Chemo June 2010

Hi, I started chemo June 23 - AC every 2 weeks - 4 times.  I have different cancers in each breast - right breast IDC Stage 1 Grade 3 No lymph nodes involved found 5/3/10 and left breast DCIS Stage 1 found 5/24/10- so I had bi-lateral mastectomies on 6/10/10, with start of reconstruct that has been halted until I finish the chemo.

 I wish all of you well and God Bless -

JFV, im so glad to hear that, thank you,i feel better, im so worried about the week after, yes ill need to stay out of the heat as well, we looking at 107... sucks!!! love to all and no SE's

chey

Chey glad to hear I could help.  It continues to be OK.

Bon: Ahhhhh-Uncle Fester, gotta love it! I love to laugh and do every chance I get! Thanks for the pic!

There's a book I wanted to tell everyone about-I found it in the gift shop at the Cancer Pavillion I go to. It is called Turning Heads, Portraits of Grace, Inspiration, and Possibilities by Jackson Hunsicker. There are so many beautiful pictures of "bald" women in it, along with their story. Not all of the stories are positive-some of the women struggle so with their diagnosis, but I love looking at it.

Chey-you are so beautiful! You will be beautiful bald as well!

I know it's not as hot here in Michigan as NYC, but we still are having a major humid heat wave here. I hate even wearing a bandana. When at home, I do not wear anything. It bothered my 7 year old a little bit at first (she was ok when I had it buzzed, but when it was clean shaven she didn't like it). Now she's used to it and it doesn't bother her.

Too funny Bon!  You got me on that one!!

lauriez--> I just mentioned that same book on my blog!  My youngest dd works at a library and brought it home for me.  By the time you look through the whole book, you almost feel like being bald is the most natural thing in the world!

Welcome MizMo!

2 more days until my last AC.  I can't believe how tired I still am! I'm able to function and do what needs to be done, but I tire out very quickly.  Finally have been able to sleep most of the night the last 2 nights, so that helps.

I'm very comfortable going out in my scarves, and forget about it until I notice someone staring.  Doesn't bother me though!  I'm glad that I "got over it", because, for awhile, the thought of losing my hair really bothered me.  I'm really happy that I don't have to shave anymore!! 

I'm not losing my eyebrows, but I rarely have to pluck any strays--I have a feeling this means they will eventually all come out.  How's everyone else doing with the body hair situation?

Bon ~ I love it!!!!  I scare myself at night when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and forget that I don't have hair! 

yeah--showers are quicker, and it'll take forever to get through my bottle of shampoo (which is good because I bought the expensive Nioxin scalp care stuff!).  I take my scarf off around the house--but keep it close by in case the doorbell rings!   I'm always a little surprised when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror "topless".

Enjoy your dinner Bon!   We have an Applebee's near our house that has really good steaks and salads.  We often go there so I can get a good meal when I'm feeling better. (I've NEVER been able to make a good steak at home!)  I'll cut back on red meat when I'm all healed up and recovered from chemo!

I thought I would chime in, I keep up with the reading but don't say much, I guess I am a quiet person.  I finished the AC almost two weeks ago.  I will start my weekly taxol on Wednesday and am nervous, I will have twelve of them weekly.  Hair.... I still have lots of stuble on my head, and the only other hair I have lost is underarm and "down there".  Still have to shave my legs, lots of hair on my arms, and still have eyelashes and eyebrows.  Kind of mad that I still have to shave my legs, what the heck is up with that.  My side effects sucked from ac, lots of nauseau and just plain crappy and tired feeling.  Nothing tastes good to me anymore.  I didn't get a port put in and wish I had in the beginning because my arm is a mess and hurts to the point where I can probably take some pain meds.  The doctor said it is thrombosis, whatever it is is horrible.  Red, Swollen and very very painful.  I am now scheduled to get a port put in on August 9 so I still have two more treatments to do without one, not sure my arm can handle it.  Well everyone have a great Sunday with little to no se's!!!!  And hey look July is pretty much over, we are getting through our treatments and seeing some sort of light at the end of the tunnel!!!!  YIPPPPPPEEEEEEE.

