January 2016 Chemo!

rockstarteach I am 10 days after infusion #2 and I still can't taste. Just when you get your appetite back, nothing tastes good anyway . Of course it didn't stop me from eating chocolate chip cookie cake yesterday...

Cathytoo - I still have some fuzz but it is painful. I also developed a "sort of staph infection" [says my MO] so I'm using the alcohol and Dial soap regimen he prescribed when my face broke out like crazy. I'll be glad when I'm completely bald and can actually comfortably put my head on a pillow. Anyone with tips for the pain/prickly feeling?

I'm five days out from my 2nd chemo and already feeling better. Not nearly as bad as the first one. Some weird leg pain from the Neulasta but MO said I could take an occasional Advil and that helped. I only take Claritin beginning the day of chemo and for three days after the Neulasta. Seems to work okay for me. Mostly I can't seem to get comfortable anywhere and feel like I'm coming out of my skin. I miss me and my old life which won't ever be the same. I just have to accept that things are changing and it will be a while before I reach my new normal.

Interesting discussion about friends and how they can disappoint. My best friend, who doesn't live near me, has barely checked in except to group text pics of her grandkids. I thought she would be more hands on during my treatment especially since she and her husband traveled here to sit with my husband during my mastectomy and lymph node biopsy but since then I have not had any real contact. It makes me sad but I'm not going to waste my energy feeling bad over someone else's choices. My sister-in-law who I met once a couple of years ago has been amazing. She lost a sister to breast cancer so she does have first hand knowledge. She checks in from time to time to ask how I am. The rest of my husband's family who I've mostly kept at arm's length have sent boxes of stuff from hats to lotion to Biotene to puzzle books. It's overwhelming sometimes but I would never have known how much they all cared had it not been for this horrible thing called breast cancer.

Thank goodness for you wonderful ladies and all that you share. It's nice to voice the fears, disappointments, frustrations and joys with a group that gets it.

Cathytoo how about "busy fighting for my life"? Or too harsh?

Lifealot - had a bestie do the exact same thing going overboard then, crying. Had to put my foot down.

FLBuckeye93 - Tysm! I'm sure I will have questions!

Donnar25 - Thank you! I'm making a derm appt, tomorrow. I have 10 spots on me now. 😞

what a difference a month makes! It so good to hang out with you guys along with the February group. You have found out about so much info in such a short time. Thanks for the foresight

yes my head really hurt when it was falling a lot. I got a short short buzz and that hurt...but the pain stopped shortly afterwards.

regarding eyebrows. I still have mine but they are thinning. I can fill them in okay, but am not convinced I will be able to draw them on well from scratch! Has anybody seen this?

http://venusbrow.com/product/product&product_id=59

Today is my last day home before I drive back to Houston, then chemo on Thursday. I've been crying off and on about it since Sunday. I have to do PT for a month, so it will be awhile before I can drive back and then will I be able to make 4 hour drive? Last night I made dinner for DBF and his daughter and I and we hung out. I put my hospital schedule in my calendar last night (or started to) and I have to be at the hospital just about every day between chemo and PT. Luckily I can take the train from work, but still. I just do better with a routine, and well, by golly, cancer just isn't working with me!

My hair is still hanging in there. Lol I think it's just because I haven't brushed it, touched it, or done much more than pick it on Sunday or mash it down. Wednesday after work I guess we'll clip it. I'm going to be looking at all y'alls gorgeous pics for courage.

I actually did a work out DVD for the first time since surgery. My first down dog in forever. I'm stronger than I thought I might be, but way weaker than I was, and completely less flexible on my left side. I've made a lot of progress though just in the time that I got the post drain stretches.

I haven't had to have Neulasta yet - but wow, y'all don't make me want to sign up for it, that's for sure. I was looking at my blood counts online yesterday, I had one that was too high, then the others were borderline on the low end before my first treatment. No one has talked to me about them, though, although I think next time I'll pull them up and ask the chemo nurse about them.

