Chemo over - now for round 2

Hi Dane

Congrats on finishing chemo. I finished Herceptin today and am now finished all my treatments.
I was on taxotere and carboplatin when I did my main chemo. I did 6 cycles and finished at the end of June last year. 6 weeks later I had surgery - complete mastectomy and immediate reconstruction.
My hair started to grow fairly quickly and by the beginning of December I stopped wearing my wig/ headscarf. I was given a very useful tip which was to massage olive oil into my scalp to stop it from drying out and I found this worked very well. I did get a bit of dandruf but a few washes with Head and Shoulders sorted that out. Some people say you should shave your head when your hair starts to grow but to be honest I was so happy to see hair coming back that there was no way I was going to shave it off!!!
With regard to chemo brain I am sorry to say for me I still get a bit of it a year later. On the bright side it does get easier as your energy increases. I call chemo the gift that keeps on giving as I still get some minor side effects like toe nails falling off!!!
I had immediate reconstruction but I know plenty of ladies who didnt and they were up and about only a few days post surgery. Very important that you get your arm moving immediately after surgery and I am sure the physio will come to see you to advise. The drains are a bit of a pain in the neck but they normally come out after a week. They will show you how to empty them if you are discharged with them still in. I got my sister to look after that side of things.
Plenty of rest and light excercise oh and TLC is critical and before you know it, it will all be over.
All the best for the surgery, I will ask Arc Angel Raphael to keep an eye on you. He looked after me( him and Padre Pio) all the way through 18 months of treatment and I am sure they will look after you too

Sinead xxx

Hi Dane

Delighted your finished chemo and congrats on getting through it!!
I had same treatment as sinead and 6 cycles too.Am still on Herceptin till november.I finished chemo at the end of march 29th was last one,i ditched the wig/bandanas 2 weeks ago i only have a very light covering a few mm's at most but its all over and had had enough of wig.Its quite grey have the box of colour ready to go as soon as i get up the courage to do it.
Chemo brain remains unfortunatly,but the tamoxifen not helping there.Sinead you couldnt put it any better'gift that keeps on giving'.I am amazed at how much still effects you as you go on and that the docs forget to tell you!!!Finger nails are in bits juat watching toenails waiting for some to go.I thought i had gotton away with keeping my lashes all way through chemo.I was thrilled up to 3/4 weeks after i finished and off they went so cruel!!!Thankfully they are coming back again.

Congratulations agin on being finished chemo Dane and Sinead on being finished treatment.Onwards and upwards.

xxx hugs w

Thanks ladies. Well done Sinead for making it to the finishing post. Wilmaone you are nearly there! Keep the faith. Currently my eyebrows are itching like hell so I'd imagine they have plans to flee the scene. Eyelashes have thinned a bit but still hanging in there. Hoping to get a week or so of holiday with my husband and son before round 2 starts. Clot I got post picc line proving problem re flights so looking at boats out of the country. Depends on results day after tomorrow. Distracting myself watching the Olympics. Felt so anxious about Katie Taylor, Cian O'Connor and Paddy Barnes today that I was jumping every jump and hitting every punch myself!!!!! Still nice to be anxious about something else other than cancer and surgery!!!! lol.

Dane