SEPTEMBER 2008 rads group

Oh, Kristy, does it never end?  All the best to you.

Makraz, one of the other quasi-virgin places for radiation burn concentration, I was told, is the collarbone, which forms part of your shoulder joint, so that could be why your shoulder hurts.  I had some pain in my collarbone & in my breastbone for a few weeks after rads which did go away.  All post-rad SE's I was told.

Oh, is everyone going to be done next week??  Do I have that right?  That will be GREAT!

Kathi

Hi Kristy,

I had a ca-125 test done yesterday - that will give me an idea of how quickly we need to move on it.  I hate the thought of having this hanging over my head after the holidays - but I really want to enjoy the holidays - my kids are 11 and 8.  I was feeling this I was at the end of a long journey, but now this has come up - I was really looking forward to being done!  Good luck with the test!  Every day brings a new adventure.

KAK,

I agree with the dry skin and hair.  Since I started Tamox about the same time as you, I can't blame that either.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I attended a Look Good Feel Better seminar.  They talked about dry skin from chemo and radiation and said we should be very proactive about moisturizing.    Hopefully it will go away in a few months.  Can't wait till the heat is on full time and that starts drying out my skin too!  Just keep moisturizing.

Lisa, sorry to hear about more surgery for you too.  I hope you and Kristy both do well.  It's nice to have  someone to talk to whose going through what you're going through. 

Makraz, did they say  at LGFB that the dry skin thing would calm down eventually, or do we just have to slather ourselves in moisturizer for the rest of our lives?  Oy...   Kathi

I looked into a LGFB program in my area - they are monthly at most of the hospitals.  I am going to try to get to one next Tuesday - sounds great!  I am sooo dry, have very little hair and lost my eyelashes a month after chemo!  Love the bartender!

Ohhh yeah, I'll take the bartender........Thanks Nancy!

Finally done, 50 zaps total, also got my Herceptin today.  Had plans to buy tires and do some shopping after but came home and napped on the couch instead.....maybe tomorrow I'll get some things done.  Barring any problems before hand I'll do scans in December to see how well the WBR worked.  Restarted the Tykerb today too, dropped it to 750 mg and split it up, 2 in the morning and 1 at night.  I'm hoping that if I can tolerate it at this level, maybe I can bump it back up to a full dose later.  It's going to be weird not leaving work every morning to go get zapped, I've been doing it since August!

vhqh, you go, girl!!!  I think you must have set some kind of record in this group for most total zaps!!

RE the "drying out" issue, a woman on another thread said she feels like she's being mummified, she's so dry.  LOL!

Chris, have tried Silvadene?  It's very cooling & soothing & kills germs.  Or you could just eat some of the fudge you are making & bliss out on chocolate.   Kathi

Hi guys, just back from my vacation in Costa Rica.  I gotta tell you it really did me a lot of good psychologically getting away and forgetting about all this for a while.  Lots of physical activity hiking up to volcanos, waterfalls and ziplines.  I almost forgot what I had just gone through with the surgery and radiation.  However, it looks like I might be developing a blister looking area in the boost zone.  It will be two weeks tomorrow that I got my last boost.  Anyone else have any skin issues that far out?  I started with the xeroform immediately after noticing it.

Congratulations vhqh, I'm jealous of your bartender.  You've been through a lot.  I'm glad this part is over for you!

and dancemom, congratulations  to you too.  I feel for you having had the same sore spots.  It's so uncomfortable.  Keep the neosporin & gauze going at all times, and you'll soon get some relief.

My appointment with oncologist is next Wednesday the 19th, so I'm expecting that's when he'll put me on the tamoxifin.

It's good to be back.  I missed y'all.

Nancy258, the geographical cure is the best, isn't it?  Yes, I still had serious redness & thought I might get a blister two weeks out in my armpit.  It did resolve pretty quickly with some TLC.  Good luck. 

Who's left?

Ace, I'm still tired, too.  Am just resigned to going to bed earlier & having a messy house.  Am also seeing my therapist for help adjusting to all this.  You gotta figure anything that can cause side effects up to two years after receiving it is pretty toxic, so it makes sense we'd be tired.

Hugs to all.  Kathi

HEY YOU GUYYYYYYYS!!!  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, once again!  I FINALLY got back into the village on 11/06, and got to vote!  It sure is good to be back, snow and all!  It's also good to be back at work, although my job will officially end on 12/11ish, because of the school budget, but it's all good!

Congrats on ALL who have finished!!! 

Well, my skin hasn't stopped itching, since I've been done with rads, and it's driving me semi-nuts!  Any suggestions on how to deal with that?

I hope y'all have a great rest of the week, and thanks again! 

Chris & Sharon - yeah on being done. I'm really amazed at how fast I healed.  Very, very red to start with and had some moist areas.  9 days later everything has peeled and I've just one area that is taking a little longer to heal.  The energy has certainly taken a noise dive.  Just trying to get a nap in when I can and get to bed early.  Would really like to get rid of the dark circles under my eyes.

The next step for me is see the oncologist tomorrow and onto tamoxifin.  

Sharon - what helped me with the itching was doing the saline soaks.  I did them 4 times a day to start and it did help.  I've also kept up the skin care and will continue that until everything looks back to normal. Glad your home. 

Thanks everyone, yep I finished yesterday.  I'm peeling and itchy, but feel so much better just knowing I don't have to go in for any more treatments.

I did take fudge into the techs - they even broke into the box before I got out of the treatment room.  Since I was the last appointment of the day I knew it would last until at least the next day, but they assured me it would be gone by morning.

NancyD thanks for the drinks - yep, ace, I'll split 'em with you.

Congrats Jane on being done too.

Today I had my appointment with the med onc - and got the go ahead to start Tamox right away - I've had it for a week and was just waiting for the go ahead, but now that I got it, I'm not sure how I will feel when I go to actually take it tonight. 

My onc appt this morning kinda replaced my radiation treatment, so tomorrow will be my celebration that I don't have to go to an appointment.  It's weird to say this, but I will be so excited to go right to work tomorrow and stay all day instead of having to leave early for an appointment!