Holli - happy birthday!!!  Hope that you are doing something fun to celebrate!

RHGSR- Happy Birthday!! I'm about 3 1/2 months behind you. I have 5 sons, youngest is 17 months and I was breast feeding him when I found the lump. I had a feeling it wasn't from breast feeding though, due to its location. I did get pushed out 2 months, though, because they thought it was a breast abscess.

Jbokland- thank you.

Robin- thank you! I'm glad that he actually listens to me because I think some of my treatment has come from my questions. He just doesn't seem as concerned as I think he should be. One problem is that my tumor is metaplastic and he doesn't know much about that. BTW, I have major chemo brain!

Oranje- you look great!

I rarely wear anything on my head now. A hat every once in a while. 

Oranje- you look awesome with that dark hair with your blue eyes!

One of the (many) things I learned through this ordeal is to love myself...even bald!   I am now very forgiving of the imperfections, the extra pounds, the signs of aging.  

This is after rad 14, there is a rash along with the burn. I won't make it through without a break. Using fresh aloe I scraped from the inside of the leaves and put through the blender and Radiaplex prescribed by the RO.

chicopeach - looks nasty for only 14 Rxs. I noticed my medial collarbone area was slightly pink on Friday after #6.  Seems less pink today but the soft tissue above the bone is puffy.  I tuck the end of my head scarf over that area and into the neck of my shirt when I walk to cover that area.  

Jbokland. Wonderful to be done with chemo and such a great group of friends. Enjoy your vacation. 

Kimie- hope you are having a great time with family visiting. 

DJJ. The end of my axillary incision is getting tender and the area fells puffy below it. 

Cenri76.  So sorry about the path report.. Hope the new chemo is well tolerated and  the PET scan comes back clean. Great picture of your and your son. 

Holli.  Happy belated BDay. 

Robin- I figure I can use chemo brain as an excuse for at least the next 6 months,   😄

Oranje. Why could you not start on a Friday,  I started mine on a Friday.  Wish my hair were coming in darker, you look great.  I think silver gray/ white is what I will end up with.  Still conflicted on color or not when I start to go "topless". Still no eyebrows yet, few nubbins of lower lashes. 

Lisa. Nice you will get away to Cape Cod even if the trip is shorter then usual. 

Tolerating Aromasin OK so far. Occ hot flushes and legs a bit achy but walking helps. Thank God for weekends off of RT.   My RO really believes in nothing on the skin until there is a problem so hope I do not need anything.  Half way through rads on Friday the computer had a glitch.  I had to wait 5 extra minutes with my arms immobile while it was reinitialized.  Talk about anxiety producing, now I worry was the dose delivered right.  Have a restful weekend ladies

What a week.  Last Saturday was when my dad passed.  I packed and load the fam as fast I as I could and we drive 4 hrs there.   Nothing was planned or discussed for my dad's arrangements. So, that took all day Monday in my dad's hometown which was another hour drive.  Tuesday had to go to Houston for port removal and rads set up another 4 hour drive. Wednesday was port removal and that hurt!  Still does a bit. Thursday finish meeting with RO and head 5 hours back immediately for the wake.  Friday was funeral a long day but held up like a champ.  And we drove 4 hours back home on Saturday.  Washing and packing for the big move in the apartment in Houston with the entire family on Tuesday (6 hours!). I am ready to get there and just stay there.  Tired of being in a car.  Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.  My DD is doing better now that it is over. 

Holli, Happy belated Birthday!

Chicopeach, OWW!! I've had five so far and my I have a tan, but no burning so far.  I keep telling myself.  Whatever side effects I get it will still be better than chemo.

Jodi, Hang in there.  You got this!

Cenri76, You look great.  I hope your next rounds of chemo have minimal SEs. 

Ornje_mama, Not the fingernails!!! That's how my toenails are coming off, with half a nail underneath.  I showed my MO on Friday, I said "Look and half a toenail was hiding underneath." We both erupted into peals of giggles.  She apologized for laughing at my toenails.  I love her! Today I shop for sandals with covered toes!

I got really tired of the peach fuzz and bought "Fuzz Off" made by Bliss at Ulta.  It's like Nair for the face.  In three minutes no more peach fuzz! Then yesterday hiked 7 miles with friends.  My feet didn't hurt until the very end.  My breath was coming easier.  And best of all my joints hardly ached.  I no longer feel 90!!! WOOHOOO!!!!

DJJ, seven miles I am indeed impressed.  

I am celebrating tonight by going to see Ringo Starr. I got my ticket (they sold out in 1.5 hours) back in Feb in the mist of the terrible AC time. I though today would never come. some friends are celebrating beforehand  a belated "end of chemo"  in the patrons lounge. Just wish it could be the end of Rads celebration also.  Excited as this is his only show in all of PA.

No more wigs... 12 weeks PFC.

