APRIL Rads Anyone?

Hi Elaine,

The swelling is mild lymphedema from exchange surgery I had almost 3 weeks ago. 

~Bonnie

#3 down... I'm starting to feel like a pro.  Except I wish I didn't have to deal with gosh awful parking situation at the hospital. aghs.

Scarp-I'm in NJ... what is MMH?

Number 3 down!  I went at my new appt. time today (11 AM instead of 9 AM), it was much better not having to jump out of bed and rush out the door.  Cam usually sleeps till about 8, so I was actually having to wake the poor babe up so I could leave.  Skin does feel a tad icky....

It's funny, I don't even get embarrassed anymore.  I think having bc so soon after having a baby just kinda wiped any shred of modesty out completely!  Dr. Love can look at them as much as he wants..............ha!  He's very funny, too..........lethal mixture.

Lainey - he hasn't called me gorgeous.........but, I have gotten a wink or two out of him..........ha!  Gotta find pleasure in the little things!

Cat - the Radia-Guard is over the counter........no script needed.  It is supposed to protect and revitalize radiated skin.........we shall see.  The woman who recommended it said it really helped her.  She didn't have any recon. and didn't know if maybe that might have made her radiation easier?   I thought I would give it a try anyway..........

I am so ready to have hair.........even just a dark 5 o'clock shadow............ANYTHING.  I've got just enough that you can feel it when you rub my head, but I swear they look white when I take a gander at them in the mirror.  Geez, not one grey hair before all this......oh, well.  Maybe it's going to come in platinum blonde......

I'm having periods of feeling really tired, then I'll pep up a little.....just kinda comes and goes.  I do drink coffee almost all day.  It is my one remaining vice and all that keeps me upright sometimes.

I know I could eat healthier, but I tend to have to eat really fast because of "little man that can't be contained".  I'm on a pimento cheese kick (w/jalopino peppers) at the moment......

Hope everyone has a great day, it's beautiful here in southeastern TN.  I hope the sun is shining on all of you!

Shan

It has been 5 weeks since chemo and I am just starting rads, #2 today. I was sooo nauseous during chemo, no appetite, no sense of taste and sore mouth. Every week away from chemo I have felt better but the nausea persisted until this past weekend. It miraculously went away. I still don't have much of an appetite since I was so turned off by food while on chemo. I had a bowl of cereal for lunch. I still can't get psyched to eat a sandwich. I still have to cover my eyes when a food commercial comes onto the tv, however I have eaten a few normal meals.

I was so sick during chemo that I am hoping, optimistic, that rads will be easier. I am very fair so I am worried about the "burn" but maybe that won't be too bad.  I was worried about nausea by association going back into Dana F but I was fine. I went in with my Starbucks like this was old hat for me. Think I will get another caramel macchiato tonight too!

Hi Ladies!

Had #4 today. No pinkness yet, but I'm feeling a little sore already. Last nite I felt it when my daughter was sitting on my lap and pressing against my right side. I hope that's not a bad thing seeing that it's so early in the game.

Guess what ... I GET MY PORT OUT TUESDAY!   My onc. just told me this morning... I am overjoyed to say the least!

On the nausea thing... my med. onc. told me that we definitely can get nausea from rads, and that it will hit us at the end of the week.  He said that if we tell our rad onc. we're nauseas they will say "no no it's not from the rads".  And he told me to take one of my anti-nausea meds that I took on chemo... aghs... I sure hope I don't get THAT nauseaus!  But isn't it funny the different opinions from different doctor's?!

Elaine-Congrats on the unsolicited hair compliment.  I bet your hair is going to start coming in like wildfire!

Enjoy the day laides!

Lainey, even though the tube was almost full, I threw away the Biotene toothpaste just because it reminded me of cheno. Back to Crest!

Bonnie-is the swelling from lymphedema?

