Sept 2012 chemo

Foreverchanged72612

fight4two: sending you positive thoughts. You can do this!!

Mariposa: LOVE your art!

Amy4978

Treadmill 101 this morning! Hope all of you have a great day... Here in michigan its snowing and about 10 degrees brrrrrrr!



Tomorrow I pick up my recliner..... This surgery is becoming more and more real ...



Happy Birthday Patricia! (we are fb friends so Im beating her to the punch lol) enjoy your day.... Hugs!

Cocobean

Fightfortwo- sending lots of prayers and positive thoughts for a smooth surgery, excellent outcome, and easy recovery!

Neta69

Fight4two, positive, healing thoughts and prayers coming your way!

jojo2373

Thinking of fight4two and hoping the surgery went well!



Neta, love the hair pic! I can't wait to go topless and rock that look.



As Amy noted, today is our favorite motivational speaker Patricia's birthday! Many birthday hugs girlfriend!

Faith-Focus-Finish

Happy Birthday Patricia!  Enjoy every moment.

Hugs : )))

Neta69

Happy Birthday Patricia! May this year be filled with health and happiness for you!



Thanks Jojo! It isn't much but I love that it now covers my whole head and you can't see my scalp anymore. I go topless now but wear a hat outside because of the cold. One surprise is how dark it is! Yours will take off soon and I'm sure you will look gorgeous

damiana9

I am kind of freaked out.  Last night I was looking in the mirror up close, to see what new hair regrowth I had....I was horrified to see hairs- on my FACE!!! they were still tiny but thick and black!  They were on my cheeks, just under my eye and on my forehead! OMG!!!!  I ended up plucking about 15 of them.  Has this happened to anyone else?

jojo2373

Yes Damiana, I need to shave my whole face. Mine are white, hoping its just the sprouting effect and will go away.

Faith-Focus-Finish

Damiana - Yes this is happening to me too.  Like Jojo, mine are white/blonde.  I haven't done anything with them yet, but will if they continue to multiply.

Toastiecat

Fight4Two, thinking of you and hoping everything went great today and that you're feeling good!

Damiana, yes, lots of weird hairs sprouting up! I think part of it is that I have a little peach fuzz on my face normally, and those hairs (normally clear/white) are coming in dark because of the chemo. And I think menopause has something to do with it as well...

Started PT today for my stupid shoulder...it's already kicking my butt, but I know it's necessary. Anyone else feeling doctor fatigue? My heart sank a little when she said I need to come 2x per week. I'm doing rads every day, acupuncture twice a week, counseling weekly, herceptin every 3 weeks...feeling a little overwhelmed. I counted all my doctor visits since dx and it's almost 100. I know it's the same for you guys. How do you cope with that?

Cherioo

Fightfortwo you got this girl . You will be fine

florbo

Fight4two, how are you doing?  I've been praying for you today.

I loaded a picture for my avatar.  At my cancer center, we don't ring a bell when we are through.  So, I did a celebratory "pole dance."  Then I threw up and fell asleep because the pre-meds kicked in.  Needless to say, I didn't get any tips.

Hope everyone is doing better.

Amy4978

Florbo.... Congrats on the last chemo but I have to say lmao at the pole dance puking and passing out! Such a party girl.



Af far as the facial hair.... Wondering how many of you with extra facial hair took or are taking decadron? I noticed I had some extra too..... But I shaved it off.... So gross! Lol



School is closed tomorrow since its so cold here in MI -10 to -15 with the wind chill plus 3 inches of snow..... Wow! Oh well the plus side is I can sleep in : )

Neta69

Morning! Fight4two, hope your operation went well and that you are recovering and healing. Let us know how you are doing.

Florbo, lol! Too funny! Congratulation to you! You are done! Yay!

Toastie, I know what you mean! It's crazy! I have Dr fatigue as well but it's not as intense once rads are done. I didn't start my physio and acupuncture until after rads for that reason. Hang in there!

I will see the psychologist, the acupuncture therapist and my MO (I can't stand him) this week, my RO (love her), massage/physio next week and the BS, massage/physio the week after that. It will feel busy after having no appointments for a while.

I didn't do any exersize over the weekend (hangs head in shame) but yesterday I did 30 mins on the eliptical. Will try to do that again today.

