Starting Chemo July 2012

_Ann_

Susan and Mssunshine, very glad for your good news.

Well tomorrow is it, last Taxol and PICC line removal!  Plus I finally made some progress with scheduling my surgery (lumpectomy).  I was getting pretty frustrated with the surgeon's office for not returning calls.  Finally reached them.  So now at least I have a tentative surgery date (Jan 21) and a pre-op appt with the surgeon (Jan 14).  What a weight off my mind!  I was starting to anticipate crazy-making days imagining the cancer growing while the surgeon's office neglected me.

Now to finish holiday prep.  One package to mail, stocking stuffers to buy, and need to pick a travel date to see the in-laws.  My energy level has been really unreliable lately, so we may have to wait and see how I feel next week.  Last Neupogen shot is on Christmas eve.

mamabr

It's good to hear how everyone is doing. I also had mixed emotions when ending treatments, but I have been so tired and not feeling well that my emotions are a little blurred. Taking it slowly. 

Such good news Susan, glad to hear you have good results and on your way to the next step. 

Good luck today Ann. 

And to everyone else out there busy with holidays and getting back to life, hope all is well. Lifeonitside, teeballmom, Nat, boobzilla, City, Virginia, Roadwarrior, PAeagles, itsalltemp.......it's always good hearing how you are doing on the next stages. Just thinking of everyone. 

Take care

roadwarrior28

Here is my weird - although painless - SE of chemo. I had laser hair removal several years ago with very good results and barely any hair re-appearing. After chemo, ALL the hair is coming back in! Same deal with my eyebrows - I've plucked them for so long that they've stopped growing much. And now they are coming back thick and bushy again!

So I'm back to lasers  - kind of happy about eyebrows because I always wanted them to be thicker

Maddie57

Hi Ladies wanted to wish you all a truly magical Christmas and a healthy New Year. May all your wishes come true.

PinkyWi and Ann - we all experienced the strange depression after chemo it seems. Someone else brought it up on our thread after she finished her chemo. I think it is seeing the finishing line, and then realising it is not the finishing line after all!! Yeah Ann last chemo, but I can think of nicer Christmas presents than a Neupogen shot. I'd fire your Santa!

mssunshine - congratulations - you graduated! Don't worry your taste buds will slowly come back maybe  just not in time for Christmas. Your Christmas dinner sounds great - after all Christmas is all about your family and not a turkey. I think you are brave to host it.

SusanHG123 - I am soooo thrilled for you that the pathology report was better than you hoped. I am sure you are still feeling absolutely whacked after your surgery and chemo. Hang in there. I hope someone is looking after you this Christmas.

roadwarrior - that is really weird about the hair! How are your eyelashes doing? My hair is starting to grow everywhere, but my eyelashes are still falling out. I now have none on the bottom and about 6 on top.

roadwarrior28

Maddie57 - I had a few long lashes left at the end of chemo, but they all fell out. I was lash-less for about a month, but they  have grown back half-way in the last 2 weeks, so I think 2-3 more weeks and I'll be good! I asked my dermatologist about Latisse, and she said it's too expensive and doesn't work 50% of the time + has SEs. I might try GrandeLash MD down the road - it's only about $40 on Amazon and all natural - good reviews too. But for now, they seem to be doing fine on their own. 

virginiab

My lashes are doing well, about half their normal length, but really full. My hair is wierd: a mix of very soft white hairs that grow fast and not-as-soft brown hairs that grow more slowly.

I've had soft, light cheek hair for some years that needed periodic shaving. Well, it's back in full force. At least as much hair and I swear it's growing faster than it used to. Oh, well. I'm recovering nicely from radiation, which ended 8 days ago and generally feeling pretty good. I've still been needing a bit more sleep than usual; 9 hours has been about right. BUt yesterday, I woke up after 9 hours, went to the bathroom, came back and sat on the bed and realized I needed even MORE sleep, so I slept another 2 hours.

I'm trying to listen to my body, except maybe when it says it doesn't want to work out...

SusanHG123

I need some advice or therapy or both. My road was a bit different--chemo, stopped chemo, mastectomy. Will restart chemo. Radiation. Left mastectomy. Maybe reconstruction. Maybe not.

