Starting Chemo April 2009

GOOD MORNING GIRLS:o)!!!  Hope you're all waking up to a GREAT day.  I just had to tell you that I had "bed head" yesterday.  OOOOHHHH what a wonderful feeling!  I never thought I would have missed it, but I was so happy to see it. 

TITAN - I absolutely love cheesecake and donuts.  Could you go back, pick some up for me and drop it in the mail????  I hope you're feeling good today.  So nice to experience some of our "new normal".  Glad to hear you had such a great time.  I'm sure you'll enjoy your weekend with your son!

CHELEV - OK, my husband said he will for sure help me get my pic up on here this weekend, so brace yourself, I look nothing like my avatar but I'm not ready to change it yet.

BETSY - How are you doing today?

JUDY - Stomach issues a thing of the past I hope??

LENA - OK, I had my husband read your computer post stuff.  He said the computer we have in a closet upstairs is a MAC Plus.  We bought it when he was a grad student at Harvard back in the late 80's.  He did know exactly what you were talking about.  He asked me if you have ever posted on some of the MAC boards.  He said that your writing style was exactly like a woman who used to post on a board he used to visit.  Wouldn't that be crazy if you two had met up on some other board somewhere, let me know.  Hope you're feeling good today and that you have had your coffee this morning. 

I'm heading off to Panera to meet a couple of friends and have my morning coffee, I'll check back in with you guys later.

Have a great day.  HUGS, Dawn

Hi everyone. I haven't posted for a while but have been a lurker instead. Reading about how many of you are starting to feel "normal" (or the new normal) is great. It certainly is nice to be on the other side. I think some are still doing rads but some of us have finished. I started Arimidex about a month ago and so far so good. But, it has slowed down the hair growth ... I am so jealous of chelev who has such nice thick hair. After 3 months all I have is a little bit of peach fuzz on my head.....and Chelev.....great about the trip and the makeover...have a wonderful time and please share all the details. This weekend is high holidays for me .... for anyone else who is celebrating this weekend and even if you are not, have a very healthy and happy New Year. I'll have lots of family time and too much food but that's ok. I've been off work since dx in February. I had a "return to work" meeting yesterday and it didn't go well. I am in a senior management position but even so, my boss was disgusting to me and we have reached an impasse on the details.  I came home stressed - wondering why I am even going back. I think it's time to look for a new job. Fortunately I'm in a position where I can retire within a couple of years so I know I'll get through this but it's so upsetting that after surgery, chemo, rads and all the emotional stuff we go through, some people still behave like #$#%%$$. When I go to synagogue tomorrow I will pray to be forgiven for my bad thoughts and I will be cleansed of my sins next week .... LOL.....

Hi all,

I just got back from my nightly (well maybe not so nightly) walk. My dh kindly deposited me back on the door step, now he is headed out for the "real walk"..straight up some mighty steep hills. I'm feeling pretty good that I made it up one of our conditioning hills without having to stop for a breather. On Sunday a.m., we plan to walk the one mile Race for the Cure. I'm not a runner...so the walk will be just fine for me. I'm hoping to meet Dragonfly1976 and Echosalvaje there. They are both from Oregon and we connected on-line which I think is pretty cool. Anyway...wish me luck. I am just so thankful to feel good enough even to attempt the walk. Remember how we felt a month ago?

Helen -Happy New Year! I'm hoping this next year will be a healthy and happy one for you and everyone else. 

Titan and Judy- you two made me hungry today. While I didn't have cheesecake...I did enjoy my peach pie for breakfast, can you tell I'm a health food junkie? Does it count that it was homemade? I so happy you both sound like you are doing well.

My fuzz continues to grow...there is a lot of it but the color is still to be determined. One minute it looks dark (I think it's a shadow effect) the next it looks all gray (yikes..but I'll deal with it).

Dawn - you radiate such positive energy! Thank you for your encouragement.

Now I better go "air" my flaming (swollen and very irritated) boob by truly going topless. Quite the picture huh?  Tweetie Bird hair and the girls hanging free. It's what we call western exposure her in Oregon. LOL...TG there are no camera's around!

 Have a great weekend.

Betsy

Hrf - I'm so sorry to hear your news. Sending you a big hug.

 Betsy

Entering Phase 3!!!

Life has taken over, and I suspect that's a good thing!

I've been off work since the surgery for 4 weeks! For a while in the beginning of my recovery, I was climbing the walls with boredom.

Now that I've been cleared to drive, and am getting my range of motion and mobility back, I'm starting to rather enjoy not having to think about work! LOL!!!

I'm really torn about going back. I want to get back to "normal" (or as we in the sisterhood call it, "the new normal"). But the ability to explore and experience life when you have a whole day in front of you that you can design (instead of having it planned FOR you) has been AMAZING!

