Starting Chemo Feb 2010?

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  • Leah58
    Leah58 Member Posts: 159
    edited October 2010

    Thinking of you, Michele.  Your February sisters are with you in spirit.

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  • Leah58
    Leah58 Member Posts: 159
    edited October 2010

    Thinking of you, Michele.  Your February sisters are with you in spirit.

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  • Ado
    Ado Member Posts: 89
    edited October 2010

    I like that   "February Sisters" When I posted a few weeks ago with my minor aches and pains you were all there and made me feel better and I knew I was not alone. Michele, we are all behind you 100% .

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  • ginadmc
    ginadmc Member Posts: 263
    edited October 2010

    Sorry to hear your news, Michelle. I will keep you in my thoughts. Gina

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  • CinD
    CinD Member Posts: 163
    edited October 2010

    Michele, just a note to let you know I'm thinking of you. Please keep us posted. As Ado said, we are all behind you 100%.

    Cindy 

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  • leta17
    leta17 Member Posts: 120
    edited October 2010

    Michelle kick its ugly a$$, we are hear sending you extra strength!!

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2010

    Okay, I know this is minor compared to what many of us have been through and are still facing, but has anyone else lost their big toenail???  Mine just fell off last night - six months after chemo.  I had noticed a ridge on both my big toes and just thought it was from where the chemo ended and that it would eventually grow out.  Well, nope, it just fell right off at the ridge - so what I have left is about 1/8 of an inch of new nail.  I know they said this could happen with chemo, but I assumed it would have been much earlier.  Oh, well, at least it's not flip flop/sandal season! 

    Michelle - how are you doing?  Please keep us posted - we're all concerned and are here for you.  Mo 

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  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited October 2010

    Mo, I had my last chemo in July and both of my big toenails are ridged all along their length, like I got a ridge for each chemo session. They haven't improved, but they haven't gotten worse, either. I was just wondering the other day when they'd improve. Was your toenail dark or did it hurt before it came off? I'm wondering what I should look for.

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2010

    Hi, Carolyn - I had a pedicure about two weeks ago and the only thing I noticed when the polish came off was that it looked a little cloudy with a ridge about an eight of an inch above the cuticle.  I had no idea it was about to fall off.  Just looked down last night, noticed it looked weird, and touched it and it was completely broken off at the ridge, but hanging on by a bit, which I didn't have a choice but to rip/cut off.  It didn't hurt at all, which is weird - you'd think it would, wouldn't you???  So, since all my other nails on my feet had ridges, I cut them down, where possible, to the ridge, and I could tell that the part I was cutting was pretty much dead nail - gross, right??  Anyway, I'm taking biotin starting today to help this growth along - hopefully it won't take long to have it looking somewhat normal again - not very pretty right now, I must say!  Mo

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  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited October 2010

    Thanks! I'm already taking biotin to rev up the hair, so maybe it's protecting my nails, too?

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  • retrievermom
    retrievermom Member Posts: 522
    edited October 2010

    Mo:  Big toenail issues here, too.  Turned dark purple, became very thick, then the end peeled off.  I still have some nail, and new growth is coming in.

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited October 2010

    Girls!  My eyelashes are finally growing!  Wow, it only took 2 1/2 months from my last treatment to get them to start.

    Still lots of hair on the sides and back of my head, and barely any on top.  Crazy!  I can't believe how long it's taking for my hair to grow back.  My hair grew really fast before, so this is strange for sure.  I can't wait for the day when I won't have to wear my wig.  That seems like way in the future, though. 

    I hope everyone is doing well!

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  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited October 2010

    Congrats, burley! Since the eyelashes are growing, the hair hopefully will be next!

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  • writer
    writer Member Posts: 208
    edited October 2010

    I've been out of touch for a while.... Michele, I am so sorry. What a rotten surprise. Keep us posted and know that we're all thinking of you.

    Colleen 

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited October 2010

    Well, it is official.  After a blood test I'm declared to be of "reduced benefit" from Tamoxifen.  A prescription of Fareston is now at the pharmacy, who has to order it.  By next Monday I'll start Fareston.  Copay going grom $5 to $100, and even more next January.  I'm going to see if I tolerate this well.  If I do, I may do the "home delivery" drug thing to save myself some $$.

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2010

    Hi faithfulc - were you having symptoms with the Tamoxifen?  Just curious how you knew it wasn't right for you.  Mo

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  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited October 2010

    Yay! I've been deported! I got my portacath out today and I am totally happy about that. Wednesday, I go in for CT mapping prep for radiation. Onward and upward, right?