FLBuckeye: That's a great idea about the Dixie Cups!!!!!! I'm getting some tomorrow. And I have Biotene in my chemo bag, so I can start using that. I tend to get some mouth sores without chemo, so I want to get a jump on it.

MB12: Latisse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going for Botox at the beginning of the month at I can get some then. Hopefully I'll still have eyebrows. I used Latisse after a round of bad lash extensions. It took forever, but it did work. With my luck I'll still have leg hairs the whole damn time and will have waited to get a Brazilian for nothing. You crack me up with your birthday - what can I do with myself--that's the way I was with cancer. What can I do?!??? Only my PS was like, no, only Botox, you don't need any fillers, just keep using the Tazorac. I do my chemical peels at home, though. The water app is Plant Nanny. It's precious. I wish my dr would have thumbs upped the cold cap. She didn't say I couldn't, she just said, "We don't endorse it." *sigh* I'm eyeballing a waist length platinum wig....trying to talk myself out if it, but it's human hair and on sale - but how many wigs do I really need....

Cathytoo: You're right!!!!!!! No white after Labor Day, lol because my mother would reach down from heaven and smack me because she'd know! And always wearing hose with a suit, even if it is 105 degrees outside.

Smurfette: ****HUGS!!!!***** I hope you're doing ok! Every time I see you post it makes me smile. You were my first contact on here.

What a lovely thing to say Frill. Happy I can make you smile. I remember your early posts here. We have both come so far.

Not everyone has pain from the Nuelasta. I didn't and never took Claritin. Hope if you need it you don't have any side effects.

I never totally lost my eyebrows. They thinned but not enough that I had to do much with them. Hope yours hang in there LovesToFly

I'm not sure what the rationale is for neupogen versus Neulasta. First round I got neupogen, this time Neulasta. Pros and cons for both. Ten shots versus one, although if you have a better immune system than mine, you might not need ten days worth. I had no side effects from neupogen, but had about two days of flu like muscle pain from the Neulasta. Much better today.

It will be interesting to see my numbers on Thursday, and to see which one they give me next time. I already know the MO is planning on my doing at least two days of neuopgen during taxol.

It seems like some people's doc's say no to false lashes, but some don't. Have any of you started losing yours yet

((((hugs)))) paulinek. I hear you and feel the same way, it is still a shock every time I look in the mirror, even though I often walk around openly bald (I would say I wear a hat about 60-70% of the time I am out in public/at work)! I'm glad people don't think it looks horrible, but I'm so sick of people saying how awesome it looks, or that they hope I keep my hair short. WTF?

I might kick the next person that tells me my hair is growing to grow back better than ever, even though I hope it is true it is no consolation now and my hair was perfectly fine thankyouverymuch!

It's so refreshing to come here and see EVERYONE shares the same emotions that I feel, and that I am not being petty! Loosing my hair for me has also been the hardest part of this journey. I too am sick of people saying "it's only hair it will grow back" UGH!! another person told me this weekend oh you should start a movement and just go bald, (I admire all those who do, but I'm not at that point just yet)so I said a movement? Ok so I can count on you to join the movement and shave your head??? Crickets!!!

I've been bald for quite a while now and still get a start every time I see my reflection. Don't think I'll ever get used to it. My hubby shaves his head. Not because I lost my hair. He has done it for as long as I can remember. Once he started balding he said it was going on his terms. He didn't want an "island"; as he calls it. The bald look suits him.

jensgotthis I know what you mean about wigs being hot. It's the middle of summer here in Australia and I live in a very hot place. Have only worn my wig once and that was when I visited my daughter. She lives somewhere much cooler. My licence is due for renewal in a couple of months so suppose I'll have to wear my wig for that photo. Not sure how long it takes for hair to grow back. Everyone is different I guess. I'm taking Arimidex now and read it can cause thinning of the hair. Seems like it never ends. Sigh.

Hooray - I get to have chemo tomorrow Who knew a week would change my attitude so much…well, I guess I kind of knew.

It's only 5 weeks since my last chemo. Not expecting hair for a while yet though hubby says I have 3 or 4 longish ones. Might plait them. LOL