Summer Rads 2014

jbokland

one treatment left and now I feel raw under my arm.  I won't complain though, I think I've had minimal problems through this treatment.  

Do I remember someone recommending cornstarch??

Geez, first they tried to poison me, then they tried to roast me...

rettemich

OMG, ohiofan, that is exactly what they do. LOL I thought I was the only person in the world who's toes weirded out. And yes it is pretty hysterical when it happens. But it does hurt.

Missing, yes, use aloe, and lots of it. It absorbs so not sticky like the Aquaphor. It should help with the burning. Keep it in the frig it's soooo cooling. Use Fruit of the Earth, if you don't have access to an aloe plant. It has no alcohol or dye in it. May have to look I found at travel size at Target. The center gave me a big bottle. I used the travel size and took it with me to every treatment. As soon as I was done, I would lather up and use a cut up soft tee shirt over it, then dress. Keep applying it, it will help.

jbok, wow that went by fast. One more guess I will have to have a little wine. Oh darn. I think sunshine suggested the cornstarch. Sound like a good idea. 

I agree the whole "cancer treatment" notice not cure, is barbaric. It won't change until people start demanding it. They make to much money from it. Sad really....we are all their bottom line.

Sunshineinky

Jobok the cornstarch works great to stop rubbing.  Just buy plain ole cornstarch that they sell near the flour.  I can't believe you've only got one more left!! Woooo hoooo you'll be high stepping tomorrow. 

I got a sweet card yesterday signed by everyone at my rad center.  I had taken them a huge pink breast cancer wreath.  Very princess like since that's what they called me the whole time.  When I dropped it off I was crying and it was just last week!!! Walking through those doors was so hard so I just left it with the receptionist and ran!! 

Eventually this all gets better.  I know it does.  My weight is going up and up with this tamoxifen so I had a consult friday to get a lapband.  If I need to be thin to cut down my reoccurance risk then its a lapband or duct tape is all that I see getting me there!! 

Happy Sunday ladies! I cherish each of you! 

lyzzysmom

Sunshine, it must have been so emotional going back there. We want to move on but there is always something,  even though we will hopefully be just fine, pills, followups.... even for those of us that have the earliest stages....

JB, You must be counting down the hours!

Rettemich Yup, my big toe sometimes has a mind of its own too, and decides it wants to get as far away as it can from all those little toes!! I stand up and put all my weight on the foot until it calms down.

Louanne

Sunshine, I'll be thinking of you Friday sending good thoughts, and also with your ultra sound for your legs. Everything will turn out fine!! I'm not sure where my head has been, seems like everyday is something new with the Tamoxifen. Too bad we couldn't all get together for exercise. I haven't for the last few days.   

mripp

Aloe is now in the frig. I'll try it tonight. I was using the cornstarch but now it is Aquafor, hydrocorizone and Miaderm plus a soft piece of flannel in the crease under the breast.

Sunshine, that must have been hard to return and with a flood of emotions! The staff are all sooooo nice and caring. I know our last day will be full of emotiins too. It is a day to look forward to, but most people we met at our centers, we'll probably never see again, but will always have in our hearts!

Counting down....9 treatments to finish line!

jbokland

I rang that freaking bell today!!

jhodro

Yay Jbokland!! Congrats. Beautiful pictures!!

I'm on 4 of 33. Just beginning.

lyzzysmom

JB,Yeah!!! Congratulations!! You look great!! You got a medal too? You deserve it!! oh, I remember that piece that comes out from the machine for the boosts so well. Nearly hit myself the first time they used it as I was about to get up too quickly!

Has anyone just starting on Tamoxifen noticed anything odd yet?I only started last week and have not had the sore calves yet, I feel OK but the last 2 days I have slept the entire afternoon. Yesterday morning I went to the gym and did some strength exercises then walked and slow jogged for 3 miles but still fell asleep. Today I went for my RO followup then did nothing much and fell asleep early afternoon, that run over by a truck kind of tiredness where you can barely move if you wake up.I don't sleep well at night but still... The other thing is I have always had issues with eyes watering more than normal BUT the last couple of days they are so bad. Even the cool air inside the gym had me crying and now they are teary all the time and my nose is running slightly too and I have never suffered with allergies. Thinking the tiredness may be a hangover from rads as MO said it may get worse before it goes away. Will give it a week or two and use some eye drops then call the MO if it gets worse I think. May mention on the tamox. thread too as its a bit weird.

Debster

Congratulations Jbokland!!!

I started Tamoxifen last week and so far so good for me. I have not noticed anything going on and I hope I can say that in a few days.

