February 2014 Starting Chemo Club

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2014

    Yay JulesL Happy healing. Surgery is the opposite of chemo. Each day you feel better with surgery… as you know chemo, not so much.

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  • 3doglady
    3doglady Member Posts: 50
    edited August 2014

    I had my BMX Friday, August 8, no recon.  My range of motion is very good compared to where I thought it would be.  Even put a shirt on over my head!  I kind of forgot about the left over chemo pain, but its reminding me its there!  I have follow up w the surgeon tomorrow, and onc appt next week to get started on Tamoxifen.  

    Kind of funny going from a 34G to NOTHING! I look like a Froud goblin: concave chest with a big belly!  I never knew what was growing in the shade!  

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2014

    3doglady it's uphill from here. You should feel better every day. Sounds like you're doing great!

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  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited August 2014

    3dog....that's funny....growing in the shade!

    I loved going from a DD to an A.  I felt like a new woman and really prefer the small size.   I will do my swap in December or so and hope to go with a small C.  Doc politely suggested I stay at least that to balance out my butt!

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  • 3doglady
    3doglady Member Posts: 50
    edited August 2014

    Gotta stay in balance!  

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  • Jules_NY
    Jules_NY Member Posts: 276
    edited August 2014

    3doglady- surgical recovery after chemo is tough. My range of motion is better than I thought too, but everything is wiping me out!!! Just being outside is a physical challenge. These nerve regenerating zings of pain are not fun either! 

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  • MomMom
    MomMom Member Posts: 523
    edited August 2014


    Jbokland,  I thought I posted this earlier, but it disappeared.  I want to thank you SO much for telling us on some thread about your port removal which was done in your surgeon's office in a 10 minute procedure rather than in the hospital.  I followed your advice and am so happy that I did!  I had the "Deportation" as my BS refers to it, 2 days ago and it was a piece of cake.  I put lidocaine on the port area 2 hours before, did feel a little stinging with the Novacaine shots (no big deal) and the rest of it was quick and painless.  It was so much better than going to a hospital fasting 12 hrs before, running the risk of a hospital infection and leaving with a twilight sleep hangover.  Many thanks!!!

    Paula

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  • Xrayalli
    Xrayalli Member Posts: 237
    edited August 2014

    Great news, Mommom! 

    Haha, funny comment about what was growing in the shade, heehe. 

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  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited August 2014

    Mommom. I am so glad my experienced helped you to make that decision!!!  Thank you for the follow up!!

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  • princessrn
    princessrn Member Posts: 370
    edited August 2014

    jbok.  I found two things cream called Purtect for rad burns and deodorant only, Purtect is script. Toms of Maine. Lavender scented. Very nice

    Good luck on the home stretch!!!

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  • Jules_NY
    Jules_NY Member Posts: 276
    edited August 2014

    Mommom glad to hear port removal was a piece of cake!!!  One more thing to check off the list! 

    Ok ladies so when did these frickin frackin drains come out for you guys?????? They are killing me!!! 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2014

    Jules I was one of the lucky ones. I only had them in for a week. I only had 2 drains, one on each side. You have to wait till you are not producing so much fluid. Do note the more you do the more fluid you will create. Take it easy but of course you still need to walk a bit and get things moving. Just don't overdo it.

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  • 3doglady
    3doglady Member Posts: 50
    edited August 2014

    My staples are uncomfortable, and doing the exercises shows me how tight the skin is (no recon), but the drains are painful.  One of them is more bothersome, has some discharge and today was a little more red, and really achy.  Keeping an eye on it and my temperature, for infection.  Ive already had them a week, next target is this Thursday.  Yes, it doesn't take much to get tired.  And the knees have started aching (chemo aftereffect) it seemed to go away for a few days after the saline drip.  


    Everyone around me wants me to keep the port for a while, but it has been particularly achy this week, as well.  Onc says I can have it out any time, surgeon says he can remove it in the office. Integeative doc and other nurse-type people recommend keeping it.  Integrativedoc will do vitamin IV therapy as well as Vit C IV and other therapies that make having a port better.  Thoughts?