I just had #19 today. The tech said now is the time when skin issues start to show up, so far so good. I have had some swelling in my hand and am having it checked out Monday. I hope it is not lymphedema, but after posting on the lymph. thread, I'm scared that it might be.

Hope everybody has intact skin!

Hi everyone,

I had my rad simulation appointment this morning and it wasn't too bad.  First I saw the rad onc and she confirmed that I have mild lymphedema in my left hand and about halfway to the elbow in the same arm.  She is sending  me to a lymphedema specialist for therapy, and that should happen in the next week or so.  The technician that did my simulation was awesome and she was also very efficient.  First she showed me a short DVD about the whole process of radiation, then asked for questions, took my picture and then spent about half an hour getting me set up, drawing on me and doing the tatoos and CT scan. It was not nearly as bad as I expected, but my arms did get tired from being above my head for so long.  Next Wednesday will be my first radiation appt., so I'm barely squeaking into this April group!

The rad onc told me to get vitamin E oil and pure aloe vera at Trader Joe's and alternate using them to keep my skin moisturized. 

Take care.

~Bonnie

Thank You all so much for the welcome.  I had my first treatment today 29 to go, hope it doesn't take forever LOL sorry I hadn't been back on however has been a busy week for me, My daughter told me I was going to be a Grandma so I have been overwhelmed, but, will check in regularly from now on.

Deb

Number 4 down!  I was stuck there for awhile today, the "spaceship" was experiencing difficulties.  Got cornered in the waiting room by a guy wanting to carry on about politics and the end of the world (oh, if you didn't know it ladies, the signs are everywhere!)  GEEZ!!!  Then he very pointedly asked me what kind of cancer I had.  Okay, for one thing, the horses' ass wasn't even a patient.  He had brought his mother-in-law.  What the H?   Where are peoples manners, for heaven's sake?  I'm trying to think of a really odd/embarrassing body part that I could use if I ever get RUDELY asked like that again.  Any ideas?

The actual treatment was a breeze.  Got a glimpse of Dr. Love (I'll keep calling him that just for you Lainey ) as he was in and out seeing other patients........sighhhhhhhhh.

Susan - congrats on the port removal, I'd love to be rid of mine........I'll bring it up when I see my onc at end of rads.

Lainey - I'm thrilled for you and your sprouts!  Can't wait!

Busymom - I'm so glad the nausea is gone.  It's one of the things I dreaded the most, but I just got the the worst stomach cramps/diarrhea.  I would do commercials for Imodium.......ha, saved my ass (literally!)

Debbi -  Congratulations!  Babies, no matter what the circumstances, are life affirming little bundles of happiness.

Bonnie - My actual treatment after all the simulation seems like nothing.  Hopefully yours will be the same!

My mom came to stay with me tonight and sleep with the baby to give me some uninterrupted sleep.  Gotta just love that woman!  I'm off to relax and watch a movie.  Everyone have a great night!

Shan

Been a while since I posted. I have been reading them all and it took me quite a while. Had to laugh at quite a few of them....thanks, the laughter is appreciated!

Life is incredibly busy...just because you are dealing with breast cancer doesn't mean it stops. My daughter was invited to the junior prom (her first boyfriend), so we have been shopping for that..man the dress cost a fortune, not to mention shoes, jewelry, purse, shawl... lol  Tomorrow we're going to have her hair played with to find some way she can wear it, it's very curly and long and she's looking for something that is "up".

Had to take my son shopping, he is 13 and has grown out of all his summer clothes from last year. He had to have clothes for spring break and a trip to Fla with his Dad's family.

My mom is in a nursing home, got a urinary tract infection and was deathly ill and sent to the hospital. They gave her a bunch of fluids and an antibiotic, and she is back at the nursing home looking much better. She has dementia and can't communicate to anyone, so she can't tell you when anything is wrong. I know she is in there somewhere at times, and I freak thinking she is trapped in a body and can't say anything....a living hell...but I try not to think about that. My sister and I talk to her as if she can hear/understand everything.

