Starting Chemo February 2013

Tangles - good luck on the boob shopping!  I ended up with the anatomical gummy bears.  They're okay.  The left one looks pretty much like a normal breast although not as full as I would have liked but is nicely shaped.   I'm having a minor revision next week because my right breast - the one that was irradiated - is shaped slightly different than the left one.  The irradiated skin just isn't as elastic and won't let the implant settle & relax so the ps is going to tighten the pocket of the non-irradiated one so that it matches better. Even thought the left one looks more like a natural breast, I'd rather have them match - one or the other, not one of each.  I would have opted for a little larger implant but after radiation the right side just wouldn't stretch anymore.  It has remained soft and round - it just won't drop - it looks like I'm always wearing a bra on that side.  I also have a square shaped perma-tan around the right one and a rockin' tan in my armpit - that should be pretty at the beach this summer.  I've had the nipples done and only have the tattoos left to do.

yeah no scans for me either unless something comes up.. apparently the research doesnt support it and shows it doesnt make a difference to survival time.. My hair came back crazy curly, growing fast thought. Melody like you i still think of cancer every day but seem to be able to get on with things also.. but its always in my head in some shape or form.. im hoping that as time goes on this will get less and less

all the best Tangles for Wednesday - let us know how you do..

Heidi my nose still runs too. I thought about asking the oncologist about it but I didn't. I am getting the shaped gummy implants. I am nervous about it as I hear about rotation, but he assured me that is a very very small risk. He said he put the same implants in his wife who does kick boxing and cross fit training and she has had no issues. ( of course she she not had cancer) He is making me new pockets so he said no worries. I am putting my trust in him. He has called me two times personally within the last 4 days to talk to me about my concerns I think that says a lot for a doctor. We have not decided on a CC or size he said he will know after the flap and new pockets based on what size I am now what to put in. Gosh I hope he is right. Don't want to be smaller but also don't want to come out dolly frickin parton. Wish me luck I am scare to death!!

I try and think positive but cant help in the back of my head thinking what if I am doing all this for nothing and the reason my back hurts is that it is the cancer spreading. I know it is wrong to think this way but I cant help it at time:-(

it's so great to hear from everyone, what a year we have been through!  Tangles good luck tomorrow, will be thinking of you. I think we are all having similar reactions to living our new normal. I do think about cancer every day, but it doesn't really upset me the way it did. It's just the new me and I try not to let it linger in my thoughts for too long. I definately feel cancer gave me a new way of looking at life. I search for the beauty constantly. It's like a visual awakening. I like this gift and hope that the worry lessens with time.

No scans for me either. I go for my first mammogram in June (one year post LX). I saw my MO in dec. and have (reluctantly) graduated to yearly checks-unless I have concerns. I have recently found out I'm hypothyroid-after complaining about a lump in my throat after first week of rads. Turns out endocrinologist thinks it was probably rads.  

After having severe joint pain with the start of docetaxol last year, I finally felt like it was 80% gone by dec. unfortunately that was short lived and it has returned, but at this point I don't know what is latent SE from chemo or hypo! 

Sounds like everyone is getting on with life and we should! I often think of our journey together and hope everyone finds happiness and health. It's nice to get updates and keep in touch!

SLV you said it beautifully there is a part of this I feel was a gift too.

Hi gals. My surgery was TERRIBLE. WAY WAY worse then the mastectomy. It is 2 weeks today and I am still in a lot of discomfort. I hope at some point I can look back and say it was worth it, but as for now there is no amount of vanity and looks worth what I have gone through in the past 2 weeks. Take care all.................

oh Tangles - so sorry the surgery was so hard on you...

again its so good to hear from you all -- I have had 2 haircuts - first was a trim so it would grow in right and the second was more of a cut and shape - and I am almost ready for another cut.. it is still short but I am liking it now..

slv58 -thanks and yes, it came in so dark people think I dye it - especially because there is hardly any gray - just 1-2 strands in the very front and I am 63.. LOL

Johnetta, where are you in WV?  I am originally from the Charleston area.  To answer your question - I think it depends on how strongly positive your tumor was for estrogen and/or progesterone.  I was negative for estrogen but slightly positive for progesterone (9%).  I had a very aggressive form of breast cancer with a higher risk of recurrence so I've done everything I can to prevent a recurrence.  At the recommendation of my oncologist, I've had my ovaries removed and started Arimidex.  I took the Arimidex for 2 months but could not tolerate the side effects - they were horrible and I couldn't imagine doing it for 5 years so my doctor took me off of it.  When I go back to her in May we are going to discuss whether or not I should try a different drug (tamoxifen is one of the options).  I was only slightly positive for progesterone so any benefit I get will be minimal but if this cancer comes back then I'll have a very BIG problem and one that is considered incurable.  If that happens then I want to know I did everything I could do to prevent it... no "what if I'd only done...".  Like I said, I think it really depends on how positive you tumor was and how comfortable you are with the risk.  Most women have little to no side effects from tamoxifen or the AI's.  Maybe try the tamoxifen and if you don't have any side effects then why not take it if it?  Especially if it is decreasing your chance of a recurrence.

It's so great to read updates from everyone!   

Tangles - I'm so sorry you've had such a difficult time with your reconstruction surgery.  Hope that you're finally feeling better!

My exchange is scheduled for April 24 - and I have my pre-op with the PS next week.  I've given her creative license to choose size and shape -- but she knows how tiny I was before so I trust her not to over-do it!    

It seems like my hair is growing so much faster now that I'm finished with herceptin.  I had my husband trim the part at the back of my neck several times last fall when it was all very short.  But then I just let it grow for a while.  Last month it was definitely starting to look like a mullet - so I went to a salon for a cut.  She mostly shaped up the back and trimmed a couple spots on the sides - just to keep it from looking strange.

When I first wake up in the mornings, though, I look like Madame Hooch from Harry Potter . . .  

Tangles had to laugh about hair gel, it's my best friend in the morning! I'm still resisting colouring my hair. It's a routine I'm glad to give up but I've noticed my hair seems to be acquiring more colour-if you can call mousy brown colour! I really liked it when it was silver gray, but I'm not so sure about the mousy look lol.

Sorry to hear your still in pain, but yes we have all come so far since last year. It's not a year I would like to repeat, but one I wouldn't give up either, I've learned a lot through this journey and one is how wonderful all the ladies are here! Hope we can all keep in touch once in awhile.

oh yeah...and how great does it feel when the wind blows through your hair?  Amazing!

before I had lots of fine, straight as a board, dark blonde hair with light blond sun-kissed streaks (like my bangs and on top).  But it all reflected lighter blonde when light hit it.   

Mine grew back in EXACTLY the same minus the sun-kissed parts (since it didn't really see the sunshine last year!).   The first time I saw my MO without my wig she said, "huh.   That almost never happens".  

My hair has come back curly and lighter (more gray) but duller in color than before.  It looks like granny hair.  I think the color is duller because I haven't been in the sun for so long - I'm planning on rectifying that soon though.  When it started growing, it was white and I had some MAJOR male pattern baldness going on - grew in in a ring around my head with only a little on top and a serious receding hairline.  I've only had to cut the back since I'm not fond of the permed mullet look.   It has finally filled in on the top but I still don't have much in the way of bangs.  I really want bangs.  Even though it started growing back fairly quickly, I think the Herceptin kept it from thickening up.  I think once it all comes back it will be pretty much like it was before but maybe a little more wavy.