be back with my lovely oncolgy nurses soon (every 3 weeks).  I did bring them chocolate-covered macadamia nuts (I was raised in Hawaii) to celebrate the end of the chemo component on the last day and they loved it.

Looking forward to the return of hair and my mind, and for my nails to clear up and stop hurting!!

DebinUtah, I've had a constantly running nose for some time now - I think it's partially due to the lack of nose hairs...? I'm not sure. But I recall in the beginning reading that a runny nose is par for the course with chemo and have always kept tissue nearby. Now, if only my nose would stop bleeding! Soon, soon.

Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

oaktownmom

Congrats to you too NWArtLady!! 

Chrys23

Hi ladies! I haven't been here in awhile -- I hope everyone is doing well!

I finished rads on Dec. 14th and had horrible, horrible 2nd degree burns on my neck, under my arm and under my breast. They were huge, open pink flesh wounds and all the skin had come off. As of now, the dark skin is starting to cover the pink fleshy areas. I'm african-american and really shocked that I burned so badly -- but it was only towards the end (last 5 days).

I'm worried about my neck because the skin loss there was huge and I have a huge scar that's the size of an orange. (  I'm using Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter and I pray it becomes less noticable over time. Scarves are my friend right now.

It's weird to be done with treatment; I didn't start the Arimidex right away; I wanted a break as I had such bad burns from RADS, but I will start it on Monday. I just can't deal with more side effects at this point.  I'm also doing genetic BRCA testing on Monday. My left ovary has "something" on it and I have a 2nd ultrasound on Feb. 7th. I pray it isn't cancer. :O(

Take care everyone! I miss you ladies!!!! You've all been wonderful  xoxoxo

MaryjRN

I am 37 days PFC and just did rads #5 today.  So far it's going ok.

lstreett...glad you're done with the chemo and i hope you are feeling well!  I was on the exact regiman but had to switch in week 7 to Taxotere, due to increasing neuropathy.

MizMarie...hang in there!  June 1 is my target for wig free also.  I feel the same as you with regards to the color of hair. I'm happy to have stubble!

Debinutah...I have not noticed if one side is thicker.  It was before chemo. 

NWArtlady...I'm with you on looking forward to hair, mind, and nails to get back to normal.  My nose is still runny, but the bloody noses have gone away.

Chrys...you have been through the wringer, haven't you gal? I remember that your chemo was awful and even life threatening.  Pray that everything starts going better for you and that you have good test results.

Taylor777

Congrats to you Istreet and NWartlady on being done!!

I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2012!!!!

DebinUtah

Congratulations to everyone who's finishing up chemo and/or rads!  I'm over 1/3 through with rads.  I'm using the special cream they gave me religiously, but my nipple area is quite sore and my entire breast looks a little sunburned. Aquafor helps some. I can't stand the thoughts of serious burns and dealing with even more scars!  Dear Chyrs--TG you're finished with everything!  Could anything else have gone wrong? Keep us posted about your ovary.  NWArtLady--I still have a lot of blood in my mucus--is that the Herceptin or just a hang over from the chemo?  My most annoying lasting SE so far is definitely the neuropathy in my fingers--my nails are all discolored and my fingers are pretty painful--even with the gabapentin :-(   Most of my eyelashes feel out last week (6 weeks PFC)--kind of a drag.  Regardless, I'm soooooo happy to be done with chemo! I've been on Tamoxifen for over a month now, and I haven't really noticed any changes in my moods or sleeping patterns. Knock on wood!  

Peace, joy and  strength to everyone!

NWArtLady

DebinUtah, I think the blood is due to the chemo as it is beginning to clear up (less blood clots in my nose).  Sorry to hear about your eyelashes! I kept my lashes and brows through chemo and am hoping to still keep them...

edoyrest

Hi Ellen,

ARE YOU DONE YET??????

