Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

Naan- I'm singing the Jeopardy jingle for ya!

Rachel, congrats on getting the port out.  I decided to leave mine in until after exchange surgery which won't happen until Nov/Dec.  Oh well.

Markat, So glad you're feeling ok after surgery.  Great that you already have full range of motion. 

Naan, one more!  So great. 

I am almost 3 weeks PFC, no eyelashes, maybe 5 eyebrow hairs left.  Never had thick eyebrows since I plucked them thin as a teenager, and they never grew back.  I never had to groom my brows.  I'm thinking mine may never grow back now.  Can I use rogaine where my brows used to be? 

Funny thing about the taxol.  I have severely dry eyes that always look irritated.  While on taxol I could actually cry real tears, and my eyes were clear for the first time in years.  Now that the effects are wearing off, eyes are irritated and red again. 

Still look like a monk in the head hair department. 

How's radiation going for those of you who've begun?  I still have a couple weeks before beginning. 

Ok, a good day to all,

Hugs, Laura

Kelly, I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. What a complete shock that must have been. My condolences.



I was done rads a week ago Monday and was fairly burnt from them. I am on my way to Florida on the 28th for a holiday so I am hoping most of that area has recovered.



I started tamox today and was reading the tamox thread. Not sure I should have done that:(. I am hoping tamox will be like chemo with min se's. I was blessed with min with chemo.



Made an appt to talk to a psychologist on Tuesday so I am hoping that will start the healing emotionally.



As for hair growth the head is coming along nicely but the eye hair is pretty slow. I got a couple of hairs on both brows.



A day at a time.

Kelly!!!!  I am so very sorry for you!!!!  Big hugs!!!!  My mom passed away at age 66, so I do understand!!!!  I am sure you are so heart broken!!!!  I am just so very, very sorry for you!!!!

I got a text message from a dear friend who is younger than I am....she is having a partial or full mastectomy on May 31st...the same day I go in for my exchange.  They have been watching a spot and it is growing fast so they are going in to remove it.  Depending on the size, and since she is small busted, she doesn't know if she is going to wake up with a breast or not.  She has 2 very small precious baby girls.  One is a foster baby whom she has had since birth.  The parental rights have not been terminated yet and this could ruin their chances of adopting this precious baby girl!!!!  I really want to cancel my exchange to be with her....it doesn't seem fair!!!!!!  I am just so incredibly sad and scared for her.  I think because of the rate of growth, they are thinking that it is cancer, but you know, have to wait for the path results.  

On the eyelash note...more are falling out!!!!  uugghh!!!!!!  But the head hair is coming back in kinda nice!! 

Kelly I am so sorry for your loss.



Whata have a nice vacation!!



My eyebrows and eyelashes are slowly coming back. I hope the tamoxifen doesn't make the hot flashes I already have worse lol.

Kelly my heart breaks for you.  I am so very sorry. 

Prayers for you and your family. 

Laura

Hi everyone I hope you are all enjoying the nice weather. Just looking to get an update on hair progress from everyone. I am coming along on the top of my head but my eye hair has not returned:(.

Naan, you have that hair and you finish chemo on Tuesday? Or am I wrong?



How is everyone coping with the hot weather and hot wigs?

Mardibra you are making me jealous. Having eye hair when I don't? How long has it been since your last chemo? I am as vane as you are and won't go out without some kind of hair covering. My family won't buy into the scarf thing and I have a hard time with it too.



Are you doing anything to assist with hair growth?

Mardibra, lol. I think we travelled this road by the same path. I haven't told to many people either but it is a small city so word of mouth is quicker than lightening. I am taking a beach holiday in 7 days so I am not sure how I will pull that off. You are about 3 wks ahead of me in terms of chemo but I have since finished rads. I wanted to rush them along and get it over with. I have been off work since diagnosis so have been able to take it easier than those having to work.



How did you manage at work? Or did they know?

I had to tell some people at work...a total of 4. I can trust them not to say anything to anyone. And I know they have not opened their mouths because if they did it would spread like wildfire throughout the company! I normally travel a lot for business so my being out of the office isn't unusual. When I was out for my MX we agreed to tell people I was having some mild surgery. Huh! I also spent a small fortune on a really good wig. Nobody has noticed. Im about to start my second week of rads and can't wait til that is done. Next hurdle will be DIEP reconstruction in January. I guess I will be having another "minor surgery"! I've thought about skipping the short and sassy hair style and getting extensions instead. I will have to talk to the folks who made my wig and see what they say. Can't even go to my regular hair stylist because I'm sure the word would get out. I'm not afraid of people knowing Im just a private person and don't think it's anyone's business. Plus all the dopey sappy "I'm so sorry for you" looks would drive me nuts, all the pink crap people would feel they need to give me, and the stupid questions might cause me to go off on someone! So, silence it is.

I can't say I feel weak. That never crossed my mind until you mentioned it Hmmm. I will give that some thought. I'm just the type of person that faces challenges head on. It is what it is. All I can do is educate myself, talk to the doctors and make informed decisions. There is nothing I can do to change my DX so it's just time to look ahead. Honestly, I was waiting for the emotional breakdown that never came. Maybe it will come in the future or maybe never. Although, I'm ready to be done....I want my life back.



My nephew is getting married in a few weeks and I'm sure my brother and sister-in-law have told a bunch of people (out of state). Not sure how I'm going to handle the inevitable questions. I'm going to have to practice my "I'm not going to talk about this with you" vibe. If my sister-in-laws nosey pesky sister has anything to say to me I just might slap her! Been waiting for an excuse to do that for years! Cancer has given me a certain feeling of freedom!

Mardibra, you have to do what you have to do. Lol. My bil has been amazing he drove me to rads every tues and when I was in chemo he would come visit on his days off. Incredible guy. I didn't get that from my sister, funny the support coming from a male. I have learned a whole bunch of new stuff since diagnosis. I have learned that I have some pretty amazing males in my life along with females. That was a pretty good lesson to learn. It did take me by surprise.

Whata, my last Taxol is this coming Tues, I've had less hair loss with this chemo from my head at least, plus I had 3-4week breaks in between and at the start due to low counts which I think helped with head hair growth, but lost all eye hairs .

As far as wigs, I refuse to wear them too hot and itchy. I'm more of a scarf or hat girl myself.

I consider all of us strong, who could have come this far through surgeries, chemo, rads and not give up the fight, we r all very strong women, if my husband had to go through what we have, I think he would've asked me to shoot him. Why else would God make women have children, cause we r much stronger and can conquer all! Stay strong and positive cause this too will end and when it does take a nice relaxing vacation, get a full body massage and pamper yourselves cause damn it, we deserve it after all we've been through! p>

Mariasnow, we've all been there, crying for no reason and getting angry at family when they r only trying to help. It is a good idea to see a counselor or join a support group, but if u don't have the energy or motivation we r always here for u too. Others have opted to ask for medication, which is upto u also. Whatever helps. Congrats u r half way done with AC, that in itself is an accomplishment and sooner than u think you'll be done with AC and counting down your Taxol like me. Hang in there, u can do this!