Taxotere/Cytoxan starting July 2011

Peachy: good for you on the weight loss!

I lost about 8 lbs throughout the entire BC experience. My goal is about 18 more lbs. I figure I got a jump start, and will just keep going.

I also have a friend who has been on Tamoxifen for 3 years and has had no side effects. Good to hear.    

Everyone have a good Thanksgiving!

Taking Tamoxifen is a reality. I will deal with the results. Luckily I am already a gym rat. I may have to adjust my eating more.

I am thankful to be alive. In light of everything, it is a small worry.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

robo47 - I believe that you misunderstand the tenor of the discussion on tamoxifen.  My comments are also directed in particular to LadyBoss, who I know from her earlier comments to be a gym rat, like myself.  Normal menopause, with the drop in estrogen, is well known to be the time of life for women when they can get thick around the middle, even if they were trim before.  It can be a challenge, and is particularly challenging if you are not used to working out and eating healthy.  Similarly, tamoxifen, which antagonizes estrogen's effects in the body, can be associated with menopause-type weight gain.  I stand by my comment that there is a choice; we are not destined to gain weight just because we have to take tamoxifen.  We need, possibly, to work a bit harder at keeping trim and warding off the typical weight gain that often accompanies normal menopause.

we are all here to support each other. I appreciate EVERYONE's comments - good or bad. 

robo: I am sorry you have gained some weight. It is such a bummer on the self esteem.

phillybird: I choose to believe it is a choice, and I am going to diligently watch my waistline.

I am reading a book called "Dancing in Limbo". I is about the depression and funk that cancer survivors can get into once they finish treatment. The depression has to do with the reality of our own mortality and fear of recurrence. I recommend that all of you read it. 

I have scans again on 12/16, and my fear of them finding another cancer has been in the back of my mind constantly. I have really identified with this book.      

  I finish my rads on 11/29. I plan on making my "new" treatment a combination of Tamoxifen, diet, and exercise. I plan to wake up every day and do these three things daily to fight cancer and depression.

5 weeks out from my last chemo and no signs of any hair sprouts as of yet.   I start taking Tamoxifen tomorrow morning,   which is said to cause hair thinning.   I hope it does not interfere with the regrowth of my hair.    Other then that I have been feeling pretty good.   Last week I started feeling stiff and sore when I get out of bed in the morning.   My joints are sore and i've been kind of tired lately.   I think it's just time for me to get back to excercising daily and getting back on my diet.   I felt like this before I even knew I had BC,  and felt a lot better when I started walking and eating better.    Time to get back on track. 

Hey ladies,

Cannot believe all the rain we are getting in Philly - it is relentless!

My hair did not start coming back in earnest until at least 6 weeks after my last chemo infusion.

So now I look like Annie Lennox - only with white/gray at the temples.  The color is exactly as my hair was before.  So much for all the folks who warned that it might come back a different color.  It is too short to do anything with it, let alone get a professional dye job.  I tried to dye it purple myself, but it didn't hold so well.  Maybe I needed to leave it on longer; maybe it is too darn short.  I will give another try later on the weekend.  My sister is coming to visit, so maybe she can help me.  It is a semi permanent color that should wash out gradually over time.  I figure that I won't oftern get a chance to do something fun like this to my hair. 

I have some pain in my fingers and now also my right wrist.  The finger pain is likely residual neuropathy; the wrist might be unrelated.  Otherwise, I feel fine - one week into tamoxifen.  The Aquaphor ointment I am using on my skin is working wonders for my nasty rads sunburn.  The skin is peeling a tad, but it is totally under control with this ointment, so long as I resist scratching it.  My shoulder and collar bone get very itchy.

Hubby went to France to see his parents - my MIL is very near the end.  My poor FIL is rather confused and lost too.  It is a very uncertain time right now, but I have to stay focused on my health and my job and all.  We have plans to spend the last week of year in Florida.  This will be my first trip on a plane since my diagnosis and treatment.  Boy do I need a little break.  I guess we all do.

