Sept 2011 Rads
Comments
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I am DONE!!!!! Finished! It feels so strange. My techs, Maria and Juanita, are the best and I will miss them. Juanita gave me a small box of gourmet chocolates. How sweet! They both agreed the burn is bad and will take a few weeks to heal. I told them I was low on pain meds, they got me a fresh script from my MO who was there. My new "orders" are to spend the next week on the couch, elevating my arm on the back ot ir as much as possible. No bra, LOL. They said the burns may very well get worse before they get better, but healing will come. I have Domeboro soaks to use when it gets wet and sticky. Pain meds, plenty of ointment, so healing should progress well.
Thanks all for your encouragment and support. I am not going anywhere.....want to know how you are all doing and cheer you on!
Big hugs,
Janis
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Janis - A big congrats on being done! So sorry for your burns. I truly hope it does not get worse before it gets better!
21 of 33 down for me. The aloe and hydrocortisone are keeping the rash manageable, and now my nipple is becoming unbearably painful. This is so much fun!
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Oh Neecee......so sorry you are getting the nipple pain. I know exactly how you feel. I wish I could say it will get better, but like me you may burn. If it does, ask your RO for pain meds. It may get worse and sleep will become more difficult as it just gets uncomfortable. I don't want to scare you hon....it is what it is and some things we cannot change. You are close now, so know that whatever happens will go away and heakling is not too far off! I am in pain, but have good meds and will be fine! You hang in there sweets. I will be right here if you need help, questions, a shoulder to cry on. HUGS!
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Congratulations Janis!!!! Enjoy your rest on the couch-you deserve it!
Dermatitis is better, but getting more red everyday! Two reg and 5 boosts left.
Having a "pink day" at work on Friday and then heading to Providence for the Flames of Hope event-city will be illuminated with pink lights.
(((hugs))) -
Janis - I am so glad that you are done! Some days it feels like I will never get there, but you give me hope. I will be thinking of you during your healing which will hopefully be speedy!!
I had #24 of 35 today. Feel a little crappy, possibly because I 'm getting my period again. Bummer! I had thought that with stopping birth control pills, starting tamoxifen, having surgery, having rads, assorted other BC stress, maybe my period was finished...not to mention that I'm 51 years old for goodness sakes. Oh well, I guess I get the menopause SE (with tamoxifen) without actually getting there. At least I'm getting closer to finished with the rads. Onward and upward! -
Thanks Leighsa! I have a lot of problems with the whole concept of couch rest! I will do my best, but couch potato is not me. Still I plan on hibernating and not wearing a bra for a week. That I can do!
You are so close and soon will join us on the other side! Hang in there hon. Friday sure sounds like a fun day!
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Janis, I'm so happy for you that you are done! So sorry about the burns!
I do hope you get some rest and heal quickly!!!! I have been so tired I can barely make it through the day. I start work at 7am and I do well till lunch at 11, then its down hill. I leave work at 2:30 for treatment at 3:15 and usually home by 4:15. Forget making dinners, its been fend fers and the family has been fine with that. The girls have been amazing helping out and my DH would do anything for me. I have all this and still feel AWFUL! I am not one to sit still, yet I can't make myself do anything right now. The nipple pain is unbearable! and the itching is enough to make me lose my mind!!!! I'm using Aquafor and Miaderm. They gave me that soak stuff yesterday and it was like putting fire on my breast, I had it on for 5 mins and was in tears so I took it off. Today they said there is nothing else they can give me and I had an allergic reaction to the soaks. New rash added to the radiation rash! I really don't know if I can finish this, I have 11 more to go
the last 5 are boosts. Thank you all for letting me vent, time to get this bra off and lube up!
Hugs to all! Gentle ones, lol
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Stormy - I also have 11 left and I know how you feel! I am so sorry for your troubles and I hope that your recovery is fast. I don't have a nipple on that breast anymore, so at least I won't have that problem (silver lining, I guess). Hang in there girl and come vent whenever you want to!
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Stormy.....oh hon i am so, so sorry you are so miserable! Are you taking any oral pain meds? Even if you cannot take them during the day, you need them when you are having this much pain. Please talk to your ROand get a prescription. I have the nipple issue too...today the area started cracking and bleeding just a little. Please do not suffer! Get some pain meds and do whatever you can to reduce your misery. My RO prescribed topical lidocaine to help with the skin pain. I mix it 50/50 with Aquaphor. It does help and is very thick and greasy so it stays on well.
I am really happy to hear you have such a supportive family. DO NOT sweat the small stuff, like cooking! If you feel like it, fine, but if not, don't push yoursel please. Your body needs some down time. Nobody will die if you are not up and running. Let your family help out all they can and you take some time to REST.
