September 2013 Chemo Group

Options
1130131133135136143

Comments

  • kjsimpson
    kjsimpson Member Posts: 445
    edited March 2014

    KBee,   nice car selfie!   ;-)

    Despite some hiccups, I have had a nice vacation. Headed home today. Arrived at the airport a couple of hours early so I could take some good drugs (rad burn pain has been challenging the last few days). Mostly enjoyed the Vitamin D infusion and just not having a regiment to comply with each day. Miss the kids, though. It is funny that I seem to only see them for a few minutes each day but they are important minutes to me. 

    Heard a rumor that Tom (my favorite son) spent "ALL day" yesterday doing laundry. Hahahahahahaa!

    Here is a pic of me being a bada** at the shooting range yesterday. There is something extremely cathartic about shooting. My chemo/surgery/radiation soldiers had really good aim. Me... Not so much.  ;-)

    image

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2014

    KJ, Glad you had a ncie vacation.  Shooting looks like a great way to burn off stress!

    Audra, I looked better when my hair was crew cut short, but I know it needs to get through this ick phase before it gets long.  I knew this phase woudl frustrate me!

    I was at a fun night at my daughter's school last night, and one of my (very nice but very LOUD) friends who I hadn't seen in a while, saw me and SCREAMED, "Look at that hair!  Oh my, look at that hair!".  I am a pretty reserved person, so to say I was mortified, would be an understatement.  If anyone at her school didn't know about my cancer before, they ceratinly do now.  I know she was just excited and meant well, but it was nevertheless mortifying.  Her husband saw the look on my face and got her to tone it down a bit after that.  On a brighter note, it was about 70 degrees today, so I spent the whole day outside accomplishing both fall and spring yard clean up (since it never got done in the fall).  I feel like we are finally caught up and where we should be as far as yard work, and I got a little bit of sun, so I am not so pasty white.  I also got out for a 7 mile run (jog/shuffle might be more accurate) yesterday, so all in all it was a very productive weekend.  That's a good thing because I work a 24 hour shift tomorrow (I do get to sleep at work at night) so anything that doesn't get done today has to wait until Tuesday.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2014


    During chemo, I took a variety of vitamins to help ward of neuropathy and such.  I am wondering what, if any, supplements all of you are taking?  The ones I was one during chemo, I am stil taking until my supply runs out, and then I will discontinue them unless I see a problem.  My MO has me taking calcium and vitamin D.  I also am taking Biotin.  I just bought some Vitamin E to see if it helps decrease hot flashes.  I was taking B6 and B12 during chemo.  I am also taking Tamoxifen.  I feel like my S M T W R F S pill sorter will barely shut with all of the pills in there!

     

    Also, is anyone still dealing with heartburn?  I never had heartburn in my life, but had it horribly during chemo.  It had seemed to decrease, but seems to be back the past few weeks.  I am not eating anything spicy...quite the opposite.  I'm mostly eating fruits and vegetables, whole grans, and such.

  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2014

    I found out yesterday that I definitely DON'T have the stamina I did last year.   My daughter had four softball games (I work the dugout) and the last one didn't get over until almost 11pm.  I felt like I'd run a marathon.  Backwards.  On my knees.  LOL

    Kbeee - I'm taking calcium, vitamin D (twice daily), biotin, melatonin, occasionally magnesium when my restless legs get bad.  Prescriptions I take klonopin, tamoxifen and lexapro.  I've never taken so many pills in my life.  And I've noticed since chemo that my gag reflex is really bad... it takes me a whole bottle of water to get my daily pills down.  I guess that's a good thing since water still tastes nasty to me... it's the one time I drink it.  

    Hopefully I will find out early this week when rads will start.  I'm ready to get this show on the road.

  • SouthernGirl1974
    SouthernGirl1974 Member Posts: 86
    edited March 2014

    Port removal went great still have a little pain but I am good. Wow all my BS did was give me a shit to numb the are then 5-10min later bloop port free. 