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited October 2010

    I had two fingernails split just below my cuticle, just out of the blue.  I waited for them to grow to the point where I could clip them, had to clip them dangerously short, then went and had acrylics put on.  I'm so happy to have my nails back!  So far one of them broke off and had to be replaced, but the other seems to be hanging in there.

    No toenail problems that I know of...although they are polished, so I wouldn't know.  Still flip flop weather here in AZ.

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited October 2010

    Mo, it is a blood test.  I've been tolerating T very well - and now I suspect it is because I am not getting the "full benefit" of it since my body does not have the ability to process all of it into active form.  Fareston works just like Tamoxifen, except that it is already in active form.  And oh yes, it is a lot more expensive.

    Went in for a ultrasound for the uterus/ovaries, etc.  Seems normal.  Was told I had a cervical polyp and the doc removed it right then and there.  Have some spotting.  The removed is sent to the lab for path report (routine procedure) - 99%+ of the time these are be9.

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  • lindee629
    lindee629 Member Posts: 61
    edited October 2010

    faithfulc--I have the same Tamoxifen problem, which I also feel is the reason I've tolerated it pretty well. But I wasn't offered any other drug...never heard of Fareston. But I am to get quarterly injections of Lupron and the onc had me decrease my Lexapro.  So I've done both and I hope that its helping the Tamoxifen do its stuff.

    My nails are fine, my hair is growing in, I have eyelashes, I think the neuropathy may even be lessening (or I am just getting used to it) but for the past few weeks my entire arm (lumpectomy side) has been aching. Not swollen, but it hurts all the way down to my wrist if I go to stretch to reach for something. Lymphedema??? God, I hope not.  I've been trying to do gentle stretching excercises so maybe that will help. It's like this crap never ends. 

    Michele--so sorry to hear, that sucks. You are in my prayers. Stay strong   

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited October 2010

    Everyone has disappeared!  Hopefully that's because we're all doing well, and there's not much to report.

    I know someone else has had this problem, but I got really tired of my hairy face and had the sides of my face waxed last night.  And today?  I have the most horrific rashes down both sides of my face.  It looks like horrible, teenager acne.  Ugh!  I'm just keeping it clean and dry, and luckily I don't have to work until Tuesday.  I'm praying that it looks better by then.  Needless to say, I will never have that done again.  I'll suffer with the hair.

    Hair is growing steadily, although it's terribly thin on top.  You can still see my shiny scalp.  And I have a tiny bald spot at the top of the back of my head that matches my husband's.  He thinks it's pretty funny, and makes a point to tell everyone who asks how my hair is growing.

    Eyelashes are coming in, although better on one eye than the other.  Eyebrows are full again, and I had them waxed about 2 weeks ago (I did get some pimples above my eyebrows afterwards, but no rash.)

    All in all, everything is good!  I hope everyone else is doing well-take care!

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  • cbranner
    cbranner Member Posts: 28
    edited October 2010

    I'm still here! My hair is coming in pretty good now, though I'm keeping it pretty short, partly because of hot flashes and partly because I'm not putting any chemicals in it. My nails are looking better with the dark color only at the ends now. They're extremely brittle however and split if you look at them too hard. My son has recommended pre-natal vitamins to take care of that.

    I get aches sometimes in my muscles and sometimes in my joints, but don't know if it's a leftover from the Taxotere or aggravated by the Tamoxifen.

    Otherwise - it's looking good. I will be having my port taken out tomorrow. My surgeon was unable to get it out in the office (after an incision and much tugging), so I'll have to go to a surgery center - but as long as it comes out - that's another physical reminder of BC going away.

    Michele - still praying for you, girl! 

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  • lbreedl
    lbreedl Member Posts: 59
    edited October 2010

    Hi to all!

    Its so good to see everyone still hanging in there. I'm half through radiation. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. The hardest part is being away from my family during the week, but Im so glad to be able to come home weekends. This weekend I got home and crashed in bed till the next morning! I guess I was more tired than I realized. My big toenails also came off so now I have fake ones so I can wear my flip flops in style. Hair is coming in good now ,darker and wayyy more gray. I still cant get used to the butch look! I will say it is so easy and much cooler, as we all know! My son still wont rub it. He has loved my long hair ever since he was a baby.

    I've made several new friends in the holding area at radiation, there are so many of us out there. We are all different and yet the same. There is a strong bond between us, a sisterhood of sorts.

    Michele, I'm sad to hear that you will have to undergo further treatment, and so soon too. I am glad that you are on top of the situation and seem to be getting through. You are in my prayers.

