August 2013 Chemo Sisters

I am as bald as can be, 3 days post LAST chemo...but my SIL went through this 9 years ago. Her hair was thin to begin with, never really grew back well on the top of her head . She has a cute, short cut. The hair kinda curls around on the top. My suggestion would be to consult a beautician that has a good rep for stylish, short cuts. It seems like you should start having new growth soon. Being bald has not bothered me as much as I thought it might, being without eyelashes is almost worse. Good luck, lets us know, cause most of us are behind you...

Praying that everyone is doing well. I am getting my hair back finally after 60 days post chemo. It has alot of gray. Omg I never new I was so gray since I keep it colored all the time. Went in to the hair dresser thinking I had enough to color and she says if you would like your scalp colored I can do that..... Lol. I guess I was a little over anxious.... Lol. I am still dealing with issues with my implants. Have been on antibiotics for four weeks since the surgery. Fluid gets drained off once a week or either it starts draining on its own by bursting a stitch.... Ugh!! So hope we can save these implants. Enjoying feeling a little better and hope everyone else is close to ending of treatment or finished and going on with their life. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!! We all have a lot to be celebrating!!

Finished chemo December 2nd!!! Praise God, I am so thankful to be done with this phase. Now, preparing for surgery and trying to get emotionally prepared for this. 

Aef, I read somewhere on the internet that topical melatonin helps with hair regrowth. Sorry I don't remember the site. Anyone else have experience with this? My hair never completely came out. When it started thinning, we buzzed it and what was left behind started growing between treatments, but what came out before the cut hasn't grown. So, I look like a baby chick - except grey. I hope it all comes back soon.

anyone have their port removed? How is the recovery?

LeAnne....YEEHA ! I finished a few days before you....still in a daze over the whole bc nightmare, but now the toxic chemo is behind us..I am hoping for some hair also, but it is going to be slow...good luck with your surgery...keep us posted..

Candi, I know some of the Aug. grouped have had there port removed, my surgeon wanted me to keep mine, which scared the heck out of me, why would I keep it, unless they think I am going to need it again, soon...I told the oncologist a month ago that I had to get it removed...can't live with it clanking around in my chest...now, I am willing to wait awhile..how was your last treatment ? Mine was the easiest out of them...no Neulasta, fatigue & bone pain, but milder.

Together & ForMygrandd ....sending positive thoughts for healing...you are still in the waiting game, which is so difficult & stressful...

Fmg- It's interesting how different all our bodies are. I have a few bald circle spots on my head that are yet to really start growing hair, yet my eye brows are growing back...and those few "fun" unwanted facial hairs. Hoping your eyebrows and lashes start to grow back soon!

Candi07-i just had my port removed. They did a cat scan first to make sure all looked good. The port was hurting and it turned out for some reason they didn't put a power port in so it was only good for chemo...nothing else. It's still healing right now.

Formygrandd I have my implants in not tissue expanders. I had cellulitis infection with the TE so having an infection with implants. Not good! Hope we can save the implants. We just keep draining fluid off the breast around them. It is getting very frustrating. It has been a month since the exchange and still dealing with these issues. I hope they figure out something for you. Wishing you the best.

Babs - I just finished my antibiotics recently and I noticed today my face is red ad flushed warm to the touch as well today!! Ugh I wonder when this will end!!! Not good to hear that it can pop up months later. Did they give you an alternative as what they can do for you!! Wishing you well!!

TogethernessI had the TE taken out. I never had any fluid anywhere and all my blood tests were always normal. The infectious disease Dr said that to play it safe he suggested taking the TE out. PS could NOT find signs of infection when he did the removal so he took lots of cultures. This is very weird but I keep remembering that I need to be happy that I no longer have BC so I should not complain.

Babs

togetherness. Sorry you have to go back into the hospital for the drains but if it saves the implants it's worth it!!! I had my drain removed yesterday. Ouch!!! I thought I didn't care about having two boobs but I do. The PS and I discussed a small implant with fat grafting yesterday. But all depends upon my test results. Hoping it all works out for you and that Santa heard you!

Babs

HVV-great for you!!!! So happy the ACT worked so well. I had my surgery before my chemo-so you can always ask me any questions you have-PM me any time!

Babs

Just wanted to stop by to my home chemo group and say hi and wish everyone a Happy and blessed Holiday season. I hope everyone is doing well, I am done with A/C and 4 treatments into Taxotere but next week they are switching me to Taxol in hopes of decreased SE'S.

Shary

Babs + Togetherness, on Friday I had the right TE removed.  I immediately felt better, the swelling of both foobs when down.  Once the area heals completely, maybe 6 weeks or so, we will try again.  I spoke to my PS and the cultures he took at the time he removed the TE came back negative, which means the bacterial infection is gone.  This also made me happy.

I hope all are doing well on their journey of recovery.

fmg- my eyebrows and lashes really started falling out last week. I had last chemo Oct 22nd so up until last week I thought I had gotten lucky and was going to be able to keep them. I do have some eyebrow hairs growing in though. It's funny how this happens so much after being done with chemo!

As are most of us, my hair is also sprouting.  It's only been a month since my last infusion, so only a week since I wasn't regularly assaulted with chemo.  I can't see it in the mirror unless there's a high contrast background but I can definitely feel it, even in the breeze.  To my overly critical eye, there's more scalp than hair but my husband and others always remark on it.  Either they're being really nice or it's true; what can I say, I have trust issues (see "How to forgive..." under the daily living section).  I get on my exercise bike every day and can go further every time, so I guess it's getting better.  I have good energy until, like a puppy, it's like someone pulls the plug and it's back to shuffling and moaning til bedtime, if not outright bedtime.

I don't have to report for radiation til 2014, so even though there's herceptin and another labs draw, I more or less have a Christmas vacation.  May all of y'all have the best holiday season ever, and no matter what, 2014 has got to be better than 2013, right?