September 2013 Chemo Group

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  • kjsimpson
    kjsimpson Member Posts: 445
    edited March 2014

    so, an elevated glucose is kinda normal during chemo?  That is good because mine was always 160+ during chemo. 

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2014

    kj - yes, elevated glucose is definitely linked to steroid use.  Of course, it can be that way independent of steroids, so it is a good idea to keep an eye on it as you wind down from treatment.  Mine is still over 100 regularly, and I am 3 1/2 years out from chemo, so not sure what that is about.  I do not consume any refined sugar at all.  I am eating lean organic protein, low glycemic index fruit, colorful vegetables, no gluten, no alcohol, no dairy - so I am not really ingesting sugar. It is just above high normal but it concerns me because of the possibly negative effect on my recurrence risk.

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  • Art123
    Art123 Member Posts: 115
    edited March 2014

    I hate cancer

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2014


    Art, How is Nat?  How are you faring in all of this?

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  • BetterDay
    BetterDay Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2014

    So sorry, Art.

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  • kjsimpson
    kjsimpson Member Posts: 445
    edited March 2014

    I hate cancer too, Art.

    Hope things are ok.

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  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2014

    Kbeee - I told my hubby that I forget in the shower, too. I'm always surprised when I reach up to wash my hair and there's hardly anything there. LOL

    Spring break here and man I've been busy.  I'm exhausted and it's only Tuesday!  LOL  Most of it is working on stuff for my daughter's softball league, but we went to the movies today and went over to a friend's house and I got home at 6pm, just in time to get changed for softball practice!  It was 90 degrees today!!!!!!!!!!!!  But extremely windy.  My eyes are so sore from watering out there.  I did get to hold a 3 month old baby, though.  That was fun.  She's teeny tiny.  

    This has nothing to do with cancer, but OMG my little girl cries over EVERY SINGLE THING lately.  Geez.  She's 7 going on menopause I think.  I'm so tired of saying, "Kelsie, stop crying."  

    I need a Xanax.  

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited March 2014

    I'm Missing on Road Trip

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  • Cougarlicious
    Cougarlicious Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2014

    Hey all - checking in - I've been reading posts but while I was on pain meds after my BMX it was hard to stay awake long enough to write!  Good news is I'm two weeks out, I stopped pain meds last week and have even started driving again (short distances but at least I'm getting out and about).  Docs say I'm healing wonderfully, and today I got my first expander fill of 75ccs.  Combined with the 75cc they gave me at surgery, I'm already larger than my original AA boobs!  I could probably call it done, but I'm thinking I might still do a couple additional fills...you know, as a bonus. ;)  I will probably be a small B cup at the end of this, which is perfect for me!  

    Pathology came in and my nodes were NED....whew!  Tumor was 4cm and showed 70% cancer.  Crappy little bugger.  At least it's out now.  I know some people don't like calling themselves cancer free (since we never really know) but I'm using it...because I can!  Even though I don't fit the typical criteria for rads, they are recommending it since I had so much cancer still after chemo.  Now to dig up all of these past radiation care posts...and start coming up with my own IMRT posts!

    I'm loving all the recent hair pics!!  My noggin is finally starting to look like my profile pic again.  Never thought "hey you're starting to look like GI Jane" would be such a huge compliment. :) 

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  • simplelife4real
    simplelife4real Member Posts: 563
    edited March 2014

    Okay....so here is another question.  Is anyone using any special products to help with scar reduction and healing?  When I go to Walgreens, I see a lot of different things on the shelves but I have know idea if anything really works and is useful.  I'll be four weeks post surgery on Thursday and can start doing scar massage then which is supposed to help.  Other than that, I was just curious what other people were doing....if anything.  I forgot to ask my PS about it when I saw him and I don't have another appointment for a couple months.  My BS didn't  have any suggestions other than to ask the PS.  I could email him, but I was just curious if other people had gotten advice from their docs on this.

    Cougar.....good to hear from you.  Hooray about the clear nodes.  Sorry you will be having rads.  Do you know if they will do your armpit since you had clear nodes?  

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2014

    simple - my PS has Kelocote in his office, but others have used Scaraway silicone patches. I have not personally used either, since my incisions are in the IMF I can't really see them, but know people who have used these products successfully.  Vitamin E oil is another possibility.

    http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=228348&catid=182889&aid=338666&aparam=228348

    http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/scaraway-silicone-scar-sheets/ID=prod6019237-product

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  • Viji
    Viji Member Posts: 195
    edited March 2014

    It finally happened to me-the meltdown. Don't know why but cried for no reason today. It has been so hard to get through the day. Made my husband late for work and drove myself to work on auto pilot. Somehow got to the end of the day and perked up after zumba. 

    I really hope I cope because i hate feeling like shit. Thought about  what LHL said about putting on a tiara and just chilling out on the sofa. How good would that be...

