Chemo in July 2015

mdoc524

Hello MissBee, inkster & courtleboo - so so great to hear from you & can't believe it has been a year too... Glad to see everyone seems to be past treatments & moving on ...

I finished Chemo on January 2nd & then 7 weeks of Radiation ended in Mid-March & then started Tamoxifen. I thought they were going to give me Arimidex since I have not gotten my period since the 1st round of chemo & I had my ovaries removed but MO preferred 2 years of tamoxifen then switch to Arimidex for 8 years. Insisted - agree Tamoxifen not fun & then ovaries out made the hot flashes worse .. Sweating then freezing. OBGYN said should calm down some in a few months. I got pajama's & bedding products from Cool Jams online - pricey but worth it.

So I went back to work on April 4th (Verizon) & the union workers all went on strike on April 13th. I am management so had to work 12 hour days 6 days a week for 7 weeks - nothing like jumping right back into work - was exhausted but felt good! Then on June 7th I had double - surgery (at my request) ovary removal and breast reconstruction. I was able to schedule Plastic Surgeon & OBGYN to do the surgeries together. Probably not the best idea from a recovery perspective but glad it is done. I am still home recovering - taking longer than expected - got infection in right breast! Now have acute lymph swelling on left armpit... Never ends but inkster to steal from you - it sucks but still better than chemo..

I did walk in my 1st 5k in the Philadelphia Komen Race for the Cure on Mother's Day - a goal of mine since being diagnosed. Was awesome - had a team of 20+ friends & family walk with me - see pics!

And.. If you all remember we got a puppy Stella at the end of October - well she is now 10 months old & hilarious - brings us so many smiles!!

MissBee - so glad you reached out - good luck in Colorado ... And best wishes to all .. This group holds a special place in my heart 😊❌⭕️

Mary

inkster

Holy cow! Stella grew up fast! She looks like a love bug, though. And congrats on weathering a work re-entry hurricane! The 5K looks fabulous! High five!

I'm considering the oophorectomy option. I had a hysterectomy a few years back for out-of-control fibroids (apparently I'm really good at growing inappropriate masses), but we left the ovaries in tact. Kinda regretting that now and wishing I had gone through surgical menopause before this whole mess, but hind sight and all that. My MO mentioned chemically shutting my ovaries down completely in the nearish future, but that doesn't make sense to me. Why not just get rid of them, especially as I'll be hitting peri if not full on menopause when I wrap up tamoxifen? Mary, if you're okay with it, I'd love to talk with you more about the surgery and your experience.

Bliss58

Thought I posted here yesterday, but oh well, I guess I didn't submit! MissBee, thanks for touching base and checking in. I too am curious how the chemo group is doing. Good to hear from Inkster, Mary and Courtleboo. Anyway, last night I toasted myself with a glass of wine because one year ago yesterday I started TCHP which ended 10/22/15 and I ended one year of Herceptin tx 7/1/16. After chemo, I had rads to bone, surgery/recovery, rads to chest wall/axilla that finished 6/15/16. Now, I'm on Zometa once every 3 months and Arimidex for 5 years. Through it all I managed to work most of the time, but did take off 6 weeks after surgery. I had a PET in March that showed I'm dancing with NED and a mammogram last week was clear. Yay!! Except for follow-up scans every 6 mos., I'm pretty much back to "normal" and the memory of chemo is becoming more blurry. Hello to all our other July 2015 chemo sisters and hope you all are doing well.

Batesburg

Hello All! Today is my 58th birthday! I had my last chemotherapy on Dec. 15th, surgery on Feb. 4th and 30 radiation treatments that finished on May 11th. I am getting through and getting stronger from all that treatment and am working head on back to full time since March. I find myself still getting tired much easier than I want to be but each day I seem to be getting one step closer to gaining my full strength back.

My MO said that exercise is the best medicine all around....and I am starting to add strength training to my biking and am doing a bit of running. I hope to be back to running on a regular basis by this fall!

