Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Jan, thanks for the info on your Sim. Glad it went ok. We can be rads buddies. I think will start rigt after you. I am a little wacky too.

Hopefully the stiffness will ease. Good luck in the AI. I won't start Tam until after I am done with Rads.

Peggy, I am going to get the tats. I will be badass!

Yeah like Peggy said.

Not sure what kind of chemo you're getting MLP or how often. For me the first few days weren't bad. Days 4-6 were the worst and then you start to feel human again. I had a metallic taste and not much of an appetite the first week. I ate mostly Popsicles or sorbets, Italian ice, anything cold. Mentally you're hungry but not physically( bloating, GI problems, diarrhea).. After the first week, I really enjoyed spicy food, as everything else tasted off( I usually paid for it bathroom wise).Slowly things got back to normal and then it's time for the next treatment. It's probably different for other people. I hope that helps

MLP- fab about your DD...that was a proud mom talking to friends- not bragging!

My MO said no nail work. After having that staph infection from a splinter during chemo I still haven't had one since am still doing the Herceptin.

I felt tired but ok first 2-3 days after chemo- tired as it took 6 hours each time and that damn benedryl. Worst days were usually evening of 3rd day would start to feel "green" and would take 1/2 Ativan and or Zofran. Took one or the other as prescribed to stay ahead of the nausea for several days thereafter. Started having a few saltines before bed and first thing in morning- like being preg. Days 4- 6 or so were very green, exhausted and I watched a lot of tv and snoozed off and on either on sofa or screen porch. Did try to get in a short walk each day. (I do NOT advise going to the porch for you, haha- you do not need frostbite!) By that time- most foods tasted weird- so I would eat several small meals each day- which might just be unsw applesauce and saltines, soup or grits with or without a little scrambled egg. Even after that was better food tasted weird and off so wasn't really important to me...ate to keep strength up. When I felt more like myself again it was time for the next one. 6 rounds-every 3 weeks. I think the Taxotere and Perjeta were the worst of the group for me and with each treatment it took longer to feel ok.

The anti nausea meds (Ativan works on it and Zofran) worked great for me as I never actually threw up or anything like you see in the movies. I had a huge issue with the big "D" and had to take meds for that as well as rash on hands/feet from the Taxotere that caused my skin to actually burn from the inside out..weird and painful.

I LOVE to cook but didn't do a lot of that during treatment- had great fam and friend support and they really helped out with that- plus, as therapy while getting ready for chemo, I made some soups and things we like and had them in the freezer. Plus, it was summer into fall and it was easy to get fresh veggies/fruit and that was great.

You have been such a badass with everything so far- know you will do WELL!!!

HH: I love that!!!

Hi MLP....If you are going to get a mani/pedi best to get it before you start chemo...wearing polish isn't a problem, in fact some women believe it can help keep nails strong, especially if you choose dark colors (and why that is I have no idea, but then I never wore polish before or during chemo, or since)...but there is some concern about the cleanliness of some nail salons, which is an issue if you are immunocompromised: so choose carefully.

The nausea varies quite a bit by individual. I had almost none, just a touch of morning sickness, very similar to what I felt when pregnant, which went away if I ate crackers or toast before getting out of bed (just as I did when pregnant). Talk to your MO about the nausea, and be sure they know if you have ANY: there are really good drugs out there and you shouldn't suffer. Emend is great stuff, for example. They also gave me Ativan, but I barely used it.

Driving: you may feel fine, you may not. It varies a LOT by individual. Personally, I worked all through chemo, and drove to work, (only a ten minute commute) with only transfusion day off and day four and sometimes five post treatment. Day four is when I felt the worst because I would crash post steroids. I'd plan to not do to much until you know how it effects you. Keep in mind that it is cumulative and you will likely start to feel worse towards the end of treatment.

The best chemo advice I got was from my MO, who said to live my life as normally as possible, and to continue routines, including exercise, as much as I could. Absolutely right. Even a walk around the block helps. I walked several miles a day during chemo. (I slacked off during rads, however...mostly because of weather...and also more fatigue..) Exercise really does help!

Moondust: I live in Central California, but north of Fresno. In the scheme of things, not far at all from you and Sloan for a meet up. I know Alpaugh, drive by there all the time when I head to LA to see my DD and grandkids. I do know of really good Mexican restaurants in both Delano and in Tulare...(potential meet up spots..) Actually, there is a Vietnamese restaurant in Bakersfield I really like...and while I have stopped backpacking because of my knees (although we did do the Yosemite High Sierra Camps two years ago and hope to do part of it again this summer), I do a lot of hiking in the Sierra. Kings Canyon is on the itinerary for a camping/hiking trip this summer.

Sending hugs to all!

Octogirl

HH- great photo!

Great advice ladies... Keep it coming! Hopefully I can get my nails done on Monday;)

MLP, I had a mani/pedi done before chemo, as well. I was a long-time nail-biter until I turned 57. Not even kidding. What turned me around was manicures. I'm 59 now and no longer biting--UNLESS I allow my nails to go unpolished. When that happens I find my fingers in my mouth so quick it makes my head spin (I know, gross, but it is what it is, a type of OCD.)

I continued to have a mani every 3 weeks. I figured the risk of the mani was less than. the risk of having my hands to my mouth constantly. I did switch from gel nails to regular polish. With gel nails, there is a lot of clipping, pushing, and scraping involved. With the regular mani I just had them forgo any cuticle clipping. As far as the pedi, I had 2 during chemo. I can't see well enough to clip my toenails now, so I go about every 4-6 weeks to have someone else do it. I didn't allow them to do any digging around or cutting down too short.

