September 2013 Chemo Group

josgirl

KJ I had the nacho with lots of jalopeno cravings both pregnancy and this time. Definitely wanting the spicy foods too!

hockeymommy

hello ladies, holy smokes I have a lot of catching up to do! I love all of the pictures!! You guys look beautiful!!! I look like I have white chicken feathers sprouting from my head...lol....I hope they are not here to stay!! I had a doctors appointment today, my other breast will be removed on January 16th! I didn't think they would get me in that soon, but I will be glad o get it over and done with!! Hope everyone is doing great!

....

hockeymommy

my family

kjsimpson

Great pic, hockeymommy! 

SouthernGirl1974

cute pic hockeymom

josgirl

hockey mommy. Gorgeous!!! Wow you really make bald look good!

hockeymommy

awe thanks ladies!! So I went to the doctor today for a consult to have my other breast removed. I go in January 16th!! I really didn't think I was going to have it done well into the new year! I was really shocked she could get me in that quick. I am opting at this point not to have reconstruction. But I guess it will always be an option down the Road.....

PeacockGirl

Haha white chicken feathers! Me too! Exactly hockey mommy...great family photo, you are surrounded in love for sure.

Viji

Lovely, lovely photos ladies! Have a good day...

Miss_Mama_Bear

Everyone looks so wonderful!!!!

Thanks everyone for the pic complements! I was so upset because you couldn't read my oldest's sign when we were at the studio, but once I pulled it up at home, you could. She said we could have them re-shot but my daughter had already destroyed her hair, and there were so many people there-standing room only- and we had been there 2-1/2 hours already. I haven't gotten the prints back yet so we will see if it turned out better on an 8x10.

Simplelife: Yes! That is the eyebrow product. I am not for sure if you can buy it in stores anywhere. I got the blonde color.

Audra: Don't apologize for freaking out. I do it all the time. I don't know how anyone could NOT freak out from time to time with going through this! I don't think there has been a round that I haven't been in the doctor's office or ER in between because I was worried about something. I am hoping for good results from your US!

LHL: My onc just wanted me to see the RO before surgery because I was wondering about having something implanted during surgery to focus the rads on that spot. A nurse friend had told me about that. The RO said that he didn't think it was a good fit for me though because they would want to radiate the entire breast. Otherwise, I don't think I would have had to see him until after.

KJ: Great idea on having everyone post a pic! Mine was fairly old, but I kept forgetting to post the pic of the eyebrow thing lol. And I crave anything I can taste at this point. Unfortunately that includes all kinds of unhealthy junk food. I really don't know how I am ever going to eat healthy.

I am kind of freaking out. My eyebrows are growing back and they are dark like they were. Same with my hair; it isn't white anymore! I am freaking out because my MO lowered my last two Taxotere doses and I am worrying that maybe they aren't strong ENOUGH now. I guess I should not worry so much since my muscles hurt so bad I could barely walk the last few days. Luckily he let me start my steroids a day early and said I could take them after round #6 too. They help SO much with the muscle pain and I can actually halfway move like I should be able to. I'm not getting passed by 80 year old ladies anyway. Another weird side effect though- this time they changed my neuropathy in my feet from completely numb to tingly? I don't know what one I like less? Weird.

Still waiting to hear from the BS office. I hate not knowing and not having things set up like they should be, especially something as important as this! It will all come together in the way it is supposed to be though, right?

KBeee

Loving all of the pictures! Hockeymommy, great family picture! You look amazing!

No hair growth here yet. Well, I do have a few leg hairs that decided to make their appearance already, so I shaved the overachievers this morning. Nothing on my head yet. It looks like there might be a little white fluff wanting to poke through, but with my luck, it'll all be GRAY to stay!

I am still completely craving fruit; even chocloate does not taste good, and that is one of my 4 food groups. I suppose that's a good thing, so for now, fruit it is. Tea tastes good again too, so I have been making up for lost time.

mercedes60

hello ladies wow wow beautiful pics, you all look so great , yes bald is beautiful, even though we have stubbies, chapped lips, were tired, fed up, wishing food would taste normal, were still here and kicking butt!

Will post some pics asap. xoxo

audra67

Looks like I was behind...have to take my photos in mirror, can't do 'selfies' duh...

I look like a little bald eagle with feathers burnt off too...and white scalp!  I usually have dark hair...

LOVE seeing everyone!  Thank you all for your great support!

I am feeling better physically today and going grocery shopping and then to my ultrasound which I KNOW (hope) is not another cancer but a suture!  Right?!!!

josgirl

Audra, Sending good thoughts for your US. I know my surgery area feels crazy - especially now going through rads.  I just try not to think about it.  I will get a mammo a month after rads and if I still feel weird I will talk to my BS about it (normal 6 month follow up).  I KNOW FOR A FACT that after all we have been through panic and fear is likely to set in more quickly than other folks and the anxiety is high.  Thinking of you and let us know what they say...

Love your cell phone cover

knightzoo

here's my bald selfie! I'm not brave enough to go bald outside by house. I have lots of fuzz that's grown since I buzzed my head in mid Oct. I'm doing an experiment to see if AC makes me lose it My eyes water constantly lately!

I got my surgery date. Feb 3. RO does not want to see me until after.

kjsimpson

Audra and KnightZoo,    you both look great!  Audra, I love the way you do the scarf on your head.  I am lousy at doing that.  KnightZoo, you look younger bald.  ;-)   I think I look 10 years older bald.  You make bald look young!

KBee, I don't know why, but my tastebuds seem off today too.  I was hoping to enjoy the last few days before Round 6, but almost everything is starting to taste gross already.  Except the baby oranges and pringles.  ;-)  Like you, even chocolate tastes 'off'. What's a girl to do without chocolate? 

