Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[Pea-n-Me]

My husband has to do it for me. He's thrilled about it lol.

My husband did it once, when DD had to work. God love him, he did ok, but he was a little rough.

 

[dez1978]

My husband did it once, when DD had to work. God love him, he did ok, but he was a little rough.

I sent my husband approx 37 youtube and tiktok how tos and we survived the first week. Now that we have the hang of it, we're going to make some adjustments this week and see if we can get a better fit around my hairline. I am 100% sure that at least once during this 12 week span we will have an argument over it in the middle of the infusison room lmao

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I sent my husband approx 37 youtube and tiktok how tos and we survived the first week. Now that we have the hang of it, we're going to make some adjustments this week and see if we can get a better fit around my hairline. I am 100% sure that at least once during this 12 week span we will have an argument over it in the middle of the infusison room lmao

I didn’t have the nice Penguin set up, I missed being able to get it by a day, so I had the cheap one! Lol. But we worked with it. We had to put the ice packs up inside the cap, then put it on my head. We realized weeks into it that there were seams that didn’t have ice, and that’s where I was losing my hair. So we got some more ice packs and had to put them in in addition to the ones inside the cap. Then because it didn’t feel tight enough on my head, we put a bandana around the whole thing and tied it tight. (Once I used a cotton cap I’d worn that day as we forgot the bandana. Way to improvise!)

Anyway, DD managed this for me pretty well. She was shown the first day by the lady’s mom who was in the infusion room next to mine, though they had the nice Penguin. On the one day DD couldn’t come with me, she showed DH what to do at home the night before. As I said, he did a good job, but yanking the thing down over my head and jamming the ice packs up there afterward with his big hands was a little rough, haha. It’s worth it to save the hair, but it is a lot of work, and relaxing during chemo wasn’t possible as the caps had to be changed out hourly or more (I had two). But also with all the fluid they gave me I had to go to the bathroom a lot which meant taking off the cold boots and mittens and dragging the pole in, etc., too. First time I had chemo we didn’t have any of that, and I think it was more relaxing then.

 

[dez1978]

I didn’t have the nice Penguin set up, I missed being able to get it by a day, so I had the cheap one! Lol. But we worked with it. We had to put the ice packs up inside the cap, then put it on my head. We realized weeks into it that there were seams that didn’t have ice, and that’s where I was losing my hair. So we got some more ice packs and had to put them in in addition to the ones inside the cap. Then because it didn’t feel tight enough on my head, we put a bandana around the whole thing and tied it tight. (Once I used a cotton cap I’d worn that day as we forgot the bandana. Way to improvise!)

Anyway, DD managed this for me pretty well. She was shown the first day by the lady’s mom who was in the infusion room next to mine, though they had the nice Penguin. On the one day DD couldn’t come with me, she showed DH what to do at home the night before. As I said, he did a good job, but yanking the thing down over my head and jamming the ice packs up there afterward with his big hands was a little rough, haha. It’s worth it to save the hair, but it is a lot of work, and relaxing during chemo wasn’t possible as the caps had to be changed out hourly or more (I had two). But also with all the fluid they gave me I had to go to the bathroom a lot which meant taking off the cold boots and mittens and dragging the pole in, etc., too. First time I had chemo we didn’t have any of that, and I think it was more relaxing then.

Mine are changed every 25 mins from 50 mins before the taxol, thru 4 hours after. I am fortunate that the taxol is just 1 hr. So I have pre meds, then herceptin which is 1 hr, then the taxol. So basically we get the dry ice around 10 am and put the 1st cap in, 20 mins later the 2nd one goes in and 20 mins later the 3rd goes in. Get to the center for labs at 1015, see dr, start meds around 1115. 10 mins into herceptin I put the 1st one on and then just every 25 mins after. So as much as I'd like to sleep when that benadryl hits, I can't. I also have to figure out a way to wear my glasses more comfortably bc I am blind as a bat lol. it's about 6 hours overall. It could be worse. I know some chemo regimens are several hours long. If I can save 75% of my hair it will be worth it! Tho nothing could have prepared me for -30C on my head!

