Starting Chemo March 2015

ksusan

I spent the night in Lincoln City. No whales, but we did see a fox on the way out, sea lions, cormorants, oystercatchers, a kingfisher, and various ducks.

Jackbirdie

sea lions and oystercatchers good! Hope it was nice and cool for you

eheinrich

I know we've talked about chemo face before but mine is getting worse. The internet says tamox can cause increased face hair. Anyone one else noticing this? If it was just from chemo it shouldn't be suddenly getting worse, right? Caught myself in just the right (or wrong) lighting today and almost started crying.

Jackbirdie

E- I can't help except to give you a hug. Did you get any additional steroids with surgery?

I think at this point I would call the MO and the derm. For some reason I've been spared this wholly frustrating SE.

eheinrich

oh, I was on 6 days of steroids after I had that crazy reaction to the adm! I HOPE HOPE HOPE that's it. It's actually a bit curly on one side. Very attractive.

Italychick

are they dark or light? If dark, go get them zapped or pluck them. The blonde ones I kind of "trim" because I hear my great aunt's voice in my head saying if you shave they come back black. Probably not true, but just in case. The black ones I pluck. Thinking about going to get laser treatment done if they don't subside. I hate them

eheinrich

They are blonde and gross.

eheinrich

Chin, toe and knuckle hairs came in dark though.

ksusan

I shaved them (because there were too many to pluck) and now all I have is my normal overactive facial hair.

eheinrich

I'm afraid to shave them.

eheinrich

I'm having a hard time scanning the active topics. There are a number of recurrence threads that make me sad/scare me. I don't read them usually but just that they active makes me uncomfortable.

It's been an off day. Blech.

KBeee

I shaved my white face fur and it came back once white. I shaved it again and it has not returned.

Allison, I am in the room for 15 minutes, but most of that is for positioning. I get 7 zaps ranging from 7 seconds to 30 seconds. The techs adjust things at the beginning, remove things at the end, and come in 3 additional times to position the table, move the wedge, position the bolus, move the bolus, etc. I know it is pathetic to know the pattern and count seconds of each, but it distracts me from reality. They change the order on x Ray days. That messed with my mind the first time!!!

Italychick

Eileen, I block a lot of those forums. In fact, I block all scary forums. I feel bad for people, but I just don't want the constant reminders.

Just spent weekend with granddaughter no. 2 (1 year old) and turned her over to her Aunt. Now for some downtime - a 1 year old takes a lot of energy! But was fun.

ksusan

I block some forums and topics, put my "safe" threads in My Favorite Topics, and have a rule not to read the Active Topics later than noon because I start feeling too negative. Also, I hate that the tab at the top says "Active Breast Cancer Topics," which makes me see "active breast cancer" rather than "active topics."

littleblueflowers

That's really smart. It's either that or unplug my internet...apparently mental health Takes work. Who knew?!

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Hi All,

We would really like to put together a slide show showing all your faces to show the amazing diversity of our community, reaching around the world. Please share with us here https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/135/topic..., or PM us. We may also present this at our annual fundraiser in October. THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED SOMETHING!

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IndyGal35

As requested, here is the bracelet. I'll take another pic before I send it along with my addition:

If it makes you feel any better, Karen, I count the number and seconds of each zap too. It makes me feel more in control.

Italychick

Awesome! But now everybody needs to tell us what charms they put on there and why. I see a few I don't know the story behind, or maybe I missed it on the forum. Like the truck and the dog? And I can't make out what's above the dog, looks like two monkeys!

ksusan

That's Tutti! You March women rock!

KBeee

Lee, I think it is a control thing with me too!!!!

Italychick

oh haha, she is upside down. Now I see her!

jumbledbamboo

My stupid eye is all jacked up. It has been red and gooey since chemo started. Not constantly but this combined with the fact its on the side of my face that is still affected by the stroke. OH MY GOSH! Droopy, goopy, red eyed, not beauty. Glad it only droops sometimes these days:(

ksusan

How frustrating! Do you have a sense of whether this is chemo-related or something else? It sounds annoying.

jumbledbamboo

it's most likely chemo. I need to go to my neuro-opthamologist it's the right eye. But I got hair!

ksusan

That's some fine hair!

jumbledbamboo

Got the stink eye there lol

jumbledbamboo

Thank you!

Italychick

jumbledbamboo it will start growing like crazy now! People say Herceptin can slow hair growth but I haven't seen any signs of it, and I think I am halfway done.

Meme117

The bracelet is so awesome, I miss it!!

I'm watching Ms America and these women are stunning but yikes for some of their Q & A session.

Tomorrow I'm headed to the Y for their Thrive program, it's free for cancer patients. It's a 12 week fitness program with a personal trainer. Looking forward to doing something other than walking.

This week I've been a terrible eater, definitely too many carbs and chocolate. What do you think is the best way to improve eating habits? Journal, diet app?

ksusan

Any kind of tracking improves eating behaviors (because it improves awareness and intention). It needs to be a way of tracking that works for you, or you won't do it.