Starting Chemo February 2015

I finished radiation and started hormone treatment today. I have a headache. But I've been very surprised how hard it was, and still is, to recover from all of this. I was such a high-energy person and I am just so tired now. Also if I could do it again I would not have gone back to work for a couple of months, physically I think it was good to have some place to go and push myself, but my brain was just not there and I think it was not good for me to be there and feel like I cannot function mentally.

Im curious how long it takes the new hair growth to go from this white peach fuzz to the natural color?

Thanks Chloesmom, I'm going to check out that hair thread too. I'm in the same boat as LiveD with the white peach fuzz. So happy to see some evidence of growth, but wish I'd get evidence of a new eyelash or brow hair.

When I look pictures of myself from last year I can't believe how good I look. Of course back then I wanted to lose a few pounds and wasn't too happy with my hair. Why are we so hard on ourselves? Now 15 pounds heavier and bald, I think the old me really had it together (except for the cancer part of course).

definite numbness in feet, some fingers are affected, ridges in all finger nails, big toenails are black, so guess I am gonna loose those for sure, others ok, What next?

ill be glad when my hair grows a little longer. Its about 3/16" long peach fuzz still and when I go outside without a head covering I feel like my head is a target for flying insects. They keep trying to bite me. Never had that issue when I had hair

Well things seem to have gone well with the surgery. I wasn't in the hospital for long (from about 12:45 to 4:30), waking up was a bit easier since I hadn't been under for long (I think it lasted about 30 minutes in my case). I still feel a bit funky -- I'm sure there's still some drugs floating around in my system -- and my arm and armpit are sort of mildly irritated. Goes without saying I'm not doing much with my right arm. DH is bringing me spaghetti and ice cream etc. Hope things stay good after the drugs have all worn off. It is good to be done with the trips under general anasethesia. I'm not a big fan of that disorientation. My surgeon said one week will probably be enough healing time but I think I am going to shoot for two with work since my job can be pretty physical. And next week I go to get my port out, and my parents are coming up for the 4th so I will be pretty busy. Now I have to divide my time between rubbing my fuzzy head and tenatively checking out my chest which mercifully does not feel like a cannonball any more.

damesfly glad you are doing well. Wishing you Speedy healing

You are all so inspiring!

Sugarcakes- Wow! I am sure your new girls will look as fab as your current girls! Best wishes on your surgery!

Darumama- I am sorry for all of your SE's. And as for your mom- well, no one quite understands unless they have been through what we have. She certainly means well and is really hoping that you will feel "normal" soon!

I have had headaches, bloody nose, vision changes and major yuck mouth with Taxol, overall though, better than A/C- not as much fatigue which is really nice.

So I have 4 of 12 total Taxol left to go (already did 4 A/C) until I am finished with chemo. Problem is, my port has been painful for me from day one and I am just about at wits end with daily pain and discomfort in my chest, neck, underarm and shoulder. Also during the past 4 treatments, they had trouble getting blood flow and they has to lay me back and flush port. They think it might be fibran sheaths?

My MO and I have gone back and forth and she thinks the stress of the pain is bad for me. She thinks I ahould just get the port removed and use a vein for the rest. Despite my issues with the port, the thought of using a vein worries me too! Did anybody else have Taxol without a port? Iam going for a port evaluation tomorrow so we will see if there is something wrong with it, if not, I guess I will just tough it out for another month. Ugh

Thanks everyone!

If it is found to be a fibrin sheath on your cath, PLEASE watch for ANY unusual signs of head/neck pressure, roaring in your ears, shortness of breath, etc when you raise your arms over your head or bending over.

I had Port issues too. Mine never felt "ok", we struggled to get draws, and after a contrast X-ray found a decent sized fibrin sheath. Used cath-flo to get it working for infusions but it was still hit and miss for draws.

I started those symptoms back at the end of March. I told chemo nurses and Onc about them and that I was afraid the sheath broke free. They said no and they put it off as fatigue as I had just complete 4x TC. Well the symptoms just got progressively worse and I really pushed the issue with my rads oncologist who was highly concerned. He sent me straight over to the ER for a CT scan where they found a large blood clot (not the fibrin sheath, but caused by it) and admitted me on the spot. That was Monday at 7:30am. I've been here in the hospital since (today is now Friday - I think lol) on heparin and just had the port removed yesterday. Will transition to Coumadin today and get home finally. What a week!

Bottom line, speak up loudly and be persistent if you feel anything like those symptoms!

Hang in there.You got this!!!! Xoxo

good luck Carolyn, hope it's nothing, I have had blood clots in the past so hope this port holds up, I can feel the line/tube that leads into my neck. A little scary, but had a portograph about a month ago when no blood return, so keep hydrated.

Tortuous, glad you stuck up for yourself, be your own advocate... Your just a number in the big scheme of things. Had that idea, but we are all guinea pigs in this cancer protocol environment.

Be well all

I am feeling great Darumama! The only issue I have with the reconstruction is that they won't allow me to do heavy lifting etc. and I feel like I could, but I don't want things to get dislodged down there so I will let it be. I'm looking forward to finally having a shower tomorrow. And yes, it does feel much better than the TE -- no more sharp corners, though I think the shape will keep changing for a while as things settle in, so to speak. It's nice and perky now. Now if I could just reliably sleep through the night, but combining hot flashes with general summer heat is too much. I had to run down in the middle of the night last night and grab a cold pack from the freezer. Still it's small potatoes compared with what some of you are still dealiing with. Keep moving forward ladies and we will all get through!

Well, having the port evaluated was a colossal waste of time! He looked at it for 2 secs and listened to my symptoms and said that all they could do is take it out if it is bothering me but he wouldn't recommend it because I would have to ise a vein for my last 4 Taxol. He said it was fine, take some pain meds and basically suck it up. Geez, sometimes I love docs but other times ......urghhhhhh!!

I thought he would at least do an ultrasound or something but he said that wouldn't show anything. He didn't rule out that there may be something causing my pain but he didn't think it was the port and therefore not his problem ( he didn't say that, I am just projecting)

Guess I get to complain to my MO on Monday again.

Thanks for listening...

seeing PA tomorrow before hercepton, gonna mention the cold flashes, balance issue, and a few vertigo issues. Maybe about dexiscan and is 6 months after first echo, is the next automatic or only if problems?

Stay well all. Will checkin tomorrow.