Starting Chemo in December 2013

Lisa, prayers being said for your tests.  Robin, I hope you feel better soon. Neskir, GREAT to hear from you.  It's funny, I was thinking about sending you a message yesterday to see how you were doing.  I took my oldest daughter to the coast yesterday to celebrate her last day of freedom before school starts.  I'm really loving my short hair.  I have to use spray gel and a little hair spray.  I'm getting a ton of compliments on it.  I don't know if it's going to be curly or just wavey.  Can you all post more pics.  I love to see what everyone looks like.

mikesgirl- you look gorgeous!!

Hi ladies - The above picture is of my kids... tried to move this below with the other pics, but couldn't do it....

Lisa - I will be praying for you.  When I had my 3D mammo a couple of weeks ago, they gave me the results right away.  I don't know if you have had an MRI in the past, but usually for those, the doctor is on site and will look at it right away.    I was wondering what products you recommend for curly hair?  My hair is coming in curly,  I have been trying to straighten it with gel, but need to figure something else out.  

Mikesgirl, Holli, Neskir - Love the pics, you all look great.  

Robin - It is nice to hear from you.  I am so sorry for the loss of your fur baby....  Glad to hear that you are getting some relief from the hot flashes.  Sending a hug your way.

Kimmie - I am losing my eyebrows too, what's up with that.   Wonder if Tamoxifen has something to do with it.

Here are some pics from my birthday.... 48 sucked, I am hoping 49 is a great year.

dumb MRI! Able to get it sch earlier due to a cancellation, but now won't be looked at until tues. Doc that reads the breast mri's was in this morning, out of office this afternoon and then not in until next tues due to being off tomorrow and holiday on Monday. I didn't want to know until after weekend but now that I went early I want to know, I'm dreading waiting. At least the weekend away to LI to see fam will be a distraction. Maybe I'll tell my family that I'm waiting MRI results.. Maybe not. My mom is not good at all with these things and then we have to worry about her being worried which she is not good at. We keep things from my mom, there's lots she doesn't know. Honestly...I'm worried about results myself, I'm afraid it's going to show something on the right because I have lumps and weird sensations sometimes. Michelle, I know you also had to wait a week for results...and that was awful. I want to know but then afraid to know, right?

Mikesgirl, holli, Kim, you all look beautiful! I realize it's hard to work with curly hair when it's so short. Mine is white and about 1 1/2" and not enough to scrunch. It just curls up in little swirls against my head, kind of poodle like with little wings on the side. I use deva care products. Made for curly hair with no sulfates but there are other brands out now. I've always wished fir straight hair, thought maybe, as many straight haired ladies get curly after chemo so thought maybe I'd get straight but no.

mikes girl. You look adorable! and I love the knot necklace.

My hair is still too short to do anything but lay forward. 

Lisa. Sorry toy have to wait the weekend for your results...but your hair looks great!!

Holy crap...my hair looks white!!!

You all look great with your hair!!! Mine is barely there, taking it's sweet time especially on the top of my head. The sides are a bit longer. Wish it would grow and at least cover the patches where I can still see my skin. 

Sorry you have to wait on results Lisa. It seemed like every test I took or appointment I had made it always involved waiting over a weekend or a holiday. Just enjoy your weekend the best you can I am sure there will be some distractions!!!

Fabulous pics ladies!!! 

We are the best looking bunch on the forum!

One yr mammo today....UGH! Won't meet with RO until next Wednesday. I am having a hard time dealing with all of these Dr appts. I have always been pretty healthy and this monitoring, testing, etc is driving me nuts.  I think it has been as hard as the physical SE's, for me. Not really anxiety or worry, just frustrating. Trying to take each appt as it comes. I guess it's a whole different mind-set and trying to change the way we think is not easy! 

Lisa, praying you get good results, can forget about BC and enjoy your time away! Loved your Hot flash post!!! I think I am having one now!

Char, I used shampoo with Biotin, but not sure if it made any difference. Hang in there! 

I hope you all can get out and enjoy the Holiday week-end....and, be safe!!! 

Lisa, thanks~yeah, the poodle look without the perm! I hope your scan goes well today. You'll have your results soon and they'll be good! Have fun in LI. Pls post some pics!

The rads ladies at my mammo appt complimented me on my hair, so that made me feel good. Changed my RO appt until the following week, b/c they won't have mammo results until Thursday at earliest. It was weird when the tech asked me about LNB; I couldn't even remember where the steri-strip/incision was until she found the scar...gheez. Didn't realize I was in such a fog at the time. 

Does anyone know, is mammo every 6 months for the first two yrs? Maybe it's different for everyone. 