What shampoo/conditioner did you use? My hair is already so dry!! I wasn't prepared for that already. I have curly hair so I already use pretty moisturizing stuff but dang

 

[#1hoosierfan]

LMP. I am sorry to hear this latest news. I am always thinking of you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just checking in to see how @luvmarypoppins and @dez1978 are doing. Any updates lmp? Dez how did your second chemo go?

What shampoo/conditioner did you use? My hair is already so dry!! I wasn't prepared for that already. I have curly hair so I already use pretty moisturizing stuff but dang

I continued to use my regular shampoo and conditioner, Herbal Essence Rose Hip. I wasn’t too good about doing things as they were suggested.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Pea-n-Me and dez - prayers for you both
I am seeing the breast cancer surgeon on Tuesday. They have 3 but one is retiring so there is a male who is highly regarded and a female who ds3 friends wife had. They were going to give me the guy but I kinda pushed for the girl. Another of ds coworkers had the retiring lady. She said she had just a lumpectomy and radiation. Ds3
Says he doesn’t think any Dr would want to do regular chemo with me.
What should I be asking the surgeon Tuesday.? Ds3 has the day off so he’s coming too.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Pea-n-Me and dez - prayers for you both
I am seeing the breast cancer surgeon on Tuesday. They have 3 but one is retiring so there is a male who is highly regarded and a female who ds3 friends wife had. They were going to give me the guy but I kinda pushed for the girl. Another of ds coworkers had the retiring lady. She said she had just a lumpectomy and radiation. Ds3
Says he doesn’t think any Dr would want to do regular chemo with me.
What should I be asking the surgeon Tuesday.? Ds3 has the day off so he’s coming too.

Hi lmp, you sound well. Have you had a breast MRI yet or seen an oncologist yet re the breast cancer? They usually glean a lot of information from the MRI, so that, along with the biopsy results, can give them a pretty good idea of what your treatment options will be. (They look not just at the breast but the corresponding lymph nodes, as well, on the MRI.)

When visiting the surgeon they’ll let you know, based on what information they have about your particular cancer, what surgical options you have. There has been a lot of research for a long time on recurrence and survival rates with mastectomy vs lumpectomy with radiation. In the old days years ago they did radical mastectomies more often than needed, and women suffered with big swollen arms after removing many lymph nodes, and they walked around the rest of their lives missing a breast, etc. (I cared for many of them.) Today things are so much better, thankfully.

When I updated my own research just a bit recently before my own surgery, what I saw is that many people today choose lumpectomy with radiation if that’s a possibility, and that this option is showing the best survival rates, by a hair. (Mastectomy rates of course are good, too.)

https://www.breastcancer.org/resear...rates-than-mastectomy-for-early-breast-cancer

It certainly is for the most part an easier surgery than a single or double mastectomy, especially in older patients (like us!) So if lumpectomy is a possibility for you, that would be good news. Less anesthesia time and simpler recovery. Radiation has its own issues but for most people it’s not too bad. Chemo is something, if deemed recommended for you, you’d have to get more information about. Depending on the type of cancer you have there are other medications they can offer, as well.

Have your son bring a notebook to take notes. My DD (nurse, also) did this for me, too. And it came in handy a few times when I was trying to remember details.

How long will the surgery be? What does it involve, exactly? What is the recovery time? (Could be longer than normal given the other issues you have going on.) What are the risks? What is involved with follow up? Will any lymph nodes need to come out? Sentinel node biopsy? What are the risks of lymphedema in arm with lymph node surgery? Is radiation recommended? Chemo? (These may be questions they refer you to an oncologist for.)

More: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/what-to-expect/questions-to-ask-surgeon

General with any surgery: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/what-to-expect

Not sure I did this justice. These cases are all unique and there are so many nuances with all of them. Hoping your case was caught very early and you can get it out with the least amount of disturbance and sequelae as possible. It’s so good your DS3 helps you with and through all of this!