MAY 2009 Rads

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited June 2009

    Texas357:  Don't think the peeling will keep you from having treatments.  If it blistered it might.

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  • seagan
    seagan Member Posts: 166
    edited June 2009

    Hi, all!  I have my final treatment tomorrow (Mon 6/22).  Such a swirl of emotions about it:  I can't believe it and yet I'm so ready for it to be done; I can hardly wait and yet also feel oddly sad about saying goodbye to the staff I've been seeing every day for these rads, etc. etc.  My boys keep asking how we're going to celebrate, and I still don't know but right now a quiet, grateful toast of ice cream cones seems about right!

    Lisa -- I've now had 4 of 5 boosts and find I've got more stinging sensations with these, esp. right around the area where all the zapping is concentrated.  Also, the area of red skin extends a bit higher up, and I itch like crazy in the areas that aren't being zapped anymore.  So all in all, more sensation than during the regular rads, though how much of that is just from everything accumulating over time, I don't know.  All really manageable, though.

    I'm wondering about the long-term effects of the rads now.  In one of the little pt education booklets I got when I started rads (but of course only read through LAST NIGHT), it mentioned a higher risk of skin cancer in the area that's been radiated, so one should be extra careful about covering up and using sunscreen there.  Forever, I guess.  Lovely.

    I love the idea of keeping our thread going as we all try to keep the diet and exercise thing going post-rads.  The evidence on how much exercise can reduce our chance of recurrence is pretty hard to ignore.  Now if it could just scare me into 30 minutes of exercise every day!

    I'm also trying to get geared up for the whole Tamoxifen thing.  Has anyone ever read the book "Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person"?  It's a hilarious (and sometimes poignant) memoir in comics.  Anyway, she has a funny bit in there about getting her first bottle of Tamox. and seeing "Refills:  59."  And I thought 33 rads sounded like a lot!

    Thanks so much for joining me on this rads journey, my lovely radiators.  I can't tell you how much it's helped me.  Hang in there and I'll be thinking of everybody else finishing up in the weeks to come!

    darcy

    P.S.  Ivorymom -- I'll PM you, too, but let's see if we can meet up for coffee this week -- my kids are at day camp and I've got TIME at least this week, hooray!

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009

    Hi Radiators!  Happy Sunday!  I've read through posts and my heart goes out to those of you who've  had a tough time with Rads - - unfortunately, I'm in that group right now.  Four more boosts to go then done.

    Seagan!  Congrats on getting to the finish line!!

    I'm so red and peeled and raw painful under the arm and at two spots on my collar bone & chest.  The underam red area has been enlarging.  Aloe, Biafine, Aquaphor, Advil, and even Vicodin to sleep at night.  It really hurts.  DH was not helpful this morning; he started suggesting that my doctor had overdosed me and that I shouldn't have the second degree burns that I appear to have.  But the RN and doctor seem act like this is expected.  Sure hurts!  I really don't want to get this bad on the skin over my TE, so am still a bit nervous about the four more boosts.   

    Love & Healing Light,

    Cool

    p.s., Cruise, thanks for the big one eye (brow) laugh!!  :) oxo

    p.p.s., I've started to think that Toms of Maine deodorant is actually "enough" for me, but perhaps my nose has grown accustomed to the new me.   

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

    Princess---LOL.  "My nose has grown accustomed to the new me."  You are done this week???  Yahooo!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks for the love and HEaling light.  I like that way of thinking!

    Seagan---Wahooooooooo!!!!!  Icecream toast it is!

    Lisalisa-  good idea on the earings.  I wore some today!!!  Let's see what kind of response I get!!!  LaughingKiss

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

    Good morning radettes! I have just 2 more treatments. I have one raw skin area, about the size of a pea, which I hope won't delay anything. The only other SE is that the Tissue Expander is very tight. My entire foob-in-making is now sitting much higher. It was looking almost like I'd already had the exchange, so it's a little disappointing.

    I did read Cancer Made Me A Shallower Person, and was laughing until I got to the part where she got a recurrence. That really upset me and I had to hide the book.

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  • Puppers
    Puppers Member Posts: 59
    edited June 2009

    I'M FINISHED!!!!!!

    I wound up having 27 regular treatments and 6 boosts, the last of which was this morning!   Now on to Arimidex...