It is funny....I don't get wrapped up in the "small stuff" anymore....I find myself less agitated about things that used to bother me/get me upset and I am filled with such gratitude - life really is full of wonder and possibility - I sure am grateful for all of you.

Much love,

Janet

Bliss58

Happy Birthday, Batesburg! Glad to hear you're progressing to being the old or rather better you. Grateful, that's the word I didn't note. I am very grateful for where I am now and for all the great support and information I started out with from this thread.

Kamiecake

hello everyone, I started my first chemo 6/30. I go again this Thursday. A/C my doctor calls it the red devil. Then after this four rounds I go for13 weeks of taxol. Ready to get this over!!

Suzanne1971

hi all! I have been thinking about all of you, and was so happy to come here and see some celebratory posts. Hard to believe it's been a year!

Your attitudes are awesome (still!), and it's nice to see that life is moving along.

I had my bilateral in Decembet, and I finished rads at the end of March, and Herceptin in mid June. Port came out a couple of weeks ago, and I was so happy to see that go! I still have one more reconstruction surgery (for my real fake boobs, as I like to say), and I'm hoping to get that done at the end of September.

Tamoxifen and I get along just fine, and the hot flashes are a nuisance, but whatever. Clearly I've been through worse.

I'm trying really hard to make some life changes- exercise and eating well. I used to run a lot, but that fell to the wayside for the last 10 years, but I'm happy to say I'm back at it and ran a 4 mile race on the 4th! I never thought I'd embrace all the breast cancer events in October, but I'll be lacing up for a Breast Cancer 5k in October, too.

I walk a fine line between obsessing over cancers return and putting it all behind me, so I will probably seek out some support groups.

There are some great survivorship programs here, and hope to take advantage of some of them soon (free yoga!). I'm still feeling a bit tight after surgery/rads, but al the exercise and stretching has helped a lot. And I'll start PT this week (a bit too much too soon with the running, and I'm sidelined with hip bursitis), so I'll be sure to discuss the upper body too. I get to tingling in my fingers when I stretch that left side (cancer/lymph node removal). Nothing serious but hopefully will improve with some exercises.

I've had 1 official haircut- it's super curly!!! It was this curly many years ago, so who knows if it will stay this way, but the color is exactly the same. I really enjoyed my super short style, and got a ton of compliments, so maybe I'll keep it short for a while. My eyebrows and lashes have not been so lucky (and I never completely lost them!). They just are slow to return, and yes, I'm still holding out hope that they improve

I know I'm rambling, but I just want to thank you all (again). I'm so glad I found this group, and I am SO happy we are all on this side of it. What a year.

inkster

Yay! It's so nice to see you! Congrats on getting through it all and on to what I think of as the "real world."

6feetover

Suzanne1971: *HUGE HUGS* You look awesome!!!

Peabrain

It's great to see you gals! I keep noticing all the year anniversaries and wonder how you are all doing and then here you are.

I love that we are all back to our lives, slightly worse for the wear, but still standing.

I am back to work 30 hours per week (and plenty of naps), enjoying weekend trips in the new Airstream, playing in the waves (but not kitesurfing yet). My one year CTscan and ultrasound all came back normal, woohoo

Happy birthday, Janet!

@inkster - I also had everything but the ovaries out eight years ago, but just had the ovaries out now. PM me if you have any questions.

Big big hugs to you all

6feetover

Peabrain: *BIG HUGS* to you, too!

Cheesequake

HI JULY 2015 LADIES!!! Happy (late) anniversary to all of us!

Inkster, your reminder sign is a GREAT idea!!

I started chemo (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin) on July 17, 2015. Chemo was done the day before Halloween ,and I finished Herceptin on July 11, 2016. Had my port out on July 22. (I didn't get a chance to see my port before they put it in, so I asked for it after they took it out. And I took a creepy picture with it!)

