Starting chemo November 2012

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  • txjunebug
    txjunebug Member Posts: 212
    edited March 2013

    Laughing  I see some tiny little hairs come back!!  It's not much but it's enough to make me happy! 

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  • 5LuvBugs
    5LuvBugs Member Posts: 506
    edited March 2013

    Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone.  I haven't posted in over a week so I'm trying to catch up on all your posts and hope this coming week is better than last.  My radiation has been stopped for a few days because I developed bad skin breakdowns under my arm and on my incisions.  I'm waiting to move on - 8 to go and I should be done by Easter, so here I sit putting Silvadene on my skin and wearing no bra singing an old song with new lyrics  here's my new rendition of Do your Ears Hang low, sing along if you are old enough to remember .....

     " Do your boobs hang low, do they wobble to and fro, can you tie them in a knot can you tie them in a bow, can you swing them over your shoulder like a continental solder, do your boobs hang low"  Laughing 

    Ok girls have a great week, chat soon

    Tricia

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  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2013

    @ 5luvbugs, hehehehehe, not anymore!!!!

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  • txjunebug
    txjunebug Member Posts: 212
    edited March 2013

    5Luvbugs - I shouldn't read your post at work.  I almost spewd coffee all over my computer!!  Thanks for the laugh.Laughing

    Is anyone else's scalp itchy now that your hair is starting to grow back?

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited March 2013

    My head is itchy and my hair is starting to grow back, you aren't the only one!   :-)

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  • 5LuvBugs
    5LuvBugs Member Posts: 506
    edited March 2013

    Picture This -Laughing  Ok so you already saw my rendition of "Boobs hang low" Well here's one to beat that - I have not been wearing a bra because of the radiation burns under my arm and incision but my bossoms are "hanging low" and they hurt so I need some support without a bra - I finally figured it out.  I rolled up 2 of my grandsons Elmo pampers and made ledges for my boobs and I rolled them so Elmos face and eyes are showing Wink

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  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2013

    Lol 5luvbugs, you are too funny!!!

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  • maryah930
    maryah930 Member Posts: 322
    edited March 2013

    My onc works with a plastic surgeon who provides free Latisse to women who lose their lashes and brows to chemo.  I had an appointment today and picked up my first bottle. I see him in two months and if my lashes/brows haven't grown in, I get another supply.  I thought he would try and promote reconstruction, but no, just gave me the Latisse and instructions.  I jokingly told him about my one chin hair that grew back while the others were falling out.  He said if it really bothered me, he would laser it and it was on the house.  First appointment I've had in a long time where I had great news. Smile

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  • jocanuck1951
    jocanuck1951 Member Posts: 1,003
    edited March 2013

    Hi maryah! About the latisse....can we use it while on chemo, and I didn't know it worked on brows?? Xoxo

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  • maryah930
    maryah930 Member Posts: 322
    edited March 2013

    The PS I went to won't take you until you're 30 days out of chemo because you'll just keep losing the hair.  I didn't know about the brows until I got it.  Hugs.  

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  • Sickofpink
    Sickofpink Member Posts: 190
    edited March 2013

    Hi ladies,

     5 luvebugs, I will never look at Elmo quite the same way again!

    TxJunebugs, drinkng coffee at work? Sounds like things are almost back to normal!

    Ad Jennie, how soon after the last chemo is your hair starting to grow?

    Maryah, how lucky! My eye doc saidLatisse works but only on eyelashes tht exist...hoping mine come back.

    Day 10 of radiation today..anyone else get nauseaus - or is that still the chemo or now the Herceptin?

    My hubby wants me to go to New York in May between book events - ten days after rads ends, but then I have to go t SF for DD's graduation - anybody know about energy or safetly to do that? Immune systerm still not okayed until end of May from onc...

    Have great Monday!

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  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 982
    edited March 2013

    sick of pink - I just started my radiation today - just wondering what cream are you using? Any visible signs on your skin yet? I haven't bought a cream yet but am guessing I should since they said that moisturized skin heals faster. 

