July 2012 Radiation
Comments
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My husband was thrilled to have his ultra curly hair grow back in with just a hint of a wave. :-) I ended up not needing chemo but always said if I did the least it could do is grow back in brown so I could quit dying it. Although my biggest fear was it wouldn't grow back at all. I haven't shaved my legs or plucked my eye brows in almost 30 years. I don't know what happened when I got pregnant, but the uni-brow never grew back nor did the hair on my legs and arms.
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Mini: You got lucky. My first hair regrowth has been the chin hairs. Lucky me. I always knew they were srubborn.
Babette: Congrats. 10 to go! Wow! BTW, you look beautiful--with or without your wig. My hair is really starting to take off. I no longer look bald from afar. Thank God for dark hair, even though there's plenty of gray or white coming ing.
Julz: Yes, I was referring to your job. When you were talking about it, it reminded me of a friend of mine, who lost her job just because of the stupid rules and how other people who had abused it ruined it for her. I am fortunate, that any time I have or had to take off has been considered as "scheduled" PTO and kept me under the radar.
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My job has been pretty understanding considering I only started in Feb and started chemo in March! Though I think they are ready for me to be done and at 100% - I am too! They really have never seen me at my best! I'll have to really prove myself when this is all over, though I think I am doing great - never missed a day except chemo day - so don't think they can complain too much! I am not really working OT - I do good some days with the 8 hours, my boss got on me the other day about the OT - and all I could say was I'm doing the best I can given the cirmcumstances. Hope that was enough!
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I am 36 years old and found out i had breast cancer Last November. I have completed my chemo, had my double mastectomy. They put implants in even though they knew I was going to have radiation. An incision inside on my left breast opened inside which allowed the implant to begin to come out. I opted to just have everything removed since radiation was going to just complicate the implant I was receiving radiation on. Tryed to go for my
radiation app. This time my arm would not cooperate in being put in the same position for such a long time. So, right now I am thinking of not doing radiation. I do not really have to and the sign affects with scarring my right lung is not something I am sure I want to go through at this time.
I found this site and figured I would just write havent been able to really just write what I am going through. Hope everyone does well and a normal life comes soon for all.
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Did anyone have any swelling in your breast during treatment? Thanks.
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Hi elom36 and Welcome,
I just turned 38 last week so I am near your age. I was diagnosed in November, BMX in December, and started chemo in January. I finished rads yesterday and I too had implants put in before radiation.Justwanted you to know my synopsis to know you are not alone.
I am so sorry you've had a rough go so far. What happened to your arm? Was this during your planning session? I have lymphedema in my left (BC) arm so the planning session was the longest my arm was above my head. The radiation appointments only last about 7-8 minutes each time. Good luck and pm me anytime.
Belinda: I finished yesterday and my breast is bright red and swollen. My armpit is swollen as well.RO told me to take IBprofen to ease the inflammation. Good luck!!
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Hi all, the days are flying by, and I'm eager to be done with radiation. I've had 9 treatments now, and the only SE are a warm breast and slight tanning. (No swelling.) I'm religously using aloe to take care of my breast and eating lots of protein to help any damaged cells repair themselves. I'm much more bothered by the hot flashes, and am not looking forward to homone therapy, when I think they'll be worse. My RO offers free acupuncture which allegedly helps with the hot flashes. I've had one treatment and hope it works for me. If anyone has suggestions for relieving the hot flashes, please share them. Hope you all have a good weekend and enjoy our weekly break from radiation.
kjiberty: I know what you mean about the chin hairs. I had them removed with lasers a couple years ago. I'm glad I spent the money to have it done.
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Tab55: I had electrolysis done on them but the nasty buggers keep coming back. I did do laser on the mustache, so I might try the chin as well. I have had 8 treatments and no redness or tanning, but a little sore where the incision is. I keep slathering on the Miaderm as well as the aquafor/olive oil mix. I do have aloe, but am not breaking that out yet until the pinkness occurs, which per the RO should be later this week.
Yes, the hot flashes are increasing for me as well. Sweater on, then off, then on, off.... Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
NO swelling of breast YET.
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I just completed 20 rounds and my breast is a little swollen and pink, starting to get a little rash. I'm just using hydrocortizone and Utterly Smooth cream right now. I'm starting to get a little more tired but nothing like chemo was.
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Kj is does stink! A few years back one of the employees on another shift had a car accident on the way to work so obviously couldn't come to work & also couldn't give her 2 hour notice. I believe she got a point for that! I hate calling off because I hate being the one on the recording end of less staff. But sometimes it can't be helped!
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Hi Jag we are at the same amount of days in. I use a bit of the hydrocortisone cream it really helps the itchy's!
Tab it is weird how the one treated is warmer. My eighty is cold to touch & Lefty is my internal & "outernal" heater! It would of been nice in the winter!!! Hot Flashes nothin sexy about em! I'm a wet blanket these days!
Momof2 I'm so glad your done! Let the healing begin!
Elom I'm so glad you found us! Just wish you never had to join us! More will be along with help on the lymphedema. There also are many thread & topics here about it.
