Starting chemotherapy March 2017

Hi Ladies - I ran my first 5k since before surgery/chemo, and while it took me 32 minutes to do it, it felt soooo good. I'm getting ready to run another one Friday night and hopefully I won't feel so winded this time.

Tara17 - My tumor was right under my nipple so I didn't have a choice on that one. I had to get a regular mastectomy. On the side without cancer, I opted for a skin-sparing mastectomy. Post surgery, the nipple on the skin-sparing side still looks like my nipple and there haven't been any complications relative to that. One issue I am having is that the surgeon scraped the breast tissue off of that side so well, that the skin in one area (approx. 1 inch in diameter) was scraped really thin. I was told my skin is on the thin side anyway, so getting what they call a "really good" skin sparing mastectomy was going to do that. Ultimately, it's not going to be a major issue, but I can't have my tissue expander on that side fully inflated until they're sure the skin is completely healed so that area doesn't get stretched even more.

With that said, I don't regret choosing to do the skin-sparing. I love looking in the mirror and seeing that I still have that part of me, even if i don't see it on the other side. I've posted this before but when I look at the skin-sparing side, it still feels like me. I can look at myself and still feel somewhat whole. When I look at the regular mastectomy side, it doesn't feel like it's part of me. It feels like an attachment that I can't take off. It's hard to explain, but if I had the option of doing a skin sparing on both sides knowing what I know now, I would do it without hesitation.

I hope this gives you another perspective, but like Bringon2017 said... you have to do what's right for you.

3dogs2cats1kid - I'm sorry you have to be here, but welcome to the group. I've been having the same issue with Perjeta. Have you been using Immodium? I find it takes a couple of them before it starts to kick in. I haven't had a ton of neuropathy yet, although I do feel it in my feet here and there. I've been icing my hands and feet during chemo to hopefully help keep it at bay. Not sure if it's working, but like I said, it hasn't been too bad so maybe it is.

Tara, had my appointment, with my ps. Now it's real. I also did my pre op and registration. The nerves are starting to kick in. I wasn't aware mastectomy was that long. I'll be having immediate reconstruction

Hi ladies,

Starting to feel a little better and less icky today. It has been very tiring after the 4th and final chemo. I have been sleeping or just laying down and resting since the treatment.

LordHelpMEToo- Good luck on your upcoming BMX .

Tara17- You have one more treatment to go! Very Nice !

Rebamacfan123- Where do you find all that energy? WOW! I don't even complete my 5000 steps for the day. Now I feel bad and need to make an effort.

Soxfan75- A marathon??? Congrats!

3dogs2cats1kid - Welcome to the group. I have heard Vitamin B6 helps for the neuropathy. I had bought it , but didn't try it. I was on the B complex and the neuropathy didn't get too bad for me .

MommyErin- Hope you are well.

Six month ultrasound check up on the left breast is good. No sign of cancer on the remaining breast. Will have another ultrasound and mammogram in six months time again.
I am so happy chemo is written of the to do list now. Now to "will" the hair to regrow (lolololol) , stop wearing chemo beanie caps. Cant wait to start having my raw vegetables and salads. Diet change again and get back to some sort of normalcy in my life. Looking forward to not being so tired and winded all the time and hope the hot flashes settle down again.

My next step is Tamoxifen and this starts in two weeks. Also, My ONC wants me to do a PET-CT scan and take a closer look at everything . There is a dermoid on my right ovary that he would like to be removed. and then there is reconstruction, So, I am not finished with doctors yet for a while.

Hello everyone,

I really appreciate the peeps on this thread. Thank you!

It's been a bit of a rollercoaster. 8 weeks post op my incision site is still not completed closed (very unsual – for those of you having upcoming surgery, please do not worry, I don't know anyone else who had this). This has deleyed chemo. The date has been set for first week June, which makes it 11 weeks post op – close to deadline of best practice. I am concerned bc if it's not fully healed by then, it's not going to heal when I'm on chemo.

On that note, I'll be on FEC D. Any comments or suggestions welcome J. I'll be posting at the time with observations. I'm in the process of getting the things to prep (eg. mouthwash, etc). Any encouragement welcome….

Soxfan75

Thanks for all of your commentary and suggestions – I'm going to check out the link you suggested.

The bump in the road is that my oncologist will not support the use of cold caps at her clinic/hospital. I would need to change doctors, which is very upsetting to me although I suppose I could do so – Toronto has a good network.

Ps – I am so impressed with your run, am trying to remember that it will get better- you are very encouraging.

