April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2015

    I've been saying this for about a decade now, but, like the author, no one seems to believe me:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/upshot/no-you-do-not-have-to-drink-8-glasses-of-water-a-day.html?_r=0

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2015

    Addie, So glad you have just one left. Sooooo close!

    KSusan, Yahoooooo for finishing rads. I met with a friend locally who went through BC 8 months after my first go-round with it. She was telling me her rads horror stories, which sound like my friend who just finished. Apparently my RO hits younger ladies like us who need it very aggressively. I am thankful for that yet fearful of it all at the same time.

    DH had a melanoma removed in 2011...2 years before my first diagnosis. So yes, our kids have parents who BOTH had cancer in their 40s. Sigh.

    Calling the dermatologist has been on my "list". I guess I'll move it up the list a bit.

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  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited August 2015

    I just called the Derm - the nurse was like "oh yeah, you definitely are coming in here more often - let me ask her how soon you should e seen" so thanks for that heads up!!!

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    Kbee- my RO told me horror stories himself. He seems like the type who a) treats us youngsters agressivly (he's the only one who looks me in the eye and says "worry about secondary cancers in 10-20 years, because you WILL be alive to get them) and B) just refuses to sugar coat. On the plus side, he seems confident he can treat any skin issue that arises, up to and including me being non-compliant on the running issue. However, I do have an appointment to look at a gym tonight- see what my options are for minimizing armpit chafing. If I can get a good workout on a stair climber, I will be ok with it.

    Princess, get thee to a dermatologist! Stat! All of us should go pretty soon!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    My MO sent me to a dermatology appointment before I moved over to radiation. Good stuff.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    April women, Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book (6th Ed.) will be available this week. If, like me, you have the previous edition and were scared out of your mind by out-of-date information, you may want to take a look at the new one. Remember that in the time it takes to update and publish a book, some of the information has already gone stale.

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  • Positive_spirit
    Positive_spirit Member Posts: 218
    edited August 2015

    Sigh...I have been thinking about seeing a dermatologist. That just got moved higher up on my list, right next to my colonoscopy. Argh!!


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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    There's something grimly pleasing about knowing you're as checked-over as you can get.

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  • Rpayton
    Rpayton Member Posts: 235
    edited August 2015

    Yep making my appointment for the derm too. I go once a year to get things checked over. I figure I'll book now and get in after radiation. My dad has had melanoma so probably a matter of time for me too. And I need the dreaded colonoscopy and upper GI before the end of the year. My grandma died of colon cancer so I started the colonoscopy screening at age 40, had a 2nd at age 45, and now after BC was told to do every 2-3 years. Wondering how I am ever going to get back to working as it is a full time job with Dr appointments and procedures. Errrghh


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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    rpayton, right??! Gah

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  • Alibeths
    Alibeths Member Posts: 656
    edited August 2015

    rads making me so exhausted. I barley napped during chemo. Now I am napping daily

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  • GingerChi
    GingerChi Member Posts: 252
    edited August 2015

    Hi all...getting caught up on the past week's posts. So happy for those who are finished with or have moved on to the rads phase of treatment. Big hugs to you all!

    mamajen: Your pictures are beautiful! The one of you and your daughter is absolutely heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. So many emotions in your face. You did it!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

    Lynne: How is the deportation site feeling? Hope better!

    Fran: Hooray for the new boobs, glad you are healing well!! Also happy to hear that you're tolerating Herceptin. Hope your son's transition to college goes well...its a very bittersweet time for sure. Hang in there mamma!

    Littleblue, so sorry to hear about the fires and the loss of the firefighters....and that your husband had to go through that. The story made the local news down here...such a tragedy. Prayers for their family, and yours! And I hope the intrusive ppl will leave you alone!!

    Andrea, I hope the the time at your mom's will work out and you don't have to clobber her b/friend. Sorry headaches are still bothering you!!

    Positive; Good luck with your new business! When does it open???? The past couple of years have had their share of turmoil for you...here's to 2016 being a MUCH better year!

    ksusan, CONGRATS on finishing rads!!!!!! And your hair is fab!!!

    Steph, love your pic...so glad you had a nice time out! You look so happy, you deserved such an awesome day!!

    Dizz, glad you had a smooth trip this time, hope everything goes great for you!

    Kbee, wow, what a schedule you have! It makes me tired just thinking of it. I hope you get it sorted and still find some time to rest!

    Renee, My nails were splitting on the ends, and I was getting hangnails...and the tea tree oil cleared it right up. I was only on Taxol #3 when it started, so not sure what kind of effects I will have later on.

    Addie...woo hoo, only 1 left! Glad you get to finish, look at you go!!! How are you feeling?