Hi guys, so sorry I haven't been in here for a long while. I had an excellent holiday in Spain and Italy. It was more of a holiday for the kids in Tarragona. We spent 2.5 days in theme park and rest of the 3.5 days we lazed around taking it slow. Wake up late, did selected sightseeing and explore good seafood in the east coast of Spain. Ate lots of fish:) everything was so fresh! We spent 3 full days in Rome doing the usual sightseeing. As I have been there few times and this is the first trip for my gals we brought them to all the must see sights in Rome. Still exciting and gorgeous for me. Vatican City is simply awesome. Unfortunately I suffered lymphedema in the second part of the hols and when I got home I saw rad no and had to rest. Right after that, we were busy putting up Christmas tree, looking after the gals ( they are on long vacation) and I didnt have the time nor energy to log in here. I got back to work last Friday and just on Monday developed infection of my left breast where surgery and radiation were done. Within a day it swelled from a B cup to a D cup and saw rad onco immediately. Had two needle aspirations done yesterday but some abscess couldn't be taken out. Now I am in pain and this is worst than milk engorgement!

Now I am off to take my med and then to office for two important meetings. Will come home early if I can't take it anymore:(

Well, besides that I am so looking forward to Christmas and am so glad I am still alive to celebrate:)

Well done on all of us finishing harsh treatments. Half way through my holiday I took off my hat. Well what the heck no one knows me in Europe and with a cute crew cut and a long fringe I look fashionable:)

Antibiotics not working. Trying chilled cabbage leaves on my breast now. At least they take the heat away.

Happy holidays to all of you.  I've finally put in a picture in my profile.  As you might guess -- I'm the one in the middle with ultra-short hair.  I'm done with hats unless my head is cold.  Friends tell me I look chic/artistic, but I definitely want to grow it out to cover up my ear which stick out too much.

Best wishes to all for 2012.  We've been through so much in 2011.  Hoping for an uneventful (healthwise) new year. 

Hey everyone,

I did it!  I spent a week in Florida running around with my punk hairdo.  I did blast it one more time with the purple hair dye to cover most of the gray before I got there.  But now I am back in Philly and I am going to wear a wig to the NYE dinner we are going to this evening.  I'm a chicken!

Rossileo, I salute you!  Maybe I will go to work with my short hair once I have it properly dyed and trimmed a bit.  My husband buzzed the nape of my neck, it was too long!!  Ha ha!

Diana - thanks for reminding us all to stop worrying.  Every now and then, I start ruminating on recurrence. Then I have to snap out of it and not go there.  Keep up the veggies!  Went to the gym today as soon as I got home today.

Wishing all a happy and very healthy New Year!!

Robin

Phillybird: good for you! I am still not brave enough to go outside with my 1/2 inch hair

FrancesC: sounds like you had a wonderful time in Malaysia, and are ushering in the New Year with the best attitude.

Keep up the good work, ladies!

Diana  

Rossileo: my first mammo is not until March. That has me worried some. I questioned it. They say it is OK since I had a PET scan in June that was very detailed, and clear except for my one issue. They did an additional ab and bone scan after I finished rads, though. That was done on 12/16, and was all clear.  

Hey everyone,

It is purple no more!  Had it dyed dark chocolate brown and trimmed a bit by my hairdresser.  Going to work this way now.  The cut looks intentional (not sickly) and stylish and professional.  Not sure if I will wear the "hamsters" any more.  It seems that everyone will have a moment when it will feel right to go outside without a headcover and feel normal.  Today is that day for me.

Robin

See photo for updated look.  I have gotten compliments too.  I still think it doesn't look like me, but maybe I'll get used to it.  I had the same long hair for 40 years, so this may take a while. 

Robin/Phillybird - congrats on taking the plunge.  My guess is that you will get compliments like Frances and me.  And in your new job your co-workers don't know what your hair used to look like.

Very chic! Must have looked really wild purple.