April 2010 starting chemo

Hey everyone.  Hope you are all feeling ok today.  Well, my hair started falling out this morning.  Obviously I knew this was going to happen but still took me back a little.  Once your hair starts comming out does it usually come out quick?  Trying to decide when to make an appointment with my hair dresser and get a final fitting for my wig.  Second AC is tomorrow so I am guessing it will go kinda fast but not really sure.  arubajan05 glad to hear the Look Good Feel Better class was good.  I am going this afternoon.

 Hope you all have a great day.

ISusiesue

 was told to put the EMLA cream on about an hour before and then put a bandage to cover it.  I don;t notice it is numb and did not feel the poke at all yesterday;

Wig Question:

I still have a little bit of hair left.  Trying to hold off on wearing the wig.  Do you ladies just put your wig on top of your hair, or do you put on a hair net or something to cover what you have left?.  I am trying to hold off on the buzz cut waitng for my new drug regimen, but my bald spots were pretty noticeable today so I think that the end of the road is very, very close! 

Sorry to hear that JenC - must be very frustrating for you. Hope everything sorts itself out soon.

Marcy4 - I can't help you as I've only just got to the stage where my hair is really beginning to fall out.  I've decided not to go for a wig at the moment just going to try the scarves then if I feel too self-conscious then I'll get a wig then I think.

Marcy4, I read on the Wig tips pushpin under the Chemo thread that it helps to have a wig liner underneath your wig.  Since I do not have one, I really wish I did.  It find the wig not only hot, but very itchy.  One of the Wig Tips posters said that wigs are really meant to be worn over hair and that's why they are uncomfortable on our balding heads.  I do find that the Comfy Grip helps since it's a gel-filled band that keeps the elastic of the wig away from my scalp.  I find I cannot wear my wig for more than a few hours at a time because it's so itchy.

SGJ05, good luck this week on your #3.  I hope it goes smoothly for you.

Hi all!

Just had my port placed Monday.  After round two they highly suggested I go in for a port.  It took four tries to get a vein and that one failed part way through so I was in for five in the end.  Ouch!  My arm is bruised and battered but my port will be fabulous!  JenC-  sorry you are having issues with your port, If they need to replace it, I would, but thats because of the issues I've had with my veins.  I've also got a year of Herceptin ahead of me, so lot's of pokes in my future.

Recovery from the port surgery is great compared to a lot of the other things I've been through.  I had Tx #2 on Wednesday, port surgery on Monday, so I'm still in lala land from Chemo and on major drugs for surgery...  Talking to the  Docs and nurses got to be comical...I'd just look at them with my Zombie smile and giggle...Chemo brain strikes again.  I think they kind of felt sorry for me, while I thought the whole thing was a trip.  I've named Chemo #2 my Hippie trippy port in a storm ride.

Love my wig, but I don't wear it around the house.  I did spend $300.00 on it and it is very comfortable.  It "breaths" because the sides are rather "open" like lace inside.  I can actually feel the wind in my "hair" when I'm outside.  I did go a little lighter with red highlights...what the heck!  If you have to wear this thing for 6-8 months I want it to be fun and comfy.  I figure between getting my natural hair died, highlighted and cut at the salon and products, I'd spend about $500.00 on my hair in 6 mos so I'm actually saving $$ as I only spent $300.00.

I'm with Karen...I wish my hair would just go!  I had it shaved to 1/2 in friday before last.  It was a good experience as I had small group of family with me in my back yard.  The cats thought it was amazing that it was raining hair and kept chasing it around the yard.   We actually laughed during the whole experience.  Now it's been "thinning" out all over.  I still have stubble over most of my head but everywhere I go I trail bit o' hair.  Feeling like a short haired cat in spring. 

Good luck with #3 SGJ  we're all sending thoughts for a peaceful calm treatment!

I have a port, which I love, but the nurse did tell me that if I am having blood work done and they are using a vein that drinking lots of fluid really helps plump up the veins.  The cancer clinic I go to will not use my port to draw blood so I will try this trick the next time I have to go there.  Apparently the nurses need some special training to use the port.

