Had Herceptin #8 today. No DR appt, no blood draw, just the 1 hour Herceptin. So, was only there for about 2 hours! So far have been managing this one with only ES Tylenol. Side effects are very minimal from what I can tell, very minor sore muscles, mainly in the core of my body. Of course my BP reading shot up again, must be that damn building. Every time I take it a home, it is fine, go in for treatment and it goes up like 20 points.

I had the SNB on the left side, so today told the nurse to take blood pressure from the right side. After reading the SNB and lymphedema thread, I am going to do everything I can not to get it.

Had to stop taking all my vitamins and Biotin today - clear body out before surgery. I do believe the Biotin has really been helping with the hair regrowth. 6 wks PFC, my eyebrows are coming back, leg hair back to growing, and scalp is almost completely covered. And, my scalp has started to itch were the hair is poking thru. Wig is getting very uncomfortable to wear also - love the St. Louis Humidity!

No one has mentioned anything to me about taking anything after my ooph - hum? I really don't like taking anything that may cause another cancer to pop up. So many questions...

Hope everyone is doing well! 

Hi All,

I had lymph nodes removed on my right side and was told to never use that arm for blood pressure readings or blood draws.  I did ask what about if my left arm is not possible...?  I was told that you can get blood pressure and draws taken on your legs if both arms are at risk of lymphodema or for any other reason you can't use them for those purposes.  I have found you need to be diligent about instructing techs not to use your arm.  For example, when I was hospitalized in March and woken up in the middle of the night, the technician started putting the blood pressure cuff on my right arm EVEN THO I was wearing the brightly colored bracelet that said no blood pressure/blood draws from this arm.  Good thing I wasn't so drugged out that I didn't notice it and stopped her.

I am 12 days past my last chemo.  It wasn't until this Thursday morning that I woke up with some energy and feeling "better" than previously.  I still have the nose bleeds from the Avastin that ended 3 weeks ago, neuropathy in both feet and toes from the Taxol, tongue without taste buds and very sensitive to the touch and cracked lips.  My nails still growing in blackish and my skin still shows red broken capillaries here and there.  But, on the plus side - I'm not feeling like an old bag of bones, my hair is coming back (mostly white all over...eyebrows, arms, head, and private parts) -- they were BROWN before...I don't think that's going to change.  I even see white eyelashes coming in and white nose hairs (yea!  hopefully will stop the constant dripping).

My oncologist gave me intravenous Feron (iron) last Tuesday and I am hoping that will improve the anemia.  My WBC was going back up, too; still low RBC.  I have to go back Tuesday for more iron and blood level checks.  And, she gave me a script for another Mugga test and some fancy named EKG to check my heart post-Taxol. 

I also go to my radiology consultation on June 25th to begin that journey, probably in early July. I've got appointments for the dermatologist, gynecologist, primary doctor and dentist all coming up in the next two weeks.  Going to check out everything.

So, recovery has begun finally from the chemo.  But, like the continued infusions of iron, you've got to give your body some help.  So, I restarted my daily vitamins and just started the 81mg baby aspirin per day.  I might have to stop them again for the upciming radiation, but I figure I'll try to give my body some supplements until then.

I've been back to full-time work for two weeks now and was totally out of commission last weekend - exhausted.  But, I'm okay this morning and hoping that tomorrow and the next and the next are equally positive.

By the way, I'm really sick of wearing Coleen, my wig.  I now only wear her to work and she gets yanked off in the car going home.  We went out to dinner last night and I went capless and wigless for the first time.  With a covering of very short and fine hair, at least I'm not bald anymore.  As soon as it grows enough to comb, the wig is getting ditched!

Hugs to everyone!  I'm not posting as much just because of full time work and grandson and life in general, but I'm reading your posts every day.

Pat

Stlcrdsfan--well done! I was fund raising for my 3day walk today with some of my team mates. We raised $200.00 each! I have now raised more than half of what I need in rder to walk in October.

Whoa Issymom! slow down!! You did just have the biggest muscle and a major organ removed from your body!!! I'm glad you're up to it, though, just don't overdo it and regret it later. I have been doing modified walks because of my torn meniscus. My physical therapist has me doing exercises to strengthen the muscles around my knee, but he actually thought that all the walking I did on vacation did me some good, even though he had previously told me to cut back on the walking. I will do what I can do. It will be a super accomplishment to make the full 60 miles, and I will do everything I can to achieve it, but if I can't, I won't beat myself up about it either.

