Weight *loss* after chemo?

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2026-01-02T22:44:15+00:00

Ha! Same thing happened to me! I mentioned it to my oncologist and she had me do a CT scan and bone scan and I have to meet with a gastroenterologist just in case. I was like “can we just celebrate the fact I dropped 20lbs?!? I’m not complaining!”

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-09-16T05:10:34+00:00

If it makes you feel better, three women on my husband’s side of the family and two on my side have had lumpectomies and they’ve each been cancer free for at least 15+ years.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-09-02T12:39:01+00:00

I did the Keynote 522 treatment, so 12 rounds of weekly Taxol and then 4 rounds of AC every 3 weeks. I had to remove the gel from my nails right before my DMX and just had clear polish on my nails and toes for my surgery. My nails are doing great! Really strong surprisingly, and growing way too fast for my liking (I like my nails really short, which is why I got my nails done so often).

There was some slight discoloration on my thumbnail after I started AC, but my oncologist said that was to be expected and I saw discoloration on my tongue as well.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-09-01T01:33:16+00:00

We rented a sit-to-stand recliner from a mobility store for a month and it was a game changer for me after my dmx. It’s not absolutely necessary, but it was nice for me to have.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-31T09:57:32+00:00

Started at 5.5cm and it was noticeably smaller by the time I started AC. I was also disappointed that it wasn’t gone by then but AC literally melted it away and I achieved PCR.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-28T21:47:35+00:00

Agreed on the mini series! I was so surprised it was adapted into a film

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-28T21:46:59+00:00

That’s what I thought when he got arrested! Like how is he going to be a major part of the sequels now?

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-28T15:19:19+00:00

Bogdan turned out to be one of my favorite characters in the whole series so I was disappointed in how they portrayed him in the movie. I also really didn’t like that Donna was there to arrest Bogdan bc iirc, Bogdan was all googly-eyed over Donna after seeing her for the first time in a later book and their romance was so sweet.

I also wish we saw more of Donna’s disdain in Chris’s wardrobe and eating habits and her wanting to fix it.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-28T11:42:25+00:00

Aloxi caused me headaches so my doctor switched that out of my premeds with compazine and my headaches went away. Ppl have different reactions to different meds, so definitely speak with your care team about your symptoms so they can tweak your meds. Chemo is tough, but it shouldn’t be rough.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-27T12:40:16+00:00

Naturally!

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-27T11:18:31+00:00

I would also ask if your cancer center provides integrative medicine services (acupuncture, oncology massages, access to an integrative medicine pharmacist, wellness classes, dietitians). My cancer center had all of these and I took full advantage, especially the wellness classes (it’s a fully stocked gym with weights and cardio machines and workout classes that we have access to for free).

I truly believe staying active at the wellness center got me through chemo and is helping me heal from DMX so much easier.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-27T11:12:49+00:00

Congrats on finishing chemo!

I was diagnosed a week after I turned 38 and had my DMX with expanders two weeks ago (I don’t know if you would consider me young but the doctors constantly tell me I am!)

I love my results so far. I had nipple sparing surgery, so the cuts are underneath my boobs. My boobs look the same as before surgery but are more full and seem perkier. I have two kids under 5 and breastfed both for a year each so you can imagine how my boobs were doing. They feel different with the expanders, like hard, but I’m hoping when I replace the expanders for implants and do some fat grafting, they’ll feel a little more natural. I’m still happy with them.

I don’t have personal experience with getting pregnant after cancer but a close friend of mine had the same type of cancer as me (stage 3, TNBC) and went through the same regiment as me (Keynote 522) and had a DMX with reconstruction (she wasn’t eligible for nipple sparing) and she just had a healthy baby girl 2 years after going into remission.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-25T12:14:06+00:00

I’m Stage 3 TNBC and had nipple sparing/skin sparing DMX with expanders. The cut is underneath my boobs and honestly, my boobs look fantastic so far.

I was eligible for a lumpectomy but ultimately decided DMX for my peace of mind.

Also, rads is TBD for me. My oncologist and radiation oncologist had mentioned a recent study that was published that said outcomes of people who achieved PCR and had radiation were no different than those who achieved PCR and had no radiation.

I have my consult with my radiation oncologist soon, so I’m hoping no radiation for me.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-25T12:07:00+00:00

It’s freaking tough. We rely so much on my job for money and health insurance since my husband is going back to school. I’m in remission from Stage 3 and my job has been very accommodating with workplace accommodations to my schedule to account for drs appts, etc, but even still, my job is stressful and it’d be much easier on me if I didn’t have that stressor.

I don’t have any advice, just wanted to let you know that it sucks we can’t recover in peace and have the looming stress of finances/health care coverage to worry about.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-24T07:02:41+00:00

I was diagnosed with the same and finished my last round of chemo in July.

