January 2016 Chemo!

Cathytoo

Love the buzz look on the model. She's beautiful

Cathytoo

Paulinek...I can definitely relate to your feeling tired. Yesterday was my second TC infusion. Came home, took a long walk and then fell asleep for three hours in the middle of the day. Today went to the movies with a friend. We went to a noon movie and I slept through the whole thing. Hope it doesn't get worse. But, I've been told that #3 and #4 really wipes you out. We'll see

FLBuckeye93

PaulineK and Jensgotthis, I'm a round ahead. Round two was hard for me to bounce back from. Round three seems to be going better. I have one more and then I'm done. I don't know your treatment plan, but go easy on yourself. That's what my doctor told me after round two when I was frustrated by my tiredness. I don't go out at night much, but do meet with friends for coffee or a walk. It's a new normal for now

LovesToFly

buttafly and lmv you both look great.

Michelle I'm sure that is scary for you. I wish I had some answers but I don't. I do know that lymph nodes can swell for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with cancer, so don't get too freaked out yet. I know easier said than done. (((Hugs))

Geeper

fightergirl711-  I will be 6/12 Taxol in on 02/16 We are halfwaythere. I am loving the character Negasonic Teenage Warhead. I will add her to my list of bad asses.

Cathytoo- That site is great, lots of good stuff on this site.

MB120- I wish I could address your question, but I haven't had any positive lymph nodes show up  outside of immediate axillary and breast area. I hope that the lymph nodes are benign. Even if not benign, the chemo treatment should take care of it.

EstelaLorca-  I love the link you posted. All these women look beautiful with bald heads. 

jensgotthis - It's okay to spend 4 hours laying in bed, we all need our rest. I agree with you. We had beautiful weather today. Not as hot as the other days. I hope you got to enjoy free museum day on 01/30. All LA museums were free.  

Everyone have a wonderful weekend. I am meeting up with some old friends tomorrow. I haven't seen them in years and they are taking me to lunch. Feeling excited. Leaving you all with pictures of bad ass women rocking their bald heads.

Planet

MB12-My cousin had lymph nodes in her abdomen removed due to lymphoma in conjunction with triple neg BC. She was rather secretive about her illness at the time, but recently opened up with me since my diagnosis. She had some heavy duty chemo and now she's well past the 5 year survival point with no recurrence! If that's even what you have (let's not go there--no practice bleeding).

Frill

I had a huge long day yesterday, I walked so much that I have blood blisters on the outsides of both pinkie toes. Obviously a bad shoe pick. I took the train to the hospital and there's a bit of a walk to the hospital, made worse by my NO SENSE OF DIRECTION. Then once I get in the hospital, it's about a half mile trek to where I need to go. And of course, the first day I went in the hospital ever, I swore, Scarlett O'Hara style, "As God as my witness, I shall never take that trolley across that Skybridge!!!!!" So to physical therapy, back across, then back to the train....then I came home, cleaned house some, started laundry....it has to be the steroids.

Someone mentioned Anastasia brand for eyebrows - I wanted to second that. I bought their stuff before this because I have a scar on one of my eyebrows and just wanted to learn how to have those fancy looking eyebrows. Needless to say, not mastered. But on top of the pencil and the shadow, they have a corrector blending pencil that's skin colored that you can go around and fix any oopses. Also it's good to use on top of your brows as a highlighter. There's a video of a girl going through how to use it - she has eyebrows, but you can get the idea of how to use it.

Nicole's Eyebrows

All you gorgeous wig wearers - how is it that your wigs aren't shiny? My Jon Reneau wig just looks too shiny to be my hair. It's pretty, but I put it on and I'm like, meh. I should post a pic for y'all, maybe I'm just being ridiculous. Everyone else looks wonderful in their wigs - LovemyVizla, I adore the new blonde one on you - It looks GREAT!!!!! And Planet, your wig looks wonderful, too!!!!! I wish I would have tried on my wigs before I ordered another one. Maybe I'll like this one.....it's actually human hair, so it will be like my extensions, but it's also nearly butt length platinum blonde, so not like it's for every day wear....or I guess it could be hahahahahah!

LovestoFly: I got diagnosed with LCIS before all of this BC business, so I got yanked off the pill, which I'd only been on for four months anyway. They made me get the Mirena IUD. I don't know if it's something I'd want to do in the middle of cancer treatment because the SE's vary so widely. I didn't have any problems with it and after 2 months or so, maybe 3, my cycle went to nothing. The one SE I did have was that it turned me into a - what I called a grease pit - and I'm on anti oil oral medication lol for a couple of months. But that leveled off.

Paulinek: I went platinum right before the hair fell out because, you know, why not? If it looked bad, wouldn't be there for long! I may do it for a little while while it's growing out. I guess I have some time to think about it - and decide if I like it with that wig coming in and all. Ha!

Buttaflydiva: Another beauty with the buzz! Your beautiful features stand out so much more the shorter your hair gets. I know we've all talked about how people say we look better with short hair when we have to start cutting it off, maybe this is why. Seeing all your pictures in a row like that...Your eyes just pop in the last one!!!! Gorgeousness!!!!! Society really should be more accepting, because I'm seeing a lot of bald gorgeousness around this thread.

And um, I have to announce that I am EXTREMELY disappointed in chemo. I'm waiting for my free Brazilian. If I have to pay for one - which I'm about to have to do - I'm going to feel ripped off. Ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!

And here's me at chemo #3, first time with the scarf head out in public.

LovesToFly

Frill you look gorgeous! I wish scarfs looked good on my but they just...don't!

I actually had the Mirena for seven years. Because my cancer is estrogen positive, my oncologist had me remove it as soon as I was diagnosed! I'm debating getting a copper IUD now. I had before and didn't mind it, it's just that I don't really want to do any medical stuff I don't have to! I spent enough time in doctors offices and hospitals! (More in the last months than the previous 41 years!)

Planet

Smurfette26: My driver's license and airport badge both expire May. Happy Birthday to me. I'm going to wear my wig, but going to ask if they can reuse my existing photo. Going to play the cancer card. Tell them that it would be too painful to have to look at that picture for the next 5 years, etc.

Love my vizsla: love the Uptown wig!

DFWFLYGIRL

Frill..you look beautiful in your scarf..love it!!!!

LovesToFly

six weeks passed my first chemo, two cycles in, and I am still dealing with my mustache and random chin hairs. Wtf?

My last chemo was on January 26, the last two days my arm below my elbow has been tender, it feels bruised but I don't see anything. It's the arm I got my IVN, not the arm where I lost nodes. Is there is a reason to think this is related to the IV? Obviously if I was not going through this I would just think it was muscular pain or something. I haven't done any lifting of that arm but I did go to yoga a few days ago… I did handstands headstands and arm balances, but generally both arms would be achy and it would be closer to my shoulders

Planet

Okay lost my last post so if it shows up twice, forgive me.

Frill: I love the way you tied your scarf. The draping to the side is gorgeous-like a side ponytail.

Brazilian...ripoff...LOL!

Woke up this morning with hairs in my undies--Brazilin is slowly happening.

My wig is human hair (European) so is only as shiny as the lovely ladies who donated/sold their hair. I saw this mattifying wand for synthetic wigs here:http://www.wowwigs.com/product-p/jr-ww1.htm

Washed my wig last night to remove Argan oil the shop used. I think it contributed to the nasty rosacea that broke out on my cheeks I treated that with Clindimycin lotion that I got to treat the folliculitis which is improving. Last night I went to the opera after work so my wig was on for 17 hours. I couldn't wait to get home to get it off so I could scratch my scalp. Hot compress, Clindimycin, helped but I had to take a Ativan to sleep.

Anyone else getting nosebleeds? I guess the nose hairs are gone.

LovesToFly

My nose does not bleed but it is always leaking, and I do get little dry scabby spots in it but I think would bleed but I'm constantly putting Neosporin on them to heal them up.

mltdd

No full nosebleed. Just blood on the tissue when I wipe thanks to the Herceptin drip. I use A&D ointment or TriDerma Nasal Dryness Relief.

MissBee123

Oh man, this round of AC has really kicked me in the teeth! Chemo day was bad, the next day was okay, and then the past two days I haven't really left my bed. I had a friend who warned me that AC was cumulative and might get worse, which makes me nervous for #4, but I was feeling so good after rounds 1 and 2 that I thought I might just make it through this unscathed. Then again we are literally injecting poison into our veins so perhaps my optimism was a bit overreaching!

Hubs is home today trying to make me feel better. It's just this stupid nausea that won't go away, no matter what I do. I feel so frustrated by it!

Buttaflydiva you can carry off the no hair look!

LoveMyVizsla that wig is incredible. I would never know you were wearing one!

MB12, I did not have any lymph nodes show up enlarged anywhere else, but I'll be thinking of you. Please keep us posted.

LoveMyVizsla

MissBee, do you have any ginger chews? My brother sent me some called "Chimes". I haven't had nausea (yet), but they seem to help the excess acid in my stomach. Www.chimesgourmet.com Hope you feel better soon.

MissBee123

LoveMyVizsla, I've been trying different things. I have ginger chews, hard candy ginger, ginger tea, queasy drops, lemon drops, Zofran, Dexamethasone, ginger ale, lemon tea...I kind of rotate through them all, trying different ones until something hopefully works. I also have some great aromatherapy patches that a friend's company makes and they are good but they don't last long. I also take Prilosec just in case I have reflux.

I feel like a little pill bug. So many medicines I'm a walking pharmacy!

Hubby had his own solution to help tonight, which was really sweet:

Cathytoo

MissBee123...sorry you're so sick. You need some medical marijuana!!!

sarah_sunflower

Frill you look gorgeous!

PaulineK and Jensgotthis , I finished my #2 TC too, and I felt more tired and body aches started once i got my Neupogen shot, I get a total of three shots, everyday from Day 3.