Surgery a week ago yesterday. I cannot seem to stop crying. I thought I was prepared for the surgery and NEVER defined myself by my breasts (maybe when I was breast feeding--but that was certainly not sexual). I have looked full on twice and almost vomited the second time. As a long time psych nurse I feel this is normal--but my experiences were with children--not hairy old adults. And, I though I did not want reconstruction--but the thought of looking @ this naked chest forever is disgusting. But--the thought of the pain of a tissue expander placed 6 months post surgery seems very painful (the left breast will be a belly flap if I do it). I take an antidepressant, meds for anxiety, see a therapist; but mainly still want to punch someone anyone anytime.

Anyone is similar situation who can offer help?

The holidays are off kilter at my house. Drain still draining. My youngest daughter and I will meet my oldest daughter and a friend in Lubbock (about 2.5 hours on Christmas for the day and night). We won't get to see my son or my 3rd daughter until later. The thought of cooking is unappealing--so will take snacks and drinks enjoy our short amount of time together. 

_Ann_

Aw, Susan, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with the mx aftermath.  I hope you'll find some useful advice/perspective here from someone who's gone through it.

Virginab, congratulations on finishing rads!  For what it's worth I saw in a thread somewhere here that some women got extra facial hair after chemo but it eventually went away as their hair came back.

Misswim, that's weird the chemo revived hair that was previously wiped out by lasers.  

Well, I graduated from chemo today!!  w00t!!  Went to the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate.  I had a cocktail (what the heck, my liver enzymes were normal today), salmon, veggies, and of course cheesecake.  Soooo full.   Removal of the PICC line was nothing at all, didn't even feel it.  The bad news is I still can't shower for 24 hours due to the final dressing.  Grrr!!!!  I was so looking forward to a shower without the plastic bag on my arm.  Oh well tomorrow it will be.

Thanks to everyone who contributed or lurked in this thread-- it was such a place of comfort and information for me.

PixieNel

Congratulations, Ann on your chemo grad. That's a big relief! My graduation will be on 10 Jan.  Then , still continue on my immunotherapy tx.

I want to go badly for a body massage after my chemo grad.  I need to consult my doctor for that.

roadwarrior28

PixieNel - I got massages all the time during chemo. My onc was fine with it

Maddie57

SusanHG123- don't look - please don't look! It will only bring you down. Look only as an impartial observer. Pretend you are checking a patient for signs of infection, and then put your clothes on. Remember you are a work in progress! Your mind adjusts after a few months, and it gets easier to accept, and to look. The reconstructed breasts do not look like real breasts, and once you accept that it also makes it easier to adjust and have realistic goals. I had immediate reconstruction with a tissue expander. It is painful for a month, but the degree of pain seems to depend on how slim you are. The BRAVA method may be an option for you on your irradiated side. Dr Khouri does it, and makes your breast entirely from your own fat tissue. It is a long procedure though, as it seems you have to wear some weird plastic suction cup to stretch the skin. Once finished though,it looks and feels as close to a real breast as you are going to get. Keep strong- if there is anything you want to ask me about the reconstruction process - fire away. I go for the permanent implant in the middle of January.

Ann - I LOVE cheesecake - sounds delicious.

Roadwarrior- I am trying Nutrilash which also seems to be natural. Someone on the website recommended it. 

Virginialab - thanks for the hair and eyelash update. It gives me some sort of realistic timel line to aim for.

_Ann_

Thank you PixieNel.  Jan 10 is just around the corner!  I hope the remaining immunotherapy is easier than chemo for you.  Maddie57, it was traditional cheesecake with cherry topping.  Yumm!  I couldn't quite get through the whole piece though.  They give big slices at that place.

boobzilla

Hey all-I am 6.5 weeks PFC-thank you all for your help, support and comments! My lumpectomy was not as bad, and neither was the sentinel node procedure the morning off. I was absolutely terrified of both, but having had positive experiences in healing from previous procedures did help.