Got a call from my cousin today--she was diagnosed with DCIS and had a lumpectomy. She's awaiting BRCA results to determine her next move. This really sucks! She has been one of my most loving supporters all throughout my breast cancer journey, even though she lives about 400 miles away. I hope I can be there for her too.

Hello Ladies,

I hope all of you are doing well.
Last week I had the simulation for radiation. The table was extremely uncomfortable, but I was there for less than an hour. They didn't comment on my wig, so I kept it on( I got so used with it that I wear it all the time, even home). The permanent tattoos are very small, so small that I'm wondering if they will be seen to position me properly for radiations. They will call me in 7-10 days to tell me when I'll start.
I did also meet my oncologist last week and had the blood tests done. She recommended me a bone density, PET scan and colonoscopy( because of my father's colon cancer and me approaching 50). I'll do the bone density tomorrow and the other ones in September, after radiation. That's about all tests for me post chemo.
Pat, do you go to the dermatologist for a regular checkup or because of the chemo?
I intend also to go to the gynecologist for my annual pap test. And to the podiatrist as my toenails keep falling and I got a painful corn.
I started Tamoxifen yesterday and I take Vit D and calcium. What kind of supplements are you taking PFC?
My WBC is 2.6 and I was wondering if there is anybody else with low WBC almost 2 months PFC. I have to repeat the WBC tomorrow and probably I will get more Neupogen(or something else) to be able to start radiations.
Is anybody else starting radiations with low WBC?
Otherwise, I feel good, the incisions are healing well, the left implant seems to drop a bit lower than the right one, but not much to do about it. Hopefully the radiation of the right implant won't make it much worse.
On the good side my eyebrows and eyelashes are growing fast and black(they were blondish before). My hair is about 75%white and 25% black, so no colored hair for me, just black and white.
I'm glad everybody is on a good path to recovery.
Take care.

Issymom-

Your story encourages me. I need to have a hysterectomy as well. I just finished radiation and while it was not as difficult as chemo, I am still thinking of taking a break to feeling better.Tomorrow I see my doc - first time since PFC.  It is nice to know that you are doing so well.

Barbara

Congrats to all who finished the chemo race.  I've been done 2 weeks now and just starting to get some energy and relief from the leg pains.  One more week until the chemo is OUT of my body and I can begin building up for my surgery.  I knew I was going to be happy but I didn't realize HOW happy this day is...............I'm sure you all share or will soon share in the joy of being done with chemo.  Happy Father's Day to all our DH and happy weekend.

Friscomom--congrats on your last infusion!  One big milestone behind you!

Issymom: glad to hear your hair is coming in. Mine is too. I go head uncovered everywhere, except work--just can't bring myself to do it yet--maybe when I come back for the new school year.

Bubalu--glad your leg gpains are subsiding.

I am seeing my onc today and will have to decide on Tamoxifen. I am also going to discuss the unrelenting pain. I think I may have lymphedema. It's interfereing with my sleep and makes me feel even more fatigue than ever!

Well - today was my last day of work before surgery. 

Going to a ball game tonight - just at the St. Louis Humidity has arrived. Great! I am sure you can all guess who I will be watching tonight. On a side note - the St Louis Cards have teamed up with the place were I am being treated and created a special cancer awareness hat. It is a Red Cardinal's came with a multi colored ribbon on one side. It cost's $20 and 50% of that goes to Breast Cancer Research. My hubby bought one to support me. So he wears that, and I wear the Pink Cards cap!

Bubbalu and Friscosmom - great news on being done with Chemo! 

Hair update - it is definitely coming in. At least I will have something up there when I go in for surgery on Monday 6/21. The wig - or hamster as I call it - is definitely getting hot to wear! Have heard from all three doctor's offices - so looks like all my pre-op tests were good, and surgeries are a go! 

Saw the onc yesterday, and she's given me an extra month to make the Tamoxifen decision, mainly because I'm having my recon surgery on Monday and for some reason they don't like patients beginning Tamoxifen w/ surgery. However, she is starting me on Neurontin for the pain I'm experiencing. She thinks it's neuropathy from the Taxotere, rather than lymphedema--and nerve damage from my original BMX. In a month, I'll go back and let her know how the Neurontin's working and whether or not I want to start Tamoxifen--something she's really urging me to do. I also have to make an appointment with my ob/gyn and discuss the hysterectomy issue. Oy! If it's not one thing, it's another!

