Ana - You are so good!  Did you find a website that had common foods that contain soy?  I just didn't even think of chocolate!  Eyes are too bad to read the small print of candy wrappers ...

I have heard nothing about the potential of taking a bisphosphonate. Lisa - please post about what you onc says.  I am StageIIa as well but have one node involved ... my onc didn't even mention zometa.  Hmmm ... now I will need to look into this. 

Frosty and Taty -- Yea! Congrats on finishing. 

Hugs,

Charlene

Hi Kayne,. my heart goes out to you - what a load you've been carrying.  I hope now the TE is out you are at least more comfortable. Are the WBC's normalising?  My LFT's were a little off before the last taxotere but it didn't stop theminfusing , and a little anemic. I've got one more taxotere in 2 weeks. Been knocked around a bit more by this one - more hot flushing, more tired, and taste has been crap.

Kayne, hugs to you, come here for a good unload whenever you need to, I know it's helped keep me sane, sometimes when I'm feeling a bit sad I come to BCO and find the silly pages like dumb things people say to you, just to get a lift up. I hope your treatments aren't held up anymore, then when they're taken care of, you can have the plan for reconstruction.

Lisa

Good morning ladies!

Kanye- I'm so sorry you have to endure so much. You are in my thoughts and will pray that the rest to your treatment goes without fail.

Marilyn- I have completed my first week of rads. The rads onc did say I can expect the fatigue fairly quickly since I started rads 3 weeks after chemo. I am tired but I'm not sure if it's from the chemo or the rads. I haven't had any skin issues as of yet. I make sure to keep the area well moisturized. The only annoying part so far is the drive back and forth right in the middle of my day (2:15pm). I would really prefer it in the morning or late afternoon...but, it has to be done and I will be there without fail. 

I think I have entered a new phase of treatment. It's the "freaking out" phase. What if it comes back?...does that pain mean it's spread?...my back hurts today, is that cancer? I don't know if I am being irrational and a hypochondriac or if my fears are legit. I may have brought some of this anxiety on myself. My step-dad gave me my Mom's cancer folder. It has everything from initial diagnosis to recurrence to the Onc telling her there is nothing more they could do. It will be 8 years at the end of this month since she passed away. I know we are 2 different people and times have changed in the last 8 to 10 years, but I can't help thinking that what happened to her is in my future. I am so scared.

I am praying for peace of mind and good health for all of us. Sorry to be so heavy, but thanks for hearing me vent.

Hugs, Ana

Kayne - I'm sorry you are having all this trouble!  Sounds like you just needed a good cry over alot of things.  It's hard to lose a friend ... very emotional time for you!

Ana - I'm sorry about your mom.  My mom died a long time ago from BC. (36 yrs this July 4th) I wish I knew more about her diagnosis and medical history.  My dad passed away 8 years ago so I don't really have anyone to ask and of course, he saved nothing. I know the feeling that her life is your future.  I worried and worried for years over suffering the same fate as my mom, finally tested negative for the gene and then 10 years later (when I was in the best physical shape I have ever been in) I was diagnosed with breast cancer. What the heck?? What else could I have done? Unfortunately "worry" did not stop it from happening ... I'm scared.  But I'm focusing on today.  I feel good and I feel happy.  What can be better than that?

Hang in there fellow Marchers!

Hugs, Charley

Good Morning All,

My thoughts and prayers are w/ all who are having a rough time.

I'm having a tough time myself, my last chemo was May 4th and I kept my eyebrows and lashes through the whole process.  I looked into the mirror yesterday and I now have 1 eyebrow and have lost my lower eyelashes.  Boy did I have a break down, I thought I was through the worst of this but apparently not.  Someone told me that my follicles in my brows and lashes were already dead so when the new ones started to grow it pushed out what was there - does that make sense?  I don't know, I think washing my face everyday would have wiped away the dead ones.  Oh well it's done and over with and I can't change it, I guess I just needed to rant to the women who know exactly what I am going through and will not judge me and when you tell me it will be alright I know it's true because you've been in my shoes !

On a good note, my rads are going well (I've probably just jinx myself) 5 weeks into them and just a little pink, my cornstarch bottle is never far from my side.  

Thank you for letting me rant.  Hope you all have a great day - Hugs and prayers to all - Stacey

Marilyn: No, you're not the last one. I don't finish chemo until August 16th.

My last chemo is the 5th of July - so you're not here alone Marilyn and yeshua and Frosty and Charley and Ana, and everyone else who's peeking in but not posting much. I intend to keep posting until everyone of us has finished - and then we should all have a celebratory raising of the glass that we've made it through this stage.

One lesson I have only just learnt is not to fall asleep through my taxotere like last time. The first one I sipped ice chips constantly, and although my taste and mouth were a bit yuck for 3 or 4 days, it was doable. This time, as I'm snoring through under the influence of antihistamine and harp music on the Iphone - the taxotere took out my taste buds. I feel like I have been eating globs of fat for the past week, and it's bloody revolting! For my last one, I'm going to take the nurses some brownies, I'm going to be really perky, and suck that damn ice, and wear my ice mittens.