    God bless you all for your support and encouragement these past weeks (and weeks and weeks and weeks...Wink)

    May you all live cancer-free lives from here on out, and may this season in your lives be just a memory - but with the scars to show how strong and brave and courageous you truly are!

    Love, Lisa

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

    Lisa (Puppers) 

    CONGRATULATIONS !!!    Now go out and celebrate!!!

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    Lisa/Puppers,

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!  woohoo!  go celebrate and then tell us all about it :)

    I love your last line on your post!

    Lisa

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  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 387
    edited June 2009

    Congratulations to you, Puppers!  Now on to bigger and better things!

    I can't wait to follow in your footsteps!

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    Congrats Puppers!!!!!! You did it!!!!!!!! The worst is over!!!!!!!!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2009
    Yeah to Lisa!!!!   You are done!!  Go out and conquer the Arimidex (by the way, I'll be looking to see how you are doing on that, since I'll be starting it next too!).  The big bad treatments are over and you can start coasting downhill again!!!
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  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 387
    edited June 2009

    Ddlatt and deb on the lake - I noticed that you both are triple negative and finishing treatment about the same time as I am.  Has your doctor recommended anything after rads to help prevent recurrence?

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  • seagan
    seagan Member Posts: 166
    edited June 2009

    I'm now done, too -- even have a cute little "diploma" from the rad techs ("...having completed the prescribed course of radiation therapy with outstanding achievements in courage, patience, and determination through all instruction given and assigned...)!

    Congrats to you, too, Puppers, and thank you for those beautiful thoughts about our scars.  I love that.

    Take care, all,

    darcy

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009
    Congrats Puppers-Lisa!!  Smile
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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    Congratulations Darcy!  woohoo!  2 graduates in one day!!!!  Can't wait till ALL of us are DONE!

    Lisa

    p.s.  I hope I get a diploma! 

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

    Big congrats, Darcy! 

    Know how I'm celebrating the end of it this week?  By using REGULAR deodorant!!!  Can't wait!!

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

    Hello fellow Radettes..........back again today...the weekend went way too fast...can't believe i gotta drive all the way back over there again and back..that's the worse part for me so far...

    I got some of that Toms Chelev, I'm not impressed with it...I like my Secret a whole lot better!!!!!

    Have a great day!

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

    Me too!  Been using Arm and Hammer - well, they named that right - perspiration hits under my arm like a hammer in this heat - 110 with the heat index & humidity.  Nothing keeps the sweat from coming except the air on full blast when driving - aimed right at my underarms.  Friday's final treatment will have me reaching for the little blue Secret container in my purse! 

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  • Puppers
    Puppers Member Posts: 59
    edited June 2009

    Darcy - I got the same diploma - very sweet - saying I have "completed their prescribed radiation therapy treatments with high honors in courage, cooperation and good spirits!"

    BTW - my skin really wound up getting medium pink, with more bumps/irritation towards the chestbone area.  The boosts made only the incision site more red, but not painful.  Lots of clear aloe gel helped.  I was fortunate I think in that the skin reactions weren't too bad overall!

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

    Woo hoo Puppers! Congratulations!!!!!

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

    Just got back from 1st of last 5 treatments - all boosts, thank goodness.  My skin is holding out, but still has the bumps, and the very dark area near my lymph node biospy scar, but all in all, it's doing well.  Mostly just pain in gravity pulling the boob and the tenderness I still have.

    Sweating - need to shower now - thermometer in car read 101 degrees - this is Florida, not the desert, for crying out loud!!  anyone have any spare cool air and rain, please send it this way!

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited June 2009

    Hi Radettes...

    Had # 27 today and tomorrow will be the last one...then on to Boosts....I told them to STOP zapping me today...and that I have had it... I am blistered and sore and don't want to do this anymore.  The rad techs convinced me that it was only one more after today...and should be better when they start the boosts.

    Ivorymom...the kabobs were great.... ;)

    Jess...Yikes..I feel like a guy when I just wear a ball cap.  In fact I drive an Escalade and when I wear the ball cap...all the young chicks look at me...it's really freaky...

    Bold..the thread I started is called Weight Watchers...and there are some great gals over there  who provide tips and recipes.  Some ladies are also on this thread...but we can continue chatting with this thread since we are all here...... 

    Texas...the peeling is just starting and nothing to worry about until it starts to ooze and bleed.