Foreverchanged72612

Florbo: So funny - it was a definite lol moment. I had the same reaction as Amy. Woo hoo! Way to go, party girl!!

Happy belated, Patricia!

butterfly14

Florbo - Thanks for sharing you last chemo experience, made me laugh...and more importantly - congratulations!! you're done!!

Patricia - Happy belated birthday, I hope you had a special and relaxing day!

Hopex3

Florbo..Too funny!! What a way to end your last chemo. Still laughing!!



Two of my sisters are flying in today to be here for my BMX on Thursday. I have a feeling I'm going to break down when I see them. I am going to treat them and myself to massages tomorrow as a thank you!



Lots to do today as I try and get everything done that I've wanted to do the last few years. Lol

aic

Florbo! Thank you so much for the laugh today! Much needed!

SeattleMama

aw, Hope, I didn't realize it was thursday.  Will be thinking of you and sending good thoughts and prayers. {{huggs}}

Mariposa123

Florbo- You are hilarious!!! I totally love the pole picture:-)  I think that having a sense of humor through this is just as important as all of the medical treatments we get in helping us to heal. 

Hope:  How wonderful that your sisters are coming- and how great to get massages.  I love that idea of treating your body to something special before the surgery.  Seems like you are honoring your body in a really special way. 

Now you all have me freaking out about little weird hairs.  I have very dark hair, so I know I will get a lovely dark mustache.   As if I need anything else to feel insecure about. 

Question for all of you ladies who have had surgery - what kind of compression bra did you purchase?  Did you like it?  Would you recommend anything in particular?  I am pretty sure I am still getting a bmx at this point.  And did you all buy the lymphedema sleeve before hand?  Trying to start planning.

Thanks for being my wonderful support group.

Oh - I saw this super cool magazine online and thought I would share.  It was written by survivors out of Florida.  It has these amazing pictures of women post surgery with their bodies painted.  Also has lots of stories about different things survivors are doing after cancer.    http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/257729

 

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SeattleMama

Mariposa, I got a softees camisole (surgeon gave me a prescription for Nordstroms) to replace the ace bandage wrap they do directly after surgery.
I just now started physical therapy, and though she does not believe I will have a problem with lymphedema, she is having me fitted for a sleeve - just to have in all cases (if something suddenly starts swelling, for flying, etc)  Loooooooooooooooove the magcloud linky WOW

Melrosemelrose

Mariposa- Compression sleeve:  FYI:  You don't need to purchase a compression sleeve before your BMX.  Not everyone develops LE after the lymph node biopsy.  However, just because one doesn't develop it then doesn't mean that one isn't at risk to develop LE later on.  If you are planning to visit somewhere by plane or drive through higher elevations, then you should consider getting a LE sleeve and gaunlet/glove at that time.  Your BS can give you a prescription for those.  Make sure you go to a place where you can be properly measured and fitted with a LE sleeve.  Also make sure that you purchase a compression gauntlet or glove for your hand.  One must wear the sleeve and gauntlet/glove together since one can develop LE just by wearing the sleeve only.  If you are interested in reading more about LE, go to the Step Up, Speak Out website.  Here is the link: http://www.stepup-speakout.org/ .  If you want, you can also do a little reading on the BCO.org main website about LE or the LE forum here.

I had five nodes removed with my SNB and my BS told me that I was unlikely to develop LE.  However, out of abundancy of caution, I got fitted and purchased a compression sleeve and hand gauntlet to wear on 3 1/2 hour airplane flight.  I would rather wear the sleeve than deal with the LE.

Cherioo

Florbo love the avitar picture. So happy yo are done

cgesq

Toastiecat, I totally hear you about dr. fatigue!!!  After 19 weeks of infusions every Weds, and MO appts, and eye dr. appts (for tearing eyes) and appts for shots, I am soooooo sick of going to appts.  I actually wanted this week to be dr. appt free, but alas, I got an infection around my port, so had an appt with my MO.  

Florbo, loved your story!  I wish I had done something that clever when I had my last chemo!  I am shocked that you didn't get any tips!!

Hope, you will sail through the BMX.  I did that this past summer with reconstruction, at the same time, (no regrets!!) and the recovery wasn't really that bad.  