Sunshine I am amazed what I am willing to do to keep from having to do this again. I have ate more vegetables and fruit lately then I have eaten in years! Hahaha!

Hope everyone has a great night! Hugs

Crazywabbit

JB, Good Job getting done. My center did not have a bell. in fact they really did nothing but said thank you for the baked goods and see you in  2 weeks.

Sunshineinky

Yay Jbok!!! I'm so glad you're finished! The women of the summer of 2014 are slowly but surely getting there!

Jhondro, I promise it'll start going faster! Hang in there.  

Barbara, a past patient donated the centers bell that we have.  I got great pleasure out of ringing it.  

I meet with my MO Thursday.  I dread it because I know she's gonna say, "Laura you're to fat!" Louanne it would be great to be closer to people like you guys that have the same need/want to be physically healthier.  

Debster, I'm eating my veggies but this tamoxifen makes me want to eat EVERYTHING that's not nailed down.  It's insane.  

Happy Monday Ladies!! Who is our next person to finish?

stephaniegee

I finished today!!  Was the longest session of my life, literally. They couldn't get the right position and I was on the table over one hour. But then it was over, and my husband surprised me with a diamond necklace. Feeling grateful. 

lyzzysmom

Congrats on finishing Stephanie!!! Your husband sounds like a real "Gem" . What a lovely surprise!

MomtoIrishQuads

Hello all,

I'm in the home stretch (17 under my belt, 5 boosts to go) - and everything is going OK (as it did 3 years ago with DCIS).  Some itching and discoloration (I also have vitilago so that's to be expected).  But today, after treatment, I hit a brick wall.....I slept most of the rest of the day which freaked my kids out. (they are teens).  Luckily we hired a woman to come in and cook once a week for the past few months (I'm still figuring out how I can keep her on - it's so nice to have food in the frig for the week!).

This weekend I also was very tired.  Went to the mall with my daughter and hubby and had to sit at Starbucks as I was so fatigued.  I guess that happens at the end?  It feels worse than the last time - but the chemo probably took it out of me this time - and like Sunshine, I have gained a lot of weight in the last year (30 and probably 10 pounds since treatment began).  My thyroid was out of whack and then this.  Sunshine - I should probably look into the lapband, too....do you know women who have done well with it?  Is the surgery easy? 

I'm trying not to get nervous about it but the machine that they are using on me looks ancient.  In fact, they are donating it right after I complete my treatment and bringing a new latest and greatest one in.  My RO assures me that it's still OK - but my husband had a bad experience with a machine on it's last legs about 10 years ago (he had gamma knife surgery with a near to retirement machine and it broke halfway through the treatment).  I'm sure it's fine....but still.  The good news is that there are only about 5 patients that come to a center that typically has 40 to 60 a day so they don't yell at me if I'm late. ;-)  I get to ring the bell next Wed. - maybe I should carve my initials on the thing (they are giving it to a third world country or something like that).  In San Francisco when I did this, the machine looked more like JBokland's - this time around in South Carolina - it looks much less sophisticated and smaller. 

My five boosts start tomorrow....anything that I should expect with that?  They tell me that less skin will be involved as it's targeted - but just want to be prepared.  So far I haven't used much lotion - should I do it pre-emptively?  Aloe?  And then soon I get to start Armidex - joy!  More weight gain?  

I love JBok:  Geez, first they tried to poison me, then they tried to roast me... made me laugh out loud!

Deb 

Sunshineinky

Yay for finishing Stephanie!!!! It feels so good but weird too lol!!

Deb, I know several that have the lapband including my sister.  All have been successful and it was something I was considering even before bc.  However, I didn't meet my insurances criteria so I would had to pay out of pocket.  I now meet it so I say," what the heck" why not do it.  I don't want my life span shortened any further by obesity.  

Boost for me was much easier.  I think different people have different experiences though and hopefully yours will be a good one! Use that lotion! Rads continue to peak about 2 weeks even after your finished. 

ncollett

Congrats JB and Stephanie!! I cant wait to get started so I can join you all.

aff

jbokland - so glad you are done!  We started this leg of our journey together. It's hard to believe how quickly it passed. 

Stephanie - congrats. All the best to you. 

lyzzysmom

Deb, the fatigue sure does hit you. I thought I was getting over it, then 2 weeks after finishing and a few days after being put on tamoxifen I was totally out of it 2 afternoons in a row. Hoping to do better today as I have to get some work done. 

