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Old 12-06-2012, 06:13 AM   #1
Gaver
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Unhappy Am at a loss for words

hello everyone,

Mom s doing fine after her 1st chemo cycle the 2nd is due tomorrow.Its just that she started loosing her hair yesterday I do know its a very very very small price to pay for her recovery and cure but still.....

She is of course being very brave but she did call me in to say Geetu my hair is going...All I wanted to do was hug her....

Just wanted to share this...
__________________
Warm regards,

Geetanjali,Gaver's daughter one of the strongest women I know n a cancer fighter
---------------------------------------------------
11/10/2012 mom was diagnosed with a 3 x1.5 cm malignant lump in upper quadrant left breast with a 1x1.5 swollen left axilla node
12/10/2012 confirmed carcinoma left breast lump through FNAC
15/10/2012 CT Scan clear Bone Scan clear no Mets anywhere (Thank God)
16/10/2012 Core Biopsy Results show Stage IIB Grade III ER + 95% PR + 5% N Her2NEU +++
23/10/2012 MRM done Entire breast along with level I n level II Axilla nodes removed.

31/10/2012 sample biopsy 01/13 nodes positive

TCH regime Taxotere(Docetaxel) Carboplatin Herceptin

T C & H for 6cycles n H alone for another 11cycles after that[/B]

6 Cycles TCH--done 12 cycles H done
05 cycles H to be done


~~Eowyn,The Return Of the King,LOTR : "Courage,Merry,courage for our friends "
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Old 12-06-2012, 07:01 AM   #2
hestko76
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Re: Am at a loss for words

Good luck with the second chemo. I, too, had 6 rounds of TCH. My hair started falling out between the lst and 2nd chemo. It was hard on me....... Give your mom a hug from me.
Now, my hair has grown back, very curly! I had always had straight hair, so it is very different for me..... but IT IS HAIR!
Helen
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Helen
dx 10-31-11
Stage 1 Grade 3 (7mm tumor)
Lumpectomy 11-18-11
Er- Pr- Her2+++
0/5 nodes - no positive lymph nodes
Port installed 1-6-12
6 Rounds TCH
Rad. 33 tx
Last herceptin 12-10-12
Port removed 1-3-13
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Old 12-07-2012, 09:00 AM   #3
snolan
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Re: Am at a loss for words

I had a hard time with the hair loss at first. I felt as long as I had my hair no one would know I had cancer. But I made the trip to the hair dresser with my family and best friend and we made it an event when I shaved it off. I felt weird for the first few days, felt everyone was looking at me. But I soon got over it, and felt it was a badge of honor that I was winning the fight over cancer. It does make getting ready in the morning much easier, didn't have to shave anything
Good luck to your mom with the rest of the treatments.
Suzanne
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dx: DCIS 6/8/10, HER 2+ 7/26/10; Stage I Age 41
Double mast w reconstruction
6 TCH w 1yr herceptin
Tamox.
25 radiation tx
Removal of expander on L due to infection. Tried to save it had 3 bouts of antibiotics and went to see plastic surgeon 2-3x wk to get drained. Saving it was my idea not his. But lost it anyway.
Reconstruction set for December 21st,2011
Finished chemo 12/2010
Finished Herceptin 8/26/11
Reconstruction 12/21/11
Expanders exchanged for silicon 3/19/12
Nipple reconstruction 5/18/12
Nipple tatooing- 7/9/12- All done yay!
11/22/12-Went back to get scar tissue stretched to even the outside of breast, didn't work due to it being radiated skin.
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Old 12-11-2012, 07:26 PM   #4
starwishn2
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Re: Am at a loss for words

It was harder for me to have my hair come out in my comb then when I decided to shave it off. I'm actually ok about not having hair right now. Once you realize that losing your hair means the chemo is working - it's worth it! I have 2 wigs, a couple of hair pieces that velco to hats and quite a few hats. I actually prefer wearing the hats with no hair. I agree with Snolan - it is a badge of courage. I know your mother is absolutely beautiful without hair.

Good luck to her and you! (a daughter is such a gift during these times!)

Jeri
__________________
Diagnosed 16Dec1993 ITP (auto immune disease - low platelets)
Splenectomy 11Nov2009
Rituxen May2011
ITP playing nice
Diagnosed 3Jul2012 BC

2 cm - Grade 2 - Stage IIB
HER2+++

ER+/PR+
bilateral mastectomy 20Jul2012
Metastasized cancer found 1 lymph node
expanders placed during surgery
TCH chemo "cocktail" started 24Aug2012
every 3 weeks - 6 treatments
Herceptin - 18 treatments
LAST treatment Taxotere & Carboplatin 7Dec2012 -yay!
Continue with Herceptin 26Dec2012

Started Arimidex 01Jan2013 (for 5 years)
Surgery to remove expanders/reconstruction 18Jan2013
Infection in left breast from reconstruction/infection in most nails - SO many meds! 22Feb2013
Left implant not playing nice.... might need to remove and try again - blah! 04Apr2013
3Jul2013 - one year since diagnosis - booo cancer!