Mariposa and Hope, I got Hanes cotton sports bras from KMart ($7.99) that opened in the front.  They are perfect for BMX recovery.  Buy them several sizes bigger because you will have some swelling.  The first week or so after surgery, I didn't need compression bras, so they were perfect.  Then the PS told me to wrap ace bandages around the bras to use as compression.  That worked.

Melrose, does everybody that flies need a LE sleeve?  I only had the sentinal node removed, and I haven't had LE issues so I hadn't even thought of needing anything.  I'm planning to fly to Israel in a few months, which is an 11 hour flight, so maybe I should get a sleeve. 

Speaking of flying, will my port set off the security buzzers?  Do I need a note or letter from my MO?

Tomorrow is my first Weds. in 20 weeks without an infusion!!!!   YAYAYAYAYYAY  

jojo2373

Cgesq, yeah!,,



Hope, you know we will be with you the whole way through..



Florbo, wish I had danced my pole. So cool!



Forever - that photo is way cool!



Hugs!

Melrosemelrose

cgesq- It is a very personal choice for those who do not have LE to fly with or without a sleeve/gauntlet.  My understanding is LE can develop at anytime even if only a few nodes are removed.  Before I got mine, I did research on the Step Up, Speak out website and talked to my BS about the sleeve necessity.  The choice was really left to me to make.   I got one that had the lowest compression available.  Once you wear it, you get used to it.  On my return flight home from my trip, I sat next to a radiology oncologist.  He and I talked about LE and he thought it was a good idea to get one.  I've also talked to several PT people and they all told me the same thing--- get the sleeve and gauntlet and wear it when flying.  You can't count on the cabin air pressure to remain completely constant on the airplane when flying.  I think I spent about $130 for the sleeve and gauntlet which I would gladly spend again just so I could prevent a lifetime of LE.

As for the port and airport security, I didn't have any problems.  When I was flying to my destination from Houston International Airport, I got a patdown after I went through the body scanner but I had expected that.  The security agent was very kind and very apologetic about having to do the patdown.  I did not have any card that said I had a port as some have.  On the return flight through Logan Airport Boston, I went through the regular xray (not a body scanner), and went right through with no patdown.   You can get a letter from the MO if you want.   You can go to the TSA website and read up on the section about those travelling with Medical Conditions and also in particular Breast Cancer Survivors.  The section about Breast Cancer Survivors explains Here is the link:http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/travelers-disabilities-and-medical-conditions and here is the link to the TSA Breast Cancer Survivors section: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/what-expect-if-you-are-breast-cancer-survivor .

SeattleMama

cgesq - ENJOY no chemo!!!

Amy4978

Cgesq.... One week tomorrow for me too! Whooohoooo... Congrats!

cgesq

Melrose,

I owe you a HUGE thank you!!!!!

Because you posted that lymphedema sleeve issue, I took it upon myself to research lymphedema.  I never had before because I (wrongly) thought it only affected arms and I have no issue with swollen arms.  Well, after only 5 minutes of researching, I have discovered that I have truncal lymphedema!!!  

I have been having increasingly swollen breasts, which while not painful, are getting redder and redder and bigger and bigger!  My pre-bmx bras are now cutting into me and leaving marks, and I was significantly smaller post bmx than I was prior to the bmx!!  In addition, the area under my arms where my bras go have gotten very swollen and tender also.  I feel like the Michelin Man!!!  I have shown this to my MO and his nurse practioner several times, and at the beginning, they attributed the swelling and puffiness to too much hydration in during my infusions.  When cutting back on the hydration didn't solve the problem, they then put me on antibiotics, because they didn't like the "look" of my breasts and thought the expanders or something else might be infected, causing the swelling.  The last straw was last week, when my port began to hurt, so they put me on antibiotics again, partly because they didn't like the way my breasts were looking.  They then recommended that I see my PS and insist I have my exchange surgery ASAP, because there must be something wrong with the expanders!!!!  

Not once during any visit did either the MO or his nurse pracitioner suggest that it might be lymphedema!!  They had NO IDEA!!!!!!!  

I got the name of a physical therapist from the LANA website who specializes in lymphedema.  I have emailed all this info (including links to articles) to the nurse practioner and will ask for a referral to the PT tomorrow.

Once again, the ladies on this board have solved problems that my MO could not.  

THANK YOU!!!