December 2010 Rads

toni30

Iowasue - Good question.  I have appointment with my onc in 2 mos (to check up on Arimidex) and a mamm in 6 months, which the surgeon will monitor.  So the follow up and monitoring are not very clear to me either.

elenalb

Did anyone have a reaction to the "Pointguard" tape dots used to mark the spot?  I'm at the end of my 30 (3 to go next week) and had to remove two of these last night as they were itching so bad.  I don't know which is worse, the itching or the pain.  I've spent the last two weeks on Vicodin, but the itching from these two "dots" (and the blistering of the skin) is driving me nuts!  Any advice?  I'm using aloe vera, got a prescription for Xclair, Calendula and an anti-itch cream (over the counter).  Nothing gets to it so I'm open for suggestions.

Thanks.

jo1955

elenalb - I did not have the dots but did have the terrible itching.  You may want to ask your rad onc for Topicort.  It worked great for me.  As far as the blistering, can't help you there.  Sending (((HUGS))) to you.  Hope you get some relief soon.

jo1955

                                 

IowaSue45

Off to the airport, have a good week everyone!!

Sherryc

Elenelb also try some benadrylor claritin. My RO gave me a script for Kenalog but u def need a script for the itching. Until u can get one u might want to try some hydrocortisone. Congrats one 3 left. I finish up tomorrow

jo1955

Sherry - I can feel the party starting already.  You are a trooper - hang in there - ONE MORE DAY!

Sherryc

Tomorrow is my last day and I wanted to tell all of you how much I have appreciated your support over my whining and skin sagas.  I wanted to update you from my painful last week that I have had.  I woke up Saturday morning please that my areola actually had developed and scab and was not near as painful.  I backed off of the pain meds during the day but took one last night.  This morning my breast did not hurt at all and I have not taken any pain meds and don't think I will need any tonight.  I finished my whole breast rads a week ago Friday and my breast skin looks so much better (still very tanned some of the rough spots are smoothing out) all except around my areol and nipple.  Anyway I actually wore a bra to church tonight and have not had one on since my second weeks of rads. My RO's nurse must have really felt sorry for me because when I went to pick up my pain meds I could not believe they had called me in 90 pills!!!!  I have never had a doctor do that.  Usually only 30 and no refills. I think I have a 20 year supply, haha!!!

Also posted this on January thread

Sandeeonherown

Sherryc...congrats on wearing a bra!!! It makes you somehow feel 'normal again' doesn't it? I wore my sports bra for the two and a half weeks following radiation as my breast became red but my skin did not crack ...it ante dto but I soaked my skin with Eucerin cream( the technician recomended it...it is thick, has no perfume and blends well with the cortisone cream I also used). After two weeks, my breast looked like I had sunbathed topless...but only on one side! almost completely normal now and the scar is beautifullla work of art!

My underarm was worse than my breast....I waited to dear deodorant until the red and 'eczema like qualiy' of my underarm skin had calmed down...I use liquid crystal, unscented, deodorant only..does the trick. can't stop a hot flash with anti-persparant anyhow so why bother is my thinking:)

Good luck tomorrow....take yourself out for a lovely lunch and celebtrate. YOU deserve to be extra specially gentle with yourself tomorrow, hhm>?

when do you start the Tamoxifen or AI's? there is a great site with more of these lovely supportive gals on it called "Bottle of Tamoxifen' if you go that route and want info on it.

jo1955

Sherry - No such thing as whining here.  Just a good place to vent and get it out.  

So glad your skin is healing and you were able to wear a bra and that you don't have to take the pain meds. This has been one heck of journey for you and now the finish line is really in sight.  I am so excited for you.  The party starts tomorrow.

Sleep well my friend.

                              

Sandeeonherown

Sherry,...sounds like you need a copy of my 'radiated mamas' tracks that I put together for my radiation team when I left..full of 'survivor...strong woman themed songs"...time to dance in your living room naked! NEARLY there!!!

