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

lovlilynne

I heard that they got a very close match on the flu vaccine this year. I have never gotten a flu shot, and I have never had the flu. I really don't want to get the shot, but I know I will have to fight with MO. She made me get the pneumonia, and I still have to get the 2nd part of that (dang that shot hurt my arm!).

KB - congratulations on running and finishing the race with horrible burns on your chest/arm area. I sure do feel for you, and I'm not looking forward to the next 3 weeks. I'll be 4 weeks done on Tuesday, and I'm starting to see the effects in the "pledge of allegiance" (as my RO calls it) area.

Heather, give it at least 4-5 weeks PFC, it takes a while to diminish. Also, I only put the gel in before bed so that I'd just be going to sleep with it in - not sure if that makes a difference or not.

Re: periods, I had gotten very irregular before chemo - I had mine in February right before first surgery. It will be 10 weeks PFC on Tuesday, and I got my reminder on the calendar that i would have been due (if I had been regular). It could be that chemo has pushed me into menopause, but I probably won't know until I got back to MO in November, I'm assuming she will take blood before putting me on Tamoxifen.

Renee, the only thing I like about fall is fresh apples (and all the apple bi-products). In fact, I'm just about to go out to see if I can find some J.Crow's mulling spices - I like the little tea bags to make hot mulled cider. I know lot's of people love the fall, but all the plants dying and leaves falling just reminds me that winter is coming :-(

We put the cover on the pool yesterday, summer is officially over. I still have to put the hard top on the Jeep.

Lynne

Addie29

today I feel better. Tired and have a cough but better. And cold medicine always makes me dizzy- always struggled with that. And that you for asking.

littleblueflowers

Glad you are feeling better, Addie! Did you get genetic testing? Is that why u are getting a hystwrectomy? I'm not scheduled for genetic counseling even until Oct 29. If it comes back positive I really want to get my ovaries out befor january. I wonder if surgical menopause will be worse than chemopause?

Addie29

yes I am a carrier of the BRCA2 mutation- thanks to my father. Doc said I only need to have my ovaries out but why bother keep the uterus? Take it all. I don't need it. I hope it isn't worse. The hot flashes I have now are horrible. And I'm very thankful that my surgical oncologist did the genetic test early. They also told me I don't need to have the surgery right away- that I could wait a few years but why? Why would I want to wait? Like I said get it out now. I want this crap done and over with. The majority of tn are positive for a mutation so be prepared.

littleblueflowers

Yeah I am sure that I have the mutation. Luckily also infertile, so no kids to worry about passing g it on to. If it was up to me they would already be out when I had my mastectomy! But my onc said to wait until the price of genetic testing came down. Luckily I just got a referral from my gyno to another hospital to do the counseling and testing. Fingers crossed if it comes back positive I can get them out befor my insurance rolls over again in january. I'm already on a payment plan with my hospital. Being broke sux.

DizzParkMom

Thanks Lynne. Maybe my ear will steal all the attention away from my sorr hands and drippy eyes...My MO told me to demand some lydicane cream from dermatologist...he says I have already been through enough and deserve a break. I agree!!!

Holy crap...the giant pink ribbons are everywhere. Midway is covered in them. After walking by a dozen or so, I felt like I should have taken off my hat. My bald head would probably draw more breast cancer awareness than those ribbons. I can't wait to get past the treatment phase of BC so I can work on getting involved in activism and fundraising.

P.s. my genetic testing for braca1/2 were negative despite triple negative.

Jackbirdie

I hope you feel better soon Dizz!

I have definitely felt better standing up for myself by writing some letters and signing petitions. Makes me feel less like a victim.

Here's a link to the Poison Isn't Pretty campaign to stop the cosmetics industry giving bags full of carcinogenic products to women with breast cancer via the Look Good Feel Beeter program. Appalling but true.

http://bcaction.org/2015/09/30/tell-these-pinkwash...

bluedog

Also negative for BRCA mutation despite being TN. Sorry to hear you're positive, Addie.

Rpayton

Thanks Jackbirdie for the link!

Addie hope you feel better fast. Flu shots haven't let me down yet. I've been getting them for 10+ years. Sure I may still get sick but usually not tooblong. A good MA or nurse knows how to get that shot where it needs to be in the deltoid muscle without much pain to the patient. Ice it if it is uncomfortable or report any side effects. Wait until you feel fully well before getting the shot though.

Dizzpark good luck with treatment. I can't wait to be better to volunteer more and give back.

Kbeee you continue to inspire and you and your girls beautiful! The hair is looking good!!!