Pathology report indicated clear margins and nodes. We were both immensely relieved to hear this, and I am now on my 3rd day of Tamoxifen. My Breast Surgeon said I am healing very well, and I do daily exercises recommended by American Cancer Society, for 'after surgery'.

The day after Christmas I have my radiation consult and after that the simulation. I may be a candidate for the 3 (as opposed to the 6 week) week regimen, we will see. My wife is off through Jan 1'13, and I decided it would be a good time for me to finally take some days off for myself as well. It will be nice to have days off, and do a few day trips, without consideration of side effects or the other considerable toll that this entire ordeal can have on us emotionally and physically. We are very much looking forward to our time together. My Oncologist has officially marked me as being 'in remission'. One day at a time...for now, I am happy and my old self (well with less hair, but I can live with that).

virginiab

Congratulations to everyone celebrating milestones and especially to those celebrating clear Margins!

I am celebrating that the world did not end last night -- because if I had believed that it would end, I could have bypassed chemo. So I'd be mad if I'd gone through that and ended up immediately dead by some Mayan curse or something!

Happy Solstice to all! The sunlight will bless us for longer each day now....

_Ann_

Congratulations Boobzilla!  Great pathology report.  Enjoy your shared vacation time!

_Ann_

A funny video about chemo I came across recently.   It really cracked me up

http://boingboing.net/2012/02/22/shit-cancer-patients-say.html

SusanHG123

A restful and peaceful and SE free holiday for my beloved friends and now family members in this group.

Blessings to each.

With love

s

teeballmom

I am so thrilled to hear about everyone's milestones and good news. I have been so busy lately and have not been able to get online. Christmas shopping, kid activities, radiation and volunteering at the boys's school do not leave me much time right now. Wishing everyone the best.



Take care.

Maddie57

Merry Christmas to all of you - hope you had a great day. Ann - I laughed out loud when that patient mentioned the bleeping!!! My initial chemos used to take 5 to 6 hours, and the infusion machine was beeping all the time. Actually my sister and I got used to it after a while - it helped to pass the time!

Madelyn

I know 2012 was a tough year for all of us, here's to 2013 being a bit more happier and and a lot healthier! 

Maddie57

Hi Susan - how are you doing? I hope your operation site is healing well, and that you had a good time with your daughter.

Thanks for the festive wishes Madelyn. Hope you had a great time

SusanHG123

Hi Maddie,

Thank you for asking. I did have a good time with my eldest and youngest and 2 that I refer to as my adopted daughters. I am so ready to sit and write that I am in a glorious mood and anxious to meet the day. So far--not happening. The surgical site is healing--but still have steri-strips and sutures in place and the drain is draining away. Still > 100 to 130/day. The surgeon wants < 20/25 mls/day before i can pull the drain. The ACE wraps are a feeling of security--but oh so tight. Ready for the bone pain to go away and me to stop popping pain meds. If delay taking them my mood is horrid (horrid in general probably) from trying to control the pain--get so snappy at my family. 

I am actually anxious to get the Taxol started again as i am worried there may be a single cell floating around laughing. Oh my--what cancer does to the mind. 

My youngest has been home since my surgery. She heads back to Albuquerque tomorrow with a pile of her friends to celebrate NYE. Then to San Antonio to visit her dad for a few days. Then to Orlando for a week to maintain her Disney status and have a week respite from cancer. Back to Albuquerque prior to the 10th to start her final semester as an undergraduate student. 

I will shovel out the house of the holiday mess and start some of my work obligations. Campus opens the 2nd and i am far far behind. 

My best to each of my friends. I have labs Monday the 31st and again the 8th. Hope to be back in the chair the 9th.

Much love 

s

natL12

SusanHG123 - My hat is off to you for working through this experience!  Hope your healing from the mastectomy goes well.  It seemed to me that it took FOREVER for mine to heal, but that was the effect of the taxotere and cytoxin.  It's healed now and eventually the scar will fade, just as my heart surgery scar did. I see it, my doctors see it, and my husband avoids looking at my chest when I'm dressing. 

Playboy magazine will never ask us to pose. 

Are you going to have reconstruction?

Itsalltemporary

Hello My July 2012 Chemo sisters!

