Starting Chemo December 2015

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  • Angtee15
    Angtee15 Member Posts: 209
    edited March 2016

    Thanks Pez! This is very helpful. I'm having a bilateral mastectomy with the expanders put in during the same procedure. It's a relief to look forward to the next step. After 20 weeks of chemo I can handle this! Especially with the help of all those lovely narcotics

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  • Twirp26
    Twirp26 Member Posts: 178
    edited March 2016

    angtee15, I'm not far behind you. I have one possibly 2 more chemos then I'll be doing surgery. My mom is planning on coming from New York to help me out. Not looking forward to the pain but I'm so ready to be done with chemo!!! Keep me posted!

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  • chinookmom
    chinookmom Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2016

    Lemint/Laurie- I agree with you and am glad to hear that this discussion board has been so helpful for you. Its so easy to feel alone, overwhelmed and depressed sometimes. And to come here for the exchange of wonderful support, encouragement & understanding is such a gift. This whole has experience has also helped me to reach out to connect to others.

    Twirp26, Pezgal & angtee15~ My mom's coming out to for my surgery too~ Which i think will be end of April. From South Florida to LA- my first family member since this has all began (only child). Looking forward to her visit. I schedule the surgery on Wednesday..

    Angtee15, Lemint/Laurie, KHinMD & (anyone i may have missed)- Congrats on your last chemo!! Hope the SE are manageable & resolve quickly.

    For those of you getting surgery- please let us know when you are closer to your surgery date and keep us updated on how you are doing!!

    Hard to believe that the chemo portion of our treatment is finishing... :)

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  • Angtee15
    Angtee15 Member Posts: 209
    edited March 2016

    I'm actually getting a little ahead of myself. But I'm close to surgery! I have two ACs (finish 4/22) left but see the surgeon on 4/8 to get this show on the road. I'm assuming I will be scheduled in late May for the mastectomy! Seems like I will be in good company and have a few of you ahead of me to pick your brain for tips, etc.

    Have a great day everyone! Getting some sun here in Chicago today it seems:-)

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  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited March 2016

    Congrats on finishing chemo Khin.

    Angtee all surgeons are different. Mine didn't allow showers until my drains came out. So I stocked up on body wipes and dry shampoo. I was able to do the drains myself but I had four so it was nice to get help at first. Sleeping is one of the hardest parts. A recliner in my room was my best friend.

    Yes, my exchange surgery will be outpatient. She is saying no drains which is a relief. Hoping they make the girlsas pretty as possible lol.

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  • KHinMD
    KHinMD Member Posts: 44
    edited March 2016

    chinookmom - Good luck with your last chemo. I'm 9 days PFC and just starting to tolerate food again. My taste is still altered. It would get better in between treatments but never returned to normal. I will be staying with my mom and dad after surgery. I was staying with them a few days after each treatment. My surgery is scheduled for April 25, but I will have to do a couple of things beforehand to get ready: meet with plastic surgeon, meet with my primary physician, get some blood tests (including a pregnancy test). I'm 5 episodes into the House of Cards latest season. I have a feeling I will be done watching before surgery. I will have to find something else to watch to pass the time during recovery.

    mvspaulding - Thanks and good luck with your exchange surgery next week. I have a ways to go till I get to that point: I'm guessing 3.5 months following the mastectomy.

    To anyone who has suffered from depression at times during treatment, I have started to notice a connection. Last week I was extremely fatigued and slept a lot. I didn't really have the energy to do anything and would feel down. It was like the cancer was in control as my body was fighting it. Now this week I am back at work, and more in control of things. It's like I am letting the cancer know that fighting it can get tough at times but I am going to bounce back. This has caused my mood to improve. Now I am getting ready to have surgery and there's slight anxiety from fear of the unknown.

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  • njnancy
    njnancy Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2016

    Question for the NJ folks -- Feedback on oncologists in the area (I live in Manalapan). Who would you recommend or not recommend and why. Found out today that i do need chemo and Nissenblatt who i planned to use isn't taking new patients. Im overwhelmed and not sure where to begin my search. I have a few names from the internet but would rather have real feedback.

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  • NewDay123
    NewDay123 Member Posts: 71
    edited March 2021

    Hi everyone! Finally feeling better on Day 10. Grrr. My brain felt so tired, and I was still not eating enough for energy levels, or whatever, was just tired, I think.

    Twirp26, glad to read about your node news too! Yay! Love the shirt! We'll be having our last treatment the same week. yay!

