August 2013 Chemo Sisters

Hi all. I have finished 22 out of 31 rads. My skin is red and a little rashy in areas, but is holding up well. It is interesting the different things that are recommended to use to keep skin together. My center says to use aloe but I didn't feel moisturized. I use miaderm  3x a day and aquaphor before bed.

At 10.5 weeks post infusion my hair is coming in quite nicely. It is a little over a half inch all over my head. My head still feels cold though so I keep it covered most of the time. A lot of grays though! My eyebrows are coming back messy. I only have a little bit of eye lashes though.

I am three weeks post rads candi, and I have used emu oil, Miaderm and aloe (Fruit of the Earth 100%). All have been good. During rads, I lotioned up three times a day, immediately after rads, lunch then before bed. Now once or twice a day. 

I didn't start redness til my boosts, which were in the last week of treatment ( I  did 33 sessions, 7 were boosts). I had some soreness and a red area developed were the boosts were given. Then it turned to a dark tan spot which recently peeled away. Fatigue started in the last week and was hitting really hard when I stopped. In the last few days, it seems much less. I'm grateful. 

I am now three months PFC and hair is almost all grown in, though its thin on top and sides still. Plus I have so much gray I'm really looking like Jamie Lee Curtis. Oh well. I'm hoping for a good crew cut look to show off by April.

I'll have to post a picture.  My hair is coming in nicely (it looks sort of like yours LisaSp); it is salt + pepper (but that's what it was before chemo).  I'm looking forward to going topless in March.  I'm African American with average hair (before chemo) . . . what's coming in now is super straight; I'm looking forward to a few chemo curls . . . we'll have to see.

I must admit that right now I like wearing cotton scarves + hats (even in the winter) because they catch the sweat from running down my face during hot flashes + keep they also keep my head cool.  The wig makes me hot + sticks to my face + neck when flashing!

I'm still very intrigued about my lashes + brows . . . did anyone else notice theirs were both falling out + growing back at the same time.  Especially my lashes; I was never without lashes . . . I just noticed that they were all short + new looking.

Will someone please give me their lash + brow story?

Thanks + BE well!

FMG: My last infusion was 10/22. My hair is only about half an inch long, wish it would grow faster. My last lower eyelashes fell out last week. There were only about four holding on ha, but at least it was something. I am growing a new batch in nicely, and still have a few long ones on top. My brows are growing and are a mess. 

My thoughts are with all of you dealing with your implant issues. I don't have to deal with that and can only imagine another layer of issues to deal with. I hope things improve soon for you.

Gavinsgrandma, I have had 5 out of 12 Taxol treatments and had to have a week off between #3 and #4. #6 is due this Friday, I hope my counts will hold. Through all the neutropenic episodes I have learned to tell how my counts are by how I feel. The last time caught me off guard-- I was feeling the way I did with febrile neutropenia during A/C but didn't make the correlation because they told me Taxol wouldn't do it. So this week I am watching and waiting and hoping the numbers hold. I will be seeing the MO on Friday, and will ask about doing regular Neupogen or Neulasta injections until I am done.

Martha

Formygranddaughter I have surrendered after 9 weeks of trying to save the implants to have both implants removed next Tuesday due to numerous infections and my body rejecting them.  The chemo killed the cancer but killed a lot of other things as well.  Have an infectious disease dr involved may have some type of auto immune deficiency...... Ugh.  My main goal is to feel better and live y new normal life cancer free.

My hair is growing . . . I'm OK with the process; slow but steady!  I, too, am wearing my wig and am hoping to go topless in February (as long as my head is covered).  I will continue to wear my wig to work until I have about 2 to 3 inches.  My hair is growing straight.

Three weeks ago I had my right tissue expander removed. We knew it had a leak but I developed a bacterial infection then accumulated a large collection of puss.  I saw my breast surgeon on Tuesday; he agreed with me in making sure I am completely healed before replacing the tissue expander.  Mentally, physically + emotionally I am exhausted and need a break from surgery, drains, pain, pain killers, taking off work, etc.; not to mention that I am still paying medical bills from 2013!!!

I scheduled a followup appointment of the end of February and we'll see if it's time to try the tissue expander again.

