Sept 2012 chemo

Hi everyone!  Oh my gosh - I spent two days away from the boards because my sister is here to celebrate my final chemo, and there is so much to catch up on... luckily, I am riding out my steroid buzz and will be up for several more hours... be warned, this will be a long post

Medical Alert Bracelet- thanks to everyone who mentioned this!  Another thing to add to my shopping list.  BTW, Faith - how did you add the information to your cell phone?

Eyebrows:  I also have only half an eyebrow, but it is on my left side.  The right is pretty sparse as well.  I totally want to draw a wanted poster for missing eyebrows!  Forever, I thought that was utterly hilarious:-)  English Rose:  How bizarre that you have only eyelashes on one side!  So completely random.  I don't know why I am still expecting some type of order in all of this. 

Melrose:  I love the woman you posted in the video about eyebrows.  I found her videos and blog when I was first diagnosed.  She models for some of the scarf catalogs too.  She totally taught me how to tie a head scarf- which I am pretty darn good at, thanks to her!  I also wanted to say how I too find stroking the little bits of hair that I have to be super comforting. 

Jojo:  I hope you don't need anymore chemo either - but no matter what happens, you are amazing and so strong and can do anything.  I will be sending prayers your way.

Kelly:  I hope that you get good news from your surgery- and they find that the chemo did what it was supposed to do.  I am inspired by your strength in facing another round of chemo after surgery.  Keep us posted as to what happens next.  When is your surgery?  It is hard waiting this long to get the tumor/s out!

Damiana:  I have also had the weird leg thing where I couldn't move.  Not fun and extremely scary.  Good luck with the ultrasound.  I wil be sending you lots of positive thoughts and prayers!  Let us know what you find out.

Seattlemama:  So glad for the good news on the CT scan!!!  Here is to hoping that your next round of chemo is super hard on cancer and easy on you.  Prayers and hugs.

Neta69:  I used acupuncture to get pregnant and loved it.  I found it super relaxing... I would just close my eyes and go to sleep.  I ended up needing some help from medical science, but the doctors all felt that the acupuncture helped me to get the results I wanted. 

Hopex:  Found this cream when I went to the dispensary the other day.  It is called "nerve calm" and has cannabis listed as the second ingredient.  It is amazing!!!  My neuropathy keeps me awake at night and has become painful in my feet especially.  Ever since using the cream for the last two nights, I have had no trouble with my feet at night (just small tingling).   I even brought the cream in to show my oncologist so that he can share it with other patients who are suffering.  It is by a company called Forest Nymph Botanicals.  (I know, kind of silly).

So, yes I got my special license.  It was actually a lot of fun- and it was all well worth it just for the nerve cream!!!   And I loved hanging out with another survivor!  Tomorrow I am in the big girl chair for my final chemo.  I am so excited about being done- and at the same time, nervous about my upcoming sick period.  I hate being ill - but it will be nice to know that I will be on the mend soon.  I will post a picture in the BGC tomorrow:-)   Also was told that surgery is now 3-4 weeks a way!  Yikes.  Trying not to worry about that yet.  I need to focus on one thing at a time. 

Hugs to all my sistas!  Hope you are all resting and feeling good.

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Was anyone advised to put anything directly on the scar?  I will see my BS on Thursday for my 10 day follow up and will ask but was wondering what the experts had to say too. 

Also, those who have had surgery - how long did it take the hardness to go away?  I know from my other surgery's it can take a long time.

Mariposa - I am happy to hear we have a member that is special licensed!  Woohoo

Found this great website for medical bracelets from another thread here: 

www.laurenshope.com

Damiana: Thinking of you! 

Neta69: Did you do acupuncture during chemo, too? Or just post-chemo? It's something I really want to try but my nurse advised against it during chemo.

Hey any Canadians on this board: do we have a similar license that Mariposa now has? I just had FEC#3 yesterday and the nausea seems to be cumulative - worse every time. I really want a High Mountain lollipop! On the plus side, just one more to go! Have already started getting ready for surgery.

Jojo:thanks for the Sephora tip. Will be going to get me one of those brow pencils!

Ah just noticed - my mustache is back! how disappointing...

