2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS
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Paula good to hear about your period back. I don't want any more children but I do want my period back. Mine just stoppped last month. My sister is 55 and going strong. I think it helps keep you young.
Hope your rads go well Graycie.
Amy glad to hear about seeing your shadow!
Just back from onc. They want to take out my port because I continue to have temps of 38-38.5C. Surgeon will take it out later today. Kind of sucks as I have two more rounds of Taxotere and almost a year of Herceptin left. My veins are in poor shape so we'll se how I get along without it...
Fists up! -
Hello everyone, I have missed so much, have not had internet for a few weeks now, have felt so cut off, Finally connected again. I hope everyone is doing well will begin to read all the posts I have missed. I have one more chemo to go on March 2nd, and then hopefully on to reconstruction thereafter, I have an appt with plastic surgeon on March 6th to see what they can do . I have truly missed this site, but have kept you all in my prayers every day.
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Good to have you back Sherry!
Debbie -
Maryanne - i never had a port at all . Over here they only do it if you are really ill and have had rounds and rounds of chemo or if you are a real needle phobic. My passing out when they were getting the canula in didnt class me as needle phobic, neither did my veins popping so dread to think what would have done!! I have a sorish forearm every now and again but apart from that i was fine.
On another note, i wasnt allowed to swim whilst on chemo because of infection risk - anyone know where i stand while on rads? Its halfterm here and kids desparate to go swimming but paranoid mum here wont let them go alone!
Debbie
Young at heart - body ageing fast!! -
Thanks Ladies!
my period actually only lasted 1-2 days.. so i am a bit concerned. But hey, its better than nothing!
Great pic Terynsmum, but i would be happy with only 2 of those boobies! i have 1.5 at the moment.. just can't regard my impant as a 'boob'..
I had my first rads yesterday, and couldnt get of of bed today till midday!! I hope its not rads side effect. There is no way i can take another 5 weeks off work.
Debbie - congrats on your hair! May it come back thick and curly (or whichever way you want it).
Not sure about Tamoxifen... i dont start till after rads, although I have heard some ladies start asap after chemo.
take care all
Paula -
maryanne...
My veins are pretty bad and I never had a port. They have managed to put the IV in my hand or wrist area with a butterfly needle. That's the best but they have used the regular needle too, and that worked (hurt a lot more but it worked). Hope it works for you, too.
I'm having hot flashes again and don't expect, at age 51, to get my period back. Wish it had gone out in a more natural way, but..........
ravdeb -
hi maryanne...
I do believe my hubby will be joining me in the States for the wedding...at least for part of the trip and then will return to work. I think I got 2 out of 3 kids coming with me, too :-)Still waiting for spring/summer clothes to come out so I can buy a dress for the wedding. Also would like to get rid of the steroids and lose a couple of kilos so I can feel good in a new dress :-)
You should be with your dh as I write...Hope it's wonderful!!!!
Still itching but my skin doctor told me today that it looks better. She says it's a mixture of allergic reaction to Taxol and because of the Taxol, my skin is severely dried out. Besides the antihistamines...she said to drink, drink drink!
Got a cough, too, so I made my way to the family doctor who said my lungs are clear (I'm asthmatic so this is a really important element) and he, too, told me to drink drink drink. I'm waiting to finish chemo and then I plan to really drink..only it won't be water with lemon :-) -
Wow onc asked to have port removed yest morning and surgeon squeezed me in at 10:30 last night. That is quick action. Had no trouible getting IV so hope that bodes well for furure. The upside will be no more appointments for flushing port and hopefully no more fever.
Had Herceptin today, no Taxotere-the first time I was done before lunch. Ravdeb DH in3 days and 3 hours... Glad yours will be joining you on your trip. And two of your kids too , what a treat for you.
Welcome back Sherry!
Terynsmom I loved the pic . Do you think she would donate a boob? Seems unfair she has so many.
Paula your period may take some time to establish regularity but it will likely come back as you are so young. Be careful to not get pregnant just yet.
Debbie I am not needle phobic but had weird reaction to Adriamycin which caused a phlebitis and arm is still swollen eevn though it was a couple of months ago. I hope Taxotere( I have two courses left) doesn't cause same thing. Taday had Herceptin IV and went well.
