Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

Happy Mother's Day!!

I finished up my 6 rounds of TC on Thursday!  Feeling good and looking forward to coming out of my fog!  Enjoy today with your families!!

Happy Mothers Day all!  I hope you enjoyed your day.  My DH took me, our grandson, his daughter and mom, brother and granddaughter plus one of my sons out to brunch.  It was lovely - like breakfast, lunch and dinner all wrapped into one.  Got a lovely rose and several lovely cards and gifts.  A nice day!

Quite frankly I am not feeling the "gift" of cancer  -- and I think its politically correct BS - here's why:  1.  I've been living a good life - helping others, volunteering, doing my best.  I haven't led a selfish life ... my life is not one that now "realizes" its about our relationships and support and gifts of love, understanding and forgiveness to others.  I've known that and worked at it.  2.  I'm not going to change anything drastically - I like my job, love my DH, love my home and where I am in life.  I'm okay with what I've accomplished...and not accomplished to date.  I don't have any big dreams about jumping out of airplanes or other kind of stuff.  Not interested before and not interested now.  3.  Cancer has meant I've had to confront my ultimate mortality - look, if it wasn't cancer, it would be heart attack or kidney problems or whatever.  I understand that's supposed to be a gift....but, I liked that I had this "future" that seemed exciting and unknown and possible and longer than it seems now.  I am not too happy about "cancer" taking that view away and making it full of "ifs and buts" now.  4.  I smelled the roses and appreciated the view and kissed my children and told folks I love them...been doing it because I realized fairly early -- as most MOTHERS do when they see life born from them -- that life is about our relationships to our children and loved ones.  Cancer hasn't given me that - God had given me that realization many moons ago.  Cancer has made me think about loss and grief and separation.  Hey, I didn't need that sadness.

To me, cancer is more work - another thing to be dealt with, more serious barriers to be addressed and more heartache to endure.  Now I know I have to learn more about nutrition to take care of myself -- that's going to be a lot of work.  I know I have to keep myself fitter - again, more work and tasks than before.  And, I'll have to become more "aware" of my body's aches and pains -- just at a time when I'm aging and getting more of those usual aches and pains.  I don't want to turn into a hypochondriac....so, more work to listen, figure out and explore.  Cancer has eaten up my last 7 months and absorbed a lot of my remaining vitality.  I feel older and sicker and less well and vital than ever before. 

So, excuse me, Melissa Etheridge, and the crazy nurse who told me during my first visit post finding out that I had breast cancer, that cancer is a gift.  No thanks, I'd like to give it back.

Just the way I feel. Not knocking anyone else's feelings or point of view.

Pat

Pagowens,  I'm sending you a huge hug for writing just what I'm feeling . I struggle with what this BC is suppose to me teaching me or telling me . I say BS to it . I have an incredible loving family . I love my life . I'm kind , generous and gentle . I have lived my life with the Lord Almighty . Now my daily struggles are to try and love myself when I look into the mirror.I had no problem doing this before BC . My eyes are puffy , having a hard time wearing my contacts  Fingernails are streaked with lines and black  , have a slight lymphodema in my  lft hand , not to mention the neuropathy in toes and fingers . The slightest pain or ache sends me into stress orbit. I've struggled with my weight for the last 5 years so cancer now is suppose to change that ? Is that what this is all about ? I ask God  daily about that . Right from the beginning of this so called journey I have sighed away from all the breast cancer trinkets . I've been a good patient , doing what the doc ordered and going on with my life , the one that I cherished 7 months ago . Thanks again for writing how I feel . We will continue to have a long a beautiful life . Just hit one of those winter pot holes

Fondly Linda  

Fondly Linda

Well first I want to wish all of the moms a Happy Mother's Day! You are incredibly strong women who are showing your children by example that even when life gives you more than you think you can handle you continue to pick yourself up and keep on going.

I have been trying to read and catch up on the posts because i haven't been on here much lately. Congrats to all that are finishing chemo, best of luck to those that are preparing and/or recovering from surgery, and prayers to all of you who have recently lost a friend or loved one to cancer.