    I hate cancer!!! Take care Art.

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    Hi Cougar! Nice to hear from you! Things sound good. Hope you continue to do well.

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  • BetterDay
    BetterDay Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2014

    Simplelife, I asked my PS about scars and he suggested the silicone bandaid that Special K referenced.  He didn't clear me yet to use it on my BMX scars, but I can use it for the port scar.  He wanted me to do an experiment on half of my port scar to see the difference.  I was like, really?  Easy for you to think that would be entertaining.  Me?  I'm really trying to heal, recover, etc. as quickly and evenly as possible.  Not really in the mood to experiment for your entertainment.  (End of rant, I actually like him a lot, just a bad reaction to that suggestion).  It's a reusable silicone strip that you leave on all the time (or at least 12 hours a day) for 8 weeks.  You use one strip per week then change to a new one, and you need to wash it once a day.  I found it in the scar treatment section of the first aid aisle.  I've been using it on my port area for about a week now.  I think the redness is going down a bit, but it's hard to tell.  I will keep you posted.

    LHL, 90 degrees?!?  Wow, that sounds nice.  We got 6 inches of snow last night.  So tired of it.

    Cougar, yay on the clear nodes and getting that tumor out of you!  Can't wait until I get your GI Jane look!

    Viji, so sorry about the melt down.  Hang in there. Awesome that you are doing zumba.  You deserve to kick back and chill in your tiara!

    Art, how is it going?  Hope today is a better day.

    My annoyance of the day is itching in numb places.  I sooooo want to scratch the itches, but can't feel a thing when I touch the area (have felt it in foobs and under arm pits).

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  • knightzoo
    knightzoo Member Posts: 171
    edited March 2014

    Simplelife-rads have been easy for me, don't make me tired at all. I'm fatigued in the afternoon in my body but I lay down and read and cannot fall asleep.  I napped/slept all the time during chemo.  I did #14 today, 11 to go.  I can tell the treated side is a shade darker than the other, but it is not burned or itchy.  Knock on wood.  I added a 1% steroid cream to the lotion cocktail - my dermatologist friend recommended and perscribed.

    Does anyone else have sore ribs?  Below your foobs/TEs?  I don't really understand the body kinetics of why my ribs are sore by the end of the day unless it's just the way I'm moving to compensate for my sore chest and upper back? 

    I've GOT to get my house clean and laundry done today!! Wish me luck.  My boys play in their state hockey tournament this weekend (my younger son played JV last weekend and they won their state tournament in OT-super fun).  Now on to Varsity where they both play (ages 15 and 18).

    Hair selfie enclosed...big change this last week - I see color and thickness instead of duck fuzz :) And I'm getting the full face fuzz too.  Probably time to Nair!

    image

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  • kjsimpson
    kjsimpson Member Posts: 445
    edited March 2014

    Knightzoo,  head is looking great!

    All,  new hair selfie. Yes, it is in the car. But it is a darn good pic. LOL  ;-) 

    image

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  • BetterDay
    BetterDay Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2014

    Nice pics Knightzoo and KJ!  And look at those brows and lashes. You guys look great!  Knightzoo, I've had sore ribs since surgery. My PS said he used them to "anchor" things. So he wasn't surprised they were sore. Not sure if they do that for TEs too. I had direct to implant recon. 

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    knightzoo you hairy devil LOL looking good. My head still shines, like a cue ball with some odd sprouting duckling down.

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    It's there I see it kjsimpsom!!!

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  • mercedes60
    mercedes60 Member Posts: 171
    edited March 2014

    KJ nd Knightzoo, looking good! 

    Well yesterday I had my surgeons appointment along with his 2 resident trainees as my hospital is a teaching hospital The Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, anyway I felt stressed big time seems I was being rushed of course they all had a feel to see how the tumours did on chemo and then  we all gathered in my surgeons office, I must of had about 4 hot flashes in the 40minutes I was there. So he told me depending on the MRI which I will have Monday, he could do a lumpectomy, but there could be a good portion of the breast removed due to the fact I had 2 tumours (6 cm total) on top of each other and he has to clear all margins, meaning I could be left with a small boobie thing, I am normally a C cup, not bragging at the age of 60 lol, and he also said a full mastectomy could also be possible. Enough said, I opted for the full mastectomy and he agreed. 

    My question ladies, I am PR/ER+ HER-, how many of you have chosen to have mastectomy over lumpectomy if given the choice and how many have chosen to have a prophylactic mastectomy also even if it wasn't necessary? 

    I guess I am a little freaked out now. My surgery date is April 22nd. 

    Hope everything is well with everyone. 

    Cheryl 

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    Hi Cheryl

     my surgeon never mentioned mastectomy, it was lumpectomy all the way. (& I had lymph node removal) That was in August. But after the surgery when the tumor board reviewed my case & the margins weren't good, they said no to the re-incision the surgeon wanted, & that I needed chemo then a mastectomy. (which is tomorrow). I am not sure how I would have decided if I had been given the choice back then. But I did decide to have BMX. Surgeon was a bit surprised when I told him I wanted both gone.

