Starting Chemo in December 2013

Had my simulation yesterday.  I felt like I was abducted by aliens laying there so still with this big eye rotating around me. 

My RO says no deoderant.  Nothing with aluminum in it.  To use corn starch for deoderant and if that doesn't work that I can use Tom's. 

Leealice,  WHAT! 2 months and they fell out.  Argh! My eyebrows fell out 3 weeks PFC but are back thicker than ever.  My eyelashes are back.  I can put mascara on my bottom lashes but my top are still a smidge to short.  BUT my toenails are another story.  I lost my baby toenails 2 months ago and no indication their growing.  I lost a middle toenail last week but under it was half a new toenail so not much longer and it will be normal.  But I just noticed a few days ago that both my big toenails are loose and no indication that any toenail is growing under them.  NOOOOOOOO!!!! Not the big toes!!!!!

Love how every RO is different - mine is OK with Tom's deoderant.  She says to use Weleda Calendula cream 3X per day (but not 4 hrs or less before the rad treatment).  She also OK'd me swimming - I need to smear a layer of Aquaphor on my boob, then rinse immediately after swimming & gently wipe off cream.  If I have problems, I may have to temporarily stop swimming but she's cool with me trying.  My Masters swim team starts practice on Tuesday.  It'll be hard since I'm so out of shape / tire so easily but I love it and so glad that cancer is not taking this away from me this summer !  My first treatment will be next Thursday.  The radiation therapist said I was a "great patient" so he thinks it will take less than the usual 1.5 hours.  Not sure what this says about me, other than I've gotten really used to being naked with my boob hanging through a hole while someone positions, pokes and pricks me.  LOL.

DJJ, sorry to hear about your toes.  My toenails have weathered the chemo better than my fingernails.  The white part of my fingernails starts almost halfway down the finger . . . I just keep taking Biotin (helping them to grow fast), keep Sally Hansen & nail polish on them, and hope for the best.  I'm also constantly asking someone else to do anything that remotely requires the use of a fingernail!

I sent FB requests to those who linked here.  Here's mine: Sarah's FB page.

so my shopping list for rads from what I am hearing here:

Cornstarch

Miaderm

Tom's (check)

Aquaphor (check)

Keep it coming ladies. 

My chest is so bad right now after getting deflated.  Worse than post partum tummy.  Like a 150 year old lady boobs with random indentions and all from the TE's that are now squeeze like a tube of toothpaste.  He said they would go back but I am literally folding them, pushing them into my cotton wireless bras to give them a "normal" shape.  So not attractive. I am on my guard now when changing so none of the girls see anything and have a horrid memory of all this.  It is scary, and boy would it scare them:(. Too think that there are women out there that this is what their chest looks like because of bad doctors or liars doing plastic surgery.  At least I only have 2 months of this and maybe they will look almost better soon;)

I hope everyone is doing great this week!  I can't believe I start my rads process next week.  One more thing- my Plastic S doensn't think I am going to have replacement without a back flap.  He said 33 treatments was a lot and I should get prepared for two surgeries:( one for flap then one for implants.  Sooooooo, if you have any miracle cream/lotion/chant whatever please let me know.  I really would like to keep the skin I got!  Might be silly after everything else but I'd rather my skin that matches than te patch.  Out if my hands but hoping.

leealice, you and me both, lost eyebrows, eyelashes (4 weeks PFC) and still not much hair...anywhere. I think I see so e little stubby eyelashes growing. Sparse fuzzy white head hair, no arm, leg or pube hair and still seem to be loosing it. Maybe that means that we are due for a big regrowth real soon! Well at least my fingernails and toenails have been fine and actually look good. Got mani, pedi 2 weeks ago and they look great.

DJJ, sorry about the delay in toenail problems, and with how much yiu love to walk. Hope that it is not interfering too much. You should read the book called "the walk". Someone on this board recommended it. It is a series of 5 books about a guy who decides to walk across the country after loosing everything important in his life. I'm on the second book. It's quick reading and I'm enjoying it. Just got a kindle, hopingI'lll, enjoy reading on it, everyone I know who has one loves theirs.

Oranje, I'm a swim mom but my "term" is now over! My kids are competitive swimmers and have been since ages 7... They swam through school as well as collegiate swimming. But now I'm done as my daughter just graduated college. I thought maybe they'd be interested in masters swimming but after so many years of swimming and grueling college swimming I think they feel they are done. I so enjoyed watching them swim throughout the past 16 years. Great on the masters swimming. What a way to keep in shape!

My final rad sim is next tues and starting the real thing (flipping the switch like Barbara said) on wed.

Congrats robin on neg BRCA!

charusa, 

One more thing done. Great that you were able to come home and feeling good. I think I used 2 or 3 Vicodin the just Tylenol after that.  The drains was annoying since it meant no showering. Had to wash my hair in the kitchen sink and sponge bath for a week. Hope you get a good path report next week.  Is Rads next on the list?

Lisa, I recommended those books and I'm so glad you like them! I just read the last book in the series, it was a really good one! sniff...sniff.....i cried.  

Congratulations to all with good news! Tomorrow i am on the search for a cotton bra that is too big.  I finished my third rad treatment today...so far, so good! My mom and step-dad got here today from San Antonio......good to have them here to help me with my daughters graduation.  My ex-husband is actually doing his part and helping too which i am extremely thankful for.  I just can't wait for it to all be over so i can just focus on ME again.  Sounds selfish to say that but guess its the truth! 

Ok....stupid question of the night.....has anybody ever had a crush on their doctor?????? Holy crap, my RO is HOT!!!!!! Ok....and with that I'd better go to bed!! ha!

