Chemo almost done...next is surgery. Hair growth questions.
Hi all, it's been a little while, hope you all doing well and this year brings you all good health and happiness. I am almost done with my chemo (AC and 12 weeks paclitaxel, 4 perjeta and another one (not sure of name), 2 more infusions of paclitaxel. Did anyone find bits of fluffy hair starting to grow already? I don't want to get too excited but am starting to notice some growth. Anxious and excited about my appointment tomorrow with the surgeon to discuss surgery options and how the tumors have responded to the chemo. Any advice would be appreciated. Still awaiting genetic testing results. Now the fun part. We have a family wedding in October this year and some other events and I am very excited for my hair to start growing. Any tips or advice. Scalp treatment or oils etc vitamins. Should I have a shave after chemo so the hair grows evenly and also what kind of length can I expect in 6 months or so. How did you hair grow? Lastly. If anyone is based in Sydney and would want to meet for a chat, support, pray , let me know. Would love to meet some ladies, we can encourage each other. Can direct message me if you like. Thanks and look forward to hearing your progress xxx
Processing the journey
Moderator moved @Tania_G post from activity section to 'General Discussion' section: Hi everyone, Was diagnosed back in July 2023 stage 3 HER2+ breast cancer. Have done two rounds of chemo. Had surgery in December 2023 and am now getting ready for radiotherapy. I'm experiencing a lot of confusion and loss as I now begin to process this journey. Getting used to my new body and trying to work out who I am psychologically. Any advice?
Do I or Don't I
Hi Girls I have 4 weeks of a 20 week chemo treatment left and then surgery to follow. I am lost after my surgical consultation. I signed up for wide incision { actually signed the form } then was examined by a second doctor and things just went pear shaped from there. The tumor is in my right breast and am am considering bilateral surgery with reconstruction. I am currently in public health care and would greatly appreciate any help with finding other options in Brisbane area as public health will not offer Bilateral elective surgery.
What to do?
I had a lumpectomy mid January and all went well. Clear margins, no lymph involvement, hormone positive, Protein negative, 19mm. BUT grade 3. the oncologist recommended 4 x AC followed 4 x Taxol dense dose followed by 16 ray treatments, followed by hormone. I was hoping to avoid chemo and my surgeon felt hormone treatment was my best option. So I am shocked to say the least. I am considering the Presigna genome test to help me make the decision about chemo. The oncologist says chemo will give me 4% more. Any advice appreciated. Have you tried the Presigna? have you done similar treatment?
Lymphodema Swelling During Chemo
Hi All i had a simple mastectomy with auxiliary lymph node removal at the end of February and had my first TC chemo on the 26th March. On Wednesday I noticed that the veins on the inside on my wrist weren’t as prominent on the arm that had the nodes removed and so I measured my arms for comparison and they appear to be about the same size. My lymphodema physio says that it may not necessarily be lymphodema as she see patients with swelling like this during treatment. She has given me a sleeve to wear as I willl need one for flying in the future but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this?? Thanks xoNode clearance and mastectomy
Hi everyone So after 4mths of chemo, i returned to my surgeon today and i have to have a node clearance and decide whether to have a mastectomy. The medical team are divided on whether i should have it. The reasons for are my age 44 and its better to be safe. Pre invasive cancer did not show up on any imaging i had. So they are worried about what they cant see. Im more than 50% sure that i should have it but not sure either. Can anyone tell me about node clearance and mastectomy surgery, pain recovery etc. Thanks xx Trikki2
Is this normal?
I finished 4 cycles chemotherapy two weeks ago. I begin 21 days of radiotherapy next week. Just noticed a significant lump near my lumpectomy scar. I’ve been doing strength training at the gym. Could this just be a build up of fluid? Is it normal to have fluid build up at this stage? Lumpectomy was on 21 March. Thanks all
Eyelashes and surgery
It's such a stupid little thing but I am so cross with my surgical team. Somewhere on breast surgeon Liz O'Riordan's blog she wrote that having breast cancer taught her the importance of how much the little things can mean to a patient. Such as now when she operates on women going through/having just gone through chemotherapy, rather than applying tape directly to the eyes, she makes sure there's a bit of gauze under the tape. This protects the eyelashes from being ripped out when the tape comes off, baby eyelashes or ones bravely hanging on. This was not done for me and I'm really annoyed. I had managed to hang onto most of my eyelashes through chemo. They had thinned a little but were doing better than my eyebrows. When I was finally able to hobble to a mirror I was appalled to see that almost every single lash on the bottom left lid had gone, and that half of the lashes on the top right lid had disappeared. Now I'm not especially vain, don't always put on make up, and wear glasses. But ffs! After all the ugly indignities that BC puts you through, the scars you're left with, the ongoing side effects of long treatments, is it SO bloody hard to take the time and effort to think about and eliminate one thing for the patient?? One little thing that can affect our fragile self-esteem, sense of personal pride, privacy about our health? The thing that keeps grit out of our eyes? One less thing to remind us of CANCER everytime we look in the mirror??? How long will I have to wait before my eyelashes grow back?? What's a little thing about your treatment you'd change? I am mightily pissed off.Chemotherapy
i had a a bilateral mastectomy 3 weeks ago today, the cancer was lobular carcinoma. At 7.5 centimetres. The surgeon told me I would need radiation and I would have to take hormone blockers as it was estrogen positive. I saw the oncologist yesterday and he is suggesting chemo, he said he’s not insisting but suggesting I do it. I have diabetes and also suffer diverticulitis which is a bit tricky, but can be dealt with he said. When I read all of the side effects that I could get I almost took fright. According to the tests etc I have a 10% Moore chance of the cancer not returning if I have the chemo, radiation and hormone blockers than if I don’t. Has anyone been through this and is chemo as bad as they say. I would like to live a full life as long as possible. Anyone out there able to help.
