Starting Chemo in May 07

Amanda,  Have fun at your retreat!  I think you'll get more eyelashes.  Don't worry.  And I'll get more hair.  No biggie.  We're still here!!!

Thanks for the hair story, Mandy.  I need it about now considering how many hairs I'm losing every day.  I'll be down to 3 in no time!  Congrats on the results of your team!  That must be very satisfying to see such great improvement!

Crap....I didn't proof read until too late....my 550 cc's is supposed to give me a "big B".......

Hey, hope everybody had a good weekend.  I've decided not to give in to my depression as much as I did on Friday, but it felt like I needed to wallow in it a bit last week.  But the joys continue...I have some kind of weird rash all over my breast, I called the onc last night and left a message, then this morning I noticed that it is growing.  Today is a big fundraiser for my onc center and I know that the nurse practitioners are going to be there (and my onc is going to be honored, so she'll be there too), I'm imagining rushing one into the bathroom and pulling off my shirt to get an opinion!

Also, question about tamox and blood clots...did anybody else have problems with blood clots because of their port?  My onc did some genetic testing to see if I have a predisposition to clots, I came back positive for 2 mutations, and she doesn't want to do tamox, but is thinking about one of the aromatase inhibitors, but I am pre-menopausal, so would have to have shots to put me into chemopause, anybody else having this testing done?

Sadly, I went out to dinner with one of my closest friends on Saturday, at the end of the dinner she told me that she found a lump 3 weeks ago, and is having a mammo this week...I couldn't believe it, she has been so wonderful and supportive to me and she has been holding onto this news for 3 weeks (also, at 3 weeks following my finding my lump I had already had surgery and was about to start chemo, I think I'm upset that she isn't moving faster....)

Hope everybody has a good week.  I'm off to work for a few hours before meeting a bunch of family and friends at the lunch.

Kara

My one and only Taxol treatment was Aug 9th so it has been awhile and hair is growing.  I have been reading about the new report about Taxol not being needed for the er+, neu/2 neg cancers.  Good news and I believe that is one reason the doctor told me it was okey to quit after my one treatment.  I was quiting any ways because of the side effects but nice for both of us to be on the same page.  If that report would have come out before my first treatment I would have felt very good turning it down.  My blood counts are still to low so if I sit to long I fall asleep.  Not something I ever did before.  My hair is gowing back, not long enought to pinch it yet but at least in gives my head a cover not that bald stray hair look it was before.  My brows are back and I had to pluck them last week.  But every where I plucked out the hair I got an infection.  Some times you feel you just can not win.

I also have a big toe nail that is half on and half off.  It can not decide just what way it wants to go.  Another leftover from the taxol treatment.  I suppose I will have to go in and see the doc to see just what can be done with it.  It is not real painful but not pleasant either.

I still have shortness of breath from the taxol side effect and hope it works its way out.  Went in for acupuncher last week and she wants me to do a few more weeks to see if that can help.  It helped my back and helped some of the sickness during chemo so feel I should give it a chance.

Have to say I feel better each day and try not to dwell on what may happen later. 

Still waiting for my BRAC test results.  Insurance covere it with out a problem. 

Also still dealing with a anal fissure that I got after my first treatment in May.  Just will not heal and until I get my blook counts back up I guess it wouldn't heal. 

Liz, great news about the expanders!  I am so sad when I read how uncomfortable those of you with expanders are.

So, here's my story about my infection...I got a call from the nurse yesterday morning saying I had to come in to check the infection, then at the lunch (at the Beverly Hills Hotel, very chic) I pulled one of the nurses into the bathroom and pulled off my shirt (we both laughed about it).  I was hoping she would say just to keep a watch on it, but no, she decided I needed IV antibiotics, so I had to leave the lunch early for a 3 hour drip (and even with that I was having a terrible allergic reaction to the vancomycin-but couldn't take anything for it because I needed to drive myself home).  It was terrible, I didn't even have a book with me, so I just had to read the magazines, most of them I had already read.

Then, today I had my pre-radiation mammogram.  Usually they're pretty good where I go, but the woman who did it just complained about everything, insisted she couldn't do my left breast because it was so swollen, even though I insisted that I could deal with the discomfort, then I told her she better check with my rad onc and explain why she thought she couldn't do it, which made her just do it, but that was just one of the things that happened and at the end she told me that I should have told her that it was for pre-radiation pictures, even though I had told her, and it was in the orders and on the questionaire I answered that I had finished chemo and was starting rads this week.  It gave me such a headache...Anyway, I'm cooking away to have a bunch of dinners in the freezer for when I don't feel like cooking.  My husband was great during chemo and did all the cooking all summer, but as much as I love him, I prefer my cooking!

Hope all is well!

Kara

OK: did I whine enough?

Mandy, Yes, this is the surgery that they said couldn't be done until January.  But I told everyone that I had other things to do in January and they scheduled me for December.  Squeaky wheel gets the grease!  It is a surgical procedure, but minor.  I should be in and out in a few hours.  As for the taxotere, I am all for doing it even if it's only a slim possibility it will help.  Better to feel I was as aggressive as possible than to regret not doing it later.

