Starting Chemo Feb 2010?

I did it!

I went "topless" yesterday. Got tired of all the gray and the pros and cons of coloring my hair, and what to color it with, and how long to wait, and figured shoot, whats the worst that can happen--it falls out? Been there, done that....I was just so tired of seeing gray and black and scalp and wondered what it would look like with some color. So 2 nights ago, I colored it. I've been coloring my own hair for years and it was a little dificult because its so short (about an inch) so I mixed a little color together and used a paint brush and painted it on lol. I left it on the recommended time because I've heard woman say that the color didn't take and it looks lighter on post-chemo hair. And I picked a darker color than usual, a dark brown with a hint of red. I think going darker is better than going lighter, less damage to my hair. Anyway, it looks pretty good, and I no longer look like a sick old man or a sick baby chick. I trimmed up the stray hairs on my neck and around my ears and it looks like a very short "do". My 18 yr son said it looked OK, and he's nothing but brutally honest. I went to my best friends house to show her and she loved it, she's rocked short hair for years and I made hers look long lol. To celebrate my coming out (so to speak) we went out to dinner at a nice Mexican place.  It was dark in there so that helped, but I didn't get any weird looks or questions about what happened to my hair.  And it felt GREAT to not have anything on my head!!! I figure with make-up, big earrings, etc I shouldn't look like a guy. I am going to the beach this weekend, and I don't think I am even going to pack any headwraps!!  

My last chemo was May 11, so I guess I'm 11 weeks PFC. Only having the neuropathy in my fingers and toes post Taxol, and those crazy hot flashes from the Tamoxifen. And I seem to bruise easier but I feel pretty good. I'm all healed from radiation.  Still worried about my nails, but like Retrievermom, I've kept my acrylics on all thru chemo and I think that helped keep them on. My brows and lashes are back to their pre-chemo state. And I don't look or feel sick any more, yay!

I meet with the oncologist next week and I just have some questions about what do I do next? My son asked me if I was cancer-free and I said I guess so. Nobody said anything else after chemo/rads/Tamoxifen. But I guess I should make sure, huh.  

Anyway I just wanted to share with you girls my Coming Out story!     

"My natural hair pattern is in the shape of a faux-hawk."

Me, too! It lays down on the sides and sticks straight up in the middle, and it's all somewhere between ½ and ¾ inches long. Mine is also grey, so I was considering buying one of those touch-up kits and seeing what blonde looks like!

faithfulc - where did you get the emu oil??  On line or at a store?  Just started rads and want to get this asap.  Thanks - Mo

Hi ladies!  I haven't been on here in a while and it is good to see everyone is making good progress and love your hair stories!!

I have 3 more rad tx to go and I'll be finished this Thursday, yeah!  I had a couple days off from them, I was in Disney with my daughter and her dance troop!  Boy was it hot in Disney, but I managed well, we just kept going on rides and staying in the A/C as much as possible.  I even kept my hair on, was going to go with just a baseball cap, but I found it to be hotter and it left so much skin exposed to the sun!

My skin has held up well through rads, only the clavical area peeled a little, like sun burn, but the rest of the breast area just looks tan.  Moisturizing has really helped, I used Aquafor and Fruit of the Earth Aloe and if an area became itchy I used Cortizone cream.

I just started taking B12, because what started to be just numbness in my big toe has spread, especially at night, I feel like I have a club foot!  So we shall see if this helps.  Also, I have noticed that my feet are really dry, bone dry, not sure if it is from rads, chemo or what, but I have never had such a problem with my feet. 

Anyone else notice that their skin is dry??   Take care ladies, thanks for all that you share!!

Hi girls, just checking in. I have 5 boosts to go. I'm doing ok with rads and am now allowing myself to count down the days. faithfulc - you're so right about the skin creases. My only skin issues have been around my collarbone, in the creases because of my arms over my head for treatment. Last night, I had quite a bit of pain and itchiness. The 1% hydrocortisone and ibuprofen helped a lot and I used an icepack in a towel for a bit. Since I'm now doing boosts, I hope that area improves but I understand it could get worse before it gets better. I did use Emu oil but also used Eucerin Calming Creme and Calmoseptine at night.

