Starting Chemo in December 2013
Comments
-
wow robin and Missy, you are getting lots of hair.
Everyone enjoys the day off
Barbara
-
Love all the pics, but I'm feeling too lazy today to get out my camera. I'm using the Nioxin, too, and my hair is about as long as Michelle's. I'm not actually convinced it's the Nioxin, it is likely just going to grow however it wants to grow. If anyone wants to use the Nioxin, tho, and feels its pricey, do remember that it will last FOREVER with this short hair! After the first few times of just squeezing way too much out due to habit, I now use a tiny amount and still get a big lather going. My eyelashes are back, about 1/2 of their normal length, but there is something about their texture or the amount of curl that doesn't take mascara that well. Waiting, waiting…
I've been getting the "normal" body aches and pains for a few weeks, but this week my hands started hurting, especially at night and when I wake in the morning, the first thing out of my mouth when I move my fingers is ouch! Feels like arthritis - tight, painful, hard to make a fist, feel swollen even tho they don't look any different. Anyone else? And does it pass?
-
Michele, robin, barb, I want your hair growth! I wonder if the dd taxol delays growth even though its shorter treatment time but stronger dose. Like holli and I have less hair and were on dd right? Oh well. We are al, different. Summers here, come on hair grow! I'll continue to water and fertilize and give it occasional sun
-
the total taxol dose should be the same but with the DD the hair follicles may take a bigger hit. My hair started growing around week 5-6 just fuzzy stuff but it was growing before half way done with taxol. Keep working on the gardening, Lisa.
My neuropathy is also about 75% better. I thought is was better a week ago and it has been more tingly again in one foot. May be I cut the L-glutamine dose back by 1/3 too soon. I am going back to the full 30 gm daily dose.
Barbara
-
what all exactly do you take for the neuropathy? i seriously can't feel my feet. They don't hurt, but are just completely numb from my toes to about halfway down my foot. I have not talked to my MO about this as it started after i finished my last Taxol. My fingertips are also numb or tingly.
I lost a good friend to cancer and her funeral is tomorrow. She was a year older than me and 3 years ago was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma, she did radiation and all was well but shortly after i was diagnosed with BC in October, she messaged me on FB and said she was worried because she had found a lymph node by her shoulder that didn't feel right. I told her she had better go see the doctor which she was hesitant to do, but she did....turns out it was once again NH Lymphoma, but a different kind than she had the first time. She went through chemo same time I was, ended her last treatment on March 26th and on March 29th was admitted to the hospital with what they though was pneumonia. They ended up putting her in a medically induced coma and she never regained consciousness. She put up a hell of a fight for 8 long weeks but the family decided to end her fight on the 21st. She died within one minute of turning off the machine. He oldest son graduated from HS yesterday so just not a good time for the family. Please keep Carolines family in your prayers......I just F+++++G hate cancer!
On a happy note, its been a beautiful weekend here and i've been out in the sun before I start rads on Wednesday and they tell me not to! Its been wonderful!!
Hugs to all,
Michelle
-
Michelle, sorry to hear about your friend. I also had a friend going through chemo for B cell Lymphoma at the same time as I was. We were both on a Thurs. schedule and overlapped several times. We would visit with each other during our chemo, one or the other wheeling their IV pole into the other room. She jsut had a PET scan showing resolution of all her LNs. Hope it holds out for her.
Since starting taxol I have been taking L-glutamine 15 mg twice a day, B6 100 mg and B12 500 mcg. I tried decreasing it to 10 mg a few days ago but increased it again tonight since the neuropathy seemed to get a bit worse. I think the L-glutamine helped keep me from getting any diarrhea. from the taxol. I will try tapering it again in a few weeks. I just ordered another pound bottle of powder from Amazon.
Barbara
-
Michelle, So very sorry to hear about your friend. Its especially heartbreaking to hear she had to go through it twice. I am sure this gives you much pause right now and I offer you a big, virtual hug.
Looking forward to finishing up this Taxol in 2 weeks. We are celebrating by spending the weekend on the beach...the same place we were the weekend before my BXM where we held a bra burning ceremony on December 22. Feels good to come full circle on this and come to the same lovely place at this juncture before RADS.
Celebrate all of the victories, the silliness and the blessings that we had options to even receive treatment, as shitty as it was.
