3 years since I finished chemo

Options
Carrol2
Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903


I can't believe I was bald three years ago. My hair now is longer than I have ever grown it. I think I am ready to color it now. I liked the grey but it does age me and washes me out. I am aged I think from all of this. I had 4 treatments of Taxotere and Cytoxin 3 weeks apart. My body creaks and pops whenever I move. My knees are all puffy with fluid, and I can't wear my pretty high heels because my planters fasciitis will flare up. I am taking Tamoxifen still. I don't seem to have any side affects unless the above mentioned is from it, my doctor just says maybe. We considered since i went into menopause from chemo and never came out, going to aromatase, which would give me a better survival rate like 3%, but I decided not to for fear of maybe worse side affects. I sometimes wonder if that was wise. I had 4 surgeries skin sparing bilateral mastectomies with no reconstruction, Placement of tissue expanders filled to 150cc, 6 fills of 100ccs 3 weeks apart, Implant exchange, CV flap nipples and lipo to my sides. This past September I went to NOLA to have my tattoos done by Vinny Meyers and they came out great. Overall I think my doctor did an amazing job on me. I am happy with his work but disappointed with the limitations of the process. I had too high expectations. I was hoping to have more upper pole. I also still have side boob I may need more lipo. My scar on one side is very indented so it shows if I wear something really shear with no bra. I was on weight watchers the whole time but after my exchange, when it was all over I gained all my weight back and then some. I lost a lot of it the past few months when I became a leader. Once I lose all the weight I may revisit my doctor to see about some more lipo. Don't know if I can do it though financially. I was caught without insurance when I was diagnosed. I was very very lucky to qualify for a medicaid program for breast and cervical cancer in Missouri. Everything was covered if I used the right hospital and doctors. Which limited my choices and did make for some scary roommates in the hospital. But my care and treatment from all the doctors and nurses at the Truman Hospital although a 45 minute drive, was exceptional and for that I will be eternally grateful. I had my chemo at Saint Lukes, which was less scary and more private. My screening with my oncologist is every 6 months. She kind of left it to me how often to come. Nothing to really do but blood work unless I have pain somewhere. She doesn't do scans otherwise because they usually lead to lots of benign biopsies and makes people crazy. it does make me nervous every time I get a headache though. So now life is basically normal. Although I come to this site almost every day, I read less and less of the posts now. I try to give comfort or advise when I can. So many did that for me here it was really what got me through it all. Next step will to do some volunteer work. I think after the holiday I will look into that. I feel the need to give back.

Comments

  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited December 2013

    hi Carrol, congrats on being 3 yrs PFC!  I'm 3.5 yrs out and experiencing many of the same things as you.

    6 tx of TC chemo every three weeks and creaky knees, plantar fasciitis, in peri-meno before chemo but now full menopause, will be on tamox another 1.5 years then have to decide about an AI (onc has already said I'm not a candidate for another 5 yrs of tamox), see onc every 6 months and don't get scans either just labs every other time so once a year, struggling with my weight, and just trying to live my life. 

    At Thanksgiving, I saw my almost-4 YO niece.  We were bald together, me from chemo and she from being newly born.  There's a pic I treasure of her in my lap and we're both smiling bald girls wearing cool sunglasses. ♥

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2013


    Congrats to you both!!!

  • flat13good
    flat13good Member Posts: 93
    edited December 2013


    Yea !  3 years can't wait for then.   My doc only does scans once a year and so far no lab yet  What kind of Lab work do they do when you go?  I want to ask why or when mine will do them.

    I go every 4 months and we just talk about how I feel. I guess mostly I feel OK just fatigued and my bones ach and creak everytime I move. Letrozole is the reason for most of my pain and I have a long time to go with them. I have pain med for the Neropathy and if I miss them I can feel it. 

    I had to wear a scarf around family because of the kids, it scared them to see me bald I guess they realized the reality of cancer and it scared them.  Well gald to see you stared this and will follow along.  Flatsy in KC

  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited December 2013

    hi flat13good, I saw my onc every four months for the first year then went to every six.  I may be able to 'graduate' to every 12 months after I reach the 5-year mark but if health ins will pay for two appts a year, I may still do that.  My co-pay is pretty low for an office visit and it's worth the peace of mind.

    Thanks to on-line med records, I know exactly what lab tests I've had.  Onc ordered a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel before chemo started, a "CBC no diff" every three weeks before an infusion (complete blood count without separating out the five different types of white blood cells), and a Creatinine (kidney function) test mid-chemo and at last tx.  Now I get a CBC no diff once a year.  Good luck to you!  ♥

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited December 2013


    I have no idea what the lab work is that they do now. Mostly she jsut takes blood and check for kidney function and hormones I believe.

Categories