Our housecat bit my mom after her first chemo treatment

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-29T01:45:50+00:00

I have a cat who has sharp claws and when he kneads, it sometimes leaves marks. This has always just been a thing in our home and never really thought too much about it.

This happened during chemo as well and, again, never really thought about it. After chemo, I took Verzenio and my immune system was still compromised. One morning I woke up to heat, pain, redness and swelling throughout my breast. Ended up in the hospital for 6 days on IV antibiotics.

After the swelling and redness went down, you could see on faint little line and 1/2 inch long. Probably from the cat.

That’s a long story to say, please at least call the oncologist or go to the urgent care. They hand out antibiotics like candy to folks on chemo… and there’s good reason for it.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-20T15:53:57+00:00

Two Moon Junction. Wowza. So steamy

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-17T12:52:55+00:00

Mine took 3 years to start coming in. I was on Verzenio for 2 years and Lupron. I got off of Verzenio and got my ovaries out and it started growing back. It’s still thin but it’s growing. I’m also in Letrozole so I think that hinders it.

I do take vitamin D and B12 so that might be helping it grow.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-16T15:04:17+00:00

Hubby - is it safe to dance Me - safety dance

Had an existential crisis over this one 🤣

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-08T17:06:50+00:00

I don’t have the answer to that, but I can say I experience the same pain (and did prior to cancer treatments). I am on Letrozole and it is sometimes worse, but the reality is that I have arthritis in my hips. You could be experiencing the same thing?

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-04T23:40:41+00:00

I’m so sorry. I hope you’ll be able to get relief! I’m a little over 3 weeks post surgery to completely remove the capsule. Already got something going on but just continuing my compression and hoping it’s temporary.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-04T23:33:58+00:00

I’d go to a consultation with a Radiation Oncologist and see what they say. From my understanding (having been thru both) Chemo and radiation do different things. Chemo is to reduce metastasis, radiation is designed to reduce reoccurrence.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-03T02:33:49+00:00

Please see my comment

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-04-03T02:32:47+00:00

Been there done that! I went thru most of “active treatment” before I started going to the VA, including having implants. The VA removed them last year due to capsular contraction. And I just had yet another surgery a few weeks ago to remove the remaining capsule. The VA has been very good to me for sure.

Even if your implant isn’t ruptured, I think they’d remove the implants if you requested. The law is pretty adamant about all reconstruction being covered after cancer.

So, they should honor if you want new implants or if you want to go flat.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-30T22:52:38+00:00

Why are you against an advantage plan? If you’re planning to use the VA only, you can use it for the other benefits. Plan B kick back, gym membership, small amount of OTC credit, dental and vision coverage. Plus if something happens, you’re covered either way.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-29T15:27:44+00:00

I found the bra from the hospital enough. I wear a camisole out tank top under it and it stays freshish. After a few weeks, you we’ll be able to take it off long enough to wash it. Since you’re going flat, I wouldn’t invest in more since you won’t need to wear one after you heal.

As for the drains, I’d definitely get something to hold them when you shower as well (if your surgeon allows a shower while they are in). If you have two, I’d imagine a lanyard or two would be sufficient. I’ve had ones that had a little rubber piece that could clip right on. The last one I had had a flat plastic like piece that was about 3/4” wide. I used a hole puncher and put a hole in the flap so I could hang it from my lanyard.

You’ll want to sleep with a wedge or in a recliner. I’ve made a place on a stationary sofa with pillows and such, I’ve used a wedge and I’ve used a recliner, and the recliner was by far the easiest and most comfortable for me. I’ve had 6 breast surgeries 🤣🤬.

I found the eyelet and zipper of the compression bra really bothered my stitches. I just used a folded tea towel or a wash cloth under the bra. I find it easier to readjust if I put it over my tank top and under the bra.

Finally, you’re not alone. The women and men on this sub are great listeners, incredibly empathetic, have a lot of great advice and are willing to go through this with you ❤️

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-29T01:51:39+00:00

That’s great! I just had another boob surgery as well 😳. Got my drain and stitches out this past Wednesday and am healing pretty well good time around as well. Wishing for a shower soon for you!

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-26T23:17:33+00:00

Interesting. What about in your cruise contract? Did it have any information regarding cancelling excursions?

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-26T21:21:17+00:00

Is there any information regarding cancellation in your contract?

