Sept 2012 chemo

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited December 2012

    Send me a lollipop anytime Mariposa!



    Forgot to post I am seeing my first fuzz! How long till regular hair replaces that? I still have old renegade hair that never left during chemo that is growing now too.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited December 2012

    jojo2373- WOW!!! So wonderful to hear that your hair follicles have decided to sprout the hair fuzz aka duck fuzz!!!  It does mean the real hair will be coming very soon... you just have to be patient.  I had a few pre-chemo survivor hairs that stayed around after my final chemo; however only one remains now.  I have what one might call a very short short edgy looking hair style now.  I haven't cut it at all; it has just come back evenly on my head and looks like a professional hair cut according to my onco and some of my friends!!!  So glad to know you are PFC.  Wishing you the best !!!!

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  • Amy4978
    Amy4978 Member Posts: 473
    edited December 2012

    Jojo I've been growing mine since thanksgiving and it is now dark and can barely grab it between my fingers. It still has that soft baby chick feel but is getting longer by the day!

    So happy for you! I cant keep my hands off my hair.... My dh says I'm gonna wear it out...

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  • Cherioo
    Cherioo Member Posts: 305
    edited December 2012

    Hey ladies my hair is growing back all white . I had some grey before but dark brown , but all white. I hope that changes . I feel like a baby chic . Can't wait for my brows to grow back ane lashes

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  • Joemommy
    Joemommy Member Posts: 31
    edited December 2012

    Congratulations, Hope! Woohooooo!! :)



    Mariposa, were the lollipops homemade or can they be bought? Too funny! My final chemo has been the roughest. I finally felt like eating something today and was so excited to have an appetite - of course it didn't agree with me but it was nice to enjoy eating. I've been sooo queasy. Today is day 6.

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  • Joemommy
    Joemommy Member Posts: 31
    edited December 2012

    Congratulations, Hope! Woohooooo!! :)



    Mariposa, were the lollipops homemade or can they be bought? Too funny! My final chemo has been the roughest. I finally felt like eating something today and was so excited to have an appetite - of course it didn't agree with me but it was nice to enjoy eating. I've been sooo queasy. Today is day 7.

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  • Mariposa123
    Mariposa123 Member Posts: 267
    edited December 2012

    My old student purchased the lollipops.  They are from some company called "High Mountain".  They were very tasty and helped with the nausea a ton.   I am going to have another after the kids go to bed:-)  Oregon allows medicinal mj too, right?   It seems crazy that given this worked so well for me after one pop- and I didn't have any weird side effects (like I have on the zofran or emend) and I didn't feel the least bit loopy- why they don't just hand these out to us with our treatments.  I guess the anti-nausea med folks wouldn't like that too much.  It is supposed to also help with appetite.

     



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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited December 2012

    Lollipop, lollipop, oh oh you lollipop, ....Pop!



    Can you tell I'm drugged up! Lol



    Last chemo was today and the staff sang to me and gave me a bottle of apple cider.

    Girlfriends taking me out for lunch to celebrate!



    My hair is growing slightly too. I have this one though in the front of my head that is two inches. A little mixture of gray and brown. Eyelashes are gone on bottom lids. :(



    Well steroids are kicking in. I think I'm going to take down the tree later while I have energy. Because I know by Saturday, I will be down and out!



    Goodnight Ladies!!



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  • Neta69
    Neta69 Member Posts: 203
    edited December 2012

    Jojo: fantastic news about the shrinkage and glad to hear your decision came to you. I also had a lumpectomy and I think I healed quicker both physically and emotionally from that than I would have after mastectomy.

    Hope: You did it! Yay!

    My hair is growing in now as well. I buzzed off the straggly long hairs that survived chemo and its short but getting thicker. I dont bother to cover my head at home and around friends anymore.

    Mariposa: I'd love a lolly!

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  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 363
    edited December 2012

    fight for two,  get a port.  They are wonderful.  With numbing cream,  no pain.

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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited December 2012

    Joemommy: where did you have your surgery. I'm having mine at Goodsam in Portland over by 23rd Street.

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  • butterfly14
    butterfly14 Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Hopex -  Congratulations on being done with chemo, my last one new years eve, yay.

