November 2009-Starting Chemo

Options
1…6566687071…148

Comments

  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2010

    Suepen: hey, lay off the rodent jokes!!Wink

    Nette: Sorry to hear that you aren't done, but now you get another celebration!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited April 2010

    Melinda: I couldn't resist - promise I won't joke about it again. :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2010

    Suepen: No problem, you made me laugh!

     Hey, I actually slept through the night last night. Did not get out of bed at all, that is amazing for me. I guess exhaustion has finally taken over, woo hoo!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2010

    Nette, 

    I had originally thought I was done on the 9th of April and then realized I had to the 16th because of the boosts. I had 25 regular and then 9 boost of rads. 34 all together. I actually cried. My boob was already red and my nipple sore as hell. BUT, the boost isn't as bad and only concentrates on the area where my tumor was. My nipple is still still very sore from the regular rads and it had started peeling about the 13th and still is. It is soooo sensitive to even put cream on bothers me right now! I look like a freak.  It will too get better, I pray. They did say it could get worse for two more weeks so I'll just hang in there. I gotta say, I think rads is almost worse than chemo. I have been sort of depressed ever since I started the radiation. The people are great there, maybe it's just me.

    Speaking of which I went back to see my Onc. Dr. and he put me on Tamoxifen for 2 years. I read the pamphlet that you get and seen that it doesn't mix with some anti-depressants. So, I looked up interacting meds and seen I have to stop taking my anti-depressant med because it decreases the effects of taking the Tomax! I'm already worried about the side affects.

    Melinda,

    How long is your hair now? I love the idea of the mousse. I should try it out. We have a Sally's about an hour from where I live in the big city. I must make a trip there. I still don't know what color mine is yet. It is still that clearish kinda whiteish on the ends, but I swear i see some kinda light brownish color under there. My DH says I'm seeing things. Guess we will all see in due time.

    Cafelovr,

    You have been through so much. Yet, you are so uplifting and kind to everyone. Your spirit is so good. I'm so sorry you are having pain still, the tingling and numbness is still bothering me some since I had my Axillary Dissection. They told me I need to do some simple exercises by taking different material and rubbing them up my arm (never downward) and in towards my chest. The therapist said use something soft, something fuzzy, something kinda roughish, warm cold, etc. It is suppose to desensitise the nerves where we are not having normal feelings after surgery because of our nerves being cut into. The reason we rub upwards is to keep the lymphatic fluids draining in the correct direction so we don't get lymphedema. (spelling??)

    Suepen,

    Sorry your nipple is sore like mine. How is your hair hangin? Mine still is slow going, but ya know I'm kinda liking this short hair stuff now. So easy to deal with. cool too. don't have to worry about the wind blowing it out of place when my DH rides with his windows down to get fresh air anymore. It has it's advantages for sure. DH want it back long again though.  We will see.

    GrammaMickey,

    I'm so glad your surgery went well!!!  Have you started back on your Taxol schedule yet? Maybe they won't make you start again! We can dream can't we?

    Alicia,

    Thankyou so much for always picking up where I seem to miss things. You should be a moderator. You are so warm & kind to each and everyone and follow with diligence. I get lost at times in my own probs and just loose my sense of direction.

    BUT, know I love each and every Warrior Sister on board!!~~

    (((((GROUP HUG)))))

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2010

    My hair is less than 1/2 inch and it is sparse, but it is mine! I still have the mousse in here, it is less mousy looking, at least to me. The kids laugh at me even attempting to do anything with this.

