Starting Chemo Feb 2010?

Hi girls!  Checking in.  I hope everyone is well with their "new normal."

I also worry about every ache and pain.  I have terrible arm pain from the Arimidex, and actually called the Onc to question about arm cancer.  Lol.  I have an appointment with him next week.  I'm sure the first thing he'll suggest is switching to Femara, but that has similar if not worse side effects.  Hair loss and thinning.  Just what I need.

Anyone else with terribly thin hair still?  And mine is still so short.  Frustrating.  I don't know of anything that will help hair grow. 

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer-it's miserably hot here, but that's to be expected for AZ

Take care-hugs to all!

Just had my 6-month mammogram and everything looks fine. Not really enjoying the tamoxifen, but if the tests come back right - maybe I'll be in true menopause and can switch to something else. I never thought I'd be rooting for menopause, especially since it's HOT and DRY here in TX!

My hair has mostly grown back except for a thin spot in the back. Like Ado, I keep my hair short now because it's so darn easy to care for! My nails are also awful and they do split. I try to just keep them short now. My eyebrows and eyelashes are still sparse and thin.

WBC and RBC are still low, which surprised me since it's been a year since chemo, but I'm told that is normal. It also explains a lot!

Glad that this board is still going. It's good to hear how we're all doing on the journey.  

Laura and Ado, I am so sorry to read about both of you losing your dear pets.  We waited about a year and a half after our cocker spaniels passed before we adopted two 6-month-old cockers, one from the SPCA and the other from the local cocker rescue.  They are wonderful little girls, so loving and loyal, and the joy of my life.

I just had my yearly mammogram this morning and am thrilled that all is clear. Yippee!  It hasn't been far from my mind the past couple of weeks, so I'm relieved that's over.  I love that they read the mammo right away and you know something before you leave the building.

A couple of months ago, I was anemic again.  I'm feeling better now, so I guess the iron pills are working. I'm not a big meat eater but am trying to put some back in my diet.

I've been lucky with my hair. I still haven't had it trimmed since chemo, but it's grown back evenly and there hasn't been a need.  The waves are still there, but I get a lot of compliments on the look. Now I have long bangs hanging down the sides of my face, so I may need to get those trimmed soon. After not having hair for a few months, I'm just scared to have anyone come at it with scissors.

I'm practicising yoga at home, and it seems to be helping to limber me up. I'm looking into joining a local class that offers gentle/restorative yoga. I have to push myself to walk on the treadmill.  It's too darn hot here to walk outside.

No period yet for me.  I'd kind of forgotten all about it.

It's good to catch up with all of you.  Good health to us all!

Lola, congratulations on the reconstruction!  I remember how wonderful it felt waking up after the implant was put in and seeing a breast there again. You've got the real thing with diep, and I'm sure you'll be extremely happy with it.  Poor puppy!  Guess he had to mark you as his own again or he was really pissed you left in the first place.

I went to my first yoga class today and had a great time.  After posting about it yesterday, I saw that my local yoga studio started running a $5 special for new customers, so it seemed meant to be.  The practice I've been doing at home has really helped to stretch out and build strength in my arm and chest area where I had the surgery. I'm definitely going back to the studio for a weekly class while still practising at home. 

Take care, everyone, and stay cool.

Cindy

Hi everyone hope you are all well. I have finished Herceptin as I mentioned a few weeks ago but am still getting the side effects of runny nose and tiredness. I have been sleeping for 45 minutes each afternoon over the last few weeks. I also stopped my Tamoxifen for 5 days as I was just having one long hot flush after another. I didn't have one during the 5 days and slept really well at night which had been a problem for me for ages because of the flushes. I started the drug again and am actually having far fewer flushes. Strange isn't it . My aches and pains especially in my arms are continuing and I find they are very painful when I wake up especially if I have carried anything heavythe day before. 

