Starting Chemo February 2013

laLady dont feel bad my last fill HURT like heck and still does. I called the PS two times and they just said it is because you are so overfilled just keep taking pain meds and hang in there! I just keep counting down the days. 14 till I get these rocks out of my chest. I too cant do much. Still have hardly any energy and I will be 3 weeks PFC on Thursday! I cant believe how weak I still am. Ran a few errands yesterday and cleaning one bathroom, put in one load of laundry and by dinner time I was in tears! Just want my energy back, eyes to stop watering, and this chemo weight I gained to be gone! Oh did I mention hair would be nice. Its getting HOT and my head was dripping in sweat when I took my hat off! I am running out of patience!! 

I have quite a bit of fuzz already, kind of feels like poodle hair. I never shaved mine, it just fell out on its on for the most part. It's really soft and fuzzy and also very grey!!! I'm 41 and can't believe it is filling in with grey hair all over. I should be happy that its growing already and can always color it but still makes me feel old. I'm 1 week out from my final chemo so it may fall out again?



I have about 10-12 eyebrow hairs left on either side but lost a few more this morning. I think they may all be on the way out. Still have eyelashes though.



So here's a funny story. I went to my hairdresser today so that she could trim my wig. I was getting frizzy ends and it was just so hot. As she was combing through it, the comb got stuck on a tangle and my entire wig came flying off and into her face and over her shoulder! She grabbed it, we both looked at each other with the same "Oh S***!" expression. We tried to throw it back on and got it backwards and a little sideways. We both started laughing out loud and I nearly peed my pants from laughing at how we both freaked. So I can now say I have went "topless" out in public! If I can help it though it won't happen again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can keep my scarves on at the beach next week...it can get pretty windy.



I've had horrible dry mouth with this last treatment. It's worse than ever before and the biotene us doing nothing for it. The inside of my mouth feels like leather in some places. Very irritating!

I am almost 8 weeks out of chemo - I have dark 5 o'clock shadow all over my head - I can feel it.. but its still too short to measure it - but it does make my wig itchy..eyebrows have looked ridiculous the last 4 weeks - I have like 6 hairs on both eyebrows..and eye lashes are still thin... I still haven't had to shave my legs so thats a plus! I saw a lady at rads who had at least an inch or more of hair growth - she had given up the wig as it was drivng her nuts - I asked how far away from chemo she was an her final chemo was 2 days before mine - she said once her hair started coming back it just seem to grow in over night - I sure was encouraged even though she had so much more than me .. but its all a start!

Similar story here. I'm 8 weeks PFC and 24/35 Rads. Few straggly brow hairs and lashes, but I see some signs of new growth! Leg hair has started growing again, but white and fine, unlike my previous dark and coarse hair. I'm amazed at my head hair growth. I've got about 3/4 inch on top and sides. Front and back maybe a 1/4 inch. Agree with slv58- it doesn't feel like adult hair, its softer. It's salt and pepper, but mostly salt- although it seems to be getter darker- maybe because it is getting less thin and you can see less and less scalp. Hooray!

LW I never shaved my head either. I have and have always had baby hair about an inch long all over my head. Dont get me wrong I cant go topless anywhere but home as you can see my scalp. My MO was surprised one time when I took my hat off for her and I was not shiny bald. I keep checking my scalp daily looking for any sign of new hair growth and 3 wks PFC I see NONE! My hair usually grows pretty fast so I am hoping once it starts it will take off. I am amazed 3 wks PFC how tired I am still getting. If I take it easy during the day I feel OK but if I run errands during the day I am paying for it in the evening. Guess after 18 weeks of pumping poison in my system I cant expect to be back to normal in 3 wks! UGH......

Shasha I am getting my TE exchange surgery in 10 days then heal up and its off to Rads end of July. I am not using any type of supplement. Just the Bosley system shampoo and treatment. Nothing oral.....

Shasha I can understand how you feel, I really miss my eyebrows. Lately I've been going totally makeup free-there is just so much painting in I have to do that sometimes I catch a glimpse of myself and have to laugh-I look so fake!