    Brenda Sharon: You posted this I get lost at times in my own probs and just loose my sense of direction. And I read, I get lost in my own pubes and just loose my sense of direction HA HA HA

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2010

    Melinda,

    TOO FUNNY~~~~Lost in my pubes~~~ ;-)

    I agree it is OUR HAIR!!! Yours is twice as long as mine, you go girl!!~~~

    I have never figured out how to put a picture in my post like you did.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2010
    regarding posting pics:  You have to have your pictures somewhere on the web so you have a address for them. Sometimes, I can post pics from my blog, but that doesn't always work. So I use photobucket which works, but the ads on photobucket get frustrating. I try to make the pics small before I post them as the size thing seems to be my biggest issue with uploading to this board.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2010

    Thanks Melinda

    I'll try to figure it out, I'm not real computer literate ;-(

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GrandmaMickey
    GrandmaMickey Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2010

    You guys are too funny - to find my hair you have to look sideways in the light!  I can feel it on my legs,head and eyebrows but no pubes, eyelashes or underarms.  My daughter is upset that it is all white - I told her what you guys said but she still says it makes me look old!  Thanks a heap.

    Recovery from surgery is easier than I expected.  Tired and some discomfort - my drain fluid is diminishing quickly so I think I'll have it out at my f/u 4-26-10 - OUCH - No one has mentioned the 4 taxol's that are left - I still have painful,numb fingers and feet so I don't know if they will or wont

    I love your hair Melinda41 - I think a few pink spikes would add pazzazz!  Hope everyone is doing well and having a SE free day
    !

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2010

    Grandma,

    Maybe they didn't mention the (4 taxols),

    Because surgery went so well,you just don't need it anymore

    ~~~~~ we can hope (tee-hee)

    Tell your daughter it is silver not white

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited April 2010

    Melinda: You have way more hair than I do - not fair.  Mine is so fair/white it's hard to see though. There seem to be some darker ones coming through. It's just not happening fast enough. I have become totally obsessed about it. I'll get Steve to take a new photo and I'll post it. I found tinypic.com to put photos on.

    Brenda: Thanks for telling me about your sore nipple. Looks like it's does happen to other people. I was worried because it was sore before the rads started. So far the boob looks ok - no burning. I go for no 13 this morning. I'm complaining about driving 15 minutes to get there - doesn't compare to what you had to do.

    GrandmaMickey: Glad you are recovering well from the surgery.

    We haven't heard from SharaD since she went for surgery - hope she's OK.

    Hugs to everyone!!!

    Sue

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited April 2010

    mousefur.jpg Hair PF chemo picture by deblasiofamily

    This is my mouse fur as of today !

    :)
    Not sure if this will work ~

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2010

    Wow Alicia, that is nice and thick!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited April 2010

    Wow Alicia, you have tons of hair....you too Melinda...whhaaa I want more hair...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited April 2010

    Melinda ~ yours is longer than mine !  put ours together and we have a nice head of hair~  I can't take the color...........

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited April 2010

    Not fair you girls. Congrats on the regrowth. Here's mine. Not a terrific picture seeing I took it myself, but you can see new little dark ones in amongst all the white ones. Still lots of bald bits too. Sorry for the closeup.

    Sue

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited April 2010

    Alicia:  the pic of your hair could be a pic of mine!  But as far as color, mine is more "salt and pepper."  I tried to take a pic of mine, but it just didn't come out well on the camera.  Will have to try again and use the tinypic.com site.   And I'm glad BrendaShar mentioned what a "cheerleader" you are, as I intended to mention in on my last posting and forgot.  (I tend to forget things even just moving from room to room in my house!!)

    Suepen:  Just FYI - the rad techs covered my nip because they said that rad tends to collect in the highest point, so the sticky foam pad was put on to hold my nip down some.  I laughed at their reasoning because my nip points downward, not up!  :) 

    The area that got the rad is now turning a nice, summery brown.  I did ask the techs during rad if there was any way to get rad all over my body so I'd have an early tan.  They said they get asked that a lot.  :)

    Happy Friday to all.  (Is it Friday in Australia??!!)  :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited April 2010

    Sue you have some nice fuzz growing there.  It is long ! 

    Nettie ~~ glad you are taking care of your nip.  Enjoy the tan boobie.

    Thank for the compliment on the cheering sometimes ~  I try.  You all mean a lot to me.  I don't know what I would of done going through this alone.  So for you all I am grateful !

    Happy Friday ~

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited April 2010

    Lovin all these hair pics!!!!!

    dugh~~~~me I still can't get a pic up SORRY!

