Starting Chemo October 2009
Comments
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Hey girls, I am happy to say yesterday was my last radiation. I slammed dunked my johnny in the bucket and trotted out of there. One more thing behind me!! My skin is so brown and peeling but at least it's on its way to healing.
I stopped and bought myself a plant after treatment. I ended up picking up a rose plant named Victory Rose. I couldn't have found a more perfectly named plant!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Piffkin - so sorry to hear of the awful time you went through. Thank goodness when there is family to rely on. Hope things continue to improve for you.
Jean
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Jean, what a great gift to yourself! You can watch it grow, and know that you have made it through so much and now you're getting your life back. Congrats on finishing rads!
I've just got ONE rad treatment left, and I can't wait to slam-dunk that gown! I'm going to bake cookies for my rads team, they've been so supporting and caring throughout this ordeal.
Have a terrific weekend everyone!
~Shelby
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Jean, way to go...WOOOHOOO. Now it is time to celebrate a little. Love the idea of a plant...I didn't do anything special...
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I like the idea of a plant too. Much better than my self-indulgence of ice cream and chocolate.
Just wondering if any of the rest of you have noticed that your sense of smell is not as good as before? During chemo, my sense of smell was very acute -- petrol/gas, foods, etc. But now I think I don't smell things as easily as before.
Another thing ... I don't seem to sweat much anymore. Does chemo do something to the sweat glands? Prior to my BC diagnosis, I'd started to have night sweats. For the first few weeks of chemo I was always cold, then the hot flashes began. But whereas before I used to get really hot and really sweaty, not I just get hot but don't sweat at all. This way is not as uncomforable than night sweats. Just wondering if anyone else experiences the same.
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HI THERE
MARY
Yep me to ,more of the being hot but not sweating much and during chemo my sence of smell was intense.
My bodie isnt as sore as it has been so im keeping my fingers crossed that its coming to an end
now im getting worried to end all the treatment its been like a safty net and then its over and the net is gone !!!!
JOJO
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JOJO: are you going to take Tamoxifen?
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Hi ladies.
Dropping in to see how everyone is doing. I am doing great. I go back to work full time tomorrow. Good to have things go back to normal. My energy level is getting better since finishing rads. My burns are completely healed on my breast. The bad thing is that my radiated breast is much smaller than non radiated breast. So I am now lopsided. You can not tell just looking at me with clothes on. So it will by mine and hubbies secret.
My hair is about an inch long. I will also check out that product nioxin in Sally's. I could sure use a little help. My hair is very soft...almost too soft. You can still see a little of my scalp peeking through.
My neuropathy is almost completely gone. I have very minor numbness in my feet.
I am also not sweating. I went through rads without using any deoderant. My daughter was shocked because she said I had absolutely no smell. Seriously. That was really weird. You would think I would have a musky order by not using deoderant...but nothing. Of course, I am now using deodarant again.
I can not remember who it was that wondered about leg pain after finishing chemo. It took several weeks for the leg pain to stop completely. I was on taxol and had minor leg pain after finishing chemo.
Shelby- glad to hear you are almost finished with rads. It was definitely better than chemo even though I had pretty significant burns.
Anita
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HIGALS
MARY NY
Nope im not on that yet after rads ill be ive got about one week to go
ANITA WOW your doing so well keep it up time flyes by ah i can remember when we were all talking about how scared we were about starting chemo and now your back at work full time .
JOJO
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Hey Princess JO JO - yes it seemed like yesterday. I am so glad to have all that behind me. We are so much stronger because of what we have gone through. I wore my hair au natural and everyone loves my short hair. I was so nervous to come to work without the wig. I am so happy I did.
Anita
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Hello everyone,
I would imagine many of us Oct. chemo girls have reached the Radiation stage and hope to find someone who can tell me where to find Aloe (the actual plant).
My Radiaton Onco said it works wonders for skin that has been, or is being radiated. She told me today that skin irritations she normally sees in the 2nd or 3rd week are delayed until almost the last week of treatment and the after effects are much easier on the skin.
Unfortunately, she did not know where to purchase the plant, does anyone know? She tells me it would be great in place of any kind of lotion, with the exception of one specific kind that comes in a very small bottle and has to be ordered by calling a 1-800 number which sells products specifically for radiation patients. it can be over $60 for a small bottle and still, the actual plant works better.
Has anyone tried this and what did you think? Thanks. Piffken
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Piffken: Not sure where to find the plant. I used the aloe vera gel from CVS and it worked really well. All I used was that and cornstarch. I had no burning, irritation or blisters.