I guess I'm more OK with waiting since I have my breast prosthetic.  My foobs look great (with the prosthetic) nice and even and I feel confident.

Please share a success story.

Finished radiation yesterday!! I am so glad to be done with active treatment.

My hair is about 1/2 inch. It is warm here in Southern California and I am able to go out topless! I still wear a cap or knit hat when my head gets cold. My hair is salt and pepper color which I am not excited about right now. Since I usually color my hair I am going to let it grow out a bit before I decide what to do about it.

Hot flashes are there, but kind of mild. I do dress in layers so I can take some off when they come on. Night has been OK so far. 

Wow, I am such a late comer to your group - I wish I had found you guys earlier!  I also am an August 2013 chemo gal - did 3 rounds of CT starting Aug 9, then due to severe allergic reaction in round 3, had to switch up my last one to AC on 10/10.  Did 36 rounds of radiation, finishing on Dec 30.  Was super excited to start the year being done with active treatment! I wanted to know for those of you who were premenopausal before starting chemo, has your period returned?  Unfortunately mine came back with gusto on Jan 3, and a hormone test confirmed I am totally premenopausal again.  I'm 43. Getting ready to start tamoxifen on Monday, and now have to start thinking about what to do to stop all that estrogen.  Just wondered if anyone else is in the same boat.  PS: My hair is also about 3/4" (?) long and sort of a muddy gray/brown/taupe color. (I have so many dreams that I get out of the shower and it's down to my shoulders and I'm so happy that it grew back so thick and fast - ha!)  Eyebrows and eye lashes completely fell out but are now completely returned.

Also, I know I'm a bit late, but if anyone is not quite finished with rads yet, I found that mixing large amounts of aquaphor and miraderm together made a very soothing cream for nighttime.  Also if there are any open burns, I used Medihoney - it's medical grade honey and it worked really well!  You can buy it on Amazon.

Great to see you all again. Tanya, hurray for being done!!! Celebrate!  

Togetherness, I am very sorry you had to give up the implants but I certainly see why. I am really leaning to no more surgery. I have the option to reconstruct my rather deformed left breast but honestly I'm just too over all this medical stuff and would rather leave it alone. 

Mankatostate, my hair is so gray now I look completely different. Here I am today:

Here I am right before surgery:

Sorry the last one is turned.

Oh well, at least the hair is coming back...

Lisa your hair looks good and it coming in nicely.  Mine is about the same length but very salt n pepper.  I wonder when I can color it?  I might just get a box of color this weekend and try it.  I will definitely be trying again with implants or another surgery type once my body heals.  I do not like the way it looks at all.  I know it is just cosmetic but I have a goal and would like to reach it.  Just like my goal was to be free of cancer and I did it!!  I feel defeated as I have come so far to end up looking like this.  I don't feel good about myself.  My health is most important I know!!

HVV glad you are doing well!!

Ycats welcome!  Some of the other ladies will have to answer your question about period as i am post menopausal.  Good luck on the tamoxifen.  I will be starting Femara soon.

 Tanya glad your hair is growing back and you are able to go topless.  With no boobs and very short hair I will continue to wear my wigs and makeup to make me feel more feminine.  I will be getting fitted for prosthetics next week.

Everyone have a great weekend!!

LisaSP, your hair looks fantastic.  Mine looks the like the same salt + pepper color, its just a little shorter.

Since taking Tamoxifen my hot flashes got more intense.  Has Tamoxifen affected anyone else?

Tanya, congratulations on finishing rads!!!

BE well!

Lisa- so cute! Is it bad that I can't wait until my hair is as long as yours?!

Kate W.

wwww.katebeatingcancer.blogspot.com

Kate and Togetherness: Thanks! Just an experiment. I tried a brown temp dye; didn't cover the gray well so I sprayed it red to see how it looked. Interesting! 

I intend to dye it deep purple when I get the nerve. Kate, hope your hair grows quickly and Togetherness, I'm glad you had a good evening with your husband. It's so good to try to do happy things for yourself.

I plan to go on a cruise in two weeks. Mexico and Grand Caymen! Yay!

HVV, Good luck on the path report. Saying a prayer for u.