Chemo Starting August 2018

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019

    MGJ, l think I’m currently at 450cc, but might quit sure, could be 400cc. In any case I’m telling PS on Wednesday I’m ready to stop. I was rather large before, 34D on one side and 34DD on the side with cancer. I have always wanted to be smaller. When I where my bras now, the TE side is smaller, it doesn’t fill up a D cup so hoping a C, I would be very happy with that. Will be thinking of you on Thursday as I get my next HP infusion, so happy that you will be done with rads.

    SB, aren’t friends the greatest.

    So, here is my pic 11.5 weeks post chemo. I have no idea what color it will be and still some sparse areas but I’m happy.

    Take care all,

    image

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Yay for hair growing back at last!!

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  • KWilli
    KWilli Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2019

    MGJ!!! Done?!! That’s freakin AWESOME!! Wooohooooo!!!

    SB: 1/2 way!! And a visit with your friend. So nice.

    Mactaz, you gorgeous gal! Great photo!

    We have booked a trip to the Dominican Republic. A week away, then back at it. Thank you for your kind words and understanding.

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    KWilli I am SO happy to read about your trip.... You deserve the break-- and the sun, the naps, the pina coladas! Enjoy it to the fullest and come back in ass-kicking mode! We'll all be here to cheer for your last round of Xeloda!

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019

    KiWilli have a freakin good time. You deserve it, we will be here for you when you get back.

    image

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  • wndrwmn_2000
    wndrwmn_2000 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2019

    @moonjessgirl thanks so much for the response! and congrats on getting done with chemo 😊. i got done last november and that chemo really aged me. i was wondering if you also can suggest a procedure or lotions that will remove undereye wrinkles? i have that crapy look now and just overall rough textured facial skin. i was thinking of that halo laser (skinpeel) i saw on youtube and fillers for the deep wrinkles on mouth corners .. uggghh! i hate looking in the mirror now. its like looking at a complete other person. waaahhh! i'm fifty looking 80. bleahhhhhh

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  • wndrwmn_2000
    wndrwmn_2000 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2019

    @moongirljess thanks so much for the response! and congrats on getting done with chemo 😊. i got done last november and that chemo really aged me. i was wondering if you also can suggest a procedure or lotions that will remove undereye wrinkles? i have that crapy look now and just overall rough textured facial skin. i was thinking of that halo laser (skinpeel) i saw on youtube and fillers for the deep wrinkles on mouth corners .. uggghh! i hate looking in the mirror now. its like looking at a complete other person. waaahhh! i'm fifty looking 80. bleahhhhhh

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  • Hughope1
    Hughope1 Member Posts: 129
    edited March 2019

    MACTAZ, your hair is looking good girl! It is a little longer than mine. :):) I was also a DD, now I am somewhere between a C & D.

    I also don't know what color my hair is going to be, I was always kind of a dish water blonde. Now it almost looks dark brown or blackish in places. Getting pretty full in the back and sides, but the top is taking its sweet time. LOL

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  • wanderweg
    wanderweg Member Posts: 549
    edited March 2019

    KWilli - I'm sorry about the Xeloda - I know you were ready to be done. I hope you are able to enjoy your vacation first - you need that break!

    MGJ - Woo hoo to you for finishing up rads!!

    I was a C and am not more like a D - not what I was intending at all.

    We had a great time in Key Largo and ate a ridiculous amount of seafood. And went kayaking three times, including once at sunset. It was a wonderfully relaxing way to mark the end of active treatment. And twice men commenting on my hair saying they liked my haircut and it looked easy to take care of. Both were shocked when I said it was from chemo! So apparently I've graduated from Sinead to edgy short hairstyle. :-)

    image

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019

    Wanderweg, you look fabulous and your hair is really coming in now.

    I do have a couple of questions for you and Hughope1, how many cc’s did your PS use during your expansion? Did you TE look really wide on your chest and seem like your inside of your arm was always running into it. Seems like I have a lot of sideboob.

    Hughope1, I hear you about your hair, I’m just not sure what to expect - maybe salt and pepper color.

    I did my first Sinead yesterday, of course it was going to cancer clinic for my echo, baby steps. I’m so tired of hats, I asked my DH for his honest opinion about going hatless, he said maybe another week to let the top grow in a bit more. That was after a lot of hemming and hawing, he doesn’t care but knows me.

    Wanderweg, what a good idea, I am going to plan a vacation when I’m through with all treatment in August. I think we all need to pamper ourselves and have some fun. For me it will be almost 1 year to the day from when I was first diagnosed.

