MAY 2009 Rads

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    Princess: My heart goes out to you. I am sorry that you have to deal with this. I just want you to be aggressive in getting the treatment that you need. Remember you are your own best advocate.Your sister rocks!!!!!!!

    I have only had 3 of 33 and I am already red and tender. Anyone else? I go for #4 today. Its a long and winding road...........

    Thanks for being here.

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  • Puppers
    Puppers Member Posts: 59
    edited June 2009

    Bold - I am so sorry you are already red and tender - I'm praying for you!  (((((Bold))))))

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited June 2009

    Hi Radettes....

    Chelev...WHAT???? They are Smokin Crack....the music will NOT interfere...they must be 80+ years old technicians....Bring in your own BOOM Box and play it loud...piss them off...LOL

    I had number 13 today while listening to some great smooth jazz tunes...Almost half way done....Still no SEs and of course crossing my fingers...the only side effect is the shopping at Target afterwards...geeze...I need to quit rewarding myself after every RAD.  LOL

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    Cruise: That is so funny! I must admit that I have gone there myself. Love the new neon tees and real fun jewelry. We Bad. I can not wait till this is over sister. Also got some cotton lace and Lycra bras by Hanes that just stretch on no wire. cool!

    My DH told me the I look Radiant. I told him he is Radiculous. I guess it is not so Radical. This could be a song on the Radio.Wink

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  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 655
    edited June 2009

    Well, today was #24 of 28 for me, so I'm almost done.  After today's treatment I was walking out toward the parking lot when I had a doozy of a dizzy spell.  I used the handrail to make my way back into the clinic where the nurses took my vitals and I saw the doctor.  Finally everyone agreed that the dizzyness must have been caused from too little food (I skipped lunch).  I felt much better after drinking a can of Boost and eating a couple of graham crackers and drinking lots of water while sitting in a wheelchair in the waiting area of the radiation clinic.  Talk about feeling silly!

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    Hello all,

    Cruise and Bold...way too funny...

    Bold...sorry to hear you're already red and tender...hope it doesn't get any worse...

    Texas...it was 18 of 33 for me as well today...yay...five of the 33 should also be boosts for me...hmmmn...I wonder when I would get the boosts...

    As far as SEs are concerned...I do have pain on the radiated area but it comes and goes...I also have neck pain yesterday and today but it also comes and goes...

    Take care everyone...

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    Bkokie...yikes...sorry to hear about your dizzy spell but glad that it was just caused by a skipped lunch and you're feeling better...take care...

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited June 2009

    Hi Radiators,

    I like all those Rad words.  Especially Radient.  A sense of humor is a good thing.  Bold sorry you're already red.  Hope that resolves soon.  Princess hope your arm gets better.  I was talked to today by the nurse about the edema.  He makes it sound pretty like it's difficult to detect who will get it. 

    So far so good.  Just a little tenderness.  Today was 5 of 33.  I'm sure the summer will go by fast and then I'll be done with treatment.  Yeah!

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

    There seems to be a lotion called miaderm.  Bold, see if your radiologist has it.  It was developed by rad onc for their patients, to prevent and cure redness and stop skin breakdown.  See if you can get some.  JUDY

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009

    Thanks Everyone oxo  :-D

    Today was treatment (what?  I've lost count?!) uh, #13 of 30, so approaching the 1/2 way point.  I'm doing pretty good with the aloe and lotion regimen for skin.  Arm was measured today by PT, swelling was much down today, so much so that she was unimpressed with appearance, but measurements bigger on that side still; I'll be fitted for a "garment" (better be black lace! [actually my family used to joke that I dress like I shop at Nuns-R-Us])  

    Pringles, I think a lot of us are finishing the end of June too, so you're not too far behind and we'll be here for you! 

    Love & Light, Cathlene

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  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 425
    edited June 2009

    Have been crazy busy - travel to rads and work and life -- guess that's all good.

    Lisa: so sorry for your loss.  I agree, cancer deaths are harder than ever to deal with.. esp when they are young.

    Barbie: Nothing better than greenhouse to lift the spirit.  I have stopped at several to and from rads.

    Princess: Hope your arm gets better.

    Cher07:  Sorry to hear about your residual SEs.  They will get better over time.

    Cruise: Zucchini already!   I only have half my garden planted  - good thing I am late this year - we're supposed to get frost tonight!   Sure would like to live somewhere where summer is more than 6 weeks long .. LOL!

    Judy: Congratulations on the recognition/article.  Now I understand what Facecrafter means...interesting work you do.

    Well, I have 12 to go - so far so good.  Have drivers the rest of this week.   I ran into an acquaintance from a neighboring community in the radiation oncology  waiting room - she just started - we hope to carpool if we can coordinate schedules. 

