Concerned about everything!

Dahlia1966

Hi, I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed with triple negative IDC breast cancer and had chemo, bilateral mastectomy with lymph nodes removed and about to start radiation therapy next week. I recently felt a lump under my arm (the same one where the nodes were removed). And I am very concerned. My surgeon told me that it is probably scar tissue from the surgery and not to worry. Has anyone else experience anything like this? Also, ever since the surgery my digestive system has been terrible. I try to eat healthy but nothing seems to work. Every little thing is scaring ne. Am I just being paranoid?

lago

I'm not triple negative but we all get paranoid. You're surgeon is probably correct. Cancer doesn't grow that fast, even triple negative. I had a lump after my exchange surgery. It was in the same place as my tumor. My onc felt it too and said if my PS didn't know what it was that I should see my BS (although she didn't think it was cancer by the way it felt ). Saw my PS  that afternoon. He said it was fat from some fat grafting he did. It did go away.

Rads will kill the left over cancer cells if there are any.

My digestive system is always a mess from general anaesthesia. After my exchange surgery it took 5 weeks for me to stop having heartburn. It was so bad I was on meds for it. I also had constipation from it but I handled it with a probiotic (stool softener). I too eat very healthy with lots of veggies. Some people have issues with general anesthesia. I was also very nauseous from it to for a few days.

Hang in there you will do fine. Did you already do chemo?

Dahlia1966

Lago, thank you so much for your fast response. I am so glad I found this forum. I did chemo first, than surgery. I am starting radiation next week. After surgery, I have no sign of cancer (Thank God). But I guess everyone of us who go through this will always have it in the back of our minds even after all treatments are finished. Thanks again for your response. I feel a lot better now. 

LuvRVing

Dahlia - I am also TN, and my cancer had a 90% mitotic rate, which means it was growing like wildfire.  My oncologist examined me in January and found no sign of trouble - no lump, no nodes, no nothing.  By the end of March I had a big complex lesion (recurrence - 4.6 cm), 4 positive lymph nodes in the axilla area, and 4 intermammary nodes that showed positive on a PET scan.  So I understand your paranoia!  (Lago, unfortunately, it CAN grow that fast). One big difference, though.  I had not been through chemo.  You've had a BMX and chemo.  The chances of any new nodes becoming cancerous right now are pretty slim.   

But you are concerned, and that concern should be addressed.  It would be pretty easy, I think, for your breast surgeon to order an ultrasound of the area so that both of you can see the area and be reassured that it's nothing to worry about. Or ask your Rad Oncologist to take a look at it.  Peace of mind is priceless.

As for the digestive issues, I have finished 6 of 8 chemos...DD AC x 4 and 2 DD Taxols with 2 more to go. I am taking generic Pepcid in the morning and Prilosec at night. Chemo has played hell with my esophagus - anything spicy hurts going down, many things give me heartburn, and I have a very unladylike burping problem. But the drugs have helped a great deal and I avoid anything that I know cause trouble. This, too, will pass.  Unlike many people, I've not had a problem with constipation or diarrhea - we are all so different!

As Lago said, radiation should clean up any residual cancer cells in the radiated area.  Push for answers if it will reassure you.  You are entitled...

Hugs,

Michelle

mommichelle

I too am not triple negative, but my scar is so lumpy!  Little bumps all over. I feel them a lot and wonder if I would notice if one changed shape or size.   I also worry about things alot.  I just recently finished my herceptin treatments.  Now I am not really doing anything to actively keep the cancer away.  I decided this week that I could use a counselor.  I was having some sinus issues (maybe allergies) and was convinced it was brain mets.  I feel like I can be alright for a while but if I start having aches or pains, things spiral out of control and I become a little consumed with worry.  From what I understand it is very normal especially once the active treatment phase is over.  Hang in there!  We'll get through it!

Dahlia1966

Thank you ladies for your responses. It really helped me put my mind at ease. I am starting radiation treatments on Tuesday. First out of 30 treatments. Hopefully the side effects won't be too bad.

yellowdoglady

Radiation is a walk in the park after chemo.  You'll be fine!

Moderators

Dahlia, as your radiation treatments get underway, you might want to look in on the Sept 2011 Rads thread to join other members who are exactly where you are in treatment.

Judith and the Mods

Dahlia1966

I've had 3 treatments and so far it hasn't been too bad. Physically I feel ok. But emotionally, I've been a mess. Has anyone experienced depression going through this process? I'm fine one minute and totally depressed the next. I'm sure this too will pass.

yellowdoglady

Lots of people feel that.  Radiation is not so hands on as chemo, and most people notice a feeling of abandonment.  It's not what is happening, but a fear of freedom from that comfort zone that was being really sick.  Don't worry so much.  Most everyone hits that wall and gets up and walks around it.    

VAASA

Hi, hope all goes well for you. I thought there would be mild side effects to radation but not so. Please look it up. I started asking questions to my onocolgist as soon I started  seeing him. He said mostly mild things could happen , but not true. I started showing signs of problems . He was no help . He said the symptoms I was having now shouldn't happen till futher along into my radiation. I had 16 radiation treatments .I was feeling fullness in my left lung,  fast heart rate and blood pressure  and they just shrugged it off like it was nothing. Now I have broncitis , I guess it is , because you can get pnemonia . I also started feeling my ribs feel bridle when I would cough .I told them that, acted like it was no big deal.  A few nights ago I coughed and felt something pop in my ribs , told him, they seemed not concerned. Now, when I  cough I have so much pain below my rib cage and my upper abdomen and my lower  is black and blue. I can't chuckle it even hurts.  Radiation can do alot more things then they tell us. Please read up on all the info you can about it so when things start happening to your body you will know what is going with your body. I know every body is different ,but,  Read other peoples posts on the therapy and how they feel now and later. Take Care Good Luck

Dahlia1966

Ok now I'm getting scared.

Suze35

Dahlia - please don't be scared.  For the majority of women, radiation is so much easier than chemo, and goes by very quickly.  Yes, there can be some scary side effects, but that is true of every treatment we take. 

My experience was very good overall - I used Jean's Cream and Udderly Smooth with Urea lotion several times a day, and my skin never blistered or peeled.  I did have some mild nausea because I was getting radiated on my left side, and it was pretty close to the stomach.  I also had a sore thoat at the end because I had my supraclavicular nodes zapped, but they gave me something for that, and in the end, it was never much of a problem.  The fatigue kind of plateaued around week 5 - and was never debillitating.  Mostly I just went to bed earlier or took a nap during the afternoon.

Following radiation, I had some tenderness in my rids and scapula, but nothing extreme - never even needed pain pills.

I had a LARGE amount of radiation - my chest wall, my axilla, my intramammary nodes, and my supraclavicular nodes, with 3 weeks extra for a positive node.  I also had a bolus every other day to the chest wall (a plastic mat they put on your chest to concentrate the radiation to the skin area, helps prevent local skin recurrence).

You will do well - just be sure to take good care of your skin, and talk with your doctor about any side effects you may be having.  Hang in there.

Dahlia1966

Thanks to everyone for helping me keep my sanity. I have been on an emotional roller coaster this past year. With my diagnosis and everything else that is going on in my life right now, sometimes I get so depressed. I just want to go on with my life.

yellowdoglady

Dahlia,

You can do that.  Check your other thread. VAASA is a troll.  I just reported him or her.  No one gets radiation from their oncologist.