October 2011 Chemo group

I had oncologist this morning and she cancelled my tx for tomorrow. Will have it next Wednesday now. She is also going to reduce the dose also. She did this because of neropathy. I have numbness in the whole hand and not just fingers. It's a bit scary to have her do this but at least it's my last treatment only.



I too have been losing eyebrows this week. Each day there are less and less. I'm hoping some will hang on!!!



Congrats to all you finished this week. Happy dance!!!!

Congrats Carla!

Lori- it's such a good feeling to be so close to the end!



I made an appointment with a plastic surgeon. It won't be til march but this has lifted my spirits a little. I feel so androgynous. No hair, no boobs, sporadic lashes and brows and ugh-15lb weight gain since this all started 4 months ago. It won't be several more months before I can start reconstruction because of the radiation, but at least now I can begin that planning phase. I'm beginning to think my surgeon that did my mastectomies is brilliant. I have this small roll of skin on my tumor side where the breast was that was left over from surgery. For months I have been wishing it was flat like the right side. I now realize that with the radiation to this left side, it will give me room to stretch later on with reconstruction incase the skin gets too tight from the radiation. Keeping my fingers crossed. Of course I know this could be fixed too with some plastics.



P.S.- I had to shave my legs today-first time since October- I had thin white hair that I was starting to be able to feel and see! And I used conditioner on my peach fuzz on my head so it's super soft today. People are starting to notice the white fuzz. I still have 3 more Taxol- so ready to be done.



I'm so proud of all you ladies! We are getting closer!

Wow -it is so great to hear such good news from everyone.   How wonderful it is to not have to deal with this chemo "stuff" much longer.  I finally broke down and cried like a baby after having my shot on Monday.  It wasn't really because I was sad or happy - I think relieved.  It was like I had been holding it in for four months and when I finally got the last shot I realized that I had made it - even though there were many times I didn't think I could.  It was very emotional.

Now I'm just trying to get over the SE's so I can go back to work tomorrow.  This one kicked my butt just like the others but it sure does make it easier when you know it's the last one.  I pray that none of us ever have to go through chemo again.

Today's agenda is to rest and figure out how to make my eyebrows looks decent enough for work.  I still can't figure out how I was able to lose half of my eyebrowns in one night???  Oh well, things could be worse.

Hope you have a great day!

My last treatment was last Thursday, and I have done little but watch tv.. Sore a lot, but doing fine. The taste buds still acting up, but I know they will return. Sounds like everyone is going through their own specific issues. Glad for so many of us that our chemo is through, now radiation ahead. I meet with my RO on Monday and then will know more specifically when radiation starts, I assume in 4-5 weeks from this week...that will be a change of pace. I'm also wondering if I will have any major side effects caused from radiation, but that should be explained next Monday. Am tired, and tired of being tired... working parttime through this whole time has helped I suppose. I am amazed at how many of us have mixed emotions about coming to the end of chemo. The unknown is known, so it is familiar, now we have to face a new unknown, radiation and tamoxifen or femora treatments another place to go. Knowing several women who have survived treatment for more than 10 years, I know that our lives will be different than what we knew before this started, and yet I believe better and more fulfilling. I look forward to making this year a new beginning as I have passed through the shadow of death - Blessings to all. Look forward to reading more postings in the future.

Yes - my last Taxol is on Thursday.   I hope I get a small break before the Tamox !  Lori - I know you are right behind me   Are you doing Rads ??

Work has truly been a Godsend to me...I know it sounds crazy...but it took my mind off of everything and everyone was so supportive. Hubby comes home next weekend after being gone for 8 weeks...he missed all my Taxol treatments - but was there for the AC.  He is such a big help...cant wait to see him

A good friend sent me one of these hats today

 jackiefarry dot com....

I dont think I will wear it to my last chemo...but I sure will be thinking it !

Steriod High today - expect the crash on Friday night. for the bone pain.  Like clockwork about 11pm Friday night !

But  No more chemo

Doc said I will see him in 4 weeks - he wants my body to recover before I start Tamox.

White counts were high but red counts still low.