My daughter was inducted into the honor society tonight, I am so proud of her.

She was selected to go to China in July with People to People, so we have been busy buying stuff for that, and doing all the paperwork, etc that has to get done. We'd started fundraising, but that all kind of got put on hold when I was diagnosed. But I still have to try to do something, the trip costs $6000. So I'll talk to her this weekend and see what we can come up with for our next project...haven't been too sucessful so far unfortunately. Any ideas ladies?

And of course I've picked my evenings to work on putting the hundreds of pictures I've had sitting here for ages into photo albums.

Yikes....

As to the rads, I am 10 down, and 20 more to go. I have just started to turn pink. My doc says she is a big believer in using the creams prior to the rads even start to help the skin. I've been using them before going to work, right after rads when I get home, and right before bed. So far, so good. The hard part for me is getting on/off the dang breast board as the way I lay down and get back up due to my injured back, and I end up sitting on the "hump" when I am getting back up...and it does not feel good! lol

I did finally solve my bra problem. Everything I own is underwire, and I couldn't imagine trying to do up a bra and slide it around if my skin gets sore, so I was looking for another option. I can't really go braless and wear any of my professional clothes to work. I tried a zip up the front sport bra, but the straps showed in my neckline due to the way they T in the back, and I found it digging into my underarm/side of boob area. Not comfy at all. So I found these light support camisoles at Macy's. They are by Maidenfrom, called Flexees. It has a built in area that the breast goes in, and there is some support. It should allow a little expansion if there is any swelling due to rads (my doc mentioned this?).

I am starting to get a little tired. I was pretty disoriented today and got off at the wrong exit for my rad appt. Luckily I could get right back on the highway and only had an exit to go. I ended up taking a catnap after my rads and waiting to see the doc (my weekly visit with her- and yes, she checks my boob to see how my skin is doing lol )

Hang in there ladies...we are woman!

4 down... a bunch more to go!  I"m pink already and it feels sunburnt. I'm using aloe and emu oil regularly...hoping to keep from getting too severe of burns, but I had horrid SEs from chemo, why would rads be any better?? Just hope I can keep on working through all of this.

Hi everyone!  Haven't posted in a while, but have been reading & am amazed at all everyone is able to do!  My job (contract position) ended just before I was diagnosed, but I've kind of had mixed feelings about that.  On the one hand, it's been good to not have to work and focus on healing during chemo & rads, but on the other hand, I think it would've been good for me to have something other than "the Big C" to focus my attention on (at least while the kiddos are at school!).  Hats WAY off to you all who are working &/or managing little kids/big families!!!  I have been so tired since starting rads that I don't know how I could be working right now.  I'd have to be napping several times a day on my desk (& drooling all over papers!!).  Asked my onc this week if the tiredness must be in my head since I'd heard rads-tiredness doesn't usually start until week 2 or so.  He said that just coming off of chemo can make the rads more tiring early on (esp. when someone has bad anemia like I did)...glad to hear I'm not TOTALLY mental!!!

Off to # 8 this morning -- hope everyone has a SE-free day!!

Mary

Good morning ladies,

It is a beautiful day here in PA. A nice day for a long walk through Valley Forge. I hope I have enough energy to do it after my #14 rads today.

My mini girl is just a little pink especially in the upper chest area although it doesn't hurt.

I wanted to pass along the great camisoles I bought. They are made by Esprit. They are sold in the lingerie section of a local store, Boscov's, but I would guess other stores carry them too.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Debbie

Hi Ladies!

One week down!

Elaine-4 weeks already... gosh that went fast!

Does anyone else feel warm overall?  I just feel hotter then usual, putting aside the hot flashes.  My face feels flushed and warm since after my 3rd treatment.

Weather is beautiful here, I didn't want to come into the office!  Unfortunately the darn allergies have kicked into high gear... do we really need pollen?!?!

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!