Starting Chemo July 2012

I agree with Ann!  Congrats teeballmom and thanks

Emilybrooke- I am sooo sorry to hear about the LE - big hugs. How can two professionals have the diagnosis so diametrically opposite!!! It makes you lose all faith in the medical profession. That is a heavy course 2 hours a day - just something else you have to fit into a busy schedule. One of the breast cancer society's sent me a magazine a few weeks ago - apparently something similar to the LE sleeves are BIG on the cat walk this year. Wouldn't it be nice to wear one only as a fashion statement!! Anyway they come in natty colours and designs now - a bit like leggins. I'm sorry I threw the magazine out, but perhaps you can find them on the internet.

Madelyn and Nat - I read the delay in colouring one's hair was because the hair is still weak, and it may cause it to fall out again. Is your hair still strong? If so I am off to the hairdresser! Thanks for the tip on the No-No for hair removal. I did shave mine off, but if it comes back i will get one.

Ann - I'm sorry you are experiencing a lot of pain. I also had a lot of pain after the mastectomy. I think we feel pain in the armpit more, as that is one of the areas the nerves are still intact. It starts easing off after about 4 weeks.

Several of you have asked about Susan. I was also worried about her, and so searched for her onthe threads. She has joined the taxotere side effects thread now, as they changed her medication from taxol to taxotere

Dear friends. Apologies for my absences. I had my first-of two-rounds of taxotere last week and it has kicked me every which way but loose. Also had Neulesta again--*%&%&^Y bone pain out the wazoo still and had the injection Friday morning. Have rotated from soaking in the tub to the sofa to the tub to the bed. Nausea not as horrid as with AC--but am taking meds as often as possible to prevent and had IV meds for nausea with the chemo. MO switched me from Taxol after 7 doses due to my becoming toxic. Says--as of last week will only have to have 2 of taxotere 3 weeks apart. Will see if the plan sticks. Then will go to rads and stick with herceptin. 

Back to bed. Thank you for your concerns. I love this group of women. You are the best of the best. 

Madelyn, I am so glad to read your 1 1/2 inch growth.  I was starting to think something was going wrong with my hair (last chemo 9/3).  I've had 2 follow ups w/my MO and at the 1st one I could've sworn she said "Your hair is coming back, but we like to see more."  So did that mean it was coming back too slowly?  Then last week she says, "Have you had it cut yet?"  NO!  Why??? Should I have????  I have been taking biotin to strengthen it and my nails and it seems to be helping my nails, so I figure it's helping my hair too.
Just last week I started styling it again... what fun!! It won't be long till they are at a length that I've had in prior hair cuts.  Those cuts were usually a bit shorter than I liked, but it gave me good experience on dealing with this new hair of mine.

I didn't do anything about the fuzzy face and it seems to have gone away. I thought it was just a mind trick, that it looked fuzzy because I didn't have any hair.

Anyone notice any other weird things going on?  My sense of smell still seems to be more acute than before.  I drive my husband crazy... "Do you smell that?" lol  It also seems that things that are sweet are sometimes TOO sweet and I can't eat them.  (YAY!  weight loss benefit I hope?!)

Hi sorry - forgot about the sense of smell. I have always had a good sense of smell, so can't help you on thta one, but some things do still taste different.

Susan, sorry to hear about the bone pain. Hope it eases up.



NatL12, I am surprised they left your port in for so long. I' m not sure how this is supposed to work, buy I called the receptionist in my MO's office in December and had her schedule my port removal on Jan. 2. I did not even talk to my MO about it. I have the port still, but in a little plastic baggie! The surgical tech who removed it said a prior patient made a Christmas tree ornament out of hers.

Dear susanhg123 - the response to that is...maybe never.  How negative that sounds, but there is always the possibility of something returning.  Maybe more so for some of us than others, depending on the type of BC we've had.

Nat

Susan-I'm sorry about the bone pain.  I hope you find relief soon!

Mamabr-Thanks for the kind words for teachers! We'll take all the positive remarks we can!  Speaking of teachers...how is your class Emilybrooke?

PAeagles-I lost my brows and lashes completely with Taxol.  It takes awhile but when it comes back ...it comes back! My sense of smell is on overdrive, I could part time as a bomb sniffing dog!

Maddie57- I don't think the Clairol root touch up on my hair affected the growth at all--but this is a very personal decision to color/not to color after cancer.  I could never say it was 100%-but I like it:)

I see MO next Thursday for start of Lupron injections and Femara.  I hope to have my exchange surgery in April.  And of course the much anticipated extensions in May.  I joined Weight Watchers and I'm down 3 pounds and the Nutribullet hasn't blown up yet.  So all is good...hugs

emilybrooke - how is the LE going? I was freaked out this morning when I found the base of my thumb was a bit swollen and painful. I hope it is just a bit of a reaction to the surgery and not the start of LE. I see my oncologist near the end of Feb, and will mention it then. Hopefully it will have gone by then!!

Madelyn - thrillled to hear the colouring has not affected the new hair. I went out with the short hair cut for the first time yesterday. I felt a bit nervous, but everyone says they quite like it. They are probably just being kind, but hell I will take what I can get!!

One eyebrow is itchy again, and is definitely thinning. Seriously - ONE eyebrow- how weird it that!!! I desperately hope the eyelashes don't follow suite!

Nat - I'm sure you are so much more comfortable without the port. If your chemo is finished why would they leave it in?

