MAY 2009 Rads

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

    Lisa--your hair looks marvelous.  Nice color and a lot of it!! 

    Off to # 18. 

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  • juli0212
    juli0212 Member Posts: 1,415
    edited June 2009

    Hair looks fantastic!!

    My hair came in MUCH grayer than before, and VERY curly and soft!!!!   LOVED being bald though, have to admit...nothing to 'bother' with (as I hate doing hair anyway...tomboy!)...but when it grew in so soft and curly, I have had it colored, as I just turned 50...don't want that gray hair!

    Enjoy the hair when it grows back, took me awhile after last rads (2/07) before the hair grew in fully....now it's back to almost straight, bit wavy still, all I have to do is 'scrunch' after shampooing/conditioning!   The things that happen for the GOOD we need to concentrate on, I'd guess.

    As far as rads...it has affected the right side ribs NOW, 2 years later...those ribs are sore to the touch...I used the aloe gel every day, so did not peel, nor get red/sunburned.  THAT aloe gel is a lifesaver...use it ALOT!!!!   It really works, but one MUST use alot of it...all the time!  (goes on gooey, but absorbs rather quickly)...now just having 'stomach anxiety' issues...and see my onco every 2-3 months still....my tumor was against the chest wall, not palpable (and ONLY found on routine mammogram, DON'T ever go without your mammos, girls, if I had skipped that year, it'd have gone thru to my lungs)...so I have 0% prognosis right now...but I don't think of that...I stay positive, had Gemzar during my chemo treatments to help prevent recurrences, hope it works!

    ALL MY BEST to you all....juli

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  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 387
    edited June 2009

    Hi Ladies,

    I've been reading along with this group since I started rads on May 20.  I'm finding that I am looking forward to finishing treatment (last boost on July 6), but also a little fearful of what's ahead.  Is anyone else feeling that way?  I know that I will be watched and followed by my team of doctors, but I can't shake the fear that the cancer will recur.

    Other than that, I have an itchy rash on my chest and my breast is a little tender, but that's about it.  Radiation seems much easier than chemo, but still no walk in the park...

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    Carlinachick I think that you just have to believe that you are going to be OK. Your stage 1 for crying out loud! You have an excellent chance of living cancer free. I know that we will never be the same and we need to quite the tyranny of the mind. Be happy and grateful they say that gratefulness is the key to happiness.

    Sorry I started drinking champagne this morning for Kathy. Foot in mouthHIC! Looks like I will need a case for the rest of the month and July too. I will be in rehab in AugustInnocent. Just kidding! just encase someone thinks I serious. Chances are slim.

    Tomorrow I will be half way through. (More champagne) My nip is sore. Funny thing its so sensitive that it gave me erotic dreams last night. I think my mojo is on the way back. Wish my hair would come along for the ride.

    I have to go my housekeeper comes today so I have to clean the house before she gets here!

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

    A toast to kathy.  Notice Bold, it didn't take me very long to join the toast. 

     Lol about cleaning the house for the house cleaner. 

    Miscounted my tx #s, so I am at only 17 today.  RATS!  more than halfway done---Must be that TOAST to Kathy!!!!  Waaaahooooooo all done .  Have fun on your island.

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009

    Clink, clink, Toast to Kathy! I googled your island - - very nice!

    Bold, LOL, I'm off chemo since March 16th and my mojo is just saying hello again too (but shyly from across the room...) 

    Last full tx bolus today (uck); then on to five boosts.  

    jrgolomb, I've had miscounting days too - - the second half goes pretty fast!

    Lisalisa - - I finished chemo a month before you and don't have that much hair! Scalp city here.  Your hair looks great with the color and coverage!! (your wedding photos are gorgeous too)

    CarolinaChick - - hear ya!  I found a support group called living with uncertainty that I'm going to check out here in town.  It's run by a therapist who also is a bc survivor.  That said, we're very lucky to live in this time of aggressive/advanced treatments for bc and even with my stage IIIa dx, my oncologist considers me "curable" (her word...)   The tx have been tough, but we're doing what we need to do.  I finish Rads almost ten months to the day after mastectomy; a long haul.