Addie29

on Jenn I hear you about being broke. Living paycheck to paycheck sucks. We have fidelis now but at the time we had full Medicaid when I was dx and the genetic test was 100% covered. I'm so worried that my kids will have this mutation as well. I have 2 older brothers and only 1 of them inherited it.

AndreaC

Hi all!

Re TN - one of my tumours was TN. I am awaiting genetic testing...it will be covered by the government plan if I wait 12-18 months...if I want it sooner I could pay for it. I am okay with waiting, since it won't make much difference if I get results now or later. I do want to know for the sake of my daughter and granddaughter though. I am seeing a gynaecologist soon regarding having my ovaries out...which I think is prudent even if I don't know if I am high risk or not. I have already had 3 different tumours...would rather not have an ovarian one as well.

Glad you are feeling better Addie! I hate colds...I had one at the beginning of chemo and it sucked. I also had 3 colds in the 6 months I was on chemo last year. For three of those months I was back to work in a germy hospital though. Almost as bad as having little kids at home!

Re watery eyes - they have been a problem for me since last year when I was on chemo for colon cancer and it has continued ever since. My MO tells me it's a side effect of chemo and will go away eventually but could take months. I am planning to see an eye doctor when I get back home, now that rads are finished...I'll see what he has to say. It really is annoying.

Hope you all had a decent weekend!

Andrea

Addie29

Andrea I would absolutely want my ovaries out like you said especially with your history of cancers. On the topic of watery eyes i also suffered with them during chemo but since ending they have stopped. Also my nose would run like a faucet

littleblueflowers

Addie, I think I have your cold 😵

Addie29

yup. It was me. I passed it to you. Sharing is just so nice. But seriously tho I hope now. It's horrible. I just want to stop coughing and have my voice back. Although I'm sure my hubby doesn't mind the fact that my voice is gone.

littleblueflowers

Hahaha oh jeeze. Sorry Addie. Hope antibiotics do it for ya! Hey at least it's not cancer...

Addie29

amen sista. Eff that noise!!

littleblueflowers

My DH does not have melanoma. Thank GOD!!!!! I can poop again.

Jackbirdie

Great news Jen! So happy. 💃💃💃🎉🎉🎉

littleblueflowers

Thanks Katy. I am so very greatful!

ThePrincess

Yay littleblue!

Dr did not remove drains today

I need to exercise! I have not gone this long since I WAS 13 without exercising, and i hate it. Dr said if i do go for walks, which he recommends, it will cause some more drainage though - which will delay actual Exercise. UGH SHOOT ME.

My back and hamstrings are killing me from sleeping propped up - can I sleep flat with drains????

littleblueflowers

Princess, I slept flat with drains- it just depends on how you will be comfortable.

Just hang in there. You don' t want to keep those drains any longer than you have too. Try to meditate. I am the worst about not excercising. I feel ya!

Jackbirdie

Princess- just chiming in with support. I was able to sleep on my back too. But if you want those drains out, try to not exercise. The activity seems to increase output, and the doc won't take them out until output is down.

Maybe you could meditate instead for just a couple more days..?

Thinking of you.

ThePrincess

Thanks ladies!!! I will do my best!

Addie29

Jen that's awesome news and Tina you can sleep laying flat with drains as long as you're comfortable.

Leg hair. Haven't shaved in months and today I look at my legs and BOOM black legs hairs. Crap! One more thing to shave- again

ksusan

Good news, Jen.

Addie, in addition to coarse, curly head hair, I've developed coarse, curly pubic hair. I hardly look like me.

Addie29

ugh the only hair I want to grow back is the hair on my head. All that other stuff can stay away.

KBeee

Tina, I went for walks with my drains, not long ones, but I did get put. It did not impact drainage despite that PS told me it would.

Jen, Great news!!!!!!!

I now have some seeping areas in my axilla, and my black singed-looking skin is coming off a few too many layers at a time. This is for the birds. Looking forward to 2 weeks when it will be starting to heal. Until then, I am taking ibuprofen round the clock to function. Almost. Done

littleblueflowers

Me too kbeee. Me too.

Hahaha I think my body is hairer than it used to be. Maybe it's because I've been systematically removing so much of it for so long!

DizzParkMom

kbee, I am so sorry to hear that the radiation is doing such a number on your skin. I hope that once the healing starts it heals swiftly.

Rpayton

Kbeee so sorry that it is so bad. I started peeling yesterday, it is gross but healing. It will start for you too. Saw my breast surgeon today for post rad check. She said keep plenty of lotion on it at all times. The end is coming for this part.