New breast cancer drugs on the way?

This sounds interesting for women with advanced stage breast cancer, extending life by six months with fewer side effects: http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2013/01/roche_touts_new_breast_cancer.html

New study re: BRCA and early menopause - so me.

This was so true for me, should have been another sign that I was BRCA positive but who knew?? I went through early menopause in my mid-40s, probably by 47 it was over as far as menstruating went, but still had flashes, weight gain, night sweats, and I have the sweats and difficulty regulating temperature even now with no ovaries but more related to chemo detox. Looking forward to 90 days to see how I truly feel. http://news.yahoo.com/cancer-gene-mutation-linked-earlier-menopause-205024862.html

40 days out

Now 40 days post-chemo, feeling tired, not as hungry, hair filling in, a few more pistons firing in my brain, feet and hands still tingling. Sometimes I feel like someone is stabbing me in a particular spot in my feet, legs, hands or arms, but I know it is all related to taxol and detoxing from it. I look at my 90 day to-do list and know I can't get everything done but one or two things every day are moving off my list, which is positive. Some days I have energy and a clear head, or hours, or minutes, and others - not. D. says my sense of humor is coming back and I'm funny again. My son has been accepted at two colleges with scholarship offers, although not his top choices at least he has a starting point. I am having the hair color debate as my hair is such a mixture of colors it is hard to tell what it is anymore or what it should be. Was supposed to color it next week but I am going to put it off a few more. Maybe a haircut in April?

Sensitivity

During chemo people would ask me if I was cold or hot all the time. I just felt I was temperature sensitive, meaning sensitive to extremes, which I still am. During chemo I was getting the face flush from one of the IV drugs, so I changed my face wash to a neutrogena sensitive skin cleanser which worked very well. What has changed is that now, almost 30 days from chemo, my skin is very sensitive and i cannot tolerate wearing wool or cashmere against my skin, even sweaters I was wearing a few weeks ago. Finding I must wear a cotton t-shirt under the wool cardigans I do wear and am not wearing of my beautiful sweaters or twin sets. Hoping it will change soon so before the winter is over I can wear all my clothes.

Fatigue - not fat

As I remain in mini-chipmunk territory with my face, I can confirm only gained about six pounds during treatment. Considering the steroids, this is pretty good, although I am trying to take it off now. I am still experiencing swollen hands and throbbing feet, but not nearly as extreme as during treatment. Fatigue is still present and some brain fog. I feel like I can remember a little more, but not great concentration and clarity yet. Started a book while we were away over the holidays but haven't been able to get back to it and finish, which is a little sad. I used to read like most people eat, drink or smoke. Fatigue is still difficult. Would like to sleep late every day, instead I find myself falling sleep at 8 p.m. and waking up at 5 a.m. but tired. Would like to go back to sleep but then I have to make sure my son gets up at 6 a.m. and out to the bus at 7:45 so I can't go back to sleep until 7. Ahh, looking forward to graduation and off to college for him in a few months. By then maybe I will have more energy. Feel it is a huge accomplishment to get more than one or two things crossed-off the to-do list every day.

In new territory - the next 90 days

Now two weeks from last chemotherapy - 18. Thinking about what to do so I made a list for what to accomplish during the 90 days from January 1 to April 1, 2013. It just has to be a better year than last year, which included almost dying, and spending most of the last six months in bed. It will be interesting to see now that I am no longer on steroids if I can lose the five or so pounds I gained during treatment, if my face will no longer have that round chipmunk look (my husband says it is already getting better), if my feet will stop hurting and feeling numb, what my hair will look like when it grows more, and if the brain fog will clear. 90 days - I've learned over time I can do almost anything for 90 days, diet, exercise, not drinking, and so on. This time it was 180 days and I made it this far. Let's see what I can get accomplished.