I started my day today watching the Race for the Cure on tv which took place in Philadelphia this morning. My mom had asked me if I wanted to do the walk and I didn't give her an answer until the other day when I decided that I didn't think I was ready to do the walk just yet. My DH had to work this am and I knew that doing the walk would be incredibly emotional for me and I just wanted him by my side to help me keep it together. After listeing to so many women's stories on tv i just cried and cried for them, for all of you, for my DH, for my kids, for myself. Part of me wished I had decided to do the walk but another part of me was glad I was home and crying all by myself. I will do the walk next year. Guess I just wasn't feeling much like a BC survivor just yet and still more of a BC patient. Hard to explain. anyway it was a very emotional day for me and every little thing seemed to bring tears to my eyes. not always bad tears either, just tears. my boys made me beautiful gifts and cards and my DH gave me a beautiful and very thoughful mothers bracelet. These people that I love more than anything in this world reminded me again today why I have to keep on fighting until i beat cancer. I must be here for them for many, many, many years to come.

Thursday is my last chemo:) Whoo Hoo!!! In so many ways these past 6 months have been eternally long and in other ways they have flown by. Although chemo has kicked me on my a** several times and during my treatment week I am an emotional basketcase, I feel that this part of my BC journey will be easier than the upcoming surgery. I am dreading surgery and recovery. Still haven't fully decided if I will go with implants or a free-flap. I'm so afraid I'm going to make the wrong decision and have regrets. I wish my surgery had been first b/c i think having all of this time to think and worry about the surgery and recovery is making this so much harder on me. I know it needs to be done, I just wish someone could tell me which surgery is best for me and assure me that the pain and recovery won't be as bad as I fear it will be. Having an 18 month old along with my big boys only increases my worry about not being able to take care of them the way that i want and need to for quite a few weeks.

Question: Is there anyone who did not lose all of their hair on their head? I shaved my head down to 1/4 inch when it started falling out and although the sides are definitely thinner and the top is too i still have a bit of hair on my head and it is even growing in one sopt on the top of my head. I look like a rooster. Eyebrows and eyelashes are hanging in but barely. think this may be as hard as losing the hair on my head. hair on legs still gone and hoping it decides to stay gone b/c I do not miss shaving.

so I went out for drinks with some friends the other night and was wearing my wig. everytime someone hugged me their arms lightly pulled at my wig and one time my friend hugged so tight that her arm pulled my wig halfway back on my head. I completely panicked b/c we were in the middle of a nightclub and i didn't want anyone to see my bald head. I tried to adjust it quickly but it completely freaked me out. And then last night we went out to dinner with a group of friends and it was so windy that i had to hold my wig on my head b/c I swore it was going to blow off. Oh the things I took for granted before cancer. These little things are the kind of constant reminders that although I may forget I have cancer for a little while, something happens to remind me that I am not like many of the people around me and it sucks. I was so worried about my wig coming off the other night and kept looking at the women i was with and thinking how lucky they were that they didn't have to worry about their friggin hair coming off. that they had beautiful hair that was theirs and it wans't going to get knocked off by a hug or a strong wind. I'm having "real hair" envy.

Pagowens - Thank you from me also for writing what you did.  I have had those feelings and it seems like they get worse rather than better as time goes by.  Maybe after my last chemo is done I will feel better.  Of course, I have the herceptin until next April still and I am one of the rare ones that gets chills, fever, nausea, and muscle pain.  Then the taxotere tears up my intestines for a week, after which I am so starving for about three days and want to eat everything in sight!

Gramoflex - I hear you about the weight issue!  I went through premature menopause at the age of 32 and put on 30 pounds in one year.  I struggle and get it off, then something happens and it comes back.  No this stupid chemo and more sedentary life is putting even more weight on.

I have learned that when I am in the valley of life is NOT the time for people to tell me that something is a gift or "Think of all the people you will help."  After our son died, people told us that all the time.  I just felt like screaming, "Well you give your child to help someone and I'll take mine back please!!!"  That is exactly how I feel now. 

Friscomom- Sorry you still have so much time to go, but I am glad I am not alone.  How is the taxotere going for you?

Youngmomof3 - I quit wearing my wig so much and went to my hats and scarves.  I was trying to hard to show a good front.  People just kept saying that I looked great and like I didn't have anything wrong with me.  I just decided that I was going to do the convenient thing for me.  Also, I have had to quit wearing any eye makeup due to the goop in my eyes.  I really look sick now! 

Mslrg - The problem with people who do so well with chemo is that others think that the rest of us should be just like that one.  They look at them and say to me, "I have a friend and she didn't miss a day of work or lose her hair or have any side effects."  As if to say, "Hey buck up and get over it.  What are you doing wrong anyway?"

Ok, I'm done.  Off to dinner with my hubby for his 50th BD!