 

KBeee

Audra, I hope the ultrasound brings reassurance. Any doctor who does not get the anxiety associated wit any lump for any of us probably should be working in a field other than oncology...because obviously they just don't get it. I do not like when doctors think of us as "43 year old female with breast cancer, who's white count is blah blah, who's platelet count is blah blah, who's hemoglobin is blah, blah.". We are people...not numbers, and so many doctors lose that human element. I try to treat everyone of my patients as i would want a family member treated, and I het frustrated when doctors lose sight of the fact that we are people with thoughts and feelings. I don't think med schools focus enough on the emotional side of things...or on things such as nutrition for that matter. OK...i will get off my soapbox now!!!!!!

Great picture, Knightzoo! You look great as well. I am with you...I am bald at home, but I do not venture out and about without something on my head!!!!! That's one reason I suppose I am glad it is winter...and I hope to have some hair by summer!

VintageGal1111

audra67

I hope this will ease your worries some how as you think about it & come to rationalize it.

I had tumor pain, my breast hurt a lot before I had the masses removed. I still have pain, after 4 months & yes I do have my moments of worry that could lead me to get all freaked out. But I know I did have a seroma, fluid build up & occasionally it feels like it is filling up again. I even have pain in my *good* breast, which does scare me enough to be considering a BMX.

We know we shouldn't let ourselves get obsessed & get all anxious but it happens. Hopefully you can work through this. Hang in there! We are warriors here!!!!

VintageGal1111

knightzoo you look fabulous! OMG you Gals have nice shaped heads! I have such a little pin head, looks so bad!

VintageGal1111

audra love your scarf! Since I got a small padded beanie & also a poofy scarf liner I am feeling better about how the scarves & tie back fabric hats look. I needed a padded bra & I need a padded scarf! LOL

VintageGal1111

hockeymommy

awesome pic!!!!!!

Viji

Vintagegal you speak for all of us. I have pain in my breast and scar area and have had it throughout chemo, and you are only human to worry once you have been hit with this disease. So Audra hang in there, we are all with you!

Lovely scarf Audra.

VintageGal1111

josgirl

Nice pic & I like your hat/scarf. Is it jersey fabric? Like a t shirt?

A friend made me a tie back fleece hat which is warm but I saw the soft jersey ones in the TLC catalog & they look nice.

VintageGal

VintageGal1111

I had my 5th Taxol (& Herceptin) today, so *just* 7 more Taxol to go, then it will just be the Herceptin til next December. ...sigh... All went well. I am a lucky one I have always felt good on chemo day, have no issues while in the chair & feel fine after.

For a moment I was a bit down when I realized many of the people I had been seeing there aren't there anymore. Congtas & Good for them they must be done. But I think of how it will be 16 months of treatment for me. The nurses will know me well! LOL

josgirl

Vintage gal - its actually a one piece from chemobeanies.com (I am so not a person capable of tieing a simple scarf so needed the pre-done type!).  I do like it - girly - not usually me but don't want the sirs - got those enough in the Army - with DD breasts and long hair - go figure.

You know I am shocked looking at the chemo forum today - did you know there were 3 chemo groups / months after us already?  The time went fast and while I did not feel my greatest - it did pass.  And so will your next year on Herceptin! Plus I heard it doesn't interfere with you getting your hair back....or have as many side effects...true?

josgirl

So ladies, I started Tamoxifan this weekend...nothing to report yet.  Guess after reading some of these boards I thought I might turn into a raging hormonal monster but so far nothing.  And knock on wood to hope that continues.  And 16/33 rads done.  So far just a little red and weird zings/aches now and then but overall doesn't interfere with my life....so far.

Strength to all of you....

VintageGal1111

josgirl

well your scarf is cute! I like it!

Herceptin affects the heart but I don't think it has nearly the long list of SEs as the other lovely cocktails!

A&C was rough, Taxol isn't bad.

Thanks!

audra67

Josgirl-

you are so nice!  I was born and raised in Washington, lived there til I was 29!!!  I do NOT miss the rain!  But it is SO beautiful!

I do not have pages open so can't remember who addressed my worries and anxiety but I do thank you all sincerely!  I am tired and drained from my worry.....

Knightzoo -

you look beautiful bald!

Vintage gal-

thanks for comments too   You look darling in your scarves too!

My ultrasound showed a mass well defined and blah blah, he said probably a fibroadenoma... my plastic surgeon friend said yes, probably a suture and will dissolve in 6 months...it gets encapsulated by the body....anyhow he said not to worry, so did radiologist, so did oncologist...so why am I still worrying???? He also said recheck in 1 month and if it grows he wants to biopsy it...don't love that...

Went to counselor and glad, will be working on my anxiety...I can't seem to shake it...

hugs to you all!

Art123

great pics ladies. My wife is rocking the wig, hope I can get a nice pic of us during the holidays.

She had her 2nd AC today and is sleeping now. Onc said its down to 0.8 cm. 

LisaSp

Wow, everyone is just beautiful. I mean it, it's so great to see you all, bald or wigged or with hats or scarves. We are definitely all in this together.

Audra, don't worry about feeling like you're freaking out. If I felt another lump I would too. It's nice to have te reassurance it's okay. I've been wondering about the two messages cancer survivors get simultaneously - don't worry too much and live your life; keep a regular check on yourself for anything like a recurrence.

This is me; getting all fancy with the editing app! On the right is me before chemo, lower left is me two weeks after chemo, and top left is a close up of my hair as of today (two months and 10 days after chemo). Grey and weird but coming in!