October 2013 Chemotherapy

Gram, congratulations! Almost there!

How's everyone doing in the hair department?  I'm almost 4 weeks pfc and I noticed a couple of days ago some teeny tiny fluffy white hairs sprouting on my head.  You have to look very closely to see them, but I'm excited to have some kind of growth--gives me hope that someday I'll have hair again!

Wrenn .... Nice to hear from you, se's can take awhile to go away fully.

Head east ... How are you doing? Feeling?

Kat..... We started and finished at the same time. I have about 1/4 inch of hair  all over and 95% white. Just got ok from onc to take biotin for hair, b6 for neuropathy and vit e(need to find without soy bean oil ) let's see if biotin helps . My nails are also very dry and breaking easily, the got ridges and are splitting downward.

Wishing you all the best 

Vivian

hi Vivian! I am doing good. With Tamox since Dec 25, makes me feel fatigue and now trying Celexa, an anti depressant to fight hot flashes and fatigue. MO says it takes a month to feel the change, so I have to wait another three weeks.

I also had my exchange done, love my new boobs and I can now sleep on my side.

How about you? How many more months of Herceptin?

Vivian, I started taking tamox before the surgery. Not sure what your MO will say. I decided to stop Celex yesterday, it made me so sleepy that I could not function.

Gram  I'm 4 1/2 MONTHS pfc & just lost 2 toenails last week. My hair , I swear has stopped growing, it is only an inch long.

glad to hear everyone is doing good.  I am 8 wks post final recon.  On my right side, lift side I have top layer of stitches in skin not hold so had open wound that is slowly healing. I have had cream and bandage on since jan so frustrating but could be worst.  It had almost healed.  Hair is growing.  I have been using nioxin shampoo and taking biotin.  Also hot flashes from tamoxifen finally went ago after month or so ago.  I have hard time remembering to take it!! Back to work and crazy as ever.  I do try and slow down and not stress like I used to! Doing race for the cure on Mothers Day and will be walking with all of you of in my thoughts too

Hi all -- just checking in and reading to catch up with posts after a couple weeks of traveling.   70charger, I think my hair is stuck at 1 inch as well.  I am about 3.5 Pfc and thought I would have more hair by now.  I used Nioxin and took Biotin, don't know if it has helped, but figured it couldn't hurt.  Gram, I lost the lower lashes on one eye completely and lost about 60 percent of all of my other lashes as well.  They have come back, but are not yet to their normal length.  Eyeliner helps to make them look fuller.  Tamoxifen has gone well -- some slight warm flushes, and an occasional vertigo is all -- but SEs are decreasing as my body adjusts.  Hope you all have a nice weekend -- hugs!

I got my port out yesterday.  I talked to the surgeon through the entire process.  Feeling a little sore, my port was in my arm. I'm so glad to have it out.  I did ask them why you had to be under general anesthesia for placement and not during removal. They explained that with the manipulation involved with placing it in, it would be extremely painful. I felt nothing during the removal, only the needle as they gave me the localized anesthesia. 28 RADS start on the 16th.  I'm getting closer to the end.

Headeast,

How are you feeling? What area of town are you in? I am West Kendall and I work in downtown. Would love to meet sometime and any other Miami or close by ladies.

I have 1/4 to 1/2 inch all over and 95% white. I got rid of wig and hats also...way to hot and if your head sweats and stays wet not good for hair growth. I wear a ribbon,bow,headbands etc ....sometimes. I borrow from my daughter. I still miss my long hair.

I have  US tests coming up to see if tamoxifen it ordered for me. I already had blood work (10 tubes all kind of blood clotting tests).

Best wishes to all....

Vivian

I am 8 weeks post chemo & have started going hat/scarf less around the house. I just have a 5 o clock shadow at this point. I did wear a military green visor cap (with bling) a couple times. But it is still chilly here so I want to be covered.

I am wondering what I will wear under my motorcycle helmet. And when I get somewhere & take the helmet off I am thinking the doo rag or bandana will come off too?!

Vivian,

I am in Fort Lauderdale but would live to meet you maybe half way?

Is your hair different than before chemo? Mine is curly now!

I am a bit over 2 months pfc and I just went "commando" for the first time yesterday (with a hat).  My head is covered with hair but it's only a half inch or so.  In a week or so I may just wear my hat when I'm not at work.  I have all of my eyebrows and my eyelashes (I think).  I'm starting to look like me again.  I do have some issues with other things though.

I am having problems with diarrhea and loose stools.  I took generic Imodium and that helped a bit but it seems as if the chemo had a really profound effect on my digestive system throughout chemo -- especially with the DD taxol -- and things still haven't sorted themselves out yet.  I'm really hoping they do since I'm beginning to worry about colon cancer (lol, I *know*).  Also, with the taxol I developed some moderate neuropathy in my feet.  I manage ok, it's something that I am dealing with but I would really prefer I didn't have it.  Again, I'm really hoping that this goes away but unlike my hair and nails it isn't getting any better.  Does anyone have any experience with these issues?