Youngmomof3- I totally have hair envy too.  I can't wait until I have some sort of covering on my head.  This weekend I was hiking and my head got so hot and sweaty that I took my bandana off.  It was freeing, but I'm starting to get annoyed with the sympathetic/shocked stares. 

Pagowens- well it sounds like you have voiced what everyone around here has been thinking at one time or another.  For me it seems to come in waves.  Sometimes I feel strong and confident and like I'm going to make the most of all of this.  Then other times I just feel sad, angry and worried about everything I've been through and will go through because of BC.  If it's a gift, it's one I'd like to exchange for something else please.  I have 2 more weeks until my surgery and I'm getting scared and sad about the changes in store. My birthday was yesterday and I had a lovely day with a big mother's day / birthday celebration.  Now that chemo is over, it really is like everyone is breathing a big sigh of relief for me and that it's all over.  Well, NO, it's not over.  I still look like a hard boiled egg with about 5 eyelashes and practically non-existent eyebrows.  I still have pain/neuropathy in my feet.  I still have 5 years of hormone therapy ahead.  I still have hot flashes and nightsweats.  I still have multiple surgeries and weeks of recovery ahead. This is definitely an endurance race.  It's like a marathon and I'm only halfway through.  I need my cheering squad to stay with me, but they are all at the finish line celebrating way too early!

Speaking of my cheering squad, my mother, who has been noticeable absent from all of this inconvenient BC stuff- managed to ignore me throughout chemo as well as my birthday this year.  I keep thinking, how can this woman (62 years old and totally healthy) be my mother and completely ignore this process I'm going through?  It's not like we're estranged- at least not yet!  She lives in FL and I'm in GA and we normally see each other at least a half a dozen times a year and talk on the phone every week or so. She doesn't work or have any real obligatons aside from her weekly volunteering role.  I've got young kids and have struggled to figure out childcare for them while I recover from surgery.  It just boggles the mind that she's just chosen to not be a part of this.  She volunteers to take care of strangers who need her, but doesn't even pick up the phone anymore to see if I'm hanging in there. 

I guess there's no reason you have to let cancer into your life if it's not you that is dealing with it. But, geez, you'd think that you'd want to support and help your own child.  I tried to reach out to her yesterday to wish her a happy mother's day with no luck.  I think I've decided to stop trying with her and let it alone.  We'll see what happens next.  I need to really not focus on dysfunctional relationships and instead worry about my health and those people I know care about me. 

Happy Monday to all and thanks for letting me vent.

Hi All,

Glad to hear many of you had a wonderful mother's day.  It's good to have a nice day with presents and gratitude - I'd like many more!

Georgiabirdgirl: My heart weeps for you and the pain caused by your mom's reaction to your BC.  My mom is 83 and frail and not able to do anything.  However, she always calls the day after my chemo and asks how I'm doing.  She's told me several times she wishes she were healthier to be able to help out.  It really helps to have your mom call and tell you she loves you.  I am so sorry you don't have that.  I can't imagine what your mom is thinking except that she certainly can't seem to deal with your illness and, I guess, avoiding it means she doesn't have to. 

My only suggestion is to be direct with her - call her up and tell her that you need her at your side and in your home for your surgery to help take care of her grandchildren and here's what she can do for you and the schedule that you need. Maybe she'll respond to a direct approach for help?  I've learned through one failed mariiage (my first husband) that those who expect me to read their minds will be sorely disappointed.  I can be pretty stupid and dense sometimes without meaning to be.  I'm hoping that's where she is too - just being stupid.  Here's a virtual (((hug))) from one mother who feels your pain.

And, I also have hair envy - started a couple weeks ago when all of a sudden I began looking at people's heads and envying their beautiful hair  - long, short, shiny, dull - doesn't matter.  How nice to have hair!  My head is covered in a white fuzz with some dark very short hairs scattered around.  I did not have many white hairs before - was kinda proud that at age 57 my hair was still dark, long and shiny with only strands of silver here and there.  Them days appear to be over!  Even the hairs on my face are coming in with white fuzz.  I had to tweezer one on the side of my cheek that was about an inch and a half long.  Whoa - ape lady! Insult upon injury.

