April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Cottontail, that is good news!! tumors getting smaller and going away is what we like.

Pauletta:  I have finished 13 treatments (is that right, Kim?)  So far so good.  I have 20 more to go.  RO says pinkness wil start probably in another week.  The only SE I have is under my armpit feels like I have razor burn.

Melrose:  I am 6 weeks PFC and I swear, the last two weeks my hair has been growing my leaps and bounds.  So much so, I hardly ever wear my wig anymore. (Will have to wear it when doing presentations for work--don't want to scare the sales away and for my son's wedding, but I feel confident enough to go out "topless".  I went to the gym today and the stares are getting fewer and fewer.  Maybe I just don't care anymore. I will have my DH take a pic tomorrow and try to post it here.  I am soooo excited!  Lashes are good, eyebrows are scarce, but just had the gal who waxes them trim them (she hadn't seen me since before chemo) and she said she could definitely see new growth.  I do have an rx for Latisse, but haven't used it yet. I am using Bosley System (you can get it online or at Ulta) which is like Nioxin.  The gal at Ulta said she liked Bosley better.  I have been using it since my final chemo.  I am also taking 500 mcg/day of Biotin.  DOn't know if any of this is helping, but understand, due to my heritage (or should I say hairitage--LOL), I am a hairy person.   

I have hair activity, but it shows me how litte I had that this looks like a lots to me. Like 5:o'clock shadow al over my head. Ostly my old color (dark) but I see grayish peach fuzz too. Definitely not ready to go out in public. Eyebrow thinned but easy to fill with eyeliner strokes and powder. Enough eyelashes left to put mascara on.



I was thinking today how the hair going was the first major shock if the new reality, many tears. Now after fingernails, skin things, thrush, watering eyes, tummy a mess, sleep issues...I'm back down to that first thing- the hair! And it is coming back.

Melrose and Lisa: You are too funny. I hear ya, though.  I love your experiment!  I may use the latisse on my eyebrows.  We shall see.  I haven't cracked up the box yet.  Thanks for the tip on where to buy Nioxon cheap.  My hairdresser said she could get me her price if I wanted.  I still have some of the bosley.  I read reviews online and they are pretty much the same results.  DOn't know what i will do, but it IS an excuse to go to TJ Maxx, which I love! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  It was beautiful here--high 80.  Not a cloud i the sky.  Tomorrow we are headed to the Italian fest.  I love Italian food (actually, any food for that matter).  Had Mexican tonight.  Must be an "ethnic" weekend for me.

Have a good one! 

Hi Lisa2012,

I have finished my A\C treatments and am on my 4th of 12 treatments of Taxol and herceptin. Then I will have 40 more weeks of herceptin and 6 weeks of radiation after my 12th Taxol is finished. I noticed about 2 days ago when I looked in the mirror that I have NEW HAIR growing on my head. I was so excited! It's like you said a 5 o'clock shadow on my head. The hair is really soft. Dark like my hair used to be before I started to go grey! : 0 )

I remember all the tears I had when I got my head shaved because of not wanting to deal with the Clumps coming out. Once it started coming out, I had it shaved. My eyebrows are thinning, nothing happening yet with my eye lashes. It is so weird that when your on taxol your eye brows may thin or come completely out, may lose your eye lashes, but the hair on your head will start coming back. Hair is hair. Makes no sense to me, but I am very happy that I am getting some hair to start coming back. I am in no way ready to stop wearing my wig when I go out. I won't untll I have enough short hair to have a hair style. My oncologist said that it will grow out slowly. You should've heard me when I went to work after I noticed that I had new hair growing. I was telling everyone and they all said....wow! I haven't heard you this happy in a long time!! : 0 )

Pauletta:  I a totally obsessed with my hair re-growth.  It is coming in very nicely, I think.  Not as quickly as some of the people on these boards, but enough there is not shadow, just hair.  I think I am going to go to the grocery store today sans wig (I will be sporting a hat though!).

Have a great day.  Looks like rain is coming here--hopefully, it will dry out before the "fest" this afternoon.   

RoulaG



I had two tumors in my left breast...both invasive and had a mastectomy....now post chemo and going through radiation,,,,I will be having the other breast removed before starting reconstruct on both....it's my own choice but one my OC agrees with.

roula - I, too, opted for optional BMX.  I just didn't want to go through this a 2nd time with the other side and wanted that additional peace of mind like you.  I am very glad I did b/c they found a tiny amount of DCIS in the supposed "clean" breast after MX.  It would have just been a matter of time before I would be going through all of this AGAIN.  For me, it was the right decision. 

I had immediate recon with fat grafting, which is still very new.  Only a few docs in the country do it, and I had to travel for my surgery.

In regards to pain, I think it really depends on the type of recon you have.  If no recon, most say the pain isn't bad at all.  My recon was pretty painful for the first few days b/c I had lipo of my legs for the fat - OUCHO.  I had some ongoing sharp pain with one drain but that isn't common.  Not much breast pain.   

I'll let others speak to what TE recon pain is like.   

nofear - yes, I'm taking a probiotic that has a combo of bacteria, including acido.  

Sad to say, my thrush came back last night.  I missed one Monistat oral treatment and back it came.  It was gone for about a week.  Back on the Monistat tx today, improving, but of course it is incredibly frustrating.   I hope yours improves and stays away!!!  

Yep, thankfully, appetite is fine, it's actually not affecting me physically at all.  Just mentally/emotionally b/c like you - just want to be DONE.  Can totally relate. It scares me b/c it shows me my immune system still is struggling still at almost 9 weeks PFC. 

Mentally/emotionally I am at the end of my rope. I feel like I am back on chemo. I am holding out til the end of the presc. & then I hope & pray my stomach comes back.

Thanks chapter4 & dancer

hey all,

i finished my 6 rounds of TCH july 17th. I had bilateral on wednesday aug 8th, had them take right uneffected breast as well. no reconstruction. took 4 nodes in sentinal. 4 drain tubes. I have been pain killer free since 5 am on thursday 8/9. was home at 7 pm on 8/9. i used some ice for the first day, but have been fine ever since. the pain was tolerable. i started taking arnica montana pellets the week before and ever since. I recommend you look it up and see if it is for you. I have had a nurse visit my home and change my dressings. I have been sleeping pretty good, hard to sleep upright, as i am a side sleeper. got the call today that my nodes and margins were clear!!!