TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

thank you for the quick reply!  My nodes were negative at time of surgery which was great news, I just can't get the small areas that were left....I just need to pray that I remain NED!!!

Thank you for all the wise responses, friends. Prayers for all your health and spirits as you walk this walk.

JeniE

kthielen  I had pCR after neo adjuvant chemo.  For er/pr + and her2+ while this is great news it does not have the prognostic significance as those who are er/pr neg.  That's because we still have the hormonal part of the cancer to deal with - BUT this is good news is we have tamox and AI's which are extremely important in our treatment protocol.  So don't stress about not getting pCR - clean nodes is fantastic and you will go on hormone therapy which is a very very important part of our treatment.  I know we always think of chemo as the "big guns" but the anti-hormonals are powerful drugs!

big shout out to everyone! haven't posted in a while, try to keep up but this is a very fast moving thread.  Hope everyone is well

Im finally having some FG done on Wed and I have to tell you the thought of going under scares me but I have this huge crater on my chest that he will fill in.  Can anyone give me their FG experience.  Is the donor area really sore (tummy) how much was re-absorbed? I read on here that someone was in pain for 10 months after and it scares the crap outta me

Rozem-I just read its coming from your tummy....that area didnt hurt me! It was my thighs that were miserable.

thanks so much geewhiz - yes only from my tummy.  I heard that about it helping with scar tissue and that's the other reason Im doing it.  My rads side is so friggen tight and I have a lot of pain there.  I am hoping it helps the scar tissue.  Question - did you go off tamox?  im off for a week which I don't like but my friend said because it was day surgery she didn't go off at all

I have a hair question: does it come back while you're on Herceptin alone? I read that hair loss is not a common side effect, which makes sense given how it functions compared to taxotere or carboplatin. Do that give Perjeta afterward too now? Another woman on the August chemo board said she'd be getting both for 6 months.

it might grow very slowly on herceptin, but should come in faster once you finish it.

I've completed 5 of 12 weekly Taxols (H/P) and my hair is growing!  I was told it would grow slower with Herceptin.  Did anyone use anything for hair growth while on chemo?  I'd love to get my hair growing faster but don't want to use anything that would interfere with the chemo.  

Linda, is your hair really soft?  Did you shave it one more time when you were done with chemo?  There are some on the hair thread that buzzed it one last time and it came in faster with better texture.  My hair is coming is soft and a darker color.  I'm really blonde in the summer and it darkens a little in the winter.  I wonder if it will all be dark since it hasn't been exposed to the sun.  Haha...not sure why I said that.  There hasn't been hair to expose to the sun!

Mommato - I did not shave after chemo - it started off really soft but seems to be getting more and more texture as it is coming in.  It appears to be a little lighter than my pre chemo hair and I am the same - lighter in the the summer and a little darker in the winter.   I am not using anything yet but may get some Minoxodil to help fill it in a bit.  It does not seem to be growing as fast as my hair normally grew but it is growing so I am happy lol

Linda your hair looks great! Seems to be filling in evenly. I'm almost 6 weeks pfc and my hair on top is soft, I love rubbing it. The hair towards the front is sparse, but I see little shoots poking through. Mine is coming in the same color it was pre-chemo,which is white, but I colored it so no one knew. Cats out of the bag now, lol. 

I see Minoxidil for men but not for women.  There is Equate, Lipogaine, and Rogaine for women.  Are these the same products?  Did it work really good?  

I went to my boys flag football game yesterday.  I wore two hats to keep me warm!  I can't imagine how many I'll have to wear when it's ten below zero.

Mommato3 I use the Walgreens brand of Minoxidil for women. It's right next to Rogaine. It's cheaper and not as greasy. Same amount of active ingredieant. 

Ahh Jackboo so sweet. Thank you for checking in. So good to see the old faces. So glad you are doing well. ♥ ♥ ♥

Ashla I always said if I won the lottery I would be doing volunteer work… and loving it. I don't mean donating money. I mean actually doing work. I am so happy I have been able to help so many women. 

Work for money is something I need to do to pay bills. It isn't something that defines who I am… I'm a designer/creative and having a paying job isn't changing that. I still experience my life through a designers eyes. BTW I feel the best designers have empathy. I mean how can you design something for someone if you don't?

rozem don't give up. There are so many of us, that didn't even have the cancer break that are still unemployed. I have worked various contracts but this January will be 5 years! I've been rejected many times for jobs I should have had. Many times due to age (they hired the 24 YO even though I was willing to work for the same rate ). But people do get jobs. We are just waiting for the starts to align for us. Wish it wasn't taking so long!