Starting Chemo July 2012

Mastetomy. With new growth during chemo lumpectomy seems to be out....

stride - great news on the path report. Not having to do readiation is a definite plus

Eyelash Revelations

8 weeks post final chemo, most of my eyelashes are gone but I spotted some new fuzz at the edge of my eyelids, so I got out the mascara wand Sunday morning to see if I could get some mascara on the new fluff without actually inserting the mascara wand into my eye....

And voila! I have eyelashes like Morse Code -- a few dashes and lots of dots.

Congratulations, Ann!

Susan - I'm sending lots of prayers your way. I don't have a lot of advice for mastectomy technical matters, this is what I would offer for personal comfort:

1. Comfortable jammies - my MIL bought me new jammies, button in front. Super comfortable. There were also little pockets on pj top, so my drains could fit in the pockets. She also gave me a couple of lightweight robes. Plan on lots of rest, so hence the jammies. Also nice to have a comfortable spock suit (my name for sweat suit), velour?, something to lounge around in during the holidays.

2. Lingerie - I was going to write VS a letter, because if any company should have a bc dept., VS would make sense. I had a hard time feeling comfortable w/ new lingerie, because after the bmx I had a real desire to feel pretty. Prior to bc, I was very practical with lingerie, beige and black. My 17 yr old daughter has more lace and frill than I. But, when I looked at my bandages, I just wanted to cover everything up with color and lace. I couldn't find anything that looked pretty and would accomodate my new body. I started with immediate reconstruction. Prior to chemo I had to have the left side removed because of infection. At first, I bought things at VS and fixed it for me. But Nordstrom has a bc prosthesis program, with a full line of products and/or transforming any piece of lingerie to fit our needs. I don't live near a Nordstrom, but all the shipping is free and the pricing great, well worth it. If you don't have a store near you, they can work with you over the phone. Since I have re-reconstruction in the new year, I will be refitting again.

3. Looking back - less is more - the more rest you give yourself, the better off you will be in the long run. There is major healing going on deep inside and even if you feel like you can make a bed, fold clothes, put dishes away, drive, don't do anything you don't have to do. Take all the help that is offered. 

There is probably more, but we'll all be here for you!

Tellballmom and whaevah....



Congratulations we are PFC. I actually had my chemo yesterday and port removal this morning.....I wish you both love and a happy turkey day...

Madelyn,

I finished yesterday as well. We made it! I have deport envy... my appt is Dec 5, looking SO forward !

congrats teeballmom.

I am mapped and tattooed and ready for rads, I have a couple of weeks off , yay! Not sure of the start date but I will be notified withing 2 weeks. Let the tanning begin !(at least I hope that is all it will be, no burns please)  See you grads on the rads thread!

Best wishes to all who are struggling , nothing about BC is easy.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope everyone gets to have first servings to stuffing and gravy and no one has to do the dishes. I hope that when all your family and friends tell you how great you look and it's almost over, you can remember that you do look great, you are stronger than anyone in the room and you have gone through many months of something that you know how difficult a road it has been. Our lives are forever changed, good, bad or indifferent - we all have been in the trenches and we have battles ahead....slowly but surely we will get through this. The pain I have felt, I have really only shared with you, strangers, because it's too hard to break down to friends and family that want me to be better and strong. Maybe in the new year some of us can make a time to meet in person, put faces with our stories - stories and people that I am thankful for. Love and strength to all. - Carla

My wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to each. Carla-i so agree. I would very much like to meet someplace--next July--for a giant group hug, a drink (or four), laughter, tears, and talk with the women who have helped me in ways no one else. I turn here first. 

I put on the brave mom face when talking about "new areas of concern" never saying the nasty word new malignancy while on chemo. I can tell you I watched 2 videos of mastectomies. As a nurse I spent minimal time in the OR and have never viewed one. I can tell you the MO told me today I am @ least 2 years from discussion of reconstruction. And he has not seen "new areas of concern" while on chemo. And that maybe it is a "washed out area" with both of us knowing it is a malignancy. Times 3 new ones. 

I can talk here about my anger, horror, and embarrassment @ my %*^&^ walking out the day my port was placed. Yes, he was a breast man. But seriously. Dating while I was undergoing diagnostics with an active match.com site. 

