June 2012 Radiation Rads

NancyHB

So happy for everyone today!!  We have all been through so much, and being *done* feels so good!

Another survivor told me, months ago after my second chemo, that there would come a day where I would feel "reborn".  I laughed at the time because I couldn't imagine ever feeling good again, but she's right.  I still struggle with mild neuropathy and taste changes, and I'm a little tired from time to time, but in general I feel like a new person.  I have a new appreciation for life, for health, for patience, for determination, and for endurance.  

We rock, ladies!!  Congrats to all who have finished, and cheers to those who are almost done!!!

Momof2inME

Congratulations Nancy, Denise, and MiniMacsMom!!! WoooooHoooooo All done!!! You ladies did it!!

SusannahW

Just finished 33 sessions of radiation today, have been looking forward to this day for weeks. However, instead of the elation I expected to feel, I have been weepy and anxious all day. Has anyone else experienced this?

Denise-G

I am done too!   I must say, it feels better than I even thought it would!

MiniMacsMom - safe travels home.  When I think of what you have had to do being so far away from home - that is beyond tough.  Congratulations!

kat2nich

SusannahW - I just finished today also and cried a ton.  It was such a weird feeling - happy it was over, grief for the whole BC thing, scared to be released on "my own recognizance".  I just kept cycling thru all these feelings.  Now I'm just happy and ready to move on with my life!

 Kathy

SusannahW

Kathy, thanks for sharing your feelings. Glad to know I'm not the only one experiencing these feelings. I'm feeling much better now too, ready to move on. I'm sure the roller coaster will continue, but hoping for fewer and smaller dips.



Susannah

Denise-G

Nancy - thanks for the wise words and great wishes.

Susannah and Kat2Nich - Congrats on being DONE!!!  I cried off and on all week.  I think I got it out of my system by today, but I sure was weepy too.  Your words described it well!!   Many, many mixed emotions.

Riverangel

I have 3 left....did the first boost today! Next Wednesday is the last one....Yay! So far so good on my skin, super red and itchy, but all in all pretty good. Still swollen, but gi am use to it now. Just booked a 10 day vacation for My Love and I to Cancun in September so we can do final recovery and reconnect just the two of us! Thank you Ladies for walking this journey with me!!

Lagata1276

Good on you Riverangel! Hubby and I are going on a well planned ahead vacay with his family the Friday after my last treatment. But we are looking forward to our true celebration sometime in the future when I can enjoy the sun and water fully.



Susannah and Kat - congrats! I told my techs today I may cry today, and one was alarmed and asked me if I knew that I had to come in on Monday too. I'm like, duh, yes I just am emotional knowing I am almost done!!

SusannahW

Thanks to all, for the congrats and the support, both were much appreciated.

Lagata1276

Just thinking ahead, how many of us will be taking Tamoxifen... And when are you scheduled to start it? I don't see my MO until mid August so I know I have a little reprieve.

Medwick711

My name is Patricia and I to will be getting 30 days of radiation. Does anyone know if they do boosts on everyone? Is there a certain criteria to get the boosts? I know nothing about this. Thanks for any feedback



Patricia

Cindyl

No, not everyone gets boosts.  I'm sure there is a criteria they use to decide who gets boosts and who doesn't, but I don't know what it is.  Ask your RO to explain it. But really, boosts are just an extra zap to a specific spot (like the tumor bed) in addition to the whole breast radiation. So in my case I usually got zaps in two places, so when it came time for boosts they just did one, not a big deal, except for the setup.  By the time I got to boosts my skin was pretty destroyed and I wasn't crazy about new sharpi marks.

Good luck, it'll be over before you know it!

sweetpea23

I finished up w/ my boosts today and I am done, done done!!! I brought the techs a little candy basket and they seemed like they appreciated it. Now I have 2 weeks until I see the MO about the tamoxifen. I am SO happy!!

Denise-G

Sweatpea - CONGRATULATIONS - YOU DID IT!!!!!  

Momof2inME

Darn it!!! I almost made it {Sigh}. I have 4 more treatments to go and had to get an Rx for Silvadene today. My collar bone looks like raw hamburger and hurts like crazy. Itches slightly just mostly hurts. I thought I was going to slide through this last week, not to be....

