December 2017 Radiation Group

K1234

Love the idea of buying enough Scratch Off Lottery tickets for the amount of treatments you’ll have.

Excellent therapy if you as me. Thanks for the tip. I start my Rad’s in Feb. surgery was Dec 21st, 2017.

Can’t wait to get it over with and go on a long vacation. I had to cancel our 3 month Winter Florida vacation because of this stupid cancer. Ticks me off.

Take care all. Will be back with tons of questions when Rad starts. Love ❤️💕 to all

K1234

Love the idea of buying enough Scratch Off Lottery tickets for the amount of treatments you'll have.

Excellent therapy if you as me. Thanks for the tip. I start my Rad's in Feb. surgery was Dec 21st, 2017.

Can't wait to get it over with and go on a long vacation. I had to cancel our 3 month Winter Florida vacation because of this stupid cancer. Ticks me off.

Take care all. Will be back with tons of questions when Rad starts. Love ❤️💕 to all

lifechoices2017

HAPPY FRIDAY WARRIORS! CONGRATS Cindy on completing your zaps! What a way to kick off the weekend...YAY FOR YOU!

Neanie, sorry about your treatment cancellation; hope you are back on track today!

PauletteK; yeah I had no rashes, peeling or anything during rads. Now almost 3weeks out im getting the flaking under my boob at the bra line and under my arm. Honestly if I didn't see it, i wouldnt know it was even doing it. I guess its just my skin getting back to its normal stage. The other day I was like OMG summer is coming and if i still have this peeling/skin color under my arm I won't be able to wear sleeveless. Then you know what I said ... O YES I CAN! Seen or not; this is my warrior badge and Im gonna wear it proudly!

PVM... don't we all wish we were in the tropics ;-) But at least they thought you looked awesome and refreshed. Must have been that 'glow'! Stay beautiful...

Ellyn27

Congrats Cindy on finishing up your RADs ... woohoo!!! Everyone here is doing so great and being so supportive. I love all the sayings, especially the one that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors. Also love the "FU Cancer" !! Funny how I can get all religious and then laugh at the FU's two seconds later hahahaha!!!

I did not have a bone density scan before getting my anastrozole prescription. In fact, I told my MO I had a bone density scan 1-2 years ago. It was of my hip because I had a total hip replacement about 8 years ago. My MO said she'd contact my dr. that did the scan to get info on that. I had to call to reschedule my MO appt and I spoke with the nurse. She told me I'd be getting lab work done and I asked her what they all check. She said: red blood cells, white blood cells, liver, kidneys and something called "markers". These labs are being done one month after starting anastrozole.  I had to do some research on "markers" and found this site that states they test the markers "to assess whether treatment is working or disease has recurred". Here's the link I read in case you are interested.  https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/diagnosis/tumor-markers-fact-sheet

Have a great weekend everyone

gigibee

27/30 today. Staying Alive came on again! Happy for a quick break then the 3-2-1 countdown beginning next week. Happy weekend warriors

PauletteK

Gigibee, we are going to finish soon, 29/30 today, one more to go! Yay

Lifechoices, I’m going to post a picture let you see how red on my collarbone. It wasn’t that red last week, and it gets more red this week when I am having boosts.

CindyNY

PauletteK- that's very red, mine never went up that high. Mine is a rectangle. I'll send you a PM w picture. Keep that area lotioned up!

Gigibee- your countdown has begun!

OCDAmy

Paulette mine was that red. It will probably peel. Is it ichy?

Ellyn's, my MO does the CA-15-3 blood test for breast cancer and I've been getting that test done all through chemo. Here is info on this breast cancer tumor marker:

Results: Because of a lack of sensitivity for early disease and lack of specificity, none of the available markers is of value for the detection of early breast cancer. High preoperative concentrations of CA 15-3 are, however, associated with adverse patient outcome.

Conclusions: CA 15-3 is one of the first circulating prognostic factors for breast cancer. Preoperative concentrations thus might be combined with existing prognostic factors for predicting outcome in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. At present, the most important clinical application of CA 15-3 is in monitoring therapy in patients with advanced breast cancer that is not assessable by existing clinical or radiologic procedures.

PVM

Ohhh Paulette that looks so painful like the ladies say keep lotion on it. Mine was not that red either but under my arm that's a diff story it's now starting to peel & it's like a dark tan not so much red. We are counting you down woohhoo your almost there so hang in there my friend. I'm posting a pic of A my skin as you can see ita a bit red & B my mop of a hair that is coming back black, i look like a 20's flapper girl I am told haha 😀 I look totally diff than before but im loving the new me.

Gigibee your countdown had begun too woot woot your almost at the finish line.

