Starting Chemo in December 2013

charusa

Missy I am so sorry you are going through this again. I will chime in with the others that it is time to see a specialist.

Today I am 5 weeks PFC and 2 weeks post lumpectomy and lymph node removal (15). My surgeon is on a leave and saw another one the other day. He removed the stitches but not the drain. I am still draining over 100m a day and they want it down to about 20m per day. Has anyone kept their drain in for a long time? I questioned him about the numbness in the back of my upper arm and he was like well sometimes that never goes away....this was the surgeon I saw first and didn't jive with and went to one of the other partners so maybe there was just bad juju between us but he has no people skills what so ever. I want to get on with rads so I can finally be finished with all of this. I was hoping to start soon since my house is going to be tented for termites on 9/8 and there is a lot of work to prepare for that plus making accomodations for 2 nights for me and pets. It would have been nice to be done with rads and just go to the KOA campsite with the pets and be able to swim in the pool. No eyebrows or lashes yet, fuzz on my head but nothing really noticiable. No hair growing anywhere else except spotty on my legs. At  least the chin hair isn;t back yet either!!!

RobinLK

Charusa - I had drains in for almost a month, but I also had 2 surgeries during that time. The upper arm stuff is most likely due to the lymph node removal and is a nerve issue. It can be permanent, but not always.

Missy - I agree with seeing the specialist. 

Loving all the pics and updates. Wish I could remember more of them. Did better with that the other day. 

Jodi040812

charusa-  I had drains for 3 weeks.  I also have the numbing on the upper arm.  Some came back, but most did not.  Underarm has no feeling what so ever.  I guess I'll get used to it with time.  For the first month, my right elbow would get red from me scraping it on stuff.  Didn't know bc it was numb!  Still is too:(

jbokland

I was quite the wine drinker prior to this....I have an occasional glass now and get QUITE the buzz!

I am off for my mapping today!

RHGSR

missy- I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this too. I second on the specialist. How are you feeling?

Rad Ladies - I think I remember reading where y'all were using cornstarch? I'm halfway through rads, but I'm starting to burn under my arm and it is really beginning to be painful. RO gave me lidocaine cream to mix with aquaphor. It helped some last night. But I can't put it on again until I get back from rads. Skin is also rubbing there and sticking together which just increases the pain. 

missy6758703

thanks for the support ladies.....i think it is definitely time to see a specialist so will see what i can round up!

I am on rad 13 and i use calundula gel then blow it dry on a cool setting with my blow dryer then use a big makeup brush and cover the area under my boob and under my arm with a light layer of cornstarch.  I have no redness as of yet but sure it will be coming.  My boob is tender and hurts a bit but no redness yet so i figure each day that i can get by without any is a good day.  One note on the cornstarch, it makes a huge mess in the bathroom so put a towel down on the floor before you put it on!   I use the straight out of the baking section 100% pure corn starch.  Its cheap and seems to do the job for me!

Forgot to mention, i had one drain in for one month, it was the axilliary drain.  I also have no feeling under my arm and have begun to think i may not get it back.  Only time will tell the doctors say as so many nerves were cut.

keepthefaith

Hi ladies,

Holli, I used the Cornstarch Baby Powder, to clarify. Not sure if that's what others are referring to. It helped me with the red bumps on my chest and keeping dry at my fold.

I hope you all have a great week-end~

Happy Friday the 13th (with a Full Moon, to boot!)

RHGSR

do you use the cornstarch baby powder on top of the aquaphor or lotion?

missy6758703

I don't use Aquafor, just the calandula gel. and i put the cornstarch on after that dries.

keepthefaith

Holli, I never used it where I had put calendula lotion, but it probably doesn't matter, like Michelle said. 

RHGSR

is that the cream from California Baby?

Jodi040812

so watching this convo!!  My RO said nada on it until he says:(. I am guessing Holli the cornstarch does not go on the aquaphor.  It would make a paste-  which reminds me... I know you will get this because we are about same age lol!

Ross making the paste with the leather pants on Friends!  I could only imagine one of us doing this and getting stuck in a bra lol!

Today- I have a slight upset tummy maybe indigestion?  Not bad enough to pinpoint it but off.  My chest wall in the center is getting mega hits since the cancer stayed there after chemo.  Went down so much but still a little left.  Could rads cause some tummy issues?  3 down and we have settled in nicely.  Took the girls to swim again today.  My mom is coming tomorrow and Cliff will head home.  This should be good for my mom. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since we lost dad.  People said that 2 weeks is when it gets hard.  I do know that I have been having trouble fall asleep for the past three nights thinking of him.  And, unfortunately, the way he looked at the funeral.  Awful!  He didn't look like him at all to me.  Which is good in a way but now kind of haunts me a bit.  Starting to sink in that he is gone forever not off working.  Hope I can help my mom.  We have plenty to keep is busy with my rads, and therapy, kids and fun stuff to do around town.  Speaking of:). Here's a pic of Ellison enjoying the waterfall at the pool. 