    Hi Lemint, yeah, I got pretty depressed earlier on too, and coming here helps out. Hope you feel better soon, too! Yay on finishing chemo!!

    Sheri64, Sammy3 - Yay on finishing chemo!!

    Angtee15, yay, only a little more to go!

    Lou53, Love that "Sometimes you have to fight through bad days to earn the best days of your life, stay strong", Thank you!

    KHinMD, congrats on finishing chemo! Yay! I'll be looking forward to surgery also and I'm trying not to think about it. I noticed a similar connection with depression, when I'm in pain, tired, no energy, lack of sleep, didn't eat sufficiently, or just feeling sick, it would seem to spiral downwards. It helped me to know that this was temporary and that when I can get some sleep, and get some energy back, I'll feel better. I took a real downturn earlier on when I didn't know this. So yeah, like you said, we're going to bounce back. :)


    I'm sorry if I've missed anyone... yay to all of us, we're all another day closer to being done! Congrats everyone! :)

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  • Lou53
    Lou53 Member Posts: 81
    edited April 2016

    I did it! What an emotional day. This is me and my amazing daughter!image

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  • PezGal
    PezGal Member Posts: 99
    edited March 2016

    Hooray Lou!!!!

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  • Lemint
    Lemint Member Posts: 162
    edited April 2016

    congratulations Lou!!!

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  • Lemint
    Lemint Member Posts: 162
    edited April 2016

    Congrats to everyone finished or almost finished with chemo🎈🎈🎈🎈👍👍👍

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  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited April 2016

    congrats Lou!!

    Khinmd, thanks, I am happy about getting the awful expanders out but not ready to be in pain again. Hopefully this one won't be too bad. Depending on how often your PS doesfills you could have exchange surgery in about 2-1/2months after MX. That was the plan for me until I found out I would need chemo.

    For those of you looking at mastectomies, let me know if I can help or answer any questions

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  • Angtee15
    Angtee15 Member Posts: 209
    edited April 2016

    Oh Lou! What a great picture! So happy for you. Hope the last chemo lands with minimal SEs.

    Has anyone heard of Harmony Hill in Union WA (Pez?). They offer free retreats for cancer survivors with yoga, nutrition, and meditation. I got a spot in October. Looks like a gorgeous place. Anyway FYI...I think there other similar programs out there too!

    Sleep well everyone:)


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  • Twirp26
    Twirp26 Member Posts: 178
    edited April 2016

    congrats Lou53!!!! Great pic! You look so happy!!! I'm happy for you!!

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  • NewDay123
    NewDay123 Member Posts: 71
    edited March 2021

    Yay Lou53! Congrats! So happy for you! :) Great photo, love the balloons!

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  • Sheri64
    Sheri64 Member Posts: 113
    edited April 2016

    Congratulations Lou,  I finished on Wednesday what a great feeling to be done with this part.  On to radiation.

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  • Opt4Life
    Opt4Life Member Posts: 191
    edited April 2016

    Good morning ladies, been a long time. I've been all focused on work and my busy life that cancer has taken a back seat and that's a good thing.

    Congrats Lou on the last chemo and anyone else finishing up or finished with chemo. My last chemo is this coming Friday and I am looking forward to getting some energy back, growing hair back, and losing this stubborn water weight and belly fat that has crept up on me during chemo and steroids.

    I am wondering what to take to my last chemo though. I was thinking cupcakes or some other treat for the great nurses or have patiently listened to me whine for as many weeks. I have several friends who want to go with me to the last one but honestly I don't feel like a room full of folks so I will probably stick to my one BC survivalist/chemo buddy who hasn't missed a single treatment (bless her heart).

    You ladies have a great weekend and keep fighting the good fight. God bless you

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  • PezGal
    PezGal Member Posts: 99
    edited April 2016

    Angtee, I have not heard of Harmony Hills. Guess I know how I'm spending my exciting Saturday night (googling cancer stuff).

    Here's a mystery, if anyone wants to put on their detective cap... I had a BMX, and SNB from left side 5 months ago. In the last week I've noticed cording coming back on my left side, but also newly on my right side. When taking breast tissue can they accidentally take lymph nodes? Or damage them? Or perhaps my expander is crunching on them? I'm not sure how or why this would suddenly show up on the right...? Those nodes are also a little swollen. So either 1) lymph nodes were damaged during surgery; 2) my period is coming back, or 3) some crazy occult cancer had attacked my right lymph nodes. Greeeeaaaat.

    Actually, forget cancer tonight. My last expander fill hurts. My husband got this MJ laced muscle melt cream rub stuff (legal here). I'm going to glob that on and see if anything feels better. Later, ladies...