    Take care all

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  • wanderweg
    wanderweg Member Posts: 549
    edited March 2019

    MACTAZ - Thanks! I’m starting to get a little gray mixed in, which I had before. If I’m remembering correctly (always a question with chemo brain), I had a total of 375 ccs in the TES, and then 400 cc implants. The TES were widely spaced, but so are the implants. Worse when I’m lying on my back. I wasn’t expecting that. I can feel them when I move my arms forward but it’s better than the TEs. Part of the rporblem is how firm they are - I miss the squishiness of my real breasts.

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  • Hughope1
    Hughope1 Member Posts: 129
    edited March 2019

    Maztac I do not know how many cc my plastic surgeon put in, I just know that we only deflated it one time. That took place after my first visit after mastectomy. He took all solution out and added about 5 large syringes full of solution, that is the only time that we did an expansion. He ask me what I thought of that size, I was happy with it, and we were going to do reduction on the other side anyway, "so we stopped there".

    Wanderweg, You look fabulous girl, I wish I had as much hair as you. :):)

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019

    thanks gals, I’m going to definitely call a halt to further expansion.

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  • KWilli
    KWilli Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2019

    looking great ladies

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Friends, I want to alert you to a fabulous product for rads skin relief. A lady I met in the waiting room at rads told me her MO had recommended it. It's called CamWell Herb to Soothe, and it was formulated by a RO. Natural ingredients. OMG does it work well. My natural products had helped a lot but my redness/itchiness was gradually increasing. This stuff is better... My redness went down by HALF from using it last night for the first time. It's expensive: 25 bucks gets you a small tube, the size of a larger Neosporin, but it is *super* effective. Just ordered three more. Pass it on!

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019

    Hi SB, sounds like things are still going pretty good for you. I’m happy. I did post your info on the January surgery thread and the triple positive thread. Take care

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Thanks MACTAZ!

    Now, I am very hopeful this skin stuff will stay tolerable. By the end of this week I will be 2/3 done!

    And then I will be DONE done!

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019

    MGJ, I believe this is the day got your last rads, CONGRATULATIONS. So happy for you.

    SBar, 1/3 to go, that’s great.

    We are all getting close, yesterday PS said no more expansions and we will set up post op appointment and schedule final, hopefully, surgery for implant and reduction and tuck on natural breast. I do have 450ml in TE now Today is my 10 of 17 Herceptin and Perjeta treatments. Also, I haven’t had any issues at all with anastrozole, So hormone therapy is going well. I’m feeling good, walk8ng 5 miles a day, have kept my post chemo weight off and feel8ng good. Wish the same for all of you.

    Take care.

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    MGJ I hope today is your all-done day! (Jealous!!!)

    MACTAZ, Its great you get to pick the size that feels comfortable to you. You are nearly all done too, past the halfway point with the Herceptin! Yes!

    Me, I'm hanging in there... I'm still comfortable... mainly just a reddened boob and a mild itch. Crossing fingers to make it through with intact skin and no pain.

    Wishing a good day to all our 8/18 sisters.

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  • MoonGirlJess
    MoonGirlJess Member Posts: 267
    edited March 2019

    Santabarbarian—That shopping sounds amazing and what a cool friend to come hang out with you! I'm glad you continue to do well. You're such a rockstar! That restaurant sounds right up my alley.

    The 5 boosts were nothing for me the damage was done with the whole chest skin boluses. My armpit is ridiculously painful and annoying. It's dark purple. I have Mepitel stickers in there currently trying to save the skin. I'm still running with my arm out like a chicken wing so my armpit won't rub. Meh, I've had worse issues. It will heal.

    However, I'm DONE!!!!! I can't believe it. I cried literal tears of joy in my car in the parking lot this morning. I don't know if I've ever done that before. I'm so grateful, so relieved. Whew!

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  • MoonGirlJess
    MoonGirlJess Member Posts: 267
    edited March 2019

    wndrwmn—I had a Fraxel laser a couple years back and my skin looked great. A good Derm or PS should be able to recommend a laser that can be done close to your eyes. I absolutely love fillers. They would be great on those Marrionette Lines. I have had Sculptra, too. It's also useful for softening the look of aging. Right now I'm using hyaluronic acid and DHC astaxanthin lotion. I'm not fancy at all right now. Very minimal. I haven't done a chemical peel in awhile but I swear by them. Especially lactic acid peels (which draw in moisture) Love those.

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  • KWilli
    KWilli Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2019

    MGJ!! You’re DONE!! Done!!! AMAZING! I’m so very happy for you

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  • MoonGirlJess
    MoonGirlJess Member Posts: 267
    edited March 2019

    kwilli— thank you so much! Good for you getting after it and planning a vaycay! So needed! Just listening to the ocean chills me out. It’s the best.

    Wanderweg—looking great! Your hair is looking fab. You wear it so well. Florida looks awesome.