I started rads 12/20 and expect it to go through March 2nd because the shoulder wound was slow to heal and I couldn't raise the right arm and hold it behind on the bar without excruciating pain.  Am now doing physical therapy for 5 wksk now and just successfully did the CT for the rad planning on the right side.  Hope to start that side next week.  Am worried about the burns some of you have been having, how quickly are you healing?  Need to check out the Coobie, what's your website?

Be well,

Eileen

vtellen

I have a fb site for my shop called Blue Moon Clothing & Gifts. In Brandon,Vt. But, I think Coobies also has a site. They will have all the colors shown. I find the lace type to be more comfortable. I had very little trouble w/ the RADs. Towards the last week I got red and was able to see the area that was getting "beamed" My only lingering SEs have been achy shoulders and my surgical side has gotten tight down on my side. Eileen, are you on Tamoxifen? How many RADs are you getting? Through March seems like a longer time then I had. Hope you are feeling well otherwise.

vtellen

Oh, and yes! I finished active treatment Dec 16th. That was a very big day for me!

MaryjRN

Hi ladies,

I just did rad #19 today.  33 total.  I'm religiously using the cream that was prescribed, but just yesterday, I felt that my nipple is getting sore.  Everything else is ok so far.

Tamox is going ok.  I just found out, on BCO, that my nightly Benedryl is a no-no with Tamoxifen.  I'm trying to figure something else to do for sleep.

My estimated 'end of active treatment' date is Feb. 13.  Can't wait!

Grimbol

Hi Mary, I have completed 19 rads too and my nipple is getting sorer each day now.  I am pretty red and itchy too but just sore in that one spot.

NWArtLady

I'm only on radiation #6 and already I'm red!  I was red and swollen after #1 and my scar was itchy... Oh, I can tell this is going to be fun!

MaryjRN, you're doing Tamoxifen and radiation simultaneously?  Hm... I think I need to ask my oncologist when I am going to start!  Don't want to miss out on the timing.

vtEllen, congratulations on finishing active treatment!!  Were you able to do anything right after?  My husband and I have a trip planned for the week after I am done and I'm not sure what to expect.  It's just down to CA and all I want to do is visit museums, sleep in, and perhaps squeeze in a day at Disneyland.  Sounds doable?

MaryjRN

NWArtLady...the simultaneous Tamox/rads seems to be a doctor's preference.  My MO and RO are not in the same (group) practice, but both feel I need to do the Tamox/rads at the same time.  I've read that other bc ladies do it separately.    I noticed today that the skin is a little browner.  I am very fair skinned.

Grimbol...they told me today that the nipple is usually the spot most women c/o.  They told me to continue creams and maybe wear a sports bra to keep the breast in place.  I haven't done it because it sounds uncomfortable getting the d*mned bra on and off!

Grimbol

I finally caved and bought two of the Coobie bras others have talked about, I LOVE it!  It is better (for me) than having anything rubbing over my nipple, I'm even contemplating wearing it at night too!!  I had wondered if it would work having to get it over my head etc., but it's no problem at all and so much more comfortable than anything else i"ve tried.

Tomorrow I am actually starting a twice a day tx, so that I will have my boosts while I am continuing on with the regular tx's.  My dad is pretty poorly in England and I'd like to be able to go over if necessary. We'll see how my skin holds up with this, apparently there has to be 6 hours in between tx.

dianamaps

Hi chemo group. It's nice to think of the chemo behind us now. I finished my last treatment in early Dec, and then had a BMX on January 10th. The pathology results were clear!  

Now I'm just dealing with somewhat uncomfortable TEs from the reconstruction, plus ongoing Herceptin for another 9 months, plus having ovaries out soon too.  But, all better than chemo...

My best to you all,

Diana 

NWArtLady

Thanks MaryjRN!  I appreciate the info.  I'll talk to my oncologist the next time I am in for Herceptin.

MaryjRN

Grimbol...I hope your skin does well with the 2x/day.  Getting back to see your Dad will be worth it.