I will start Phase 3 of my treatment plan on October 5th. That's when I have the simulation procedure for radiation treatments. Actual radiation will start around one week after the simulation. I will have 25 radiation treatments (Monday through Friday, 15 minutes daily) and then 3 booster sessions...so 5.5 weeks total.

All the while, I will continue to have Herceptin treatments through next April.

I have taken on the monstrous project of getting my Thank-You cards written. I was raised to hand-write Thank You Notes (a lost art I'm finding), so while it's taking me quite some time to get it all accomplished, I think the recipients will be happy and gratified that I took the time to thank them for all they (you) have done for me! Showing appreciation, even for the smallest act of kindness, is one of the most important things we do in life.

I am unhappily finding out that chemo is "the gift that keeps on giving." Even though my last chemo treatment was 7/24/09, I am still suffering some latent side-effects, and they are sneaking up on me! I got some gastro-intestinal "enthusiasm" mid-morning and it prevented me from traveling far from home today (and I had a party with friends to go to in Virginia tonight!) *pffft*

So I consoled myself with one of my favorite drinks, Welch's Grape Juice over crushed ice (yeah, I think I've spent wayyyyy too much time in the hospital, I'm totally addicted to crushed ice right now!)

And I will pay anyone who can tell me why I'm craving BLT's. I've had 4 in 5 days.

Anywhoo, as I get closer to rads, I'll post more.

Right now, my main goal is to force myself to do the left-arm exercises that my Occupational Therapist Heidi-Miranda is trusting that I'll do. I meet with her twice a week to undo the cording (scar tissue banding) that has developed under my left armpit and reached to my elbow since surgery. It's a common malady after lymph nodes are removed. Simply put, it hurts like hell...it hurts to DO the exercises, it hurts to NOT do the exercises. Yeah...go me!

But as some observant person once said, "if you can feel pain, you're ALIVE!"

So bring the pain...I can take it!

*pulling blanket over my head* LOL!!!

Love Ya! Alaina

Happy New Year Helen!  My b-day is 9/27 which I think is Yom Kippur...so I will celebrate with you...I don't need any reasons to celebrate I just do it! 

Helen..or the lurker..which every you may be !!  I worked all through chemo and rads..trying so hard to be "normal"...it certainly wasn't easy...my boss was awesome though...now...I am expected to be back to normal....and I am as much as possible..I find myself much more outspoken about issues now though..I don't hesitate to comment on when I think things are just WRONG!   We had this one lady who was off sick..she said she had swine flu but never had it confirmed...Everyone was freaking at our facility.  Guess what..we have no policy on swine flu..we need one!  Legally this person has every right to come back to work...Some of my friends/coworkers were freaking about ME being exposed....They scared me!  I really hadn't thought about my immune system being a little down due to chemo/radiation..I started freaking too...I just think this is how total hysteria starts...I refuse to freak out..If I can handle cancer/chemo/radiation..etc..I can certainly handle a little swine flu..I think the "talking heads" have taken this to the extreme and all people need is some common sense (Hey..can you tell I watched 60 min. tonight?))HEE HEE

Dawn..the visit with my son was wonderful!  I will brag and say that my dh and I have great kids..we still wonder how we got them!  He is playing club soccer in college..maybe try for the varsity team next year...we will see...He is very happy with the school.  We toured the Presidents House and met him and is wife yesterday...  What a nice couple..it is like a family there.  My daughter is at a large university and there is such a big dfference. Both good..but different

HEY TO MY FAVORITE GROUP OF LADIES, This is me at 9 weeks PFC.  What do ya think???

HUGS, Dawn

Dawn - you look BEAUTIFUL. I am 8 weeks PFC and have close to the same amount of hair but it is mostly white. I am getting ready to color it in the next few weeks. Your pic really helps me imagine what I will look like.
But even more than the hari - I am amazed by the EYEBROWS. Are they all yours or did you color them in? They are so thick and dark. Mine are about 1/2 gone (the outer half towards my temples) and give me a more hairless look. I will try to post a pic myself soon.

Thank you for sharing yours. It is very inspiring!

Amy

AMY - Thanks so much! I have colored my hair two times already and it took fine both times so you are probably good to go for that.  You will be amazed at how much more hair it looks like when you get the color on.  My eyelashes are all back and as thick as before but they are still growing, I have about 2/3 of my original length right now.  My brows are mostly back, I bought some of this brow mascara (think it might be by Maybelline), it is colored so it attaches to the hairs that are still light and gives them some color too.  I didn't have great brows before so I'm just happy to have them back at this point.  Good luck with the coloring and please do post your pic, I'd love to see it.  HUGS, Dawn

Hi Ladies!

I read on one of the other boards that Herceptin treatments can actually slow the re-growth of hair post-chemo.  I am back to taking multi-vitamins (per docs permission) and calcium/vitamin D and potassium supplements.

Right before my diagnosis, I was taking Biotin tablets for hair/nails.  I'm going to ask if I can resume those as well.