You are close, do not give up. Yes it might get worse before it gets better. Still it is worth it when you finally are finished. Please just don't try to overdo it!
Gentle hugs to you!!!!
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Janis, how EXCITING! DONE, DONE, DONE. Good for you, well done. I'm sure sorry you're having all this pain though. I do think you should try to follow your own advice and take it easy this week, if possible. Maybe a good book on tape? Decadently sit on the couch and eat the Bon Bon's your tech's gave you. How cute that was.
Stormy, I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. Go ahead a let your girls and DH help out like Janis says, it's really all they can do for you right now. Try to take it easy and maybe see if you can get stronger meds to help.
Wow, Leighsa, you're just about done too. Way to go. While I'm jealous at you gals who are thru this at least it's good to know that the end does come!
A note about Arimidex. I took it for a month between surgery and radiation and I only had one small side effect. And that was a hot flash or two at 8:15 pm each night. I took the pill at 6:15pm after dinner. Never lasted long and that was the only one. And I had hot flashes for about 6 years after menopause so I was concerned they would come back. I also don't do meds, so just that one hot flash I can out up with.
15 finished out of 33 for me and hanging I there pretty well -
I'm burning like a bit#$, the Dr told me to keep using the aquaphor hydracortisone and aloe vera. She said if the skin breaks I will get silvadene. Ughhh. 3 more to go . Hang in girls.
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Janis,
Congratulations on being done, unfortunately you are still having the pain and side effects. I know how you feel with the pain, I am continuing my week of no treatments no work, due to the burning and pain, called my RO yesterday and he again said Dombero soaks, aquaphor, whatever relieves it, but did not prescribe silvadene??? I am on pain meds taking them every 6-7 hours took two at a time earlier today, that was a trip, but was not in pain!! The lido aloe is even burning today, the only relief is using Dombero soaks, keeping solution in fridge, and cutting up an old tshirt soaking it and applying, no bra, no shirt most of the day. I did buy some unscented baby wipes, froze them now letting them thaw in fridge, may try that later.
Take care and good luck to everyone with your treatments this week, feels weird not driving in every day, 25 full breast txs done, will have 11 boosts, hope to restart next monday!
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Oh yeah, and my period started yesterday, I had to stop seasonal bc pills in June when I was diagnosed so I haven' had a period in 2 years then started right on schedule July, Aug, Sept, now Oct, kinda sucks having to be "a gir" again!!
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"girl"--must be too medicated to type tonight!
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STORMY, oh my gosh, I do not know how you are putting up with your pains! PLEEZ ask your radiation oncology doc for some pills, they're supposed to give them to you, they don't want you to stop rads, you see. I hope you're wearing the softest oldest T-shirt you got on your skin whilst at work, to hell with the bra, kid!!! No one will notice, unless that makes you feel worse. Could be a little powder in your bra will help prevent chaffing, you can always dab it off with a cool soft cloth just before rads.
JANIS, congrats. Yesterday i got mixed up about dates and such (I have no brain for numbers), and thought I only had two weeks left, but nope, it's three. That means I'm halfway thru, so that's good. Today is #XYZ out of #33, I think.... hahaha. I'd get out the calendar, but I don't want to look at it, I just want the time to go by a while longer before I look at it. GG
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Great job Janis! No the healing...
In a way it's positive that so many of us are feeling the burn...it means we are well in and mostly done. (Is that too silver-liningy?) As of today I have a nice red rash underneath, and some painful pits. My boob looks like a Christmas ornament!
23 and counting...
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Dogeyed,
I can't wait to see the RO tomorrow, I'm so tired and in pain, I seem to break down crying all the time. This is soooo not me, I just hate it! When I do see him, he better not say, "this is normal", I know that and I know what he means; but, IT IS NOT MY NORMAL, NON OF THIS IS, BC IS NOT NORMAL! And he better give me something! lol just saying!
Anyway, I think I seen you sign a post before with Gail. Today, I noticed that you frequently sign GG. I'm guessing these are your initials? or nickname? Only asking because Gail is my name and GG are my initials! My nickname has been Stormy since I started talking at 9 months old. My grandpa called me that due to my name being Gail like Gayle force winds and I never shut up, lol. Miss him a lot, but I have wonderful memories and I love using the name Stormy.
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Seems a few of us are on the same "cycle". I got my period this week too. I had a partial hysterectomy in April, but I'm one of the 2% that still get a mini-period-lucky me!
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Janis , You did it!!!! Congratulations to You!
Neecee you must find out who owns that dog.