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You shuold be able to get the aloe plant at any plant store...good luck
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yEH TRY THE PLANT STORES AND THEY ARE VERY EASY TO GROW
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Hi MaryNY
Thank you for the tip. I'm glad to hear it worked. If I can't find the plant, I will definitely get the cream from CVS. It's only been a little over a wek fo rme, so I do not have any side-effects yet but want to get something before things get too bad.
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Piffken: it's not a cream, it's a colorless gel. It's important to get one as close to 100% as possible and definitely no alcohol, fragrance or color. In CVS, you should find it in the suncare section. The one I got is there own brand Pure Aloe Vera Sensitive Skin Gel. The first CVS I went too only had luridly colored ones. Avoid those. The rad nurse gave me a sample size (2 oz) of Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera 100% Gel. This is very handy for carrying in your bag.
Even though you don't have any SEs yet, I think it would be a good idea of start using the aloe gel now. Also as the weather is getting warmer, using cornstarch in the breast fold would help keep that area dry. Suggest you put some cornstarch into a nice small lidded container in your bathroom and apply it with a makeup/blusher brush. That way you won't feel that you are getting bread ready for the oven each time you use it
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Thank you for the tip on the cornstarch. The Rad Onco told me to use it in place of Deo but I think it is a great idea to use it to keep the area under my breast dry. That's why I love coming to these boards, you get so much help and useful tips.
I was actually able to find the Aloe plant at Home Depot today. You cut the leaves off and store them in your refridgerator. Every day after Radiation you take one out and cut it lengthwise into half. The seepage is just like lotion (I tried it for the first time today) and felt very soft. You rub it on the radiated area.
Once I start getting SE's, the cold gel should feel really good. The Rad Onco said that this procedure can delay SE's by about 3 weeks. Wouldn't that be great? And the plant was under $3. Piffken
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Glad you found the plant.
For deodorant, my onc said to use Tom's of Maine or Crystal Stick. I was already using Tom's so continued to do so. I like Crystal Stick too and find it pretty effective. Now maybe in the FL climate, it wouldn't work as well. Funny thing is, since chemo I just don't sweat like I used to.
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MaryNY,
Hi, Thanks for popping over and checking out my hair. I must say I am just lovin the thick plush feel I have. Now I just hope the Tamoxifen doesn't make me loose any hair, or I will LOOSE it!
Oh and just an FYI, I too do not sweat or perspire I should say under my arms whatsoever since chemo either. I hope I never do again. NOW, the night sweats on my head from the Tamox, another STORY~~~~
The November "Warriors" are all doing well. A couple of sisters are having numbness and one with all kinds of worries, but for the most part we are all hanging in and most the are over the chemo wall and quite a few already done with radiation as well.
Spring has Sprung and we are all (as Alicia said) into the hair growing like the flowers are blooming, then (as Mechele said) we all came full circle,
first worrying about and watching our hair coming out, now we are HAPPY to be watching and seeing our hair come in.
FULL CIRCLE, FULL BLOOM
(((((Group Hug))))) to all October Sisters.
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Piffken,
I used fruit of the earth aloe. Its all natural & colorless, odorless and alcohol free. Wallmart carries it and its really inexpensive. I havent sweated on my left side since rads April 08, will see if i have the same on my right side now.
So Im 2 weeks out of surgery today, still in a fair bit of pain mostly on my right side. My range of motion is really bad on that side as well. They took 19 nodes on the right so I guess Im gonna have to work on that a little harder. I got my pathe report on monday and it came back great. Chemo and Rads knocked the cancer out almost 100%,all they found was a carcinoma "in situ" .7cm and it was non invasive. Surgeon says the surgery went really well and my skin is healing great. This is good as rads on my left are 2 years old and they still healed well. This was a concern my plastic surgeon had, so it hopefully looks like I wont have any issues when I get reconstruction in a year.
I sure am not liking having no bumps.... I got a set of softies from the surgeon on monday but will wait till the last drain is out and then maybe shop for some camisols and sports type bra's to wear them with. Lol definately not meant to wear with anything fitted, but at least its a start.
Love & Hugs Ladies, We are on the other side now! Suz
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Suz, so glad to see you back aand doing pretty good...
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Thanks Michele,
Lol even better now, I just booked a trip today to San Diago for a few days then onto a cruise from there back home to Vancouver. Its a repositioning cruise, so usually a younger croud (30 - 50) we leave this Sunday so I think Im gonna be busy finding clothes again lol. Not sure if im up for it but im gonna go for it anyway. Docs gave the ok to fly so I figured why not :-)
Love & hugs Suz
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Suz, a cruise sounds great! Congrats on the good report.