For me, having my mani/pedi worked out well. Not only did it make me feel pretty (considering I had lost my hair) ,but it kept me from biting my nails or having foot problems during chemo. I didn't lose any nails at all and none of them changed color.

Second the advice about mani-pedis while on chemo (or anything that makes you immunocompromised): regular nail polish, filing nails, softening & pushing back cuticles, massages: fine. Clipping cuticles, digging around & cutting ingrown toenails, filing calluses (with anything sharper than a pumice stone), gel or “no-chip" polish? Wait till a few weeks after chemo when your white cell count is normal again and nails are healthy. Both gels and “no-chip" polish require soaking in acetone and then scraping to remove--not good for already-weakened nail beds. The LED lamps used to cure some gels & no-chip polishes can be too hot for delicate and damaged nail beds. My nail tech (salon owner) says she advises her clients who have chemo to wear protective and restorative basecoats (Nailtiques is great) and just get regular polish changes more often till their nail beds grow out. (Ask what color they're using, buy it and some topcoat at the drugstore and touch up chips yourself between manis). And it goes w/o saying you should bring your own tools (or have an assigned set earmarked for you alone, autoclaved); as well as NEVER allowing cuticles to be cut on the hand on the same side as your surgical breast--if you have LE, make sure any hand massages are gentle and use strokes toward the arm, not the fingertips.

If you have stubborn calluses and ingrown toenails, get that stuff taken care of BEFORE chemo starts, and then practice “good foot habits:" wearing only shoes & socks that fit properly, padding any “hot spots" that might become blisters (and applying blister bandages as soon as you notice a blister forming), and using foot cream to keep calluses from thickening.

Jan, you might not have to be that careful showering: I had the Sharpie Xes covered with plastic tape, and that tape stayed put until I finally was told to remove it.

Annie, get yourself a “reacher" for objects high up on or at the back of shelves, so you don't stretch too much before your surgeon tells you it's safe to do so. I took it on myself to start stretches and “wall-walks" before I was told to, and my LE therapist told me that even though they are beneficial, doing them too soon after surgery might have contributed to both my axillary seroma formation and cording. Once you are told it's okay, though, do them as instructed. BTW, if, like me, you can't find Genie-type bras in large enough cup sizes, Leading Lady makes them in A/B, C/D/E and F/G/H cups in bands from 32-48. HerRoom.com, BareNecessities.com and Figleaves.com (Figleaves is based in the UK) all have them and can rush-ship if you need them sooner. Those sites also carry pretty colors of soft-cup bras in all sizes, in case you are told to avoid underwires. Nobody need settle for white, beige, or black any longer.

Thank you chisandy! You are a rock star with advice👍🏻

Thanks for all the good wishes and encouragements.

ChiSandy- Thanks for the Southern Bell compliment. But what if I am a transplanted Yankee?lol

Peachy2- About Vitamin B- My multi vitamin has 100% DV for Folic Acid, B6, B12, and Iron.

Happy Hammer- I LOVE your picture about "Good Friends".

I am still feeling good today but my tummy feels funny.

I need to get off this computer and go to church.

Post lumpectomy BRAS

Oh, tell me more about this! My right breast will be about 1/3 to 1/2 smaller and lopsided (narrow). What did you all do and how did you 'normalize' the right breast...

ChiSandy

Thanks for the tips! I'm looking at the Genie Bras site right now....they look comfy and I can add a pad on my right side which will soon be a tiny tittle. I have D cup size now, looks like the large might fit. YES! Lets go with white, orchid and pink.

Mustlovepoodles

Great! Hopefully I won't need to remember that one...("Oh, goodie..."). I decided today that Darth Cancer is being removed on Tuesday and that's the source of the dark cells. After that, the dark cells will not be able to co-exist with the EXTREME life force that radiate from every healthy cell in my body - so the rest of this is just prevention. Also, I work with an ND and I just got my package from her to super saturate my body with antioxidants.

Annie, Don't get a large in the Genie bra. I am a 36A and take a large! Their sizing is really screwy. You can find them at RiteAid. Read the box!!!!!

Praline, that is wonderful!

Iammags, my BS told me. I don't recall how long it took but not long.

HUGS!

Thank goodness, ChiSandy for bad weather!

I gave my DIL a teddy to keep her company during chemo (colon cancer). She said it helped.

Praline, definitely dig out those teddies. If nothing else, your mom and aunt will be with you and that is comforting.

HUGS!

You know, I sleep with a teddy bear every night. I got him on a cross-country trip, up in Yellowstone. I named him Brown Bear and he's been sleeping with me since 2007. At first my DH didn't understand and I never explained it to him, but now he just goes along with it. Brown Bear gives me peace and comfort.

Soooo, this morning I woke up with an enormous swelling under my non-cancer arm. It's sore as heck. There's a smaller one under the cancer-breast arm which I can see is draining into the JP drain when I massage the area. But this one on the other side is firm, no sloshing, and massage doesn't do a thing for the drain. It does, however, cause some seepage from two different areas of the suture lines. Foo. I've been stripping the lines best as I could, and my DH won't touch them with a 10 foot pole, so I'm afraid that the lines on that side may be clogged up. Annnnd, today I got so aggressive with it that I popped the stitches holding one in place! I hope I don't pull the thing out.

Then, I have an area from knee to hip, about 4 inches wide that has been numb since surgery. The inner 2" is completely numb; I can drive a pin into to the depth of drawing blood and not feel a thing. The outer inch is less numb; I can feel pressure but not pain. Last night, I was awakend 4 times by searing hot pain in that area, knee to hip.

My next appt isn't until next Fri, but I think I'm going to call Mon and see if the NP can take a look at things.