Stormy I hope you feel better soon. Pain meds are whoever you believe in's way of telling us he wants us to be happy. Please feel better
Leighsa I wish I had known! I live in Providence and I would have liked to meet you!
As far as me, only 5 boosts left, the first tomorrow. So far no problems. I am 36 D which they don't consider large (sheesh) so that may have helped, but I don't want these freckles on my girl.
Soon it will be over. Thank you everyone for the support! xo
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I saw my radiation oncologist today and he has given me the courage to turn down Tamoxifen. He said the side effects would out weigh the benefits in my case. I have been hemming and hawing with my decision, but now I am 100% to turn it down. I am 15 days post rads and still red and itchy. He said it would take another 2 weeks for it to clear up.
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Janis, congratulations! Hope you take good care of yourself and heal quickly!
Stormy, so sorry you are having a hard time. My RO acts like everything is normal too and it drives me crazy. Someone should tell them a little empathy would go a long way.
I'm on 19/36 today. Skin is hanging in there okay. I blistered a little after last week, so those places are sore. I'm allergic to sulfa, so can't have the silvadene. I hope there's something else they can do! I'm exhausted too. I nap whenever I can and have random surges of energy. So weird.
Very happy to be on the downhill now!
Steph
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Thanks for all the cheers my friends. The burns are worse today, I was told this would happen. When I showered this morning I gently washed my underarm with soap and just my hands. A lot of skin sloughed off in my fingers...it was kind of a gross feeling. The skin is absolutely raw and the pain pretty bad. I have slept on and off almost all day. Taking pain meds and applying the Aquaphor/Lidocaine mix. Steph I too am allergic to sulfa so cannot use the Silvadern cream either.
Stormy I am so sorry you are going thrugh a rough time. If you are in a lot of pain, demand pain meds. I understand pain and frustration! Feel better hon and get those meds!
Bedo...that is wonderful all you have left is boosts! I am so happy you have not experienced much burning. Sounds like you will get through it with few SE's. Wonderful!
tamthetech....I have the Domeboro soaks too and they help. I was told to be careful and not use them too much if I start drying. Then they can cause burns. My burns are weepy and sticky so I use those, then Tender Wets, and Lidocaine mixed with Aquaphor. I couldn't put a bra on now unless you put a gun to my head. Then only maybe! I am taking two pain pills at a time, it takes two to get rid of the pain for awhile. Today I slept almost all day. Off and on, not like me but the pills make me groggy. None of this is normal for me, but right now I need to rest and heal.
So many of you are so close to being done. Hang in there, soon this will all be a distant memory.
Hugs to all!
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TGIF!
I go today and Monday and then I will be done with rads. Halleluia. My appt is at 3 pm. I am hoping that on Monday I can get an earlier appt since I have the day off from work as it's Columbus Day. Let's hear it for a three-day weekend.
Sending hugs and hope to all of us riding this radiation roller coaster!
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STORMY, yes, yes! My name is Gail, and GG are my initials. That was my nickname all thru elementary school. Dogeyed has to do with my dog, who recently passed. He had one blue eye, and like Dylan's "Blue-Eyed Son," I flipped it and use dogeyed (blue) for a few forums. Love dogs for sure. I cannot wait, too, for you to see your rad doc, and really hoping the best for some relief for you. We'll all want to know how things go. As for the tears, I get them maybe once a week, it's the rads and, well, just the whole dang thing.
JANIS, that was so hilarious about you saying they'd have to shoot you to put on a bra! I'm just glad you're home and can suffer in peace. I thought I was going to make it without a burn, but lo and behold, just yesterday I got me some decidedly red and somewhat itchy places, or rather irritation, really. Thank heavens I have my prescribed aloe lotion, it brought the red and irritation down pretty quick, but even this morning there's a place that's still bothering me. At least now I understand what everyone is saying.
DIVINE, my fellow chemo sister, I am SO relieved you are ALMOST done. HARD TO BELIEVE after so long in treatment. And no matter what time your Monday one is, as you well know it'll go so fast, particularly since it's the LAST THING on your list. A vacation rad. I am so proud of you, girl, you have been so sweet, HOOOORAY for you, dear one. GG
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Congratulations Thedivinemrsm 2 more treatments and you will join our after rads party.
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Woot! Woot! One more to go......they were able to make my appt for 8:30 am, so I can get it out of the way and on with the rest of my day......and my life! Thanks, Sept 2011 Rads girls, for all your nice comments and support.
The weather here in the Ohio Valley is beautiful heading into the long weekend......
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DivineMrsM, Oh that is so wonderful that you will be done on Monday, Congrats to you!
