MAY 2009 Rads

Anonymous

Carolina, that sounds cool what they did on the cruise.  My DH and I talked about doing a cruise to get away, I am desparate to get away for a few days after all of this, but with my job having weeks-long furloughs and pay cuts, we just can't afford it now.  Maybe once we're back on full time, we can think about something.

Regarding the shooting pains, yes I get them from time to time - sometimes it is a stabbing pain, sometimes a dull ache.  Still having rads tenderness and swelling from time to time, and I definitely am still having the the "grab the boob so I can roll over" tenderness, though not as bad as a few weeks ago. 

Cruise4life

Hi Radettes...

Sorry I have been MIA...last week we became Foster grandparents to my granddaughter who is 7 1/2.  Her father (my son) was killed in a car accident about 4 years ago.  We had guardianship of her after the accident for about two years at that time the "mother" who was incarcerated....the mother got out, got better and somehow became a saint and the "JUDGE" gave my granddaughter to her mother.  It has been two years since then and now the mother has now gone back to her old ways (drugs). 

We are so blessed to have our granddaughter back into our lives...again....we just want her to be 7 1/2 and have a NORMAL life.  We are registering her for school today which starts on Thursday.  She is so excited....

Lisa...good to hear everything went well...Recover soon....

Genia...great news....

I met with my Rad Onco last Wednesday and everything checked out great.  He scheduled me for a MRI which will take place this Thursday...same day as our granddaughter's first day of school. 

Let's just say my life will be busier than ever....I hope to pop in once in a while.

Ladies Stay Healthy and I will be in touch when I can.

barbiedahl

Cruise how cool about school. I was just feeling nostalgic for the days when I went out with my boys to get new backpacks and school supplies. I'm glad to hear that your Onc appointment went well. I have mine next week and I have little to report to him. Life is good!

kt57 nothing has helped my golf game! Thankful for all the blessing no matter how they come huh?

Be well everyone!

lisalisa

I need your VOTE/COMMENT.   This is for a $6,000 branding/website package.  I want to win this and launch HowToFightLikeAGirl.org   Person with the most votes wins!  and I want to build a website for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients....with all kinds of resources to help them!

go to http://www.ebsiwebsites.com/_blog/EBSI_Main_Blog/   you'll see my name (Lisa Mittleman) and a hawaiin sunset photo.  you don't even have to watch the montage.  just click on the "comments" section below my name.....and leave a quick comment about why I should win.   THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lisa

Bold

Done deal Lisa. Good luck! Thats a nobel ambition. How are you feeling. I hope that you are taking it easy.

I feel like the energizer bunny. So much energy. So much to be grateful for. I hope that we never have to go through this again. I pray everyday for all my sisters. Have a great tuesday!!!!

lisalisa

Thanks, Bold! 

I feel like the energizer bunny too and have to remind myself to slow down AND sit down LOL!

Have a great day!  off to flush my port....can't wait to get this thing OUT!

Debonthelake

I commented Lisa,  sounds like a great idea.  Sounds like everyone is doing well right now. Life is getting easier now.  It was a difficult year but now life seems to be taking on a new normal sort of rhythm.

lisalisa

thank you Deb!  life is getting easier for sure!

enjoy your new normal!!

Lisa

Texas357

What's with some people? I had my 6- week follow up with my radiation oncologist this morning. She suggested that I get a mammogram before my prophylactic mastectomy on the 25th just in case there's cancer and they would need to do an SNB.

I called to schedule it, and the person who answered (who is basically just an order taker right?) wanted to know why the orders were written for just one side and I bunch of other questions about what had happened since my last mammogram.  

When I asked if I really had to go through my medical history with her, she admitted that I didn't.

Haven't we had our privacy invaded enough through this whole process? Why is it that working for a hospital makes some people feel like they have the right to ask all these questions?

Bold

Sorry you had to go through that Tex. Stay peaceful and understand that some people are not as smart as others. She did not think that it would hurt you or make you angry. Hope everything is OK. Yikes about cancer on the other side. I am sure that they would have known it by now.

PrincessKauai59

Tex, good for you for speaking up instead of just going through the list!  I agree with Bold that she likely didn't mean it to be intrusive. 

My breast surgeon told me that there is about a 20% risk of ILC showing up in my good remaining breast.  My 1 yr MRI was clear.  At this point, I'm just headed for a breast lift/reduction, but 20% does seem kinda high.  She said she didn't consider it (a prophy mastectomy) medically necessary for my case, but that it would be my preference. 

Anonymous

Okay, I am putting this out there to all of my rads sisters.  I finished rads on June 26.  Today is August 14 and I am having as much breast pain / tenderness as when I finished rads!!  Almost 2 months ago!!  I take Advil, doesn't seem to help.  This is nuts!!  Sometimes it doesn't hurt that bad, but for the last couple of days, it is so tender and painful, even when I'm not moving or doing anything it hurts.  I have been working out more, on Tuesday I worked out with very light weights, and really hurt on Wed - only the breast, not the muscles or anything - the weights are not much at all - and had to wear a sports bra.  Yesterday was better, today hurting again.  I have not worked out since then.  I am scheduled to re-follow up with my rad onc in two weeks.  I don't think they tell you when you start rads that you can hurt for months.   Anyone else having this extreme tenderness / pain??  Maybe this is my payback for not having any skin issues?

barbiedahl

Chelev I've been having breast soreness too. I think mine is from exercising and using weights. I was at the gym and almost had to pull my sports bra off in the car, it was killing me. I was also thinking it was because I had all my lymph nodes removed?? I'm not too worried about it because I figure poor little breast has been through a lot, and I'm back at the gym like an animal, weights, pilates, yoga, aerobics. My rad onc said the breast would change for the next six months so that may be part of it. I'll be interested in hearing what your doc says.

