Hi everyone,
just thought I would send a post, my fantasic mom was dx In march this year she is 62 and had left mascetomy and node clearance 15/20 were infected she had scans etc thankfully all was clear and they had caught it just about in time horrific time for all as you all know she underwent op march 17th then started her precautionary chemo FEC 6 doses by number 5 she didn’t think she could continue it really knocked her about bless her not once did she complain anyway she had the last chemo and started rads (she will have 15 in total) today just wondered about the hair coming back I can see showdows on her eyebrows and I’m sure little spikes are coming on her head she hasn’t got a computer and doesn’t really talk about things too much but I can’t tell it bothers her just wondered when hair comes back - also mom is saying her back hurts after walking is this normal too? last of all sorry for all the questions but 5 weeks after chemo and she said she still sometimes has a sickness feeling again is this something anyone has experiances I just want to get as much info as poss to pass over to mom she hasn’t even spoken to her BCN as she ‘didn’t want to bother them’ she always acts like nothing has happenend I just want to tell her as much as I can to let her know everything is ok I worry so much but can’t tell her as she would be upset that I’m worried that’s the type of person she is - thank you in advanced for any replies so much appriciated - I have been reading these post daily since mom found out and have found them so helpful they have truely been a lifeline for me everytime I type in a question someone is there for me - THANK YOU XXXXXXXXXXX
Hi there
Good luck to your Mum, she is lucky to have a daughter like you taking care of her.
My hair was back enough to show it off about 4 months after chemo finished, but really properly it took about 6 months. It does differ with different people as often the hair growth rate is different. She will probably have pains for some time to come, I still feel fatigue and aches and finished rads at the beginning of February (chemo finished Oct 25th '07). I have been told it can take a year from end of treatment to feel anywhere near normal, but again, it differs with different people.
I felt terribly sick all through rads. I was told it wasn’t normal but I guess it can happen. I think it may have been linked to starting Tamoxifen, possibly a side effect of that. So I take a ginger capsule with my pill in the morning and the queasiness eased off after a month or so.
I hope your Mum continues to make good progress
Cecelia. x
Thanks for your reply cecelia - I shall let mom know about the hair growth she hasn’t been put on tamoxifen it is some other tablet as it was hormonal grade 2 - how do you feel now nearly a year after treament? would you mind telling me your history It really helps talking to other women who have been through the same as mom I just want to try and understand what she is going through and anything that I can do to help her thanks again xxxx
Hi Lissy
So glad to hear your mum is getting on well and has now finished the chemo. Most people find rads much easier than the chemo although the tiredness is quite difficult to deal with. Best way is to understand that it will happen and go with it, rest when she needs to and don’t fight it too much cos it will get better.
There can be all sorts of “left over” stuff and everyone has different things that seem to hang around. Would your mum feel more comfortable seeing her GP to talk about anything worrying her? My GP is very supportive [just impossible to see!!] but whoever she feels comfortable approaching they are all there to be asked, its what they do and why they are there.
My hair didn’t start to grow back till the end of rads but eye lashes and eye brows came back fairly quickly [thank goodness]. I now have 9 months of growth and no longer look like I ever lost my hair although it is very different to how it was before and grows very slowly [I have only had 1 very slight trim]. It is very thick and has a definite curl, before it was very fine and poker straight. I live in hope that one day it will swish about again LOL!!
AJ - how great to hear from you - you were the first person who ever wrote to me I always wonder how you are getting on you were so fab in replying to my every question THANK YOU!!! - my boyfriends dads girlfriend also had BC grade 3 (it will be 5 years this march) and her hair is also much thicker and looks fab I’m sure moms eyebrows & lashes are coming back as I felt them today I’m sure she will feel better when these come back as she is very aware of having no hair we took her for a meal the other night and she wore her wig and I could tell how uncomfortable she was I asked her why she wore it and she replied that she didn’t want people stariong at her which I can totally understand but for some reason when she is out with me she just wears bandannas as she knows I don’t give a stuff what anyone thinks shes my mom and I’m lucky she is here I think she just worrys about my dad & sister I just want her to feel comfortable - I took her shopping up straford the other day and she was upset that nothing fitted her did you also put on weight with the steroids xx
Hi there
My story was diagnosis June 1st '07. Grade II tumour. They were hoping to shrink the tumour so went on chemo at around the middle of June, I had 5 x FEC and 2 x Taxotere. The tumour after all the chemo was fused to my nipple so I needed a mastectomy which I had on 22nd Nov '07. It was a shock as I was expecting a lumpectomy but it had to happen!
I was not particularly ill though the chemo, I had all the anti sickness they could offer as I have severe emetophobia (phobia of vomit), and they managed to keep it at bay but I put on a bit of weight round the middle from the steroids. I had regulary neulsasia (can’t remember how to spell it) because of low white blood cells.
I had the radiotherapy at the beginning of Jan to end of Jan/beginning of Feb, 15 sessions.
I lost my tum pretty quickly after treatment and can get my size 10 jeans on (which wouldn’t go anywhere near me last year!) I still feel tired and achy after all this time. I have a bone scan tomorrow to check on changes to my vertebrae but I’m convinced it’s the onset of osteoperosis brought on by the treatment, I’m only in my mid 40s.
The wig and caps got really uncomfortable for me when my hair started to grow, they itched so much. So I went without when my hair was still pretty short and coped with the stares! My eyelashes and eyebrows grew really quickly and the eyelashes are very long and thick. They fell out once in May this year which was strange but came back again very quickly. I get so many comments on my hair now as it’s so pretty. I’m keeping it short as it’s come back very curly so it has a kind of Great Gatsby look about it, I love it! And your Mum’s will come back before she knows it, and it’s really soft!
Hope this helps you.
Cecelia. x
I think it can be much harder for ladies like your mum, much as I hated having no hair I got to the point where I thought stuff it if people stared but your mum is of a different generation and is obviously very concerned for other peoples feelings [especially your dads].
The weight gain is hard, I have been a size 12 for pretty much my whole adult life but I am now having to admit defeat and buy 14’s. We know all the stuff about “its just a number” and I also know the bigger size looks better but its hard when it isn’t our fault its happening and then my daughter walks in ready to go clubbing in her size 8 dress with endless legs [me jealous nooooooooo]. I have major body issue crisis moments but my OH is lovely and always puts me right but its hard not to be angry about what this thing leaves behind.
Things will get better every day and eventually there will be enough eye lashes to get mascara on which will be a HUGE day!!!
Ceceia - thank you so much for your reply it really helps - I shall tell mom your story and I know it will give her hope - please will you let me know how your scan goes tomorrow lots of love lisa xxx
Thanks Lisa
I hope my story helps your Mum at least a bit. Sounds like she has great support so make sure you take care of yourself too.
Cecelia. x