Winter 2015-16 RADS

KarenR0618

The machine was up today. I still think there are issues with the computers because everything was done on paper. They started my boost today and said they will do 5 and then go back to the breast radiation to finish all the treatment. The techs said they would be working this weekend but I have games and church so I can't make it so it will be added on to the end.

My skin was just starting to get irritated last weekend so I'm sure the time off helped things not to get too bad.

mairew

Kkubsky, fingers crossed it turns out to be nothing.

I haven't had a "hit me all at once" moment yet. Today I had my last in-treatment meeting with my RO. I was a bit teary-eyed because I love my RO and we were talking about the emotional impact of Rads etc. and my RO told me when she was 14 her mother died of BC. I think I will totally lose it on 'the rack' on my last day, which is Wed. My clinic doesn't have a gong, will get a certificate. Only three more boosts!!!

Hope everyone has a peaceful weekend.

Kkubsky

Had my mammo/ultrasound today to see what it was that I felt. Although it had disappeared last night. Well, there is nothing there. Best guess is it was a surgical clip. So now I feel very reassured that there is nothing else brewing in my boob!

And I am more than 1/2 way done!!!!!

Musosgirl

I am officially down to single digits! 9 more. It would not seem all that important if it hadn't taken 6 weeks to get to this point. This machine better keeping working for the next two weeks. Although the last two days it has made this awful "thud" every time it rotates, like something is loose inside it. And it goes into 4 different positions during my treatment so everytime I hear that thud I think "great, it is going to break down with me laying here on the table."

Anyone else getting different frequencies? I asked about it the first week because two of the positions make a high pitched beep and the other two make a low pitched buzz. All they told me was that I am getting two different frequencies. Overall I get 14 zaps--10 beeps and 4 buzzes.

VickiRides

I am done! It was a very emotional experience for me. I was feeling weepy before I even went to the cancer center and had tears streaming down my face while I was on the table. I've been pretty stoic throughout treatment, but it hit me hard today.

I was pulled aside by the nurse I spoke with yesterday about my peeling arm pit. They ended up putting me on antibiotics and gave me more gel pads. The plan is Silvadene mixed with a lidocaine gel 3 times a day and covered with a gel pad. I will follow up with the RO on Monday. They gave me a couple of scrub tops to wear ... I think they are trying to force me to stay home and rest.

barbe1958

GREAT news kkubksy!! And to those in single digits, I envy you! My DH pointed out I was in the "teens" and was disappointed to realized that 19 is certainly "in the teens"....sigh.

I prefer a gong as I wouldn't keep a certificate. But I am going to burn my "modesty robe" that the volunteers make for us. Pretty impressive, ,with velcro closures under the arms and down the front. Even the guy techs know how to put them back together while I'm still lying down.

Sunnyone22

Half way there!!!! (14 down, 14 to go)

Twnkltoz

woo hoo! Hang in there, ladies! Congrats, Vickie!

I cried my last day, but then I was done with the crying. I did enough of it over the last eight months, and I'm tired of it!

Duzy

congrats vickirides such a relief to be done. Your skin should heal within a week or so

Glad to hear the results Kkubksy. That is a great relief off your mind

Hope everyone just starting or in the middle or close to the end rest up over the weekend

Kinda bummed I am so ready for spring and we are suppose to get a couple inches of snow this weeken

phoebe58

Hi Windward -- I am about 7 weeks post rads -- finished Feb 12. I had the weird small dark freckly things start to appear about 1/2 way thru rads. When I asked my RO he said -- oh they aren't moles [which take a very long time to develop] and shouldn't be there a few months from now..... yipes. BUT the good news is that they already faded away -- in fact, quite suddenly as my pink/tan colouring returned to normal abut 3-4 weeks after, .... it was a surprise as I suddenly noticed their absence one day! They are completely gone now.

I am keeping up the stretchy shoulder arm routines whenever I think of it to avoid and minimize tightness. My breast is looking pretty darn good, considering I had diep before. I do need to wait at least 6 months for stage 2 nip and tweaking though, but am happy to.

Andraxo

Wow - it is so hard to keep up with this board. Work, exercise, life, and of course radiation txs get in the way. I just read through the last few pages. Happy to see people fishing up, getting good news, and generally kicking cancer's ass!!!