     Cool

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009

    p.s., Texas, my dad used to sing that Continental Soldier song to me - - it's forever changed after your post...

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited June 2009

    Hi May Radettes...

    Progress....I got measured today for my 5 boosts.  They marked with a sharpie a 2 inch circle around where the tumor was and where my nipple use to be and then made a template.  They did this instead of having to tatoo me...the doc came in and said that I will be able to leave my bandages on since the boosts only go directly within the circle...I have 3 more regular rads and then my last 5 boosts which will start next Wednesday.  ALMOST party time...

    Texas...YES...thats the finish...I couldn't remember the finish of the BOOB song...thanks...(must have been all the chemo and rads in my brain)

    barbie...the only whine we want to hear.... is the popping of the real WINE cork to celebrate our being DONE DONE DONE.....

    COUNTDOWN>>>>>>> 

    I have added those who I missed earlier and those who popped in recently...

    Here is the updated countdown list....

    kt57 - June 18th ....FINISHED TODAY....Champagne toast...Clink!!! Clink!!!  WINE POP!!!

    • Seagan - June 22nd
    • Texas357 - June 23rd
    • margo1 - June 24th
    • americanpinay - June 24th
    • Ivorymom - June 25th
    • Princesskaui59 - June 25th
    • chelev - June 26th
    • lisalisa - June 29th
    • Cruise4Life - June 30th
    • Genia - June 30th
    • barbiedahl - July 2nd
    • Facecrafter - July 3rd
    • LynnVA - July 3rd
    • ddlatt - July 6th
    • carolinachick - July 6th
    • ajlive - July 7th 
    • Pringles - July 9th
    • debonthelake - July 10th
    • jrgolomb - July 13th
    • Bold - July 15th
    • Deb-Ohio - July 20th
    • Snappygoddess - July 30th
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2009

    Hi, all.  Going for first boost today.  Kind of funny, I am now breaking out into a little itchy rash on the top half of my chest / boobage area.  I'm glad it waited until I was done.  Fatigue much better today, don't feel like I am crashing as bad.

    I'm hoping my mojo comes back - we were dealing with postmenopausal mojo issues before my dx, which is why I was on hormones, and had GREAT mojo the 2 years I was on it.  Ironic.  Right now, my DH is kind of afraid of hurting me, with the still sort port site and the tender boob.  I think as I feel better, it will hopefully not be so woeful.

    Carolinachick - I share your feelings of the unknown.  I know my surgery was successful in getting rid of tumor, clean margins, etc. and with the treatments being agressive, we're living in the land of hope - and I am trying to rid any negative "what ifs" from my thoughts and only think the good ones - that all of this has been enough to make sure I'm healthy and cancer free.  I think it goes with our territory - survivor girls - tough chicks!!

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    Hello ladies...

    Congratulations Kathy...enjoy Madeline Island...

    Lisalisa...fabulous hair Cool...great color...I finished Taxol the end of March and my hair is definitely way shorter than yours...

    Bold...LOL on case of champagne, house cleaning before the cleaner arrives, mojo...wondering if you also tried comedy during your auditioning days...Smile

    Chelev...thanks for the Dove dark chocolate tipWink...hope the fatigue doesn't get worse...

    Cruise...my end date moves one more day...boost module still not working...aacckkk...

    Today...again...I only got half of the boost treatment...the one to the back...saw rad onco for the weekly meeting and told him that I have some back pain (mostly mild but sometimes feels like flaring up) but on the untreated side towards middle and numbness on the treated side...he said he doesn't know why there's pain on the untreated side and numbness on the treated side is from surgery...really...nothing is attributable to rads...okaayyy....