I've been walking every day trying to loose some of this chemo fat, uggggh chemo changes us so much, it's bad enough we have to worry about this disease, when all we really want is to return to the carefree days of " before cancer". I guess the challenge will be learning to live our new normal with joy and not worry. Help.

Nancy I have to laugh at the fat and bald comment. I have had so many people say "oh you look good" well I just want to say really?? When you go bald and gain weight I will tell you the same lie then OK?? My hubby gets mad at me and says they are just saying for having cancer you look good... So I dont look dead?? I just dont know how to take it. Of course I say thanks and bite my tongue!!! I have only lost 2 pounds of the 14 I gained with Chemo. I am hoping I can lose this 12 before my daughters wedding Aug 10th. Trying to count calories but working out is not in my picture yet.Still having allot of joint pain and weakness. I think maybe in a few weeks!!

Had my first solo Herceptin treatment today. Was there longer then I expected. Got to meet with my Mo today and she said eye watering and extreme fatigue can last 8 wks. UGH not what I wanted to hear. Then she said not back to normal for a full year. One week from tomorrow having my exchange surgery!!! excited and scared!!

Tangles - my MO said that by 6-8 weeks pfc I'd have 80% of my energy back. But yes - the rest takes about a year.

But 80% sounds pretty good.

Also- I think I have hair coming in!

I have been checking for hair everyday. So far None:-( I will be 4 wks PFC on Thursday.......

Dizzy my eye watering is getting less but still there. Yes I did a ton of research on the implant thing and choose to go with silicone rounds. The gummy style is too new. My PS felt very confident in doing them but his Secretary told me he has only done 3 as they just came out in March. He may have done more by now that was in early May I had asked her. The gummy ones are firmer and are teardrop shaped. I was afraid of the firmness and also if they would rotate. If a round slips or rotates you dont have that issue. The gummy also only come in a limited amount of sizes for each chest measurement. So lets say you measure 13 in your chest area they may come in 5 sizes. To make a long story short I would end up a B cup at best. I wanted to be a C cup. I also read many women have been disappointed in there size after their exchange surgery as they end up looking smaller then they thought they would. On the plus side they have a way less chance of rippling. I guess if I have rippling no one is going to see it beside me and my hubby so I will take that chance. Saline, the older way, is still available but not used as much. They are harder to the touch and even more chance of rippling then silicone. Also with silicone you get to have an MRI every few years to check for leaks and my Dr said that is a good thing as MRI would pick up if there is cancer anywhere around that area too!! Final decision maker for me was talking with a few others that got the silicone and LOVED them so no Turning back now for me.

I would LOVE 80% of my energy back. I cant believe how my body is feeling after this last chemo. Every night I feel like every muscle in my body has been worked over by Jillian Michael's! LOL I remember taking a weight lifting class at the gym and feeling like this the next day, but All I am doing is average stuff and my thighs & quads and arms just burn in pain at the end of the day. I didnt even have this during chemo!!! Maybe I am just doing more and I dont realize it?? Its frustrating.....

Congrats Melody!! I cant wait to say that, but it will be a long time for me!

Shasha,

I have been using Latisse for over a year and continued using in March when I started my chemo.  I did 4 treatments of TAC and just had my first of Taxotere and Herceptin.  My onc said I would probably lose all of my body hair including eyelashes and eyebrows, but I still have both.  My eyebrows got thinner, but my lashes are still long, although not quite as thick as b4.  My advice is to fill the RX and cross your fingers !

Gina I do have a side boob now but I am overfilled 100cc so hoping for no side boob. I also think a side boob that is squishy and not hard as a baseball might not bother me as much.

DiZzymom I have read the new silicone is high cohesive and is very thick so doesn't leak out like the old school silicone.

Getting sick of this muscle pain. I guess I should be grateful I didnt have it the entire Chemo but OMG every night I feel like I have done nothing but lift weights and do squats and lunges all day. Its crazy. Feel pretty good in the am but by evening Im about in tears. My hubby asked what was wrong last night and I said Im sick off feeling like I have been on the biggest loser camp all day working out!! eye watering is getting much less though.

LW - enjoy the beach - I wouldn't have been able to do the beach so soon after chemo or anything physical - so I am proud of you that you are doing it.. you are right - it can only get better!