    Toastiecat - I have  a fear that my hair will not grow back also. I normally keep my head covered when I am home and I had chemo brain really bad and came out of my bedroom with no scarf or hat on, my middle son did not say anything, but I freaked out myself when I noticed it.

    Mariposa - enjoy the lollipops, glad they help with the nausea.

    I am going to start taking biotin after last chemo and start using nioxin hair system, which helps with thinning hair.

    Has anyone had the problem with hands, feet and legs falling asleep with the taxol? I have the finger & toe numbness, lately limbs are falling asleep too.

    Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and all have no SE's.

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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited December 2012

    Butterfly: make sure you tell them about your legs hands and feet fallin asleep. They may want to reduce your dose of taxol a bit your last time so it doesn't cause permanent damage to your nerves. They did that with me my last two doses. And what a day to start your new year off! You did it!



    I know what you mean about forgetting to put on your hat. I'm ok with not wearing my hat and going baldy at home "sometimes" it does get cold . But one day my son's friend caught me. Luckily it was one of his best friends and he has been so supportive so at first I was embarrassed but then ok with it. I always try to keep an extra hat downstairs just in case. But one day, I'm going to walk out of here and totally forget to put anything on. Kinda like those high school dreams where you forget your locker combination or forget to wear clothes to school.

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  • Joemommy
    Joemommy Member Posts: 31
    edited December 2012

    Hopex3, I had my surgery at Kaiser Sunnyside. I will have to say my surgeon did an excellent job - if it wasn't for the two scars (about 1" each) you would never know a 1.9 cm lump was removed. No change in my breast size or shape at all. Clean margins first time. In and out same day, very little pain, everyone was wonderful. I hope all goes well for you!!!

    Mariposa, they do have legal medical marijuana here in Oregon - I should have gotten my card back when I started! Damn! :)

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited December 2012

    Jojo glad you are making great process...""

    Hope ring that bell hard as you cannnnnn..

    Tostie... I had a nightmare ... I was eating and all the sudden I saw few hairs on my food and I said " omg just when I had it long it starts to fall off again... " it was just dream thank God ... I have hair growing but you never know Cause today is my 8th taxol which in getting it now





    Beside my nasty cold I'm super happy this year is over... I will fight with all my mighty mighty ....so 2013 Here I come!!





    I'm happy that I found this tumor early .. So lets continue to fight ..:next year looking damn good!!!!'

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  • butterfly14
    butterfly14 Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Patricia - Have you already had surgery?

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited December 2012

    Butterfly ... No I haven't had my surgery it's schedule some time on March ... I have decided from the begging to have BXM because my BRCA came positive and I also don't want to come back for MRI Or any other scan over and over ..... I'm mentally preparing myself for surgery cause I never had any surgeries in my life ...what's so funny is that I had finished my FEC a month ago and a medical assistant calls me from the PS office to schedule my surgery on Dec 21 ... I freaked out and told her that I wil not have any surgery until I'm done with chemo..... It seems there was a mistake ... But since I wasnt mentally prepare for the word " Surgery" I started to cry so hard and called my family for support.... Lol..... But I'm mentally prepare so just waiting for my next 8 taxol to come ... I didn't loose my hair or my eyebrow ... But I still have 8 more to go so who knows... Didn't you have surgery???

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  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited December 2012

    Congratulations Hopex! woo!

    I would also like a lollipop or 2. or 3. Smile

    Cherioo, my hair started out all white and then a little color started coming in after the first quarter inch or so. I feel like I have a head of gray hair. I think of it as the Judy Dench/Jamie Lee Curtis hair. My hair was naturally a light brown-red - not strawberry, not coppery but reddish. So now as it's coming in it's not really obvious what color it's going to be since it looks mostly whitish-gray to my eye at this point and it's alredy an inch long. So I bet this is another variation per person. most people get white hair as it grows back in but then how long does it take for our normal color to be restored I don't know...

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  • Timbek2
    Timbek2 Member Posts: 204
    edited December 2012

    Patricia. You will get through surgery ok. One step at a time. I was scared too before mine. I never had surgery before. I did ok. It was the anticipating more than anything. I still can't believe it's been five months.



