Starting Chemo April 2009

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    Hey everyone....in fact..where is everyone???? Sitting at the dr's office getting their follow-ups???????? Everyone must go ok and busy since they aren't on here!

    Ok..I'll talk to myself.....went topless to work this week after having my hair cut and colored...yes..she actually trimmed it to shape it up...people say..hey I like your new haircut....I just laugh and say thank you...transitioning from wig to my real hair was totally painless!  the beautician actually threw in a eyebrow wax for free!  They were so freaking bushy but I was afraid to pluck them because I thought they would all fall out again!   People say I look like a model ...whatever...to a school teacher...whatever...it just feels nice to go out and about and feel good again.

    Eating like a freaking hog....have gained almost 15 pounds in 8 months...not sure I like it..used to enjoy being thin but maybe this is a healthy thing...my stomach has been a little queasy..NO I'M NOT PREGNANT...I think it may be all the freaking vitamins I'm taking...if it doesn't turn around soon though I will probably call the doctor about it...

    Shout out to everyone!  Hope you are all having fun! 

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Good to hear from you Titan! I am going for that color and topless look the week of Thanksgiving, am nervous and excited all at the same time.

    One day, I may post a photo...

    Hugs for a good weekend, Judy xoxox

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    I am going to try to post a photo once my daughter comes home from school for Thanksgiving..she is the computer guru..How many weeks are you out from chemo..I'm now almost 15 weeks.  Going topless in public was really nothing at all...no one looks at "differently" at all...If you go kinda spiky looking and color it you look like it was something you intended to do....when we went to the mall today I was looking at scarves (for around my neck) and some of this high spiky black boots...with a sweater and some gray jeans...well..I'm thinking I'm going to feel pretty good!

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  • BetsyBuzz
    BetsyBuzz Member Posts: 592
    edited November 2009

    Hey Titan good to hear you are enjoying your new edgy look. I've had so many compliments this past week on my hair, I may decide to keep it super short. It's so easy. Funny...I always thought guys liked long hair. It's mostly guys that have said how much they like it???? Even my med onc said "wow...your hair looks sheik". I don't see what they see, I still think it's WAY too short.

    So my first follow up meeting with my onc. was pretty uneventful. The only new news is I ok'd starting tracking tumor markers. Is anyone else doing this? It's a blood test that tracks hormones and proteins that can elevate if there is cancer activity. You all probably already know about this but it was news to me. Anyway, I started it yesterday. The only thing I have to remember is that there seems to be a lot of false positives and they don't even get excited until you have elevated levels for a couple of months.Oh the other thing...my WBC is still low. My onc was not worried he said it was most likely from the chemo rads combination.

    My first rad onc meeting also happened yesterday. Got felt up twice..my poor little boob was quite sore but the rads onc was much gentler than my med onc. He said I still had edema from rads but everything looks great.

    Titan.. No spiky boots for me..but I bought some funky flats with patent leather buckle snaps/brushed leather uppers. Not quite like Doc Martins but along the same lines of funk factor but dresser. I wore them to work today with a scarf! 

    Judy - don't be nervous about your hair. You will look marvelous!

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Thanks Betsy. You look great in that photo - I am starting to get excited about the "unveiling" LOL!

    Titan, I think I am around 3.5 months pfc, I finished on 27th July.

    Hugs to all for a good rest of the day,

    Judy xxx

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    Judy..you and I are very close..I finished August 5th...have about 1 1/2 inch of hair..had it colored and shaed up..with blond highlights..I LOVE IT!  It is really growing though..Once I took off the freaking wig it started to grow...

    Betsy..I too think I will keep it short..it is so easy to take care of!  And it looks good!  YOU look good! 

    Someday Judy you will have to post a picture..I will too! 

    Betsy..I see the chemo onc in a couple of weeks..the last time I saw him was a follow up from chemo..now on to the every 3  months for  2 years...so..what do they do exactly?  The tumor markers..and what else...what have you heard that they NEED to do...I want to know..so that I can ask for things,.  I now that there will be no scans unless I think there is something going on.........so far so good..I started drinking green tea today..not too bad!  

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Hi Titan

    Ooh - I love green tea, I drink it all the time!

    Once I have visited the hairdresser and "unveilled", I will try and post a picture.

    I must have a little vent though - I still have heartburn! Not as bad as it was but I do still have it. I am taking prilosec and last week I had a couple of good days and thought it was behind me, but this week is not good again. I keep on telling myself that I need to be patient, but it would be really nice if it would go away already. End of Vent...

    A good day to all - it is so sunny and gorgeous out there!

    Hugs, Judy xxx

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Titan, one more question - what color did you use? My onc says to only use natural products.

    Any advice ladies?