-
hi everyone! It's great to catch up I haven't been on in a while. This is the best group you are all so wonderfully supportive & really express yourselves perfectly. I'm thrilled for those who are done, and those of you who are almost done.
I finished my chemo in Feb. & I'm still sore, like I'm 90 years old! Mostly my feet & hips, after I've been sitting a while i hurt when I get up. I do walk 3-4 miles at least 5 days a week & golf but I feel sore.
Went up to our lake house this weekend & put the boat in!! Summers on its way here in New England☀️FINALLY! The strange thing was seeing our neighbors we haven't seen all year, nobody really knew about my illness.
I have about 3/4 inch of hair, enough to gel & have a sort of faux hawk. I'm digging the ease of short hair.
Keep the positive vibes going!
-
Michelle, so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. Nice that you could be there for her when you were. So sad, nonetheless.
jbokland, Love the beach photo! We do need to celebrate when we can!
neskir, I love the short hair, too! I hope to find a cute short cut that works for me once it gets a little longer.
I have been very lucky with my SE's and have not experienced any after effects since finishing chemo and rads. I hope you all can get yours under control! How frustrating that must be. I have started my Tamoxifen a few days ago and wondering if and when SE's will hit.
I told my DIL today that I don't know how I would've gotten this far with my DX without the help and support of you wonderful people. Bless you!
-
Hi ladies,
I was in Denver for a few days, visiting a college with my daughter, visiting family, and attending a life celebration for an aunt that passed away. DJJ - I can see why you might want to live in Denver, what a fun city.
Someone was asking about vitamins. I am taking the following per my MD who works with cancer patients.
Turkey Tail - Mushroom supplement, fish oil, vit D, Q10, B complex, curcumin, Aspirin 81 mg (All paitents with solid tumors after cancer treatment - it seems to reduce recurrence), DIM, Ashwagandha. This is in addition to eating & drinking my veggies & fruit.
Lisaj - My hair is slow growing and I was dd. I will take a pic this week and post. I am 10 weeks PFC, it's getting there. My hair feels so soft, everyone likes to rub it....
Michelle - I am so sorry about your friend. Cancer sucks!!! I will be praying for Caroline's family.
Jodi posted on FB yesterday that her father is in ICU - Keeping your father in my prayers Jodi.
NeSkir - You look so pretty. Nice to hear from you.
Count_it_all - I have days where I feel stiff and arthritic and my hands feel stiff and swollen. I do feel like I am getting better as the weeks go by. Not 100%, but I feel like I am making progress.
Barbara - Your hair is growing nicely. I am going to get some of that shampoo this week.
jbokland - Love the dancing pic. You look like you have a fun group of friends.
Kim
-
Michele - so sorry about your friend. Praying for her family
Jodi - praying for you and your dad.
Jbokland - awesome beach picture
Love everyone's hair pictures!!
-
Oh, I need to add that I see an Integrative Med. Internal Med doc. who is working with me on diet and vitamins. I would get an ok from your doc. before you take anything. I also take Zinc... I do suggest the 81 mg of Aspirin, can't hurt.
Kim
-
Prayers sent up for Caroline's family and Michelle. Prayers also sent up for Jodi's dad and her family.
Love the pictures and being able to catch up with those stopping by!!
-
Michelle, so sorry for the loss of your friend.
On Baby Aspirin: here is a recent article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/259480.php. I plan to ask my MO about this next time I see her.
My hair is finally starting to come in. I've got a 5 o'clock shadow all over my head at almost 8 weeks PFC. It is slow going. I had Taxotere, not Taxol. It will be a long time till I'm comfortable going topless outside the house. Yesterday it was 90 and I got a taste for how I'm going to feel with my head covered all summer long
Saw a ton of people that I haven't seen in many months at the pool. Everyone acts so concerned about me - which is nice - but mentally I have moved on. Don't really want to talk cancer any more, even if I'm still in active treatment.
-
Michelle, so sorry for your loss.
I get assigned to a nutritionist etc. after I finish radiation. I've used that as an excuse to eats lots of ice cream until then, because I know their going to tell me not too!!
I kayaked for four 4.5 hours on Sunday. I was surprised to still have all my upper body strength. Then I hike for 3 hours yesterday with lots of hills and my feet hardly bothered me and my joints didn't ache. I felt like myself. Then I got home and HOLY FRIGGEN LEG ACHES!!!! Still feeling 90, but a delayed reaction. Legs are aching lots still today.