TGIF!

wait- 15 1/2 PFC lol.  I'm losing it;)

Lisa, I was thinking about you all day. Your story sounds oh so familiar. My right breast was never really looked at after they found BC in the left breast. Hence the surgical biopsy on the right breast in May. You think once they found BC inone breast the other would be closely looked at as well!!!!!! Enjoy your LI this weekend. I know it’s hard not to think about it. PS.I love the hot flash man!

Kimmie, I laughed out loud when I read about your eyebrows and eyelashes. Not because it’s funny but because how you put it. I lost my eyelashes for the second time July 27ish and I can already put mascara on them. I think Latisse made them grow supper quick. I saw ophthalmologist today. He didn’t know about this chemo and losing your eyelashes thing more than once. He renewed my Latisse. Lets hope I don’t lose them for a third time!!

Robin, sorry you’re still struggling with your furbaby. So sad. I still haven’t started my period.I had cramps for one week, then nothing. My gynecologist tested my estrogen and my levels are consistent with a woman in menopause. My MO was pissed she said it’s too soon to test my estrogen. It could take more than a year to get my period back, if it comes back. No hot flashes or other symptoms.

Kim, Love the pics.

Holli, Kim, mikesgirl, jbokland, Jodi, keepthefaith, you look great with short hair.

Keepthefaith, for me mammo is every 6 months just on the BC breast and one a year on the other.

I was at RO follow-up today. When I was walking through the hospital campus a woman stopped me and said “I love your hair”. She went on about it and then asked where I got it done. I pointed to the infusion center and said “At the infusion center, but I don’t recommend them.” Hee hee!!!

RO asked me how I was doing. I said I was impatient with my joint aches and neuropathy taking too long to go away. She said “The way I see it, is it took a long time for us to do this to your body, so it’s going to take a long time for it to heal.”That actually made me feel better. It has been only 5 months and 3 ½ months ago I could barely walk and could only wear sneakers, now I can hike 7 miles (with joint pain). So I’ve come a long way. Patience…patience.

Everyone looks so wonderful!!

My early birthday gift from my husband!

Hopefully once it cools down a bit more this will be my daily activity! Need to lose the 20lbs I gained while on Taxol...tamoxifen is making it a little more difficult, but determined to do it! 

wow so many awesome pictures of you all. Jodi nice to see you again and hair is looking great. DJJ,you  look great as always, the dark thick shirt style is great on you. Chico, love the style, and the natural Mohawk is great and I love the gel and spike too. 

DJJ,We've been watching the R breast but it seems to be changing. I've also had a r biopsy when on chemo, which was negative but seems to be a new area(s) that feel different. Had bone scan today and it was negative...normal. So as we all,say the bone joint pain is nothing I guess. How can that be because it's some thing, I have t talked to the doctor about it yet, I was assuming it would show some inflammation or something benign like that. So pain for no reason...does t make a lot of sense. But good it's not something serious. Main concern is about MRI. Will,have to wait till tues.

Robin, love the bike, those old style bikes are making a big comeback. So much more comfortable than the 10 speeds we used to have that we thought were coo but so uncomfortablel. And happy early bday. Remember we are coming to Sedona and flying into Phoenix on oct 4 (is that your bday?). Maybe get together?

Thanks for the Bday wishes! DD's is Sunday, mine is Tuesday and hubby is the following Tuesday! The big 50 this year! 

Lisa, I will mark the date on the calendar, we all know what our memories are like these days. Mine has been getting a little better though!

Holli - Great blog post.  You have me on the edge of my seat.... well written.  I hope your appointments go well for you next week.

DJJ - You look beautiful.  I have had a couple of blood tests and they came back that I am in menopause.  I know that the MO's say that we have to wait a year before we are technically in menopause, but it makes me feel good that my body isn't producing estrogen.  I do not miss having a period, that's for sure.

Lisa & Robin - I won't be in Phoenix until the 11th of Oct., they changed the party date.

Lisa - I am so glad to hear that your bone scan is clean.  I am praying for you regarding the MRI.  For me, my right breast lost density and form.  It could have been a little of everything that contributed to it, menopause, chemo, rads, weight loss... My right breast will have a mammo or MRI every year, insurance won't cover every 6 mos, unless there is a problem.

Robin - Like the cruiser.... I am so ready for fall weather.  You're a year ahead of me!!! 50 is the new 40.  Your DD, DH & you are all Virgos?  I bet your house is never a mess .  

Jodi - You look great!!!

Keepthefaith & Chicopeach - Love the hair!

Sept. 10th is my one year diagnosis date.  I see my MO on the 25th for my 4 month follow-up...  You ladies are all so wonderful.

Kim

I never liked pink.... I like bold, strong colors and considered pink to be a watered down version of red. But now I know how wrong I was.  Pink is really the core of red!