RHGSR

Jodi- I loved Friends!! Totally remember that episode. Ha ha! Great visual!!

Ellison looks like she is having so much fun. 

Crazywabbit

Jody, rads should not cause any abdominal pain.  If you are getting the  supraclavicular nodes radiated it can nip a bit of the esophagus.   I was getting some heartburn like symptoms but  in my lower neck, took tums and better, RO said it was probable related to the SC RT. He advised cont as needed  tums if they work or else some OTC Prilosec.   I thought it was coming from the Internal mamm. LN RT but he said the way the IMRT field goes it does not hit the esophagus at all there. I get 10 zaps, some at least 30 + seconds, from 8 different positions. One even up from my back at shoulder level that hits the supra clavicular nodes. That one is quick, about 10 sec.

Today was 11/33 yippee 1/3 done.  Only pink area is just the medial clavicular area. My RO also said noting on the skin unless they tell you to start something and then I t would be aquaphor.  I also have a small dish of pure cornstarch that I dip a finger in and pat under the nipple and under the breast. 

Funny the RO said that olive skinned people who tan well tend to get the worst burning and fair skinned who burn in the sun do better.  Of course I am in the middle. 

Enjoy the beautiful summer weekend everyone. 

missy6758703

Jodi I had to laugh out loud at that memory of that Friends episode! What my RO has advised me to use and it seems to be working really well is a gel called Califlora, it is a Calendula gel made out of marigolds.  Unlike a lotion that does not dry, this gel dries and then i put a layer of cornstarch on over it.  I am 13 sessions in and no redness at all.  I put on this gel and cornstarch two times a day.  Funny how all of our RO's seem to have a little different way of doing things.  

Hope your tummy starts to feel better.  The pool pictures are wonderful.  Its cold here today in North Dakota so that looks heavenly! 

I'm going to see the movie tonight "the fault in our stars".......i'll probably be a bawling mess like i was when i read the book!

Happy Friday to all..........

Michelle

RHGSR

Jodi- so sorry again about your dad. Finding a "new normal" is hard enough after cancer without having the loss of a loved one added to it. I'm glad you and your mom will be together during this time. 

Jodi040812

Barbara- I think you are right!  That internal one is probably causing some heartburn like you said. When they zap there, the machine is angled to my left and they put on attachments to the machine.  Reminds me of an old time camera with the pull cord.  That zap and then change the attachment to a different on and zap me dead center in the chest.  It rotates to over my right shoulder too and zaps me from underneath.  They also do the regular breast area and scar area first.    How is the middle of your chest holding up?  Wondering if that is going to get it the worse.  Lots of stuff happening right there which I am so so thankful for!

Holli and Missi-  I can reference any Friends episode and Seinfeld lol!  

Crazywabbit

rest of the chest and breast are OK so far. The nipple is getting tender but not red, yet. The lumpectomy/ wide excision  took about 1/3 of the breast and now rads will probably shrink it some more. I think I will be very lopsided  when this is all done.  Just going to have to put a sock in it I guess.  Happy to have two days off to heal a bit. 

Nevere got into  Friends so much but I think I have seen every Seinfeld episode. 

RobinLK

Today was rad #14 and I will have Monday off. They need to rework the plan to move it down a bit to take away the pain from my throat. It hurts to swallow.  Will resume rads on Tuesday.

Also got tired of waiting for hair to darken/color. Bought a box, color was darker on box than it turned out on my head. Not used to looking at the lighter end of the color choices on the box. LOL! Was supposed to be auburn....

Jodi040812

Robin-  looks great anyway!!!  I am still bald.  I have that white stuff coming up.  Y'all said week 5, so I am holding on to that.  That will be next Wednesday and 6 days after.  If nothing happens, I am gonna cry!  

Eyebrows are coming in, but not leg hair like I thought or the other hair at all.  Lashes are growing.  

Ok, so in between my breast definitely is bugging me;(. Only rad 3, maybe it will toughen up.  DH knows that doctor said put nothing on it until he says.  So, DH leaves tomorrow and I am putting on that aquaphor!  I mean that is what the dr is going to say anyway!!!  It was on the handout packet.  I am tempted to get up now and put some on in the bathroom!  Closet aquaphor lol!  

chicopeach57

I want to play in the waterfall too!  Ellison looks like she is having too much fun.  Jodi, put a lot of pics of your Dad when he was healthy around.

Robin, love the color.  

I'm 7 weeks PFC and barely have any hair.  Have the white fuzzy stuff with some dark stuff coming in. My hair was a medium brown with lots of white that I colored red.  This looks a lot darker.  The eyebrows have a dark 5 o'clock shadow, I can see my eyelashes in the sun . But the moustache hairs are doing really well

I am burning like hell.  Have a bad rash with it too.  Monday they start with a new plan, targeting the scar area, hopefully it will give the shoulder, clavicular area a break.  They gave me SilverMed, will go looking for some calendula gel today, might as well try something different.