Diana...Yes, isn't it wonderful that we are post chemo?  Glad to see that your margins were clear.  Hope you heal nicely from BMX.

edoyrest

Hi Ellen,

Sorry for the late reply, I have been lazy with logging on the computer these days.  I have 2 wks left of rads and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!  My left side healed well from radiation, about 2 wks out it was looking good.  Finishing up on the right side now with little to no SEs.  I'm switching from Tamoxifen to Arimidex over the next month as my estradial levels were menopausal last week at the onc visit.  My major SE on Tamox is hot flashes.  I think my body is adjusting now, I hope.  I just bought another wig, this one is shorter in length but layered and stylish to help with the transition to wigless, aiming for June when the weather gets hot and humid here.  There's some really cute short hairstyles on celebrities these days that will be do-able by then.  Hope you are doing well and you are healing from this experience as I know I am.

Chava

During the Chemo I did great with very little side effects. Now with two weeks of rads left and night sweats from the tamoxifin...I am really feeling fatigued. I am not sure if the fatigue is due to the night sweats or the rads or just have been in this process since May and I won't be done with reonctruction until the end of the summer. It still seems like a long way away. I am tired of feeling tired. Anybody have something that working for the night sweats....I have tried black cohash, magace, Chinese herbal tea....next they want me to try effexor---anybody use it for night sweats and does it work?

vtellen

I take Ambiem to help me sleep through the hot flashes. Occasionally, I will sleep "natural", but it tends to involve lots of waking up - blankets on, blankets off!

Anonymous

wow, nobody has posted here in almost a month. how's everyone doing? I'm getting my energy back finally, hair is coming in nicely, and Tamoxifen isn't near the hell I thought it would be.

NWArtLady

Hi Jendon2004, glad to hear you're doing well with Tamoxifen!  I'll be starting it soon.  I'm also doing well - hair coming back, nails starting to grow out, intestines calming down.   My nose keep running, I think it might be the Herceptin; if that's the only SE, I'll take it!!

Justina

Hi all. Finished chemo on 12/22 and radiation on 3/2. Have been on Anastrozole since January and can cope with the hot flashes and insomnia. But I am finding I cry at the drop of hat and am depressed most of the time - more than I ever was when going through treatment. Has anyone else experienced this? Is is like post traumatic stress or maybe it is the medication? I feel like I should be relieved and happy but I'm not. Thanks for any input.

NWArtLady

I'm sorry to hear that you are having a hard time, Justina.  Have you discussed this with your doctor?  You have been through so much, it's no wonder that we all cry at the drop of a hat! Mine has me on anti-depressants for the time being and I find they have helped me immensely. 

When we were in treatment, there was action, we were doing things to fight this damn disease; now we are moving away from seeing our medical team daily and it is a huge shift!

I am just starting an After Breast Cancer class at my hospital - we have been through hell and back and I'm looking for tools to get back normal.  Is there anything in your community akin to this? Perhaps at a Gilda's Club or the like? I also find that calling the American Cancer Society helpful for talking to someone or for finding resources. They are at 1-800-227-2345

I hope you are able to find some relief.  Do take care of yourself and let us know how you are doing!

Justina

NWArtLady,

Called onc two days ago but no call back, which is unusual for him. That class sounds ideal. I will ask him about it if he ever calls back. I just want to feel normal again. I wouldnlike to look normal again too. Sigh

Anonymous

I guess we should all be coming up on our 1 year if it hasn' t already passed. How are you??

TSB1

My one year mark since diagnosis was last month. I consider my surgery date, June 7, as the anniversary of me being cancer free. I'm 4 months PFC and I feel "almost normal". I started arimidex in January and so far, so good. I'm taking glucosamine to help with joint pain. The only other issues I have with arimidex are sleep problems and the dreaded vaginal dryness. Really I can't complain because it's a good weapon to have in my arsenal. I'm still taking all my supplements for neuropathy since I have some minor issues with my toes on my left foot. My nails are still messed up but they're getting better and growing out. I hope everyone is doing well.