So glad to have a break.   He keeps telling me I will do well on Tamox  and we will talk in depth when I come in then.   But mainly he wants me to watch for leg pain (blood clots) and abnormal bleeding while on Tamox...but we will talk more...so I am glad to have a break for 4 weeks to get stronger before I start this.  I want to havea clear head and time to write down all my questions.

You are right behind me sister

Glad the chemo is over with...I pray that none of us have to sit in that chair again.   I dont know if I could.   

 I amso grateful for all of you and the support...I can truly say we all know what each other is going thru.

I just worry now going forward what to look for....or let go.

Hi everyone,

Congrats to those all done and returning to work.

My last one will be tomorrow and it was actually nice have this extra week off in-between the tx. Mentally, last week I was so dreading it but now I'm ready to get it done.



Hope everyones doing well this week.

I am still here from time to time Fran!

I am glad you are nearing the end of chemo and so happy for everyone else as you finish up!

My hair is growing slowly. It is coming in my natural color which is dark brown and I find myself constantly putting my hand up on my head to rub it. It has a long way to go before I will feel comfortable going out without a scarf or hat on and way too short to know if it will be curly. 

I went back to work part time and am very relieved they did not let me go back full time because I need a nap every afternoon! Today was my 5th of 33 rads and so far so good. There just always seems to be a wait for my appointment anywhere from 15 mintues to over an hour.  

I am feeling like going back to work is helping me with the slight case of chemo brain I developed! 

Be good to yourselves ladies! Take it one day at a time!

Mary 

I think I visit my MO for I guess the last time before my chemotherapy is up.



What guestions do I ask?

The secretary mentioned orders for scans. I don't want any scans. I know its time to scan the (good) boob. They would repeat the echo I know know



I guess we would talk about when I start tamoxifin or any other choices out there.



He's probably going to be a little peeved since I've decided to do my rads up at johns Hopkins with a breast RO and to do all my future scans up there. But oh well.

Its my choice and just because I work at the local big hosp doesn't mean I'm in going to use them.(I had my initial mammos locally) 09 I came back for diagnostic mammo with us-he had that us wand pointed directly at the BC. '10 mammo noted the same area and that it was unchanged. No dr wants to talk about this and frankly what's done is done. I can't change time. But I can make sure I have the best des on my team

Listen to this one ladies - Finished chemo on 1/17......went in for my follow-up MRI, mammo and ultrasound this past Monday.  Good news is that the chemo has significantly shrunk the two tumors I had in the breast (YAY).........BUT, THEY FOUND TWO MORE SUSPCIOUS AREAS IN THE SAME BREAST???   WTF??  I've undergone chemo for six months and now you've found more cancer in the same breast?   They were not able to find it on ultrasound, so obviously it is very small, but I was in total shock!???   My surgeon was not at the breast center that day (have appt with him on Monday) but the radiologist feels that the one area looks like a new cancer.  His words to me were "if it is cancer, I would suspect it is aggressive since it wasn't there on your MRI in August when you were first diagnosed??"   How the hell does this happen?  Different type of cancer?  Maybe its nothing, just another false-positive from MRI is what my surgeon's nurse told me yesterday.   Surgery is scheduled 2/29.  Going to see if I can have that moved up.  Not sure if surgeon is going to want to do biopsy beforehand.  I am confused and just so dissapointed.........

Wildumara - I am praying that it is just a false positive.  How can it be new cancer or cancer at all with you taking so much chemo.  That just doesn't sound possible.  Please let us know what your doctor says.

Mary - thanks for the information.  That makes me feel so much better to talk to someone who is going through it.  I'm glad to hear that you're back at work.  I don't know about you but it really helps to keep my mind off of everything.

Question for you - did you guys have a port for your chemo?  Are you going to have it taken out any time soon?  My oncologist told me I could go ahead.  I guess that's a good sign.

Hope you ladies have a great weekend! 

Im having my port out asap. Hate it. It sticks out in my chest.



I had a false positive on my mri.I think mri s pick up a lot if false positives

My Onc wont let me take my port out for at least 6-9 months....wth ?  

I am going in every 4 -5 weekf for check ups.....I just dont get what a blood test is going to find ?

Seems like I should have a scan or something.

Wild - I hope it is a a false positive - please keep us posted.  praying for you,