September 2013 Chemo Group

so, an elevated glucose is kinda normal during chemo?  That is good because mine was always 160+ during chemo. 

I hate cancer

So sorry, Art.

Kbeee - I told my hubby that I forget in the shower, too. I'm always surprised when I reach up to wash my hair and there's hardly anything there. LOL

Spring break here and man I've been busy.  I'm exhausted and it's only Tuesday!  LOL  Most of it is working on stuff for my daughter's softball league, but we went to the movies today and went over to a friend's house and I got home at 6pm, just in time to get changed for softball practice!  It was 90 degrees today!!!!!!!!!!!!  But extremely windy.  My eyes are so sore from watering out there.  I did get to hold a 3 month old baby, though.  That was fun.  She's teeny tiny.  

This has nothing to do with cancer, but OMG my little girl cries over EVERY SINGLE THING lately.  Geez.  She's 7 going on menopause I think.  I'm so tired of saying, "Kelsie, stop crying."  

I need a Xanax.  

Hey all - checking in - I've been reading posts but while I was on pain meds after my BMX it was hard to stay awake long enough to write!  Good news is I'm two weeks out, I stopped pain meds last week and have even started driving again (short distances but at least I'm getting out and about).  Docs say I'm healing wonderfully, and today I got my first expander fill of 75ccs.  Combined with the 75cc they gave me at surgery, I'm already larger than my original AA boobs!  I could probably call it done, but I'm thinking I might still do a couple additional fills...you know, as a bonus.  I will probably be a small B cup at the end of this, which is perfect for me!  

Pathology came in and my nodes were NED....whew!  Tumor was 4cm and showed 70% cancer.  Crappy little bugger.  At least it's out now.  I know some people don't like calling themselves cancer free (since we never really know) but I'm using it...because I can!  Even though I don't fit the typical criteria for rads, they are recommending it since I had so much cancer still after chemo.  Now to dig up all of these past radiation care posts...and start coming up with my own IMRT posts!

I'm loving all the recent hair pics!!  My noggin is finally starting to look like my profile pic again.  Never thought "hey you're starting to look like GI Jane" would be such a huge compliment.  

simple - my PS has Kelocote in his office, but others have used Scaraway silicone patches. I have not personally used either, since my incisions are in the IMF I can't really see them, but know people who have used these products successfully.  Vitamin E oil is another possibility.

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=228348&catid=182889&aid=338666&aparam=228348

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/scaraway-silicone-scar-sheets/ID=prod6019237-product

Hi Cougar! Nice to hear from you! Things sound good. Hope you continue to do well.

Simplelife-rads have been easy for me, don't make me tired at all. I'm fatigued in the afternoon in my body but I lay down and read and cannot fall asleep.  I napped/slept all the time during chemo.  I did #14 today, 11 to go.  I can tell the treated side is a shade darker than the other, but it is not burned or itchy.  Knock on wood.  I added a 1% steroid cream to the lotion cocktail - my dermatologist friend recommended and perscribed.

Does anyone else have sore ribs?  Below your foobs/TEs?  I don't really understand the body kinetics of why my ribs are sore by the end of the day unless it's just the way I'm moving to compensate for my sore chest and upper back? 

I've GOT to get my house clean and laundry done today!! Wish me luck.  My boys play in their state hockey tournament this weekend (my younger son played JV last weekend and they won their state tournament in OT-super fun).  Now on to Varsity where they both play (ages 15 and 18).

Hair selfie enclosed...big change this last week - I see color and thickness instead of duck fuzz And I'm getting the full face fuzz too.  Probably time to Nair!

Nice pics Knightzoo and KJ!  And look at those brows and lashes. You guys look great!  Knightzoo, I've had sore ribs since surgery. My PS said he used them to "anchor" things. So he wasn't surprised they were sore. Not sure if they do that for TEs too. I had direct to implant recon. 

It's there I see it kjsimpsom!!!

Hi Cheryl

 my surgeon never mentioned mastectomy, it was lumpectomy all the way. (& I had lymph node removal) That was in August. But after the surgery when the tumor board reviewed my case & the margins weren't good, they said no to the re-incision the surgeon wanted, & that I needed chemo then a mastectomy. (which is tomorrow). I am not sure how I would have decided if I had been given the choice back then. But I did decide to have BMX. Surgeon was a bit surprised when I told him I wanted both gone.

It sure is an anxiety ridden time.

Cheryl, I had BMX because I figured if I got it once, my chances were good to get it again, and I wanted to minimize the risk.  I also  wanted whatever breasts I had...real or fake...to  age evenly.  I did not want one perky breast and one saggy breast in 20 years.  Perky or saggy, I wanted a matched set. 

Vintagegal, Good luck tomorrow!  I wish you a speedy recovery.

Knightzoo and KJ, Great pix!  Knightzoo, I did have sore ribs; I remember wondering whether I might have fractured one...that's how sore.  None now after exchange.  In fact, I can't remember how long they hurt for.

Betterday, I might do that experiment on one of my BMX scars...just because I am a science nerd...well, I am just generally a nerd in general.  I will report back in a few weeks and you can report to him whether or not it worked any.  I am guessing he wants to know if it works, so he can recommend it to other patients.  A port scar, which is pretty visible, would probably not be one I would experiment on though!

LHL, Please send yur 90 degree weather north...straight north on I-35 would be perfect.  I hope you get some rest; your schedule sounds exhausting.

Cougar, Great to hear from you.  Wonderful news on the nodes.  I hope you are recovering quickly.

Viji, You deserve some time to rest with a tiara on!  I hope today is a better day.

Looking great ladies!

knightzoo - Good luck in the state tourney!  I imagine your hockey state finals are about as big a deal there as the football ones are here in TX.  LOL   How exciting that all of your boys are/were in it.  Woohoo!

KJ - Ok, you're forgiven for the car selfie because you're right, it is a good pic.  LOL

Vintagegal - Your bmx is tomorrow?!?!?!  Did I read that right?  {{hugs}} and prayer for you.

Cheryl - I'm a little different because I'm BRCA+.  I had a large tumor, so lumpectomy on the bad side wasn't ever an option.  Since I am BRCA+ there really wasn't a choice to NOT do the prophylactic, but I probably would have done it anyway.  I would always worry about recurrence, and like Kbeee said, I'd want to be even.  

So... went to the dentist today for my tooth.  Turns out my permanent crown was ready (for my tooth....although after all of this crap I feel like I need a REAL crown...LOL) so they went ahead & did that today, too.  They took xrays and he said he didn't see anything that needed immediate treatment on the bottom where I've been hurting.  He thinks it's because my bite was off from having the temporary crown.  Now that I have the permanent and he adjusted my bite on the tooth that's been hurting, maybe that'll fix it.  He said to give it several days.  If it is slowly improving, then that was the problem.  If it stays the same or gets worse, call because they'll have to do something more.

Ugh.  So more waiting, and more advil or percocet for me.  LOL

Tomorrow I go to Dallas for my last fill before rads.  

LighthouseLady,

I hope your tooth feels better soon.  The only thing worse than a toothache is a DRAIN!!  ;-)

No thank God!

I will do rads where I did chemo, and that's only about 5 minutes from my house.