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  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited August 2014

    I know I couldn't wait to get mine out.  The initial response was " we usually keep it a year".  But when I asked 'for what?' I didn't get a specific reason.  My MO said go ahead, and I did!   My veins are NOT good...deep and small but the port bugged the shit out of me. More importantly, it was an emotional thing for me to move past the chemo. 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2014

    3doglady my onc wanted me to keep my for a total of 2 years. She too said if I wanted it out I could have it out before then. Here are the reasons why I kept it in:

    1. most recurrences happen in the first 2 years
    2. at my place they will not put a new port back in the same place because of increased blood clot risk
    3. I have LE in one arm and the other at risk. Allows me to get blood draws from it instead of sticking the at risk arm.

    I did have to get it flushed every 3 months though but never had a problem. 

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  • 3doglady
    3doglady Member Posts: 50
    edited August 2014

    Lago, mine has to be flushed every 4-6 weeks.  I will ask about recurrance when they give me the tamoxifen perscript this week.  They say they cant tell me if I have any cancer in me; couldnt before starting chemo, cant now that itsdone.  Node negative means I wont get any scans.  

    My pathology on my breast removal showed everything was benign. Happy, but scarred to be happy, you know?

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2014

    3doglady I'm also node negative. I'll be 4  years NED August 31st. Don't worry about recurrence… that is our Oncologist's job. You don't just want to just survive cancer… you want to live! Now go and live that life (once you've healed a bit more of course).

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  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited August 2014

    great advice Lago!!

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  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 513
    edited August 2014
    " to be broken is no reason to see all things as broken"- Mark Nepo

    friends....as we move into our next part of this journey, we need to be open to the joy of life and experiences.....trying hard to move past the " broken" part of us...and realize not all things are broken....living life ....accept what is given.  Peace to you all....Rosie 

    image

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  • Jules_NY
    Jules_NY Member Posts: 276
    edited August 2014

    OMG Rosie!!!!! Perfect timing for this for me!! I'm just sitting here having a silly pitty party and this snapped me right out of it!! I'm just gonna keep living!

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  • Jules_NY
    Jules_NY Member Posts: 276
    edited August 2014

    my path report showed no active cancer cells!!!!! Woooooohooooo

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  • 3doglady
    3doglady Member Posts: 50
    edited August 2014

    Jules, YAY!

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  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 513
    edited August 2014

    Jules...God Bless You girl!!

    And pity parties are allowed...just don't stay there too long...lol. Xo Rosie 

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  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited August 2014

    Jules!! Great news!!!!!!

    I said the other day...."I don't even recognize myself any more" But I also followed it with. " I will look forward to getting to know the new me!" 

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  • princessrn
    princessrn Member Posts: 370
    edited August 2014

    Jules... Yippee!!

    Jbok... Cream is prutect.  Nice. TID application. Soothing. Good luck as you finish up rads. 

    Robin....you look great and a planned 5k is a great incentive!   Go get 'em!!

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  • Jules_NY
    Jules_NY Member Posts: 276
    edited August 2014

    Did anyone get lymphatic cording from your axillary node dissection?

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  • DiabloMom
    DiabloMom Member Posts: 19
    edited August 2014

    I got cording and lymphendema from my sentinel node dissection.  

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  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 513
    edited August 2014

    Jules...I had chording...not horrible but the best thing was to get PT and they would stretch and massage...I went 2 x a week for about three weeks and then just a few more times...this past week she said it ws gone....not sure if it comes and goes but the trick is to stretch it.  I have a pulley chord that I bought from them for 20.00 that I use...and I stretch all the time...especially when I am driving and I reach over to the passenger seat with my right arm and just sort of stretch and also up to the roof of car...my pt was for women and specialized in lymphedema and knew how to treat chording.  Well worth it!! Rosie

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  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 513
    edited August 2014

    now my question is about weak, achy tired legs...anyone still experiencing that? I do have some neuropathy in feet and hands but when I am in bed my legs feel achy...better when I am walking...but can't really sit in low chairs or get on floor...sucks for this kindergarten teacher!!  I walk a lot in school ( over 10,00o steps according to fitbit...lol)....but they were achy before I started back...

    Also, anyone know of the best type of shoe to wear for neuropathy and walking??  I finished chemo June 2nd and MO thought it was kind of far out to be having that leg pain...what other doc would you got to?.  Massage? Chiropractor?? Nutritionist for supplements??  Wow...lots of questions...have a good day!  Rosie

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2014

    I had cording on both sides but get this… worse on the 4 node side than the 10 node side. I ended up with LE in the 10 node side. 

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