Anita, good for you sounding so positive.guess there really is an end to all of this. I had rad #6 today, but I am only supposed to have 25, so I'm considering myself 1/4 of the way there!
I got the same recommendations about Aloe Gel...and yep, I have the CVS too. I also heard Toms. But I was also told that during radiation sweat production can be minimized, so that works well, doesn't it?
My hair is about 1 1/2 inches...and also really soft. Although it seems to be getting courser all of the time. I do have pictures of myself taken a couple of weeks ago..I may have to figure out how to post them!
Glad everyone seems to be on the road to recovery...BrendaSharon, thanks to you for stopping by as well. Tell the November ladies hello!
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Hopbird, glad to see a picture of you..a face to the name.
Suz, lucky you a cruise, sounds great.
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I updated my avatar - my hair actually is growing! Yes, Hopbird, my hair is really soft too, I just wish it would stay that way! And I've gone this whole week without wearing a hat or a scarf - topless! I've gotten several compliments, and one weird comment when a lady I don't know asked me if my hair was a fashion statement or if I had cancer. WTH? Anyway, just wanted to share!
Suz have a great time on your cruise! And I'm so glad you had a good path report.
Blessings to all,
Shelby
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SHELBY
Good to see you on land again isnt it exciting when our hair comes back to us.
SUZ
I love cruises youll love it have you been on one before?
HOPEBIRD
Thank for the picture its nice to put a face to the name
My achey body is getting much better but im really tired from rads now and getting scared to stop all the treatment only 5 boosts to go ,its like my safty net and soon it will be taken away from me, i had a big cry on the techs shoulder today he gave me a very big cuddle it was really nice even more so he is quite a hottie so it was easy to fall in his arms lol
JOJO
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JOJO, Yes Ive been on quite a few (5 or 6) including a Tallship Cruise. Ive neven had a bad time on them. No mater what they are allways a good time for the money... heh heh paying $149 pp. this time. Mmmm the absolute greatest food, gonna really have to watch my figure :-)
I squeaked in an appointment yesterday to the CA Prothesis bank and am the proud owner of a set of new c cups and a brand new bra. My lucky day as a large new donation was just dropped off. Had to laugh as dh says there nice but smaller than your other ones. LOLOL get used to it. I plan on going to a C cup for reconstuction in a year. Ive been a D - DD for so many years that I think it will be nice to be a little smaller :-)
Im going to also have my lashes done one more time as they still are not long enough for mascara. Hoping they will last the vacation week and a friends 50th B day party later in the month. Im starting to feel like a princess (a really bruised sore one) but a princess, none the less!
Big Hugs my friends and speedy recoveries! Love Suz
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Jojo,
You made my day with your "crying on the hottie tech's shoulder" remark! Love your spirit! (I also laugh when your caps lock turns on in the middle of words).
While I was waiting for the port to be installed, there was a tech at our blood test lab who used to make me nervous ...
Jenna
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Hi everyone,
It seems I have stalled this whole thread - I apologize for dropping in from nowhere like this. This thread was my daily support during chemo. Two months after, I feel energy coming back - a new "joie de vivre" - so at least I can wish you all the best and thank you for the great thread!
Jenna
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No apologies neccessary Jen. This thread has been running out of steam for awhile now as we are all moving on to different phases of treatment and hopefully moving on with our lives. We still check in with each other but we're past the point of needing immediate responses for SEs and the like.
I will be having surgery on May 26th to have my left TE replaced. I lost it back in Sept.09 to an infection. I've been boobless this entire time and can't wait to get it back in and start building some foobs. I've also put myself on a super strict diet since chemo was over. Being triple negative, I can help myself out quite a bit by doing a low fat diet. I took it a little further and am also doing no sugar and no white flour. As if not eating all of your favorite foods isn't enough, I also have to exercise for about an hour everyday. I started officially on April 1st. I am now down 16 pounds and have almost lost all of my chemo pudge. I know it may sound weird but after going thru chemo, doing something like this doesn't seem as hard as it would have been before BC. I miss my regular food I use to eat and vegetables can get pretty boring at times but I'm into a groove with it now. Don't get me wrong -it sucks big time but I need to do it.
I hope everyone is doing well. Hang tough ladies.
Dee
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Dee, thanks for responding.
Kudos to you for your new food and exercise regimen!
To break the dullness of food, if you want, here is an idea:http://www.ecurry.com/blog/breads/mixed-flour-root-vegetables-parathaflatbread/#more-3349
You can simplify the recipe, I do not use chilli powder or dry roast the chickpea flour. Parathas are among my favourites - they last long in the fridge, just warm them in the toaster and love them the best with organic low fat yogurt...Wish you a smooth surgery on 26th,
Jenna
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