Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

Well.. my hair.. I don't like it The poor girl. I should have gone for something safe like a light brown, but instead I wanted a hint of red. First it was bright orange. I guess I wasn't thinking about the fact that a bright color on very short hair would be like WOW! So she darkened it but it was then bright red, added more brown, still too bright so she went for all brown, but it's more like burgundy and with my short hair. I don't know too bright. This has been a disaster and I'm trying not to let it ruin my happy day, but I really don't like it and I can' wait for it to wash off some.

Heading out to the Relay for life tonight

Way to go Caroline and Simvog! We have all reached the chemo finish line!!!!!!

bobcat: Sorry about the root canal. Ouch! But think of it this way: going to the dentist is one more way we're reclaiming the normalcy of our lives. I went to the dentist for a checkup a few days ago and I get my teeth cleaned next month -- I can't wait!

Caroline!  I can't you believe you bit the bullet and went to get your hair colored.  A few days ago you were on the fence... oh gosh, I hope I didn't influence your decision.  One thing I noticed though when I colored mine, it seemed really really dark to me.  But I think it's just because we're not used to seeing that much dark hair on our heads because after a day or so I was completely used to it.  I think within a few days you're gonna love it and I bet tonight you're going to get a ton of compliments!

Way to go to Simvog and Caroline on finishing rads!

I finished chemo!

I sat down with my onc to discuss plans. She told me I did great and that I should put the cancer behind me and enjoy my life. I was NED before I started chemo, chemo was just an extra to be on the safe side. On June 12, I will have my port removed; on July 1, I go for another CBC blood test because I go in the Caribbean in July and I want to make sure the blood is ok. August is my test month for the prophylactic mastectomy (which will be in September) thermoscan and MRI. I also have a schedule for colonoscopy and gynecology (hormones testing, too). Also, I will have the full blood test to check for liver and kidney, vitamins, minerals, tumor markers, etc. After the results are in I will choose the supplements and discuss it with her. My onc is specialized in hematology and internal medicine, besides oncology. I've already told her I am not taking Tamoxifen and she did try a couple of times to try to convince me to reconsider, but I said no. I told her I want to take the alternative route and she said she would help me as much as she can.

October is for PET scan (1 year), blood and heart (I took Adriamicin and I need to check my heart yearly). After that I will have 6 months check for a year (every 3/6 mo alternative surgeon and onc) with regular blood work for tumor markers, vitamins and minerals and hormones. Yearly I will go for  thermoscan (my choice, the doctor didn't ask for it but she will look at the results), colonoscopy, heart, and gyno checkout. The blood and hormones test I will keep them at 6 months until everything is back to normal. I don't know yet about PET scans.

I did not celebrate today. I am very tired today and can't eat or drink yet. I am looking at a sleepless night in front of my (for the last 12 wk I was not able to sleep more than 2 hrs in the night I took chemo).  I am planning to celebrate the removal of port June 12.

Thank you all for your support. I don't know what I would have done without you!

Congrats, Simvog on being done!  It looks like you have a lot ahead of you yet.  You'll have to really relax and enjoy your trip to the Caribbean.

Caroline, I'm sure seeing so much color on your head  would be a shock.  The good thing is that your hair seems to be growing fast and it's very short so you will be grown out of that color in no time.  It will fade a little too, I'm sure.  Are you posting a larger photo on your blog?

Elaine, your avitar is really cute too.  Your hair is looking great.  You both have so much!

Simvog, I also hope to have my prophylactic mastectomy in September. We'll have to touch bases then. Since you've declined hormone treatment, I'm glad you'll be watching your blood and markers so closely. Looks like you have a solid plan in place.

Grancy11: insurance will pay for the prophylactic in most cases. My breast surgeon will meet with me, then take my case before the local "tumor board". With their consensus, he will write a letter to my insurance company indicating that the surgery is warranted to help prevent the cancer from returning and for my peace of mind. I told him that I don't want to live in fear, and always be waiting for the other shoe to drop since my ILC and multi-focal cancer increase the possibilities of it showing up on the other side.

I do feel very empowered today! I planted about 15 new plants in the garden yesterday, despite the fact that it was 95 degrees outside. Okay I took several breaks inside, but a few weeks ago I wouldn't have had the strength to do this. BC: You can't keep me down much longer!!!!!!!

Texas Good for you being out gardening

I know right. Yesterday morning, I thought I was getting used to my new hair, then by1-2PM I decided that I really wasn't. I'll call the hair salon later and checked to see if I can get my hair stripped then restart with my natural color, which is MUCH lighter. At this point I don't really care about the damage to my hair, it will all get cut soon anyway as I'm able to get hair cuts. It's so short, so it's not like I'm damaging 20" long hair. They might become brittle, if it makes makes me a happier person over the next few weeks, then brittle it will be! I can't believe after 6 months of tx and surviving cancer, I'm complaining about my hair!! lol

Firni, your way of thinking is exactly the reason why I'm going back for a prophylactic.

Thank you everybody for the nice words.

Grancy11: None of my doctors mentioned the insurance so I believe it is covered. I know my insurance honors the Breast Cancer Act.

Texas, definitely keep in touch in September.

I am still tired; my DH helped me with the garden, this year we are going small.

Have a good week everybody.

Texas, I am getting eyelashes back.  I have 3 on one eye and 2 on the other with a lash sprout showing.  So exciting.  Not quite enough to break out the mascara yet.  I have some eyebrows coming in too, but those are coming in white. I've never had a gray or white hair in my life.   Anyone else have that?

Lisa, I'm supposed to meet with my PS in early July to discuss nipples.  But I'm kind of with you on waiting till it's colder out so I can dress bulkier.  Altho I will most likely be changing insurance when I find a job, so I should probably get everything done while I have this insurance.  I'm not sure how it all works with new insurance and continuing reconstruction, revisions, etc. especially if my current doctors aren't on the plan.

Texas, I was summoned for jury duty on May 13th.  My onc wrote a letter stating I could NOT sit on a jury because of chemo SEs.  That is the only way I could get a medical exemption.  They excused me.  It's worth a try.

Lisa and Firni - good decision on the nipples - I was under the wire and still have to deal with vaseline crap on my clothes when I have the tattoo sessions.  I only have one more session of tattooing and will deal with that but you ladies made the right decision.  The root canal is almost done and starting to feel better with anitbiotics.  The wrist issue is still a problem but all in good time. I continue to have a positive outlook and will beat this monster BC.

You are all my heroes.  Going into NYC tomorrow - a little shopping and sightseeing.

Bobbi

Ferni: I still have some swelling also. I can feel it in my whole leg not just feet and ankle. I wanted to ask you if you might have a soft tissue injury? Did you ever hurt that ankle or foot? Sometimes that can cause swelling. Let me know what they say most curious.

You know lisa a nd cebula should really celebrate how thick there hair came in it is unusual and wonderful. That coming from duck head here.

How ridiculous, Texas!  I never had to have a chest xray before surgery except for when I had my port put in.  Why do you need one for eye surgery?

Bold, I know, some of these women have sooo much hair already.  But between your duck head and my Ken doll fuzz, we'll get there too.  this very website says it's typical to have an inch of hair 2 months out of chemo and hair should be growing at its normal rate after one month.  I guess I never have been typical.   I'll let you know what the onc says about my foot today.