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  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited April 2016

    Congrats Lou and anyone else I've missed that finished with chemo! Awesome pic!

    Pezgal, I'm not sure what you mean by cording

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  • PezGal
    PezGal Member Posts: 99
    edited April 2016

    http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/aws

    Cording can occur after mastectomies. Im surprised your dr didn't mention to you when they gave you the exercise stretches to do after surgery. I'm not sure if it's a precursor to lymphedema or not (?). Basically it feels like a string of spaghetti down the arm. Mine starts in the armpit, dissapears around the tricep, tight feeling skin on forearm, and ends with a sore spot on the top of my hand between the thumb and forefinger. In some caes they're painful (mine are not) and restrict movement. Right side feels like spaghetti in the armpit, travels no further.

    Btw Angree, I checked out that site. Hood Canal is beautiful! You're going to have a good time!



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  • NewDay123
    NewDay123 Member Posts: 71
    edited March 2021

    I'm sure it is different for everyone, but today is Day 13 after the last AC, and I finally feel good, mood-wise. Gained back about 2 lbs the last few days, too. Yay! I'll be getting a week break before the last one (yay!), and I'm trying to gain as much weight as possible this week.

    It doesn't mean I won't cry a few tears thinking about stuff, though I now feel better about those, and that is it OK to feel. If you know what I mean. heheh

    Yay everyone! We're all one day closer to getting this all done! Best wishes! :)

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  • njnancy
    njnancy Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2016

    now that most of you are finishing your chemo (congrats!!) on average, how much did you gain or lose? I know i shouldn't worry about this but i really do. I lost 75 pounds over the last five years and the thought of gaining it back just sucks.

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  • Lemint
    Lemint Member Posts: 162
    edited April 2016

    I'm down about 13 pounds. Have been so sick last 2 rounds. Hope to keep it off but I'm going tamoxifen and I've heard it causes weight gain. I'm very considered about that.

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  • Angtee15
    Angtee15 Member Posts: 209
    edited April 2016

    My weight stayed the same throughout. I have 2 infusions left. I'm finding it hard not to eat everything in sight for a week after AC. But then the following week I feel pretty much normal and get some exercise in which I think balances it all out.

    I don't know about everyone else but I thought chemo was going to cause substantial weight loss. So surprised the opposite is actually true!

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  • chinacat
    chinacat Member Posts: 78
    edited April 2016

    I've gained weight. Not much on the scale but I haven't done any exercising throughout chemo and sweet foods were all I craved. Now that I'm done with chemo no more sugar and bring back some exercise. Now if I can find some energy

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  • PezGal
    PezGal Member Posts: 99
    edited April 2016

    I lost about 15 lbs at the very beginning with diagnosis (worry worry worry) and surgery (how much do boobs actually weigh?). I have since gained that back (how much do saline filled expander boobs actually weigh?), so I'm where I started. I never had problems with nausea, mouth sores, or whacked taste buds. Like chinacat, I craved sweets and would treat myself to more Snickers than I needed. I suppose its about time I should put down the candy bars and slowly back away... I still have 5 weeks of chemo though! I have to fill my sadness hole with something.

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  • Truffles1214
    Truffles1214 Member Posts: 31
    edited April 2016

    I lost 25 pounds during chemo. Most of the weight loss was due to my battle with mouth sores that I experienced with AC. The sores prevented me from eating for 4-5 days each round. Ensure and milk were my best friends! 😊 Thank goodness Taxol was easier on me! I am hoping to keep the weight off for the time being as I expect to gain a bit back when I start Tamoxifen. Good luck with chemo njnancy!

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  • Nebraska917
    Nebraska917 Member Posts: 64
    edited April 2016

    I gained 20 pounds... but I was also working out 5 days a week at a bootcamp and eating low carb prior to surgery before chemo.. and during chemo I didn't watch what I ate, ate a lot of ice cream and haven't been able to really excercise like i used to since my first surgery.

    I am two weeks out from my reconstruction surgery and have a follow up with my PS on Wednesday. I started tamoxifen today... I am almost done with everything... and about to be able to get back to normal life.

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  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited April 2016

    Pezgal, no I was never warned about cording. Probably a good thing since it would have just been something else to worry about. I also didn't get pt or any exercise regimen like some have posted. My surgeons just checked out my range of motion at follow up appointments and said I was doing fine.

    awesome news Nebraska! How was the exchange surgery? I have mine this Thursday

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