Starting Chemo July 2012

Ann--end chemo? I still have 5 taxotere if I can ever get started. Then finish the year of herceptin. 33 rads. Orals. Who knows. And this left one--which right now is healthy--needs to come off before some highly aggressive little snot-nosed cancer cell moves in. 

Susan I like your description of "highly agressive little snot-nose cancer cells".  My MO was putting off removal of the chemo port...I'm not sure why, except he may be thinking I will need it again soon.   I try not to consider that too much.  It's going to be removed next week anyway.

I'm sending good thoughts your way as you continue to go through WAY TOO MUCH!

Nat

Hi Ladies- just checking in on you all. I had my replacement surgery this week, so have been in hospital, but it all went well, and I feel so much better than the first time. It is a walk in the park compared to that! The surgeon has done a really good job from what I can see. He asked me what I thought of it, as he has tried really hard to match the implant to the real breast, and I think he was a bit hurt when I said I haven't really looked yet. To be fair it was covered with some huge plastic compression bandage, and I have found if you only look at it clinically for a week or two your subconscious works on the problem and you can face whatever you see later.

mssunshine I am sure Ann is right about the tired chemo hair falling out. A few of mine did the same, but now I have a good covering. On the plus side when your eyelashes start coming in they come in dark and thickish which is super. They are still quite short but getting there, and I will be thrilled if they stay this colour.

virginiab - hope you had a good post treatment holiday. I think it is normal to still require a little nap every once in a while.

emilybrooke - how are the girls doing? Although I am still a bit sore and swollen I am thrilled to find the permanent implant feels more comfortable already. The port under my arm was really getting on my nerves. 

Madelyn - big milestone - eyebrows threaded!! Let us know how your hair extensions go.

Does anyone know how long you have to wait before you can colour your hair? I read 6 months somewhere. Is that 6 months from the last chemo, 6 months from the first sign of growth or 6 months from the time you have a full head covering?

Keep well ladies

Good luck with your chemo Susan - thinking of you

It's been 3 months post-end-of-chemo and I'm happy to report eyebrows and eyelashes are fully back. (I did help eyelashes along with GrandeLash MD). My hair is steadily growing too - I kinda got a mohawk No longer covering it up

Stride and roadwarrior, I'm so happy to hear reports of lashes and brows returning.

I just had lumpectomy on Friday but the surgeon warned me I may end up needing mastectomy due to some new specks showing on MRI. I will get path results tomorrow.  I'm pretty PO'd because I had been anticipating lumpectomy for three months after both MO and surgeon told me it could be done based on intermediate results of chemo.  Don't you love cancer's "surprises"?  NOT.

I am off the pain meds because they were making me pretty sick and dizzy.  Initially it felt like someone was stabbing me in the armpit with a red hot knife.  Now it only feels like someone is clamping a closepin onto it every so often.  I didn't even have full dissection, just the sentinal node biopsy.  Ouch!  The breast incision hardly hurts at all.

Susan, thinking of you.

Ann - I second what Stride said, mastectomy was a lot less scary than I thought it'd be. Even when I had 1 tissue expander removed due to an infection and pretty much had a concave chest on one side, I got used to it pretty quickly and with a prosthetic no one knew the difference.

Hi Ann- I am so sorry to hear about the mastectomy, but I think it is safer than a lumpectomy. They found another tumour during pathology after the mastectomy in my breast. Remember - don't look too hard the first week or two, and your subconscious will let you accept it easily after that when you have a good hard look. Big Hugs!!

Stride - good luck with your rads. I hope they are not too traumatic. Aren't we a hairy group!!! Another week or two, and I am ditching the scarf and wigs. I used nutrilash on my eyelashes, and they are doing well.

mssunshine7 - good luck with the hair growth. Not long now and you will see visible results!!

Hello Everyone, with the odd little 'apres chemo' things going on, I had this huge 'duh. You have a whole group you can go connect with and see how they are doing."  Definately noticing brain more clear and less easily overwhelmed, so that helped me get here I'm sure.