Courtleboo, I'm so glad you're tolerating Tamox so well. I did two months and it drove me CRAZY. I know I need to reduce my estrogen, but the lack of sleep, the totally VIOLENT night sweats and the irritability literally made it unworkable for me. I gotta find another way.

MissBee123, I'm really enjoying getting back to "normal" too - though I'm a genetic mutant as well, with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, which means it's very likely that I'll get additional cancers. Since April I've been working on a photo/video project as a way to deal with all this cancer crap, and I just finished it last week: Mutant Vs Monster.

There is something empowering about using art to deal with being seemingly helpless.

I hope more July 2015 ladies will update! Happy one year!!

27heart

Sending good thoughts to everyone.

SVGsurvive

What 27heart said.

So good to hop back in here & see the updates and pictures! This site, and this thread in particular, also holds a special place in my heart as mdoc524 said.

My chemo finished in Dec, bilateral mast w/ TEs in mid Jan, and TE expansions until mid Apr. No rads, no pills left to take, no cancer in the path. Back to fulltime work since Feb, and back from a recent trip to Maui. I feel so blessed.

Like Suzanne1971, I'm coming up on my final recon (implant exchange surgery). Date is 10/12.

Several anniversaries have passed (DX, 1st chemo, etc.) but I find myself just being generally aware of timelines. I'm looking forward, often forgetting the recent past, and it's actually not what I want. I never want to take for granted what I and all of us have been through. It's so enlightening to hear how you guys have improved your lives since this experience.

Wishing you all the very best.

Sharazhad707

Hello everyone!

It's been ages since I posted here, and its so lovely to hear about the progress everyone is making. Im just wondering if anyone else in our group has/had chemo brain?

My memory is so terrible; like I knew what it was before and what it is now is just horrible. E.g. before chemo, I had a yoga routine that would last about 20 minutes, I stopped with it when I was on chemo, because we all know how energy sapping it is. Today I stood in front of the mirror at the gym and I couldnt remember the basic sun- salutation. That really scared me. How is everyone else dealing with it?

Btw heres a pic of me and my new hair!

Bliss58

Hi Sharazhad, good to see you check in, and your hair looks fabulous! I know about the chemo brain. My daughter has to constantly help me keep track of what I'm doing. We'll be driving to the grocery store or the bank and 10 minutes later I'll completely forget where we were going and she'll have to remind me to turn! Sometimes at work I feel like I'm in a fog and just not very productive. It's very frustrating at times that I just can't keep my thoughts straight. Enjoy the weekend. -Barbara

inkster

I'm right with you with the memory issues. I started using an app called any.do to help me make lists of things that need to happen. Nice part is that I can access it from my phone, work computer, and home computer so the lists are always with me (unlike my datebook which was frequently - you guessed it - forgotten). I was taking gabapentin for hot flashes for a while and that seemed to make the memory issues worse. It quit working for hot flashes so I quit taking it and I *think* my brain is starting to come back online. Which is good as I make my living based pretty much solely on it. : /

BTW - love the hair! Super cute.

inkster

I'm seeing the oncologist tomorrow, so it's probably too late, but I gotta ask: when do you bring up medical issues with your doc? How severe? Like bad enough you would mention them to your regular doctor in a check up? Bad enough to make an appointment specifically about them? Bad enough to drive you to the ER?

I don't want to be a whiner and I know recovery takes time, but at the same time I don't want to ignore something I shouldn't.

mdoc524

Hi All - great to see how everyone is doing ..

inkster - chemobrain is real for me too - so frustrating! I hate complaining as I am so thankful to be in the other side. I will share to see of you are dealing with anything similar ... dealing with horrible fatigue - could sleep all day; constipation worse than ever; neuropathy in legs & feet - have fallen 5 times; and lastly a horrendous vaginal infection that won't go away (sorry if TMI) .. my issues are cake compared to chemo - just have to find my groove! I have lost 23 lbs & have completed three 5k walks so getting there!!

