Starting Chemo February 2013

Hi Everybody, 

It looks like we have all been busy with our lives.  I ditched my caps 2 weeks ago and life has been so much better.  I had gotten a part time job, which has been so good.  I was working at my desk and I was burning up, probably due to the arimdex I have been taking.  At that very moment, I thought this is it, this is the last day for wearing this hat.  It has been exactly six months since my hair went south.  I love not not wearing a cap - now granted I do look like a boy, but when I put on enough makeup and earrings, if I do say so myself, I look cute.  

I noticed in the news this week - prejetta and herceptin has been approved for women with early stage breast cancer - Her2 neu positive.  This is great news for those of us who are triple positive.  I fully believe we will all see cancer eliminated as been "life threatening".  

I hope all of you are doing well.  I think about our postings and comments daily - the ones that made me laugh and the ones that said just the right thing when I need to hear it and the ones that cheered us all on.  

I am taking arimedex and I am really having to be careful about the weight coming on.  I lost 32 lbs during my cancer ordeal and I have quickly gained back 8 pounds since being on arimedex.  Otherwise, I am not having any other symptoms on it.  

Take care all - Pam 

Hi everyone. It has been quite some time since I last posted anything. I finished radiation in mid August and finished chemo in early June. My hair is coming back in but I am not brave enough to consider going without a wig yet. Eyebrows are completely back and eyelashes are about 70% back.

The numbness in my toes is slowly easing up but I still have issues with sadness. You just NEVER forget what you have been thru and I guess it will take some time to be able to get thru your days without thinking about a future reoccurance.

I attend a support group at my local cancer center and reccommend this to everyone. It has been helpful to talk to others who have been thru what you have been thru. (just like here).

Hope everyone is getting their lives back to a new normal and getting adjusted!

Does anyone still have problems with pain in their breast?  I'm 5 months out of chemo 3 radiation and theres still alot of discomfort. Gina I agree about the aftermath of going through this.

Life is all but normal now. If I had hair, I could almost forget and go a day without thinking about breast cancer and all that has happened this past year. It's hard to believe its almost been a year since the diagnosis. This year has been a blur...I feel like I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other to get through each day and am ready to live now. To actually enjoy each day and make the most out of them all. I hope everyone is getting along well. This year I hope to really enjoy Christmas. I spent last Christmas wondering what the results would be from my biopsy!

I realized today I hadn't been on here in a couple of weeks after practically living on these boards for 6 months. I hope everyone is doing well. I got my first hair cut yesterday (cut off curls on the back and cleaned up around the ears) and I'm leaving for Hawaii in one week WAHOO!

Haircut?! Really? I wish mine was long enough. However I did realize that I don't look like a cancer patient anymore, just a woman with a real short haircut! My eyebrows and lashes seem to have taken a big hit with chemo. They have not grown in to their former glory, but at least there is something. Brow pencil and mascara are my best friends! I get excited when I see this thread pop up-we all went through so much together. A very happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian sisters. I am really looking forward to it this year, I have so much to be thankful for! I hope everyone continues to feel well.

Melody - Hawaaii.. wow-have fun!

tangles - I have been wondering how you have been doing! Sounds like you are really enjoying life and happy.. glad you are enjoying October!

DiZZyMom - glad to see you here too.. good luck with the run!

I have not been on since May, when I finished my last tx. I had my te exchange in August 2013 for a nice c cup. I am a 34 c and I am very happy with how they look. I am well, healthy and feel great!

I am on a Facebook group called ciao bellas. I think many of you may be on it. I hope you are all well. It seems like a lifetime ago and I am so glad it is done. 

ywheels - so glad you're doing well!  

McKatherine - glad you are getting to ring the bell!! woohoo!

I have an apt with the oncologist tomorrow. First time I go in a year where I don't have to put my time in the "chair"! I also have an apt with a new Plastic Surgeon. Radiation did a number on my implant so they are both coming out! Feb 26th I will have a flap surgery to repair damaged skin and get new implants. Its a big surgery, but hope this is the LAST step in my road to recovery! Looking forward to a fun summer with no treatments and my new fun short hairstyle!!! Take care gals!!!!

Nancy its curly if I put product on it, straight if I don't. Going through the Major bed head stage! LOL Just grateful to have hair though!

This is a long shot as Im sure most of you ladies do not check this too much anymore. I myself don't get on here too much. Here is my question if any of you see this. How many of you now that we have all reached the year mark are getting any type of scans. I asked my Oncologist and she said no scans needed. That scares the HELL out of me. I seem to hear everyday of women who had breast cancer and it comes back. Gosh please tell me Im not the only one worried about this??

I just finished my year of Herceptin Jan. 16th so am just now starting my follow up schedule.  I will see the onc every 3 months for a year then every 6 months but no scans unless there is something specific to look for.  My regimen might be a little more aggressive than most because I ended up with a very aggressive form of BC with a higher risk of recurrence.  Scans are a double edged sword -  I would like to get a regular "all clear" but they also give their own dose of radiation which could cause it's own long term problems plus they're stressful.  One of the reasons I chose a double mastectomy was so that I didn't have to deal with mammograms every 6 months.  In some ways it's harder now that treatment is over.  I'm not actively fighting the cancer, just sitting around waiting to see if it's gonna come back.  But things are going well now even if the Arimidex is kicking my butt.

I love all the pictures of our hair!  And eyebrows... and eyelashes...