I don't see why you couldn't swim while getting rads, it doesn't affect your immune system. But ask your nurse if you are worried.
Fists up! -
Hi Maryanne..
Glad to hear that your IV went smoothly. May it continue to go smooth sailing.
Tomorrow I go for #9 out of 12 Taxols! I feel like I'm getting closer to the finish line. Getting anxious for my hair to be called a hairdo. Can't wait to stop donning the scarf. Once thought it was kinda novel. Today I am thinking otherwise :-)
ravdeb -
Hi Maryanne..
Glad to hear that your IV went smoothly. May it continue to go smooth sailing.
Tomorrow I go for #9 out of 12 Taxols! I feel like I'm getting closer to the finish line. I'm ITCHING to finish (am still very itchy from Taxol despite antihistamines, creams, etc...)
Getting anxious for my hair to be called a hairdo. Can't wait to stop donning the scarf. Once thought it was kinda novel. Today I am thinking otherwise :-)
ravdeb -
sorry for the double message (second one has more info :-)) I'm definitely chemo-brained.... can't remember from one minute to the next what I'm doing!
ravdeb -
Good Morning to all Hope everyone has a great day today. Can't believe in one week I will finish what I hope to be my last Chemo treatment, 6 months ago I thought this day would never come. Am ready for real hair, eyebrows and eyelashes!!! I feel like such an alien. Seems like no amount of makeup helps, can't seem to pencil in eyebrows, might as well use a magic marker!!
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Sherry,
try short little strokes with two or three different colors. Mine are very thin but pencils add for sure.The countdown is on for your last chemo. How will you celebrate?
Starting to pack for Georgia , summer clothes don't fit bc gained 17 pounds( up from 122). That is my peak weight except when pregnant when peaked at 141. Only a few things fit, will try to get through as hoping this weight goes away when I get back to my life. It will won't it? Won't it?
Ravdeb because I am going away my chemo is delayed by two weeks, now I don't finish until March 28. Anyone else still going then or am I the last?
Fists up! -
Be thankful Maryanne - i now have an extra 2 stone to move!! i think a lot of it came after my op when i took 4 months to heal so any exercise at all was ruled out, the weight sort of crept on, got comfortable and stayed!!
Sherry - I am not dab handed with the make- up but a cosmetics woman picked out an eyebrow pencil made by bourjois for me and people have commented on the fact that i havent lost my eyebrows - not knowing that they are my own colouring skills - it appears to be fool proof!!
I had my first rads today - 1 down 29 to go!!
We were up at 6 , ( husband at work so kids had to come) set off at 7 for the hours drive. Of course it was the day that British weather decided to kick in and we had a snow blizzard! i was there way early so that i could park - all for an appointment that lasted about 5 mins in total!! If only i had realised it was going to be over and done with so quickly. Have been for a sleep this afternoon, hope i dont need that every day as i will be working afternoons.
My swimming question was answered in the literature my rads nurse gave me. They say not to swim as chemicals in water may aggravate radiated skin. Oh well - not swum for 10 months - whats another 6 weeks!!??
Take care all
Debbie -
Well, some of us are still doing Taxol and Herceptin and I have 4 more rounds (one a week). Then just Herceptin every 3 weeks.
I go to the onc tomorrow, so I am going to ask her about more treatments available for her2+. I read about lapatinib and want to know how the outlook is. Also scared about those statistics I posted and the comment about 5 year survivors include women with mets!!!!! -
Hi Oct. chemo girls,
I got my port taken out yesterday. Because I am such a fear freak when it comes to needles going in anywhere near my chest, I asked to be totally sedated. The surgeon said everything went fine. Today I woke up and the pain was pretty bad. I took 2 Vicadins and that has helped. Stitches come out in 1 week.
Also girls, just FYI - I have taken Tamoxifen for almost two weeks now and haven't had any side effects (for those of you who might be nervous/concerned about taking it).
Graycie -
I don't have hair coming in either! As of today, I am 3 weeks - post last Taxol. I really want eyelashes. Without them, I look like a cancer patient. I wear sunglasses whenever I'm in public - it's too embarassing for me to not wear them. How are u? Hope you're doing well.
