Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

I have been taking these all during my treatment.  I showed them to my onc and she said they were ok.  I even called the company to find out if they had any soy fillers and I was told "no" that Andrew Lessman doesn't use soy in any of his products.  You can get these at HSN.

I am going to try and get my boyfriend to take a picture of my hair now that it has started to grow.  It is sooooooo super curly.  I feel like Little Orphan Annie.  I have always had poker straight hair, I don't know how to style this curly mop.   My onc said my hair should go back to normal after about 6 months, but I was speaking with one gal who had treatment over 5 yrs ago and her hair is still curly.

stlcardsfan: I just copy and paste to get the pictures in here. 

You know where my hair seems to be growing the fastest and coming in the thickest?  The old "nether region"!!     The hair on my head is about 1.75" long now.  My last chemo was on March 4 and it did take at least 6 weeks before it started to grow.  I spent years trying to get my hair curly, now that I have it - I don't know what to do with it!!   My boyfriend comes home so late from work, that by the time he gets home, I already have my PJ's on, make up off and I am ready for bed.  Don't know when I'll get a picture taken, but I will try.

Hi Bubalu,

My ankles ae swelling as well by the end of the day from edema.  I think mine is from my high blood pressure meds - its happened before.  Since the Avastin chemo, my bloodpressure has been going fluey - up and down, so my primary put me on an additional med.  Then the ankles started blowing up.  Are you taking any other meds?

Pat

I haven't been on in a long time!  In the middle of July, my father had a massive stroke and we had to make an emergency trip to Minnesota.  He lived, but has a loooooooooooooooong road to recovery.  My family didn't even recognize me!  I had to tell my brother and sister that I was their sister!!!  We flew back here on August 1 and have been busy packing.  Our container left on Friday and will get to Cleveland on Sept 13.

I have herceptin, which gives me terrible muscle fatigue!!

Bubbalu- my ankles are still a mess.  Had my last taxotere on June 24.  Still can't wear my wedding rings and the 12 hour flight to Minnesota did NOTHING to help my ankles and feet.  I wish I knew what to do.  As long as I lay down with my feet up, I am fine.  As soon as they are down, my ankles and toes swell!!  My ankles really hurt and are so hot at night.  I am having trouble sleeping.  I see my doctor at Cleveland Clinic on Sept 9 and am going to ask about this.

Hi ALl,

I had rad #33 of 33 today.  So, I'm finally done the active treatment phases.  I start taking Femara in a week - hopefully without too much drama, although the Femara discussion chain is a little worrisome.

I am relieved - tired, worn out, grateful to be alive....and just plain old needing some R&R and time off from cancer.

As I reflected back on this past year, I realized that the worst part of this journey has not been the side effects, pain and suffering....because all those things were mostly temporary.  It's the loss of my sense of "future" and the happy optimism I've had about the future in my life.  My future feels more limited and more anxious. I'm hoping as time passes that this view improves.

I probably won't be checking in much from now on because I'm happy to turn my major attention back to other things...my recovery, husband, grandson, children, work, fun....  I'm praying that I get rewarded with an uneventful decade or two in my personal journey with breast cancer.

Love to you all!

Pat

Hi Lilylou,

I am also still on Herceptin, had 11 out of 18 so far.

Surgery done, and currently getting te's expanded. No rads as no node involvement.

Herceptin and/or lack of estrogen is causing me some wicked joint pain. I am 43, but these achy joints make me feel much older! My hair also growing, 16 weeks PFC today for me, so about 3 solid months of hair growth. Just about 1 " long and starting to cover the ears. Best of luck as you continue on the H path! 

Grace - It is good to hear that you are back in the US.  I hope you are happy to be back here and I wish you luck on all your tests.  I hope everything come back negative and you can finsh the Herceptin and be done with it.

I have wondered where everyone is and how life if treating them.  I have had a good summer and will probably wait until January to start reconstruction.

The 3-Day Walk for the Cure in Seattle is in 2 weeks.  I am not as ready as I should be but I think I will be OK.  My sister and I are a team and we have raised $10,000+  I am excited for the experience of the walk but also nervous that I will have to get picked up by the "sweeper" van.

My two best friends from High School, came this weekend to visit me.  We have not seen each other in 13 years.  I always thought, "next year I will go see them" but never did.  I would say that that is one VERY positive thing that came out of Breast Cancer.  We can't guarantee that there will be a next year.  No one can guarantee there will be a "next" year but we know not to take it for granted.

I hope all of you are doing well.  I am glad that you are to busy to post but I miss hearing how everyone is doing!

Lorrie

Hi ladies, it has been a while since I have been on here as well!!  My summer was crazy, I finished rads and went away with my family for 2 1/2 weeks and trying to settle into the routine of work, kids activities, exercising and having fun again!

I only have 1/2 inch of hair but very few grey's so I was pleasantly surprised about that:)  I have aches and pains in joints and when I wake up in the morning I feel like I don't have feet!  Taxotere is to blame for this and it is a bit depressing at times, because my body feels 10 or more years older!  But I am trying to keep a good attitude about it, exercise, stretch and as someone on another thread suggested, taking Tylenol!  Funny, I hate taking meds, yet I went through with Chemo but didn't even think of taking Tylenol to releive some of the pain. 