 I am missing my dogs as is to be expected and think about them and thier antics and loving ways. On the other hand we are now free to travel and go on our very first cruise on the 4th August. Both my husband and I remind each other each day to enjoy the moment and I hope you all do as well. What a roller coaster we've all been on. At least with most of us finishing treatment it has slowed a bit but of course we remain on it now don't we so let's hold hands. It's certainly worked so far through good and bad as I am sure you all agree. Off to the garden to eat ice cream. 

yeah--i'm pinked out too.  in some wierd way it makes me angry.  i use to do the walks before all this happened, wear the ribbons, etc.  and it got me anyway.  bloody cancer.

but, all in all, doing much better.  having the reconstruction helped a lot.  feeling almost normal unless i look in the mirror.  maybe your right.  it is the reminder.  i just want to forget about it.  i want to go play, have fun, and giggle about silly things, enjoy my friends, & family & pet my dog.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  Hope you're all feeling good and getting ready to enjoy the holidays.  We should all be at around the two year mark for diagnosis (my special call was delivered the day after Thanksgiving!)  so I hope we can all look back over the past two years and say, "holy crap, did that really happen???"  And then put it away in that neat little box in the back of your mind to live it up and enjoy this time of year with your friends and family - I know I am.  Big hugs to all!  Mo

Just a quick note to say that I'm thinking of everyone who has hit their 2 yr diagnosis date or will hit that date soon. Mine is 12/8/09. This week I'll have my annual mammogram (Tues 11/29) and then 3 month oncology appt (12/3) and then 12/8. I'm having some anxiety as I think about these next 2 weeks. I think that once I get past the mammo and get the results, the other days will be ok. 

I'm happy to say that my hair is mostly back to normal texture and I do like the shorter style. I had dark brown hair before and my sisters say that it now is black. One of my sisters gave me a product called Revitalash. It is an eyelash conditioner. I've been using every night since July and my eyelashes are really long and thicker. Some of it could be getting further away from chemo but I really think it has made my lashes longer than then have ever been.

Hope everyone is well and had a happy Thanksgiving.   Gina 

Hi Mo,

Good luck with your mammo. Mine was ok but I won't have the results until today or tomorrow. I'm pretty confident that it will be fine. The tech is the same one I've had many times and she's very competent and sympathetic. She did tell me not to freak out if they call me back for a better look. She says it's not uncommon because they are monitoring me very closely, etc. That made me feel better. Yes, sometimes it's overwhelming when we think back on everything that's happened. Take care, Gina

February 2012 and here we all are. If like me you doubted you would be then I'm sure you truly value each minute and worry about every ache and pain. Life changed for us all two years ago didn't it !

 Awaiting result of mammo and keeping everything crossed. I didn't go for reconstruction and am used to the prosthesis. Back at work now but still extremely tired. I was lucky enough to be able to sleep for 14 hours last night.....lovely.

We have been on two fabulous cruises and have booked two more. We don't put anything off until tomorrow anymore. I love my new super short hair as does everyne I meet. It is so easy and makes me look younger. I've given up sweets and chocolate for the last 4 weeks and boy do I feel better all round. With my sweet tooth it was hard. I just hope I don't get back on to it. Have exercised like mad for the whole year but guess what....am still 7 pounds heavier than 2 years ago. Just can't compete with the menopause and Tamoxifen, but who cares I'm alive and kicking ! 

Hi ladies, thinking of everyone from Feb 2010 group as Feb 2012 approaches. It's hard to believe that it's been 2 years. 

I did have to go back for diagnostic mammo but everything was fine, some calcification, but being called back did trigger some bad memories. I have lost a little weight since last mammo and it was difficult for them to get me positioned just right. It was painful and I'm glad I only have to go once a year. 

Hair - good, no period - good, tamoxifen - ok, hot flashes - ok. I do feel back to normal but not a day goes by that I don't think about it.

My sister gave me some RevitaLash that I've been using since July and my eyelashes are noticably long. Someone asked me if I had eyelash extensions.

All the best... Gina 

Anyone in our group experiencing lymphedema?  I had some dental work done the other day and woke up the next morning with a real "thick" feeling in my arm on the bc surgery side and my hand felt swollen.  I didn't even think to take antibiotics prior to dental stuff - no one mentioned that, but I've read on this site that that is one of the major causes of lymphedema!  Who knew - well, me, now!  Have to take antibiotics and go to a physical therapist to help ease this.  So, word to anyone having a filling filled - ask about antibiotics prior to any dental work.  If I knew, I would have definitely been more cautious because this is not fun.  Hurts.  Hope you are all well!  Mo

I had my 3 month check up with MO last week. I don't have to go back for 6 months and will now be on a 6 month schedule. Even though I like him, I'm happy to see him less. I will have labs done in Sept and will probably change from Tamoxifen to Aromasin. I've been reading about AIs and it seems there is a better benefit by making this change. I've been ok on Tamoxifen and I hope that I'll tolerate Aromasin well. 

I hope everyone is well!   Gina