    My room has a Fall scene with a lake.  I have the music du jour .. we had a couple of days of bad 70s music -- not much good came out of that decade... LOL.    

    Take Care everyone....      .

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

    Good morning -  headed out for #19 this morning, another boost. The entire radiated area is now quite tan and I've got more of the rash this morning. Doc said it wasn't anything to worry about. The tightening around the tissue expander is tender in one spot but when I get busy I forget about that pain as well.

    All in all, still doing very well with radiation.

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

    Cindy, that is so funny!  Actually, the techs are really young - and I asked them if I could bring music, they said the hospital prefers no music.  They are such sticks in the mud!! 

    Had treatment #16 yesterday, and then the boost simulation, where they used the plastic template to mark me up with the sharpie to outline things, then brought the apparatus over and laser-beamed it to make sure everything was lined up.  Rad onc doc checked the measurements and said it's all good.  So, I will get the boosts at the end of the regular treatment, which there are 10 more, so around the 15th or 16th, the boosts will start, unless my skin gets too red.  Doc examined it after tx and said it is holding up fine, just turns real pink following treatment that calms down eventually.  Just to keep slathering the aloe.  I asked him about the tenderness under my arm that's devloped lately, and he examined that and said its not lympedema (thank goodness), but the nerve endings in my arm / lymph nodes coming back to life.  Also got results from last bloodwork - since I had issues with chemo, they are being very careful with me, hence the extra blood draws.  Everything is just about at pre-chemo levels, so that is good.  I guess my RBC was kind of low from the first bloodwork, and he wanted to make sure my body was recovering from that.  So, no bloodwork this week!  Small miracles.

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  • ddlatt
    ddlatt Member Posts: 448
    edited June 2009

    chelev - the techs where i have radiation are really young too. one of them is very chipper and perky and over-enthusiastic and makes me sick. "relax! hold onto the bars! awesome!" it annoys me so much that i finally asked her to stop talking to me, that i know the drill. thank god she isn't an oncology nurse. can you imagine? "hold still! there goes the needle! awesome!"

    today i have #12 of 35 tomotherapy radiation treatments. so far, no side effects. i can't even tell i've had radiation. fingers crossed for the rest of treament.

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

    meg - I have thought the SAME thing - hmmmm . . . I wonder how heavy this sucker is . . .hmmm, it would really stink if it fell on me . . . hmmm . . . please don't fall on me!

    ddlatt - mine are chipper too!  "how are we today?  Greaaaaat!  Okay, be right back!  See you tomorrow!!!"  As I trudge out of the room, ready to go home after a hard day at work and then that.

    I laughed out loud at your description of the onc nurse.  Geesh, we don't need them to be so happy! 

    I was almost home yesterday when they called on my cell - they forgot to tell me the doctor wanted to see me, and he's going on vacation, would I mind coming back in.  Whaaaa?  Of course, I turned around, headed back to the center, saw the doctor for like 2 seconds, and headed back home.  "You're such a sport!" they said.  Well, they begged me to come back, what I was I supposed to say, "No, I don't think I need to see the doctor today, it can wait 2 weeks."

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    Morningmy radical radiators!



    I go for #5 today. The redness has gone away. The tenderness is doable. It only really hurts when my cat walks on me in the morning. meouch!!!

    After rads I am going to my BS. She has opened a new medical center in Beverly Hills called Pink Lotus Medical Center. She has commisioned me to do the art for the center. It is a huge compliment and job. We are doing a walk-through today to pick images and size. This is the first time that I have seen her with my clothes on. She is due any day with TRIPLETS!!!!! Unbelievable. She is the Doctor for EXTRA the TV show. She has a lot of celebrity clients like, Milisa Ethridge, Sharyl Crow Christina Applegate and ME!!! Her skills as a sugeon are incredible. Anyway just a interesting tidbit. I love good news these days and I was thrilled to get the job.

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    Thanks Ivorymom. I am a photographer. I have a scented greeting card line with Marion Heath greeting card company.

    Hey spell check is missing. UH OH! is it missing for anyone else. Is this some kink of cruel joke? I need spell check! No smile icon either. WAAAAAAA?

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

    On the flip side, one of the nurses in my radiologist's office admitted to me yesterday that she hasn't had a mammogram in 5 years. Huh? She told me that there's no breast cancer in her family so she wasn't worried. I was floored.

    Congrats to you Bold! We'll want to see pictures of your designs. Does your doctor have a website?

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

    Texas.....even IF I hadn't had a mammogram in 5 years I wouldn't be brave enough to tell a BC patient about it.  That's just plain stupid on her part.  There wasn't any BC in my family either.....and I still got it.  I had that same attitude....but it sure sneaked up on me!!! 