    I am also curious about travelling after radiation and when it is considered OK. I really can't see why it wouldn't be OK for you to travel in May providing you feel well enough - I have heard that the fatigue with rads is cumulative.

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  • txjunebug
    txjunebug Member Posts: 212
    edited March 2013

    Sickofpink - I'm back to work until mid May when the DMX is now officially scheduled.  It is tiring being back in the office but I'm here.  No rads for me since they are getting chopped off.

    5luvbugs- I can't get on the discussion board anymore without that song going thru my head. Laughing  My coworkers probably think the chemo wiped out my last ounce of sanitity because I giggle when I read this now.

    I happy to report that I have more hair coming back in and it seems to be growing quickly.  Very pleased about that!

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  • 5LuvBugs
    5LuvBugs Member Posts: 506
    edited March 2013

    So Junebug "Do your boobs hang low?"  Tongue Out

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  • milkyway2
    milkyway2 Member Posts: 259
    edited March 2013

    Its so funny if somebody asks me are you done with treatment? I said yes 2nd question was does chemo kills all the cancer cells or some cells are left i have no clue what to say

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  • Eleni
    Eleni Member Posts: 130
    edited March 2013

    Milkyway, you say: I hope so.

    They ask me too, if the chemo is working: I say, I don't know, it was preventive.  I can't even bother to give more information, details etc. Whoever knows, good, for the rest I don't care.

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  • Thankful4mylife
    Thankful4mylife Member Posts: 56
    edited March 2013

    Hi there!

    It's been a long time since I've posted, however I've been a lurker from time to time! Although I wasn't posting, I was still getting great info from everyone....thank you!



    Couple questions for all of you...I will be 6 weeks post cytoxan and taxotere on Friday and still no hair :(. How is everyone else's hair doing? I admit, I'm a little panicked.



    It looks like round 6 kicked a lot of people's butts....the same was true for me too. Does anyone else still have achy legs??? My legs are sooooo achy! Like I ran a marathon! Yet I didn't!



    What about your nails? Mine did ok thru all my treatment but 4 weeks after, 5 of my finger nails started lifting from the nail bed....what the heck?! I was thinking I was home free from that mess! I'm just hoping they don't fall off...ugh!



    Anyhow, thanks in advance for all the help.

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  • maryah930
    maryah930 Member Posts: 322
    edited March 2013

    Hi Thankful ~ I finished chemo 1/25 and have very little growth.  The last hair loss occurred 4 weeks post chemo and that was my eyebrows and most of my lashes. I have all of my nails, but my fingernails are wavy, bumpy, and white, but still sticking.  Smile   I still have mild fatigue, but not achy legs.

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  • Loafer
    Loafer Member Posts: 121
    edited March 2013

    Hi Thankful - i also read the boards periodically don't chime in too often now. I did cold caps so my experience may be a little different. I lost all brows and lashes about 8 weeks post chemo. I am now almost 12 weeks and have brows back and very small lashes just starting to grow back. I had a lot of bald patches and hair started growing at 10 weeks. I am taking biotin which may be helping. Hang in there!

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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited March 2013

    Thankful - did you have a delay with one of your treatments as I noticed you started the same day as me but I am only 5 weeks pfc this Friday. Round 6 was awful for me too. There's no way I could take a 7th, even if it was an option.

    I have got very achey muscles in my legs and arms, which came on suddenly over one night last week. Also feel like I've done some kind of strenuous exercise but I haven't! I

    I've been very out of breath lately and almost spent the night in hospital last week but I insisted on going home unless they find something seriously wrong. I knew I just needed a diuretic as my onc had said TC can cause fluid retention and my breathlessness had been getting gradually worse since the end of my 4th cycle. Getting better now but had wondered whether my aching was due to reduced oxygen getting to my muscles. Have you had any breathlessness Thankful? With the fluid, aches and of course the fatigue, I feel so heavy and everything is such an enormous effort.

    Worried about the nails. They've not changed much all though treatment but I do have the ridges. I think the top halves might be looking a different colour. Hoping they don't go all yucky and fall off!