I think even the new machines break down from time to time. The center that I went to had one like JBs and it broke twice while I was going and my post rads RO appt was yesterday. I met a lady I knew who was still being treated and she was late as the machine had broken down for a little while in the morning!

Did the RO give any particular instructions on what cream to use? I used an institutional one that mine gave me and thats available on Amazon but many ladies like aloe, especially if they can get an actual plant. 

The boosts are ok as they are concentrated on a particular area so they start to give the rest of the skin a chance to heal but I would definitely think you would want to use something unless your RO says otherwise as its likely in the area of the surgical scar.

aff

Also, I just finished my first bottle of Tamoxifen. Other than a few warm flashes a day (which continue to decrease in number and intensity) I have had no side effects. Best to all. 

lyzzysmom

Is it normal to  have a long term follow up with the RO? Mine wants to see me in 6 months. The MO wants to see me in 4 months which is expected. RO casually mentioned wanting to keep an eye on the left breast. I assumed it was because I had ILC on the right side, then writing this I thought hmm, they have all my pictures, oh joy! Not going to let this bother me, will assume its all routine and they are just being careful.

Sunshineinky

Izzy I am seeing my RO at 6 months which is October.  My understating is I'll see her 1x yearly after this 1st 6 month follow up  until I'm released by my MO.  

My MO will see me every 3 months and the Breast Surgeon every 6 months.  This is for 5 years! At that point I'll see the MO every six months and enter a once a year "survivor clinic" with my breast surgeon.  Sounds like a lot of dr appointments and outbid pocket expense for the next 10 years! 

mripp

JBok, congrats! Your pics are great and I love your poster!! Just like Looney Tunes, which I think we all felt part of along this journey!!

Stephanie, congrats to you! We're right here bringing up the rear for the Summer Rad group! And a diamond necklace! DH sounds like a keeper!

Deb/MomtoIrishQuads, boosts and countdown on for us! My 7 boosts start tomorrow. Love the idea of a weeks worth of meals prepped by someone. I went to a Pampered Chef "Dinners Done" workshop and we all made 11-12 freezer meals that can be cooked with minimal effort. I think it's a great deal and all fresh ingredients that do into ziplock bags to freeze. Way healthier too! I get the weight gain thing and this helps.

Well, tonight is our City recognition picnic. I'm getting a 25 year anniversary award. Can't believe I've worked there that many years! Retirement in a few years too! Have a good day all!

jbokland

took my first Tamoxifen and baby Aspirin today.  This 10 year commitment had begun!

lyzzysmom

Sunshine, It sounds like I am getting off lightly, (or my pocket is) then. No plans to see BS, she just wants mammo next year done at hospital so she can review. MO only wants to see me in 4 months. Its just as well as I sent a mail to my boss this morning, detailing my "demands" if I am to stay on at 3 days a week. Otherwise I am leaving and will get COBRA insurance that costs twice as much as company policy.After that it would be an individual policy, pricey so the less out of pocket the better!! I felt bad giving my boss this list of what I will and won't (can't) do as he is very nice but I have to be honest with him and true to myself.

Sunshineinky

Izzy, you gotta take care of you!! Setting expectations is a good thing. 

Jbok, I sometimes take my aspirin every other day.  I started having nosebleeds so I had to back off a bit.  I am only committing to tamoxifen for 5 then an AI for another 5.  It just sounds better in my mind.  I currently have ZERO side effects but tamoxifen is weird.  I can have no side effects this week and crazy muscle pain the next, then sweats, insomnia etc.  it just comes and goes.  The good thing is my MO said most go away at three months and I'm at that mark now!!

Louanne

Congratulations jbok, love the "That's all folks"! Looks like you had a wonderful team! Hoping no SE's with the Tamoxifen.

Stephanie congratulations also. Wow!! What a wonderful husband! 

Izzy, I'm every three months so far with my RO, PCP, and BS. My MO is 6 months already, it was 3 months after the first visit. I was so out of it from the dx and everything that came with it, I didn't realize I had a partial mastectomy. My pathology measured 1mm from the deep. I'm sure that is why they want a baseline mammography so soon.  

Sunshine, you're so right about the out of pocket expense. It adds up!

ncollett

Do they typically tell you what creams or lotions to use during rad tx to prevent SE?

Sunshineinky

Nancy that was part of my first visit.  Not only did they tell me, they gave me a book and then gave me the actual product.  

lyzzysmom

Nancy, My RO did the same as Sunshine's. a brochure including what was acceptable to use. They then told me at initial appt and gave me the cream they wanted me to use with instructions not to use anything else without asking them first.