Hey girls!

Don't y'all know by now that I'm a football fan?? I've been watching football!!!

I wonder where Harmony Hills is.......

Mandy, I liked you hair story. I really did. I can in fact "pinch" mine and can even almost....stand to tolerate looking at myself in the mirror and....I've been going without my hood around the house. I figure I am stifling (sp?) the growth by wearing my bandana all the time.

Boy....all you guys sure do exercise alot....Holy cow....guess I should do something like that!

I told my PS this morning that I didn't want any more fills. I asked to see the implant he would put in me if I stopped and I decided that was fine. I do not want to go through that pain anymore.....SO...... Liz.....I scheduled my implant surgery for 11/28! By the way, I am 5'8" and have 550 filled now. He's putting in a 475cc implant. How tall are you? I haven't decided about nipples yet. He said that he would make them from extra skin. Crap....I forgot to ask him about that part today!!!!

I went to a seminar my onc was having and he was raving about the results from Taxotere.  Especially when combined with Carblatin (sp?)

Judy, I am so sorry you had so many problems!! So, are you stopping treatment altogether? You're done? I sure hope you feel better soon.....

You too Kara. How is the infection? Did the IV drip help??? I can't tell you how sorry I am to hear about your friend. I had a very good friend who had a scare but luckily...it turned out to be nothing. When she told me about her lump though....I had to hold back the vomit. Sorry to be gross but...I really felt like throwing up when she told me. I know that one day, one of my close friends are going to get it and I'm not looking forward to that day.....

Regarding them putting you into menopause....when I was doing in-vetro fertilization, part of that process was to control my cycle. To do so, I had to take Lupron shots to just down my ovaries. I wonder if that's what they will give you....

Finally.....my little sis.....the bone scan showed two uptakes. One spot had grown and one was new. So now.....she had a CAT scan today and will hopefully talk to her doctor tomorrow but...that's his surgery day. What's the deal? Do all oncologists do surgery only on Wednesday?????? She went ahead and scheduled an appt to have her other boob cut off and do re-construction on both to make them symmetrical (sp?) dang.....I forgot how to spell....so, she has surgery on 11/15.

Oh and.....insurance is all figured out! I am re-insured for a mear $656.00 per month. Almost twice what I was paying before but given the circumstances...... So, my hysterectomy is scheduled for 10/31. Yep.....on Halloween!

k girls....I'm sleepy.

I hope you all have sweet dreams.

Hugs, Traci

Hi, everyone.  Remember me?  My computer broke and once I got behind in reading the posts, I just stopped reading. 

I finished chemo about 7 weeks ago and my hair is just starting to grow.  I still have some neuropathy from the Taxol, but it is not bad.  Overall, I feel great.  My energy level is normal.

My previously homeschooled daughter started public high school this year, so I have a lot more free time.  I have been finding a lot of interesting things to do.

I'm happy to be back.

Pat

Hi CindyMN-how are you? glad to hear that your hair is growing back. mine is too and I pat my head all the time. i love it. can't wait for it to grow back to the point where I can't see my scalp anymore so I can stop wearing my wig.

Leslie

Hey girls,,,,,,,,,,,,,good to hear everyone is doing well.  I am 7 weeks post my last chemo and I also see a tinsy bit of peach fuzz.  Its very sporatic though,,,,,,,,is that typical?  Will the rest fill in?  I'm getting worried.  Traci said something like her bandanas stifling the hair growth..........omg could that be?  Because I never go without my wig in public and a hat when I am just home with the family.  I'd hate to think I would have to go commando to get hair growth.  Is this how the hair grows back,,,,,,,very sporatic?  Mine is half gray and half dark.  Didnt know I had that much gray,  yikes.

On my fifth week of rads.........getting very red and sore under the boob,,,,,,and the entire boob is starting to itch and turn red,,,,,,like a rash.  Oooooooo the joys huh?  I am so glad that we are winding down this journey.  And for those of you that arent done with chemo yet,,,,,,,,,you all hang in there,,,,,,,,,,there is light at the end of the tunnel,,,,,,trust me on that.

Take care ladies,,,,,,and if anyone has any input on the hair growth,,,,,,let me know.  I am just so damn impatient.

Cindy

Well I did it.  Yesterday I went out with out anything on my head.  Went shopping at the mall. My hair is not long enough to pinch and it does need to fill in but I said what the heck.  Got just as many looks as when it was covered with the scarf.  Be glad when only I know I am dealing with cancer and not the whole world.

Hello all and welcome to those of you who haven't posted for a while!  We've missed you! 

I received the results of my BRCA 1 & 2 tests today...no mutation which means no cancer gene as far as they can tell!  I'm soooo happy and I'm sure my family will be glad to hear also!

My hair is about 1/2" long and 50% dark/50% gray.  I love the soft, fluffy feel of it.