    Thanks, Judy x

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    My hairdresser used a caramel color..I doubt that it was natural... My mom was freaking out about me having my hair colored..but you know what..I never, ever colored my hair until now...so it wasn't coloring my hair that caused my cancer...I was like..screw it!  The shop I went too was also the one that provided me my wig at cost....they do this for the cancer girls going through treatment...They have alot of clients that are going through treatments...and after treatments. The color they put on is a "permanent" color and won't have to be redone for several months.  She said that the brown (and gray) coming in after this color will just make it look cool..I will have several colors!   I guess..what I'm saying..that if everyone that colors their hair...and that is alot! would have breast cancer I would freak...but that just isn't the truth..not going to worry about it.

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    And Judy...I still have heartburn occasionally also..but not like what I think you have had it..sometimes I'm just sitting there and welll...not to be gross..but stuff kinda comes up...I think that it is the chemo...the gift that keeps on giving!  Lucky us!

    Green tea tastes good!  Had more today...not sure if it is really beneficial..but figure it can't hurt.

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  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 1,755
    edited November 2009

    I bought some kind of 'natural' hair dye that they stock at WholeFoods. It uses vegetable color I think, and no ammonia. But it sure seemed chemical-ly when I used it.

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Thanks everyone for the posts on the colour. I will got to Wholefoods and see what they have. The Onc seemed more concerned with damage to my folicles than anything else.

    Have a good day, Hugs, Judy x

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    You know Titan, it is such a strange thing with my stomach. It rarely "comes up", but I have this horrid burning sensation in my stomach - all v weird. But we are no strangers to that are we???

    Hugs, Judy x

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    I don't know Judy...You are such a SUPPORT on here..don't take this personally..but do you ever LET IT OUT?  You have always been so calm...maybe you need to get on here and SCREAM sometimes...we will listen..and hear you!   VENT!  Don't yell at the kids or DH.or kick the dog   .yell here..flip us off here if you have too...maybe it will make you feel better...!  We love you no matter what! 

    How is everyone doing anyway?  My moments of freaking out are getting fewer and fewer...I really hate it sometimes when I get that way..kind of shaky..thinking I'm going to die tomorrow.  And then I have to talk myself out of it...saying to myself you will be ok..maybe....I hear good news from the doctors and still I freak someitmes....I hear friends complaining about co-workers or talking aout some kind of Henn pottery or something and I think..WTF?   Is that really important..and then I realize that it IS important to them..and maybe I should care..but to tell you the truth it isn't that important to me...maybe someday I will get to the point where these kind of things concern me..but I'm not there now...

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Titan - I love to read your posts. I think you are right - I don't vent enough. I do journal every day though which helps me. I think my main frustration at the moment, is exhaustion and my stomach. I know that I can deal with the first, and I am just trying to be patient with the second.

    I still haven't made any decision about reconstruction - sometimes, that bothers me too. I am coloring my hair on Monday and taking off the headscarf which is quite exciting. Although I think my kids are a little nervous. I need to love myself for what I am now and not harp back to how I used to look. I think that is quite a challenge. You see, you have got me started now...Smile

    It is good to know that I can always vent here if I need to - finding this site was so helpful for me! I really feel like I have made good friends here!

    Hope everyone is doing ok today.

    Hugs, Judy x

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    AmyIsStrong - thanks for the tip. I went to wholefoods. Did the color do any damage to your hair?

    Hugs, Judy x

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    I think you still need to flip something off..I know you can do it...JUDY!!!!!!!!!!!!  DO IT!

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    Judy...I'm sure you are very, very busy with your kids...I'm soo excited..we are picking up our son tomorrow...then my daughter is coming home briefly this weekend..then on Weds. for Thanksgiving..I'm so excited to have all of us together again...they haven't really seen my "new" hair...it just keeps growing and growing..that is exciting too!   Plus..since rads and chemo my appetite is well...sometimes I think I eat like a freaking animal and realize that I need to eat like a lady...but I'm so hungry all the time!  I love food!  I like wine too...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009
    Hi, my chemo sisters.  Had my first MRI yesterday since dx, and the radiologist compared the first MRI films (huge tumor, lots of cysts and junk in each breast, a small blip of suspsicious something in the other breast) to yesterday's films and his comments were "IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!!"  I am completely N.E.D. - lymph nodes, chest wall, breasts, nothing!!!   The tamox is really working well- all of the cysts and junk are gone and the rads area is healing, just some swelling from the infection I'm battling in that one, but happy dance, yay, I can now relax and live my life!!
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  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 1,755
    edited November 2009

    CHELEV - AWESOME!!!!!

    JUDY -  The hair color didn't do any damage that I can tell. My hair is coming in very thick. It isn't getting noticeably longer, but definitely thicker. I will say this though - the color went on very 'flat' - i.e. one-dimensional. It looked sort of like a toupee for a while. Now it is fading a little and there is some variance in color (natural shading) - probably the grey starting to come through, lol. But it looks better. Or maybe I'm just used to it. Who knows.  It is VERY nice to just go through life without feeling like I am looking like a cancer patient to everyone I meet.  I feel very normal and sort of incognito!

    No matter what, it is MUCH more fun watching hair grow back than watching it fall out!

