Starting Chemo in December 2013

Crazywabbit

Michelle, I just came back from the dollar store where I bought a little personal fan to blow air in my face when I have those damn hot flushes. About 4 inches big and blows just enough to cool my face and head.

Off to # 20 RT, doctor day so extra time for Xrays and Doc visit. I am going to ask about my boost, where and how they are doing them. 

Crazywabbit

Holli, so sorry your axilla is so bad and your boost will go there also. I specifically asked my RO today about the boost, Just to the surgical bed which in my case if the nipple areas and lower breast. None to axilla. Same linear accelerator as I am using now, just a more concentrated area of RT, I guess it is the same dose but all in one place rather then spread out over the whole breast. was your tumor in the outer part of the breast close to the axilla?

Healing thoughts to all the RT women with skin issues.

Jodi040812

Does Aquaphor help with itching or ust redness?  My dr just patched it, but I really want to put some on it to help.  It is itching through the patch.  New week, new hair growth pic.  Going to make a video of all my hair growth weeks to help others who are curious down the road.  Kind of like my FB page, I am trying to be open about it all in case someone is looking online one day.  You never know!  I think we have people who read our board and never post too.  Hope we are helping them now and into the future if someone pulls up this board years from now;) 

Hope everyone is doing good today!!

DJJ

Is anyone else getting restless legs since chemo?  It just started a couple of weeks ago.  It's at night or in the evening when I sit down after moving around all day.  I'm hoping it's because I'm on my feet more instead of sitting on my chemo butt and my legs are getting tired. 

Crazywabbit

DJJ, your legs are telling you that you need to get out on those dates and DANCE! 

Really, no problems with Restless leg. 

RobinLK

I had RLS prior to chemo. It is nerve related and I still have it. One of the pre-meds I received on Taxol caused it to really act up. A new lady at the MO center was just complaining about it last week. She also had it prior. Not sure why you would be experiencing it out of the blue.... Have seen some posts about tamoxifen and neuropathy being linked to RLS. Just Dr. Googled 

jbokland

Ive gotten 3 compliments on my ridiculously short 'haircut' this week.  Lol. I'm still pretty bald on top.  I guess I don't look as much like a cancer patient, just a lady that's fashion forward.  😀 

kjfromca

Good morning ladies,

Michelle - My monkey brain was thinking about your situation this morning.  I would want to actually talk with some people who are currently taking the drug.  I know for bc patients it's a trial, so you wouldn't be able to with that group.... but the other people dealing with different cancers might be worth trying to contact via an online board.   I have incorporated a holistic internal medicine doctor in my wellness plan.   I feel like it gives me some control over my future....  I understand the fear and not wanting to deal with this shit again, we all do.  Sending a hug your way..... coming to SD in July for a family reunion.  How far is Sioux Falls from Minot?

Jodi - Aquaphor doesn't help with itching, but cortisone cream does.  Great idea to document your hair growth.  I don't know if you remember, but I was freaking out that my hair wasn't growing fast enough.  Still isn't growing as fast as I want it to....

Oranje - Jeez how old are your radiation techs?  The immature little shits..... 

Jbokland - It told you, you look great with platinum blond hair.

I need to go walking, have a great day ladies

Kim

Lisaj514

DJJ, how's your neuropathy? Maybe the RLS is related to that. Do you still have pain in your feet? My feet are hurting me, I'd call it aching and joint pain in my toe joints. Mostly in morning or after sitting for a while. Good luck with your dates! Work it girl!

Also ladies, I'm getting lots of bumps on my thighs, upper arms, low back. Thinking its new hair growth finally trying to return causing bumps. No bumps at rad site but I have a lot of sun damage on the skin in my chest. Wishing we could pick where the hair returns. It was nice having such smooth legs, too bad it was in the winter.

There were done other things I wanted to comment on a page back...but I forgot and don't want to loose my current post.

I had rad 15/34 today. Skin below axilla, side of boob is hypersensitive when I brush along it with my hand or if bra lays there but not really red or pink and is not dry or peely. Is this how it starts? Using aquaphor and/or calendula ointment and cornstarch to keep dry. Just wear tshirt without bra when home.One benefit of being small chested, there's not much of a fold underneath.  I'm getting tired of this already and I'm not even half way yet

Oh ya, oranje, great job with the swimming! Love to hear swimming stories...I get it.  You put aquaphor on before going in the pool. How does it affect your suits? Do you wash it out or figure you will just get rid of those competitive suits after rads are over. I'm not a competitive swimmer, (my kids are/were), but we have an in ground pool. I don't want to ruin my suits (regular tankini tops)or SPF tshirt I wear outside and will wear in pool

J4DC

hi, ladies, haven't been posting for a while, but read all yours. You are amazing ladies and this is such a great supporting group! I am thinking of you all the time.