    Shout out to all of you for doing great moving on with your life and trying to get back to normalcy 

    Lol moment went toa friends party last night bother guest walks up that I don't know and loudly say girl you are rocking that haircut I said thank you not really a haircut but thank you lol my BFF was like really lol we laughed about this all night just the way the other lady approached me was whoa

  • simplelife4real
    simplelife4real Member Posts: 563
    edited March 2014

    SouthernGirl....you just made my day!  There's a typo in the first line of your post that has me rolling on the floor laughing!  I guess it just really struck my funny bone.  I can't stop laughing over the "medication" your doc gave you.

    Lighthouse, I hope you can get started on rads soon.  I go for my "verification" session this morning.  I'm hoping they might actually start my rads today after the session.   I'm not looking forward to getting daily zaps, but I am looking forward to being done with treatment.  I can imagine how exhausted you were after working the dugout.  I think I'm getting so much stronger.....then I do something that crosses over the line into fatigue-land. 

     Everything I've read says it takes about a year to get back up to speed.  I had wanted to go for a self-supported bike tour this spring, but there is no way that is happening.   Hubby and I are looking into shorter organized bike tours (where someone else carries our gear).  That will be more my speed....at least for the summer.  Maybe in the fall, we can bike the Pacific coast like we had originally planned to do last September.  We all know how that worked  out.  ;(

    Kbee, Peacock and SoutherGirl.  You all look great in your hair pics!  Peacock, I can't believe how THICK your hair is.  I want that!  SouthernGirl, you just look so beautiful with super short hair.   If I looked that good, I think I wouldn't grow it out any further.  Kbee, you have so much hair.  I have almost nothing right now......oh well, it will come!

    KJ, my hubby wants to go on a trip the a couple days after I think I'll be finishing rads.  I'm thinking I'm going to be uncomfortable with burning skin.  I told him I might just want to stay home.  (It's a 10 hour road trip to Illinois to go to a party of his old co-workers....all of whom are basically strangers to me.)    How bad were you skin issues while on vacation?  I'm just thinking that trying to be around a group of strangers at a party with a burning armpit, chest and neck....all while having either a wig, scarf, or super short hair....doesn't make for a lot of fun. My kids live in Illinois, so I could go up there to see my kids and just not go to the party too.  I'm just trying to get a handle on how I'm going to be feeling a couple days after finishing rads.   I've never shot a gun in my life...but I could see how it would be a blast to shoot at a target and imagining killing cancer.  I could get into that!

    Kbee, I didn't have heartburn either before all this, but when I tried to go off the prilosec after chemo finished, the heartburn started up.  My MO told me to keep on taking it through rads because rads (on my left side) can also cause it to worsen.  I'll try going off the Prilosec again after that's over, but do it a bit at at time instead of cold turkey like I did before.  I also take Vit. D3.  My MO will be checking my Vit. d levels at my 3 month checkup.  She also has me on metformin for cancer prevention since there are no targeted therapies for triple neg. bc.  That's all I take at her suggestion.  I take other supplements/meds on my own (she knows about them):  tumeric, baby aspirin, b12, Claritin (for allergies), reservatrol.  I try to drink 3 cups of green tea a day too.  I'm into eating unprocessed foods only and drinking homemade veggie juices.  I'm just trying to make my body a place for any cancer cells that may be hanging around to have a hard time growing!  

  • hockeymommy
    hockeymommy Member Posts: 77
    edited March 2014

    hi ladies,

    I hope everyone is doing well! I haven't posted in a while, but I read the posts daily. Life has been slowly going back to "normal" around here. We have been so busy with the kids lately, my youngest two play travel hockey, my oldest two are into soccer, track and wrestling. So between the four of them its been nuts! But I love every minute of it! I have been healing really well from the hysterectomy. I have to say it was a tough surgery for me. The hot flashes are brutal! My gynecologist recommended for me to take Evista , which helps with bone maintenance and also recurrence. I will be asking my oncologist if this is a option for me. I love all of your hair pics!!  You gals look beautiful! Well I am off to go buy soccer cleats and shin pads, have a great day!

