January 2016 Chemo!

LovesToFly...Jill, you look FABULOUS‼️

I met with my surgeon yesterday. She said that if she were my sister, she would tell me to do the re-excision. She said <1mm margins can't be overcome by more rads. She said we could do the surgery as soon as two weeks from now! All along the MO has been saying a month out from last chemo, so I've gotten used to that in my head. I have absolutely no stamina, and a host of side effects to recover from, so I'm taking the month and will have surgery on August 10th.

I'm not happy to have more tissue taken out and reduce my breast size again, but I never want to go through chemo again. My sister, who is a brand new nurse, is being less than supportive in my decision. Not happy with her right now.

My sister would have had a mastectomy and been done with it. No chemo, no rads. Easy for her to say, but not so easy when you are triple negative. You never really know what choices you will make unless it happens to you, and you shouldn't second guess anyone else's decisions. Chemo bumped me down from 35-40% chance recurrence to 17-20% chance. Still not great odds, hence the re-excision and rads.

I had my lumpectomy yesterday, feeling good, just some soreness at the incision sites. The best news is that the lymph node that had 3cm of cancer in it when this all started was cancer free!!! That was unexpected and a big relief, now just waiting for the rest of the pathology.

I'll be joining all of you with this rads "fun" in a few weeks.

Congrats LifeAloft!

How are your rads going, Val? Where are you in the process

I had a BMX and still needed chemo and rads. Everybody's different so I don't get this idea of just get a mastectomy and be done with it.

Hi, lovelies. ❤️ I just ran across an article during Google obsession. Catching up on this thread, at least I know it's not just me, lol.

http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2015/07/08...

It's relevant for ER+/PR+ of us, which I know is Jill and Paxton, but that's just off the top of my head. Lol, I checked Paxton's, but I really did know Jill's...I guess that's what happens when we're around each other for awhile. Anyway, I've been curious about Progesterone cream even before BC, and have seen it as a natural alternative to Tamoxifen, but not that it's a proven substitute. I'd be willing to try Tamoxifen if the dr will give me the cream, too.

I'm on my phone, so it's hard for me to respond really specifically. I just thought that article was really interesting and it actually put me in a good mood and wanted to share with y'all.

My new symptom is difficulty breathing. I can't do anything without having to rest after this last chemo. Going to dr, but frustrated with this new turn of events.

Cathytoo: Thank you for the cabbage info!!!!! I've heard that .... and the name of the greasy recommended rad cream has flown out of my head. Chemo brain. Y'all know which one I'm talking about. What I want to say is, there's a thread in rads from women who were successful with it, and they all seemed to use that AQUAPHOR lol stuff immediately after treatment. Like do not pass go, do not collect $200 right after each and every time. I'm thinking it will help the cabbage leaves cling?

Jen: I'm so happy for you!!!!!!

Since I'm on my phone, I'm including a pic for eyebrow progress. Looks like they're not going to fall out with each treatment.

Valstim52 Do you mind finding out what's in it? Interested in hearing more!

Hi, ladies! Been away for a while, but been lurking as much as possible. I am now 10 weeks post chemo and feeling soooooo much better! I actually got a treadmill yesterday and running again using the Couch 2 5K method. I have been very successful with it in the past and am looking forward to moving my body again. I started taking Tamoxifen about 4 weeks post chemo and have no ill side effects - including weight gain or sexual. So, I am pleased with that.

Hair is growing back slowly but surely. Lost all of my bottom lashes about 8 weeks post chemo and most of my top now...I cried. Sometimes it's the little things.

Anyone using CBD oil or have any thoughts on it? I've been doing a bit of research on my own but a little hesitant to make the jump. My oncologist actually mentioned that she has several patients that use it but didn't out right recommend it.

LovesMyVizsla, I promise I wasn't criticizing your sister. I just remember my surgeon telling me the day of my diagnosis that most women do some sort of systemic treatment even with BMX. And they really didn't know radiation would be on the table until after surgery.

Frill, thanks for the article--interesting, I just wish they were further along (don't we all, about everything). As usual, you look so cute in your scarf!

I only had really one week of pain during radiation, though it was pretty miserable. I finished about 3 weeks ago and you can hardly see the tan/red any more. I will never use Aquaphor again if I can help it, though. It ruined several shirts. Emu oil works well.

I used Sulfadiazine cream also and it really helped with the red raw skin in my last 2 weeks. Cleared it up in about 10 days. Great for burns I was told but a chef friend.

Wendiwithani -- I have not tried CBD. I've been using RSO for about 1 month. The people at the dispensary recommended it. I have been seeing improvement with symptoms from chemo, but not sure if it is due to time or the RSO. Finished chemo the last week of March.The RSO is easy to take and I've only felt "high" twice.

When I met with the NP yesterday, she suggested that I might want to keep my port until after my re-excision. Now I'm second guessing myself and wonder if I should keep it. Thoughts?