Chemo May 2011

Happy Holidays to everyone!  I hope everybody is having a wonderful time with family and friends!

Laureen Romero

Does anyone have a facebook i would love to stay updated

Hey ladies!  Sorry I have been MIA, treatments have been really exhausting and I find myself visiting boards less and less.  The anniversary of my husband's death was on Nov. 2nd, so Oct., Nov., and Dec. have all been really difficult for me.

My update:  Finished rads at the end of November and promptly got sick.  I felt horrible for about 2 weeks.  I'm in Florida right now for a much needed vacation.  I will be here until the 4th and then will go home for one day and then off to Colorado for a week. After that I start back on chemo for 3 months. 

I still don't know anything about the spot on my rib. I'll be rescanned in mid-January, so will probably know more then.

Then I have to figure out  about reconstruction.

I finally applied for disability, but haven't heard anything yet and don't expect to for awhile.

I guess that's about it.  I'm sorry I've been MIA, but I do think about you ladies often!

P.S.  My hair is coming back and I love it!  I'll update my profie pic  

Blondelawyer-I missed you, my Seattle friend!! Your hair looks great! I still only have fuzz with a bit of dark finally coming in. Yours looks so thick! Yay for vacation, I hope you are having a great time. I haven't even started rads yet, bmx was about 4 weeks ago. They had to take a drain out at week 3 because it malfunctioned, but I was still draining too much, so today the nurse drained 150 cc! Plus I have a spot of necroses and may have to have my excision re done. My doc is on vacation so I am seeing Dr. Hanson, is that who you saw? I may have to have a new drain put in, boo hoo. Oh well. I couldn't even feel her draining the seroma!

My tumor markers are down to 35, they were 61 right after diagnoses. My doc seems to think they are a good indicator for me, as my scans are clean right now. Blondelwyer-we should meet up at the reconstruction class that Dr. Beshlian's (sp?) office puts on, I met with him and really like him. I have not seen any of his work though. His nurse said he does 1 to 2 diep's a week. The classes are on the third Tues of the month, I think. I can't believe how far along everyone is! Here I am draggin behind all of you!

Kat-Here is to a New Year with NED! 2012 is going to be a better year. It sounds like you have been through so much

Txladysara-my mo wants to put me on tamoxifen even though I am only 3%er positive. I don't know if I want to, but some seem to believe it helps at even low positives, so I might try it but if I have bad se's I will probably stop.

Cyborg,

I haven't been on this thread for a long time, but just wanted to say I'm sorry about your accident and glad that you are ok.  If it makes you feel any better my husband is the same way, I don't think you got stuck with a Lemon, it's just about all men.  LOL 

glad to see friendly faces on here we came so far together and let a boyfriend say anything mean and we will be by your side by your cyber side but hey we will be there . Hope u all had a wonderful Christmas and the coming year is better than last with no surprises in its pocket like last year.

Cyborg - sorry to hear about your accident. I can picture you driving down 101 in Oxnard and having to avoid other cars. At least you are safe. I wasn't sure if the car was a lemon or your BF, I'm guessing both. You are a survivor - it's an affirmation that works for me.

Hugs,

Kat 

Cyborg, You have been through so much in such a brief time.  I hope 2012 will be kinder to you. Sending hugs to you.

Hi Cyborg, My last day of rads was Aug. 24 and my radiated breast is still swollen.  It is no longer red, but as my MO says, it is hyperpigmented--definitely more tan than the other breast.

Hey, Ladies! My MO just prescribed something called Estring for me to combat sexual side effects from the forced menopause from chemo. I am only 48 and was not even experiencing peri-menopause before chemo.



I am just wondering if any of you use this or have heard anything about it. My tumor was estrogen positive a whopping 100% and this is bio-identical plant derived estradiol.



Hope everyone is doing well.

TS

The 411 is basically, hot bf, so that's not an issue, but moisture becoming an issue and I m not a huge fan of goopy lube in a bottle. I am also worried about thinning vag tissue, pain, and urinary stress issues etc. Mentioned just the phrase sexual side effects to my MO, who is a old looking fellow, but wth, I gotta ask. He said vagifem cream is not what he recommends...ok, but... He said, almost w glee, lol, that estring is what he prefers. No goop. Estradiol delivered very locally w minimal absorption. So I took the Rx. Problem is... Not covered by insurance. So it is almost $250.00 per ring, which lasts for 90 days. So still wondering if I wanna pay for it. Then again I'd rather cut sexual issues off at the pass than have to play catch up. Sort of like staying ahead of pain w pain relievers.



TS

Cyborg - again sorry to hear about your Rads issues. I finished Rads Oct.18th and was red and swollen for a couple weeks. My real problem was I developed Breast Cellulitis just before Thanksgiving. It's swollen, red and tender either across the radiated breast or partial. Your Rad Onc can diagnose right away. Mine did. Used antibiotics to get rid of it.

 I had my breast exhchange on Dec.22nd. Wow, what a difference. The breast cellulitis almost derailed this and threatened to have my implant removed. Fortunately the antibiotics worked. 

Hugs,

Kat