  • Art123
    Art123 Member Posts: 115
    edited March 2014

    nat has two more fills left, foobs look big, I told her we may need to go bra shopping. Looks like she may be back to work next week. Hopefully, her levels will improve, we should know by Friday.

    I really wish the docs were more definite as to their opinion on her need for rads. It's basically up to Nat and she is leaning towards it. I told her whatever u do is fine with me. That's not really my opinion, she had the most radical surgey, chemo, herceptin for rest of year and hormonal therapy. At some point that should be enough, going thru 6 weeks of treatment it's side effects and likely complications for reconstruction when she already has 90% chance I no recurrence within 5 years, doesn't seem to be prudent. I understand her choice. It's just I manage risk for a livng and the numbers for doing rads don't seem all that overwhelming as a choice for.

  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    Hi Art

     so many decisions we are expected to make during a time when we are mentally, emotionally & physically not well.

     I saw my rad onco last week. (I had the double mastectomy 2 weeks ago, a month after 5 months of chemo) After all was said & done I told him there was no question that I would do radiation treatment. I had planned to all along. (lumpectomy & node removal 2 positive last Aug). He told me my chance of systemic re occurance would be 35% if I didn't do rads. For me, I felt I have gone through all this, done everything I was *suppose* to do, with a glitch at every turn it seemed, & that I would continue on & finish what I started, 6 weeks of rads & the Herceptin infusions til Dec.

     I hope she can come to a decision & you are both feeling ok about it. I have to be honest, even when I thought I was sure about a decision I always had doubts when it came down to the wire. One reason why I had the BMX with No recon. I couldn't decide if I wanted to deal with more pain & surgeries this summer when I hadn't even recouped from chemo or the BMX.

    All the best to Nat!.

  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2014

    I have some pain sort of behind my left TE today. I have no feeling on my chest surface, so I'm guessing it's behind it on the chest wall? If I push on the area where the TE port is, it hurts in the back. I don't know if I slept on it which put weird pressure there or it's something else. I just hate the way that whole side feels. It's so TIGHT (not the skin, just everything underneath) and I feel like there's a spiderweb in there holding it in place. I don't know.... hard to describe I guess. I can just imagine how wonderful it will be after rads!

  • mercedes60
    mercedes60 Member Posts: 171
    edited March 2014

    Hi sounds like everyone is doing relatively well....

    KBee and Southern girl love your pics looking good and you're all keeping busy. 

    KJ wow looks like some serious shooting, are u a cop?

    I tried to come off the anti-acid pills I was prescribed (Pantolec) but started getting that burny feeling again, I still watch what I eat and there are certain things that still taste weird. 

    Simplelife,  being 5 weeks plc I think i can do all kinds of stuff, but the body tells me to slow down, I do not have the stamina to keep going all day, so I recline in the afternoon and chill for a bit. I just wish this winter, snow would disappear ughhhhhhh

    Heres a pic of my now 6:00 o'clock shadow coming in dark  yahoo   I think....

    image

  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    Mercedes,

     LOL 5 o'clock shadow is what I have too! I am happy my brows are looking like eye brows now & lashes are short but trying!

  • simplelife4real
    simplelife4real Member Posts: 563
    edited March 2014

    image

    This is me at 11 weeks pfc....see the problem?  I have a big triangle in front that is solid white.  It looks wierd.  I wouldn't mind going topless if it weren't for that white patch.

    It's official.  I just came back from my verification session for rads.  I start the real thing tomorrow.  Bring it on!!!

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2014

    simple - is that a white patch of skin or hair?  If it is white hair there is a mascara-like product, designed for roots, that you can use.  If you google you can find more, but here is a link so you know what I am talking about.

    http://www.amazon.com/Dreamlook-Greyfree-Instant-Temporary-Touch-Up/dp/B001L401VW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_bt_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=19EJSPCKTS5J9HKHS81M


  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    SimpleLife

     Hah I see that spot! Yup just get that little root touch up wand!

  • mercedes60
    mercedes60 Member Posts: 171
    edited April 2014

    simplelife. Good luck tommorrow, how many rads do you have? And is it only on the breast or neck also? Hair is growing nicely.