Next, I saw the physical therapist. My knee is really messed up, and he doesn't think I'll be able to do the 3 day/60 mile walk. I can train on a recumbant bike, work to strengthen my leg muscles as much as possible, with weights and bands, and hopefully will get my leg stabliszed enough to be able to walk some, if not all of the 60 miles. This is a big disappointment, but I have to just accept that it is what it is.

I completed my full week at work, and it was tough. By lunch time every day, I wanted to take a nap. Driving home (45 minutes) was everything I could do to stay awake behind the wheel. My onc told me it will be a good year before my energy gets back to where it was before chemo. I am going to have to learn to have to pace myself and take breaks. Good news at work: all vice principals were reinstated at Tuesday's Board meeting, so I'll get a VP 2 1/2 days a week. Better than nothing!

Stlcardsfan--your surgery is on Monday? Mine too! Good luck!

Michelle NJ--I'm sure you're not feeling up to par because of all of what you've been through. How long before you could work after the exchange surgery? I'm planning ongoing back in 3 weeks! My secretary thinks she's also going to be back in 3 weeks--she has to do rads and possibly chemo too, but she's still waiting for the oncotype report. I keep telling her that I want her to take as much time off as she needs and that I of all people will completely understand  if she can work one day and not the next, but she insists she's coming back on July 12th. Like all of us, I suppose, it hasn't quite sunk in for her what a blow this will be to her body. I ordered copies of The Anti Cancer Book through Amazon for her and for my cousin who was just diagnosed. I really like that book and have been working on incorporating it into my life. 

Well, I hope everyone has a grerat weekend and a happy Fathers Day.

I don't post too often, but it seems like everyone's doing well and moving on after the chemo assault.

I started rads on June 8th. I am in the gray area, but opted to have the rads. My onc says if I have a recurrence, it'll be a distant one, but my breast surgeon was adamant about my doing rads. Since I have a TE, I'm working with my PT hoping to keep scarring to a minimum. So far, so good, but I heard that scarring can happen up to one year post rads.

 I'm jealous of everyone's hair growth! I'm nearly 6 weeks PFC and nary a hair on my head. The last of my eyebrows fell out last week and drawing in eyebrows is hard! I keep imagining I'll end up looking like Uncle Leo in "Seinfeld" when he drew in his eyebrows--anyone remember that episode? I'm really starting to worry about my lack of hair.

Have a great father's day everyone! Since I have my daughter with me and we're staying at my parents' house during rads, we'll be celebrating via Skype since DH's at home mowing and weed whacking our 5 acres of tall, dry grass for the upcoming CA fire season! 

Mslrg - My onc also postponed the Tamoxifen till almost a month after my exchange surgery. But she thinks is better for me to take it with radiations. I also took Neurontin after the nerve damage from untreated/undetected shingles. My oncologist said it will help also with the slight neuropathy I had from Taxol. It worked well for me, with no SE.
I didn't go to work yet, because I'll start radiations next week. The insurance company switched me to long term disability till I finish radiations. I might loose the job being in medical for so long, but I'm not going to worry about this now, I just try to concentrate on rest, changing my lifestyle and getting better. The exchange operation is easier than the mastectomy and they let you go home after about 6 hours from the operation. The first 7-10days I didn't have much pain. Just discomfort because of the drains, but after the drains are out, the only inconvenience is the compression garment you have to wear 4-6 weeks even at night. So if you intend to go to work after 3 weeks, you definitely can.
Good luck with your surgery on Monday. I know you can hardly wait for the TE to go.
Stlcardsfan - Good luck with your surgery on Monday too.

Pumpkinsoup - mowing and weed whacking 5 acres of tall, dry grass, that's a good workout. Don't worry, soon your hair and eyebrows will start to grow and it'll grow very fast.

oops--sorry about the weird colored text. My daughter fell on my computer!

Hi all, 

Home from the hospital. Very sore -  but it is done. Got all three surgeries done - about 6 hours.

Stlcardfan - Amazing that you had all 3 surgeries done at once.  Myself having done 2 of the 3, I can see how doable that could be.  I am sure you are sore but you will be feeling much better next week.

Mslrg - Glad you got the exchange behind you.  Sorry you felt so bad but sounds like you are doing much better.  1.5 liters is quite a bit of sculpting.  When you are in pain, just remember how great you will look when everything settles.

Tomorrow night I am having dinner with several BCO.org friends.  We met in March and I am looking forward to meeting up with them again.  They "get it".