Susan, I've been reading your posts and want you to know I'm thinking of you as you continue chemo treatments and heal from surgery. You've inspired me to go sleep with pirates. Since my whole theme of this particular journey has been about my body as a tall ship... (long story).. and the adventure of it all, I think a pirate adventure would be a nice celebration. (snicker) Now where will I find a pirate besides Johnny Depp, or the Hot Hook on "Once Upon a Time"? I don't think they are available, although 'pulling the cancer' card might help.  HA!

3 months since chemo, still on continued herceptin treatments and started tamoxifen 2 months ago. Both going very well, given my insane allergic reactions throughout chemo (and that included to herceptin.)  Tamoxifen may be playing a bit of havoc with my moods.. pms-ish..but then, all we've been through can be doing that too.  How are the rest of you on tamoxifen doing?

My hair is about 1/2 long, salt and pepper, as opposed to a nice mahogany.  I wanted to do something fun with it. I tried a henna, but it didn't take, (nor did it ever take in the 70's when i tried it, I realized afterwards)  but I did have an odd green tinge for a day. I thought metallic silver would rock, and my hair could grow with little metallic tips... but alas, that's pure toxic, and I'm not going there.  Just read today that its not recommended to dye hair until six months after treatment. Anyone know more about that?

Also just noticed a rather excessive amount of white fuzzy hair on my face... that's what got me back here. Apparently can be normal. Anyone doing anything about theirs if you have it?

Curious about the GrandeLash MD (now I can't find who posted that)... I see it online. Is it also in regular or natural product stores?  My lashes, and the pirates I'm going after, would love to have some 'batting eyes' ability.

Enough about me. Happy to see you all here and to be in awe of the spirit of each of you as we "yo ho yo ho... move onwards."

Feelingthemagic, congrats on becominga grandma! Sounds like a miracle baby.



Regarding the white fuzzy facial hair, I am ready for that to go AWAY now please kthxbai. I have actually been shaving my face and neck. I feel like a yeti. Does anyone know if this is due to chemopause and if it will go away?

Feelingthemagic - I mentioned grande lash md and I bought mine on Amazon. Not sure if they have it in stores or not...



I have facial fuzz too but in my case it's dark - hope I goes away or I've been considering laser hair removal...

Congrats Feelingthemagic, Ann and NAt!!

I finally got my Tentative BMX date for Feb. 15th.  Consult with the plastic surgeon is this tues.  Can't wait to get it over with!

Nat, aww that's sweet that you got a little celebration and a flower.  Congratulations on finishing!  

I too was let down when there was no fanfare on my last chemo.  Others have reported bell-ringing and so forth.  I had three different nurses that day (busy) and not even sure they all knew it was my final treatment.  I took some pictures, grabbed hubby's hand, and walked out.

Thanks for all the kind words.  I'm happy to be done with surgery.  It feels like the end is in sight.  Just rads and hormonals.

Hey Ann,

Glad you came across the finish line.  We both started the same day, we've been through this together.  Listen please let me know if you have any rad questions...I finished 28 last Friday and also returned to work that same day. All is good but I hope you take a minute to realize all you have been through!!!

It's good to read everyone's progress. Haven't heard from Susan for a while, hoping she is okay. Thinking about you Susan and hope you have energy to update us soon.

Good news Ann - Glad you don't have more surgery. I'll be thinking about you during the rads, hope they don't knock too much energy out of you. Sounds like rads are a walk compared to the chemo days.

I colored my hair yesterday. I guess we are suppose to wait longer, I am 6 weeks pfc, but I figured I had so many chemicals put into me, what's a little hair dye?? They use Aveda at the salon I go to and it is suppose to be gentle on the hair. The hair looks good. I'm back to brunette. I'm not quite use to the contrast because it had been coming in all silver...but I'll get use to it. I dyed my little eyebrows too, made a little bit of difference. The hair color also brought color to my face.

I had the face fuzz, shaved it off. 

Madelyn - I forget what kind of work you do. How was it going back? I am returning next week. I'm a little nervous, but it will be good to get back. 

I'm with you PAeaglesFan - I read some of the other boards, but I feel I am going through everything with everyone on this board. Good thoughts and prayers to everyone!!