Sept 2012 chemo

Finished chemo Monday! Hope you are feeling ok, jojo. Amy and Mariposa, love your new photos.

Cheerio & kidsandlabs - WooooWhooo!  Congrats on your last treatment!  Ring that bell girls!!!

Huugs : )))

Amy & Mariposa - What beautiful pictures!  I have a couple that my DH took of my (on the cell phone).  I haven't had the courage to take 'real' pictures of myself with no hair.  I commend you for wearing it so proudly.

Hugs : )))

Cocobean - Hang in there with the SEs.  I am approx. 3 weeks PFC and I too am experiencing what you are going through.  At times, it is really frustrating!  Our bodies have gone through so much; we need to give ourselves a break.  The SEs are cumulative, so it makes sense that the last one was so tough.  When I told my MO that I thought I'd snap right back after the last treatment, she just smiled and then started to explain.  I was so upset.  We will get stronger - we will get better.  Take it (literally) one step at at time.  The key is to keep moving.  Even if, for right now, it's very slow movement.  Before I put my feet on the ground when I get out of bed in the morning, I take a few minutes to stretch my legs and rotate my ankles.  It seems to help me get grounded so I can keep moving.  I long for the days to zip around the house to take care of what I need to.  Now all you hear when I walk by is the slow shuffle of my slippers on the tile...it makes me think of the song from the group LMAO - the chorus - "Everyday I'm shuffling."  It makes me smile.

Hugs : )))

Regarding surgery ... Toastiecat, you have some really good suggestions.  I remember not being able to open my Rx bottles.  My DH was home most of the time and helped me out.  When he traveled, we ended up putting my Rx in small plastic containers.  I like the pill organizer much better.

These are some of the things I did to prepare:

I purchased a grabber/reacher prior to surgery.  I found mine in Office Depot.  It helped if I needed to reach for something (light items) on the floor or up in the pantry/kitchen cabinet.  You will have limited movement with your arms.

I moved items that I knew I'd be using frequently down to the kitchen counter top.  I also bought some paper plates and plastic cups.  Loading the dishwasher or washing dishes was not too easy in the beginning.  Clean up was a breeze!

If I knew I was going to home alone during the day or alone due to DH traveling, I asked him to open the gallon of milk for me or the apple juice, etc.  Opening these items was difficult for me.  I also asked him to pour some of these liquids into small containers so I could lift them.  It worked out well.

He also went grocery shopping and had things in place for me if he was going out of town.  Driving was difficulty for me in the beginning (I could not move the gear shift up and down; it is on the steering column).  We prepared meals together and put them in the freezer.  It made the preparation of dinner so much easier too.

I bought some button down shirts, tank tops and house coats - all a size larger.  It was awhile before I could lift my arms over my head and put a (tee) shirt on or put on one of my blouses.  The larger size allows you more room and makes it much easier.  The 'house coats' had snaps down the front.  Going to the restroom was so much easier.  No need to deal with slacks or shorts.  The larger size made it so much easier when getting dressed. 

I asked the lady in charge of our center's support group, for arm pillows.  It really helped to have these small pillows support my arms.  I still use them today.

Constipation is a big SE with the pain killers.  Get in front of it!  I had a terrible time and it put extra stress on my body.  Colase or Senekot are good to keep on hand.  Start taking a stool softener right away.  If no BM in 2 days, take a laxative!  Check with your MO first if you are thinking about taking a suppository - it may cause problems for you (due to treatment).  Our membranes are so sensitive; MO told me a suppository could tear the lining and cause big problems. 

I had four drains in for two weeks.  PS told me not to shower (sponge bath only) due to the risk of infection.  That was fun!  Just be sure to ask your PS what he/she recommends.

I developed a terrible rash under one of my expanders.  PS told me to keep the area dry and use baby powder if need be.  I was real careful to keep the area dry and still developed this terrible rash - so much so, my skin opened a bit and it was bleeding.  I now use baby powder all the time.  Cornstarch may work too.  I'd rather use that and will be asking him about it at the end of this month.

The expanders are not pleasant.  But you do get used to them after awhile.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I hope this is helpful.

Hugs : )))

aic - congratulations on finishing chemo!!!

JoJo - Hope you are feelinng better soon.

Foreverchanged, I got the same advice as Amy and I think others above. I find it hard on my eyes scrolling up and down and trying to remember who said what! I admit to a copy/paste below:

Two more cycles of Taxol but saw the PS last week and big news. After much soul searching and discussions over time with BS, MO, RO and then PS, I am having surgery before rads. I even got a date last night and my UMX, axillary dissection and immediate reconstruction with T/E (and using Alloderm as a support) will be March 5. PS says he will do a fill during surgery in hopes that there will be enough elasticity during rads which seems to be what many of you have been told too. This is the only reconstruction in the cards for me due to past surgery scarring and no fat anyway. So really no choice unless no reconstruction. And the PS said to have rads first makes it almost impossible to do T/E reconstruction.