My armpit hair and down there hair stopped growing too, but my arm and leg hair is growing slowly still and I have my eye lashes and eye brows still although I have noticed they have thinned out a bit. I am also wondering if I will lose them all (I hope not.. fingers crossed). I start Taxotere on Friday..I already finished 3 rounds of FEC. Hoping all goes well! Anyone on Taxotere at all??

 Just wondering about the underarm numbness.... Does it ever go away or get better? My armpit where I got my lymph nodes removed doesn't sweat anymore... I don't mind though just thought it was odd.... wondering if anyone else experiences the same thing??

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

JFV, I do so envy you finishing your AC.  I am scheduled for #3 this Wed. if my count is better.  I am not sure about getting the pic line either but my onc thought a port was not the best idea for me because of post surgical complications in the area needed to put port in.   Oh well, I never seem to be easy.  Hope you do well with whatever else is in store for you.  Thanks all of you for your continued concern and support.  Praying for all of us from SC, gin2ca

Hey, just curious. How do all of you on Avastin feel about it after last weeks news? Have your oncs discussed it with you and were they able to give you more insight into the problem?

Good Sunday morning ladies!

Well, I guess I spoke too soon.  Feels like a truck ran over me today.  Very fuzzy, wobbly and though the diarrhea hasn't exactly started, it's not normal (if you get my drift - sorry for the bodily functions description).  Toilet overflowed this a.m. YUCH!  Now I have to bleach the floor (thank the heaven's for tile!).

Finally got tired of all the stubble on my head and shaved the rest of it!  You know it was either me or the cat that was gonna get shaved!  (ha, ha!).

SKD:  The underarm numbness does eventually go away.  I still get some twinges every once in awhile, but it's mostly normal again.

Well, going to go lay down and take it easy for the rest of the day.  Work tomorrow and it's promising to be VERY busy.

Deb

Hi girls, Welcome MizMo

So sorry to hear the girls that are going through nasty side effects. I am adopting phrases from my teens.... THIS SUCKS.

I feel like I am coming out of a fog, after 3rd treatment. I am so breathless much of the time. It really impairs my ability to do stuff. What a great side effect (in addition to the usual: bone pain, sore throat, heartburn, headaches and fatigue) Went for heart function tests last week to see what's up and I meet with the onc next week to review results. Gosh I hope Docetaxel is easier to take...

To SKD:  the arm pain is surprising. It does seem to fade with time. I had 2 infusions in the arm before a port was installed. My arm is still sore about a month after the last infusion.

Gotta love Canadian healthcare. We pay absolutely no costs whatsoever. And hubby's workplace insurance pays 100 percent of prescriptions and wig. I live more than 300km away from the nearest onc, so I also get paid my expenses to attend the appointments. I bet we have higher tax rates than our US friends as a result. Still, with my being out of work for the past few months, 2 kids at university, etc... I am so glad that we don't have extra medical expenses to worry about.  

Thanks for the info about the Revlon Nail trauma treatment... my thumbnails have grey spots on them, and all of them are brittle and ridged.

Take good care of yourselves ladies... I hope we can look back on this time and toast ourselves for being all that we could be, even in our darkest days

gin2ca,  thanks for the good wishes.  I am praying things turn around for you.  What a struggle you've had.  I am sure you'll make it through! 

I have a little bit of hair every where.   I have no idea if it will last.

This is day 5 after my last AC.  Metallic taste, need a nap and weepy.  Otherwise OK.

As far as body hair is concerned, my leg hair grows very slowly, so I don't have to shave every day.  I was really hoping my arm hair was going to fall out.  Not so!  I still have it - darn!!!  I've been using this brow gel from brianjosephs.com.  It's not cheap - $50.  I sitll have my brows, but haven't had to pluck them as much.  I noticed a few hairs here and there coming out when I pencil in the rest of my brows (my brows grow nicely in the center, but not so much on the ends).  So, I'm wondering if this brow gel is really working.  I'm thinking of not buying more and just pencilling in the whole brow when they're gone.  My lashes are still there, but I've lost a couple hairs.  My armpit hair is gone - yipee!!!  I am thin "down there"