I have 4 more full rads tx to go...and just found out Thursday that my RO decided I will be getting electron boosts added on. I was a bit bummed about the added boosts, but I will do what they recommend for me. They mapped it out on Thursday too - estimating where my L tumor had been, since I had B mastectomy. I was told they often boost a typical mastectomy scar across the chest wall, but my scars are below each breast area like a smiley face/mouth, so my RO was having difficulty deciding what to do since the scar area doesn't need boosts and I have no breasts left.

My skin is pretty fried at this point. 2 very small open areas - maybe 5mm each - one mid sternum and the other is on my back where I scratched hard there by accident and opened it up. It all still it looks much worse to me than it feels though. Angry red now, but started with all my pores darkening (look like tiny freckles but they are the pores). The red is now taking over the dots. At first I though all my pores were getting blackheads from the mega-slathering of lotions...but that is not the case.

Tired. Amazed how sleepy I get by 7pm. My day energy is good once I out of bed after sleeping in. I'm sleeping more now than I ever did with chemo and for the last 25 years! When I'm up I am thankfully able to exercise and crank out some work hours.

This morning I ran 8 miles! This was my third run this week (the other two were shorter) and none of them ended in tears like all my previous runs in the past 3 months when I was so frustrated that my body wasn't working the way I wanted it to. Of course, my joint are so achy now...that has not changed yet. Maybe it will in a few more months. Signed up for a half marathon late August in Colorado, but hoping I can actually do one the first weekend in June in Utah. That is insanely optimistic of me, but I'll wait until the last minute to sign up if I think I can finish. Some co-workers/friends signed up for it so it would be sweet to do it with them!

Still wishing for eyebrows to grow back. Finally have darker shadow of stubble on my head (8.5 weeks after last chemo), but it is patchy. Keeping it buzzed another month to even out. Wanted to get another henna pattern done, but I think I have too much stubble for it now. So glad I did it twice...wish I had done it earlier...kinda made being bald fun.

As always...you all continue to inspire!

Andra xo

luzeelu

Done! But only just now found time to catch up on the past few pages.

Finished rads last Monday and it's been great not having to go anywhere unless I want to. I've noticed more soreness and fatigue this past week, but the RO did warn me about that so am trying to be patient. Skin is darker in places but so far it's staying intact. I'm still using the aloe gel they gave me a couple of times per day.

I think a lot of the discomfort is from having to wear the lymphedema sleeve all day and a wrap at night. The PT told me to do that all through rads and for a month afterward. I do give myself every other Saturday night off and tonight's my night off. These things get very uncomfortable after a number of hours and put extra pressure on my surgery scar and rad area. I don't know how I'm going to handle wearing a sleeve this summer. They're hot! And I've never been fond of hot weather anyway. Have a feeling I'll be slacking off a bit more as the weather warms up. Lymphedema really sucks.

Next on the list of treatments is Letrozole since I'm post-menopausal. I really hope I don't feel icky from it. I'm tired of feeling icky all the time!

So sorry to hear about those of you with postponed treatments. I imagine you'd rather get on with it and get it over with.

Sunnyone22

Congrats VickiRides and others who see their last rad tx in the rearview mirror. I hope your return to 'normal' is swift and uneventful.

I'm half finished and just started on Femora (Letrozole) on Friday. Since I was only getting minor fatigue and no earlly radiation skin issues (other than a tan) from rads, My MO thought it would be OK to start. After 3 days, so far so good but I know it's early. I do feel tired today but presume it's the rads and not the Femora.

Anyone else out there who started their anti-hormone pills before finishing rads? If so, did you experience any problems?

biscuits

I started Arimidex one month before rads. The SE's I had were hot flashes and joint stiffness from my waist down. Both are attributed to the meds and doing treatment didn't seem to affect thingsone way or the other.

mdoc524

Hello All - Happy April - although I think Spring is saying "April Fools" as it is freezing here!!

Kkubsky - so glad all is OK and WooHoo on hitting 1/2 way point!!

Welcome Welcome DisneyGirl16 - so sorry you are here but glad you found this awesome group! I echo barbe1958 - insurance companies should not be allowed to deny anything cancer treatment related - that should be a law! How many treatments are having and did you start on Friday 4/1?

Duzy - so hope your itching is better - not fun! The front of my hair is similar- not as thick as sides or back so my niece just cut it all around to match all up!