The hair on the top of my head and sides is very thin now. I wore a wide hairband out today and did not feel too awkward. It helped that most people I saw know I have cancer so they did not seem surprised by my sparse look.  I think I will use scarves and hats more than my wig.  I am beginning to think that people looking at me differently may not be such a big deal after all.  I have not buzzed my hair yet as I still have a fair bit in the back. 

For you ladies who have not yet shaved your heads, this youtube video is very uplifting.  She also has a few follow on videos about scarf tying and how to wear hats etc.  I think it's worth a look.

First TC treatment was on  April 15th, second was on May 6th.  1/3 of the way done thank God.

Since I could not take the FEC, my oncologist has ordered 2 rounds of AC at 3 weeks to follow my one FEC that I did manage to get. What will follow that remains up in the air. He is looking into weekly Taxol, but that may not be possible.  Hope to get back on track on Monday if they can fit me in and get the new orders all straightened out. I am looking forward to a good weekend, but hestiant to see what the SEs of 2 new drugs will be. 

Marcy, I hope that the new regime will work for you, with minimal side effects, and no allergic reactions!  At least you have the weekend to enjoy yourself, and hopefully think about something else besides the chemo.  Where is your son's hockey tournament?  I hope that his team does well.

Washing my hair in the shower this morning had me pulling out many strands of hair, and I had to stop combing every couple of strokes to clean the hair out of it, so it is starting.  At least there were an equal number of greys to browns, I had visions of losing all my dark hair first and being half bald but with all white hair.  I think that I will make an appointment to see the wig lady.

Welcome ronnie 09 and star-light. I haven't noticed any skin changes, but here's hoping to some of those wrinkles disappearing!

Well, infection is just about gone and chemo will resume next week, Round 2.  Hair is officially very thin and getting it all cut off tomorrow and getting my wig.  Kinda nervous about seeing myself without any hair but oh well, it is what it is.  Hope you all are doing well today.

Dutchgirl6 

My son is playing is Stratford this weekend. It is a Spring AAA Hockey tournament.  He is playing against some of his friends and really looking forward to the challenge of trying to beat them.  Hope your second round of FEC goes well. I wish I was still on that regimene, since at least I would know what to expect. I am to hear today if Monday is a go or not.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

DancerMel28  I was just going to wash my hair, scalp, with a mild shampoo.  I think it is called Live Clean.  I heard about it at the Look Good, Feel Better session.

Yesterday I had my 3rd AC chemo round, which is probably why I was reading the board at 3am this morning....I see a long nap in my future, I just couldn't seem to doze off.  But the good news is that I only have one more AC cycle.....

Does anybody know what premeds are given for a Taxol infusion?  I don't think the Neulasta shot is given during  weekly Taxol.

kad22.......I am from Jersey, but was raised in the midwest. There isn't a support group in my area although there is a program that matches you one on one with someone, but I passed on that, thank goodness the boards are here.  My cancer was found during my yearly mammogram. Triple negative can be scary, I think we are both lucky due to our early diagnonsis and stage.  I actually tend to not read much on the triple neg. board because I found that I didn't get as much positive thoughts as I do here.  I think once someone has made it through all of the treatments and their first couple of years, they tend to not check in as much, so you don't hear about the success stories.  I'm actually glad that after the first couple of years that the reoccurance rate falls, I'd rather worry now while I'm having lots of followup care than later.  I talked to my surgeon a lot about triple negatve and she was honestly very optimistic, she felt this would just be a bump in the road for me.  I told her I really wanted the straight truth, and she said that was exactly what she was giving me (I love my surgeon).  I was tested for the BRCA gene and found out last week that I don't have it.  I'm glad you were so on top of your health and already knew that you had the mutation and took precautionary steps.  Although my family history did not indicate the gene, I really wanted to know so that my daughter would have any info she needed.

good luck to all...........