No chemo until about January 9th. No neupogen. No weekly labs. But the big surgery. Found the Knitted knockers site. Ordered one. Found another site where can purchase-or donate funds in exchange. Contacted Victoria's Secret couple months ago. Explained long time shopper with three daughters who are shoppers. There is a market for those who cannot have reconstruction and want pretty bras. They do sell a weight of sorts but said would be looking into a new line. 

Our lives will be forever before and after breast cancer. My life has been enriched by the women in the July 2012 group.

shg

Still following this thread to cheer on those who are crossing the chemo finish line.  Congratulations Madelyn, Whaevah and teeballmom!!
I know the big question on your mind is WHEN WILL I HAVE HAIR AGAIN??  (I know it was mine LOL)  My mom sees me every weekend and always comments "I can't believe how fast your hair is coming back!"  It's 11 1/2 weeks pfc for me and my head is pretty well covered now.  I stopped wearing anything about 2 weeks ago only because it seemed no matter what I wore, it irritated me.  I had a lot of little red bumps at the nape of my neck and I no matter what I wore, it rubbed over them so I decided I was going to start going topless.  My eyebrows and eyelashes did thin about at about the 6 week mark, but they came back quickly.
Hang in there and remember to give your body a lot of rest.  Chemo may be over, but the effects are lingering.

Hi PA Eagles - thanks for the hair update. I was very interested to see you also had red bumps. I am getting small sores, because my scalp is sooo itchy, even though I am putting oil on it. I can't resist scratching- I try and try not to scratch and then I just have to, and the relief is blissful. I feel like Baloo the bear in Jungle Book- I'm sure you remember the song "Bare Necessities"!! 

A friend sent me this, and it is our hair growth in a nut shell, and what we can realistically expect-

Chemo has an effect on the hair as the 2 fastest growing cell actions in the body are the growth of the cancer and growth of the hair and as the chemo has the greatest impact on the fastest growing cells, the hair is automaically affected by the treatment as is the cancer. Consequently the hair falls out from the bulbous follicle at it's source. Naturally this is the furthest depth of the hair in the skin and when it starts growing it has to start again from this point. Therefore it can take about 6-8 weeks to appear on the surface. After this, it will grow at just over 1 cm per month, so within a couple of months, i.e. at about 3 - 4 months in total, there should be a very noticeable covering.

I have bought some Revitalash to encourage my eyelashes. I will let you know if it was worth the money, as it is pretty expensive. One of the reviews however was from a chemo sufferer, and she said it was great. It takes a few weeks for the effects to be noticeable. The back of the box advises you not use it unless you have finished chemo therapy.

I have 2 appointments this week...one on Tuesday for mapping with RO and a hairdresser to price out extensions....hahaha!  My hair is coming in but the eyebrows/lashes are another story!

Marianne, I can understand why you're scared if you read all of the posts from people who have had A/C or some version thereof. Just remember that nobody gets all of the side effects. But with all of the people on these discussion boards, you will always find someone who had a particular SE and will be able to relate if you have that experience. It's not a picnic, but we all get through it.

Marianne - I think people's experience with AC runs the full gamut from no SEs to every SE imaginable. Just take it 1 day at a time, listen to your body and let others take care of you if possible. I honestly didn't think it was that bad. Although I had most SEs listed, they were very mild and tolerable. I worked the whole time. 

Marianne - if this helps, here's the SEs I had: bone pain (although I'm not sure if this was from AC or Neulasta shot), nausea/vomiting (only twice through 4 sessions), slight fatigue the first few days, hair loss (after 2nd session), sore throat periodically, mucus in throat, sore tongue for a few days (if that makes sense, basically it felt like little cuts all over my tongue).

The night after 1st session was the roughest because my body was not used to it, but after that it was fairly easy. I did get some hives on my arm during the injection itself, but they were easily addressed with Benadryl. 

My recommendation is to take the anti-nausea pills your MO gives you right away when you get home. The first time I had AC I figured I'd wait and see, and that was 1 of the 2 times I actually got nauseous. It's best to stay ahead of the SEs. I only needed the anti-nausia pills for a day or two after each session.