Chicopeach - Ouch, I am thinking that because my chest and underarm is still somewhat numb from the mx, it kept me from a lot of the discomfort when my skin turned red from the rads.

Jodi - I hope you, your DH, and kids have a fun filled and blessed time while you are in Houston.

DJJ - I am so happy to hear that you are back hiking and able to enjoy it.  

Barbara - Hoping you have a fun time at the concert.

Michelle - Great pic of you and your daughter.  Congratulations, job well done.

Kim

Kim you look fantastic! Barbara, hope you had fun at the concert!!  Everybody else, hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Question........after about how many rads until you started to get any change in your skin? I am on #9 today and so far have had no change whatsoever, although i do feel a little bit swollen on my left side.  I am extremely fair skinned so figured I would have something by now....

I am using the Califlora (Calendula Gel) and then corn starch when it dries under the boob and under my arm.  I also was told i had to stop wearing any sort of bra and i'm not liking this part one bit.  I wear a cotton tank top and then a couple of other "layers" on top of that.  Its getting to hot to do this but oh well!

I like the idea of a soft cloth.....never thought of that.  I have big boobs so i'm just not comfortable going out in public without one on! Thank you for that advice!

Chicopeach, thank you for the nice compliment about my Kelli! I am so proud of her....she graduated with Highest Honors and is just and all around great kid! She is heading off to college in the fall to North Dakota State University and majoring in English and Creative Writing.  My son is a Senior there and majoring in Architecture and for a little bragging rights, has been on the Deans list every semester!  

I have gone topless the entire time i've been bald, except for our brutal winter when i wore a hat outside.  I am totally ok with it....i feel more beautiful without hair than when i had it! maybe its because i feel like a stronger woman now....like a warrior defeating the beast!

I am waiting for the redness to start....i don't have a nipple to burn and hear that is what usually happens first.  My skin is so fair that usually just touching it turns it red, or God forbid give me some alcohol and i'm all red and blotchy, so i figured i would start to burn fairly soon.  I guess each day without any is a good day cause i'm sure its coming!

I'd better get back to work.........

Michelle

Missy, congrats - you do have bragging rights!

I finally had my first rads today.  I am wearing a cotton bra from Bali.  I so love the advice "do not wear a tight fitting bra."  um, hello?  is not the purpose of a bra that it be tight-fitting?  what the heck is a loose-fitting bra?  it's an oxymoron.  Like Missy & others, I'm too big to walk around all day without support!

As part of moving up into my boss' job (she is moving up to be the big boss), we need to hire someone to do my old job.  We have the backing to do that now, and so on top of my increased workload I need to network like crazy to find a good candidate, because when you have the budget & go-ahead you have to act right away.  We're a teeny department and this would be my only report so I feel like it's critical to find the right person.  So, I've scheduled seemingly a million coffees and lunches for the next two weeks to get this search going . . . meeting with many former colleagues (not closest friends) who I have not seen live in many months.  So, another round of telling people about BC.  Fortunately, it is soooooooooooooooooo much easier to tell people now.  It rolls right off me.  At the beginning, I just could not face people's reactions.  We can get used to anything.  Here's to hoping that I find the right person without gaining 20 lbs . . .

Barb, I know, too much hair! Nice! I also probably have too much hair and I was a late bloomer.

Jb, you probably have to be smooth for it to stick right? 

Now, as I said I was a late comer to the hair regrowth woes (7 weeks PFC today!), but I'm here now and have to do my part...so my eyelashes are coming in, stubby and some are pointing downward. I assume they will go the right way eventually. Eyebrows are also,coming in but are pale/white, sticking out and there is soft facial,hair above and below the faux eyebrows so I can't tell where the real eyebrows are. And the facial hair..ugh, mostly chin hair. It was so nice to be rid of this for 4 months. Can I go back to my electrolysist? Do I want to go back? Getting nose hair too..that's good. The head hair is so soft, fine and white or colorless and I'm still pretty bald looking. There are a few long scragglers that I will sometimes snip to even up with the others. Did anyone shave off this soft stuff? I dont think I would as I am so happy to have something but just wondering. (There is a dark patch that looks dirty right on the top center of my head though.)  So to those late bloomers (leealice I think you are one of them, anyone else?), it really does come back, even in places you don't want it to.

I enjoy "checking up" on everyone everyday. You all are a wonderful group and I love everyone's insight, opinions, ideas, suggestions, stories, jokes, rants and raves. I've laughed and cried with all of you. We are all in this together even though we have never met and I feel I can go to all of you with any questions or thoughts. Here's to us!

jb, no I wouldn't want to pull on this baby fine hair I waited 4 months to start growing but it's a great idea and looks cool. I think the young (or young at heart) fashionistas would love it. Has anyone read the book "Does this outfit make me look bald? How a fashionista fought breast cancer with style". Saw it in a mag article and also on amazon. It might be just the right attitude for your business!