    Vintage sounds like you're doing great, i guess we're on the same path as far as hair growth. I have no brows or lashes yet. Before chemo my brows were grayish and thin from too much plucking when i was a teen so i would be surprised if they even came back and what color. I had long lashes but thin i guess due to age, oh joy of getting older! Boy i am getting serious hot flashes! Worse then when i went thru menopause, hope these subside.

    Oh well c'est la vie! As we battle the ups and downs of this journey. Bring it on .........

  • kjsimpson
    kjsimpson Member Posts: 445
    edited April 2014

    Simplelife,
    I had my last radiation treatment on the 21st.  The burn and pain got progressively worse until yesterday.  I think it max'd out yesterday (10 days after last rad) and I have turned the corner today.  If I knew what I know now, I would not have planned my trip for last week. I had a good time, but I had to ice a couple of times a day and I iced and took Percocet at night (to sleep decently).  Definitely dented my vacation a bit.  The drive with your husband sounds like it would be nice and visiting the kids is always good.  If you put some ice in a cooler and you aren't the one driving, I think it could be very nice.  But, don't be like me and overdo it.  ;-)  You look great, btw!!

    Lighthouse,
    Sorry!  Hope you feel better.  So glad I didn't have the TE's put in.  So glad.

    Mercedes,
    Looking great!   You look so energetic, too!  Oh, and no, I am not a cop.  A cop can aim and hold the gun a LOT steadier than I can.  ;-)

    KBee,
    I am just taking a multivitamin and iron.  Also trying to get in a good boosted fruit/veggie smoothie a few times a week.  Am really trying to eat healthier too.  More whole foods and less processed.  Salmon has become my fish/meat of choice. 

    Vintage,
    Love your profile pic! 


  • knightzoo
    knightzoo Member Posts: 171
    edited April 2014

    Hello all, sounds like everyone is getting on pretty well.  I finished rads last Friday, my birthday was Wednesday, and we sold our house today....big last week of March!  I did 5 weeks of radiation and my skin was just a little angry by the last day.  It's fine now-have a nice tan boob on one side :)  I had a fill on the rad side right after and PS is happy with the skin so far...I think all the lotions and the added steroid cream that my dermatologist prescribed helped too.  I'm ready to start walking/running next week-I tried to avoid the arm movement since my armpit was the most sensitive.  My hair is coming in ok...still wish it would grow faster and get cold without hats sometimes.  Anyway, that's me - since I haven't been here in awhile.  Take care everyone!

  • PeacockGirl
    PeacockGirl Member Posts: 162
    edited April 2014

    have my first post treatment chest, abdominal and pelvic cat scan tomorrow..wish me luck. They have a new clear contrast dye drink they tell me it's like propel water. Gotta be better than the banana chalk smoothie! Got my 3 month post chemo blood work today too...Hemoglobin is now 12.6, wow it was 11.6 before I started chemo and I was down around 8.9 there at the end of taxol. Thanks chemo pause and the lack of monthly blood letting huh? Also my AST and ALT liver values that were off the chart on taxol are back down in normal range. Ahhhhh what a few months will do for us huh? So CT tomorrow and 3 month follow up with oncology on weds.

  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited April 2014

    Wow knightZoo

     Happy Birthday congrats and all that other good stuff, what a week for you!!! :>)

  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited April 2014

    Good Luck PeacockGirl, hope all the tests go well. The drink I had was a Crystal Light base.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited April 2014

    Knightzoo, Happy Birthday!  I used to hate birthdays; I appreciate them more now!  I am glad your skin did well with rads.

    Peacockgirl, Hoping the scans go well with great results.  My hemoglobin was higher at my appointment last week than it was before chemo too.  I guess a benefit of chemopause.

    KJ, Glad you have turned the corner on the rads pain.  I hope it improves each day.

    Mercedes, I hear you on the hot flashes.  I just started taking Vitamin E.  I will let you know if I see any improvement.  You are looking great, and your hair looks like it is coming in nive and even.

    Vintage, Done any more with antiques lately?  I know around here, this time of the year starts to get busy with sales and such.