So I found out that I will be on Tamoxifen for 5 to 10 years prob 5 then I shall be changed to another med post menaupous for another 5 to 10 years. I'm blessed to be here fighting & a survivor like you lovely warriors so I shall take whatever to keep me cancer free. Have a great weekend ladies 😊

OCDAmy

PVM, your hair is so cute! How many months is this out of last chemo, I'm 12 weeks out. Hair is growing but not to the point I can go out without a hat yet. It's still really soft and won't style into anything cute

Ellyn27

Paulette - That's pretty red and I hope it heals up quickly for you. It will probably turn tan and then get dry so be sure to lotion up good and thick. I don't know about you ladies but when I put Aquaphor on, I always put it on kinda thick, never pulling the skin when applying. From my collarbone, under my armpit, to under my breast .... load it up. I hated wearing a good bra or shirt then so I'd try to wear an old t-shirt underneath and by my chest area I'd sometimes lay an opened kleenex (it stuck on) to not ruin my tops. I still do this even though my RADs ended Dec 22nd.

PVM

thanks Amy it actually 4 months after chemo so hang in there you won't notice when it starts to come in fast.. Mine came in black I was surprised as mine was dark brown before but heck it's all good I have waves now & chemo curls not super tight but curls 😊

CindyNY

PVM- your hair looks great!

Ellyn27- I too haven taken a Kleenex and put it over the lotions. If I'm staying in, I put a clean white hand towel over the whole thing, even under my arm, tank top over it. Because I mix hydrocortisone, aloe and Aquaphor its a full on mess!

OCDAmy- my MO took blood and one vial was for CA 15-3. I asked about results. She said not all MO's do it anymore, she said because its not useful in all cases. But she still watches it, called herself a dinosaur - been with Sloan Kettering, 30 years of being MO.

DownNotOut

Paulette, love your beautiful pictures on both threads! This one reminds me of bushes we saw in Tahiti on our honeymoon. It is called Brugmansia, or, Angel Trumpet. I see them occasionally here in Alabama but not often. Good memories...

tlfrank

PauletteK, I was way redder than that - blistered and peeled in the underarm and under the breast.

Neanie44

Congratulations CindyNY!!! Another Shero we can look up to!! :-) PauletteK - you are next to be our new Shero! One more and you're done. I have also heard that the our skin will continue with effects up to 2 months after, so you and Cindyrella need to keep lotioning. SoniaL & PVM- My mom also said it would give my skin a break, but I just want to put it behind me. Also realized that I need to reschedule two additional days because of Mardi Gras here. :-( It will be okay, though. Finished is finished and we all will get there. Glad skin seems to be doing well for most of us. PauletteK and PVM, your skin is pretty red, but keep up the protein and lotion, lotion and lotion. Saw RO and she said skin is holding up well, except for looking burned almost up to collarbone along with being sore and tender. She is trying to get me appointment with PT for the swelling in arm and breast, but go ole insurance seems to be the hold up. Also met with MO, but he realized we didn't need to meet until after rads was completed so I have appointment at end of Feb to discuss next steps. PVM - BTW, your hair looks AWESOME and love short hair! Hope you ladies have a wonderful Saturday.

PauletteK

PVM, you got so much hair, I’m so envy now. Did you do cold cap? You don’t get much red at all, how many sessions did you do?

Tlfrank wow you were redder no wonder you said it was so painful. How long did it turn brown and peel?

Thank you Down, yes the flowers called Angel Trumpet, they are blooming crazy now,

Ellyn I just put on Aquaphor on top as you suggested and I hope it helps.

Amy, it started a little itch last night, so I put cortisone cream on top of my cream. Now I’m doing three layers of cream and hope it calm down soon. How long does it take yours to calm down?

PVM

Paulette unfortunately everything happened so fast when i was diagnosed i did not get a chance to research into cold caps so i lost all my hair. My last chemo was in Aug so this is hair growth since then. Your will grow back fast too, the first few months was pretty slow but now it seems to be growing mind you i wish it were faster as i really miss my long hair. As for the red my bad spots of red are my breast & nipple & im sure my nipple will start to peel but my worst spot is under my arm. This is the spot that is the most tender & has started to peel. Its very dark & red. I am applying moisturizer on it as much as i can & letting it air dry. I had 21 sessions in all 16 regular & 5 boosts & the boosts did my under arm in as that is where my incision is. I know it will get worse before it gets better but at least no more rads woot woot woot

tlfrank

PauletteK - I peeled over the course of 3 weeks. Last dose was 12/13 - didn't start to feel normal until after the new year. I've been told that it'll take about 1 year or more till the SE from rads are not visible. Skin is still discolored, and breast is lumpy and pectoral muscle is tender. Thankfully 1 week in to Tamoxifen and so far so good.

PauletteK

Tlfrank, for a whole year for our breast will be tender, and we need to do mammogram soon. Sucks! I don’t worry about the discolored as long as the burning will go away. How long is your skin burning sensation go away? Did it take 3 weeks long?