    I saw mo today before treatment #7 taxol. 5 to go!!! I wanted to know timeframe of my radiation. I am such a planner and am already thinking about spring break for my kids first week of April. My goal was to finish treatment prior to that in case we would want to go somewhere or do something fun. Mo said I will have a month off chemo to get counts up before starting radiation. I end chemo jan 31 so that means I wouldn't start rads until march. Ugh!!!! She said I won't meet with RO until after chemo is done. But would most likely have 33 or 35 treatments. 6.5 to 7 weeks. That mean middle of April to finish. When I brought up spring break she said flippantly that I could just take the week off. Yeah and drag it out another week. No thanks. Thanks for letting me whine. Just been all weepy this afternoon. So desperately want my old life back. Don't like my mo. No sympathy. I feel she's like just suck it up lady. No empathy whatever. You can tell they've never been though this because if they had been then they'd get it. ;(. Love u all. No see. Enjoy the weekend



    Becki

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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited December 2012

    Becki...you can whine. I think all of us are having weepy moments. My DH was talking to me and I told him to stop and go away. He asked why and I said cause I need to cry and it had nothing to do with what he was saying. A couple times a week, i have a mini melt down. I'm sorry you don't like your MO. Can you change to someone else? You need someone who is positive and lifts you up. But your right, they don't get it if they haven't been through it. But you may think about changing cause you will have this person in your life for a good while! Take care!!

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  • butterfly14
    butterfly14 Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Patricia  - I had surgery in August, I did the BMX for the same reasons that you are. The surgery is not as bad as I thought it would be. I had the tissue expanders placed at the same time as the BMX. I think the surgery was like 7 or 8 hours long. The drains are the worst part, but they come out within a couple of weeks, and they are not as bad as I had imagined them to be.

    I am supposed to get the oopherectomy/hysterectomy in January and the exchange surgery sometime in March. I cannot wait to get the exchange done.I still have some of my eyebrows and eyelashes and just started to get some hair on top of my head back. After my last chemo on Monday I am going to start taking biotin, I asked my oncologist and he had no problem with me taking it.

    I hope you had a great Christmas!!

    Carla

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  • kidsandlabs
    kidsandlabs Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2012

    Hi all, work has had me busy, busy, busy. Red blood count dropped last week but came back up.  Last treament only got 80% of taxol due neuropathy, RX my MO seems to be helping for it.  I think the chemo caused a UTI that I now have.         :-( Never had one before, pretty painful.  One more treatment left, not until next year, counting down the days!

    Mariposa, lollipops = priceless!

    Jojo, congrats!

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited December 2012

    Butterfly... I will also have oopherectomy/hysterectomy but haven't scheduled it yet ....I will be taking one day at a time today I had my 3 taxol .. It's once a week for 12 weeks and I must say it wasn't bad today I'm less tire but have lots of hot flashes ... And I have a cold so I'm hoping everything will be fine .. My Christmas was great just my DH and my daughter... We dance the night away and had some wine ... Exchanged gifts .... Some times small gathering are better..... Unforgettable moments we even did karaoke I must say I need to touch up on my singing!!! Lol...

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited December 2012

    Timbeck..... Thank you I felt like I was the only virgin here..... Lol.... I hope that you find MO that your happy with .....my MO and BS and PS all have had a family member with BC and they know the feeling being the co-survivors .... And I feel secure and you need to feel the same... I did my homework on them ......



    I just want you sister to know that we will have our days that we are down and we will cry and feel lonely ... And noone around us understand but only us here... Just always remember that this is not us ... Chemicals will make us depress ugly fat and make us think crazy stuff ...... Once you finish feeling this way .... Get back up cause its time to keeping on fighting .....please it's all this medications that makes this way... We know we are one he'll of fighters not everyone can handle the result of a mamagram ... Only warriors like us will survive.... Stay strong my ladies 2012 actually saved our life's since we all caught on time ...





    So I'm going toast to thank 2012 it was found and working to be cancer free 2013... I'm bring in big 2013 because I read here that one our sister here had the most awesome idea... For all of us to meet In Vegas sometime in July.....by then we will all be done with chemo....surgery...and radiations....so ladies please lets try to plan something for next year ... So lets plan something in Vegas!!!!