    I'm still burned.....gotta go today for a regular treatment.  I called them and told them I was still burned.  They told me to come on in....and if it was too bad for a tx they would just start doing the markings and measurements for my boosts.  

    Congrats Bold....that's great news!!!  

    hugs and love to you all

    Genia

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    Good morning ladies,

    Congrats Bold! Good for you. It is also very interesting that your doctor is doctor to the stars.  Wow! LOL on meouch!

    Zap 19 for me today...nothing significant to report...did get a reddish/brown spot right below my collarbone...wow...rad goes that far...

    Take care y'all.

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    Ivorymom...I've also been thinking about tamoxifen and have checked out some of the posts on the tamox threads...it sounds scary...although my med onc has told me that of all treatments (surgery, chemo, rads, hormone therapy), tamox should be the easiest...I sure hope so...

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

    Ok ladies, I've been set up and all, tomorrow I go in for the first actual treatment, anything I should know, any hints, tips ideas, warnings, whatever? :)

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    good luck deb! should be a non-event...I personally did not start using aloe vera until the second week...but you seem to be very fair so I recommend using aloe vera early...take care...

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

    Deb....is there really a city in Ohio called Loveland?  lol.....I live in Ohio....and I'm sittin here wondering if that's a city.  Then again there are a lot of cities here that I've never heard of.

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

    I got all marked up for the boosts today.  Nothing much to report other than I have purple marks all over my (used to be) boob!!!

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    (fyi - i posted this on my jan chemo group board and cut/paste it here. i was going to shorten it but it may help someone here who is debating an ooph vs. hyst) 

    I'm back from the gyn oncologist and from rads #16.  Rads are getting tougher and I had to see the rad oncologist today.  My chest is getting very red and very itchy. I got a prescription for a hydrocortisone to help.....stronger than the OTC kind.

    My gyn onocolgist was AMAZING.  He was thorough too.  We met in his office first and went thru my medical history, family history and cancer history.  Then, he did a pap and then an ultrasound.  He also examined me at length....twice to double check.  ack!

    He says that I'm not completely in menopause.  I'm having hot flashes but not night sweats.  I'm drier than before but not "dry"....TMI, but I still have some mucous.

     Despite that, my endometrial lining is down to about 3.5 and that suggests menopause.  As well, no activity in my ovaries.  So....I'm kind of in between.....not all the way in menopause like I need to be.

    As I was on the table, I couldn't take notes.....but I told him that I needed a "sling" since having 2 kids.  I hate that I can't sneeze or run without peeing a tiny bit!  He said that my bladder HAS dropped ALOT.  He also said that other parts were dropping....but can't remember which ones!

    So....we went back and forth and decided that we REALLY need the estrogen out.  I'm going to go for the full hysterectomy.  I want to do this once and only once!

    So, I'll have a lap assisted vaginal ysterectomy and removal of tubes and ovaries.  And, I'll have a vaginal repair and mic urerthral sling.

    I had him write down all my "issues":

    SUI (I think that means the peeing part LOL!)

    cystocele

    rectocele

    uterine prolapse

    This will be about a 3 1/2 hour surgery and I'll need to stay in the hospital for one night.  Then, won't be able to do any lifting or exercising for some time.....but I can walk for exercise.  I'll be talking with his scheduler soon and will try to fit this in in July....after rads is over but before our vacation. 

    Are we having fun yet!?!?!?

    p.s. to those who asked.  I'm BRCA negative.  BUT, I want to get rid of my excess estrogen as my tumor was highly ER+.   Most geneticists/breast surgeons/oncologists HIGHLY reco an ooph or hyst for BRCA+ patients.

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    Bold - VERY exciting on the art!  congratulations!

    i'll have to go check it out when it's all up!!!!!  you celebrity you!!!

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

    Yes Genia, there really is a Loveland, Ohio.......LOL.......actually that's my mailing address, I'm really in Goshen.  We're about 30 miles SE of Cincinnati, down in the SW part of Ohio in the corner....Lovelands post office gets bombarded every Valentines day too with envelopes to be postmarked from there.........

    Deb

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

    Deb....then you aren't far from me!  I'm in the SE part of Ohio....near Portsmouth. 

    I dated a man who lived in Cincy....and was there about every other weekend.   I can't remember now which part of Cincinnati he lived in tho....been a few years ago.

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

    We;re about 2 hours away I guess....LOL, everyone asks about the Loveland...It's funny...it's always been there so it doesn't sound special to me...and I guess you did only visit every other weekend, that would be a trip... :)

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