Holli, sending you many hugs and i hope it gets better soon.

I can't believe I only have two more rads to go. Start the last five boosts this wed. My skin gets itching and painful after boosts but holds fine. It's really brown and red. What can possibly go wrong, right? I like to put the 100% aleo Vera gel on the treatment area. It's not as greasy as aquaphor and seems work for me.  

Have a great weekend!

keepthefaith

j4dc-good to hear from you. Wow, nice that you are almost to the finish line! I hope your recovery goes well!

lisa, I had some sensitive areas also, but it didn't lead to peeling, etc. My nipple area was super-sensitive. It did peel eventually, but I don't think they go hand in hand, if that makes sense. It was like anything that came in contact was painful. Nothing severe, but annoying. 

Holli, I hope things are getting better for your skin.

I used cornstarch baby powder for bumps and itching. I wanted dryness...it doesn't give you a lot of itch relief, but kind of calms it down. 

Have a great week-end, ladies! 

oranje_mama

Hi Lisa, yes, my swimsuit will be going in the trash once I'm done with this.  I figured a relatively small price to pay.   We're on the same schedule.  Just finished #15 of 33.  My boob is pink, nipple is very sensitive.  Also the area around the scar/lumpectomy site is sensitive.  I use a Calendula lotion every morning, and the Weleda Calendula cream every night. The aquaphor I put on just before swimming and wash it off as soon as I'm done swimming.  I'm also using Robin's (or was it Missy's?) trick of putting on pure corn starch with a makeup brush under the boob along the fold after applying the Calendula lotion in the AM.  So far, no bumps or itching.

We're about to take off for the mountains (blue ridge VA).  We'll be leaving our kids with my parents for the week.  Never done this before.  House is going to feel so (gloriously!) empty!  I'm sure I'll miss them eventually but  . . . I think we're going to enjoy this!

Lisaj514

thanks oranje, I don't want to get rid of my suits (tankini tips) as they are new so don't really want to get the aquaphor on them. I'm using calendula clear gel, or aquaphor at night or after rad treatment but not before swimming. I only dip in the pool now, not spending a lot of time in, dry off then come in to rinse off. Wish we had an outside shower like we did at the cape! My scars (the real lx scar at 2:00, under arm arm and the "mistake" scar at 12:00) are also sensitive and seem to be more indented. Actually the wrong site surgery scar is more sensitive and indented which makes me mad! You guys remember my story? Nurse said probably from skin tightening and also swelling in breast which will make the scar look more indented

Enjoy the blue ridge mtns!! And your time away to regroup, connect and heal

RobinLK

Missy's trick! I have only one breast and it is not being treated. No need for cornstarch. Thankfully my skin is holding up really well. 22/30 done...last 5 will be boosts and doing my sim on Monday for that plan. PT has been wonderful. Only 3 sessions and ROM is making huge improvements. I knew I had lost some ROM, but to go from 88 degrees to 41 degrees was surprising. 2/3 ROM measurements were that drastic. Happy I spoke up!

missy6758703

Glad you are using the makeup brush tip for the cornstarch! It works well! I have 5 more rads left! Can't hardly wait as my boob is so tender and sore!

Had a great weekend away with one of my best friends.....a lot of you may have seen the pictures on Facebook, but will share here as well!

Michelle

DJJ

Lisa, I still have slight neuropathy in my feet and hands.  Mostly burning every now and again and standing on my feet to long starts to bother me.  My aches ache less and less so I'm hoping its just part on my healing process.  I see my MO in three weeks and will ask her about it then.  I also got the bumps all over, my head too, as my hair was growing in.  They weren't noticeable but I could feel them.  

I had a great weekend in Ocean City with friends.  More and more I'm noticing differences in myself.  We went to karaoke and I sang, "Like a Virgin" among many others with my friends.  Before cancer I would have been "Oh no, I can't go up there I can't carry a tune"...after cancer..."give me the mike".  Before cancer I would have never jumped in the ocean fully clothed at 130am after drinking all night.  After cancer.....I tore down the beach screaming "FUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKK CAAAAANNCER!!!" and dove in head first.  I'm starting to understand the good things that have come out of this.  I'm having so much more fun, I'm enjoy the people in my life, cutting those out that aren't worth my time and best of all I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK!