15Aug2013 LAST chemo infusion!! YIPPPEEE!!!
13Sep2013 2nd reconstructive surgery.. the FOOBs are looking good!



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Old 12-13-2012, 08:52 AM   #5
Gaver
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Re: Am at a loss for words

Dear Helen,Suzanne and Jeri !!!!!

Brave ladies thanku so much !!!!

yes i was a bit low that day but thats all water under the bridge now ... mom too found it a bit irritating having hair fall all over the place(Im shedding like a cat) so after her 2nd chemo on 07/12/12 she and my brother both went and got their heads shaved

and trust me she looks awesome !!! and then after that we went and got this amazing photoshoot done !!!

i so agree Jeri !!!! the hair loss just shows those cancer cells are simply being shot to death one by one !!

I shall post the pics here as soon as I figure out how

once again thanku ladies for all the support !!!!
__________________
Warm regards,

Geetanjali,Gaver's daughter one of the strongest women I know n a cancer fighter
---------------------------------------------------
11/10/2012 mom was diagnosed with a 3 x1.5 cm malignant lump in upper quadrant left breast with a 1x1.5 swollen left axilla node
12/10/2012 confirmed carcinoma left breast lump through FNAC
15/10/2012 CT Scan clear Bone Scan clear no Mets anywhere (Thank God)
16/10/2012 Core Biopsy Results show Stage IIB Grade III ER + 95% PR + 5% N Her2NEU +++
23/10/2012 MRM done Entire breast along with level I n level II Axilla nodes removed.

31/10/2012 sample biopsy 01/13 nodes positive

TCH regime Taxotere(Docetaxel) Carboplatin Herceptin

T C & H for 6cycles n H alone for another 11cycles after that[/B]

6 Cycles TCH--done 12 cycles H done
05 cycles H to be done


~~Eowyn,The Return Of the King,LOTR : "Courage,Merry,courage for our friends "
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Old 12-14-2012, 05:15 AM   #6
Mtngrl
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Re: Am at a loss for words

To post pictures, click the "go advanced" button and you'll be given an option to include attachments. (Scroll down to look for it.)
__________________
Amy
_____________________________
4/19/11 Diagnosed invasive ductal carcinoma in left breast; 2.3 cm tumor, 1 axillary lymph node, weakly ER+, HER2+++
4/29/11 CT scan shows suspicious lesions on liver and lungs
5/17/11 liver biopsy
5/24/11 liver met confirmed--Stage IV at diagnosis
5/27/11 Begin weekly Taxol & Herceptin for 3 months (standard of care at the time of my DX)
7/18/11 Switch to weekly Abraxane & Herceptin due to Taxol allergy
8/29/11 CT scan shows no new lesions & old lesions shrinking
9/27/11 Finish Abraxane. Start Herceptin every 3 weeks. Begin taking Arimidex
10/17/11--Brain MRI--No Brain mets
12/5/11 PET scan--Almost NED
5/15/12 PET scan shows progression-breast/chest/spine (one vertebra)
5/22/12 Stop taking Arimidex; stay on Herceptin
6/11/12 Started Tykerb and Herceptin on clinical trial (w/no chemo)
9/24/12 CT scan--No new mets. Everything stable.
3/11/13 CT Scan--two small new possible mets and odd looking area in left lung getting larger.
4/2/13--Biopsy of suspicious area in lower left lung. Mets to lung confirmed.
4/30/13 Begin Kadcyla/TDM-1
8/16/13 PET scan "mixed," with some areas of increased uptake, but also some definite improvement, so I'll stay on TDM-1/Kadcyla.
11/11/13 Finally get hormone receptor results from lung biopsy of 4/2/13. My cancer is no longer ER positive.
11/13/13 PET scan mixed results again. We're calling it "stable." Problems breathing on exertion.
2/18/14 PET scan shows a new lesion and newly active lymph node in chest, other progression. Bye bye TDM-1.
2/28/14 Begin Herceptin/Perjeta every 3 weeks.
6/8/14 PET "mixed," with no new lesions, and everything but lower lungs improving. My breathing is better.
8/18/14 PET "mixed" again. Upper lungs & one spine met stable, lower lungs less FDG avid, original tumor more avid, one lymph node in mediastinum more avid.
9/1/14 Begin taking Xeloda one week on, one week off. Will also stay on Herceptin and Perjeta every three weeks.
12/11/14 PET Scan--no new lesions, and everything looks better than it did.
3/20/15 PET Scan--no new lesions, but lower lung lesions larger and a bit more avid.
4/13/15 Increasing Xeloda dose to 10 days on, one week off.
7/1/15 Scan "mixed" again, but suggests continuing progression. Stop Xeloda. Substitute Abraxane every 3 weeks starting 7/13.
10/28/15 PET scan shows dramatic improvement everywhere. All lesions except lower lungs have resolved; lower lungs noticeably improved.
12/18/15 Last Abraxane. Continue on Herceptin and Perjeta alone beginning 1/8/16.
1/27/16 PET scan shows cancer is stable.
5/11/16 PET scan shows uptake in some areas that were resolved on the last two scans.
6/3/16 Begin Kadcyla and Tykerb combination
6/5 - 6/23 Horrible diarrhea from K&T together. Got pneumonia.
7/15/16 Begin Kadcyla only every 3 weeks.
9/6/16 Begin radiation therapy on right lung lesion that caused the pneumonia.
10/3/16 Last of 12 radiation treatments to right lung.
11/4/16 Huffing and puffing, low O2, high heart rate, on tiniest bit of exertion. Diagnosed as radiation pneumonitis. Treated with Prednisone.
11/11/16 PET scan shows significant improvement to radiated part of right lung BUT a bunch of new lung lesions, and the bone met is getting worse.
11/22/16 Begin Eribulin and Herceptin. H every 3 weeks. E two weeks on, one week off.
3/6/17 Scan shows progression in lungs. Bone met a little better.
3/23/17 Lung biopsy. Tumor sampled is ER-, PR+ (5%), HER2+++. Getting Herceptin and Perjeta as a maintenance treatment.
5/31/17 Port placement
6/1/17 Start Navelbine & Tykerb
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Old 12-14-2012, 05:48 AM   #7
Jackie07
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Re: Am at a loss for words