Does anybody have hot hands? My neuropahy in my hands was fairly mild numb wise but the last few weeks they get so hot. Not all the time, but man they get so hot to the touch. Makes me swelter. I can't put my hands under the covers at night. I also said "Screw it" and stopped covering my head. TOO HOT!!
I took advantage of the three day weekend and cleaned out all my cancer stuff. Bye bye Gabapentin (that didn't work anyway). See Ya Compazine (shall we never meet again). Asta Lavista Dexamethasone (I hate you). Toodles Biotene (you taste like crap). Into the donation box heads scarves and wig I didn't wear (may I never need you again). My way of taking my life back!!! F#%k You Cancer!!!
-
house cleaning the drug closet sounds like a great idea.
I had labs drawn today and my port was being difficult. Took some coaxing and finally lying down to get blood out. Still better then digging in my arms for blood. Good thing is all my labs were perfectly normal, blood counts back to nl, sugar, kidneys and liver all nl. See the MO tomorrow and will get DEXA (bone density) scheduled and rx for the flavor dijour of AIs. Anyone find Claritin helped with tolerating AI side effects?
-
DJJ, I have hot hands (and hot feet) too! I sometimes wonder if I am imagining it. I can't tell if it's a hot flash, neuropathy, the HFS, or what. I'm just walking through it. Just keep walkin, the MO said, so that's what I'm doing.
-
Great pictures of everyone that is getting their hair back. Mine is still just the same old fuzz that started coming back during the taxol but I am going to start using something to help it grow. I had a repeat PET scan last Thursday and went in today for my results. All the evidence of cancer is GONE!!!! I was really surprised that the nodes were gone since they were very large. Got rushed off to the surgeon since he is leaving on a medical leave June 5th. He told me I could have the lumpectomy and he will remove some nodes but during our conversation he found out that the chip they put in during my biopsy got "lost" and was not seen in the f/u mammogram. He got on the phone with the radiologist at the hospital and I got sent there for a US to see if he could pinpoint where the tumor was. If they could not locate it would mean a mastectomy. The tech could not see anything except the tiny incision that was made for the biopsy but the radiologist came in looked at the films and told me he could use the ones from before and road map it for the surgeon. Surgeon called me and told me it was a go for the lumpectomy and node removal so it will be day surgery and he is trying to get me in for this Thursday or Friday!!! Gosh my heading is swirling and my feet aren't on the ground yet!!! I will be doing 30 (I think) rounds of rads afterwards also. Having everything done so quickly is mind boggling but the less time I have to think and anyalize everything the better!!!! This Thursday would have been my first 3rd Thursday with no chemo appointment and I was going to go to the beach but not happening which is probably a good thing.
-
Charusa, great news about the neg PET scan and getting the surgery done so quickly. Better to get it done then worry about it for a longer time. Your will heal fast.
It is weird to count Thursdays post chemo. My RT sim was done on the 2nd post Thurs and the dry run this week is on the 4th PFC thurs. Today when I went for a port draw for labs was the first day I have been in the CTC that was not a Thurs.
-
hi ladies!! Those of you getting rads... How are y'all with fatigue? I do okay in the mornings but by the afternoon I'm beat. Not sure if I'm imagining it or not, but it seems like I can feel my energy levels start to drop on the drive home from radiation.
-
I took the advice and picked up some Nioxin scalp treatment to try to 'encourage' the regrowth. I found it at Ulta and the staff member was impressively educated on the product. I especially look forward to some growth on top...I look like Tim Conway, I think.
DJJ...crack me up on cleaning out the medicine cabinet. I plan on burning my chemo-blanket! It has served me well but I never want to see it again! The medicine cabinet is next...that shit never worked anyway!
-
oranje_mama- During my baldness, I decided to find a wig and hat alternative and ended up 'bedazzling' my head. It was FANTASTIC and I could not get through a public area without people stopping to compliment me, ask me about it or just have a conversation with me. Since that, I have launched my own designs and a business called SassyHead. I am expecting my first packaged design in a few weeks from the manufacturer. I would LOVE to send you or anyone else to try and see if you will be more comfortable being topless. My tagline is Be Bald, Be Bold, Be BEAUTIFUL!
