MAY 2009 Rads

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited May 2009

    Dear Lisa,

    I'm so sorry about your cousin. My prayers and deepest sympathy to you and your family.

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  • seagan
    seagan Member Posts: 166
    edited May 2009

    Oh Lisa, that is sad news indeed.  Losing a cousin at any time is hard, but if you're like me right now, you don't have your usual "shock absorbers" there to help cushion emotional blows. 

    May you find time and space to grieve this loss, even as you continue to heal yourself physically, too.  And remember that grief is exhausting, so you may feel even more tired and wore out than you would otherwise.  I wish you lots of rest and tender care!

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited May 2009

    Oh Lisa.  I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin.  Seegan is right, you don't have the extra enery needed to cushion the grief.  Rest and relax, and heal yourself. JUDY

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  • Genia
    Genia Member Posts: 1,335
    edited May 2009

    Sorry to hear about you cousin Lisa.   My condolences to your family!

    hugssssss sweetie

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  • Deb-from-Ohio
    Deb-from-Ohio Member Posts: 1,140
    edited May 2009

    Lisa, Sorry about your cousin, your family has my symapthies and prayers....It's hard but your cousin will always be in your heart, right where they were to start with.

    Hugs and love

    Deb

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited May 2009

    Oh lisa, my heart goes out to you and your family. This disease just sucks!!!! It hits us all close to home. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think I have a 20% chance of not making it for 5 years. I turn it around of course to 80% Cancer of living 5 years. Can you even imagine how hard it must be to know that you have 6 months. Its to much. God bless you Lisa.

    ITS FRIDAY!!!!!!!! Have a Radiculously wonderful weekendCool

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited May 2009

    lisalisa...so sorry to hear of your loss...prayers to you and your families.

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited May 2009

    Morning Ladies...

    Had #11 this morning and that means I am ONE THIRD done...NO SE's and nothing to report. Still haven't used any creams or topicals...only sunscreen when I go out in the pool.

    Good news...I asked my technicians about turning heads to avoid rads in other areas and they said that the rads are so isolated in specific areas that there is no need or worry about them "scattering" or going elsewhere except where they target the rad therapy.

    Have a great weekend free of rads until Monday......

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited May 2009

    Hi everyone,

    thanks so much for all the messages.  after a night's sleep, i'm feeling better.  i was so sad/depressed/angry yesterday.  i wanted to go see my cousin before she passed away, but with my own treatment, i wasn't able to (she lives in northern cal and I live in southern cal).  For now, I'll put my energy towards making sure her husband is ok.

    I knew my "cancer friends" would get it.  Somehow, if she had died of something besides cancer, it would be easier.

    Off to rad #12.   Have a nice weekend all! 

    Lisa

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  • lynninpa
    lynninpa Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2009

    Hi Lisa, I am so sorry to hear about your cousin.  Hugs to you, your family, and her family. 

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited May 2009

    Hi all,

    16 of 33 for me today...almost half way done...getting a lot more red/brown spots on tx area...and a little more tightness in the armpit area...as far as fatigue is concerned, not really sure if from rads or just being up too many hours everyday...

    this week, i only got three rads because of the holiday and the machine being down yesterday...rad tech mentions rad onco may want to do treatment tomorrow as he likes to do at least 4 rads per week...i thought i read somewhere one or two days off should be fine...anybody else done only three rads per week?

     have a great weekend everyone...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2009

    Hi, everyone.  Lucky #13 today, out of 26, plus however many boosts.  Was marked up and measured for the boosts - lots of nice sharpie outlining my lumpectomy scar.  Most of it came off.  The rad onc came in after they put this squarish apparatus over the area that gives the beam and then he made a bunch of dots all around my scar area.  then the technicians brought a clear piece of plastic film in, and they connected the dots on my skin, making the circle, and then traced it on the plastic.  They will use that as the template each time I get a boost, they said they only have to make little dots each time.  Fun!  So, most of it came off with alcohol wipes, and I guess the rest will eventually come off. 

    No se's to speak of, except the usual tenderness.  Been having a lot of shooting pains around the scar area, I guess those nerve endings are coming back to life. 

    Cindy - hope your anniversary was great.

    Lisa - glad you are doing okay.

    Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited May 2009

    Lisa,  I'm so sorry to hear about your loved one.  I had a classmate die of brain cancer  a few weeks ago.  It feels very strange when someone we know dies of cancer right now.  It must be unbearable when it is someone you are close to and truly love.  I'll keep you in my prayers.  Be kind to yourself.

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited May 2009

    Texas--Good to know you are almost halfway thru and don't feel extreme tightening.???  Is the fatigue kicking in?  That is why I hope to have a driver most of the time.

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  • nurlaw
    nurlaw Member Posts: 36
    edited May 2009

    Lisa- I'm so sorry. I lost my beauttiful 42 year old niece to lung cancer recently and my son-in-law died suddenly on the treadmill.I know your pain of loss. You're in my thoughts.

    To All:

    Today was #14 of 25. Using Biafine 3 times a day and getting amofostine shots 2 times a week.So far so good.Except I've had 4 moles pop up. Am told they were there and simply showed up sooner than otherwise due to rads. No burning yet. TTE's seem to be holding up although hard as a rock since PS overfilled them to make sure I have enough skin for implants after 3 to 4 months. Have had some hoarseness , never thought to ask if related to rads. Will do so when see doc Monday.

    I was never tattooed. But marked up with Sharpies! I'm getting treatment in 3 different areas.

    My energy has been good so far. I'm doing treadmill and lower body weights 3 times a week and water aerobics 3 times a week to try and stave off the fatigue. The only time I'm tired is on the 2 days I get the amofostine shots. They wipe me out. Then next day I'm good to go again. This is all a morass of stuff isn't it?

    Bold- take heart. My hair started growing back on about  the 35th day after chemo was over. It is about 1 inch long now. But then of all things my eyebrows and eyelashes fell out in a day or two after my head hair was coming back in! My PS prescribed Latisse for eyelashes. After using it for 2 weeks my eyelashes and eyebrows are all back and fuller than ever!  

    Have a great weekend all!

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  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2009

    Lisa,

    I'm so very sorry for your loss. 

    Bonnie

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited May 2009

    Nurlaw: Hi. I have read that hoarseness is a SE. Defiantly ask. So that mens in about three days my hair will grow!!!!!! Oh boy hope I follow suit.What is amofostine? I will goggle it.

    Hope everyone has a great weekend.

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited May 2009

    Oh nurlaw is the water you do aerobics in chlorinated. I am so jealous I am not allowed to swim while in Radiation. WTH

    I looked up amofostine. Interesting how it is used to protect the throat, esophagus and salivary glands. Very interesting!!!!

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  • CHER07
    CHER07 Member Posts: 16
    edited May 2009

    Hey All:

    Checking in here after my 9th rad tx. I am a little over 4 weeks out of chemo, but still having lots of residue se torturing me. Tingling & sensitive  nerves on the bottoms of my feet & arthritic feeling in both hands. Absolute no appetite & nausea all day/ tried several meds with no success. TIRED... tired tired.. but cant seem to nap during the day. Feel sore bone wise all over like the flu. Wake up with a dull headache everymorning .

    Note to BOLD; My cancer recurrence is in my superclavicle lymph node as well on the chest wall near the sternum, so i am having a large area zapped. I worry about the thyroid also.

    Will make a point to discuss with rad Doc on Friday.

    Hope everyone has a nice relaxing weekend/ free of rad s for 2 days.

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited May 2009

    Hey everyone,

    9 down, and the drive didn't even seem long today, I must be getting used to it. Suddenly this treatment is going to get very expensive, I stayed on the highway today and got off a few exits down from where I usually do, low and behold I was driving right by my favorite garden center!  Filled the car to capacity with flowers and drove the rest of the way home as happy as could be. I'm going to spend the day planting pretty flowers and pulling ugly weeds. I envy those of you who live in places that have a long growing season. Just when my gardens start to look really good the frost is always around the corner. 

    Cher07 You make sure to rest and rest some more. Eating well and resting will help your body heal. I'm so sorry that you have to go through this again. I can't imagine....

    They mentioned again at treatment yesterday to make sure I hydrate myself. Drink, drink, drink. Will the martini I'm planning on having this evening count?

