Chemo in June 2015

Congrats to everyone finishing chemo. I finished that stage last Thursday. Those of you still in it, my words of advice are to take treatment one step/stage at a time, you will get through this.

I've got herceptin for a year, hoping the side effects go away. I'm really achy right now. Then radiation.

Happy to hear all your stories. It helps to feel the togetherness. Thank you warriors!

DayLily- Did your hair start to grow back? If so Taxotere will likely cause it to fall out again. I had 4 rounds of cytoxan and taxotere and lost the hair on my head by Day 18. I always had some fuzz but no new growth. I'm 7 weeks post final chemo now and am seeing good growth on my head. The eyebrows started to go about 3 weeks ago (a month after I finished chemo)and are almost gone now. I still have eyelashes, but a few are missing and who knows, I may still lose those. I was told that it is common for the brows and lashes to be the last to go.

Hello all! Finished last chemo round 10/6 and still having SEs. I've seen where others here are "achy"....I'm taking Hydros to avoid as much pain as possible because mine has been really tough! Lots of "pain" - even with the Hydros, lots of lower ab pain - not as much nasea as in the beginning - more like very painful gas/constapation. But my big question is about what I would call "muscle pain" ... I know that bone pain is common - I'm not sure I can tell the difference between bone pain and muscle pain. But I want it to STOP now. Enough is enough. I get these frequent "jabbing" pains - sort of like being shocked by electricity - sudden sharp pains that bring me to my knees! It could be in my bones - or my muscles - I can't tell. But even with the Hydro pain killers - the pain is there. I know if I can get through the next week or so I should be on my way! Rads next!

Anybody else having these sharp, stabbing pains? When do they finally stop?

Thanks! Prayers to all & many Blessings!

Catfurr - I've heard of some people getting the red bumps - but I don't know what the solution is. That's the one thing I got real lucky about - my skin looks better than it ever has. And as far as the biopsy - I thought it hurt like H*&^!!! I know they said it wasn't supposed to hurt - but I thought I would jump though the ceiling! I'm sorry you are still having pain from the procedure. Pain sucks.

Come on Oct 20th! I know you are more than ready to end this part of your life. I'm still having SEs, but I just keep reminding myself that I don't have to go back for more. That is a GREAT comfort.

It was suggested to me today that my body aches might be a SE of the hormone blocker that I started right before chemo - I guess I'll know in a few weeks since body aches are not supposed to be a part of Rads (starting that mid Nov.) If the body aches are a SE of the hormone blocker - don't know what I'll do. Can't be on pain killers forever!

I wish I had some helpful advise - but I don't. Just encouragement and prayers. And since you are coming upon your last treatment, maybe the red bumps will go away on their own. Well, we can only hope.

Please keep us all posted because someone else probably has the red bump SE, too. Or someone who comes into chemo a year from now. I know I've read most every post here - especially during the early dx time - looking for any info I could find. I appriciate some of the older posts - very helpful.

Also, keep us posted about your chemo SEs. I'll try to keep my SEs posted to let people know how long they can expect SEs to linger, well, at least in my case.

Prayers and Blessings!

December--the bumps are a little better today. Just add it to the SE list and move on😄 Maybe your MO could switch your blocker to something that might be easier on you?

Italychick--thanks for the suggestion! Will certainly do that if it gets worse!

Hey Kickin?? How you feeling?? A little more than 3 weeks out. Been thinking of you! xo

Last chemo was 9/18 - I have fine baby soft hairs growing in (my little sproutlets)! I can see both coarser dark patches and these white hairs. Still have eyebrows and sparse lashes, although the brows seem to get thinner every day. I have a touch of neuropathy and chemo brain...

Surgery for the double mastectomy is 11/16, then 6 weeks of radiation. Oncologist switched me to every 3 weeks for herceptin (thanks to your postings on the subject, I raised the subject and he agreed that I could do that!)

Thank you all for being so wonderful - it was a comfort to know that I was not going thru this alone.

Best Wishes Always,

Alex

Last chemo 10/06 - Rads next week. Chemo is do-able. Hang in there! Hair on head feels like I haven't shaved my legs in two weeks. Gained 15 lbs on chemo! Now hoping to loose it. You can live off icecream!

Last Chemo was October 20th and my MRI showed "no residual abnormalities" YAY!! Lumpectomy tomorrow with SNB, ready to get it over with! Both girls get a slight reduction and a lift! PS said not enough to change cup size, but they will be higher and perky! Rads start dec 15th, don't know yet how many but I'm assuming 30. So far, I haven't been impressed with this weight loss program, but that's ok. I'm just great full that I've only vomited once in 4 months

I feel Great! have had 2 sx lumpectomy and then re excision to get better margins. 2nd surgery was successful! (10/28) Saw the oncologist on Friday at 5 Never will I have another Friday afternoon appointment RUINED my weekend! Although the surgeon told me no more Chemo just some radiation the oncologist is suggesting 12 rounds of Taxol because there was trace amounts of cancer in one lymph node....SO PISSED! Of course Ill do what ever I need to but really!~ UGh! I am going for a second opinion just because that will make me feel better about doing more. I initially did 4 rounds of neoadjuvant AC chemo...YUCK! Oh well whatever it takes! Hugs

Hey ladies its been awhile but I had to share that my pathology report came back after mastectomy and no signs of cancer left Complete response to treatment. Since I have IBC I have to do radiation once I recover but I am happy all the crappy Chemo side effects and pain were worth it !! Sending you all happy and healthy healing vibes, Stay Strong ladies ! Keep posting because I know we all like reading the updates.

Steph you look great! I'm hoping that you're right, everyone's moved on from this roller coaster. I have as much as I can, still a little haunted by it all. Trying very much to grow my hair back, I look a bit like a mop. So far my cancer is not coming back, so I don't mind the bad hairdo so much. Take care my friend!