I just started Tamoxifen, I am hoping that the aches and hot flashes will not intensify with it..I was going to wait until some of these things ease, but then I may really not want to take the Tpill, so we shall see how it goes.

Good to see there is some activity and fewer posts mean things are good!!!  Yeah!!!

Be Well!

Nursemary - So sorry to hear about the lung cancer BUT so glad it is a new cancer and NOT mets.  It sucks to have to go through treatments and emotions again but your prognosis should be good. 

I am doing the Walk for the Cure next weekend.  If you change your mind, let me know. I'd love to meet up with you.

I am not loving my hair (very grey) but I am trying to accept it.  I get lots of compliments but it is not me.  I get lots of compliments but it is not me.

I wish you to stay positive.  You fought one cancer and you will win against another.

Lorrie

It has been ages for me too--life really has gotten busy, but I love it!  We spent a week at Disney which we have wanted to do forever.  It was a fantastic vacation!  My kids are in 12th, 9th and 4th grades this year and we hit the ground running.  Homecoming is next weekend and both of my older kids are going--scary and exciting at the same time.

Grace--so glad to hear you have settled in here in Ohio.  Would still love to get together and meet in person.  I am only about an hour away from Cleveland.

I am participating in the Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk in October.  I have been overwhelmed by the number of friends and family who want to walk with me and support me.  I also celebrated my end of treatment by getting a tattoo.  A little out of character for me, but I knew if I could get through chemo I could do this.  I got a tattoo of a cupcake on my left ankle, because I love to bake.

lssymom--I know what you mean about the hair.  Mine is about an inch long, very curly and a completely different color.  I get a lot of compliments, but it still doesn't feel like "me". I tease my kids that I am never going to cut my hair and be a crazy old lady with hair down to my butt!

So glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Take care!

Hi from me as well!

Herceptin # 13 out of 17 now done!

TE's almost filled to capacity. Looking like I might do exchange at Port removal in December. Combo two surgeries in one, and get it done before insurance co-pays start all over again! 

Nkrun - It is good to hear from you.  I hope you are doing well and recovered from your surgery this summer.  Yes, I did the 3-Day this past weekend.  It was an amazing experience.  I trained quite a bit but not as much as they recommended and I was still able to walk the entire 60 miles.  Blisters on my heals were the only major issue.  They have great medical care that can help lance blisters if needed and help you wrap to project them from getting worse.

The part of the walk that I was not prepared for was all the support from the community, family, friends, etc... There were individuals and groups of people that cheered us on and then 2 hours later they were at another place on the route cheering us on.  Several of these groups were there all 3 days.  I also wasn't prepared for people thanking me for walking.  These people had pictures of the wife, mother, sister, and/or daughter!  This disease sucks but it felt good to be doing something positive.

Nkrun- I will send you a PM with my phone number.  If you want to call me, I can give you some tips that I wish I had before the walk.

TerriJo - I hope the colonoscopy went well today and they find nothing serious but answers to your pelvic pain.  It is scary.

Friday the 5th is my one year cancerversary. Can't believe it has been a year and how good I feel.  The hardest part is that I don't look like the same person I did a year ago.  I had shoulder length brown hair and now I have short curly grey/black hair and no boobs.  I am alive and trying to remember that!

Hello everyone!  Well, still continuing my treatments at the CC.  Herceptin until at least April.  I like my new Onco although I really miss my doctor in Japan.  The fatigue from the aromasin and herceptin is a little overwhelming at times.  I thought once I finished chemo the end of June that my energy would come back up!  HAHA!!

I am LOVING the seasons!  We are in Connecticut seeing some friends.  Wednesday I fly to Minnesota to see my dad who had a massive stroke the end of July.  His life is forever changed, much more profoundly than my own quite honestly.

Glad to read about everyone!  I too have the gray hair blues.  My hair grew in "charcoal" color.  I mean it is not black, brown, or blonde!  I finally labeled in charcoal and that is the truth!  It has grown in curly, which is toooooooooooo funny after having pin straight hair my whole life!  It is also so thick right now.  It is so easy to care for! 

Well, need to run.  Anyone else on herceptin?  I think you are nkrun.  How have you been feeling?  My feet really hurt for the first two days after treatment.  About a week later, my knees and elbows are horribly painful!  Would love to hear how anyone is doing with herceptin or aromasin.

Hi Ladies - wow isn't it amazing what we have all been through in one year's time?  Nov 2nd was the anniversary of my surgery.  I was home recooperating last year at this time. 

My hair is also super curly while before it was poker straight.  I too look like I chose this style.  I'm getting used to it. Still wondering if it will go back to being straight.  My onc said that in 6 - 9 months it could.  Although others who have been down this road said their's remained curly.  I did not like the salt and pepper look so I colored my hair back to the usual color I had been using.  Last month I had my hairdresser put in highlights and I really like it now.

I just had a mamogram and a follow up with the breast surgeon.  She was really happy with everything.  I go next month to the radiation oncologist and February to the regular onc.  I guess for the next couple of years it will be the endless parade of doctor visits.

My only sad news is that on Friday Nov 5th I lost my dear little mini-schnauzer Shadow.  He was 15 and lived a great life.  The house seems so empty without him.

Hope everyone is doing great!!  Any news on Paxton?  Her story and that beautiful baby are often on my mind.

Love and hugs to all.