Kimburke – thinking about you and your pup…they are true bundles of love…

Tara17: In my situation re: BMX: nipple sparing was not an option. I find that the doctors are a good source of indication whether or not it's medically appropriate or recommended. I imagine that (type of reconstruction…if), may also play a part. In my situation the general surgeon and plastic surgeon were two different doctors so you may want to get feedback from both of them.

Good luck on tx # 11. If you have any other q re: surgery – DM me, happy to converse J. You too LordHelpMEToo J

MommyErin – you may have already made decisions J, to echo Soxfan75- getting clarification from your plastics may be very helpful. My understanding is that they complete all fills *before the radiation, because they cannot make any changes during the radiation process. They mark our skin to determine where the radiation goes and there can be no changes to the breast during that time. Also, I believe that once radiated, they do not expand the TE because skin/muscle that has been radiated is different/tighter/contraction. I'm not a dr - J, just my understanding from my experience.

Thanks Tara :-) - good suggestions - will look into! OOhhh - I've cut myhair since 1990 (crystal gayle anyone lol), but it's always been long hair since then.

thanks for the links as well :-)

Hello all!

Newbie here but started TAC as neoadjuvant in march. I am Day 7 of 4th round, 2 more to go. Day 7 means I feel better so I usually stay up way too late enjoying just not feeling like total poo!

My tumor has shrunk and hoping it will keep shrinking. Anyone else out there with chemo before surgery?

My toughest symptom at this point is facing 2 more rounds. I work hard to remain positive and strong but here, I won't lie, I hate chemo + 6 days after

Hi Tara17!

Thank you for the words of encouragement! You're right, finding support helps a lot!

Keep fighting

Hello everyone!

I cut my hair yesterday...and it went okay...actually more than okay ;-). Some of my friends met me at the salon, I brought wine and OJ, and my salon guy was super sweet and did an amazing job. The last time I had short curly hair, decades ago, it was a disaster, and the time of trying to straighten it out and all people could create was pyramid head. Now it looks totally different. It's wild and cute and above the shoulders and like 'fusilli' hair all over. It's adorable. This has given me some sense of relief because although I will need to shave my head in around 4 weeks, I can sort of see what I will look like in around 2 years post treatment and can see that I can 'wear' shorter hair. Not super short (huge ears!) but short. It feels a little naked, but still feminine. It's weird to not be moving my hair, and the hair tie I've had on my wrist for 25 + years is not needed! Big hugs for your support. It is also the same length that if the curls were straightened, they will be someone the same length as the wig I'm thinking of...

Tara17 –
thanks for the link!


Goobey72 –
thanks for checking in – and for your MIL story – egads!! ;-). Personally, I
know people mean well, but I can't hear anymore 'it will grow back' from people
who have not been through this. It's not just the hair (which will take 16
months plus before looking normal on me), but also the eyebrows and lashes. I
made a mistake with my eyebrows when I was 16 and the section never grew back!
;-). So I find myself irritated with people who have not gone through this but somehow think 'it will grow back' is a reply…."it sucks" is a perfectly good response to the fear of losing one's hair !

Running another 5k today. Got to get it in before treatment #4 of 6 on Thursday. I'm so ready for these to be over. Does anyone else have a chemo port? Mine is so ugly. It just sticks out so far. Unfortunately I'm stuck with it until next March which is when I'll finally finish getting my targeted therapy drugs. I was thinking about getting it taken out in July once I stop the chemo drugs but that means they'll have to give me the targeted therapy drugs through an IV. Anyone else get their treatments through an IV? Does it hurt? Have you had any issues?

Limonia – I'm sorry to hear your onc won't support cold capping. You would think that they would encourage anything that helps the emotional state of their patients. My capping hasn't interfered much with my treatment. Last time out, I had to delay one drug by about 5 minutes to ensure I had the caps on my head for the full hour prior to chemo (as recommended), but my nurse was completely fine with it. If it's too stressful for you to change doctors, then it's probably not worth it. I'm so glad to hear your haircut went well. It's hard to get used to such a drastic change, but you were smart to do it well in advance of losing it. Great advice for those still facing surgery btw. Especially the part about logging your meds in a notebook.

Tara17 – Thanks for the links. I'm still weighing my options, but I'm leaning toward having my PS re-create the nipple out of skin and then getting it tattooed by an artist on Cape Cod that specializes in nipple tattoos. As far as the numbness goes, it's a little hard to tell where the numbness ends. It's not like it's an abrupt change, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's like an inch above where tissue expanders stop. It's a little weird because I can still feel pressure, but I can't feel pain. I hope your 12^th treatment went okay yesterday! Isn't that your final one?

Lordhelpmetoo – Not sure if you're checking the thread, but just know that I'll be thinking about you on Thursday and praying for a speedy recovery. <<Hugs>>