MAY 2009 Rads

Cruise: Yeah the digestive system has had it by the 6th. I must say after this last one is the first time in my life I have had noooo appetite. I have had nausea and dreaded runs too. So I am now 12 days out and coming around. Still get tired quickly and very sensitive tounge.

I was thinking of not going all the way to City of Hope for my rads. I spoke to my sister and she thinks the level of care is sooo much better there than St. Josephs (which I did my internship at). I think I will meet with both of them. UGG more decisions.

Yippieee its Friday!!!

Morning Ladies...

Cute avatar....KT...obviously your son has a sense of humor.

BOLD and LisaLisa...your last one hit with the digestive thing too?  I had diahreaah with #1 and then constipation with #2 and #3 so this may be a go between.  I had some KFC mashed potatoes and gravy last night and it hit the spot...also some scrambled eggs with cheese my DH made for me this morning and so far so good....maybe a fluke with the TACOs and what was I thinking...beans in it...whew...let the wind blow...

I slept most of yesterday...the benedryl really kicked in...then couldn't sleep a wink all last night...so I will be napping today...ZZZzzzzz

Going in for my LASTA Neulast shot this morning....can't wait to begin Rads after my consultation with the local Rad center here in my HOME TOWN...so excited that I won't have to drive that dreadful highway 80 everyday....

Ladies...have a great start to a great weekend....KEEP POSTING!!!

Hugs..
Cindy

Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome.  We'll get through this together!

Kathy, that web site was very informative.  Thanks for passing along.

Bold, where on the Big Island do your parents live?  I live in Waimea.  Beautiful place.  I really love it here. 

Cruise4life, congraulations on finishing chemo!  It would be great to get together when I am in Sacramento for radiation.  I'll definitely PM you once I get there and am settled in.

I hope all of you are having a good day. 

Lisa:I could no more walk 2 miles and then do archery than the man in the moon. I have not the strength. I get short winded walking around the house. I think it may have to do with the age difference. I just turned 55 and you are a lot younger than I. I hope thats the reason. I know that I could have be in better shape when this whole mess started. That would of helped. So Cruise I am going on a plan myself. Eat less Move More. You site sounds great.

Aloha:My mom passed away last year. I still think of my parents living there not just my dad. Anyway Kailua Kona. Where you born there or moved there? Hope your weekend is wonderful.

Kathy: Very cool Avatar. I like your son he must have a great imagination.

I hate that we have to have radiation at all. I am glad we will have each other during this time. I think that just like chemo for me the anticipation is nerve racking and once I get started  I am fine.It just is so strange to me even being in the medical field that we use a cancer causing element to thwart cancer. It gives me a visceral reaction to the whole thing. I will stay positive. only 2 in every 1000 people have secondary cancer from radiation.

I am not going to think about it this weekend at all. Instead I am going to enjoy the sun and my DH and have a good time. Sorry about the fear but I think it is normal and part of the process of healing at least for me. Hope everyones weekend is great.

Pray for hair.

Rita

Hi Everybody, Just checking in for now.  My son and I both caught the flu/cold that's making the rounds here.  Hot flashes with fever was a little strange :P - - We're both on the mend and a lot better today.  Cruise, thanks for the wt. (waist!) loss thread, will check it out.  I bought a Samsun juicer and am loving it as a way for me to get more green into my diet.  My little boy loves that we can turn frozen organic blueberries into a blueberry sorbet of sorts - - tasty!  Cath

Hey all: Just wanted to say hope everyone is having a great weekend. I am going for echo on Monday. Yippie! I am sure it will be fine. Getting better everyday!

Peace

I am in Nebraska.  I had the sim (twice) as I switched radiologists.  I will have a 112 round trip drive daily to LIncoln.   I am scheduled for 33 treatments.    I am worried about the long term side affects.  

The secondary cancer is a sarcoma. It is rare 2 out of every 1000 people. It takes 5 years for it to show up. Lovely huh? But it will not happen to us. And remember that in five years they might even cure cancer. Hows that for some optimism.

Lisa:I am so happy for you on the garden. I work in mine all the time. I mostly grow flowers and herbs lately and some tomatoes. I love being in the garden and getting a piece of fresh basil and a fresh tom and just eating it like an apple. Yum. The echo is because I am on Herceptin and will be for a year. I finish in December. I am HER2 +++. It is a miracle drug for some people and I hope that it is for me too. It play havoc on the ejection factor of the heart so they keep an eye on it every 3 months. Mine was good to start and I will find out today if it has stayed that way.

Welcome Neblin and Deb: Can you get you insurance to let you stay a few days a week to lighten the driving up a bit? Yikes that a lot of driving everyday. I was complaining about a 30 min one way for me. I will be grateful now. As far as side effect are concerned. I think that the omnipresent problem is fatigue. I heard that it hits pretty strong after the 14th round. The scary part for me is that according to what I have read that it takes about 6 months to recuperate from. That and the chemo this is going to be a one foot in front of each other year. I hate taking anything slow but I guess that is another lesson that I must learn.

Well I am off. I hope that this is a great week for all with some wonderful surprise. WE DESERVE GOOD THINGS!

PrincessKauai59- Hi! Like your husband's idea! Picked up my aloe last week.Going to have preliminary Cat Scan Friday. Also 3d simulation. Will have last inflation of expanders Thursday. They are huge and now really uncomfortable!

Will be glad to get on with the radiation and get it over with. Has anyone had entire side of chest wall done? My rad onc keeps saying I will do fine but I'm concerned about fatigue and skin burns. 

Cruise4life- So happy to hear your chemo is done. A major challenge has been bested! 

LIsa: I got a Trek 7200.  Trek's are made in WI.  It's kind of old fashioned - high handlebars, big comfy seat...Its eggplant with a floral pattern on it -- they put a pink bottle holder on it --- seemed appropriate.   Can't wait to get out and log a few miles.    Did spend a couple hours in my gardens after work -- that is so rejuvenating!! 

Cruise: Hang in there -- everyday gets a little better -- esp with chemo in the rear view mirror!

I have my initial appt with my radiation oncologist tommorow. Don't really know what to expect, but am betting I will learn alot.  Will leave early and do some shopping before my 1PM appt. I travel 70 miles to Duluth MN.

Morning Ladies...

Bold... I sent you a PM.  My right eye has been twitching for days....hmmmmm.  another SE perhaps.

Deb...Congrats on the LAST CHEMO TREATMENT......YEAH!!!!!  and start planning on getting back into shape with WW....

Nurlaw...hopefully someone here can assist you with your question.

Welcome Ivorymom...this is a great group of gals....going through Rads together....chime in anytime.

Ok,  Lisa you got my vote!  Good Luck I hope you win....What a blast that would be....

Laura

Good Morning Ladies!

Lisa - - I've voted for you.  Good Luck!  What fun that would be for you and your kids!

Welcome Judy, I also had chemo starting last October 1st, with my last on 3/16/09, and have had a long break post-chemo.  I'll have my simulation on 5/6 and start six weeks of radiation therapy on 5/11/09.  It feels so good to be done with chemo and soon we'll all be done with Rads too!

I'm going back to work part-time starting Friday as long as they don't close my son's school due to the "swine" flu situation.  We both actually had the flu with fever last week but recovered quickly and were never tested for flu type...  Ciao Bellas