Musosgirl & KarenR - glad you are back in action - hope smooth sailing to the end for you with machine issues!!

Sunnyone - my "hit me all at once moment" was in the car with my husband almost a year ago when 1st diagnosed and on our way to MO appt - the Martina MacBride song "I'm Gonna Love You Through It" came on and crushed me! I still cannot listen to that song! Agree though it still shocks me when I see BC ad's and I think I am now one of those women...

mairew - WooHoo sending High Fives and Happy Dances to you this week - good luck finishing up!

VickiRides - WooHoo High Fives and Happy Dances for you too!! Congrats! So hope your arpit heals up fast and feels better!

Andraxo - Good Luck with Boosts and hope your Red skin calms down! Great job on continuing to run! I hopped on the treadmill this week and have walked further each day - walking Komen 5K on Mother's Day in Philly!!

WooHoo High Fives and Happy Dances to you luzeelu - great to hear your skin held up for you! Good luck with the lymphedema and wearing the sleeve!

I started my Hormone Meds (Tamoxifen) this past week after finishing Rads.. my MO's preference!

All - I am heading back to work full-time tomorrow - have not worked since MO took me out after 2nd Hospital Admission during chemo in October! I may not be on too much this week as I expect to be crazy catching up as well as tired! Hugs to all still in treatment and all still dealing with not so fun se's ..

Mary

barbe1958

Good luck, Mary! What is it that you're going back to?

mdoc524

Thanks Barb - Associate Director of National Training for Verizon FiOS (25 Years) .. very demanding job - I tried to work thru chemo and became neutropenic with fever too many times and had to go out on Disability.. excited and nervous as I am not 100% - I know it takes months for all se's from chemo & rads to subside with some being possibly permanent! I feel good enough to get moving and go back ... hoping I feel the same in couple days LOL!

Duzy

Luzeelu - So happy you are done and that you can let your skin begin to heal. I hope you were able to celebrate in your own special way. I started taking Anastrozole 2 weeks ago and so far I have not noticed any difference. Rest up the fatigue does catch up with you for after finishing rads.

Moondust

Tomorrow will be my last day! I'm excited! I usually go at 11 but tomorrow they moved me to 2:30. I wish it was the earlier time, but whatever, I'll take it! My skin under my arm and breast finally got red, but it doesn't hurt if I don't mess with it.

Mary, good luck going back to work! Take it slow.

Luzeelu, congrats on being done!

Twnkltoz

@andra, good for you! I'm only up to two miles. I've also been able to do 3 miles on the bike, and yesterday I swam... for a whole 10 minutes.

Started my diet in earnest on Wednesday and have lost 4 pounds! I gained so much during this ordeal. So frustrating.

barbe1958

Mary, I hope you are staggering your hours and titering them up? 3 hours, then 4 hour days.... You might find you feel better at work. When I was off on disability years ago I actually felt sicker than when I went back to work!

Moon, so envious!!!!!!!!!! I just noticed my "tan" for the first time this morning after 9 treatments. Crossing my fingers. One of the things I'm doing is NOT showering/bathing each day as that strips off layers of skin. I warned them....

Andraxo

Mary - so exciting you're going back to work...hope it goes well!

Yay Twnkltoz!! running and cycling and swimming....all fantastic! The weight will come off gradually as your entire body recovers...you know you're doing all wonderful things to get to your goals! and...the dancing of course!

Snowboarded yesterday and it was big fun! We all wore crazy dresses over/under our ski/boarding clothes. Quite comical that my boyfriend (who has a beard and long curly hair) was in a turquoise sequined dress and looked so sparkly coming down the mountain! Makes me want something sparkly for next year's last day of the season. My cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing so much all day.

My skin is still hanging on, but the axillary area feels the worst...getting dark and hurts. Just a little more to go....Hang on skin!

Have a great week everyone!

- xo

Musosgirl

Went to treatment, then they did my sim for boosts and then, after a long wait, I saw my RO. My scar from my reduction had so much trouble healing and rads kept getting delayed and now, 25 rads in, it is breaking down. They are pretty sure that is what is causing me so much pain, but her PA did say if it still hurt a month after radiation that they will do an x-ray--cause I need to spend the next month worrying about mets...