Amy -
Do you notice your hair growing more everyday? I'm just wondering if it's growing in spurts or regularly. I'm so happy for you. Also, have your eyelashes started to grow? Hope you're doing well.
Laura -
Maryanne... so you will just be following me by a bit. We will all catch up at Camp Nukemboobie since I'm not sure when I get to go. Need to sign up first :-) Will be talking to the camp director in about 2 weeks.
My eyebrows are so finicky.... at first on Taxol they began to fade away, but not completely. Then I suddenly saw them back in full swing and low and behold, they are thinning again. Wish they'd make up their minds!
Terynsmom... I never thought about women with mets included in the stats but then, this has always been the problem with stats in general. I remember telling an onc that I saw for a second opininion when she asked me if I was interested in stats, that I really wasn't because I couldn't get myself to think that I was one of the women that could be in the statistics. I am ME and this breast cancer is so unpredictable as you know from knowing all of these women, that one just can't tell what will be, with or without stats. We do the maximum we can in our treatments, and then we just need to LIVE and not worry too much. It's easier to say than do, I realize, but we all need to really try. Life is too precious to worry about stats all the time!!!!It's not that I never worry. Unfortunately, I do. But, I'm really trying to live for each day and take things as they come (but I do tons of research cuz I just need to know what to expect)
What is lapatinib? I think I read about that somewhere but forgot what it is.
Laura..I hope the pain subsides quickly.
ravdeb -
Ravdeb -
Thanks.
Oct. Chemo Girls -
Have any of you thought about or talked to your Onc's about ovary removal or hysterectomy? I'm going to talk to mine next week. Just wondering if any of you are concerned about the ovarian cancer possibilty for those of us with bc. (I did have the ca125 ovarian cancer test and it was neg., but not sure if this is all that is necessary.)
Thanks, Laura -
Laura,
My hair is growing everyday...it's not really stubble, but actual hair...i can see my hairline and everything. it's not really growing that fast on top...mainly on the back and the sides. like male pattern baldness. my eyebrows have teeny tiny stubbles, but nothing with my eyelashes. i'm crossing my fingers that in another month, i am scarfless.if one more person says to me, "I'm going to miss you in your scarves!", i'm going to punch their lights out.
anyways, in regards to the whole hysterectomy...i'm only 29 and trying not to stress out about the whole pregnancy/fertility thing since I'm ER+. My husband and I decided (after weeks of me crying when I found out my 3 best friends had all decided to start trying for babies) to wait 2 years and reevaluate if we're going to adopt, try to get pregnant after Tamoxifen, or do surrogacy. I do know that I will most likely talk to my onc. about a hysterectomy after the whole baby thing is resolved...maybe when I'm 40. I don't have the BRCA gene, so I don't have a high risk for ovarian cancer or anything, but with the tie of my breast cancer to estrogen, I just want to remove anything I can. I HATE to have to even think of any other cancer coming let alone a recurrence.
-Amy -
I too am going to talk to the oncologist about having ovaries removed since I am ER + PR+ Have to go to onc tomorrow as I have something strange going on with my affected arm, it feels fin when down but if I raise it I have a pain all the way to my wrist, probably scar tissue or something but want to make sure, then next Thurs for last Chemo. Wish I had something planned but everyone around me has to work, so maybe at a later time. My brother-in-law having open heart surgery tomorrow as well so that is a priority. Again my thoughts to you all You are in my prayers
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Amy -
You g r o w girl! Thanks for the hair growth info. Yes, much too soon in your life to think about the hysterectomy/ovary thing. Sounds like you and your hubby have things under control as far as planning a family. As I have said in the past, I feel so bad that you have to deal with this at such a young age. I can imagine the sadness and envy you felt/feel knowing your friends are now trying to have babies. Hang in there. One day at a time.
Think hair...long, beautiful hair!