I hope you are able to enjoy this wonderful weekend weather with a little more ease since you know Monday morning its done!Dogeyed, I KNEW IT! LOL, does that make us closer sistas? Yes, I think it does! lol
Well, I seen my a$$h*!@ RO today. Told him how I'm feeling and he says, "Well, lets take a look" then proceeds with, "oh, your not blistering yet, you look great, no problem. Take some extra strength Tylenol and use this" hands me some Biafine and gave me a script. I was so relieved he gave me a script, I just took it and put it in my purse. He said "see you next week". So, I get dressed and head out to the car. I had my 15 yr. old daughter w/ today, no school. I looked at the script in the car....ITS FOR BIAFINE!!!! I burst into tears, my daughter was so mad, she wanted to go back in there and yell at him. I wouldn't let her, I pulled it together and told her I don't want to see him again today. I am going to make an appt. with my family dr. They won't be in the office till Monday. My other daughter has some vicodin left over from kidney stones, so that will get me through the weekend.
My whole thought here, if you like your RO and the facility you are going to PLEASE tell them they are doing a great job. Its the little things that make such a huge difference. Its far too late for me to switch places or RO, but I know I will be getting a survey in the mail when this is done...can you imagine what I'm going to write?!!! lol I can tell you all that God forbid I end up with a recurrence, I will not be seeing the same RO or this hospital!!!!
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Ah Stormy that is so wrong. I know from personal experience the pain is very real, and it begins before blistering. Thank goodness my RO has written me scripts for pain meds. He always thinks my skin looks great too. LOL. Not anymore, red and peeling everywhere and it looks nasty. You shouldn't have to go to a different doctor to get meds you need. Grrrrrr....
Divine....I am so happy you are almost finished! It is a great feeling to have rads behind you. Big happy dance for you Monday!
I am so so sore. I think I will lie down now, first time all day as I have been busy. Now my body is talking me to and telling me time to slow down. Just wanted to say hello to all and hope you are all having a terrific Friday. Happy weekend!
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SISTER STORMY, I so sad for you, dear one. And I'm sorry your rad doc made you cry. I'm just glad your daughter had some Vicodin left over until you see your regular doc next week. I'm glad you will have a survey to fill out, they need to hear from a patient just how mean that really was to you. And when you see your rad doc the last time towards the end of rads, I know you'd want to give that man an earful, that breasts are sensitive and so you'd bet if he had his groin radiated, he would be screaming for morphine. Better yet, let's you and me go down there and beat him up. Smile.
UPDATE, on Friday I finished #18 of #33, and most defnitely have a good burn going. I don't forget now to put on my lotion stuff, to be sure! DIVINE, I love how you put ending rads Monday morning, so you can get on with the rest of your life. Yup, that's how I see it, too. I'll be so glad this cancer stuff will be over, the docs have done all they can and I will believe I am as good as I'm a'gonna get, I'll let all my emotions go, rest up good, and really enjoy this gift of life. I need more time in this world to lift my spirit level, get some writing done, play with my paints, love my husband, dogs, and family, and most of all look forward to the spring I missed whilst in the hateful throws of chemo. Oh, might as well write now, as a prayer:
The honor of spring, my salvation, the evidence of everlasting life, I wait for you like a child waits to unwrap gifts, I know you and miss you. Give me the warm breezes, the new flowers reborn from the dead, holy chanting of rustling leaves. I love this earth and everyone and everything in it, but no more than in spring, the season of hope that dries all tears. Good Shepherd I love you for my life, your whisper glides by as white clouds, I see your footsteps in the flowering meadows of my heart. May everyone know the divine peace of the soul, just pluck a dogwood flower cross from a branch and add it to some chirping nest near the sunny porch of our lives. GG
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janis---so glad to hear you are finished!!!!! woot,woot.
Stormy- so sorry to hear you are in pain. rest as much as you can. (((((HUGS)))))
Update**** i have 8 regular rads and 5 boosts left. I too have blisters under my breast and my nipple is sooooo sore. I saw the RO on tuesday and he said it looks fine -- saw the nurse on Thursday and she gave me rx for silverdean (sp) and told me to go see my regular doc for rx for pain. Can yo believe that? The RO won't give pain meds???? I saw my doc and she said that the rash got infected and now i have a "Super" infection --her words. On antibiotics 1000 mg 3x day for 10 days and percocet for pain. She took a culture of the infection site - we will watch it very carefully hopefully it doesn't get worse.
I am truely happy to hear some of you are almost finished. This has been one of the longest ordeals for me and I am sure most of you too.
have a restful and pain free weekend , Hugs to you all.
Clelia
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