PauletteK

PVM, you got lovely hair, I will be happy to have pixie style in a month or two. My underarm is fine right at this memont but thing might change in a day or two. Radiation burn doesn’t show up right away isn’t it? I’m doing my boost now, treatment only hit my underarm and breast cancer area. It would not hit my collarbone nor my nipple. For now nipple and collarbone are the most soars area. By next week thing might change. ☹️☹️☹️☹️

gigibee

yes the thought of a mammogram anytime soon just made me cringe ..

Rhyfelwr

Oh, Paulette. That is what my collarbone area looked like. I know it is painful. Keep the lotion on it. Aloe for a base layer. I also used lidocaine on my burned areas, because it just plain hurt. The good news is that it never got to where I couldn't stand it. And within a couple weeks, it turned around. Things really did seem to be on a two week cycle. So know that it WILL get better in a couple of weeks. For whatever, reason, the last place for me to have that kind of redness and irritation was on my shoulder blade. I would have thought the final trouble spot would have been where I had my final zaps, for my boosts. But no, it was my shoulder blade. Maybe because the cell damage had more distance to travel before it reached the surface there. Boost zaps are electron beams which stay much closer to the surface.

Some ladies burn. It isn't because you haven't done something you were supposed to. It just is the way God made you. Hang in there.

PauletteK

Rhyfelwr I’m using Miaderm with 4% lidocaine, I’m going to see my RO tomorrow maybe he has something better. I’m hoping this burn will go away in few days, wishful thinking. To be honesty the boost areas look okay now, hate to think about it will get worse in few day. I still have one more boost to do tomorrow. Arrrrgggg

tlfrank

PauletteK - Yes, my skin took about 3 weeks to finish peeling. It was so nice to be able to take a hot shower and move my arm freely.....LOL

lifechoices2017

GOOOOOD MORNING AND HAPPY MONDAY WARRIORS!

SOOOOO... how as everyones weekend?

Sorry to see/hear about the post on the zap SEs; totally sucks! Continue with your lotions and all because that will help greatly. Im praying foreach of you a quick healing! My skin is flaking now (like the dark rads are peeling away); no blisters or sores just restoring back to my natural skin. I saw someone post that it took a few weeks for this. Im believing that to be true because mine is slowly shedding... crazy how the body reacts but Im just trusting that this too is a POSITIVE sign on healing from the inside out. I'll see my Drs on next Wed so if im still 'shedding' they may give me something. RIght now Im just still using miaderm and aquaphor and that seems to be keeping the skin moist and intact.

Im still getting in my vitamins, green tea and protein so that too should aide in the healing process. I read online (and if its online it has to be true) that cranberries and walnuts and good cancer fighters; so Ive been snacking on those.

PauletteK; counting downnnnn!!!!!

Ellyn27

I find it so interesting how the RADs affect people so differently. I wonder if there are different doses of RADs. Maybe some of us get more, some less, depending on where the cancer was. Mine was very close to the skin so maybe I didn't get as much as someone where the cancer was further/deeper and that's why I didn't get as red. Just a thought.

Two weeks now on anastrazole and so far no SEs ...yea!!!

Have a great week everyone and remember: Cancer sucks and we're awesome!!!  

lifechoices2017

Im thinking its different doses; and of course our skin isnt all the same. Just as some are more easy to tan; others may burn. Im a 'brown' girl, so Im certainly not a 'tanner' lol... but I was glad that my skin held up during those zaps. It darkened some, but no real irritation. And then I guess the lotions that we use. My coworker always says that no lotion stays on her skin that she dries out so fast; whereas, I can lotion and my skin is moist throughout the day. I guess with this whole process theres really no one-set how to... its more so; the what ifs. Either way Im thankful for the 'healing' process; sorry about what we have to endure...but if its killing these cells...I'll take it! As you stated we ARE AWESOME! TOTALLY!!!!

tlfrank

Ellyn27 - great to hear no SE! I've been taking Tamoxifen for 1 week now and all I notice is some slight nausea, a feeling of being bloated and I'm very thirsty and drinking tons of water.

lifechoices2017

tlfrank; same here w/the tamox. 22days today and the only thing i feel are the hot flashes; which I was already having. I do feel like when I sit still for a while I feel stiff but as i start moving im good; no pain, just tight. lol... and yes, Im drinking water ALL DAY! already this morning Ive had 3 of my 8 glasses of water. I usually try to get in like 8 of the 8oz bottles; but some days its more AND i keep (2) in my car just in case im out and its meds time (6pm) I'll have a water available. Im 49; and I was in perimenopause (i guess); my cycle stopped early Nov; but I didn't start meds until Jan 1 so not sure if my 20 zaps Nov 29-Dec 27th had an affect on that... but either way, NO real SEs (thanking GOD)! I didnt feel any nausea with it...