    Princess...I am with you...the blisters and sores keep me up all night.  The rad techs suggested to take Benedryl to help sleep and Advil.

    Congratulations to Seegan and Puppers....CELEBRATE...there's a party goin on right here........

    Here is the updated countdown list....

    • kt57 - June 18th ....FINISHED
    • Seagan - June 22nd ...FINISHED
    • Puppers - June 22nd....FINISHED
    • 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 SE FREE WEEK.....

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited June 2009

    Congrats Seagan & Puppers!

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

    Cruise---that's okay I quipped back at him "must be the moustache, throws everybody off!" 

    Congrats Darcy and Lisa.  LET"S PARTY!!

    I have 9 regular zaps to go and then I am on to the boosts. 

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  • ddlatt
    ddlatt Member Posts: 448
    edited June 2009

    congrats, puppers and seagan!

    carolinachick - in terms of follow-up for recurrence, the only med onc that i trust is at UCSF (the others here in reno i don't trust and don't listen to) and he recommends only bloodwork and tumor markers every 3-6 months from now on, but no scans unless there's some reason to (recurring headaches, lump, etc.). my rad onc recommends PET scan every year. i'm doing whatever my UCSF doc says. 

    in terms of preventing recurrence, i'm going to follow these guidelines:

    http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/do-cancer-prevention-recommendations-work.htm 

    basically, to prevent recurrence it's recommended that we exercise every day, eat a low-fat plant-based diet (lots of veggies and fruits, no red meat and nothing processed), have a low body mass index, of course no smoking, limit the alcohol considerably, if we drink at all. 

    i had #25 today, have only 2 more before i start the 8 boosts. 

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    What else do we have to give up!! My laziness, alcohol, sugar, meat. I am describing my life style here! Just kidding, well kinda. It may finally get me to do what I do a lot more consistently!

    SEGAN!!!!! How could I of forgotten you in my toast today. To much celebrating causes short term memory loss.

    The bald and the beautiful

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009

    Yeah again for Puppers and Seagan!!

    DDlat - thanks for the link.  

    Had Boost 2/5 today.  Rad Onc gave me silvadene for what he's now calling "wet desquamation." I need to do more research on how to care for my skin myself.  Told him i wanted him to say I could stop now; he didn't really respond - - guess it just sounded rhetorical...

    When I reminded DH my last treatment is Thursday, he said, "Can we celebrate?  Have a dinner party?"  (NO!!!)  But maybe have a nice glass of wine...

    This too shall pass; may it pass quickly (and may we all heal quickly too)! 

    p.s., On a happier note, I saw my PS today and she said that my TE/IMplant looks like it's holding up pretty well!  She said I can have my contralateral "lift/reduction" in late November; I'm so looking forward to better symmetry! 

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009

    p.p.s., Cruise, I'm taking a break from the Waist Watchers thread cause stuff got tough here, but will be back!

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited June 2009

    Puppers and Seagan hip hip hooray! Cheers to you! I can't wait to join in in the I'm done group. Wow think of how far we've come. I know way too much about BC now and all the treatments. I'm looking forward to not thinking about it too much after I'm done.

    Let's see, I need to:

    exercise- okay I'll be able to commit once I've got my full pre-treatment energy back.

    lots of fruit- got that ( on ice cream)

    Veggies- corn is a veggie- nachos??

    No red meat- well by the time you cook it it's sort of pink

    No alcohol???? Who thought that up, it must be some temperance oncologist!

    I start boosts tomorrow, closer and closer to being done.

    I'm praying for a gentle cool no burn, no pain night for all my radical friends. Healing thoughts your way.

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    "the waiting is the hardest part"....that was the song that played during my last regular rads session today.  how ironic.  i received a call on my drive into treatment.  the machine was down and they wanted to CANCEL me.  no. no. no.  i've had my eyes set on this prize (end of zapping my underarm and collarbone) and i was NOT turning around.

    so....i went in and they said the machine may be up in a few hours.  so, i wandered around Westwood (home of UCLA).  what a fun day.  tonight is the premier for "TRANSFORMERS" and I took some pics for my 10 yr old son!  They had "optimus prime" the truck there and everything.

    Then, I waited some more.  But, I DID get it done.  Tomorrow starts boost #1 of 5.  And, like you princess kauaii, i got sylvadane today too.  but, at least i made it through!

    Lisa

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