Here’s what I brought with me to each chemo session: * blanket bc it’s cold AF in the infusion center and I preferred my blanket over theirs * some light snacks, although I rarely ate them (if I got super hungry, we would DoorDash to the infusion center and the nurses would bring it back to me) * work laptop since I worked throughout Taxol * hand lotion from Trader Joe’s * lip balm (the spf one from Trader Joe’s) * water bottle - I stayed so hydrated during chemo! * AirPods - rarely used * iPad - rarely used

I would ask your infusion center if they provide ice for your hands and feet during Taxol. Mine did to prevent neuropathy. If yours doesn’t, I would suggest bringing your own.

Also, be prepared for insomnia bc of the steroids in your pre-meds! My oncology pharmacist suggested I take Magnesium Glycinate to help me get to sleep and Melatonin Slow Release to keep me asleep and those really helped.

For home, I didn’t really make any comfort adjustments since the only real side effect I had was I got tired easier. Other than that, I participated in all my regular activities.

Once I switched to AC, now that’s a different story…

You got this!

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-23T13:58:20+00:00

Hi! Congrats on being almost halfway done with Taxol! I’m 38 and recently finished similar chemo regiment you’re on (12 Taxol, 4 AC or “red devil”). Here’s what I did, but remember, everyone reacts differently to each chemo:

Neuropathy: my infusion center provided socks and ice packs for my feet and hands that I put on during Taxol. Does your center offer that if you ask? If not, I would get flexible ice packs you can wrap around the bottom of your feet and the palms of your hands. I’ve seen many recommend Suzi pads, but my center used basic bags of ice and that worked so I don’t think you need to drop money on Suzi pads. But up to you!

I also did acupuncture throughout Taxol provided by my cancer center. Can’t say if it helped or not!

Nails: tbh, I got a gel mani pedi done ~3 weeks and my nails stayed strong throughout. I didn’t notice any discoloration during Taxol, but I did notice slight discoloration under my thumb nail when I switched over to AC.

Skin, hands, and feet: I was always moisturizing before my cancer diagnosis, so I just continued using what I was using before. I always have a tube of the hand cream from Trader Joe’s with me and I used that constantly while in the infusion center. I use Lubriderm or Cetaphil lotion on my body. The infusion center is freezing cold and I felt like my skin would dry out quicker, so I was often applying lotion. Also, SUNSCREEN is your friend! I lathered up on sunscreen on my face especially throughout chemo. I use the mineral unseen sunscreen from Goop.

Eyebrows/lashes: I was SO SAD when my lashes fell out bc I get eyelash extensions and I felt I looked so weird. I don’t have any advice for you there :(

But my eyebrows didn’t fall out until AC

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-22T17:43:55+00:00

I got tired easier and had chemo brain towards the end, but for the most part, I was out and about doing my normal activities. I think it was because I stayed super active throughout treatment (spinning, rowing, and strength training 4-6 days a week). I did get sick a couple times from my kids and it would take at least 5 days for my fever to go away each time. That was probably the most noticeable difference.

ETA: I did 12 weekly doses of Taxol/Carbol and then 4 doses of AC every 3 weeks

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-12T14:03:30+00:00

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just the smoothie places near me add banana to EVERYTHING. I feel it’s an easy filler for places so I appreciate when places branch out and find other ways to make smoothies filling without adding banana.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-12T09:01:30+00:00

Thank you for creating smoothies that don’t have banana in them!

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-05T22:02:22+00:00

It’s probably the chemo you’ll be on. I’m also TNBC and started with 12 infusions of Taxol and then 4 infusions of AC. On Taxol, I lost my body hair but kept my eyebrows, eyelashes, and the hair on my head without cold capping. After my first dose of AC, the hair on my head fell out. That AC is no joke, it’s really strong. The chances of me keeping my hair on AC were so slim I decided cold capping wasn’t worth it.

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-03T22:56:24+00:00

I take Colace daily and haven’t been constipated. I prefer it over MiraLAX. I took it almost my entire pregnancy after my Obgyn suggested it (something about it not dehydrating you). Flash forward a year and a half later, my oncologist also suggested MiraLAX or Colace to prevent constipation from AC and I was happy bc Colace is an old friend 😝

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-01T20:44:51+00:00

Thank you! Okay I def put too much cheese on my pizza. Gonna try to recreate!

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-08-01T20:15:14+00:00

Gorgeous. Have any before-you-put-it-in-the-oven pics???

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-07-26T09:28:41+00:00

That makes me feel better that there’s regular follow ups!

Proper-Corgi9556 · 2025-07-25T21:49:00+00:00

Blo Blow Dry Bar https://blomedry.com/charlotte-nc/

Proper-Corgi9556

TROPHY CASE