As for folks thinking you're on the road to well, even though we're not exactly there yet!  Yep - haven't had a dinner sent to me in two months, haven't had anyone volunteer to watch the almost-4 year old grandson for whom I have custody and give me a kid-break...actually had to ask my one son to pick up his nephew this Saturday and take him for the night because I was in great bone pain and my DH was playing a gig with his band and wouldn't be home till 3 AM.  Of course he did it....but where'd all the volunteering to help out go?  If I'd a known it would disappear so fast, I'd taken more advantage of the original offers and "saved them up" for now - like a piggy bank of help to draw on when things were tougher than thought down the road.  I'm more tired now than before, my "reserves" have dwindled, and my patience is very thin. I think I looked too strong early on...several people have referred to me as a "trooper."  I guess because I'm simply not a complainer.  LOL - well usually, except in this discussion group!  I haven't heard from my grandson's father - my 3rd son (adopted at 12 years old from the state foster care system)- in two months. Don't know whether he's alive, okay, or whatever.  I'm mad at him for his son's sake.  I didn't expect much in the way of support from him anyway but how can he ignore his own son? 

As for the gift thing....if I feel different a year from now, I'll be happy to eat my words.  I kinda doubt it. 

Love to all you strong and wonderful and generous women,

Pat

Georgiabird- so very sorry about your mom.  My mom passed away from cancer when I as 25, but I know she would be right there for me.  I have no words of advice just a sympathetic listening ear.

Nkrun- Thank you soooooooooooo much for that advice.  I will have to see if I can find it here in Okinawa. 

Had my onc appt today.  I'm healed up from mast and will start next series of chemo next week.  Carboplastin, Taxol and Avastin every 3 weeks for 4 cycles.  I'm not thrilled about the Taxol because I already had taxol in the past; don't want neurpathy.  But my path report looked good.  Clear margins and no nodes so considering where we thought I was at when I started, things are good. 

Paxton glad to hear things are going well, in spite of having to have more chemo.

Like many of you, I too have hair envy.  I'm envious of women who are balding or have ratty looking hair.  At least they have hair.  I have a full head of salt and pepper fuzz.  About 1/2" of it.  Nothing I can really do anything with.  I cut out a bunch of pics of "extremely short hair styles"  Holy cow, I think it will be months before I can even have one of those "do's".

I can't exactly say that having cancer is a gift, but after my first bout it did give me a new appreciation for life and I do feel it made me a better person.

My eyebrows are actually coming in pretty nicely, but now that everything is almost over I do seem to be losing more eyelashes.  I have none on the sides of my eyes, just a group of like 7 in the middle.  Looks weird.  Maybe I need to invest in some false eyelashes for awhile.  I've only been using my RapidLash for a couple of days, so I guess I can't expect miracles.  My chin and mustache hairs are coming in nicely!  Oh brother.......

Love and hugs to all of you.

Thanks everyone for the supportive comments regarding my mom.  I don't know what her problem is, but it's unfortunate for her and for me that she's has decided now is a good time to bow out of her role as a parent.  I feel much better about it all once I focus on the enormous amount of love and support I have gotten from other family and friends (and even strangers).   

Just-Sher- I can totally relate to the TIRED of fighting thing.  I'm so sorry for you that you are having to go through all of this and BC at the same time.  It's not fair.  I think the fear, stress, anger, hormones, and overall pain of dealing with cancer can seep into any relationship.  It's nearly impossible for it not to.  If you guys were having some difficulty before, I can see how that would make things harder.  I'm glad you have this forum to get some of your feelings off your chest.  I know it helps me to vent here.  I think going to your counselor is a great idea.  Maybe you can even get your hubby to join you at some point.  As for the co-worker, it's shocking that she would insert herself into your lives at a time when your family is in crisis.  Hopefully the texting and calls have stopped because you said something.  Good luck with the counselor. 

Paxton- I am thrilled for you that you have started to get some good news about your prognosis.  We truly are the beneficiaries of some incredible medical intervention.  As much as we bitch about all the SEs I can't help but silently thank all the thousands of women whose treatment outcomes taught our doctors how better to treat us.  I'm sorry chemo continues for you, but hopefully it will be very successful and easy on your body. 

Issymom- That lost feeling is hovering over me too.  I still have my BMX coming up, but I already feel a little strange about the period after that.  It's like I've geared up for this big huge battle, started fighting the good fight, and came out on the other side where things don't look all that different (besides me of course).  I'm planning to spend a lot of my energy working on developing a healthier lifestyle in terms of dietary ,physical, and spiritual changes.  I'm hoping that when those become more a part of me that I will find some peace about this whole BC Journey.