Good night to all! Sleep well!

Michelle

all these deflating stories make me laugh and scare me at the same time.  I have 800cc and 700cc.  If they go down, I'll be doing the fold'em up in a bra thing.  Geez. I've enjoyed not wear a bra these last few months! 

My PS said about 40% of women post tad need revision surgery/ flap procedures before implants.  That was disheartening. The thought of more surgeries is NOT appealing!

Char- did you end up with drains? How are you doing??  I am heading to st Pete next week.  I'll be more than happy to check on you!!

Robin - Great to hear that you are not BRCA positive.

Oranje_mama - Awesome news that your RO will let you swim.

Char - Glad to hear that your surgery went well and you didn't have to stay overnight.  

You ladies might already know this, but as the size of your TE changes, you should be able to get a prescription for a prothestic from your PS.... your insurance should cover it (I have gone through 3).  The store where I purchase them reimburses me once they are paid by the insurance.   

Jodi -  I didn't have a need for a front closure bra during rads, I don't know what that's about.... maybe easy access if you are rubbing cream on your breast. 

I met with my PS today... so far, so good re the TE holding up.   I am going to believe for the best.  I will have PS in August to lift and reduce my right breast.  I am also going to have a tummy tuck!   However, that would be messed up if I have to have the tram flap procedure.  My BS didn't sound concerned about my skin so far, but I have to see him again in July.  Anyway, if all goes well it will be 6 to 12 mos. before I can have the TE replaced depending upon my skin.  

Kim

I can't even imagine what being deflated would entail. I did not go for recon, I have been wearing my husband's shirts so they are loose and not rubbing. Being a small B cup, I just hang loose and wear a loose tank or cami underneath. Everything else seems to hit or rub right where it shouldn't. Cami's are not easy to find as they are either too long for loose fit or too form fitting for shorter length. A torso cannot possibly be just right for some of these....they go down to mini dress length in some cases. I do eventually need to get a bra that works with my foob. I have a compression cami, but need a bra. So many shirts I want to wear again. Many of the MX bras have really wide shoulder straps and I am looking for thin straps. They either stick out of my shirt or aggravate my port. 

Char - happy you are home and things are going well. 

Swimmers - jealous here! Great news that you are able! I can only go waist deep. 

Kim - good news that your skin is holding up well and PS is happy!

Michelle - can't say that I have, but my docs are kids basically....lol

DJJ - the nail loss sucks...I hope you start seeing more re growth soon. 

Barbara - animal rescue is near and dear to my heart! 

LeeAlice - did your RO talk about cortisone cream for the flaky/itchy stuff? My RO said it takes care of it really quickly. Doesn't hurt to ask...

Oranje - I laughed so hard at the "great patient" I happened to be getting my Herceptin infusion at the time. Got a couple of looks...lol

Robin - Re bras - Nordstrom will sew in a piece of fabric into any of their regular bras to hold the foob.  I prefer reg bras over the mastectomy bras, as my right boob is big and needs a lot of support.  I just plop my foob into my bra and don't bother with an insert.  However, during rads I put soft fabric against my skin.   I need a compression cami, what brand do you recommend?

Robin & Barbara - I read this book when I was first diagnosed titled, "The dog lived and so will I" about a lady who rescued a beagle (If I remember right), the dog gets cancer and she gets diagnosed with bc and has to go through tx as well.  It is actually a good read, she has a blog.  

Keepthefaith - You look so pretty.  I am reading 3 books right now.... my attention span is crap.  I can only handle so much of the health books in small doses, then I get bored.  I think that we all should collaborate and write a book  Lol.

Kim

Have had 9 rads so far and I'm already getting sensitive in my armpit and nipple. Have a light rash too, it does't itch or hurt, just there.  My RO prescribed a lotion called Radiaplex. Use it three times/day, but no closer than two hours before.  Will see how it works. 

My bras seem to come too high up in my pit and rub, by the end of the day I can't wait to get home and take it off and nap. Will have to try putting a piece of soft material in there to help.  Sports bras come lower but don't have enough support, wear them at home only.  Concerned that after another 9 tx I will be totally miserable.  I guess that is what I get for being 5'2" with a short torso and a few extra pounds.

On a good note last weekend I flew home with only one sister aware that I was coming.  To be able to surprise everyone was amazing.  Had not been home since Mom's funeral July 2010.  The hugs and love and tears were what I needed! Luckily the compression sleeve and gauntlet came in in time. Went from Atlanta to San Francisco, 5.5 hour flight, ankles and feet swelled too, damnit!

Good luck everyone, we will survive this one way or another, but at least with each other

My daughter has been recommending The Fault In Our Stars for a couple of months now. Time to head to the library, or check and see if it is available for digital download. Lol!

michelle - very interesting procedure and process you went through!  

I have to say, the TEs are quite uncomfortable.  I have not slept through the night soundly since getting them. I hate to complain because I am so appreciative of all of the advancement and treatment    But Geez!  Can't wait to get back to some normalcy with the Tatas!   

jbokland, I was blessed to have one of the top breast cancer reconstructive plastic surgeons in the US at Mayo Clinic do my surgery.  This is all he does in his practice.  This is a new technique that he has been using and has had nothing but success with it.  My TE doesn't bother me at all, although at times it feels heavy, but i can even sleep on my stomach with it.  

Robin, you gotta read The Fault in Our Stars! I bawled like a baby! 

Barbara, I hope for the same thing.  I joined this group late but followed for some time before posting but so glad that I did finally!

Jodi- I echo Robin's sentiments. We are not supposed to get more than we can handle but in times like this... I have trouble understanding why.  Thinking of you and praying for you and your family.