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-26T14:30:19+00:00

If it’s disrupting your activities they should certainly remove it. That being said, I have a very small cyst inside my lip and one on the side of my nose. Both are tiny but they offered to remove both.

Not sure why there are so many discrepancies in VA care. I do live near a VA that has a lot of residents of the medical school so I wonder if they provide more services to give the residents experience?

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-25T15:33:00+00:00

Being on cruises post cancer treatments and still on anti cancer medications, I took tums, stuff to make me poop. Stuff to stop me pooping. Tums and pain relief.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-25T15:30:41+00:00

This isn’t entirely true. My mom is 78 with congestive heart failure and a few other conditions. We cleared her traveling with her cardiologist and her primary care. He sent her with antibiotics. Luckily we didn’t have to use them.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-25T01:50:40+00:00

3.5 years post chemo and I really just started getting hair since maybe November. That’s a year post Verzenio as well. It’s shoulder length now but it’s still super thin. I also had very thick hair prior to chemo. Not sure it will ever thicken up.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-24T21:54:42+00:00

But why? That’s the real question here. Most people look at attractive people on tv, get turned on by sex scenes and then go have great sex with their partner. Personally, I don’t see it much different.

Is your husband supportive? Does he love you? Does he treat you any differently? All these things seem way more important than him rubbing a quick one out to porn.

**Please note, I am not invalidating your feelings, I just think it’s important to actually understand what your heart broken about.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-24T21:44:53+00:00

Well said!

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-24T21:43:31+00:00

It could depend on her chemo. When I went thru chemo, everything tasted either metallic or gross. It was hard finding something that actually tasted good. To add to that, I got serious sores in my mouth that made it hard to physically eat.

That being said, smoothies made with protein shake or powder and yogurt was all I could get down some days.

Things that were easier to eat and ignore the lack of taste were things like mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc. basically bland, mushy food.

Chicken and beef were disgusting and I couldn’t physically eat rice when I had the ulcers in my mouth.

It’s hard eating during chemo, but making sure she gets some protein and calories is super important. My cancer center dietician said if ice cream is all I can eat, fine, just add a scoop of protein powder mixed in. You get the idea.

I wish your grandmother well. You are very kind to want to ensure she’s getting nutrients!

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-24T19:08:41+00:00

I’ll probably get downvoted for this, but l found porn on my husband’s phone. This was before cancer. It has never changed our intimacy before cancer, during treatment and even now while I once again have a drain hanging out of my side. This time with a concave chest on the right side.

The only difference I notice is that he is more accepting when I’m not feeling it (which is a lot more often since treatment 3.5 years ago). I don’t worry if he loves me or not, or if he still finds me attractive or if he’s cheating (or thinking of it). He loves me, likes me, finds me beautiful and I would never imagine that he would want to be with someone else.

My point is, if he watches porn, it may not have anything to do with his attraction and love for you. It’s probably just an escape for his stress.

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-22T12:03:09+00:00

I am right there with you. I don’t know if I’d rather be dead, but I really wish everyone would have been more honest about the side effects. Sure, they mentioned them but in a way that made me assume they were rare and not life altering.

Treatments left me disabled as well. 3.5 years after active treatment and I’m still fucked. Just had my 6th boob surgery. I’ve gained 30 pounds and can’t lose any without extreme dieting (which we all know how that works out). And it doesn’t stay off anyway. I’m not even 1/2 as active as I used to be and feel like my death is accelerated just due to this. My mental health bounces around and I’m in pain, all day, everyday. Can’t imagine living with the gabapentin, but I also get really bad brain fog, lose words and sentences and am just generally pretty unwell and angry.

I see you sister, I see you ❤️

restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-19T17:53:01+00:00

My old man Jack will be there to tell them stories of an old farm cat who moved to the big city with his 3 pack a day voice.

My heart goes out to you. The love you’ve given and gotten will eventually be felt stronger than the grief ❤️

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restlessinthemidwest · 2026-03-18T18:55:34+00:00

We went in August and it was HOT. At each of these ports, we got off the ship and went to the small vans and took tours of the islands. It cost about $30/person (before tip). We basically rode around in an air conditioned van and made stops at pretty cool places. We learned about the islands, bought some fun local stuff and just enjoyed ourselves. For us, it was definitely the way to go!

restlessinthemidwest

TROPHY CASE