I share this on the Rads sight too - Emotionally I am a mess - my Mom passed away on Nov 4th. While it was expected - still so hard to say Goodbye! To also add to our sadness my husband's mother passed away 3 days after mine. Both were sick so glad they are no longer suffering but we never expected to bury both of our Mom's (both Grandmoms to my boys) in the same week. My heart just hurts. Miss them both so much so it will be rough during the holidays but lots of great memories to cherish.

Sharing a picture of me & my beautiful Mom - thanks for listening

Sharazhad - love the pic you are Beautiful!

Hope everyone else is doing well & finding new norm!

xo, Mary

inkster

Ah, honey - I am so sorry about your mom and MIL. The picture is wonderful. My heart and thoughts are with you and your family. Big hug from Seattle.

I have mostly different issues: lower back and hip pain, mild constipation, nausea/loss of appetite. I did bring these up with my MO and he ordered a CT scan which, thankfully, came back as normal. Perhaps I need a new bed or desk chair or something. And the nausea/loss of appetite may just be due to loads of work stress (but if I just happened to lose 15 or so pounds, I would be good with it ). I'm sorry you're going through all your stuff and the infection. Yikes! Zero fun.

mdoc524

Thanks inkster! It really does just suck to lose your Mom.. I know I am blessed to have had her well into my adult life & to also call her my best friend just hard to now have to live without he

Yes - lower back & hip pain too - glad your CT scan was good! I had a bone scan after chemo that was clear too .. nausea - ugh! I am complete opposite - can eat anything if I let myself - right now it is M&Ms lol

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Mary

Bliss58

Oh Mary, I am so sorry to hear about your Mom and MIL. That really does suck! Beautiful picture of you and your Mom. It's been 20 yrs. since losing my dad right before Thanksgiving, so I know those losses make the holidays rough. What helped us was looking at old family movies, pictures and telling family stories. My heart goes out to you and your family and I'll be thinking of you. Hope you get that infection cleared up soon. Big, big (((hugs))) to you. -Barbara

mdoc524

Hello All .. Happy 2017 !! Hope everyone is doing well! Me - can't complain - Tamoxifen stinks and always lots of side effects but managing!

Sharing pics of my 2 new tattoos - right wrist and left calf ... hurt like hell - not a tattoo person but really wanted these as some sort of closure..

XOXO, Mary

inkster

LOVE these! You are fabulous, Mary!

Bliss58

You are courageous, Mary! Good for you. Glad to hear your managing the Tamoxifen and doing well. Happy Valentine's Day, all.

Thunder7

Hello Ladies, It's been a long time. I hate to broach this bummer subject but..... In February I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. I was misdiagnosed for 6 months because I had not had the type of chemo that was could cause CHF. If you have shortness of breath and weight gain (for no reason) go to a cardiologist! I ended up in Cardiac ICU for 6 days, lost 30 lbs of fluid and am now on 4 heart medications. This totally sucks.

Love,

Thunder7

6feetover

Thunder7: that effing blows. OMG, 6 months for a correct diagnosis?! {{{HUGS}}}

Thunder7

Thx 6feetover

inkster

I'm so sorry, Thunder7! Rough doesn't begin to cover it, eh? I hope you are feeling better by the moment and sending hugs from Seattle.

I go see my MO next week. I've been more than slightly retaining fluid (I can leave deep pits that last for minutes by pressing on my ankles for a few seconds) and assumed it was related to the Arimidex. I did end up with two rounds of the heart damaging chemo, so I'll be asking about this. Thank you so much for bringing this up.

mdoc524

Oh No Thunder - sending so many hugs to you... Will it get better with treatment?  I have been seeing a Cardiologist for Shortness of breath and pain - had EKG, Echo and wore a Monitor - all came back normal. I exercise everyday 4-5 miles and do my best with dieting and I gain weight - I think it is fluid. I have a follow-up.. I so hope you are getting the care you need and will feel better!!

xoxo, Mary