It's really up to the individual and depending on the point-of-view. I was quite happy when my hair started to fall before the 3rd treatment because that means the chemo is effective in destroying fast-dividing cells (such as the hair). I did use the wig because of the long scar on the left side of my head from the brain surgery in 1990. But whenever I'm not in public places, I'd take off the wig.

Nowadays I wear a baseball cap most of the time to hold the tiny 'bun' that cannot 'stand' by itself.
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http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2

NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement (600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa

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Last edited by Jackie07; 05-08-2013 at 01:53 AM..
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Old 12-16-2012, 10:14 AM   #8
Sandra in GA
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Re: Am at a loss for words

I did find a website, headcovers.com, that was most helpful to me. They carry caps (also wigs and scarves) designed to cover the head more completely than the usual. I also liked a sleep cap to hold in my body heat at night.

Everyone is different. The wigs irritated my scalp and make me too hot. I found the caps much more comfortable and wearable. I keep my eyelashes and eyebrows until I began the Taxol and the lost those. For some reason, this caused me more saddness than losing the hair. I leaned to draw them on and used the cap to kind of hide behind.

Remember this is temporary for most people. When my hair came back, I finially had the curly hair I had always wanted. Now, after about a year, the durls have gone and my straight hair has returned.
Sandra
__________________
Diagnosed: 7/25/08 ~ age 63, no family history
Surgery: 8/14/08 Bilateral mastectomy; tumor left breast, node dissection; right prophylactic with expanders: 1/12/10 latisimuss dorsi flap on left side: 9/22/10 implants in
Pathology Report: ER/PR-; HER2+ (3+); Grade 3, StageIII; 3cm tumor plus 21/21 lymph nodes positive; 5cm DCIS
Chemo: A/C; Taxol/Herceptin/Tykerb; phase II study at Mayo adding Tykerb for early stage
Radiation: 25 rads
Vaccine: Walter Reed GP2/AE37 vaccine study ~ last booster 9/17/2012
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Old 12-19-2012, 06:40 AM   #9
Gaver
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Re: Am at a loss for words

thank you ladies !!

yes Jackie,mom actually prefers to roam in the house au naturel,as we call it LOL...she says its more comfortable without a scarf or woolly hat(she hasnt got a wig...we do not get such good ones in our part of the world,Im afraid) but yes she has to wear one when it gets chilly in the evening and we make sure she wears her woolly hat when she sleeps so her head remains warm....

seems silly right...i was feeling bad over something which was handled so easily and in our stride that im used to seeing her like this already....
__________________
Warm regards,

Geetanjali,Gaver's daughter one of the strongest women I know n a cancer fighter
---------------------------------------------------
11/10/2012 mom was diagnosed with a 3 x1.5 cm malignant lump in upper quadrant left breast with a 1x1.5 swollen left axilla node
12/10/2012 confirmed carcinoma left breast lump through FNAC
15/10/2012 CT Scan clear Bone Scan clear no Mets anywhere (Thank God)
16/10/2012 Core Biopsy Results show Stage IIB Grade III ER + 95% PR + 5% N Her2NEU +++
23/10/2012 MRM done Entire breast along with level I n level II Axilla nodes removed.

31/10/2012 sample biopsy 01/13 nodes positive

TCH regime Taxotere(Docetaxel) Carboplatin Herceptin

T C & H for 6cycles n H alone for another 11cycles after that[/B]

6 Cycles TCH--done 12 cycles H done
05 cycles H to be done


~~Eowyn,The Return Of the King,LOTR : "Courage,Merry,courage for our friends "
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