August 2013 Chemo Sisters

Fmg and Babs - I had my surgery on Friday to put the drains back in to try to save the implants.  Hopefully all this fluid around them will be gone and I will not have to have them removed and start from scratch.  I seem to be in much more pain this time than when the implants were placed in.  However he did take the implants out and scrap the pocket to clean it out as well and then placed the implants back in.  I had a divot on the right side breast so he released that as well.  The skin/muscle was attaching itself to the implant.  I hope this is the last surgery and I heal and all fluid is gone.  The fluid has been draining like crazy so that is a good sign.  

My hair on the other hand is coming in but not as fast as I would like it.  Lisa is looks like yours is coming in nicely and my last chemo was oct 11th.  My eyebrows are back in enough I have a guide to pencil them in.  The eyelashes are very sparce.  Oh well all within due time.  I will be resting over Christmas and trying to get these implants saved. I turn 50 on Christmas day and have fought to get there.  So not sad to be turning fifty.  I even have my own exams tree which is black, silver and of course pink!!!!  Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year!!!!!

Togetherness-Hope the drains work and the implants stay in!!!!!

Babs

ForMygrandd, same thing going on with the nail beds, no eyelashes, still bald, but there is some white fuzzy stuff emerging. Good to see. My WBC is very low, 3 weeks post chemo & they did not do a Neulasta shot, so I in a state of horrific fatigue.

So how about bone pain & muscle ache? Are you still experiencing that? It is getting better, but I have no idea what is normal or if I am slow to bounce back...

Holeinone, I always got the Neulasta shot + had minimal bone pain.

Shalimar630, no I am not using a nail oil.  I probably should but the skin under the nail is discolored + the tip of the nails is separating from the dying nail bed.  I don't think oil would do anything to help keep the nail from coming off . . . it's just the process.

I can't wait to go topless + put away the wig.

Is Tamoxifen giving anyone else hot flashes?  I break out in sweats not only at night but during the day . . . the wig makes them worse!

I am 2.5 weeks PFC and still completely exhausted.  My stamina is shot.  My hot flashes are getting worse, too, and my restless legs syndrome is worse than it's been since I was pregnant.  I've always had it, but Taxol made it a hundred times worse.  

I have surgery next Friday and have no energy to try to build up some strength before then.  <sigh>

I am 2.5 months PFC and mostly feel great.  I break out in hot flashes a few times a day + night; the Tamoxifen, I think makes the sweats worse . . . not to mention when I'm at work and I start sweating profusely where the bang on the wig sticks to my face, it's very embarrassing!

Today I met with my manager.  It's so bad that I prayed to God that I not have a hot flash in the middle of my one-on-one meeting.  I'm learning to keep a bottle of cold water with me at all times and to wear layers or less clothes.

I think my MO said having hot flashes on Tamoxifen was a good thing . . .

Merry Christmas!!  Wishing everyone a happy healthy new year in 2014.  I am so ready to try to put this behind me, but the residual effects of leg pain, hot flashes, exhaustion, just pain in the back and chest makes you wonder is this what life  is going to be like! Keep praying and pushing for better days ahead!! As I type this I had surgery  on Friday and I think my cellulitis is back high temp, chills, rash on face and breast.  I live in Florida and I couldn't get enough blankets on me last night or today.  Go to the dr on Thursday!!  Just trying to get through Xmas today!!  I was feeling better this weekend so planned my annual open house for those who have no place to go for Xmas.  Usually about 50 people come through.  I am stressed since I am sick.  Will have to let my DH handle and daughter. At least I have been doing this for about ten years and no one will mind if I retire to bed....... Ugh. When will this madness end!! Say a prayer that it is not cellulitis, but having had it twice I think it is...... Ugh

Hello Everyone, hope you all had a great holiday. I'm almost 1 month PFC feeling great with the exception of neuropathy in my toes and back pain if I stand for a very long time. I see some hair fuzz when I put my head under the light...seems like it will take forever. My hair was past my shoulder, wondering if it will ever grow back to that length. I'm planning to start working out at the gym hopefully 5 days a week like I used to. My only dilema is I'm scared to take aerobic classes as I have this vision of the wig falling off (the room is surrounded by mirrors). I'm now doing rads 4/33 so far, the only thing I noticed is the aerola of the treated breast is much larger than the other one.

Take care!

So after a week off, I got my 4th Taxol on Friday. MO tells me my bone marrow is really beat up after the Adriamycin. He says that I may need to do 3 weeks on/1 week off and/or go for a dose reduction. Time will tell. Two doses of Neupogen helped bring up the WBC some, but it was still on the low side. MO says many people never finish all 12 doses of Taxol because of the side effects (neuropathy, myalgias, etc.). So at this point my goal is to get them all in! We are planning a trip to the beach when this is all done, my hubby really deserves to get away--he has been so dedicated and good to me. We booked the trip for early April, I expect that the Taxol should be all done about one month before (that would be with the 3 on/1 off schedule). Fuzzy hair coming back in...not quite sure of the color yet. Hubby thinks blonde, I am guessing white....makes the wig that much itchier! Eyelashes mostly gone....gives the dreaded "chemo-look." Oh well, I keep telling myself that there are much worse alternatives!

I wish everyone a healthy and blessed 2014......we all deserve it!

Martha

Hi all, I'm 10 weeks out from final infusion. Just finished full breast radiation and now have five boosts to go. Just in the last week I've noticed for sure I have some fuzz on my head. My eyebrows are coming in fast, just looks dirty. I'm going to need a serious brow shape. I think I'm also noticing microscopic eyelashes coming in around my remaining few lashes on each eye. Re: radiation, I only had a bit of redness/tenderness and a feeling of heaviness/swelling. I didn't find it that bad at all. 

I wish you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year's Eve, and may 2014 be a Healthy One.

Candi, the only thing I've used is Calendula cream, which is what my center recommended. I've found it is pretty easy to work with, not too thick/thin or sticky. I've bought it from Amazon where I found it at about half the cost of the store (New Seasons) the office said it could be purchased from. Not sure what other stores it might be at. At Amazon it is about $7.29 a tube. The center just asked that it not be applied within 2 hours of treatment. I hope you find something that works well for you.

Shalimar630, thanks for the information. I plan on ordering the calendula, that is what my RO recommended. 

mankatostate, thanks for the information. I haven't experienced any SE, it's still early...just trying to be prepared. I've been using the sauna at the gym this week which my RO says is ok as long as I lather up within 7 mins when done. Is anyone else using the sauna during rads?

mankatostate, I knew what you meant

I had rads 7/33 today, just wondering how long it takes for SE to kick in. I know everyone is different...just curious. We are getting a really bad snow storm and I don't want to miss my rad appointment tomorrow...don't want any delays. I'm thinking if I have to have rads I rather it be in the winter so hopefully by summer skin will be somewhat healed.

shalimer/candi- my fatigue came at the end too. Less than I imagined it would be but it's there. In terms of getting red I think it was around 17-18 day. Just at the end, last two days, I had one sore area.