Whats with the late night hot sweats ? I keep waking up all warm and sweaty even when I have my aircon to max. Is that hot flashes or something to do with chemo drugs ? I am 33 years old and I was given Zoladex just before my first #1 TC to protect my ovaries dr said. Is that causing these sweaty episodes ?

sarah_sunflower

MissBee hope you feel better soon

zinny

Miss Bee -sorry to hear things are not better this round! Second the medical MJ thought. Agree with the crazy pill thing - even though some are just calcium and Vitamin D, the pile of pills each day feels strange.

As much as it was annoying have to go 3 weeks between my 2nd and 3rd AC, the 3rd one has been much easier for me so far.

SarahSunflower - the sweats are crazy. Way worse than the ones I got with hormonal ( Zoladex and Letrozole) and have had others say the same - it's a chemo thing. Poor DH as I flap the duvet in the middle of the night trying to cool down!

Frill - you look fantastic in that scarf! So pretty.

LTF - you may have some irritation in the veins from the chemo?

Michelle - I'm with LTF on that one - don't cross any bridges before you have to. Lymph nodes can be enlarged for other reasons. Try not to focus on the unknown. When they did my CT, they found a spot on my adrenal gland, that they think is probably a cyst, but can't be sure - having another CT this week, 3 mo from the last. Hoping it hasn't shrunk, which would suggest it is not just a cyst ( but at least that the chemo is doing its job.)

Up at 5 am here, eating toast, LOL. Steroids have not made me terribly hungry, except when I can't sleep! Think I was sound asleep at 9, so I guess my body feels like 8h is plenty...

Paulinek

Happy Valentine's Days to all you lovely ladies ❤️❤️❤️

Cathytoo

Cathytoo

Fourth day after my second TC infusion...Guess the party's over this round. I've been running around having a great time for the past three days. But, today I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Guess it's time in bed for me.

LovesToFly

feel better Cathy.

MissBee123

For those of you having hot flashes, these were my top 3 items in my arsenal:

1. Chill Pillow It stays cold with no refrigeration and feels heavenly. I would keep it next to my bed and whenever I felt a hotflash coming on I would pop it under my neck. Best thing I bought!

2. Electric hand fan with neck strap I kept this with me at all times and I was so happy to have it when I felt one coming on. A few seconds of this blasting in my face really helped.

3. Hot flash relief spray This one is mostly a menthol-infused water spray and when combined with a fan is downright icy! Highly recommend.

You can't stop the hot flashes but these definitely helped to treat the symptoms.

I'm finally feeling semi-human today and am so glad! A little tired, but the nausea seems to be at bay and I slept through the night. It's 0 degrees here today so I think I'll be staying inside! Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

Cathytoo, I hope you feel better soon! Snuggle up in bed and rest; it's probably the best thing we all can do for ourselves.

FLBuckeye93

Happy Valentine's Day!

Glad you're feeling better MissBee. Peppermint oil under my nose helps me with nausea.

Cathytoo, feel better. I'm sorry it hit you A few days later. Just when you thought you were out of the woods. Ugh.

Frill, the chemo Brazilian is the best.

Yesterday was my bad day after round three of TC. The headaches are the worst, and I was running a fever. I'm actually up and on the couch today feeling a bit more normal.

Sheri64

Happy Valentines Day ladies, still fighting my cold so I'm staying in today -7 out today. Glad DH and I when out for dinner last weekend. Tonight he is making a big pot of beef mushroom barley soup. Having #2 TC on Tuesday so I need this cold to get better. Hair loss has started day 19.

Paxton29

Frill, love the scarf--adorable.

Cathy, I just had round 2 of TC Friday and was pleased I've been much less nauseous, but I've slept A LOT. Worried because last time the fatigue was awful on days 3-4, and some on 5.

My Valentine's Day started with my husband buzzing my hair off. I got a pixie last weekend but was surprised how much there still was, what with all the shedding. I don't think I'll go out in public without a wig because it's just not me but I was surprised I don't totally hate it. It definitely feels better--the shedding is so stressful--and my wig fits better now too.

So Happy Valentine's Day to all of us!

Anonymous

Hi lovely ladies, and happy Valentine's Day! Hope you are all celebrating by doing something you love with people you love.

Wow do you all look great in your wigs and scarves and rocking the bald! Frill I really dig that scarf tie you did. I am definitely behind most of you with the hair loss and other stuff since I started my chemo so late in January. I'm on Day 18 past my first infusion and today was my "handfuls of hair coming out in the shower" day. I still have some left but it is very thin and I suspect I will have bald patches by the end of the day or tomorrow. Guess it is cowl and hat time now. My scalp has definitely been feeling funny over the last couple days--sore and itching--well, pretty much what you would expect as hundreds of little hair follicles give up the ghost and bail! I'm glad I cut it short last week though or this would be a lot harder. If it doesn't all leave on its own by my second infusion on Thursday I guess I will buzz it as close to off as possible. The rest of the body hair seems to be hanging in there though...which is both good and bad.

Have any of you noticed nail changes, and if so at what point in the chemo cycle? Just one of the many things I'm obsessing on re: what's possible and what's yet to come.

Ok that's it for now...sending you all some Valentine's love!