    Simplelife, I don't have a patch, but I have a ton more gray than befoer.  I am goign to call my hair lady today to see when I can color my hair...for the first time ever!  If you want a fun bike ride, look into RAGBRAI.  I have not done it, but my dad did it for 15 years, and a ton of my friends have done it.  There are about 10,000+ riders each year.  I think it is 50% bike ride, 50% party.

    LHL, The left side must be uncomfortable and frustrating.  What does your PS have to say about it???  I hope you've gotten some rest after your busy weekend of softball.  I hope the other parents and coaches appreciate all of your hard work.

    Art, These decisions are so hard.  Since rads helps prevent local recurrence and chemo distant recurrence, she is probably trying to cover all bases.  That way there is never the "what if...".  Hopefully as summer comes, the treatments wll all be inthe rearview mirror and life will return to more normal.

    Hockeymom, Glad to hear life is returning to normal and busy.

    Southerngirl, I must be hanging around a bunch of potty mouths lately because I did not even read your typo as a typo!!!  I am so glad the port removal was quick and easy.  One more thing in the rearview mirror.

    Mamabear, Where've you been?  How are you feeling?

     


     

  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 752
    edited April 2014

    Peacockgirl - Thinking of you as you have your scans today. I hope the contrast is ok. I had a clear one with my CT scan and it went RIGHT THROUGH ME. It was awful. As much as I hate the chalky/milky one, the other one was way tougher on my digestive system! Hopefully it's not the same for you. For my PET scan they gave me a bottle of water with a little contrast mixed in and it wasn't bad at all.

    Knightzoo - Happy belated birthday! Gosh, I wish you had something going on lately. LOL Glad rads went ok for you.

    KJ - I'm sorry your vacation wasn't all it was cracked up to be, but I'm glad you made the most of it. Hopefully your skin will mend fast now that the worst is over!

    Kbeee - I have a ton of gray, too. I'm thinking of coloring it myself just because I barely have enough hair to color.... I don't want to pay salon price to get it done. LOL I think I might feel better going topless, though, if half of my hair wasn't gray!

    Simplelife - Good luck as you start rads today!

    Still no word from the RO so I don't have a start date yet. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Let's get this show on the road!

  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited April 2014

    Good grief!! Mercedes!!! Your hair is as long as mine at 11 weeks!  Mine must grow slow....:((((

    Simplelife- LOVE yours too! Rock the whiter part!  It looks long!!!! Easy to say for me that wants ANY hair...I am just getting the shadows and more hair all over...Praise God...

    KJ- Of course the salmon in Washington is the BEST...miss that from living there...here in Texas it's all frozen or Atlantic...yuck...


  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited April 2014

    Hi KBee

     it's been tough getting inventory. I went to two auctions last week but only got an oak library table at one. I can't load anything so hubby has to come by after work & I know he doesn't want to be there so I end up leaving early. I do need to  get in with a pair of chair tomorrow before I go to the surgeon. A sideboard I painted sold so I did to fill every space!

  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited April 2014

    This morning I put my foobs in my little stretchy bra, put my work out clothes on & re-joined the gym. I only did 30 minutes on the tread & one leg machine but I know to take it slow. Chemo wiped out any strength I had, no stamina at all when I went in for the BMX so I have to build that up.

    And even though my yard is still covered in snow the sun is warm, it is 48 degrees out & wonderful. I sat on the porch with the dogs, & just enjoyed!

  • Viji
    Viji Member Posts: 195
    edited April 2014

    Hello everyone, haven't been on for a few days which means that I am busy and also that i am not thinking of all this so much now. Of course this is a good thing but trying to get back to normal has been very draining. So it is good to hear of all the similar issues we all have: heartburn, tiredness, trying to eat and stay healthy, and coping with the stress of everyday life.

    Everybody looks so cute and enchanting with their new look hair. I am not going to worry about the grays anymore-this is the new me. 

    I find myself getting worked up over everything and many times nearly breaking down so yes LHL, no longer the same energy levels and the hot flashes do keep me awake. I will always be coming back to this place for comparing notes and seeking comfort. All the best to everyone.