Good luck to everyone in treatment this week. Gina

I saw the surgeon yesterday, now that I've finished chemo. He said that even though I had a great response to chemo, he could still see what he called architectural distortion marking the original outline of the tumor, and recommended mastectomy vs lumpectomy. Which was exactly what I wanted, so yay! But he's a bit conservative (though very highly recommended) and wouldn't do a prophy MX at the same time. He said it increases your odds of complications like blood clots, so if it's not medically indicated, he won't do a BMX. I'll have to wait 6 months for the other side. I won't know about needing radiation until after the path report comes back post-op, but I already knew that. So, it looks like surgery early September. They'll call me this week with the exact date.

It's weird, but I kinda miss chemo, even though it wasn't fun. He said that's normal, because it's a routine, and you're actively doing something, and lots of his patients tell him that. Time to take a vacation between now and September!

Gina:  Are you done with rads now?

My hair is getting wavy as it gets longer.  I just brush my fingers through it, and let it go any which way.  I've never had curly hair before, and I had so much product (color) in it over the years, I had an entirely different texture.  This is really soft.

retrievermom - Hi! I'll be done Monday 8/16. Rads onc added one more treatment. I'll bet your hair looks great. I'm not quite ready to go "topless", yet. My hair is coming in dark and my scalp is covered. I'm not sure when I'll give up my wig and headwraps.

writer - Congratulations on being done tomorrow! So nice you can get a break from treatment. Sounds like you'll get to do something fun for a change. I went to visit my sister and mom in Chicago last weekend and it was great to get a change of scenery. We ate well and shopped 'til my mom dropped! I've done pretty well on rads, too. My only issue is the creases near my clavicle and I think they're better since my boosts began and that area is out of the line of fire. I will be happy to close that chapter of treatment, even though I really like my rads onc and the techs have been wonderful, the valet parkers are great and my machine never broke down.  Gina

It's great to see so many finishing up rads -- congratulations!

Laura, that's really good that they were able to do all of the surgery at once. Wonderful news about your nodes being negative!

I'm still recuperating from my exchange surgery and lift on other side. It's so strange to see my good nipple actually looking up at me again after so many years, as gravity and age had sent it towards my toes.   I am dealing with a rash on my chest area now, a yeast infection the doctor says, probably from a weakened immune system. One pill and twice daily cream seems to be clearing it up fast.  Also back to yogurt twice a day.

My hair is growing well. It's been four months since chemo ended, the top and back are really thick, and it's long enough to cover about 1/3 of my ears. I could go out without a headcover, but I don't have the face for really short hair. I still feel more comfortable in a hat or bandana when out and about.

The hot flashes have been a lot better this month. I still get them several times a day, but nothing like before. They even let me sleep most of the night now. I'm in Florida where the heat has been intolerable since May, and I miss not being able to go outside and walk. The humidity is horrible. We're seriously thinking of moving to a cooler climate once the housing market turns around a little, which may take awhile. 

Sending good thoughts to those still undergoing treatment. Have a good weekend!

Cindy

Here is a pic of the new me and my little bit of hair......

Yea!  They are going to remove my port next Tuesday when I have my implants put in...one less surgery!

I also started Tamoxifen on 8/5, and my hot flashes are definitely worse.  I didn't think that was possible!  ugh

Hi everyone, our summer has come to an abrupt end here in the UK and thank goodness ! My hot flashes are fewer and I actually get a little sleep in the cooler temperatures. I finished chemo in June and feel quite good although I am tired by mid afternoon and am sure that my reactions have slowed up. I was shopping today and was ok for a couple of hours and then everything seemed a big effort, getting stuff into bags, walking between shops seemed to take an age and I really had to concentrate on what I was trying to achieve. I have a slight regrowth of hair on my head which is not pretty and I am fed up with coverings. The hair elsewhere on my body is making a very strong come back unfortunately.  My herceptin is going well with no side effects and I am having the next one done at home. Would love to take a foreign holiday but cannot get insurance . Anyone else finding this a problem ?