Then the healing followed by radiation. PS says that he will not even consider the exchange for at least 3-6 months after radiation, again same information as so many of you have. So I am looking at next fall for the exchange. Almost 6 months now since dx! I had my repeat CT scan last week to check on lung nodule. My nurse navigator called today about my surgery date and I asked her if the report was in. Sounds like no change either way and another scan in 6 months. Then I got a call also from my breast clinic, and BS wants to see me. Sounds like maybe routine re results of scan since she called me last night about the surgery date and did not mention scan. But then she was in her office not the clinic. So with bloodwork, MO and chemo next week I don't see her until the following week and can only hope it is just routine. And so it goes!

Mariposa your last chemo is the day before mine.... Maybe we can pop a bottle of virtual bubbly and celebrate the end to this chapter!

Hey Amy, when I had my Surgery my PS filled me 75 cc then I had two more . once I started chemo he stopped and said we will continue after rads . My skin has defiantly expanded . Before surgery I was a 38DD after rads we are looking at 36C . I will have three more fills then Monday I will know for sure the exact timing.



You know what I wish I had In the hospital , my ear plugs so that I could listen to music and not hear all the noise . Toasticat gave great advice on what to bring. Pillows where myfriend . My mom bought me the best gel pillows that I would rest my arms on . Three days before surgery I went shopping and cooked food for a week for the family and made sure that all laundry was done sheets changed and I bought PJ that button in front . You will be sore but it was manageable for me. I remember having problems the first couple of days getting up out of bed but I pushed myself. I did not want anyone helping me so that I could get use to it. I really think that helped me. I know e all hate taking pai. Pills , but please do take them the first few days as directed . My lymph nodes like I said on my right side were the only pain I had. I needed to learn how to lift my arm above my head. I had 14 taken out so I started right away lifting my arms and doing the exercise so I would not get lymphdema . I am blabbing on but I just want you to hear how each one of us reacted .



Jojo do you have a home nurse coming by to check on you ? my ins paid for it for the first two weeks . My DH changed my drains but she would check my wounds and change my dressing twice a week and coloring and so on. Ask your primary. I would have never thought they did that , so when my Dr set it up I was like great.... Praying fever goes down and you feel no pain .

Cherioo...thanks for all your advice. Where did you get the gel pillows? I've heard of side pillows. I'm such a side sleeper. I'm going to try and just sleep in the recliner for a couple of nights. I'm lucky as I will have my sisters here for 10 days helping me out. However, they always like to redecorate my house when they come so that may drive me crazy. Lol

Congratulations on all you finishing up......I'm getting ready for round 2, and I'm not happy about it.  Hopefully it will work this time.

<<running to the virtual liquor store, buying a few bottles of bubbly for you all    >>

Cherrio...I will miss those chemo highs! I felt so good on those days and I got so much done! So enjoy your last moments!

I like the idea of tanks and sweats too. I'm going to buy a couple larger ones.

What did you do with your drains? My sister thought she could make a couple pockets in my tank tops to hold them.



Seattlemomma...what are you having done? I don't see many of us From the Northwest on here. Where did you have your surgery?

Cherrio...I'm starving all the time. I'm not a sweet eater but I can't seem to get enough of it. I ate really healthy with AC. Taxol gives me the munches. I've even been eating fast foods. I have to keep it a secret from my DH though. I need to get back on track. Cancer feeds on sugar so I need to stop it! I'm off to bed...we may have snow tomorrow which will make me eat even more. Nachos anyone?

Yes Cherioo I have nurse coming by every other day to check on me.  She is the one who found I had the fever yesterday.  She left me some supplies as well.  Woke this morning with no fever so hopefully I have turned the corner.

On the bra question after surgery, even though I only had a lumpectomy I have been wearing a soft loose bra the BC group gave me.  I have one incision that runs from my outer breast to under my arm.  Wearing the bra feels better to me as it supports the incision.  It does cover where the drain is inserted, but its loose and soft and not restricting. 

One small warning for those with upcoming surgery - grab your breasts and hold them when you get out of bed.  Thats the worst pain!  If you have a port and remember how that felt this is more intense.  I gradually let my breast fall and the pain is more bearable.

The little things you learn!

JoJo...Can you sleep with your bra on? Would that help when you get out of bed? I better calll. My PS to see if they give me something to wear. Otherwise, I will need to add that to my list. That is really helpful for you to have a nurse that comes by.