Anonymous

Barbie - that sounds about right.  It's just you don't really hear "you could or will have pain and soreness for months afterward".   I wonder if warm compresses would help?

barbiedahl

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/ask_expert/question_18.jsp

Chelev just saw the above link and I think I may be just holding fluid in my breast? I did have an indentation after I took off my sports bra and I have to say I don't have a huge indent where incision is. I do remember them saying the breast could get a lot more perky, so far it just looks like the other one one only a bit smaller. Plus I don't think it helps me feel wonderful that the back of my arm and my underarm is still numb from surgery. Have a great weekend!

Anonymous

THanks, Barbie for the link.  Checking it out now.

Well, Meg, if it is going to be extreme reactions, they have come to the right breast.  I am the queen of extreme!!

Debonthelake

I've had some tenderness too but, mostly when I try to jog.  A really supportive sports bra seems to help.  My incision is extremely indented post rads but, I cann't complain too much.  I'm glad to be this far along and feeling this good.  10 hour work days get to more than they used to.  I'm just going to work at not working many of those.  Otherwise I'm feeling great.  May your pain improve soon Chevlev

Anonymous

Thanks, Meg - you have been there for me all this time!! 

And, Deb - I feel your pain too with the long work days - the workload we took for granted and breezed right through some days feels like a big uphill climb.  Thanks for the well wishes!  I wince thinking about jogging, but I have been wearing the sports bra for more rigorous activities and it helps.

PrincessKauai59

Feel better Chelev

Anonymous

Thanks, Princess!  It has it's moments, that's for sure.  Much better today.  i guess that is my boob's way of telling me to lay off the weights for a little longer and just keep up with the workouts.  Okay, then!!

americanpinay

Hi ladies,

Just want to check in and say hello to everyone. Just got back from a two-week vacation.

CRUISE...glad to hear your family issue is resolved...

LISALISA...wishing you a fast recovery from surgery...

KT, TEX and PRINCESS...good luck with your upcoming procedures...

CHELEV...I also have intermittent tenderness and pains (sometimes sharp, sometimes stabbing)...not sure if I should attribute to rads or travelling or just living in general...also some headaches and minor aches and pains...also hot flashes are back...I got maybe a four-week reprieve but been having mini hot flashes lately...sighhhhh....and I haven't even started Tamox...I take my first one tonight...IVORYMOM...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I also don't get too much SEs from it...

Take care ladies...

Genia

I'm having horrible leg pain from the Tamoxifen.  It started about a week after I started taking them.  I'm scared to death of blood clots.......but it's par for the course I guess.  Blood clots vs. cancer.........I take...........NEITHER!!!!

hugssss

Genia

americanpinay

sorry to hear that Genia...did you tell your doc about the leg pain? hope it resolves soon...take care...

aaackkk, I'm so scared about having SEs from Tamox for the entire five years that I'm supposed to take it...actually, I'm here on the boards before I take my very first one...

Genia

I called the Drs office this morning.....waiting for them to call me back.  I thought the pain would decrease as my body adjusted to the tamox.....but no such luck.  They  hurt exactly like they did when I was taking BC pills years ago.  They eventually had to take me off of them because of that.  I can't go off the Tamoxifen because of my ER+ status.  Not sure what else they can do..........

Will let you know. 

Ivory....I started taking them almost a month ago.  

americanpinay

IVORYMOM...I took the first pill last night...the pills are 20 mg each...I wonder if I could split them?...how long have you been taking them again?...thanks for always being so helpful...

Texas357

Genia, sorry for your pains! It's exactly what scared me about Femara. The first month or so were the worst but lately I've noticed the pain is getting better. Have you tried taking fish oil supplements? I believe they really helped me with my pain.

americanpinay

Hi ladies...hope everyone is well... 

IVORYMOM...did you start Tamox once a day with 20mg then decide to split because SEs are less if you take 10mg twice a day?...I only take one other med (Prevacid...oh, and I have to check if this doesn't have any effect on Tamox, do you know?) and I take it once a day...it would be so much easier to remember if I take the two together...thanks...

ajlive

Hi all!  Have been on a well needed 3-week vacation.  Sounds like all are doing well.

Chelev & Genia:  Hope you are feeling better. (((((hugs)))))).

Chelev:  I to am stilll having the tenderness and nerve endng stings. in the radiated breast.  I have read on several forums and websites that we could have this for up to two years.

Femara SE's are mild since started taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin with MSM.  Taking them twice a day.

Question for those that had a lumpectomy:  Has your radiated breast shrunk 1-2 cup sizes?  If so are you considering breast reconstruction to even out breast sizes?  I have read we have to wait six months before having reconstruction.  I have shrunk a full cup size and have read you could shrink even more in the six month period.  Insurance should cover it but of course my six months will be in January which will mean I would have to pay the deductible before insurance would pay 100%.

americanpinay

Thanks, IVORYMOM...I took the second pill last night...like GENIA, what scares me most with Tamox is the possibility of blood clots...yikes...I feel that I will be able to deal with hot flashes and everything else...

AJLIVE...my radiated breast is smaller to begin with before BC but I don't think it has shrunk by a full cup size at this point...if I remember correctly, rad onco said it could take one full year before it settles to what it would be...with swelling and shrinking in between...

Texas357

I had a full mastectomy and my radiated breast got tighter, so I can imagine how yours might have shrunk. I'm told it's because of the scar tissue caused by the radiation.