I figure I might as well do all I can to encourage and support my hair's re-growth while on Herceptin and beyond.

This Friday will be 9 weeks PFC for me, and all I have is peach fuzz (mostly gray).  But it IS growing, so for that I'm gratfeul!

Alaina

I belive the biotin really really helps - I know my nails are growing like crazy and I know it has helped with the other hair growth.  Dawn, isn't the brow colorant terrific?  Anastasia makes it too - you can get it at Ulta or Sephora.  I still use it to fill in color on the gray brows and sometimes on some of the gray hairs on my head (I really need color - tomorrow can't come soon enough!!).

Glad to hear everyone is doing well!!

Dawn - your hair looks great! I am 8 weeks out and don't have as much as you do! I will start posting photos soon.

Hope everyone is doing ok! Have a good evening!

Judy x

JUDY - Thanks, I'm just so excited to have something on my head besides skin LOL!  Love to see a pic of you.

TITAN - I know what you mean about the "cootie" look.  Can't wait to see your pic.

BETSY - How are ya today??

HELEN - AMY - ALAINA - How are your days going??

Anyone heard from Lena?

HUGS, Dawn

Dawn- I'm feeling total "cancer fatigue" at this stage. My boob is tight, swollen, red and itches.... I know I should be happy to have it...BUT it is literally a pain right now.  I'm tired of going daily to rads. Yesterday I actually thought I made the wrong choice not having a mastectomy. Plus, I'm having an issue with my rads onc about my boosts (target tumor bed). Based on the pics they've shown me, I think they are missing the area. I called my surgeon to make sure I wasn't crazy re: the location of the actual tumor. They confirmed I was right. So tomorrow I have a pow wow with him, wish me luck on clarifying everything. I'm a very visual person, so hopefully he can explain how they measure and target the area.  Bottom line -they ain't target shooting on me until I feel ok about it.

Over night I got hair...it's strange, it went from nubs to, honest to God, real hair. Two people commented on the change today at my office. Although, this chia pet look...I'm not liking. No curl...just lot's of it sprouting all over. It looks totally gray to me but everyone else says they see dark hairs. For now, I don't plan on coloring it. I'm sick of chemicals but I won't rule it out either.

Titan - I did a search re: facial hair. It's an unfortunate se of menopause. Arrgh!!!

Lena- How are those abdominal cramps? What did the doctor say?

Sorry I'm a downer...I guess I'm having a down day.

Betsy

Hiya DenRulzBC!  I'm doing well.  Right now my biggest challenge is the cording I've developed under my left armpit and stretching down to my elbow.  But I have a wonderful Occupational Therapist who tortures me twice a week, and I'm SOOOOO close to being able to assume the "arm-over-head" position I need to do for radiation.

My simulation for radiation is 10/5 and hopefully rads will start 10/12.  I have two more OT appointments.

My drains were removed 8 days ago.  They had been in just over 3 weeks (much longer than average).  My surgeon said that if I started to grow a new breast, to call them so they could aspirate the fluid that was still collecting.

Sure enough, as I was examining myself in a mirror a few days ago, I noticed that I was working on growing a new size A boob!  LOL!!!  So I called and today they aspirated 90ccs of fluid (which they said was normal, just over 10 cc's per days since the drains came out).  I have another appointment next week to aspirate more if necessary.

The needle they used was 4 inches long and a 20 gauge (very thick).  Thankfully, she inserted it in a spot where I have absolutely NO feeling/sensation!  LOL!!!

So that's all that's new for me.  I went to work 2 days this week (Mon/Tues) after being off for 4 weeks.  I had planned to work a full 5-day week next week, but new doc appointments won't permit that.  Oh well!

This Friday I will have my 9th Herceptin treatment (3rd one with JUST the Herceptin and no hard-chemo).  This represents the halfway mark on the total number of Herceptin treatments I will get.  There's a milestone and mini-victory around every corner!

At this treatment, I will present the Head Oncology Nurse with a check for $1000 for their Outpatient Chemo Center (where I'm being treated).  At my pre-surgery (Ta-Ta-to-The-Ta-Ta's) Party, I held a Silent Auction and we raised that money to allow the center to purchase board games and card games (like Scrabble, Monopoly, UNO, etc) to entertain chemo patients and their support team during treatments.  They can also use the money for other things they find they need.  I am so excited to hand over the money to them!   At my my 1st chemo, I brought along a Scrabble game, and that was our routine at every chemo, to play Scrabble before I fell asleep!  The nurses thought it was a great idea, and that's when I realized they didn't really have anything in the Center to provide that "distraction."  

Anywhoo...my October is shaping up to be pretty busy.   My energy is SOOO much better compared to what I experiencing during chemo's 4, 5, & 6.  I didn't think I would ever feel this "normal" again, and while I still get tired out, it takes MUCH longer to get to that point!  So ladies who are still in the thick of chemo, it DOES get better once chemo ends!

Talk to you all later!  Alaina