VegasDiva-I've started checking my scalp every night.  Can you say OBSESSIVE?  It's totally the "watched pot" syndrome.  I'm only 2 weeks out, so I don't know what I expected.  But, I WISH I was covered in peach fuzz.  These hats and scarves are going to be part of my attire a lot longer than I hoped. 

Hi all,

Paxton- Glad the news was better than expected and your posts seem more optimistic than previously.  Yahoo!  That baby will be having your presence and love for a long time, I believe.

Just-Sher - I'm so sorry you're having these issues with your husband.  My first husband surprised me one day by just moving out - I had NO CLUE that he had become involved with a woman at work.  Never had a chance to address the marriage issues with him or figure out what was going wrong and where his head was.  He sent me an email to my work account to tell me our marriage was over after 27 years.  Coward.  I found out about the girlfriend at work about a month later from my kids.  Nice.  It was a very difficult time and through the divorce, which he initiated, I felt like I was at a funeral with no physical body - attending the death of my marriage - a prolonged funeral over many months.  I don't wish that stress and heartache on anyone and it is not healthy for you right now to go through something like that!  I hope you do what's possible to avoid that route.  So, the lesson i learned that I hope is helpful to you is that you got a good inkling now - while there is still time to address things and figure out what's going on. Perhaps after the first visit to the counselor, you could invite your husband along?  You guys could benefit from talking in a supportive environment - this is really hard stuff.  Hugs to you.

Talking about relationships - when I attended the Feel Good, Be Good or whatever the heck the correct name of the workshop is that American Cancer Society runs, there was a newly diagnosed woman who was going in the next day for mastectomy. She had that scared, deer in headlight look that I recognized from my first days, and so after the meeting I went up to her to gave her a hug and talked on the way out to our cars.  Her significant other who lived with her had told her that he would be there with her through the process, blah blah blah.  Then, the day before the workshop (two days before surgery) when she got home from work, he had packed up all his stuff and had moved out leaving a note that said goodbye.  What a guy!   The only thing I could think of saying while she cried was that she deserved better.  I think of her often and don't know what's been going on with her. I hope her family rallied around her - she needed them.

When I got my diagnosis and the situation looked pretty grim, my husband sobbed and said he wanted more time with me.  Now, I knew I wasn't dying tomorrow so we would certainly have more time but what he meant was "more future."  So, post this chemo stuff, we're going to do more things together - more vacations, more fun stuff at home, more date nights and more time paying attention to each other.  He'll be sick of me...and there's only one other guy at his place of work, a good thing based on my history!

When you're facing the cancer crap, if all other troubles could go away, it would be much better for our recovery.  However, it seems that in the most stressful of times, more shit happens.  What's with that?

Hugs to all,

Pat

Stlcardfan - When I found out that I was BRCA1+, my dad got tested (only $400) and he was positive.  We wanted to be sure which side of the family tree the mutation came from.  I am surprised when people don't want to be tested (money issue aside).  You can't be discriminated against by insurance and you can get more and maybe better (MRI) screening.  My genetic counselor did tell me that all I can do is give them the facts and let them make the decision.

I have major hair envy right now.  I find myself looking at everyones hair and wondering how it feels.  How much biotin are you taking each day.  I am 3 weeks PFC but I am seeing VERY little if any growth.

Stilcardsfan--good for you doing the Susan G. Komen5K. It was in my home town last Saturday too, but I could't even get out of bed! Well done! As for you family not wanting to get BRCA tested--they could be in a little shock or denial and need more time to digest the info. If your parents were tested (as old as they are) it would give you info on exactly which side of the family it came from, and might eliminate the need for all of your cousins to be tested from both sides of the family. Everyone's different. As soon as I got my dx, and because I'm 1/2 Jewish and 1/2 black--I got tested right away as I am in 2 of the highest risk categories for BRCA. Luckily, my results came back negative. SOme of your relatives may come around and decide to get tested in time. You've done your part.

Justsher--my heart goes out to you. There's never a good time for a marriage to have problems, but now of all times! Please pardon me for what I'm about to say about your husband, but what a selfish bastard!!!! You need his support now more than ever. That being said, it would appear that he is also being hit pretty hard emotionally by your dx, and is looking for comfort elsewhere--no excuse though! I think counseling is the best thing you can do for yourself right now. My prayers are with you.