The hospital network that I am using is having a special day for their cancer patients and a guest, tickets to the Braves game tonight, a picnic lunch, t-shirts and a parade on the field.  Only had to pay for parking.  It will be fun, my first cancer event though, I'll need to bring tissue.

jbokland

Robin! Color looks great!  I will be walking down the aisle with my very short white bunny fur in a few weeks.  ( at least I will match my dress! LOL)

Had my mapping yesterday. Will probably need to deflate on side  and have another one. Tattoos are done...

keepthefaith

Robin, the color looks great on you!

DJJ, got the "Fuzz Off" for my "whiskers" and it worked great! What a relief to get rid of it!

Hang in there with the rads, ladies. It is a pain, I know.

chico, sounds like a fun time! 

jodi, I hope this week-end isn't too difficult for you.

Went for lunch with a friend yesterday and she complimented my "hair", but what are friends for?!:)

Crazywabbit

Robin I think the color looks cute, I am envious of all your hair and eyebrows !!!   Mine is still too thin on top to go uncovered other the around the house. Still see scalp showing through.  My eyebrows are just barely starting to get some white fuzz. 

Jody point out the area on monday day to the techs, I am sure they will allow aquaphor if it is getting sore. Enjoy the weekend with the kids. Glad your Mom is staying. Good for both of you. 

Chicopeach , are you getting the boosts stating Monday? What a nice outing the hospital is sponsoring. ENjoy it. 

JB. People will be too busy looking at your beaming smile to notice the hair. Those little tattoos hurt like the dickens, esp over the sternum. The reckon used a green sharpie on Friday to dot mine darker and circle the one on the top of my breast. Now they really look weird. 

Keepthefaith - friends are soooo good at keeping our spirits up. 

Lisaj514

Hi all from cape cod! My eyebrows and lashes are coming in and I am so glad as I hated that "blank" look. have to darken eyebrows quite bit though as pretty sparse and pale and remember not to rub or else I look like I only have one. Realized that the other day when I looked on the mirror and I was lopsided. Matches my chest I guess. My head hair is coming in slowly and more on the top than sides, still,not much though and still looking pretty bald. It is so soft though, feels kind of cool. It's cool here but humid today and the rad breast just started feeling itchy and is slightly red. Skin is sticky from the weather, (everything always feels damp here) so put on some cornstarch powder and will take a rest while free boobing (no bra just thin t shirt). I'm also not comfortable  going without a bra but for different reasons than many of you, I am so small, barely B with L smaller than R and kind of saggy. Always wore a padded push up bra. Oh boy...our trials and tribulations of BC :-(. I could never even have imagined what this was going to be like. Hoo humm

My great  niece and nephew are here also ages 4 1/2 and 2 and they have not seem me bald yet. Just with scarves and hats. The 4 1/2 yr old has not asked why I am wearing a scarf on my head all the time. Wonder what he would say or how I'd approach it. I was thinking of telling him that my hair fell out because I didn't eat my vegetables...(but that would be just mean I think lol). I also thought I'd tell him that I liked his haircut so much I decided to get one just like him (they buzz his head in the summer). I'm sure he'd be fine. Hoping for warmer, sunnier weather the next few days, have my SPF shirt, wide brimmed hat, uv buff, 50 SPF sunscreen, beach umbrella etc

Crazywabbit

Lisa enjoy your time off and away from all things cancer..

keepthefaith

lisa, yes, enjoy your time away! My 5 yr old grandson did not like my short hair at all when I showed it to him. He covered his eyes. I finally started going without a scarf around him and he is fine. I told him I had to take a certain kind of medicine and it made my hair come out. The other day, he rubbed my head and said "it's getting long,  though!" Love that little boy! He's such a sweetie:).

Lisaj514

robin, your hair looks good, it is crazy thick! Lucky! Although I'm sure you didn't think so before

Jodi, hope the girls continue ue to have fun. Who cares how noisy they are if it's them having fun. They so deserve it and it's great for you to see them adjusting and enjoying. Kids are so resilient! We have to learn from them

Barb and keepthefaith, thanks we will have a good time. Haven't shown the 4 1/2 yr old great nephew my hair/head yet. I think he will laugh. Heading to the beach tomorrow. Need to smell that salty air. 

Have a good evening all

RHGSR

I am now burning under my arm. It is so odd to me because I haven't had any feeling under my right arm since surgery. Couldn't even feel temperature changes (like deodorant being cold). Maybe I'm feeling this because it is from the inside out?? Not sure.

Under my right arm is black ... Almost like it is charred. On Wednesday the doctor called in lidocaine cream to mix with the aquaphor I've been applying. It offers minimal help, well, it makes it semi tolerable. Supposedly the next step is oral pain meds. I've taken one to help me sleep but I don't want to have to take these every night and especially not during the day.

My concern is that while the pain/discomfort is tolerable now, I still have 16 more treatments to go...

RobinLK

I am not sure what is going on with that Holli. I have not heard of anyone's skin turning black. Has your RO seen this change? I would be freaking out...no lie...