Starting Chemo in June 2005

I'm done with rad #2 (only 28 more to go)

I am finding it quite interesting the number of ladies going through rads. During chemo there were probably 80% men. Now, I've only seen one man waiting for rads. It's nice to be in company with ladies' whose hair is growing out. Feels like a whole new common connection. I actually ran into a gal going to the restroom, and I boldly said, "we have the same hair style." It was almost a revelation for me.

The eyebrows and eyelashes are falling faster than my hair did--and they are almost gone. I guess I'm going to have to break down and get the stencil on eyebrows. It's a weird feeling.

I do LOVE the feel of my fuzzy white hair. My husband finally acknowledged that it's coming in really quickly. I've been using Nioxin, and I do think it's helping. It's almost worse than Mary Kay, though....it's a multi-step program....Just when I was settling into fast showers and getting dressed in the morning...I'm back to shampooing, conditioning (which has actually been good for dry scalp), and then there's a scalp treatment. I haven't used the follicle booster, yet. But, if it yields more hair, sooner, then great!

Quote:

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Hairs to you!

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LOL!!!

Jen

Minerva,
Happy to hear you're doing well! The winking pirate! That was soooo funny.

Has anyone heard from Scout lately?

Watson

Good one Jen!

PS
I want my eye lashes! How long until I get them back???

Congratulations and welcome to the finish line Bev! Hooray!

I got my PET scan results and it is NORMAL...this nasty chemo stuff really works! When I went for my blood work Wednesday...since I had already finished chemo at the hospital due to the hurricane...they still gave me a big bell to ring to signify the end of chemo...got all choked up and cried all the way to my car!

Now I only have one doctor's appointment before my cruise and then I will be free! Of course, when I come back I will be starting radiation, but it will be wonderful to have a few doctor and work free weeks!

Minerva...glad your surgery is over. It is quite shocking at first to see yourself...but you do get used to it. It's been six months since my mastectomy and sometimes I forget that I'm missing a breast! It will all look better after some healing and you will eventually become comfortable with yourself again.

I am so jealous of all of you that are getting hair...I get a teeny bit more fuzz each day...but still have to look hard to see it. I enjoy rubbing my head too. At first the fuzz was only in a few spots, but slowly it seems to be coming in all over...but by no stretch of the imagination could you say I had hair. I really want my eyelashes back too!

Liz

Tired and unmotivated...I have Taxol #12 next week and then I'm done....should be elated and I am just kind of floating along....need to post more often, but can't seem to even think of anything to say other than I sure am glad not everyone has gotten as apathetic as me! Have a good weekend and maybe I'll be more chatty next week.
KimB

Sorry I have been missing in action for so long. I had a terrible time with Taxotere! I was getting it every 3 weeks until after the second dose....I was in bed racked with pain for 8 days. My Onc decided to try the every week dose...which was fine the first dose, but then back to the horrible pain. Anywho, my Onc felt I had had enough chemo and I had all my chemo except 2/3 of one dose.
I interviewed several plastic surgeons and decided on one that I really liked. My surgery is this Tuesday at 8am. My Surgical Onc. and the Plastic Surgeon will be working together, so the surgery will be about 5 hours. I will spend the night at the center. It's not at the hosptial, but a surgery center that has about 10 beds. Both doctors hate the hospitals and said I am much safer from contracting germs away from the hospital.
I have also been dealing with alot of depression. I don't know if it's hormones or not. I am comfortable with what I am doing, but maybe I am surpressing my feelings...who knows. My blood pressure has been high so I had to see my reg dr to get that under control.
I'm glad to hear that some of us are ending treatment soom...yea!!!!!!!!!!!! I am having reconstruction done so hopefully this will be the end of the road for me. So far, they said I won't have to have radiation...and maybe not more chemo...let's keep our fingers crossed.
Anywho...that's what going on here!

Jo..."I look a lot better than I feel....and I look pretty weird." How true! People tell me I look good and I think compared to what? When I first started reading these boards I read about a woman who thought about dying every day...her onc asked her if she really wanted to look back in a few years and realize how much time she wasted thinking about dying instead of living life the best she could. Whenever I get scared or depressed I think about that and for some reason it helps me. None of us can predict our future...it's in God's hands so we might as well enjoy each day in whatever way we can. Easier said then done when you're feeling down...but sometimes I have to say that over and over to myself. Right now I feel so worn out and tired it's hard to feel any oomph about anything...but I know it will get better. I thought that once I finished chemo I would just bounce back to my old self...now I realize it is going to take time to heal and feel some energy again and I'm doing my best to accept that and just not worry about things. I was very worried about the results of my PET scan and it turned out fine. It will take us a long time to ever feel safe having tests, but eventually it will probably be something we learn to deal with and feel less vulnerable about as time goes on. We have been through hell, but we are all still here and we are all making progress.

Scout...good to hear from you! Will pray that all goes well for you on Tuesday. Sounds like you are definitely moving along now and that things are getting better just having everything planned out. Let us know how you are after surgery as soon as you can.

Liz

I am feeling pretty cool about having hair .....
my daughter came home and saw my hair for the first time and said "You look like a convict"
You know she's right.

I still have one more. A week from today will be my last. YAY!!!

I'm still shedding like a dog in the middle of summer, but continue to go without hats. It's thinned some, but as of right now I'm still comfortable topless. In fact, I spiked the hair on top of my head this morning just for fun. lol. I can't wait to hear what the smartalec techs have to say when I go for my labs in a little bit.

Jen

Watson - nanny nanny boo boo (no pun intended - LOL!) The lab techs didn't say anything so neither did I.

I have no idea when I get my port out. It won't be before the 15th of December, though. That's my next appointment with my onc. My port is in my chest, but it's not been bothering me a whole lot, either. But I know what you mean. I'm ready for it all to be over, too!

Jen

I saw my surgeon for my 6-month check up today. She told me I have nice flaps. LOL! Don't believe anyone's ever told me that before.

So are you ladies ready for turkey day? I am! And then I'm going to quit eating. I've gained 20-freakin-pounds! Yikes. And now it's the holiday season. Double yikes!! Oh well. There's always next year.

Jen

WOO HOO 2006!!!!!!!

thanks about the quote. That would be from John Lennon. I came across it after my diagnosis and I thought it was perfect. We were in the middle of making other plans, i.e., moving to another state. And all of a sudden, life happened!!

Jen