    I have given up on hair. I'm sick of thinking about it and watching it in my 10x mirror! Lashes and brows seem to be coming in but as with the hair on my head it's all "clear" which means that unless I put mascara on you can't see anything.  I'm putting on the mascara and not thinking of it again for the rest of the day. I have been feeling like a watched pot, and I'm done now. One of these days it will all be back the way it was, I'm just sick of thinking about it!

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited May 2009

    Barbiedahl: you need some beauty in your life -- and if pretty flowers do it, then pamper yourself! :)

    I check for eyelashes several times a day, LOL. My hair is growing slowly but steadily. Just no lashes or brows -- and that's what I think really makes me look like a cancer patient instead of a survivor.

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited May 2009

    Happy Saturday Morning Ladies....

    Cher07...so sorry you are having a heck of a time getting over chemo SEs...they can be a beeotch.  I started walking and that seemed to help me get some energy back and also stimulate my numbing feet (lost my toenails) and now they are growing back.  YEAH...

    I have some eyelashes in now...they seem to be faster than the 'duck fuzzies" on my head. I am considering going in for tattoo'd eyebrows...they were thin to begin with.   I guess we just can't worry about the head hair at this point...and you know it feels kind of good when its 90 degrees and you can be free on top....Kiss I notice that I sweat on my head quite a bit....LOL

    Barbie...flowers bring such pleasure don't they?  And now I know how you will get to our challenge ...by gardening...LOL  Among the flowers I have several tomatoes and zucchini showing up in my garden...can't wait to harvest.  Remember we start on Monday...LOL

    Nurlaw..can you only get Latisse through a prescription?  Is it topical or oral?

    Have a super weekend ladies....

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited May 2009

    Latisse has in it an ingredient that is a type of glaucoma medicine, that has a side effect of growing longer, darker, thicker eyelashes.  Instead of the product being dropped in your eye (like the medicine) it is in a much more diluted form and is used on a little brush the goes on like eyeliner, at the base of your upper lashes.  It is a safe, FDA tested product available by prescription only.  It normally sells for $150 for what they say is a one- month supply.

    JUDY

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited May 2009

    Hi Everyone, I had #11 of 30 yesterday and had to alert my doc about swelling in my mastectomy side, hand, wrist, and full arm.  Forarm was v. tight and painful.  They sent me to PT right away to get wrapped yesterday and swelling was down a bit by last night. The wt. from the swelling was about 2lbs and it was painful.  Had the wrap on it for about 3 hrs today, but am taking a break now.  I was hoping not to get lymphedema and am dissapointed about this development.  best, c

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited May 2009

    Oh, so sorry PrincessKauai.  That sounds painful as well as disappointing.  Hope the wrap helps greatly.

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited May 2009

    Thank you jrgolomb, so much.

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited May 2009

    Princess...sorry to hear that...hope both the pain and swelling go away...take care...

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited May 2009

    Hi Princess, I'm so sorry to hear about your lymphedema. It must be so painful! Are they doing any massage or is it too early??? I know a great gal who's specialized in lymphatic massage, and I think she works through a hospital. I'd be happy to ask her if there is anything else you might do?? Again, the fun from BC never ends!

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  • Genia
    Genia Member Posts: 1,335
    edited May 2009

    Hi Princess.....sure hope your arm is doin better today.  That has been one big fear I've had since starting radiation. 

    My skin has started breaking down.  As of right now I have a very raw place at the base of my neck on my collarbone.  Bothered me so much I couldn't sleep last night.  There are other places on my chest that feel like they are following close behind this one.  I see the Dr. tomorrow....I'm sure she will give me something to make it feel better.  I still have 15 or so left to do......hopefully it won't get any worse than this!

    hugs and hope you all have a beautiful day

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited May 2009

    Princess, hang in there. Yesterday was my first day wearing a lymphedema sleeve and glove. By night, the swelling was down considerably. I was told by the PE that LE is permanent, and I'll have to wear the sleeve every day for the rest of my life. But I've heard from several other women here who say they've overcome it.

    Mine isn't from radiation but from the water weight gain that I had right after finishing chemo, presumably from the steroids. I begged my oncologist for a prescription strength diuretic but he "wasn't worried".

    Thankfully mine is not too bad. I figure I'll stay on top of it during radiation by wearing my sleeve constantly, then try to wean myself off it over the months afterward.  I may not be successful but I'm not willing to give up on the idea yet.

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