MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

suebak

Thank you all for the warm welcome. 

Kay1963-We may have passed at the pearlman center. My onco is Kevin Fox, surgeon is Dr. Brian Zarnicki.  Great drs, I really like them

Blondiex46-I too am having my rads done at Crozer, Penn was just too inconvenient for me.  I go for rads, then head right into the office.  My dr at Penn recommended a rad onc at Crozer and it is working out very well for me.  Great people down there.

JeanH-I had rad# 10 today. I still have a long way to go.

Elimar-I am not sure what S/E's are?

Cmblastic-thank you for the mimosa. When these treatments are all over, I am going to Las Vegas and going to have a few mimosas.  Something to look forward too.

mumito

My baby girl was married last weekend.I thought I would share a photo of this joyous occasion.

kira1234

mamyan, You daughter is gorgeous. Her dress is beautiful.

reesie

Mumayan, how beautiful! I agree with Kira, your daughter is gorgeous.

Is he a basketball player - just kidding - boy is he tall lol,

elimar86861

mumayan, your daughter makes a lovely June bride.  (Cute couple!)

NativeMainer

Beautiful, Mumayan!

jo1955

What a beautiful couple!!

BarbaraA

Lovely!! Love the peonies!

Sherryc

Everyone thanks for the birthday wishes, between here and FB I was completly overwhelmed.  but in a very good way.

Ainm

Mumayan - how special - they look so happy - may they be happy for ever more!!

heartnsoul76

mumayan - she's beautiful! Best wishes to the newlyweds!

Elimar - I know it says to take SAM-e on an empty stomach, but I've always taken it with food and it doesn't seem to affect the effectiveness...I've read where people do cut it in half and that it's still effective for them. Different doses for different folkses!

Also, I only take one 200 mg pill per day. I know it says to take 2, but hey! It's expensive! Are you taking 200 or 400 mg per day?

elimar86861

HnS, The first two days I took 2x 200mg. (a.m. & p.m.) on empty stomach and my stomach hurt.  The third day I took 1x 200mg. one empty stomach (a.m. only,) same thing, all the way thru' to nighttime.  Today, I did cut it in two and took 1/2 (in the a.m.) with some food, not crampy and hurting but it is churning in there still.  Buurrrrrp!  I can probably do that for a few day to see if it will settle down to the point that I can take more.  If not, you are right...an expensive experiment for me.

OG56

E, thats the same problem I had, upset stomach even though GNC's is enteric coated, and from everything I've read you should slowly titrate up the dose to eventually be at around 800 to 1200 a day, but boy that would be expensive. Oh well like my avatar say's "yes there were side effects" I just love that Anne Taintor she has the best sayings! I think we could have some fun posting favorite sayings etc.                            

            

Sandeeonherown

Valjean- just read your post a few pages back and do not have time to read all the pages in between but...fear is tricky....the unknown is tricky...wishing for things that are no longer is tricky....we cannot go back in time no matter how much we want to-all we can do is go forward, making the best choices we can possibly make....you are 2.5 years out. I am told that it gets easier with each year. I know  in 12 months I will be scared again but in the meantime, I am trying to live my life loudly. Trying new things (realizing I am actually a lot more competitive than I thought I was....and more athletic actually) and being open to new people. Trying to think in terms of loving kindness towards all kind of squashes the fear so that is helping...the 24 hour rule helps a ton....If it is not getting better or feels paralyzing, give yourself the gift of visiting a homeopath....they have very special remedies for helping us to get 'unstuck'...really works...or give yourself the gift of a ciuple of appointments with someone who gets paid to listen to fears and to help wash them away.... you deserve to be fear-free my dear. You really do.

hugs

Sandee

carollynn79

E I found the enteric Sam-E in the Puritans Pride book they are buy 2 get 3 free, but still pricey. I have been having some positive results using a combo of tumeric, glucosimine, and 3-6-9 Omega Oil. I have serious osteoarthritis and have been struggling to get around but this combination is giving me some relief as long as I "behave" myself. 

Huskerkkc

Been off the boards a week or so...hard to catch up and not doing anything very exciting here either. Someone posted a corn head (tribute to Nebraska Cornhusker football, for those who are unfamiliar)...was that you Elimar? Believe it or not, my DS (age 15) has one of those and proudly has worn it to games (in his "younger" days!) Kinda like the Cheeseheads of Wisconsin, I guess. 

Linda (OG56)...hope you aren't getting flooded or rained on tonight. We've had tornado watches/warnings, plus thunderstorm warnings all evening. Should be hitting Omaha by now (8pm) My sister lives in Papillion; my parents are in Lincoln, where I grew up.

Congrats to the new grandmas and mother-in-laws, those with birthdays, etc. Chrissie, good job on the pic. Still haven't figured out how to shrink a pic to "mystery" size. I had a good pic, but now can't remember where it is (or what it is!) Another chemo brain SE (Suebak...SE's stands for side effects) 

I see radiation doc this Thursday and then probably start my 30 treatments on Monday or Tuesday. Have peeked at rads board for June, but got scared and haven't been back (yet). I thought the rads were supposed to be easier than chemo? Obviously there are potential-even likely-side effects, but those who are currently going...how has it been for you? PM me if you prefer. I am trying not to psych myself out (did a good job of that pre-chemo).  I will drive myself 25 miles one-way, but am off for the summer (school counselor) so I guess will have some leeway for scheduling, I think.