    As for me, my MO held Taxol due to neuropathy in my hands for 2 weeks. I got my Herceptin those two weeks, so at least it wasn't a total waste. The neuropathy is much better, but the hands are not totally back to normal...but I did get Taxol today. This was #6, so 6 more to go. I just hope I get to finish!! I try not to think about the fact that I would only have ONE more to go had I been able to stay on schedule. This totally sucks, but it is what it is. I also had a UTI last week, I let the chemo nurses know I felt like it when I got my Herceptin, they did a urine test and found alot of blood, but not much bacteria. MO is considering sending me to a urologist due to the amount of blood. I couldn't see the blood myself, so how could it be THAT much? The antibiotic did the trick for the UTI, so hopefully the blood is gone too. I see the MO on Friday.

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  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited August 2015

    Ginger - I, for one, cannot wait til the 2015 clock strikes midnight!!!

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited August 2015

    I was on AC, then Taxol and Herceptin every week 12x with Perjeta added every 3rd week. Going for #11 today then 1 more to go. My original MO's plan was after Taxol it would be Herceptin and Perjeta every 3 weeks for 39 weeks which comes to 13 Perjeta. I changed my hospital and now have a new MO and her plan is to give me only 6 Perjeta saying there is no data that Perjeta has any benefit beyond the 6. Should I be concerned? Any and all feedback appreciated.

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  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited August 2015

    Ladies - If I have a lumpectomy Sept 28 (with some node work) would it be too soon to expect to travel Oct 18 (3 weeks) by plane?

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2015

    Princess, I was back to work in that time frame, so if you heal well, all should be good. One thing though is if theydo node work, you may have a drain. They are often out in a week, but sometimes can be much longer.

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  • Alibeths
    Alibeths Member Posts: 656
    edited August 2015

    My MO said only 6 perjeta as well. : )

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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2015

    Ugh, simulation postponed again! I guess the CT machine was not working this morning, so it's been pushed out until Friday. I was also going to have my back for my incision check/bandage removal for deportation after the simulation, so now that will wait also. I was really looking forward to having this bandage removed, it's really itchy.

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  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited August 2015

    Princess - I wonder if your doctor would let you fly that soon after surgery a/k/a draining and LE concerns.

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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited August 2015

    doing a happy dance today had pet scan done this morning post chemo..results are no abnormal activity ANYWHERE nothing in my breast!!! hooray cancer can kiss my ass :)

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    Yay Steph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You kicked its ass and now you can dance on its grave!!!!! Good work, girl!

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  • Rpayton
    Rpayton Member Posts: 235
    edited August 2015

    Steph HOORAY!!! That's great news!

    Lynne I guess the good news is itching means healing. Bummer for your day though.

    Gingerchi: Hope the urologist figures out the blood in the urine and no problems there. Keep us posted. How's rads going?

    Kbeee great photo of your kids back to school. Always good to get back in a routine, especially with your busy time.

    Enjoy the little things today!

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    Does anyone know of a calculator like lifemath/cancermath that lets you include radiation therapy in the calculation? I tried both of them and they only had a spot to put in chemo. They also didn't have a spot to input surgery. Am I doing it wrong???

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  • mamajencoz
    mamajencoz Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2015

    image

    The first picture was the week chemo took my hair. The second is yesterday. It's been slowly coming in since Taxol #8. I can't wait to see what color it decides to be. Right now, it's grey with a few splashes of brown. I'm almost ready for bobby pins and hair brushes! Lol

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    Oh My God! So much hair!!!!!!! Taxol didn't give me mine back. You look amazing! Like an elf princess :

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  • AndreaC
    AndreaC Member Posts: 220
    edited August 2015

    Steph, such great news!!! Celebrate!

    Mamajen, love the hair! Mine is starting to come in, it is exciting! I wish my eyelashes would come back.

    Re melanoma - that's what my dad died of, so I guess I am a high risk to get it...I do monitor my skin pretty closely and have had suspicious moles removed. Biopsies are always negative. I am pretty good about sunscreening.

    A very interesting day. My radiation appointment in the morning, then I was an extra in a film! It's a small independent film about a breast cancer patient. They needed me to be a body double - the actress portraying the patient is an actual breast cancer survivor but her hair has grown back so I was needed for my bald head! This evening I am going to be a cancer patient in the waiting room of a doctor's office. I think I can pull that one off ;)

    Who thought that being bald would get me into show biz...haha!

    Andrea



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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited August 2015

    Alibeths

    I guess I have no choice anyway since its her call! How long will you be getting Herceptin?

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited August 2015

    Stephmoes

    Dancing right along side of you! So happy for you!!!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    Hooray for hair! And no hair as a career-booster.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2015

    Andrea, love that you ended up in a film.

    Mamajencuz, our hair looks very similar!

    Rads run through was frustrating. I have been trying to lock down my time slot for 2 weeks and have been told they would be able to get me an early afternoon slot. That did not happen. If I had known that before the 21st, I would not have scheduled work shifts. I now have 9 work shifts that I am responsible to find coverage for. That is an added stress I did NOT need.

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