Pagowens--what a sad story about the lady you met at Look Good/Feel Better. This dx certainly brings out the best and worst in people doesn't it? WHen Ihear stories like this and Justsher's, I feel very blessed to have my husband. Just yesterday, I told him, "I know we're going through a very horrible time right now, but I'm glad I'm going through it with you." We laughed because it sounds kinda weird, but he understood that I appreciate his support--we are having huge financial challenges right now, and he's hanging in there.

VegasDiva--my hair is growing back too--about Susan Powter length now. Eyebrows are slowly catching up, lashes too. I look like a marine,\.

Issymom--I understand the "out of sync" feeling you're having. Me too. I am not sure that I want to go back to my job. Being a principal is the most stressful job I've ever had. Layer on the fact that 1/3 of my teachers were laid off on Monday and the rest are taking paycuts and getting largely increased class sizes next year. I don't think I can handle the stress of being around that many pissed off people. My  teachers are on the verge of going on strike, and the school board also demoted my friend and the 2nd highest ranking position in the district. It's all cut throat politics--not what I signed up for for sure! What ever happened to doing it for the kids? student achievement? I am very disilusioned and want to find a different calling, but now I am glad to have a job to go back to, even if it's not ideal.

 Paxton--glad you're healing from the MX--big hurdle. Sorry you have to back to more chemo. But clear margins is a good thing. Prayers for you.

Wren--your port removl sounds horrible! I am having mine removed when I get my exchange surgery. I'm too chicken to be awake while they cut into my neck. Hang in there1

 Nrun and Georgiabird---sorry about your mothers. My mother moved from her home in Barbados and has stayed with us since I've been ill--a blessing and a curse sometimes. When I am at my sickest or most depressed, she gets crazy and makes things worse. Clear to me that it kills her to see me suffer and she is a little "coping challenged". Her words cut me to the core sometimes and I feel completely wounded by how harsh she can be, but I have come to realize that it's difficult for her to see her only child go through this. She loves me, but doesn;t expres emotion appropriately all the time. Could be that your moms are distancing themselves because it hurts too much to see you this way. No excuse, but maybe an explanation.

As for me? Well, this has been an exteremely difficult time. I wrote about my job situation about a week ago or so--that I havr to go back on May 24th, or I am essentially fired. There's nothing I can do because I don't have a Union. I am in pain daily and very anemic, but I have to go back to a hostile place. ALso because my HR dept accidentally overpaid me, I'm getting no checks for May or June and I have to pay back $4,300.00 by June 30th. I'm trying to schedule my exchange surgery in mid-June. Our bank had a glitch and sent us a bill for $99,541.42 due on May 15th--DH and I went in yesterday afternoon to ask WTF??oops Wells Fargo had a glitch and we don't owe this mystery loan anymore Thank God!!! We are going through the process of trying to get a loan modification on our mortgage, and we are withdrawing $$ from our retirement acounts,(big tax penalties) as well as applying for a Hebrew Free Loan--program for Jews by Jews, but we have to qualify. We are taking 10-15% paycuts and our health care premiums are going up by $600-$800 per month--still don't have the exact figure yet. We just want to keep our house right now. My dog has a lump on his throat, and from what I've read online, it coud be lymphoma, but we can't afford to get him to the vet right now. I love my dog--he's really been there for me through this trial, and I just can't bare thr thought of losing him. My son is graduating from 8th grade on the 26th and I will have to miss it because my boss won't allow me the morning off work. I too am returning to therapy--my appointment is next week on the 19th --becuse I feel like my world is falling apart around me. But I am bkessed: I have all of you, ny cyber sisters, my very supportive husband, good friends (mostly) my mother to help with the day-to-day house hold upkeep and kids, my beautiful children, a job to return to. Even so, times are really tough right now.

On the hair category, I am taking 10,000 mcg of Biotin. Walmart carries it in 5,000 mcg capsule strength. I had my last Chemo on 4/28 and started taking the Biotin on 5/3, as soon as I was done with all the Chemo meds. I know it is early as most don't see hair re-growth until 4 to 6 weeks out, but I have to say, stuff started popping thru about 1 week after starting the Biotin. I keep pulling on it and it is firmly in the scalp.  I got clearance from all 4 doctors to take this, but have to stop 2 weeks prior to my 6/21 surgery. But plan to start up again after that surgery. I got this info on the Biotin from the hair, hair, hair thread. There is also a comment about 70% dark chocolate helping with hair regrowth - too bad I still have chemo heartburn or I would be all over that too.

 Hope this helps and happy hair regrowth for everyone!!