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I just finished radiation treatment #24 of 35. Compared to what we all went through with chemo, radiation is a walk in the park. The most significant SE is the tiredness. I can't make it much past 9:00 pm anymore. I have had some skin reaction near the clavical and the doctor had to back off on treatments to that area for a while - but luckily the skin has not opened up.

Hoping that 2013 brings happiness, strength and wonderful new adventures!

virginiab

I agree that radiation was SOOO much easier than chemo! I managed to keep participating in a Monday-Wednesday-Friday exercise class during this whole adventure (with a week and a half off in each chemo round) but finally the exhaustion of chemo made me stop about 10 days before the end of radiation.

Now, it's less than 3 weeks since the end of radiation and I'm feeling great and have been exercising on my own (the class ended).

Happy New Year to all of us who were in chemo in July!

SusanHG123

Nat. Not sure what I will do. My path report has necrotic tissue and the surgeons report says a "very almost inflammatory cancer of the breast". My medical oncologist is out of the country until next week. My appointment is the 9th. This was the first mention of inflammatory. I am scheduled to return to work tomorrow-three weeks post surgery. Probably for the best. As a nurse, I know both reports are not in my favor. So as for reconstruction---way far on the back burner now. Still have sutures to dissolve and steri-strips to fall off. Draining between 100-115ml/day in my lovely little drain. 

emilybrooke

Happy New Year Ladies -

Still recuperating from the exchange surgery. I think I over did it a little during the holidays because my right hand, near my thumb, is slightly swollen. My BS said it could be residual swelling from surgery but it could also be mild lymphedema. I am awaiting an appt with the lymphedema specialist. It has been the same size for a few days now. Fingers crossed it will be okay.

Had my 6 month check-up last Thursday. The breast surgeon said "It's all over now. This is behind you." Good words to hear, made me breakdown right there in her office.

PaEaglesFan

Emily, I had my 6 mo 2 weeks ago.  It was the first BC related appointment that I had gone to by myself 9other than rads) and it was a relief to be able to talk to her about my recurrence fears w/out anyone there to pooh-pooh me.  I know she see's heard the same question from many of her patients and it felt so good to hear her tell me to enjoy the holiday and put this behind me.  I wish everyone in this group could hear the same thing about their own cancer, but I know not everyone is so lucky and my heart goes out to you all. 
I haven't been posting much since my treatments ended, but everyday I think of you wonderful women and include you all in my prayers.  If any of you would like to keep in touch with me I'd be happy to hear from you either thru email or facebook, just pm me and I'll share contact info with you.
Here's to a healthier 2013 for all of us.  

_Ann_

Emily I hope the swelling issue is temporary.  Susan, the 9th is a long time to wait, I'll bet you need answers about the path report.  I hate delays like that.

Well I'm a week and a half past final chemo and very fatigued.  I'm sleeping up to 14 hours per day.  If I do a lot one day, the next day I end up taking a 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon on top of sleeping at least 10 hours at night.  I'm not sure whether to sleep as much as I need, or to start trying to fight the impulse.  Did anyone else have lingering fatigue like this?  It started up in the last couple weeks of Taxol.  Frankly I'm afraid it was the weekly Decadron keeping me going!  And now I don't get that any more.

Also very disappointed in my hair's progress to this point.  It started growing during Taxol.  It's about an inch long now but still very thin with bald patches at the crown and on top.  And of course the awful grey dishwater color.  Blech!  I'm tempted to buzz it back down to half an inch until it fills in a bit more evenly.

PinkyWI

Ann, I will be 3 weeks PFC tomorrow and am feeling a great deal of fatigue too -- 2 - 6 hour naps every day -- the 6 hour day was in 2 hour increments -- bladder wouldn't let me sleep longer than 2 hours at a time.  Legs are also very weak -- the tops of my thighs and the back of the calves.  I am hoping it will soon disappear.  Hair started growing back about the 9th Taxol treatment but only on one side.  It is not near an inch long and as thin as it is, well I would not need a comb for it.  We must be patient I guess...big sigh!

Good luck to Susan and Emily -- thinking of you!