Rad 20/30 today.  Thursday is my last full breast and then my poor nipple will at least get a break.  I have not been wearing a bra.  Just a tight tank top with a loose blouse.  I just walk a little slower at work so I'm not jiggling down the hallway :-)  It's really not that bad without a bra. 

kjfromca

Michelle - You and I have the same hair cut.... LOL  Love your pics, I have never been to ND and the location of where you visited looks so pretty and green.  

DJJ - I love to laugh and I love to listen to people who can't sing, sing karaoke.   Keep putting yourself out there and have fun.  

Lisa - I must say, you have the most interesting hair coming in.  When your racing strip gets a little longer, you can mohawk it.  

Keeping you ladies in my prayers.  

Kim

Lisaj514

Michelle, love your pictures no matter how many times I see it! Your picture makes me happy. Hope you're doing well. Winding down rads this week I think? No boosts? why?

DJJ, love your story and the change in attitude, it's beautiful!

#16 today, 18 left with the last 8 or 9 being boosts. He said because of my TN and margins being 3 and 5 mm is why he is doing 34 and 8 or 9 boosts. I thought my margins were fine according to my surgeon, RO made it seem like it was narrow. He doesn't really do anything when I see him. Just asks me how I'm feeling and how the skin is. Today I told him it is hypersensitive but not red and then he looked at it briefly. Nurse suggested to use nursing pads over the hypersensitive areas so my bra doesn't rub. I have been putting in small pieces of flannel between bra edges and skin and that seems to help but nursing pads are a good idea too. Anxious and dreading skin problems, it's like waiting for the sh*t to hit the fan, I do have 18 left, sooo praying nothing more but may not be so lucky. He said there is nothing you can do to prevent but still using calendula and aquaphor hoping that will help

 Weepy day yesterday. I get so hot in the sun and then get so tired and drained and I hate it and then start thinking what I have been through and that I still have 4 weeks left which seems like forever, and I'm so tired of this and tired in general... You know and then the gerbil wheel (aka monkey brain) starts going. Need to shut it down! My hair is growing but not fast enough, but you all will be proud of me that I am starting to go without covering now. Went to yoga without, but can't do restaurants mostly because they are so overly air conditioned, also the grocery store is cold so not there either as my hair is so sparse. I can actually can put on mascara now and use my eyelash curler. Racing stripe still present but getting a little thicker on top. Eyelashes are coming in dark and thicker than before I think!

Decided to start picking up some home care patients for work this week. I work for a home care company per diem meaning that I pick up the overflow of patients that the full time occupational therapist can't do. There are about 4 per diem OT's. I told the therapy director I am ready (I think) and she offered me a new patient close to my home. Don't want to go into a new pts home with a bald head (mostly!) or scarves as I don't want to have to explain it to them or family members. Will prob wear my wig I think until I have more of a really short hair "style". Just processing my thoughts here girls! Love that I can do that here.

chicopeach57

Last week I thought one of the radiation techs said my last one is tomorrow, that they added one.  Got there today and it was my last one.  I am done!  Peace out.  I got weepy, on the way home I sobbed, have cried for an hour.  What a relief, hard to believe it is over, can't believe what I have been through.  No more daily or weekly assaults on my body, just healing.  Except for deporting on the 10th. 

This motherfxcker cancer isn't coming back, not going to get a new one either, I am so over cancer , for you DJJ.  

I feel so much tension leaving, muscles relaxing, didn't even realize how much I have been carrying around.

Thank you all for helping and being there, wouldn't have wanted to do this without you.

Love you all.

missy6758703

HIP HIP HORRAY for being done Chico!!!!! We are all celebrating with you, and go ahead and cry! but know now they are happy tears and tears of new beginnings and putting the past behind you! I'm sure I will be the same next Monday on my last one!

What a journey we have been on..........a year ago we were all just living our normal lives, enjoying the summer, doing what we needed to be doing.....we were LIVING! and then...come Fall, each and every one of our lives were changed forever.  Now its time for us to reclaim our lives with new purpose and meaning...Nobody ever knows this road we have been walking on the last 8 or 9 months but us that have been there. 

I'm so proud of each and every one of us. 

love to you all as well...

RHGSR

congratulations Chico!! Cry away. From what I've read that's the normal (ha, as if any of this is normal) reaction to the end of treatment.  Someone on here (forgive me for not remembering who - can I still claim chemo brain?) always says "tears make room for strength". That's what we all will be doing in the coming months - building back our strength and our lives. 

Missy- great pictures. I love your zest!! You finishing rads on the 7th? My last one is on the 8th. I'm right there with ya!!