Well, I guess it is a good sign that the board activity is slowing down??? Must mean we are all healing and getting back to normal - whatever normal now is for us?

Hope everyone is doing well.

Finished radiation Jan 15, now on to Tamoxifin. I guess the next challenge is trying to figure out how to combat the symptoms of my newly entered menopause without hormones. Should be interesting. I have a lot of questions for my doctor.

Passed a fun milestone - I colored my hair for the first time yesterday. Woohoo!!! Finished chemo in Oct; ditched the wigs in Jan. I must say - the super short hair is soooo easy to deal with. Hair came in very grey and it appears that I will be sporting the chemo curls when it gets a little longer. DId a little research and it looks like they last for about a year. But frankly - I really don't care what my hair looks like - I am just so happy to have some hair again.

Please check in and tell us how you are doing!

Tamoxifen isn't so bad.  I started it on 11/23 and had some pretty good joint pains and hot flashes in the beginning.  By the 1st month, the pain was gone and I've noticed since the beginning of the year that the hot flashes started diminishing and I don't recall having had any for the past week!

Hair came back and looks the same as it did before, straight and brown.  No chemo curl for me I guess.  Like everyone else, I'm just glad it's back!  I had to go for an ultrasound yesterday and it's in the same bldg as my radiation treatments were.  Was fun stopping in to visit and see 'the girls' again.  They were excited to see how much my hair grew in the past 3 months.  I've met some really wonderful people because of this stupid cancer.  

Hi guys,  haven't posted in a while-and yes, trying to get back to some normalcy:) Going Snowtubing March 9 with several long-time college friends and can't wait. My nephew plays baseball for the Florida Gators and starts his season tomorrow (he's so stoked), and I've seen him develop all the way from T-Ball, traveling to see him for many, many years. A trip is in the cards in the next few months to see him pitch.

Today is my 1st of 7 ''spot' radiation treatments to my surgical side where I had my lumpectomy 12/7. I have had 23 'whole breast' treatments, and my boob is ready for that to stop (I mean it's been through the mill already hasn't it?) My follicles are dancing tango in it, and I am red and irritated, but both doctors said that happens, and it's ok. I have also been on Tamoxifen since 12/18. At first I had hot flashes every half hour, and it was a little rough. I still wake up sometimes with night sweats, but other than that, it's been manageable. I, too have a great team that has been taking care of me at the Radiology/Oncology center, so they have helped me forget about my overall tiredness. I've been going to work through it all, and take walks with co-workers to get my active. I used to be an athlete, but of course, like many my metabolism has slowed down, as have my habits changed. As soon as my Rads are over, I will be using my rower and recumbent bike more regularly.  I've revamped my diet to incorporate a ton more veggies, fruit,and have cut back substantially on red meat and processed foods. While I can't control much in this nightmare of a saga, exercise and eating well are 2 things I can control. The community here has helped me through one of the hardest times of my entire life to date (I am 37 now)-my goodness what a crazy, varying journey it has been for us all-and it continues in our vigilance, learning and support.  It may always be a part of my life in one way or another (and...I am forever changed, in terms of perspective), but I have learned that your mental outlook has a lot to do with how you actually feel, and that treating your body, heart and soul like a temple (we only have 1), really is key.  Recently, I've started to educate myself more about Soy and Soy byproducts (talk about nebulous information on some stuff-ugh!), but overall, I am doing very well. And I never thought, during the days of chemo I'd say that, on some days.

I hope everyone continues to get better, remain positive, and remember all things wonderful in this world, when days seem dark and scary. Every day remember where you've come from, and take care of yourselves!

P.S. About 3/4 of an inch of hair-straight, brown (so far, same color, and I can't tell if it's the same texture, as it's not long enough),  and in a few weeks, I've decided to go topless to work.

Hey friends.

Medical oncologist said I am now toxic on taxotere so am finished with the nasty chemo and will just finish the year of Herceptin! YEAH!!! Was actually able to enjoy the w/end with my daughter while she presented in the honor's symposium. Still having some side effects-neuropathy-but he said that may linger for 6 months and some may linger forever. Had about 3/4ths an inch of black and white hair (almost like a skunk) much of which has fallen out and am back to peach fuzz. Have never had a black hair anyplace on my body--was an odd coloration for sure. See the radiation oncologist Wednesday for mapping and will start soon after. Scheduled for 33 rounds. Will start orals soon. Already started Effexor in prep for hot flashes. With my pale pale coloring know will be red soon and am prepared to be tired. But feel I can do anything for a month after chemo since July. 

My oncologist and nurses reminded me I would not feel back to normal for at least a year and maybe longer. And to remind those who ask if I am well and over everything that I did not just finish an antibiotic. I remember the Doc medicine I listened to in September with the woman who was 5-years out with breast cancer and she talked about not going back to "normal" because she now had a "new normal". I need to remember that. Not just for those who ask, but for me-as I put pressure on myself to get back to where I was. 

Sweet dreams to each. Much love.

susan

Whoot whoot!! Congrats Teeballmom!!

Congratulations, Susan, so glad to hear you're done with chemo.  

cvmarilyn, I'm taking effexor for hot flashes which I started during chemo.  It was working very well, then I started tamoxifen and the flashes got worse.  I want to wait a couple months and see if they settle down before thinking about changing any meds.  Somewhere I read the tamoxifen side effects wane after a bit.

Second radiation today.  Stride I'm glad to hear that "red and itchy" was as bad is it got for you.   I hope I'll be so fortunate.  I find the whole experience a bit creepy so far.