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Chelev - great news!!! So happy for you! I am dancing with you!!!

    AmyIsStrong - thanks for the posting - I will let you all know how Monday goes - who know? I may even post a photo...

    Titan - thanks for all your support - I hope you have a wonderful time with all your family around you! I too have an appetite, but sometimes pay the price afterwards ...It is so funny, you make me sound like such a calm person, but I am SO NOT! Ask anyone who know me - I think since I had BC, I sometimes don't have the strength to flip like I used to, sometimes, I just zone out - does that happen to you too?

    Dawn and Betsy - where have you gone???

    Anyway, today is Sunny and gorgeous out, so I think a walk is in order : )

    Hugs to all for a good weekend, Judy xxx

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited November 2009

    Chelev, great news!!!! Enjoy the weekend now.

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    Helen..so good to hear from you..how are things!  Are you hanging in there?  Remember...you can always come on here and VENT or flip off things like Christy does!

    Chelev...that is so much AWESOME NEWS!  I held my breath when I read your post and got a little dizzy..this is news that we need to hear!  YAY for you.

    Ok..Judy..you sound calm when you type..you don't use capitalization like I do...so obviously you are hyper and we will need to pull you off the wall someday...we can do that.

    Amy..nice pic..you really do look great...my pic maybe be coming..hopefully soon...people tell me that my hair looks longer than last week..well yeah..hair is supposed to grow..UNLESS you are going through chemo..remember back when ...when we had to have our hair cut everything few weeks??  One day last week, I was leaviing work, it was raining a bit and I felt rain on my head!  I haven't felt that for so long...it felt so good!  did I want an umbrella?  Heck no..I just enjoyed it!

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  • BetsyBuzz
    BetsyBuzz Member Posts: 592
    edited November 2009

    Hey all..this is the time of year my work schedule really picks up so I've barely had the energy to write. I don't surface until after the middle of January. So I will be lurking but maybe not posting much. But I love reading about how everyone is doing.

    Chelev - great news about your MRI. Have you gained weight on Tamox? I've gained all the weight I lost on chemo back and now going into the food season, I'm a little nervous.

    I've switch my Avatar to generic until Judy and Titan post their pics. I want to see some pics ladies!

    Amy - my hair is definitely coming in gray, at least it's not curly. The texture has changed. It's sort of hard to look at the change in the mirror. My hair use to be very dark. I really don't want to color my hair...as I'm steering clear of chemicals. It's sort of a bummer, now some of my clothes don't look good with my new color. Damn...guess I need to go shopping. Actually...I really don't like shopping for clothes. I'm a shoe person...kindred spirits with Imelda Marcos.

    Helen- How's the nordic walking going?

    Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    HEY GIRLS ;o)!!!

    How's everybody doing?

    CHELEV - WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO! I'm doin' some serious dancin' for you right now - that's the kinda news we looooooove to hear!!!  Get on with your life girlfriend and love every minute of it.

    AMY - Looooooookinnnnng good GIRLIE!!

    TITAN - Love ya darlin'.  Here's to less WTF moments and NO more freakin' out.  Hope you're doing well and ROCKIN' the short locks!

    JUDY - Sweet thing, I love your posts.  You are a dear!  Hope those kids are still keeping you running around.  I bet you look great, can't wait to see a pic.  I colored my hair 3wks PFC, yep that's right 3wks.  My hairdresser works for Aveda and their color is plant based so my onc said it was fine.  It did dull quickly but is holding the color much better now.  I did find that using some gel that says "shine" on it helps to make the color deeper and adds that little bit of glimmer.  Go for it girlfriend.  Where are you - east, west, north, south ???

    BETSY - So funny about your avatar going "generic"  I love it.  We definitely need to see some pics of these girls.  Love shoes too, well clothes too, and accessories.  Maybe I need professional help LOL;o)!

    HELEN - How are you doing?   Hope things are going OK!

    Keep putting one foot in front of the other girls, I think we're all running now!  GOOD FOR US!

    HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!  Don't eat too much - Oh what the heck go ahead and eat as much as you want - we deserve a worry free day of eating!

    HUGS, Dawn

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Hi all,

    Betsy, thanks for the encouragement - I do like your new pic! LOL!

    Dawn - good to hear from you! So pleased that you are busy and that we are all starting to run now! I am east, in MD actually - not too far from you?

    Happy Thanksgiving to you both if you don't visit before Thursday! I am new to the US and just love this holiday!!!

    Hugs to all for a good week, and a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

    Judy xxx

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    JUDY - OMG where in MD are you???  I am about 1/2 hr south of DC, we should try to meet up some time.  HUGS, Dawn

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Hi Dawn - I have sent you a PM.

    Take care all and have a good evening,

    Judy xxx

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    Judy..new to the US???...well I will tell you that most (all) of our Holidays involve eating!

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited November 2009

    Sounds good to me Titan!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Hugs, Judy xxx

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