Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

hi BG46TN, I'm 12 weeks PFC. My lashes are not completely back yet but starting to grow. I'm having surgery June 9th for prophylactic mastectomy on my left breast and reconstruction with expanders. I'm having skin grafting also so I'm not looking forward to this at all. I made scared. Had a mastectomy on my right breast back in August and I know I shouldn't feel as scared since I've gone through this already but I am. So the expanders hurt? Glad your recovering well. I just pray to not ever have to go through this again. It's like a huge black cloud hanging over me.

Hope everyone is doing we

Hi Bg46tn,

I am 3 weeks post surgery and I have to sleep on my back too. I cannot sleep on my back if I don't put a pillow under my knees. I'm not sure if you have tried it. I am worse off this week than last week because I drove at the end of last week. I had to give up exercises because it was so painful. And I'm back on narcotics, but I am NOT driving anymore.

Today I will start exercises again. I still have lots of pain, but I had all my nodes removed in addition to my breast. No expanders, can't imagine the pain of that too. I think I joined the Dec Chemo group, but I'm in facebook group. My first chemo was 11/28/2016.

Just a small, weird, good thing to share. Ever since I started my regimen of treatments a year ago, I no longer experience headaches or problems with motion sickness. I used to have 1-2 headaches a week, and BIG problems with motion sickness in cars, planes, etc. My guess is that chemo is the most likely cause, though I can't rule out anesthesia or other drugs used in the surgeries. Anyway, I really hope that this particular side effect of breast cancer treatment lasts!

I'm thinking of all the Nov 2016 ladies as we approach and pass our 1 year anniversaries. My anniversary of starting chemo was Nov 9th. I didn't celebrate but I reflected on all that has happened. I started the Tapimmune clinical trial 2 1/2 weeks ago. I'm in the cytoxan arm of the study so I did one infusion at 1/2 dose. I got a few of the old side effects from that but nothing compared to what we all went through. The injection for the trial was completely uneventful. Just a tiny sting, a tiny red dot and nothing else. I still have chemo brain and saw a neurologist for testing. My deficits are in attention and working memory. She gave me a list of games to do on the Lumosity site. We'll see if that helps. I developed cataracts and even with a new, very strong prescription my vision is not good. I'll be planning a surgery for that soon. Other side effects are gone or do not limit my life.

I started chemo on Nov. 2nd. At that time it felt as if treatment will never end. I finished Herceptin on Oct 20. and had my port removed one week ago. I had a UMX w/o recon back in March so I am basically done. But I have a bone scan scheduled for early-Dec so I don't feel done yet. (Hopefully nothing will be found with the bone scan. I've had occasional bone pain so my MO scheduled the scan. I put it off until after T-day in case I get bad news.)

Glad to see some activity on this thread. I think most Nov 2016 chemo ladies went to FB.

Hi Lades,

Yes BellasMom, most of us went to FB private page. I believe there are 50 of us on it and we have been posting about every other day, whether it's updates on treatments, questions, or just informative posts. It's really been my lifeline as has another forum on this sight. I encourage you to join if you're on FB. It's called Pink Sorelle.

I had my 1 yr chemo anniversary on Nov 16. I still have not started tamoxifen which was prescribed in May but I spoke to my MO in May--at the time my estradiol count was 16 opposed to the 300s when I was menstruating. I felt I needed time to heal. I spoke to my surgeon this week and she said to get through the holidays and make sure I start in Jan which is my plan. I STILL don't have any taste, slight lymphedema in my arm is left but improves every month and I'm started producing my own vaginal moisture last month so I feel SOMETHING is happening beginning to get back to normal. I cold capped but through the months more hair mysteriously fell out and it's not until I look at pictures from the past 9 months that I see how much actually came out. I have about 30% of my old hair left mixed in with 70% of new 3" growth which looks crazy but I have a hat and a hairpiece so I go about my life without thinking of it unless I look in the mirror. It will come back and they say my taste should too-although it may take up to 2 yrs PFC. So all in all, I'm in such a better place energy wise and health wise than last year. Hopfull, I'm sorry you are still going procedures relating to this disease. I hope you are doing well. How is your hair after all of this?

This thread has been mostly quiet. I know lots of you moved to FB. I'm not comfortable with that service--I like it better here. As an update, I've had cataract surgery and the improvement in my vision seems to be helping my chemo brain issues. The chemo brain (or just plain brain damage) has been the most disruptive aspect of my side effects from chemo. Time will tell if my actual cognitive functioning improves but the physical manifestations have been reduced, maybe by 50%, and that is a relief. In a few days I'll try to drive. I haven't been able to drive since I started chemo.