-
djj, good for you for the exercising you are doing.
charusa, glad to hear your good news. I hope your LX goes well. Mine was easy peasy! I don't even think I took pain meds...maybe one(?). On to the next step!
jbokland, I love your bling! Maybe you should apply for a "Shark Tank" episode!!!
A little peeling going on with my skin under my arm; I think I had some fatigue during rads, but it was minimal. I really don't know if it is from rads, lack of sleep, stress or what, but it comes and goes!
Last night had a light night sweat...hoping that's as bad as it gets!
Have a wonderful week ladies~
-
Michelle-sorry about your friend Caroline. Prayers for her family
Loved the bra burning on the beach.
Holli-I'm 2/3 thru rads. My appt is at 1:30 everyday. I am tired on the way home. I take a 30 minute nap when I get home. If I don't get to take a nap then I'm really tired the rest of the day.
8 weeks pfc and no hair! If I look really close then I think I see peach fuzz. I started taking biotin 6 weeks ago and have used lastisse on my eyelashes for a month. eyebrows are mostly gone. I don't have many eyelashes but the ones I do have are long.
Yea Neskir for clear scans!
-
Oranje_mama, my feet used to get hot to but that has mostly subsided. So now its my hands and I'm hoping that it will follow the stages of my feet. Hot flashes for a couple of weeks and then less and less until gone.
-
DJJ - love the ice cream theory!!
Started rads today. Overall not too bad. My shoulder is not particularly cooperative with the positioning, but other than that, no biggie. I know....early....
Daughter visited and I bought some adult coloring books for us to do together. I also received a Diamond candle from her...lilac blossom. What a beautiful, spring scent.
Here are a couple of my finished pictures. I am really enjoying this. I am able to concentrate and not have to worry about losing my place. Chemo brain is not conducive to puzzle books, counted xstitch, reading or cable knitting. Lion is marker and moose is colored pencil.
-
Holli - I got tired during rads, I also had a few migraines. The driving back and forth got real old. I had a 35-40 min drive each way.
I met with the MO today. I start Tamoxifen tonight. No more tests, nothing.... I see her in 4 mos. unless I have a problem. According to my insurance, I am not eligible for an MRI or a Mammo until Oct. as my right breast was clear during the last MRI. I Asked her about marker tests and she told me that it is too soon from tx and they could be high.... and the guidelines don't recommend them with curable bc. What are your MO's telling you?
Oh I had my port scar lasered today. It was red and ugly, this should make the scar minimal. It just took a few minutes at the dematologist.... my insurance didn't cover it.
Charusa - Glad to hear that your scan went well and hopefully they will get you in for surgery this week.
Leealice - Hang in there, your hair will start coming in pretty soon. My hair on my head and eyebrows came in white and fine at first. I will be 11 weeks PFC on Thurs. It's coming in, but not as fast as I wish.
Kim
-
so much to respond to this week. Sorry if I miss a few posts.
Michelle, so sorry for you for the loss of your good friend. Prayers to you and her family
Regarding exercising, DJJ, great job! I just read that walking 3-5 hours/wk (at pace of 3 miles/hr) is related to a40% risk reduction of breast cancer. And DJJ I love the "closet cleansing", that was perfect, very empowering! I did a similar thing recently when there was a recycling day in our town including old, expired meds. Away went the compazine, zofran, prednisone, unfinished (oops) antibiotics, pain meds from surgery. GONE!
Char, congrats on pcr and good luck with your surgery. It will go fine, your on a roll of good things
Brows and eyelash status...gone! :-( just got the model supplies rapid brow formula in the mail today. My drawing brows that was easy last week is no longer easy and does not look as good as it did without anything to follow. Hoping for something soon. My head is soft and fuzzy..and white and sparse. I wonder if I will get my curly hair back? Lots of straight haired women get curly hair after chemo but what about us curly haired folks. I always wanted straight hair, probably no such luck though
-
Robin - Those pics are beautiful. How long did they take you to color? What a great idea. Where can I get the book?
Kim
-
KIm- I'm driving about the same. 30-45 min. The fatigue is different than the kind chemo gave. I'm trying to nap when the baby does.
Robin- those pictures are awesome. What a great way to de-stress!!
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team