Jojo, lol! This one annoying hair on my chin was the first to return after chemo! My scar is still hard (fat necrosis and scar tissue) and I had surgery in July! Physiotherapist said to massage quite firmly couple of times every day (when healed obviously). I had surgical tape over my incision and was supposed to keep it taped for support for 3! months. Unfortunately I got an infection and couldn't but my scar would have been near invisible if I had. I can tell because half of it wasn't infected and that part of the scar is thin as a hair. I didn't put anything else on it.

Forever, I only started acupuncture now. Didn't do anything during chemo rads as I didn't want to interfere with trestment, plus risk of infection.

Mariposa, congratulations! Finally chemo is over!

Damiana, let us know what today brings. Xx

Cocobean, good for you! I am heading out walking with my dog shortly and will do yoga class tomorrow. I need to add some cardio cause Im gaining weight! Hate the gym though

Hey all... Ive been reading but not posting... Went to see my PS again today to get things in final order for my surgery. I should be getting my date any day now. Def looking forward to it but very nervous at the same time.



Tomorrow brings my last chemo whooohooo! Looking forward to getting back to me again.. I just wanna feel good....



Mariposa.... I think it was you who mentioned gummy bears.. I asked my PS today what he thought of them he said and showed me the outside has a rough texture and he spoke of a study that has been done on this rough coating beinv related to a very rare cancer (I cant remember the kind) he says only 40 cases world wide. But for this reason he doesnt use them. Not sure about all this I planned to google a few things but I wanted to share.

So much good news - Damiana, Amy, and Mariposa! Yippee!

Mariposa - Yippee!  Congrats on your last treatment!  That is awesome.

In my cell phone, I created a new contact named "ICE-*ALERT*Medical Alert" and put the information under the notes section.  Left arm-no blood pressure & no needles.

For those of you that do not know, "ICE" stands for "In Case of Emergency" and then you list your emergency contacts.  If you have a smart phone, you may be able to find a medical app for free or for little cost.

: )))

Hi Mermaid - Once I get up and start moving around, it feels a little better too.  I sleep with a pillow under my knees and it helps a little.  If they are really throbbing, I will take ibuprofen. I also sleep with pillows under my arms to help support them better.  I hope you feel better ...

: )))

Faithfocus.. From what my ps told me no only the rough or textured coating.... He explained it like this the gummy bears are tear drop shaped verses the normal implant that is round. To get the tear drop shaped gummy to stay with the tear drop end in the lower portion of the breast you need it to have a rough outside. But they are so new we do not know the effects this roughness has on our body. And that there is a study linking this gummy bear implant to an increased risk for a very rare cancer ALCL



I googled it and lots pulled up. Ask your PS if he has heard of this link between the two. I hated even hearing the word cancer, here we are getting reconstruction to avoid cancer ever again the last thing we need is an implant that puts at risk!

Mermaid- I used a heating pad in bed, helped me with back pain. Good luck to you.



Damiana- so happy for your news.



Amy and Faith- thanks for sharing the info about the gummys...I had heard of them and was wondering....will be seeing my PS on Friday and will ask his thoughts, but my initial reaction is no to any risk of cancer, I think I'm going for silicone....honestly my exchange surgery is a long way off, I'm trying not to think about it.

Also, thanks for the ICE info, great ideas w/ phone.



Amy- good luck tomorrow!



Timbek- been thinking about you, glad to hear you are getting to the home stretch...hope these last three come quickly and are easy for you.



Still have my brows and some lashes, the bottom left is half gone...wondering if the will stay or will they go? Hmmmm.

Yeah Mariposa, you did it!!



Damiana great US news!!



Neta I have that same 1 chin hair, and your right it was the first hair back!!



Forever do we need a license in Canada!!....

Congrats to those finishing chemo and those who have gotten good news on u/s, scans etc! Jojo, where did you get your wig and what kind is it? Love it! Thank you ladies for all the laughs regarding brows missing.... mine are hanging on, but I am bracing myself. Seems crappy that we can still lose them post chemo!

Melrose,

             Did all of your blood counts go back to normal?  Did you have to take any vitamins, iron, infusions, etc. to get the values up?