Am hoping to get some sleep tonight. Weather radio went off 4 times last night because of thunderstorms. NEED ZZZZZZZZZ's! 

elimar86861

C--79, I do have the enteric Nature Made kind, but now that I cut it in two it is probably mostly disolving in my stomach.  I am trying it for fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and mood, in that order.   

kal_1865

Huskerkkc rads were not too bad, are just several daily routine items that you need to adjust such as deodorants, soaps and lotions AND of course, going for treament everyday...Basically, you just need to use the most natural hygene products without perfumes & dyes.  My RO only allowed me to use Lansinoh a 100% lanolin creme, very sticky & goopy but it absorbed pretty quickly for me.  I did not have issues with my skin at all.  The only SE I had was a deep muscle fatigue that hit me during the last week of treatment (I had 5-1/2 weeks of treatments) but it got better quickly.  I have to admit it was pretty difficult to walk up the steps in my house and I actually had to stop every couple of steps.  If you follow their recommendations it's not too bad.

Apparently I missed birthdays, a wedding (beautiful couple) and a page 400 party, so of course I need to post some party pictures, some drinks...

presents & chocolate cake...

 

some dancin, hootin & hollerin!!

elimar86861

Huskerkkc, Glad you appreciated the "corn head."  As for the radiation, most eventually get some fatigue.  A few say they don't but they are the exceptions to the rule.  Don't worry about being tired on the half hour ride home, it won't hit you that fast, but you might find yourself napping later in the day.  The fatigue seems to hit by the second or third week.  As for skin, we all get the tan/pink area.  About 1/3 of women get a more pronounced skin reaction, like weepy blisters.  It does not matter how fair skinned you are either.  You can try to avoid this if you moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  kal mentioned lanolin already, but something not as goopy is Fruit Of The Earth 100% pure aloe gel (Walmart has it) which is very cooling.  If you use that, put some on right after treatment before your drive home, and then a couple more times that day.  But make sure to have nothing on your skin before the day's treatment, don't even use soap on the treatment area, just water.  If you do begin to get blistery, ask the nurses for the prescription Silvadene creme.  Finally, make sure to eat a good amount of protein to help your body repair the damage taking place.  Good Luck and keep us posted.

Valjean

 I echo everything elimar has said, right down to the creams & when to use/not use them. I did use Aqaphor for a while, it is on the sticky side & I did ruin a coule of camisoles, so you might want to be careful what you choose to wear if you use that. I swear by the Aloe Vera & the Silvadene. I must be one of the exceptions to the rule because I had no fatique at all. Honestly. A couple of times early on, I did have some dizziness when I arose from the tx table, but I just sat for a moment & walked a bit slowly leaving the tx room & then I was fine. My body handled the tx well, at least what I could see on the outside, but the emotional part was another thing. But, I made it through & I hope you have minimal SE's as well. I went on a 7-hour drive/trip the next week & my skin was pretty much healed, for the most part. I still used some Silvadene to finish the healing process. I bought a Tom's deodorant to use on the affected side, but I only used it on the weekends.

Love the partay pics!!!!!

mumayan, the picture of your DD & new SIL is beautiful! How happy they look & how proud you must be.

Huskerkkc

Thanks Kim, Elimar, and Valjean for the helpful tips! 

elimar86861

Hope all had a lovely Midsummer Day today...and be sure to have a Midsummer Night's Dream!

                                       

I'll probably just have the usual dream again.  (OG, I love Anne Taintor too.)

cmbear

I was one of those unlucky ones that turned lobster red and blistered. And I  never , well rarely burn. "Brown as a berry", my mom used to say. And I lubed and lubed.  Calendula cream is reasonably priced and helps ease the burn. I spent the money on Miaderm, went thru 1 1/2 tubes of that 2 of calendula and then I bought the Aquafor. It is "thick" but extremely soothing. I am two months out and I still have a very pronounced dark tan rectangle on my chest. I can't wait for the tan lines to go away, it just seems to make my chest look crooked!!

Just curious, cuz I am too lazy to google it, but what is Sam-E?? 

Eph3_12

My last rad was Nov '09 & I'm still discolored, just so are aware of that possibility cmblastic.

OG56

E, love those ladies at the top, love the clothes from that era! My DD and I used to watch Mad Men and laugh at how the wives didn't work and they had full time housekeepers! We were very jealous.

Husker, I forgot about how much the weather sux's in NE. LOL (shhh don't tell E we spoke of the weather on this thread as there is a thread especially for that topic )

I didn't burn or darken I did the Mamosite, thought I would cause I am blonde and pale, hope all goes smoothly for you!

Sherryc

I used XClair cream and it was really good.  I did not burn but I turned raw like hamburger meat.  But skin healed very quickly once I was finished. I am 5 months out and still very tanned and boob is still swollen. 

Eph3_12

Perhaps our virtual dude should have a little bit of Shemar!  Enjoy ladies.

http://www.cbs.com/daytime/the_talk/video/?pid=gflOJQr0TNeVhLxk1JZR1QFZjH2d8mCl&vs=Clips&play=true

jo1955

BS & RO tried the mammosite - couldn't get the catheter to fit right.  6 weeks rads - burned, topical rash, used Aquaphor after the damage had already been done.  RO was such a frigging moron and would not let me use creams until it was too late.  Finished rads 6 months ago.  Now have permanent nerve damage in the BC boob and have to take amitriptyline to get rid of the burning/stabbing pains.

BarbaraA

I used emu oil and I had no burn, no skin problems at all. My RO was astounded, since I am blond/blue/fair and he now recommends it to his patients.

Paula66

Morning all!  Im just wondering if there is any of you gals who lost your hait during chemo just plain got tired of wearing a wig or scarf?  Did you just say the heck with it and go topless outside of your house?  Im so tiried of covering up.  the hotflashes get bad at times so I have to take my scarf off anyway.  How did you handle it.  Any comments about it will be helpful.  I'm just have little stubble so Im still pretty bald, but thats ok.  I took a picture and posted on my fb page so Im ok with it.