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  • Timbek2
    Timbek2 Member Posts: 204
    edited December 2012

    Patricia and Butterfly-

    Can I ask why the oopherectomy?  Is it due to your age?  Are you choosing it or is it recommended per your MO?  Since I am 40 and not close to menopause I am wondering if I should be asking about that?  Will you then take an AI instead of tamoxifen?  Just curious.  thanks!

    Also my MO did reduce my benadryl to 25mg instead of 50.  Much improved!  Sometimes u just gotta speak up :)

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  • butterfly14
    butterfly14 Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Timbek -The oopherectomy/hysterectomy is because BRCA positive, family history and chances of getting ovarian cancer or uterine cancer. I am also getting it because of having Lupus and a blood clotting disorder, tomaxifen can cause blood clots. For me it was recommended by MO and breast surgeon.

    I will be taking Al instead of the tamoxifen for the 5 years. I am 44, so getting close to menopause but not there yet. The taxol has been causing awful hot flashes, I seem to wake up every 30 minutes feeling like my whole body is on fire.

    Hope that helps.

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  • Amy4978
    Amy4978 Member Posts: 473
    edited December 2012

    This round of taxol hasnt been so bad... Def a lil tired today though. Homemade blueberry pancakes for breakfast and a hot date with the couch while I sip coffee...



    Anyone doing anything fun for new years? I'm going to relax at home with the kids and dh we are making chocolate fondue and dipping chz cake, marshmellows, pretzels, strawberries, pinapples and bananas! Thinking we might have a few rounds of pictionary man also....

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited December 2012

    Amy, we are doing a "pre" NYE tonight since everyone has plans for Monday night. Same as you, board games and snacks. I am betting I shed a few tears Monday night as I think about all that happened in 2012 and look forward to finishing treatment.



    Now that I am in between chemo and surgery, it brings some nervous feelings. During chemo I knew I was constantly fighting cancer. Now I am not and it feels like something is missing. I think I am experiencing a taste of what it will be like after surgery and rads. Living life, but each day wondering. Forever changed's name is so true.

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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited December 2012

    Amy...your New Years plans sound like fun. There is nothing better than board games. We like to play apples to apples. My kids are older so they will be out on the town meaning I will not sleep. Husband is making Lobster bisque. Yum!



    JoJo: I too am in the stage waiting for surgery. No more chemo. Not having chemo anymore and surgery is still a ways off makes me worry that the cancer cells will reawaken. I am so ready to get on with life and definitely make some positive changes but yet constantly looking over my shoulder with worried eyes!



    Keep on fighting ladies. We are doing this together!

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  • Cocobean
    Cocobean Member Posts: 135
    edited December 2012

    Patricia- love your attitude! I am trying to embrace 2012 as the luckiest year ever because if I wouldn't have found my lump it might have been my last year....that being said I am soooo looking forward to 2013, being done with chemo, and moving on to the next steps which for me will be rads. My last chemo should be on the 2nd, I have a bit of nasty head cold now so hopefully that won't delay anything. Also, I had my BMX in July, the drains were not fun, but I was really amazed at how much better I felt after two weeks, so just keep that in mind. Good luck!



    Mariposa- love the lollipop story! My friends made me some special cookies and I was surprised at how helpful they have been.



    Timbek- sorry to hear you are not loving your MO, I think our drs might be with the same center...I'd be happy to give you a rec...love mine, but he is not the primary breast cancer doc, also my aunt went there and really liked hers. Hope you are feeling better.



    Congrats to all the ladies finishing up! Please keep up posted on how things are going, emotionally, physically, and with the hair!



    Oh I can't wait for my hair to grow back! I have had dreams about it too. I also have seen a therapist a couple times since being dx, she is a breast cancer suruvivor. I plan in seeing her more when I am done with chemo, just to help deal with the transition. I have heard from other survivors and docs that can be the toughest time, so I just want to be prepared as best as possible. Sometimes I wonder how or if I have processed everything that has happened, because I just jumped into go mode, my mind has been like ok, let's go, I want to do whatever I need to do to fight this and beat this, go. I can barely remember what my "normal life" was like and I don't know what my new normal will be like....I just hope it involves hair and a gym!



    Enjoy the weekend ladies! We are getting there!





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