Anyone having phase 2 of reconstruction (and 3 at least for me) after rads? 

aff

Congratulations, Chico!!!!!

I call this the triathlon, for me chemo, surgery, radiation. 2 down...1 to go. I meet my RO on Thursday and should be on my way with the final leg. 

I have so much admiration and respect for all of you.

jbokland

Been off for several days as I had my wedding! Such a wonderful celebration AND I came away with a major beauty tip!

My white hair was still sparse on the top of my head, the girl who came to do my makeup brought an aerosol can of dry shampoo.  She sprayed it in my hair and it remained as a white powder and filled in my hair!!!  If you have white hair, this will work for you too!  This shows a before and after

RHGSR

missy- you made me think about what I was doing this time last year. For the 4th we went to the city park for their fireworks display. My son was almost 17 months. I was so tired. I kept thinking I needed to exercise more. Little did I know then that in weeks I would feel a "clogged milk duct" in my right breast. And then be diagnosed about 3 months later. Wow. That seems like lifetimes ago. 

RHGSR

jbokland- Big Congrats!! You look beautiful. 

oranje_mama

congratulations jodi & chico!

I too went "topless" for the first time this weekend.  We went for a hike, and it was just way too hot for the buff.  I got a few stares, and my older daughter was not enthusiastic at first, but she got over it.  Both of my DDs love to rub my "fuzzy" head. I still look more "cancer patient" than "edgy hairstyle" but I'm getting there . . .

Lisaj514

Chico, I can feel your emotion in your words and have shed a tear for you...for all of us.

I was the one who said, "every tear you shed leaves room for strength to enter". My son actually made this for me with my quote on it

Jbokland, congrats on your wedding. You look beautiful. What a journey you both have been on this past year but it says something about your commitment and love towards each other that you made it to this day.

Oranje, I'm also looking forward to the day when I have that edgy short hairstyle. I'm getting g there too. Here's my recent pics, 10 wks PFC today. I seem to be obsessed with taking pictures of myself lately. So excited to be looking more and more like myself and my DD friend said I should keep it "short". Well not this short I guess. And my eyebrows and eyelashes...welcome back!! I've missed you so! Still sporting the racing stripe Mohawk thing but it's getting thicker with a little more dark I think

Love you girls!

missy6758703

Jbokland........... you both look absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! Congratulations to you and may you have a LONG lifetime of love and happiness!! 

Lisa, love the hair coming in! Mine is coming in curly for crying out loud......not nice wavy curls....oh no, kinky curls.  It's not good. Ugh.  I never had curls in my life!!! I try and tame it, so far not having much luck! 

I found out today why i am not getting the boosts.  My RO said that my coverage area is so complete that he feels there isn't a need for additional areas to be targeted.  Good I guess?  My implant will be done the beginning of November as well as the removal of my right breast.  I also got a call today from Mayo Clinic about the Survivorship program.  That word sounds good, huh? Survivor..............yep, i like the sound of that! 

Going out to eat with my parents that are here from Texas......not sure what I'll do when they leave and i have to start cooking again!

Michelle

aff

jbokland - congratulations! You look beautiful!!!

Lisaj514

Michele, I always had curly hair so that would be typical for me. Straight would be unusual for me, what would I do with straight hair? Embrace the curls, don't fight them. Use a good curly hair gel, and scrunch (if there is enough to do that, probably not but that's the idea). I use (used) devacurl products, shampoo without sulfates (the stuff that makes shampoo sudsy), "no poo shampoo" and devacurl angel. Oh I could help you with that curl! Don't brush it, just finger it. Can't wait to do that with my hair. Used to hate it but now since using the right products, getting a curly hair haircut with the right technique, and styling it correctly I have learned to love it. I'm assuming the curls won't last for you as I've heard most women return to their hair prior but until then be gentle with it, be gentle with yourself (as my yoga teacher says) and embrace this time with curls :-) . Congrats on no boosts...I wish but I still have 4 weeks left. Scheduled to finish on 7/25...that's like forever. I be having 8 or 9 boosts but remember I'm TN so they are throwing everything at me even though it's a stage 1

It's interesting how so many of you girls are from Texas or mid west. Where are the central ny girls?Jbokland I remember that you are from Saratoga, right?

Chico, the fact that you weren't prepared for the last rad day probably made it more emotional when you   were done. All the sudden, it's there, finished :-) still so happy for you!

Hoping to hear this week if I got into the casting for recovery retreat for sept for my region (it will be in PA)