    Texas...are you doing boosts now? do they use cones? if you don't mind me asking...thanks...

    Take care ladies...

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    Sorry...I missed some of the earlier posts...

    Seagan...good luck with the flu...hopefully, it's not the H1N1...however, my med student cousin told me that it's probably better to get it now than later when it has mutated further?...anyway, I hope you and your child don't get it period...

    Bkokie...good luck with the MRI...

    Eewww...the unknown...I am with Carolinachick and Chelev on this...except for the nasty lump, I was asymptomatic when diagnosed...so, I get really scared...what else could I be harboring???...BUT...c'iest la vie...

    Cheers!

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited June 2009

    CruiseThat's right I had the wrong whine this morning! I knew I should have started the day with Champagne, Bold you had the right idea. It might have made my drive a little harder, but I wouldn't have noticed.

    Carolinachick Just remember we never know what's ahead of us. I was blissfully happy living my life when I found a little lump, my mammogram two months before had seen nothing. I plan on continuing to be happy.Yes, we all know the last few months haven't been very fun or easy but we've made it through. I sort of feel like I can do anything because I never imagined that I could make it through all that treatment. Even the radiation loomed before me, but now it's 2/3's done and soon my over association with doctors is going to end. We can't live in fear we have to live in love, faith and hope.

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited June 2009

    Lisa  I like the hair.  I'll be glad when mine gets that long.  It's coming slowly but surely . Like the rest of you complain much too gray.

    kt57  Yeah!  Cheers!  Enjoy your island retreat and may you have many more adventures to add to a rich and full life.

    I try not to worry about the future.  I'll do what I can health wise.  But, I do think the up side of the uncertainty is to live life the way we want to now.  If there is something you want to celebrate, celebrate.  If you live a long life it will just be one more great memory to add to a rich and full life.

    I lift my glass to living as well as we can for as long as we can. 

    Have fun and hang in there sisters we can do this.

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited June 2009

     Hello everyone!  #21 today and boy did I turn redFrown.  Don't know if its from the 90+ degrees here today or the rads.  Lots of aloe on tonite.  Hope it fades by morning.

    kt57: Cheers.....  Celebrate and enjoy your trip.

    lisalisa:  Your hair looks great.

    Hope all is doing well.  Tomorrows Friday!Smile  Look how many will be finishing next week!

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  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited June 2009

    How is everyone getting along?

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  • margo1
    margo1 Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2009

    Bold-I know all about the PRE-CLEAN before the housekeeper-and I REALLY have to PRE-CLEAN because my because the housekeepers are my mother-in-law & her sister!  I would rather give them the money and they LOVE, just LOVE to clean!! They make it an art form, using all sorts of strokes & brushes.  They think it's relaxing.  I did not let them come for the last month because of my frequent impromptu naps & was told about how DUSTY the house was- -sigh--.

    Jess-It's a Stoli & Cranberry Night. We'll definately have a blast when you come to PA!!

    KT57-CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

    Margo--hilarious.  That sounds like the beginning of a sitcom-your MIL and sister in law cleaning your house;  they do it because they love it, it's an art form and it relaxes them.  My MIL would whisk away my glass when it was finished before the ice had a chance to clink and then she would rub underneath the coaster.  I could check my lipstick in her polished wood.  I guess I have to admit she always looked at peace when she was done.  I think your MIL and my MIL are related!!!  Too funny. 

    I bet I am not the only one who is quite glad tomorrow is Friday.  That means those of us who are still on the road to zappiness will have two days off.  Yes!!

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

    Americanplay: I'm finished with my boosts, and back to the regular treatments. I guess you could call the contraption a cone: it was a metal cylindar of some kind.

    I'm officially BLISTERED. And I hurt like the dickens. I'm popping Advil as much because it's an anti-inflammatory as for the pain. I am very thankful that I've got a weekend coming up before my last 2 treatments.