    It sure is an anxiety ridden time.

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  • alfranco
    alfranco Member Posts: 200
    edited March 2014

    Kj and Knightzoo looking a bit hairy. Bureau for hair.

    Cheryl, I didn't have to decide between lumpectomy or mx. Dr. Said Mx all the way, however I did decide to have both of them removed. I wanted less stress in my life.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2014


    Cheryl, I had BMX because I figured if I got it once, my chances were good to get it again, and I wanted to minimize the risk.  I also  wanted whatever breasts I had...real or fake...to  age evenly.  I did not want one perky breast and one saggy breast in 20 years.  Perky or saggy, I wanted a matched set.  Happy

    Vintagegal, Good luck tomorrow!  I wish you a speedy recovery.

    Knightzoo and KJ, Great pix!  Knightzoo, I did have sore ribs; I remember wondering whether I might have fractured one...that's how sore.  None now after exchange.  In fact, I can't remember how long they hurt for.

    Betterday, I might do that experiment on one of my BMX scars...just because I am a science nerd...well, I am just generally a nerd in general.  I will report back in a few weeks and you can report to him whether or not it worked any.  I am guessing he wants to know if it works, so he can recommend it to other patients.  A port scar, which is pretty visible, would probably not be one I would experiment on though!

    LHL, Please send yur 90 degree weather north...straight north on I-35 would be perfect.  I hope you get some rest; your schedule sounds exhausting.

    Cougar, Great to hear from you.  Wonderful news on the nodes.  I hope you are recovering quickly.

    Viji, You deserve some time to rest with a tiara on!  I hope today is a better day.

     

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  • knightzoo
    knightzoo Member Posts: 171
    edited March 2014

    Mercedes, I was given a LX or MX choice - knowing with LX I would most likely need a filler implant to even things out since they thought they'd take out about the size of a lime.  Once I knew I was choosing MX, there was never a second thought about doing both sides.   I wanted to be even and also to be rid of every last breast tissue cell.  Take it ALL!


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  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2014

    Looking great ladies!

    knightzoo - Good luck in the state tourney!  I imagine your hockey state finals are about as big a deal there as the football ones are here in TX.  LOL   How exciting that all of your boys are/were in it.  Woohoo!

    KJ - Ok, you're forgiven for the car selfie because you're right, it is a good pic.  LOL

    Vintagegal - Your bmx is tomorrow?!?!?!  Did I read that right?  {{hugs}} and prayer for you.

    Cheryl - I'm a little different because I'm BRCA+.  I had a large tumor, so lumpectomy on the bad side wasn't ever an option.  Since I am BRCA+ there really wasn't a choice to NOT do the prophylactic, but I probably would have done it anyway.  I would always worry about recurrence, and like Kbeee said, I'd want to be even.  

    So... went to the dentist today for my tooth.  Turns out my permanent crown was ready (for my tooth....although after all of this crap I feel like I need a REAL crown...LOL) so they went ahead & did that today, too.  They took xrays and he said he didn't see anything that needed immediate treatment on the bottom where I've been hurting.  He thinks it's because my bite was off from having the temporary crown.  Now that I have the permanent and he adjusted my bite on the tooth that's been hurting, maybe that'll fix it.  He said to give it several days.  If it is slowly improving, then that was the problem.  If it stays the same or gets worse, call because they'll have to do something more.

    Ugh.  So more waiting, and more advil or percocet for me.  LOL

    Tomorrow I go to Dallas for my last fill before rads.  

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  • kjsimpson
    kjsimpson Member Posts: 445
    edited March 2014

    Someone asked about sore ribs... YES!  I've had a sore rib on my radiation side since a few days after radiation started.  RO said it was probably agitation of the area in general.  Said it should go away after rads have finished for a few weeks.


     

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  • kjsimpson
    kjsimpson Member Posts: 445
    edited March 2014

    LighthouseLady,

    I hope your tooth feels better soon.  The only thing worse than a toothache is a DRAIN!!  ;-)

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  • knightzoo
    knightzoo Member Posts: 171
    edited March 2014

    Vintagegal-best wishes on your surgery tomorrow.  Check in when you can.

    LHL-you don't have to go to Dallas for radiation do you?

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  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2014

    No thank God!

    I will do rads where I did chemo, and that's only about 5 minutes from my house.  

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  • mercedes60
    mercedes60 Member Posts: 171
    edited March 2014

    thank-you all for your input so glad to have u guys! 

    Vintage good luck on your surgery tommorrow And thanks for your input also, 

    Kbee ummmm thinking about perky that would nice. Heck can't remember when i was perky. I still haven't decided about recon. 

    Cd

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