Anyway, she is going to pause rads and go ahead with boosts. I asked if taking a break would make that big a difference since I only have 3 left and she said it might. I joked that I was hoping she would say I didn't need boosts (that had not fully been decided till this week) but she did say she will look over all my scans tonight and she might not come back for the last three rads. All that to say I either have 5 or 8 days left. And I have tomorrow off since they won't be ready for boosts so soon. In the meantime I am supposed to increase my Silvadeen usage and increase my ibuprophen intake--got in trouble today for not being more proactive over the weekend. Honestly, I slept most of the weekend.

Would you be concerned not doing those last three days? Not sure why, but not doing 5 boosts felt fine to me, but not completing the full 28 days of rads feels bad...

barbe1958

Boosts are directed right at the cancer site so if it was me, I'd keep the boosts and ditch the last 3 general zaps.

Fearless1956

I'm not on this board as much as I used to be since finishing rads about 2 months ago. Moved over to the AI boards. Anyway, I'm glad to read that so many are finishing up rads! Hooray for completing that step in the journey!!!!! My skin is healed and with a light tan color now. No other residual effects. I will say that my left breast (the radiated one) actually feels softer now than the right one. My RO told me to use deep tissue massage after finishing rads and I'm guessing that helped. Has anyone else who finished up whole breast treatments for awhile noticed any difference?

Suz-Q

Hi Fearless, I'm 2.5 months out from rads. I can feel a definite thickening of my skin and breast tissue. My muscle in the treatment area has become more stiff. I have been stretching all along, but noticed 3 weeks ago that my muscles are getting tighter. I went back to my RO and she prescribed OT and lymphedema treatment. I had my evaluation and first treatment this morning. I thought my axillary webbing had gone away, but therapist found that I still have some going on as well as my other problems. The therapist also worked on my breast area to get the fluid flowing out. I have no arm swelling at all

My radiated side is much perkier. I've gone for three reconstruction consultations and all the docs say they will lift my left side to match my right breast. I'm having fat transfer done in hopes of filling my divot and improving the radiation damage.

Anastrozole is not causing any side effects for me. I just filled my next 3 month prescription with the Teva brand everyone keeps talking about. However, since I'm not having any SEs I'm sure I won't notice any difference.

Mary, take it easy on your first couple of weeks back at work!

Congratulations to all of you who have finished! I have enjoyed getting back to life since treatments ended. It's so nice to focus on something other than cancer! I felt well enough mentally and emotionally to go off of my antidepressant, Celexa. I had been on it for three months. My last day was two weeks ago. I'm so glad it worked for me during those dark days before and during radiation!

Much love to you wonderful ladies! I couldn't have made it without you!

Moondust

I finished today. Got a certificate plus they gave me the personalized marker which was used to draw on me. I got a big hug from my techs. Last night I made breast cancer ribbon cookies (with a cookie cutter I bought on Amazon) and took each of my dr's offices a plate of them. They were a big hit.

Musosgirl, I'm sorry to hear how your scar is reacting to the rads. Not much fun I hope the break makes a difference. I would not want to miss any treatments, but I'm not in your shoes with the pain and SE's, so I can't say how I would feel in your place.

Twinkltoz, congrats on the weight loss! Stay on track - it's like rads, just take one day at a time but stay consistent.

Barbe, Andra, Sunnyone, and everyone else in active treatment, hang in there!!! The end is in sight!

Kimmer33

i am also at that weird place, not sure what to say. I really hope i "had" cancer, and that it indeed is completely gone from my body. For now i say i had cancer, and when i was going thru chemo i always said "i am a chemo patient" not a cancer patient. I also feel doctors arent very sensitive about this fact and they dont want to say anything that could get them into trouble later - it's not fair because i do want to hear those words "cancer free", etc. but none will say it to me-it's almost as if they are expecting it to come back but dont want to say it to me.

Anyone else having post rad skin issues like me? I am 4 weeks past my last rad treatment and still have sore skin issues. Sheesh, getting quite tired of this now

LifeOfBabbs

mdoc524, Thank you! I start radiation on Friday April 8, 2016.

edwsmom

Hi. Is anyone else finding radiation to be much more emotionally draining than the previous treatment regimens? I don't know why but this having to go every day is really taking it out of me - and i'm only 7 treatments in. Ugh.