    Hair? Lisa, you have much more than me. I was considering a big reveal at the end of rads. But now I'm leaning towards holding off at least another month. Or shall I say, for at least another inch?

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

    Did first two boosts (just came from getting mine early today, equipment upgrades or some such stuff), and they are easy peasy, once they get setup.  Luckily, I was the last one yesterday afternoon and the first one this morning, so it was super fast.  Have these beautiful little sharpie dots outlining my scar area . . . and thanks to the aquafor last night, dotting my nightgown, my bra (I plan on wearing the same bra every day until I am done next Friday and tossing it) and looking like my own little billboard. 

    Fatigue is much better, don't really have it today (yet .. still sippin' my venti Starbucks, so we'll see when that wears off), but the nurse told me it comes and goes in waves.  I told her I would be happy to wave it goodbye forever.  Rads rash is same - itchy but not really too bad - trying to get it healed.  Tenderness is still, well, tender and throbbing a little this morning.  Trying to work around it and not let it bother me too much. 

    Otherwise, done for the week and ready for a 2 day break - then on to the finish line.

    Hope everyone is feeling okay!  Have a wonderful day, radettes - and TGIF!!!

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  • ddlatt
    ddlatt Member Posts: 448
    edited June 2009

    barbie--"over association with doctors" made me laugh! that's exactly how i feel. it will be so nice to wake up in the mornings and have my full days ahead of me, a schedule which does not include anything about doctors or medical offices! today i will have #24 of 35. soon i'll start the first of 8 boosts. my skin is red and itchy. the skin issues i had last week (bumps and scabs) seem to have resolved themselves, maybe because for a week i didn't use any lotion because i wanted to dry out my skin so the problem areas would heal. 

    i'm so used to going to the hospital for rads now, last weekend i was going to go shopping and ended up at the hospital--automatically took the turn there and kept going without thinking. 

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    Good Morning! I am hung over from our party yesterday. Foot in mouth

      Today I am officially 1/2 through!!!!! No big deal for all of you almost done.  Skin is still great but internally super sore. But hey bring it on so it will go away!!!!

    My MIL lives out of state soooo. But my sister bought me the maid service for Christmas.(After DX) The best gift ever. I only have a few left. Sure am going to miss it.

    FRIDAY!!!! Time to Party!!!

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

    Meg - you will finish one day before me!  Isn't the sharpie circle cute?  I tried to get it to wash off - wasn't budging - maybe they used permanent on me.  Surprised

    My daughter helped me clean the house during the chemo period - but now that I'm on rads and able to move around pretty much by myself, I'm doing the cleaning - albeit taking all day on Saturdays, but it's okay!  I would clean before she got there too - and she'd yell at me for doing the work she was supposed to do.

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009

    Texas, Are you blistered in the boost area??   I have my first boost today and am a little worried.  So far my mastectomy scar (area over my TE) has done pretty well, so I'm hoping it'll stay that way.  My underarm has second or third degree burn, v. painful...  but, no more underarm rads, phew!!!

    I'm heading up to Sea Ranch for the weekend with my husband, son, and sister and nephew & his girlfriend and their new puppy, "Boots" - - a cutie. 

    TGIF!  Cool

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited June 2009

    Had # 26 today...the sores are healing..and nurse said to keep them moist as that is what heals them...go figure I was trying to dry the damn blisters and it wasn't helping.   She also will order some pads that are made out of water to place on top of the blisters will get those on Monday....suppose to heal faster.  Good thing I have only 2 more regular hits to go and then 5 boosts to the circle area.

    Put up a new picture that I took today showing my gray hairs....not as lucky as lisalisa...my gosh you sure got the Hair fairy working for you...I am 2 months out of chemo and still no brow or eyelash recovery.  My DH wants me to keep shaving my head...huh?