    MACTAZ—looking wonderful! That hair is coming! So many feathers! I wished I had opted for smaller implants when I first got them. 375cc’s felt like me but they talk you into going bigger. I say stay smaller and you can always get a padded push up bra if you want to feel bustier. So glad the AI is leaving you alone and not wrecking havoc. Good stuff.

    Thank you ALL so much. We are a fierce tribe! Getting each other over the finish line!

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019

    thanks MGJ, aNd I’m so excited for you. Hell yes you are done and should celebrate. We are all so close.

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Yay MGJ, I m throwing confetti all over you!!!!

    KWilli send us a beach photo so we can live vicariously! It's freezing in NJ.

    My youngest son and two of his friends road tripped for spring break, and swung by to see me today. That was sweet!

    Love to all!!

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019

    SBar, you have such a great support group, so happy for you. I’m hoping your miracle save helps you through this. I can’t imagine what you ladies have to go through with rads, but wish you all the best.


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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Ok, radiation fatigue has officially hit. Not only did I have a big nap yesterday, I slept in till nearly 9 am this morning. (Thank you to my sweet kitties for letting me!) I cant even remember my last 9 am wake up!

    End of week four now... I am red, a little peely, and a little itchy but still not painful... though I have some intermittent sensations inside my breast which feel a little sore (nothing bad, just there, sort of like during chemo, so I think it's nerve pain or maybe my lymphatic system struggling to process dead cells out of me)...? Hoping I can maintain and not get a whole bunch worse but we shall see.

    I am glad that I front-loaded so many visits and dinners early in my Rads because I feel myself slowing down now. Counting up I have had 15 fun events with 7 different people I do not get to see enough-- that has been a great fringe benefit of being here. I have two more dates planned for this coming week.... and we'll see how week six goes.

    My son and 4 of his friends drove down from Montreal and spent their spring break at a cottage I own on Cape Cod. They foraged for oysters on the beach (found some and ate them!), played board games, made a fire, popped popcorn etc. Then three of them came down here while the other two went to Boston. I was able to find a super cheap hotel deal ($70!) on Hotwire at a decent 4 star hotel in SoHo, so I drove them into NY and they had 24 hours there to fart around. It was so special to hug my son.

    I hope everyone is doing well. I am thinking of KWilli baking in the sun, Mactaz getting the perfect size boobs, MGJ healing up! Wanderweg with a sunny glow! KellyAnne, Hughope and everyone else who has not peeked in recently, I hope you are all doing well!

    xoxo SB

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  • MACTAZ
    MACTAZ Member Posts: 597
    edited March 2019
    SB, I will be thinking of you for the next couple of weeks and hoping all goes well. I think March 21 is your last day, and that will be a big day for you, I’m so excited that you are so close. I hope your skin holds out and isn’t to painful, I just can’t imagine. Take care of yourself and hug those kitties. I’m jealous, we currently rent and no pets allowed.

    My surgery is now scheduled for April 26, a little longer wait than I had hoped for because of PS busy schedule but I guess I would rather have a doc that is in high demand than someone who says I can do it anytime. Lol. Still tolerating my anastrozole although am having some down days. I always had mood swings but have been fewer as I got older. Assume brain and body just getting used to even lower estrogen.

    Wishing everyone happy and healthy days going forward. Hugs.
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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    MACTAZ, for sure you want the most in-demand PS! Better to wait, and be very happy w the results!

    I think my last day is the 21st... if there are no more massive windstorms that kill the power at the Proton Center. I will probably book my plane for the weekend, just in case there is an issue with the power again.

    Benji69, I forgot you in my earlier post... how are you doing??

    Sending good vibes to everyone


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  • Benji69
    Benji69 Member Posts: 94
    edited March 2019

    Short bus checking in: I’ve been following everyone’s progress but waiting to report until I had some. It will be 3 weeks Tuesday since lumpectomy (s) 4x4x3 cms and 4x3x1 cms (sounds like a lot, I’m not big) IDC plus some DCIS and 12 nodes 6x6x3 cms with 5 positive the largest positive 2.5 cms all with clean margins.

    I thought it went well. I started walking 2-3 miles daily the next day. I don’t know how much swelling is normal but it seemed like a lot. First week suspected an infection and put on antibiotics. Second week so swollen she drew off some fluid. Still draining too much. BS said if it isn’t down to 30 for 3 days by Tuesday she will inject something. I don’t want that so I have been sitting around trying to be inactive. It did slow down but it won’t be where she wants it by Tuesday. I’m willing to let nature take its course. Both she and oncologist said having chemo first plus the number of lymph nodes slows down healing but I escaped a mastectomy and was always headed for radiation and AI.

    Any experience out there with drain time? Always great to hear from you. (I told bs it didn’t look that different. She said wait until swelling goes down, ha ha.)

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