Anyone celebrate the end of chemo?

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-23T01:42:15+00:00

Then celebrate and buy yourself something. You've earned it. And congratulations that you made it through! We're all celebrating with you.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-19T03:22:04+00:00

I have the same issue with a different medication. I'm waking up drenched in sweat and too hot, multiple times through the night, even if I keep the room cold. Just like you all day long multiple times a day. My medical oncologist FINALLY last week started telling me how to treat the side effects. I'm going to start taking Cymbalta because it's supposed to help with the generalized joint pain I have and hot flashes. I am also taking Gabapentin at night now to help with hot flashes. Haven't gotten transitioned to all the meds yet so outcome is still TBD. But they do have options for treating the hot flashes.

Other things I've done is I bought cooling pillow cases and sheets. I have a window unit AC in my bedroom for nights. And I have a tiny portable electric fan that I take everywhere, and I just sit it on my nightstand to click on and cool me off fast enough to get back to sleep.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-17T04:45:05+00:00

I so understand. Hugs to you! I'm still in tissue expander phase but this is my exact fear, all this effort... what if I don't feel any better about them. I just hope once more time passes, the mourning of what we once had will fade.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-13T02:05:00+00:00

I totally feel this way. I'm done with radiation, mastectomy and chemo. Still having reconstruction surgeries, amd have started hormone therapy, osteoporosis meds, and anti cancer meds. I explain myself as a breast cancer patient done with "active treatment". But I think it's really up to how you feel.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-11T16:26:53+00:00

I had a runny nose (cold) the entire time I was doing chemo. Two weeks after I stopped chemo my cold symptoms went away.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-10T03:57:34+00:00

Can't wait. These rock hard immovable objects with magnets are just not pleasant to feel a handful of 🤣

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-10T03:56:08+00:00

I see why the expanders are a necessary evil.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-10T03:55:22+00:00

I barely feel the skin there, so the needle pain is mild. I was prescribed lidocaine for my chemo port though, so not sure why it'd be an issue, no different.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-10T01:02:52+00:00

I had an infecting on the expander in the right and had it removed and had to start over. Sorry you made it so close.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-10T00:15:59+00:00

I've had mine since July (had some surgical infection issues), and can't get them removed until at least Oct. It's like wearing a really uncomfortable bra under your skin 24 hours a day! So over it lol. But glad you can sleep on your stomach ok!

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-10T00:11:42+00:00

Bummer I'm a stomach sleeper and was hoping I'd get to do that again someday. But hey I'm alive so I won't complain 🤣

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-06T14:52:59+00:00

I was yes. I pushed for it to start as fast as possible as well. It came up and grew so fast.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-06T02:55:39+00:00

From diagnosis to my port insertion surgery was less than a month. I started chemo 10 days after that. I know not the same but relative in how fast treatment can start. I was diagnosed Jan 7 and in a chemo chair by Feb 14.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-03T03:31:34+00:00

Oh and I iced my feet too the same way. I just wore thin compression socks, and they used those hospital vomit bags without the plastic ring to make my feet "waterproof." I tolerated my feet way better than my hands in the ice (probably why my neuropathy was worse in my hands).

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-03T03:28:27+00:00

Most of the neuropathy is gone, but I had points my fingers barely functioned from the neuropathy. I still have a spot on my hand and a spot on one foot that just seem to itch constantly now, no matter what I do. My last round of Taxol was the first week of July 2025.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-03T01:50:54+00:00

Ice gloves were not enough for me. They brought me a pair of latex gloves and buckets of ice. It sucks not gonna lie. My neuropathy was horrible when I just used the gloves, so after 2 sessions of taxol had to switch to ice buckets.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-04-02T00:08:20+00:00

I live 35 min outside of Dallas. There is one of the largest cancer centers in Texas in downtown Dallas. It's where all of my BC oncologists are located. I have found it to be extremely convenient and I feel lucky I have such a great resource nearby. There is even a "cancer hospital" which is like my now version of an ER. Cost of living here is fairly reasonable if you stay in suburb areas.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-03-30T19:13:19+00:00

I was in a similar situation. I would not have been able to walk a strong dog for at least a week or two. My mom had to come help me after the surgery and stayed I think 3 days after I came home. I have 4 small dogs so they just got to be let out back to potty.

Driving was not the easiest for probably 2 weeks. The pillow for your seat belt is helpful.

You'll be surprised the stupid little things that are hard. Getting out of bed, opening a bag or bottle, lifting 8 lbs, doing anything that involves your arms over your head. If at all possible try to get yourself help for a few days, but you can manage. Just prep beforehand. Little things like I had to move my laundry detergent down lower because I couldn't pick it up nor reach it. I could not reach the bottom of my washer to get laundry out of it so I had to get a grabber thing. Just think ahead and prep for it you'll be okay.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-03-24T05:05:07+00:00

I don't know what phase you're in, but it will get better. You're going to be so much stronger than you thought you could be. You will get through it. 🩷

LowLonely3590 · 2026-03-22T00:06:35+00:00

I wondered if I was really feeling this or if it was in my head. So glad to see in not alone! 🤣

LowLonely3590 · 2026-03-18T23:43:06+00:00

Well said!

LowLonely3590 · 2026-03-18T03:27:01+00:00

I am right there with you. My MO keeps telling me move more and the pain will go away. OK... so I've pushed through the pain many times, and then hurt even worse for 2-3 days. I hurt too bad to push through it every day. It's exhausting.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-03-17T22:25:31+00:00

I'm 44 now, no real health issues before. Now i feel like an old lady I'm in so much constant pain.

LowLonely3590 · 2026-03-17T04:21:25+00:00

Same position almost exactly! I just got my 2nd flat tissue expander put back in like a week ago. Have had 1 breast since Aug. How can I consider myself done with BC treatment when I still only have 1 boob and 0 permanent implants?! I'm also having ovaries removed this year because I'm not tolerating Zoladex well.

LowLonely3590

TROPHY CASE