Laura -
Sherryhaire -
The thing with your arm sounds like "cording". I have had it since my Axillary Node Dissection in September (11 nodes were removed). It's been a nightmare for me. Very painful. Physical Therapy has helped and my hubby massages my arm everynight. That has helped as well. If it is cording, I have read on some of the posts that women have their surgeons "pop" it into place and they have gotten immediate relief. I meet w/my surgeon next week and plan to talk about it w/him. I am still unclear exactly what it is. A tendon, vein, or ? I need to do some web searching re: it. Cording is also know as Mondors Syndrome. Hope it feels better soon. I too am er & pr +, that's why I am somewhat concerned about the whole ovary, etc. thing. Can you please let me know what your Onc. says, and I will let you know what mine says. Congrats on your last chemo next Thurs.! Do you have to have radiation?
Laura -
Laura,
This thing in my arm just started about 2-3 weeks ago, some days it is better but other times it is worse, at first I thought I just pulled something but maybe not, I just don't want anything to prevent me going to PS appt. Something I have wanted to ask how many of you have had breast reconstruction? Or Will? What kind did or will you have and how do you feel about it? Not looking forward to another surgery but really miss being able to wear what I want to wear and just basically HATE how I look as I have had both removed I just wear a regular small A cup bra with firm cups no inserts so I don't look completely flat. I was never large but at least a b cup. Any feedback? -
By the way it looks like I will not have to have radiation!!!
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My onc mentioned to me about ovary removal on my last chemo visit.At the time i was a bit dumbfounded great - something else to add to the list of "fun" things to do. When i had time for it to sink in i understood the benefits. If they had evidence that taking a leg would lessen the risk of return i'd say sure - which one do you want!!! Fortunately we already have the kids we want, had them earlier soon after we were married thank goodness.Amy - my heart goes out to you over this one - I'll adopt you as an aunty for my two if you like!!
Onc says either monthly injections to block hormones or keyhole surgery to take them - he is going to talk to me about it when further through rads. 2nd one over and done with - 28 to go!
I have a pain in my wrist too bit mine -is in the arm i had canula in for chemo - nurse mentioned something that sounded like phlebitus?? Just presumed it was where veins had taken a battering.
Does anyone get pain around the node removal scar?(28removed)Almost like the numbness before pins and needles kicks in only with sore bits?? Its only on this site you can ask questions like this and people know what you are on about isnt it!!!
Take care
Debbie -
Debbie - I do have pain around the node removal scar. My surgery was back in Sept and it is still pretty sore!
I asked my Dr. about removing ovaries and he told me that he did not normally recommend it. To tell you the truth, I would feel better just having them taken out! Once I finish radiation, I might consider a second opinion on this. -
I would much rather have them out than have to take meds forever.
I have my onc visit today so that's something else I want to talk to her about.
My mom's husband isn't doing too well since they told him that his cancer is back. My mom said that he had CT scans, bone scans and a PET and that he was lit up like a Christmas tree. They have given a 50-50% that he will live 4 months. So, this is effecting me .... not good to have this around right now cuz it makes me go down the wrong road in my mind. -
ladies,
how weird...when i got on this forum, i saw that the march chemo ladies was starting. how strange...i can't believe we all started in october! doesn't that seem so long ago? i think we're incredibly brave and i love that we all went and are going through this together. we've really made it a long way!!!
love,
amy -
Laura, my onc has talked to me about ovary removal too. He wants me to have the genetic testing done first but it looks like that will probably be in the near future for me. I'm also er/pr+...I'm in chemopause right now but at 38 the chances I'm in real menopause are a little slim.
As for breast reconstruction...I was able to have immediate reconstruction on one breast and had to wait 10 days for the side with lymph nodes dissection. Had implants put in and had saline injections until chemo started. When chemo's done I'll have the permanent implants put in and get the finishing touches...
Anyone experience a lot of clumsiness on Taxol??? I have a little bit of neuropathy in my feet but I have become a total klutz!(Ok...I can't spell anymore either...) -
Rosemarie -
I definately had the "klutz" problem on Taxol. I fell down the stairs twice, stepped on a small rock in our driveway and fell and then in a separate incident I bumped my head on a light fixture and actually broke the skin on my bald head. I also lost my balance quite often when standing up from sitting. My brain also had the "klutz" problem. Forgetfullness, confusion and I was very easily distracted.
From earlier posts, I remember almost all of us Oct. chemo girls experienced this and more to some degree. Hang in there and be careful. LOL
Laura
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