My incision (from April surgery) is finally healing...just about completely!  So far I only have 290 cc of saline in my tissue expanders.  I need to start radiation by Nov. 5th to finish before Christmas.  SOOOOO I'll probably only get about 350-400 cc all together...which isn't a lot for my 5'9" frame (small boned).  I always was very small-breasted, so I'd love to have a little cleavage!  But just can't do it.  Oh well!!!!

My eyebrows had fallen out completely but within about a week they started growing back.  They are almost completely back.  Eyelashes are only about 1/8" long but growing more all the time.  Yeah!!!!!  I've decided after Christmas I'm no longer wearing my wig...I'm getting very sick of it!  My hair should be about 1 1/2" - 2" long. 

Cindy...I can't believe you're 5 weeks into rads...I'd give anything to be in your place! 

Thinking of all of you...have a great wekend!!

Lorain 

Hey girlies,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yep,,,,,,,I have like two weeks or a little more of rads,,,,,,,it will be a happy day to get this behind me. Just getting some of those radiation skin burns that they talk about.  My whole entire left boob is red now, and itches like crazy.  And under the boob the skin broke open a little,,,,,,so just doing the creams that the onc radiologist told me to dol Still doing the herceptin till May of 2008 though.  But thank God there is no side effects from that.  You ladies will be where I am very soon.  So don't u go worrying about it.  We have all come a long ways huh? 

And for those of you not finished with chemo and surgeries and all,,,,,,no worries girls,,,,,,,,you will be done before you know it.

It's the hair growth,,,,or no growth very fast,,,,,that is buggin me.  My eyebrows are still coming out and my eyelashes?  omg,,,,,,,I have like about 5 left on each lid.  They sure dont seem to be coming in very fast,,,,,,,,,,what the hell is up with that?  lol  And the hair on the head?  Well goodness thats another story,,,,,,,,all I see is sporatic brown and gray,,,,,,and I mean very sporatic.  Still no hair under the arms and wayyyyyyy down there,,,,,which I could care less about.  lol  I had to shave my legs the other day,,,,,not because it was in abundance but I saw a few straggly brown hairs,,,,so figured,,,,,,,,,,,what the heck,,,,,,,I'm gonna shave the legs.  Funny cause the hair on my legs is very soft,,,,,,,,,not like when you shave all the time its kinda course. 

Well enough about the hair,,,,,,,,,,,,hope you are all doing good,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Its always so nice to hear of all you ladies progress,,,,,and I think, well for me anyway,,,,,,its nice to compare notes on what is happening with us.

Take care of yourselves.

Cindy

Hi Girls!  I have no good excuse for not posting...save for the fact that I don't have much interesting to share!  :O  I did have my pelvic MRI last night.  So, now we wait.  My chemo-pause ended in Vegas...had a normal period...  Now, today, I got my period AGAIN!  Traci- made me think of you when you said you got yours for like 20 straight days.  I think my ovaries are freaking out.... 

Cindy- sounds like your SE's from radiation are EXACTLY like mine.  The good news is that once you stop the rads, your boob will feel better fairly quickly.  I still have a dark brown boob, though.  It's kind of funny...

Been doing stuff with friends just because I feel like I should get out more, and I'm exhausted.  Tonight I am supposed to go for drinks with a co-worker and her sister who is also a BC survivor.  I need to go b/c I've chatted with this gal and she's in town from upstate NY.  But, I just want to go home and crawl on my couch.  Tomorrow I'm meeting friends at a mall in central NJ...then Sunday I am going to spend the day at the Bronx Zoo which is an amazing zoo.  I am exhausted just thinking about it... 

Anyhow, I should have such problems that I'm whining about going out with my friends.  I'm so silly sometimes.

You gals are making me smile with the talk of the hair.  Last Monday was my Mom's birthday, so I thought it was an appropriate day for not coming in to work with the wig.  Well, my colleagues that knew took it as their right to spread my personal business all over the building.  People are unbelievable.  Anyhow, I got worked up over it for a while, but my sister said, "Vir, wear your badge of courage with pride..."  So, that's what I've been doing.  It is what it is.  I got so sick of the wig and hated it so much, that I would just rather go without...  I always said I would wait until my hair was 1 or 2 inches long...  Forget it...  That would have taken 'til Christmas...  Now that my hair is getting longer, it's getting "unruly."  There are errant hairs that are sticking straight up all over my head.  It's quite commical.  I am trying to "mousse" it down.  I think I need to go to my company store and see what else I can buy!  Maybe gel will help!

Anyhow, this Sunday is the 21st and my 4 month anniversary of finishing chemo---  I will post a new pic of my coconut...

The new studies showing how the Taxols are most beneficial for HER2+ cancer freak me out b/c I skipped the Taxols...  I think I'm getting ready for a ride to the looney bin...  I want to be an ostrich and not think about these things....

Ok girlies...sorry for the long post!!

Chat with you again!!

Virginia