    I still have my thin eyebrows but have 4 lashes on my right eyelid and 10 on my left! All the bottom ones have gone!

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  • Thankful4mylife
    Thankful4mylife Member Posts: 56
    edited March 2013

    Michelle-I had 2 of my treatments at day 18 instead of 21 due to Christmas and my daughter's bday :). I should've finished on 2/21, but I finished on 2/15 instead.

    I did have some major shortness of breath moreso with rounds 1-3 vs rounds 4-6. (That being said, round 6 still kicked my butt) I got pretty nervous about the shortness of breath a couple times. I feel like I am still retaining a ton of fluid now. My legs feel sooo heavy and my fingers look like sausages.



    I'm sorry you were in the hospital. i can feel your "pain". I was sent to the ER 2 weeks after round 6 due to a 102.2 fever.....I had bronchitis. I seriously thought I was gonna be admitted....I was soooo sick.



    I was so excited for chemo to be over....and I still am of course! I just wish I could get all signs of chemo behind me!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2013

    Michelle~~Anemia also causes that shortness of breath. I had it while taking AC. The RBC carries oxygen, so if your RBC or iron is low, you will have shortness of breath.

    You can try eating more iron rich goods, but if you take a supplement, make sure it's time released so it doesn't cause constipation.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • Eleni
    Eleni Member Posts: 130
    edited March 2013

    I had the port a cath taken out today. It was a simple procedure but painful. I have to wait 10 days for the stitches to get out. My hair starts coming back, but in the meantime I lost the eyebrows and eyelashes. I've become an expert in painting eyebrows, I don't even use a template.

    Emotionally I'm a mess, the therapist helps.

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  • Eleni
    Eleni Member Posts: 130
    edited March 2013

    The stitches are hurting, should I take a painkiller or a cocktail? :-)

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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited March 2013

    Paula - that was my immediate thought and was worried when I saw that my RBC and HB blood counts were perfectly normal. It's definitely fluid as I am feeling much better after a few days of a diuretic. Still unsure why my muscles ache though...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2013

    Michelle~~I'm glad you're doing better, and that you figured out what the problem was.



    My counts haven't been normal since starting chemo. I'm hoping they're ok Friday so I can get Taxol #5. I really want to stay on schedule.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • 5LuvBugs
    5LuvBugs Member Posts: 506
    edited March 2013

    It's so good to see all the "old girls" checking in - I miss everyone.  Thankful I ditto what Maryah said regarding the timing of hair, nails, eyebrows and eyelashes.  I have app 1/8" hair and it is so dark (except for the gray) Eleni I say take drink the cocktail at least you'll sleep.  I am dreading the port removal (end of April) if it hurts like the insertion and I bet it's worse... I will be finishing Radiation next week and then I will be starting that Anastrozole in a week and then get that Prolia shot - so I guess I'm going to be in a lot of joint pain and gain a ton of weight - and add the bald look - oh myCry   Miss you all...Have a Happy Easter...

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  • Thankful4mylife
    Thankful4mylife Member Posts: 56
    edited March 2013

    My portacath is coming out on Tues.....now I'm worried after what Eleni said.



    Regarding hair: I don't even have a "covering" of fuzzy hair on my head. I have a tiny bit of hair but it it is very sparse....hardly anything on the top, very little on the sides and back. I know there are some reported incidents of PERMANENT hair loss with Taxotere....I guess that's why I'm a little panicky!



    Michelle-did you talk to your oncologist about your achy legs?? If so, what did he/she say? Mine just kinda shrugged his shoulders and said I'll be back to normal "soon"?!



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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited March 2013

    I did ask and she said it could be the anastrozole, the Taxotere, fluid retention or any combination of them so basically we don't know! Whichever it is, it's weird it came on suddenly overnight. The muscles that ache are the ones that felt weak and heavy since I started getting breathless so my bet is on the Tax. I think I just have a chemo hangover!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2013

    Michelle~~Isn't anastrzole the same as arimidex? If so, Claritin should help take the edge off the pain. The generic for it is Loratidine, and is much cheaper.



    Blessings

    Paula

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