    Spring is def for sure hair!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2010

    Suepen: your hair is much like mine, longer fuzz but not thick. How did Alicia and Nette get such thick coverage? Did it come in that thick or did you shave the fuzz off and start from scratch?

    I think when chemo is over, I will buzz it again, not bald, just GI Jane. I am just not convinced that the stuff on my head is actually hair.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited April 2010

    NOOOO don't shave it ~ I didn't.  I am using a hair product that someone recommended ~ It is called Ovations.  It is just a natural protein based hair conditioner.  Maybe it's that !  Mine was just like yours growing in then all of a sudden it starts to grow underneath.  Be patient my lovelies.  Trust me I still keep my hat on most of the time.  Can't style this yet.  And remember my last chemo was 2/8.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited April 2010

    My hair came in like Alicia's on its own, but I, too, had my last chemo on Feb. 16th, so it has been 10 weeks since then, though it did start growing a little right before that.  Can't "style" mine either.  Wouldn't even be able to gel it into spikes yet and, again like Alicia, I still wear my wig all the time  except around the house.  And I use "Nioxin for fine, thin hair," but I'm not sure that is making a difference.  I've used it all along because my wig-person recommended it when I buzzed my hair off prior to chemo.  She had said it was good scalp treatment.   (I think Suepen purchased a bottle, too.)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited April 2010

    Nette is correct, I purchased 4 bottles of Nioxin products!!! Cleanser, conditioner, scalp therapy and follicle booster. Cost me a fortune but what the heck.

    I thought about getting it buzzed again but decided to wait and see. It's only 6 1/2 weeks since the last chemo. You can see all those shorter darker ones coming in. Now that it's getting colder over here, I'll need a beanie.

    Melinda, yours is darker though - you can actually see it - mine is like fairy fuzz. I do love stroking it.

    Brenda, email me a picture and I'll put it up for you if you like

    It's Saturday morning here now - we have a long weekend due to Anzac Day tomorrow.

    Hope you all have a great weekend.

    Sue

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2010

    Fairy fuzz, that sounds so much nicer than rodent fur!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited April 2010

    Melinda, I'd been calling myself a fuzzy grey angel but since you sent some hair fairy dust, I like the idea of fairy fuzz.

    Sue

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited April 2010

    It is funny how we have come full circle...when we all started this crazy ride we were talking about loosing our hair, now we are talking about growing our hair..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mabelle
    mabelle Member Posts: 80
    edited April 2010

    I like "fairy fuzz" too. I'm sure my 8 year old daughter would also approve. I think mine is still more like peach fuzz though - but I'm not quite done yet.

    Anyone else ever experience numbness on their lower legs when they were on taxol? My feet are constantly numb and have been for a while, but now my lower left leg is also feeling very strange! Totally numb to the touch. I haven't talked to anyone about it yet - not sure if I need to. I'm so achey all over today and I can't seem to get warm. I'm so excited about this being over in 2 weeks, but at the same time I'm starting to get really down that the SEs are getting worse. UGH!!  

    Take care all! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2010
    Mabelle: I am not numb, just tingly like my limbs have fallen asleep. It is bad in my left hand and it is climbing up my arm more and more. They always ask if I am having trouble with buttons, dropping things or if my walking is affected. So far, so good... But I have had a few days like the good old AC days, yucky, chemically, in bed, it is definitely getting worse every week, but only 2 more to go!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited April 2010

    Mabelle: I have 3 numb toes on the left foot - they drive me crazy!!! The onc said it's not his fault but I read it is a side effect of taxotere/taxol.

    Sorry you girls have to have taxol every week. At least with the TCH regime I had 3 weeks in between.

    One thing about finishing chemo is that you no longer have the steroids to mask the SE's. I keep wishing I could take some dexamethasone just to get rid of these aches.

    Don't laugh, I'm sitting here with a hand mirror inspecting my hair growth :)

    Sue

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited April 2010

    Oh pleeeeze, Suepen, I HAD to laugh!!!  :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories