January 2016 Chemo!

I didnt have issues with rads until my 1st boost. My skin has broken down everywhere, blisters etc. Good thing is I only have 2 left then done I agree, bad as my skin looks and feels, chemo was 10x worse. I can't believe I'm saying that, but for me it's true.

Valstim - yes, you made me giggle. I need lots of them these days!

I think I'm too scared to do rads. I practically woke up from the lymph node surgery with LE. I keep reading about the percentage of complications after rads with recon and none of that mentions anyone with LE. Plus I'm the fair skinned kid slathering on sunscreen my whole life.

It doesn't help that I just don't trust words coming out of a dr's mouth now. I think things are being skipped and I don't know the question to ask to get the answers I should have.

Last chemo....I think I'm the last one to finish up in chemoland. I can't believe it.

I just met with my MO. Talk talk talk...then he starts in with, "And I want you to start taking Tamoxifen." I said I didn't want to, that I didn't want to be thrown into menopause, I've had two brain aneurysms, and I'm worried about osteoporosis. He actually listened. I'm waiting for blood test to be done about ovary function. I had to have an IUD put in when I got LCIS dx last summer, so I'm not sure when my last period was since then. Up till that point I'd never missed. Tbh, I thought I should have that test anyway before starting one of those pills.

Anyway, I kicked up enough of a fuss that I don't have to worry about it for 10 weeks. Then when he left and I'm talking to the pharmacist about nausea meds, the pharmacist says, "Next time tell him you're on this med for depression because that doesn't play well with Tamoxifen either. But don't say you got that from me."

Val, I'm glad your neuropathy and LE are better. I have both, too. It's nice to hear there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

I think because I still have to do recon, that nothing feels over. It's like graduating from law school. Why celebrate when the bar exam is a month away? Well, except that recon sounds like it's about a year away and takes a year.

BUT, (talking to myself) Ms Gloom and Doom, I am done with phase one. I have lashes again. I have eyebrows again. I've managed to lose 25 pounds during BC chemo rather than going the other way. I'm not in the fruit loop factory yet from driving myself nuts looking at reconstruction pictures. For these things I can be grateful. And maybe I'll have some bangin' chemo curls

Ugh, the chemo curls. The front and sides of my hair are mostly straight but the back is all deep marcel waves. I've never had trouble blowing it out but these I guess are too short. I had my hair cut and colored last week and the stylist couldn't do anything either. I hate how it looks but:

I have hair.

I have hair.

I have hair!

I'm giving brows and lashes a week to fall out before I bust out some Latisse on them and go back to extensions!

I was supposed to have a celebration dinner, but the hospital ran so late, dinner happened without me and I was told there'd be no other one! I'll do something if I'm up to it at all tonight. Me ringing the bell - please excuse my pants falling off, I need to go down a size again!!!

Frill...you look happy and healthy. WELCOME TO THE "Finished Side"‼️

Congrats Frill.

Congrats Frill!!! WOOP WOOP

Yay Frill!!!!

Going in for my re-excision tomorrow. I feel like I'm starting all over again. Wish me luck.

good luck lmv.

Zoladex starts for me September 8.

Oncologist: it's very important to maintain a healthy body weight, it reduces your risk of recurrence. The other thing that reduces your risk of recurrence is a medication called tamoxifen and having your ovaries shutdown, both of which will make it harder for you to maintain a healthy body weight.

Grr

Hello girls. It seems to get harder and harder to check in---mostly because life goes on and seems to take all my time lol.

Finished chemo in April and rads the end of June. Rads was a breeze compared to chemo although I didn't wear a bra for most of rads. It was a little awkward being a uni but it was worth it because I avoided big sores.

Anyone else here doing Aromasin rather than Tamoxifen? I'm 43 and am doing monthly Lupron shots to keep those ovaries from working and am taking Aromasin. So far so good with that. I've not really had any side effects other than hot flashes and even those have been manageable.

I went for my first consult for reconstruction. He suggested the lat flap for me. He doesn't know if I have enough extra skin for the DIEP but gave me the name of a PS that does that procedure. I go see her next week. More decisions to make! Ugh. I'm ready to stop having to decide about treatments/surgery. I stress over them so much!!

My hair is growing back. I had curly hair before so I'm thankful that it's coming back in curly. Unfortunately it's also very gray. I think my hair was that gray before, I just kept it colored. I've actually enjoyed my short hair---it's super easy.

I enjoy checking in to see how everyone is getting along.

LoveMyVisla...in my thoughts and prayers today.

Wonderful post, Val. I do often think of all the brave women who were in trials knowing they would be helping someone else. And so many improvements in treatment have come about. We still need a cure, but I'm grateful things have gotten better.

I try and reflect on some of those brave women I personally met, who made that sacrifice for those of us in the future. It helps me concentrate on life. it's hard to be grateful, appreciative and thankful, when you have lost your hair, well being and secure feeling of living a full life. That's what one wonderful woman told me. I admit I was afraid of those women when they would be in the waiting rooms, and lectures with me. Most had children my age, and I thought that could never be me.

Now I think of them often. So i have decided if faced with progression I will participate in trials, and give whatever I can to save my daughters generation. Hopefully I won't but I am a Plan B,C, D personality.