    Take care...

  • simplelife4real
    simplelife4real Member Posts: 563
    edited April 2014

    Hi All,

    SpecialK thanks for the link to the hair wand touch up stuff.  I think I'm just going to mix up small amounts of regular hair color and touch it up that way.  I can get several applications out of one bottle by doing that.  That white patch looks very strange in real life as it currently stands. 

    I'm having 33 rads sessions.  Breast, lower neck and armpit.  I had my first session this afternoon.  I don't know if I'm being a hypochondriac about it, but I already felt a little itchy and dry afterward.  I have all the lotions and potions SpecialK posted.  Time to print out the list and post it in my bathroom.  I like that the technicians are all female (at least so far) at the place and I'm only uncovered for a very brief time.  I feel like I look really wierd since my surgery since they had to take out my 30-year old implants and I decided not to get them replaced.  There's not much to radiate!

    KJ, I hope you had a good day today and the skin pain is better.  Thanks for being so honest about how it went for you.  If I do decide to go up to Illinois right after rads are finished, I'm going to be sure to only do things I want to do and stay out of the heat.

    Knightzoo....I'm so glad that rads went okay for you.  We finished chemo within a few days of each other and here you are done with rads already and I'm just starting!  You really were on the fast track.  Don't you have a trip you needed to take that caused you to want to do everything quickly?  Congratulations on selling your house.  When do you move?  That's a huge job.  We just moved from Illinois to Tennessee about a month before I got diagnosed.  Even a move across the street is A LOT of work!  I wish you the best.

    Peacock...I hope you scan went okay.  When I had mine right after diagnosis they gave me the contrast through IV.  It's interesting so many people have to drink theirs.  Not sure why that is.

    KB, I've been wondering about Mamabear too as well as Betterday and ClickChick.....I hope all of you are okay.

    Lighthouse, I hope you can start rads soon!  I know the feeling of wanting to get started.  Have they done the measuring session yet?

    Audra, every day I tell my husband my hair is NOT GROWING!  I think for some of us, it takes a while for it to get started, and even after it starts it's very, very slow.  Normal hair grows 1/2 inch a month.  If my hair were going that speed, it would be at least an inch and a half long.  I doubt if mine is even a quater inch.  ;(

    Vintagegal....sounds like you are very busy with your furniture!  What do you do?  Congrats for getting out to the gym for the first time.  I've been going to our local gym too and taking aerobics classes.  Right now, I only stay for half the class....thirty minutes.  I'm working up to an hour.  It feels good to be there.

    Viji, good to hear from you!

    I took my first bicycle ride of the season today.  It was only 11 minutes long and I went a mile and a half.  I was panting most of the way.  Unfortunately, it's not flat anywhere close to my house.  I have a long way to go before I can bike 50 miles a day carrying my own camping gear.  (That's what I was doing the week before getting diagnosed.)  I've done it before, I believe I can do it again.  It will just take time, patience and consistant workouts.  I can do all that.  We all can!

    Wishing all of you the best!

    Hugs,

    Kay

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    simple - you can also use regular root touch up.  It comes in tubes and you can just mix a little - I did that when my hair first grew back.  It was very gray - like completely.  I had colored it highlighted blonde as my avatar shows for many years and the gray roots were not that noticeable.  My hairdresser would not highlight it or color it blonde at first because the hair was too fragile so she colored it a medium brown.  The gray roots showed pretty fast so I used the root touch up stuff.  The funny thing was because my hair was so short I had "roots" at the hairline too.  I had to try to pain that stuff while looking in the mirror, holding a hand mirror.  It was ridiculous!  That root stuff is pretty inexpensive and I got about 4 uses out it.  She finally added highlight after a while - she said if we did it too soon I would look like a cheetah!

  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited April 2014

    Hi Kay (simplelife)

     Well I am an antiques dealer but that sounds so stiff....prefer to say I buy & sell other people's old stuff.

    Shabby country cottage furniture (vintage & painted) as well as other smalls, retired kitchenalia, old linens, etc.

    My FB biz page is LKellsAntiques.

Categories