Sherryc

Sundeonherown-I will be taking tamoxifen as my MO says I am no where near menapause.  My RO wants me to wait two weeks before I start, so I guess around mid Feb I will start taking it.  I have found the Tamoxifen website and have read a little on it and will join that group when I start. My RO wants me to keep using the Xclair cream for two more weeks and then he wants me to use a good vitamin E based cream until I go back for my follow up in three months.  I have looked at several and think I will try the Berts Bee but will always take recommendations form anyone.  I have some Eurcion so I could give that a try as well.

Thanks Jo and Nancy you guys have been so much support for me.

My girlfriends are taking me to lunch tomorrow to celebrate and then going to rads with me.  They do a celebration whoopla and will give me a certificated so my friends are going to join in on the noise.

Sandeeonherown

Get that certificate into a frame and celebrate. WOW!! Congrats and enjoy the breathing space until the next journey....we will be here

raincitygirl

sandeeonherown - that radiated mamas track sounds great - what songs are on there?

catwood

Hey Everyone-started rads in Dec and today is treatment number 28 out of 30. Had none of the side effects that were offered up for my selection. Did get some skin breakdown this morning-(woke up with it) and have been using nothing other than aloe vera gel directly from the plant. 

jo1955

catwood - Sounds like you breezed through rads - that is so great and the finish line is very near.  We will do the happy dance with you.

singletona80

hey ladies I had tx #24 . . . .  tomorrow is the last one !!!!!!!!!!! My skin started to break down a little bit so I got a script for some cream.  The fatigue is definetly here.  Im glad I only have one more tx to go.  Then Im off to a vacation on Wed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Catwood you're almost to the finish line . . . . . 

 

jo1955

singletona80 - WOO HOO!! I can hear the happy dance starting.  Will be there to join in tomorrow.  Where are you going on vacation and for how long?

toni30

Sherryc and singleton - Congratulations!  You guys rock!!

Sherryc

Sandeonherown-would love to have a copy of the soundtrack.

I crossed the finish line today and was so glad to have done it.  Had a wonderful day with friends that took me to lunch to help me celebrate and the staff at the clinic threw confetti and gave me a certificate.   After my treatment we went shopping then went for desert and wine.  Got home too late for yoga and then another friend brought me a beautiful bouquet of pink flowers. Here is a picture of the me and the staff.  The staff told me that the Holidays are the hardest time to go through radiation.  One because of the holiday stress and two because of the clinic closeing for extra days it drags it out longer.  The said I did really well with my skin issues and were so suprised at how good my skin looked today compared to last week.  They said it really looked back but did not want to dwell on it with me and make me feel worse than I already did.  They really have been sweet girls that have tried to help.

Sherryc

WooHoo to those that are finished in the next couple of days.  Will be doing one LONG  HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Singletonie80 have a wonderful vacation

Sandeeonherown

raincitygirl..."don't stop thinking about tomorrow", "I am woman", "I will survive". "Closer to fine", "Born to be alive", "Courage", " A change will do you good"....very thematic!

singletona80...congratulations!!! eucerin, aloe vera and soft shirts are in order for the next couple of weeks....vacation....enjoy!

Lynn18

SherryC:  Congrats to you! and to everyone that is finished.  It is exciting to hear about some of you that are planning vacations.  My last day will be January 31 and that will mark 9 months for me on this journey.  I can't wait to go somewhere.  Freedom!

Sherryc

Lynn we will be counting down the days!!!

FaithFollower

IowaSue - it felt like someone was trying to take off a temporary crown but in my chest!  I didn't ask what was w/all the pulling and tugging - I was too emotional over finally having it out of me.  I have heard that they can become embedded !!

FaithFollower

Congrats SherryC and Singleton - its over!  Celebrate!

Sandeeonherown

Weeeha ladies!!! Now we are all on the 3 month check up/6 month mammogram train....celebrate by doing something that makes you laugh out loud, smile 'til your face feels like cracking and eventually, sleep!

singletona80

Thank u so much..... Well ladies I'm off to Hawaii..... You guys take care and I'll "see" ya when I get back !!!!!

jo1955

singleton - Have a Great Trip.

Sherryc

Singletona80 have a wonderful time.