Starting Chemo in December 2013

I have been able to exercise during rads. I do mostly zumba, some yoga. I go in the morning cause I get tired in the afternoon and don't feel like doing  a lot afternoon/evening. My treated area is very red with some peeling but I'm still wearing my same bras with no problem

'My keyboard is on the blink.  I need to take in into Apple this week.  So if  you see weird characters''' it's not that I can't type.  

Lisa - My hair came in white, then it started turning dark.  I am a slow grower too.  My hair looked like that around weeks 6 & 7.  You're getting there.... doing the happy dance for you.

Kim

Jodi, Sorry I somehow skipped over your post earlier.  So sorry to hear about your Dad.  2014 sucks! 

I eat a half grapefruit for breakfast every day.  Several years ago, while on WW, I cut out OJ from my diet and replaced with the grapefruit (it had no points).  That was years ago, and while I long gave up on WW, I became addicted to my morning grapefruit.  Please tell me that cancer is not going to make me give it up! (Starting Tamoxifen after rads).

I will post a picture later.  My hair on my head is really coming in now even as my eyebrows continue to go.  I'm almost 9 weeks PFC.  My hubby says that at this point he notices a difference daily.  I'm not to the point of going out and about bald but I am going bald around the house.  I was dying to take off my buff & dive in the pool this weekend but I kept it on & kept my head above water.  At this point, I don't really care so much . . . but my tween girl does . . .

jbokland: Would you mind posting the same drug info for Tamoxifen?

LISA, YEAH Definitely qualifies as more then peach fuzz. MY back and side grew in fastest.still pretty sparse on the top. Not ready for going topless until the front and top hair grows fuller.  mime still has a lot f pure white areas, but the back has a lot more gray in it now. there is even a round spot on the left side in the front that looks grayer, actually looks like a dirty spot in the white. 

BTW love your shower curtain.

I was very chilly in the RT room today and the techs got me out some nice warm blankets to wrap my arms and over my stomach. 3 down ONLY 30 to go.

My last rads is next Wednesday! I'm doing boost right now.

Lisa-Congrats on the hair! I'm noticing some peach fuzz on my head half white/half brown

DJJ- You look terrific...go girl!!!

Went to surgeon today good news pathology report read clean margins and out of 15 nodes that were removed 15 were  clean!!! Still dragging my drain he says he wants to wait a bit longer until it is draining less fluid but likes that the fluid is clear. Walked home from his office, only about a 5 block walk, then went to the grocery store with a little help. I did forget to tell him that the neoropathy is a lot worse in my arm on operated side. Actually it is the numbing feeling like asleep in my elbow area and upper arm and also in my lower thumb joint. When I touch it or rub it hurts and tingles more. Not sure if this is  common or a SE still from chemo or something new from surgery. In the morning it isn't there comes on suddenly when I start using my computer...this is the same arm I ripped/hurt something while stretching a few weeks ago and that was resolving. Any ideas?

DJJ- great picture. You look beautiful. 

Jbokland - thanks for all the med info. Post a pic of your poster. So happy for you. 

Char- so happy for your clear nodes and margins!! I am numb under the arm where they took nodes. What is so strange to me is that I can't feel temperature under that arm either. 

I followed up with my MO today. Still haven't started on the hormonal therapy yet. Looks like he may not be putting me in Tamoxifen but instead in Aromasine and Lupron shots. Anyone familiar with this? 

I asked when I was considered cancer free and he said now. But then he added that now the waiting begins to see if it comes back.  That hit me pretty hard. Cried all the way home. 

He said he had just come back from a conference where studies were showing that the AI and Lupron had better results with premenopausal women. But he did mention that the SEs could be worse. Although he didn't go into them much. 

I had an ILC along with my IDC and in situs.

He doesn't sugar coat much. But I've been really happy with him. 

I go back to see him in 6 weeks and should start the Lupron then. Supposed to get BRCA results back next week. 

Jodi, the posts about your dad have been beautiful, heartfelt and inspirational. What a beautiful gift he gave you in so many ways.  Good luck to you this week and next. So much for you to do and take in, I think you are running on autopilot now. My heart feels for you, we are all here with you and for you. Keep us updated.

I had my final sim for rad yesterday and start officially today. They said I was "easy" and it only took 15 min. I'm all marked up with lines, circles, triangles, x's. You lay there all exposed with arms over head, they are drawing on you with markers, taking pictures ( with an actual camera). It feels so inhumane even though they are all so sweet. With my head turned to the side I started getting a little emotional and a few tears came, streaming across my face and into my ear. Of course I had to stay still. I got it together and was a good patient and did not move. I don't think anyone noticed as they all step out of the room to watch the computer or something. Glad they didn't because if so done had said " are you ok?" I probably would have lost it big time. Ok.., deep breaths I keep telling myself. The anticipation is worse than the actual treatment I know. But I'm just so done with this whole thing sometimes...but bring on the rays!

The hair is coming as you saw. There is little eyelash stubble also and I see eyebrow growth on my brows (R more than L) but it is very pale like my head hair. This whole hair regrowth thing is really "fascinating" I think. Never know what I will see in the morning.

Good luck to all of you with the post treatment hormone meds and decisions. There sounds like there are many options and opinions. There is no targeted treatment for TN as you all know but metformin has promise for us and my MO said she'd start me on it once I finish rads.

Well... gonna catch me some ray's today! First of 33 starts today.

char, great news! You may want to ask your team about an LE specialist, if you haven't already, since you had several nodes removed. Hope you get your drains removed soon!

jodi, good to hear from you. Nice that Mom decided to be with you! Take care of yourself while "swimming"...sounds like you will need some rest soon.

missy, good for you!

lisa, glad you got started. 

Leealice, congrats on your LAST rads today! Happy Dance for you!!!

jbokland, will be thinking of you tomorrow at your last chemo!!! Whoo-hoo! 

It's been nice to follow everyone through their treatment. I never realized BC could have so many different stories!

Keepthe faith- what exactly is a LE specialist?

I didn't realize I'd have to keep all these marker "drawings" on the whole time of rads. There are x's, circles, triangles, lines etc. I thought it was just for the sim and planning. They said they highlight them when they fade. I have 3 small tats also, one under my arm, one in cleavage and one about 2" below sternum. Everyone else have all these drawings that you have to keep on all treatment?  I thought that was what the tats were for. I have tiny dot tatoo and then a circle or triangle around it, I guess to make sure it's found correctly

Lisa, I had two large X's for my rads after my sim/planning....no tattoos. Then, when they did the boosts, they drew a circle around that area. They put a bandage type plastic circle over my X's so they wouldn't come off so easilly. It will rub off on your clothes; I  put a kleenex between to keep my clothes from getting stained...it sounds like they got carried away on you! 

Char, Congratulations.

Lisa, I have 6 tattoos.  I don't know if you all remember a few months ago that I was planning on getting a tattoo when this was over.  NOT ANYMORE!!!! Those lil buggers hurt.  I have a marker X by each one and they redrew them today.  So yup! Markered up body for 6 weeks.