    I met a very awesome woman while waiting for rads who is a 20 year survivor who had liver mets in 90. She is a teacher and was there with a friend who was having treatment. She was such an encouragement to me! She looked and felt great & was living well with the disease. I hope the same for you.

    Take care everyone!

    Laura

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  • Claire82
    Claire82 Member Posts: 684
    edited October 2010

    You're making me cry - I watch my 2 year old granddaughter play with her mama's hair when she is tired and remember that she used to do that to mine too. Now she reaches for mine and when she can't find it, starts to pull on her own hair. But a funny story - the first day I decided to leave the wig behind, she was with me. As we went to go out of the door, she looked at me and said uhoh nana - then she ran into my bathroom and came out with my wig in her hand saying - oh nana- you forgot your hat

    precious!

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited October 2010

    Claire82, your granddaughter is so adorable!

    lbreedl, good luck on the rest of your radiation.  I used emu oil and did very well.  Keep it moist and cool.

    Cbranner, you are so right - when my port was removed last month I felt so good!!

    My hair is also coming in well - still short (2 inches?) but most of my scalp can be covered now.  Happy about that.  Farreston (the new drug replacing Tamoxifen for me) is not too bad, either.   

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  • makmak
    makmak Member Posts: 632
    edited October 2010

    Michele, I was sad to read your news on the Stage IV boards, but just loggin in to report that I just got my 3 month scan and all is almost clean.. and I started with too many to count.. So I'm crossing my fingers for  you too!!

    I've started to get hair.. have 1/4 inch and it's been exactly 3 months since my last tx.. have all my brows and lashes.. and guess what else I have.. yep.. my periods are back... and my second one is 3 weeks after my last... UGH.. my Onc said it's normal for them to be irregular..

    So, I'm now investigating a mx on the breast that had the tumor.. though it came back clean on the mammo and ultrasound.. but it WAS there so going to consult with a few surgeons. The first said it's up to me, but if I do it, he also recommends a full node disection which will be about 25 nodes.. I am so upset as I have my little one to carry around.. and all the risks with that... My Onc told me NOT to do the surgery.. so I'm totally torn..

    Thanks for letting me vent.. I've been reading and keeping up with all your news.. just was waiting until I had some good news to report.. which is that Herceptin is working for me!!

    Marina

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  • CinD
    CinD Member Posts: 163
    edited October 2010

    Marina, it's good to hear from you!  That's great that the Herceptin is working so well. I'm glad you've got hair coming in but sorry to hear about the irregular periods.  I haven't had a period since February, and I hope they stay away.  Deciding on surgery is so confusing, so good luck with that. Take care and let us know how everything goes.

    Cindy

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2010

    Hi, everyone - is anyone going to the breastcancer.org benefit concert with Harry Connick, Jr. in Philly tomorrow?  If so, would love to be able to say hello in person to you - I know everyone is all over the world, but I just thought maybe someone else from the Philly area may be going.  I bought a fabulous dress and my hair actually looks very trendy (which I'm not), so I'm ready to go!  Have a great weekend everyone.  Mo

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited November 2010

    Hey all, just popping to say hello!  Status quo for me...hair is coming in, and there's TONS of gray!  Bummer.  I can't wait until it's long enough to dye-maybe for Christmas (fingers crossed.)

    I hope everyone is doing well!

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  • lindee629
    lindee629 Member Posts: 61
    edited November 2010

    aarrrggghh.....my eyelashes are falling out. I read on the "hair hair hair" board that it may happen 3 months after they come back in. Like some kind of eyelash life cycle. Sure enough. I still have them, but I find a bunch of them falling out here and there, dammit. Oh well, I still have my heavy duty eyeliner if I need to use that again.   Hair on my head is coming in nice and thick, but since I've been coloring it since August, I have no idea what color it is--other than the mahogany brown dye that I use. But I have just started with the "Chemo Curl" thing going on. It's a little difficult to tame, but I am not complaining--I'm just glad I have hair!

    Found out that I have AWS  --axillary web syndrome. Its as a result of the lymph node surgery and may be a precursor to lymphedema. There is a palpable cord in my armpit that runs down the length of my arm and into my thumb. Nice. So now I am doing gentle stretching excercises of my affected arm, although it hurts to put my arm over my head, or to try to reach for something. If it doesn't get better soon, I have found the name of a local therapist that deals with this.  It's just that when you think you're getting better, something else pops up. Oh well.   

    Hope everyone is doing well, and take care!!! 

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