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05-26-2014, 12:22 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 33
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Hair question
Hello ladies! I have a hair re-growth question. I had my last TCHP combo on March 10th and my hair is finally growing back! Problem is, its spotty and uneven. I've noticed that my hair on my legs was very thin & once I shaved a few times it grew back more course so here's my question. .. should I shave my head to get it to come in more thick/course? I see many women with the 'post-chemo look' and I'm thinking thats exactly what I've got going on! Any advice would be appreciated!!!
__________________
(Insert... I had my 2nd son at 26 weeks... for the first 15 months of his life I pumped around the clock for his nutrition. Since then-Sept 2012- my breasts went under a huge transformation. That led me to find my lump, I believe...)
Mid september 2013- found a lump in right breast
Had annual already scheduled for Oct. 2nd, where he said he wasn't impressed with the lump, but I urged him to order me a mammogram.
Oct. 14th- At the mammogram the technician said he should've ordered me a diagnostic one...
Oct. 28th- got a call to come back for diagnostic mammogram.
Oct. 30th- diagnostic mamm and ultrasound revealed something suspicious, and a cloudy lymph node. Couldn't get me in for biopsy for 2 weeks
Nov. 1st- called around to another hospital to see if I could be seen earlier... Nov. 4th biopsy scheduled.
Nov. 4th- ultrasound guided needle biopsy, they felt the lymph node looked fine & didn't biopsy.
Nov. 7th- DIAGNOSIS...
Nov. 11th- pathology reveals ER-/PR- HER2+++.
Nov. 13- Met with BS- discussed 85%+++ chance of beating this, neoadjuvant therapy will be best approach.
Nov 14-22-pre-chemo testing. All scans came back unremarkable except for breast MRI revealing something suspicious on left breast also.
Nov. 25th- Began TCHP every three weeks until March 10, 2014!!!
March 31st- began Herceptin only, radiologist says "congratulations, you've had a complete response to the chemo!" Very lucky.
April 15th- lumpectomy/SNB. Pathology reveals clear margins and negative nodes! Time to celebrate!
May 13- June 24- 28 radiation trmts to lumpectomy area, node biopsy area, and sub-clavicular node region, followed by 5 'boost' rads to lumpectomy area only.
Finished with radiation!!!
Herceptin only every 3 weeks until October.
October 27th last Herceptin!!!
November 17th port removed!!!!
P.S. My picture under my user name was taken July 11th after my first trim and color since starting my fight back in November!
July 2015- PET scan results- NED!!! Popping the champagne!
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05-26-2014, 12:55 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
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Re: Hair question
Hi Fighting Fire! Mine is growing back slowly too and my scalp is disappearing here and there a little bit at a time. I didn't have Perjeta, but we finished chemo the same day.
It is mostly gray but I kind of figured that would happen. Right now I look like I have an extreme buzz cut! Not a lot of length but slowly getting filled in.
I know that doesn't answer your question ... just wanted to let you know you're not alone in the amount of growth since March 10th!! A day we will now celebrate every year with the dinner of our choice and chocolate!! 
CA
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.
Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".
Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.
Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.
Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.
Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.
March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!
March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.
March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)
April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm
May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)
June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia
Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!
Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.
Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.
Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!
January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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05-26-2014, 01:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 645
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Re: Hair question
Hi,
Sorry to say - initial hair growth is slow indeed (at least it was for me!). I finished chemo March 16, 2013 and didn't go without my wig until September, 2013. And that was my choice...
My hair (BC - before chemo) was very thick and curly and grew like a weed. It took about 6 months for it to begin growing so I could see the progress (through my grey roots, lol). It's still thick and curly, but finer.
My leg hair is still sparse, my eyebrows are still sparse but filling in very slowly. Never lost my eyelashes. About the only thing that came in quickly was my facial hair - go figure ;-)
Be patient, your hair will come back. Your body takes a while to recover from the chemo poison and you will get stronger every week - promise! The worst is over
Best
Janis
__________________
March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a
June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010)
Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70%
BRCA 1 and 2 negative
October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement
Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB
Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks.
March 14, 2013: Finished chemo
April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x
May 22, 2013: Finished rads
June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs.
July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life
October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery
October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin
December 5, 2013: Port removed
Glad this year is over!
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05-26-2014, 01:46 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 33
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Re: Hair question
Carol Ann- I'm afraid some of my brown growth is missing some pigment (its gray but shhh!) I guess I'm being impatient! I may try Nioxin. It can't hurt! And I have been celebrating each week without chemo! Herceptin only has been a breeze for me how about you???
__________________
(Insert... I had my 2nd son at 26 weeks... for the first 15 months of his life I pumped around the clock for his nutrition. Since then-Sept 2012- my breasts went under a huge transformation. That led me to find my lump, I believe...)
Mid september 2013- found a lump in right breast
Had annual already scheduled for Oct. 2nd, where he said he wasn't impressed with the lump, but I urged him to order me a mammogram.
Oct. 14th- At the mammogram the technician said he should've ordered me a diagnostic one...
Oct. 28th- got a call to come back for diagnostic mammogram.
Oct. 30th- diagnostic mamm and ultrasound revealed something suspicious, and a cloudy lymph node. Couldn't get me in for biopsy for 2 weeks
Nov. 1st- called around to another hospital to see if I could be seen earlier... Nov. 4th biopsy scheduled.
Nov. 4th- ultrasound guided needle biopsy, they felt the lymph node looked fine & didn't biopsy.
Nov. 7th- DIAGNOSIS...
Nov. 11th- pathology reveals ER-/PR- HER2+++.
Nov. 13- Met with BS- discussed 85%+++ chance of beating this, neoadjuvant therapy will be best approach.
Nov 14-22-pre-chemo testing. All scans came back unremarkable except for breast MRI revealing something suspicious on left breast also.
Nov. 25th- Began TCHP every three weeks until March 10, 2014!!!
March 31st- began Herceptin only, radiologist says "congratulations, you've had a complete response to the chemo!" Very lucky.
April 15th- lumpectomy/SNB. Pathology reveals clear margins and negative nodes! Time to celebrate!
May 13- June 24- 28 radiation trmts to lumpectomy area, node biopsy area, and sub-clavicular node region, followed by 5 'boost' rads to lumpectomy area only.
Finished with radiation!!!
Herceptin only every 3 weeks until October.
October 27th last Herceptin!!!
November 17th port removed!!!!
P.S. My picture under my user name was taken July 11th after my first trim and color since starting my fight back in November!
July 2015- PET scan results- NED!!! Popping the champagne!
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05-26-2014, 02:06 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
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Re: Hair question
Herceptin is so easy compared to chemo! I bloat some the first week and still have some fatigue, but nothing I can't handle!
Janis, thanks for the info!
CA
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.
Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".
Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.
Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.
Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.
Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.
March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!
March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.
March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)
April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm
May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)
June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia
Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!
Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.
Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.
Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!
January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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