Good luck to all,

Lisa

I'll hang in there with everyone and raise a glass or slice into a cake when we're done.

Stacey, I can relate - I've no lower lashes and the top row is thinning as are my eyebrows.  I've read in another chemo month thread that they'll probably all fall out after the last tx but should start to grow back right away.  So I'm expecting that but will surely hate it, too.

Lisa, I sucked ice chips all six treatments during both the taxotere and the cytoxan, I wasn't sure which was the potential culprit so did both (boy was I cold by the time the time infusions were done) and I think it helped.  Tinny taste but taste, I've been able to eat and no mouth sores.

Frosty, thanks for posting the new pic, you remind me of me!  Hot pink RFC Survivor shirt, and a fuzzy pale head from not seeing the sun in *what* our entire adult lives?

{{hugs}} to all my other sisters & brothers (hi Les in Indy) Marching thru chemo.

I would never leave my Marcher sisters! Until the end...all of us! I don't much care for wine, but I will toast to all of us with a shot of vodka

Charley- I got the Nioxin also...I started using it about 3 weeks ago...I have to say my hair is coming in nicely. Granted it's only about 1/8" long (my hubby shaved my head to even everything out) but there's no bare spots, so it looks promising. My head feels kinda like velvet...lol.

Rads is going well. I've only had 8 out of 35 so far, but no skin issues and I continue to pray for no issues.

I am praying for all of my March sisters still dealing with chemo and it's nasty SE. Much love to you all.

Hi Everyone! Today I start to fill more normal, no bonepain from Neulasta, yesterday  a was lake 80 y.o lady. I just looked on Nioxin products and can`t choose which one I should buy? Is anyone can help me? I never had thick hair but I`m affraid to have bold spots (my mom had them after chemo). Much love to you all.

Good Morning All,

LillyC - I use only cornstarch - I am faired skinned and burn easily in the sun and was told by my rads nurse that this is not how the skin reacts for radiation.  Everyone is different even those women that tan in the sun may end up very burned and blistered (sorry if this is to much info). The cornstarch seems to work for me and I have today & tomorrow then next week I start my boost week and then finished.  My breast has held up to this point w/pinkness and more red near my armpit and under my breast, over all doing ok.

I, like many of you, am starting to wonder where do I go from here - this has been such a hugh part of my everyday living that I'm not sure what to do after.  I plan on keeping up with this website and trying to stay in touch with my fellow Marchers (for those of you that will be here) as you have become like family!  The other is that I am saving my pennies to go a cruise to celebrate life, being Cancer free and to Thank my husband for his undying love and support through all of this crap.

My best to all I continue to pray for ALL of US everyday- Stacey

Ana-

I'm not planning on going until next year - April May time frame -  it will take me that long to pinch my pennies

Stacey

Lisa - I am using the eyebrow pencil from the LGFB class.  Never had to use one before but now, it's essential! I am so jealous of your hair.  AArgh!  I wish mine would hurry up and grow! I'm afraid ... my brother has total alopecia ...totally lost all his hair about 5 years ago ... eyebrows, eyelashes, everything!  Hopefully mine will come back! It's been 6 weeks and very little!

 I'm using latisse on the eyelashes and have noticed tiny little sprouts ...

I'm planning on getting my port out when I have my exchange.  I've been told it is very monor.  Totally different from  getting it put in!!

(((hugs)))

Charley

Lilly - congrats on getting your port out.  I have a love-hate relationship with the darn thing.  I can't imagine going through this without the port, but I am in constant fear that something is going to go wrong (not to mention that it caused my blood clot).  Also good to hear it doesn't hurt to get it out. Having it put in was way more traumatic than I anticipated.

 My big issue now is edema.  My feet look like fat little dough balls and my arms are about to explode.  

 I also had a major bout with ANGER last night. It was the first time that I felt angry about how unfair this whole thing is.  I was so angry I felt like really lashing out and destroying something.  I wanted to SCREAM!!!!!  But it passed and feel much better today. 

I'm just watching the clock tick until Monday morning - #6.

Hang in there - stay cool (it was 100 degrees in DC today).

 Marilyn 

Hi girls,

I just did my first full days work, and it went really well. I had 12 weeks paid sick leave from my scholarship, and feel very lucky to have been able to stay at home. Re the ankles - I wear hospital anti-embolic stockings (TED stockings) for the day and week following chemo, because of all the fluid shifts that happen. It really helps, and I haven't developed cankles   so maybe give them a try.

I've just had some bad news from my Mum who lives 1000miles away from me. She was going to come down for my last chemo, then she's had a yearly mammogram on Wednesday, core biopsy of a small lesion, and diagnosed today with Invasive ductal carcinoma.  She's being all matter of fact about it, but I know she's in shock. I'm going to fly up to be with her next week, but will have to come home for my last chemo.  So now with my Grandmother at 84, my mother at 68, and me at 43, I'd say we have a pretty positive family history - it will be interesting to get the BRCA results that's for sure.