 Congratulations on all those finishing up this week. I started June25th so I am probably one of the last from June group to finish this radiation ride.

Lagata1276 (Diana): My MO has me starting Tamoxifen 3 days after I finish rads. My periods have already returned so he wants me on it sooner rather than later.

achubb

Momof2 = You will be finished before me, I started June 27 and I am still going. I am a little over half way.

PHEWWW. YAHOO to everyone finishing up.

mamabee

I'm DONE. I cried a little thinking back over the last 8 months of fighting this crap. Got hugs and a little guardian angel pin from the techs. I see my MO in a couple of weeks to have my bloodwork run again and if all's good I'll get my Tamoxifen Rx.

Mom0f2 - I've been using the silvadene for over a week now - it's kind of messy but works well. My underarm was red and raw and it's all healed now. 

Momof2inME

Congratualtions mamabee!!!!

Lagata1276

Yay Mommabee and Sweatpea. I am done too!! 33 days of radiation entering my body, on purpose! Just boggles my mind. It was pretty cool walking down the hall to my treatment room. All the techs were lined up by their stations smiling at me. I'm sure I had a big goofy grin on my face. At least I was holding a box of shortbread and cookies and told them to all come down and get some. Afterwards I got looked at by a doc, my RO wasn't available and got my end of treatment plan. I seem to be holding up well, just very itchy so I'm keeping hands off except to put my hydrocortisone and creams on. Oh, and I rang the bell and everyone applauded. If I could figure out how to post pictures on here, I will do it. One lady was upset she missed it as she was in the bathroom.



Momof2- sorry about your collarbone.

Jennt28

Even though I withdrew from rads I have still been reading along with all of you. Just want to say CONGRATULATIONS to everyone finished and give a big gentle hug to the few still going. I would have been one of the late finishers as was not due to finish until next Monday the 6th of August...



I have had my appt with my BS who is happy to go ahead with the BMX right away despite me having done 12 days of rads, and my appt with the PS is on Friday the 10th of August. If he is happy to go ahead with the implant process my surgery should be before the end of September!



Regards Jenn

Lagata1276

Oh, sorry to hear that Jenn. Best to you for your surgery and recovery!! Hope to see you around the boards doing well.

mamabee

Thanks for thinking of us Jenn. Hope your surgery goes well - take care.

Denise-G

OH SO HAPPY FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS FINISHED!!  Such a good feeling after you get through the tears!  I cried the week before, but glad I got that out of the way!  LOL! 

Since cleaning has not been a priority for 10 months, I am decluttering like a mad women.  It is helping me tremendously.  I can't stop!  Trying to get some control back, probably!  Let me know if this urge hits you, too! 

Jenn - glad you have a plan and they didn't put you on hold some more!  Whew!

Bonseye

First--Congrats to everyone that finished this week!!  I am two weeks out and still can't wipe the smile off my face!!  I had a period of time this week where I sat and thought about this looonnnnggg journey of almost 11 months.......what a ride.  Can it truly be over??  I just need my tattooes so that doesn't really count.  All my treatments are over....started the tamoxifen and so far so good.  Just keep saying--Done!! 

DeniseG-I laughed when I read your post--I too am busy making up for the cleaning.  I got the basics done....but have to weed out the clothes....do all the extras that I couldn't and weren't important.  So much to catch up on but I know it isn't going anywhere.......my priorities have changed....I will slowly get to it all.  

 Best to you all you great ladies!!

Iniah

Yay!! Finished 30 rads today! Hang in there ladies, you can do it!!!

Iniah

Denise, I like your blog! Keep cleaning those closets, I think I will too once I can keep my eyes open long enough....

Iniah

Bonseye, how are you doing on Tamoxifen?? It is waiting for me here to start taking......scarry to me, I don't know why....

Denise-G

Bonseye - glad we are cleaning together!

Iniah - CONGRATULATIONS!!  You did it! 

           Thanks for your kind words about my Blog!

Speaking of Tamoxifen - my Oncologist had me get a blood test they send to Mayo Clinic to determine if I am post menopausal or not - if so, he will give me Arimidex or similar.  They said it an AI like Arimidex cuts the recurrence by another 10% in ER+ cancer.

Anyone else going to start AIs instead of Tamoxifen?

Iniah

You are such an inspiration Nancy!!! Thank you!!