    Here is the updated countdown list....

    kt57 - June 18th ....FINISHED

    • Seagan - June 22nd
    • Texas357 - June 23rd
    • margo1 - June 24th
    • americanpinay - June 25th
    • Ivorymom - June 25th
    • Princesskaui59 - June 25th
    • chelev - June 26th
    • lisalisa - June 29th
    • Cruise4Life - June 30th
    • Genia - June 30th
    • barbiedahl - July 2nd
    • Facecrafter - July 3rd
    • LynnVA - July 3rd
    • ddlatt - July 6th
    • carolinachick - July 6th
    • ajlive - July 7th 
    • Pringles - July 9th
    • debonthelake - July 10th
    • jrgolomb - July 13th
    • Bold - July 15th
    • Deb-Ohio - July 20th
    • Snappygoddess - July 30th

    Have a great ...RAD FREE WEEKEND.....

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    Happy Friday ladies...

    Got my first full boost TX today...yeah...who knew I'd be so happy getting radiated...hey, I don't have to ask CRUISE today to update her list...btw, thanks again CRUISE for being such a sport keeping that list updated...I also want some dust from the hair fairyFrown...ten weeks from last Taxol and I have 1/8th of an inch on my head (and I'm being generous on the measurement)...I was very hopeful when my brows came back early...oh well...

    AJLIVE...the redness also did not show for me until after TX #20...hope it doesn't get any worse for you...my skin held up really well according to rad tech...

    TEXAS...thanks for the info...

    Have a great weekend everyone...Smile

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    Hi everyone,

    WOW!  I'm so flattered by all the hair comments!  I do have alot of hair for being so recently out of chemo.  My whole life I have complained that I had too much hair and that it grew too fast (hard to keep up with haircuts and highlights).  Finally, I'm grateful :)

    My bottom eyelashes are all back.  My top lashes are still coming in.  But, I'm thankful for all I have right now.

    Today was my 27th rad treatment.  I have ONE MORE on Monday.  Then 5 boosts.  I am AMAZED that I really haven't had any issues.  I am as pale as pale can be.  My collarbone is burnt pretty badly, but surely with a weekend off I can take one more zap.

    My breast is doing really well.  So, I'm hoping the boosts aren't too rough. 

    Hope the hair fairy comes to all of you this weekend!!!!  and, that you get lots of rest and we're all ready to start again on Monday.

    School ended yesterday for my kids.  We have NO PLANS next week!  I'm so happy!  They leave next Sunday for a sleep away camp for kids with a parent with cancer.  So, tomorrow we're decorating pillowcases for them to take with them.  They have to have camp nicknames...."Jedi "and "Princess" will be putting those names on their pillowcases LOL!

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited June 2009

    Thank God It's Friday!  Woke up this morning with the red gone except in the armpit and in the crease under the breast.  Rad tech looked at it today and said it might blisterCry.  Just said to keep putting the Aloe Vera on and powder to keep it dry..  Hopefully with the next two days off it will clear up.

    Genia where are you?  Hope your doing okay.

    Everyone have a nice weekend......Smile

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

    American, I'm 12 weeks outta chemo (Taxol also) and it's hard to say about my hair! LOL..the top resembles a mans longer flattop but the sides and back are growing quicker. The top is now long enough to lay down instead of sticking straight up which is a blessing, no longer look like an ostrich! But the sides and back are alot longer. I have my brows and lashes back my only complaint is that my hair is coming in black and gray..I've never had black hair. Have patience, it does come back and mines coming in thicker then it used to be!

    Wish I was at #27...unfortunately I had #9 done today..but am lookin forward to 2 days off...One question....does everyone get boosts?

    Hugs!

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

    Heres my hair at 12 weeks pfc.........

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited June 2009

    Okay...I am now really jealous....I can't believe how much hair you have lisalisa and Deb "Dolly"...crap..what did I do wrong HAIR FAIRY?  All I can say is mine better come in and grow as long as Britney Spears...I deserve something good after dealing with all this CANCER CRAP....uurrrggghhh,

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