The SE's never End!!!! One day.....sooner than later I hope! -
Ps....TAB that should of been Righty instead of eighty! Gotta love spell check! Thank goodness it didn't put a bad word on there!
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Lol. Love predictive text. Sent a really funny message to my boss the other night because of it - thankfully it wasn't an embarrassing one. No tanning or burning here yet - had treatment 10 Friday.
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lana: I notice (after 8 tx) under my arm feels a little itchy. Other than that, doing okay.
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Yes, my breast swelled quite a bit, which my RO said was normal. One week after finishing it's just as swollen. It takes time to return to true size.
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susannah: Ouch! Now I am confused about how to get that darned dress fitted for the wedding!
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Karen, uh oh. I don't know how long it takes the swelling to go down. I don't think it's a hard fix, seamstress wise, to fix at the last minute.....?
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Tx 11 this morning - 1/3 of the way finished...woohoo!!!
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This thread is very informative. I had DCIS lumpectomy July 30 and it went well. Surgeon set me up with appts for RO and MO but I don't think I will follow thru. The treatments are for prevention/protection for long term and I am almost 66 so don't see the advantage. Also not sure I can handle the effects of the radiation as far as the extreme fatigue that goes with it and continues ever after the treatment is over. I am not the most energetic person as it is and can't even imagine not being able to handle day to day activities and domestic stuff. It would have a negative effect on my husband's quality of life and thats just not fair to him.
I wish you much success with your radiation jouney and pray that none of you has a recurrence.
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Terri, some people have no fatigue. If you end up not needing chemo, the fatigue will be even less.
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kijiberty - have them fit the dress to the larger breast. If it goes down, you can always grab a pair of the inserts or get a VS push up bra to fill in the extra space. If it doesn't go down, you can use just one insert on the smaller side.
I just happened to glance down my shirt yesterday while bending over to grab something and realized that one cup was overflowing and the other you could have stuck a gym sock in like 7th grade. lol. I guess I've worn loose tshirts for so long during radiation that I didn't think about a cleavage check on the way out the door. lol
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...Mini1, the rads have made me slightly swollen and evened the smaller side out...I know just temporarily.
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Allegedly other tissue is supposed to move into the area where the tissue was removed so they aren't quite so uneven. We'll see.
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WHEW today I went to get zapped and they told me the machine was down. I asked should I leave? They said well if you can wait abit I can give you an update. I thought for sure I was going to have to do makeup, but they came in 20 mins later and I got my treatment! Wasn't even late to work! WOOHOO!
Hope everyone is doing well!
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Finally, tomorrw, after 3 postponements I am having my FIRST radiation treatment.
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Good luck Isabelle. We'll be cheering your completion before you know it. :-)
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Onvacation: Kim, I am glad you are "on track" with me Don't want to get ahead of you!
Mini1: thanks for the tips (PS--I am a Michigander born and bred!) Going for a fitting tomorrow.
Terri: You might want to rethink the radiation option. My aunt had Stage 1 and went through the same treatments I did; she was 74 at the time of dx (she's 76 now!). She said she felt a little tired toward the last 1/2; took a 5-hour energy drink or drank extra coffee and was good to go. I WISH I only had the radiation option. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but you not being around will have even a larger negative effect on your husband's life. Just sayin..... You might want to just talk to the MO and RO to see what they have to say.
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Mini1 Thank you, No matter how sad I am...I know that I can come on here & be understood.
terrikoala, I am so sad to hear this, maybe you should rethink your situation...you are not long out of surgery & it is not easy. The radiation fatigue does not affect everyone...and nor do the drugs. It might be a good idea to meet with the oncs and take your husband with you. Sometimes we are surprised at how much support they will give.
66 is not old, your life is not over..I am older than you & plan on leaving this earth, kicking, screaming and still doing all the things I love to do. This is definitely a very sad time in our lives....but we will get through it. Not that I am always feeling this way...I spend a lot of time in tears & I know the meds are affecting me but I will not give in. You deserve better than to give up. Please dear lady, give yourself a chance.
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24/34 done = 71% done (stayed the same; see post below)
I was 15 minutes (45 min drive) away from arriving at my appointment today and I received a phone call telling me that the machine was down. Unlike you, Kim, my machine did not come back to life. I was told that it should be fixed by my appointment time tomorrow afternoon. I had Aug. 17 (a Friday) set in my mind as my last day.
I was so emotional about missing my tx that I cried on my way home. My emotional brain could not handle a one day delay, especially since it pushes me over the weekend to a Monday. School starts the following Wed. (8/22). I so want to be healthy and back to "normal" by the time school starts. The structure and routine will do wonders to focusing on something other than bc.
My logical brain knows that one more day is not that big of deal but the emotional brain had a difficult time accepting it--thus the tears. I think I am so tired of this cancer journey that I just fell apart. I haven't felt this emotional for quite some time. I still have one "cushion" day left. I must keep a positive mental attitude.
I'm feeling better now. Thanks for listening.
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Babette: Sending hugs your way!
Isabelle: Tomorrow will be very easy for you. I started to have a bit of anxiety right before my first treatment and when I realized how little time it was and painless, I was okay. You will be fine tomorrow! Sending positive thoughts your way!
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