Taxotere/Cytoxan starting July 2011

Got my mammo letter. It said that there is area they believe to be benign, but want to look at it again in 6 months. I am glad I meet with my onc and breast surgeon next week. If they aren't concerned, I won't be.    

Diana,

Glad to hear that your mammo looks OK. When I get mine I wait for the radiologist to look at it before I go, so at least Im not in suspense for a few days.



Phillybird, my hair is a bit wavy at the top but really curly at the nape of my neck. Really strange. Will see if I can get a good picture to post.

Met with my MO and BS on 3/20. The mammo is good. BS says that the radiologist was seeing scar tissue from my lumpectomy. Thank God! Labs were good as well. My next appt is in 6 months.

My hair is actually starting to curl a little - now that it has gotten longer. We'll see. I am just happy to have hair. And it has come in THICK.   

Yes, happy spring! Temperatures in the 80s in chicago for the past week. The short hair is cool but I dont like it. My friends and colleagues compliment me on it so I should be happy that it looks nice. I just don't think I look like me.



Next appointment with oncologist in a week and a half. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Thinking positive thoughts, Rossileo!

More on the hair - I agree that when I look in the mirror, I continue to do a double-take.  It doesn't look like me, even though everyone loves it.  Maybe I miss looking different every day with all my wigs - different colors and style on a whim.  No more theater; just back to a new reality.

Enjoying the weather here in Philly too.

today I see a gynecological oncologist about having my ovaries removed. Will keep ya'll posted.

Diana

Theatercat -
great to hear from you and that you have hair!! Remember, hair is better than
no hair - even if it is curly. I am repeating that mantra everyday as I curse
my thick, curly locks. Not everyone gets a curly result, and my understanding
is that your hair is very likely to go back to what it was before, but it will
take about a year for the follicles to go back to normal. I suggest you do what
I did - go see your hairdresser and get a dye job to your liking and then get
it cut in a trendy shape that works with the curls.  You will need to use "product" to work it
into place too.

Regarding pains post rads; my doctors tell me they are normal and should resolve with time.  However, you should definitely check with your docs, especially if you have lots of swelling.

Hi watch out for the itch and swell. Mine started out very itchy and I could Not help but scratch and then the swell seemed to have built up slowly over time. Next thing I know the sharp throbbing pain came in and I have seroma of the breast. An infection by staph aureus bacteria which is common on our skin but had found its way into my breast. Had tremendous pain and on n off fever for close to 3 months. Took 3 courses of antibiotics and at least 3 aspirations to get pus out of breast. Lesson learnt: don't scratch.

Diana, u brave gal! All the best for the surgery!

Good luck, Diana!!  Hope you heal up quickly and bouce back.

Hey guys! PhillyBird reminded me to check in. I have just been a total lazy butt for the past two weeks. The surgery went well. I am doing good. I have my follow up with the doc today. I hope to go back to work on 5/10. I had surgery on 4/24 and stayed the night in the hospital. The first 3 days was rough, but after that I got stronger every day. I am assuming the path report came in as clear of cancer - since no news is usually good news.

Congrats Ladyboss .... Lately I have been having so much bone and muscle ache all over especially in my lower back. Got worried and rang my onco and he called for blood tests for tumor markers. Results back today and my markers are all within range. Hurray!

Yay! I am back to work today. I feel pretty good, it was just hard to get up at the crack of dawn after two weeks of sleeping in . . .

FrancesC: Yay for the good tumor markers. Remember, the maintenance drugs they put us on causes some of that.

PhillyBird: good luck on those mammos. I got really stressed prior to mine in March. But that's the life we live now.  

Rossileo: Have fun in China! We'll be watching for your "check-ins"

Well, today is my first completely normal day. I went to the gym this morning and did a light workout. I will work a full day today, and go to my volunteer job tonight. I love it when things are the way they are supposed to be.  

Post pictures Rossileo:) Must be gorgeous!



If you are going high up in the mountains be careful of altitude sickness. Recently 2 Singaporeans went hiking high up in the same tibetan mountain areas and were struck by altitude sickness and didn't make it back.