MAY 2009 Rads

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

    lisa--I bet you are very happy you waited.  I would have done the same. 

    Does anybody have any arm pain associated with the radiation?  My armpit and the back of my arm really aches.  Aspirin doesn't even touch it.

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  • Majanumba1
    Majanumba1 Member Posts: 99
    edited June 2009

    I finished today also!!!!!!!! 36 long treatments done. I am a bit burned but glad to have this behind me. Took off the last stickers from the week of mastectomy scar boosts and was so happy.;!!!!!Congrats to my fellow graduates. I didn't get a diploma but did take the onc. rad department a choco;late ganache cake from the local French bakery. They were so great during the whole ordeal and totally deserved a treat.

    So now it is time to recover and regain strength. I am starting back at the gym this week, Can't wait. Even though I haven't psoted much on this board I have kept up with your posts and really appreciate the support and information that everyone has offered. Good luck to those that

    still have a way to go and congratulations to those who are finished.



    To our health!!!

    maja

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    Congratulations Maja!!!!    Come back and let us know how your workouts go.  I want to know if I can really work out right after the end of this or if I'll be in pain LOL!

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    jrgolomb: Try ibuprofen it's anti- inflammatory properties will have a more impacting benefit. IMHO I am sorry you are in pain. Pain sucks!!!!!

    Lisa you can see the finish line! Your very tenacious.

    I had number 17 today and I am pooped! Anyone else here get tired? I am not sleeping well at night. Hot flashes, an over active mind, and a black cat named Chat Noir trying to lay on my sore breast or my face. If she wern't so darn cute I'd, well never mind.

    purrrr for peace!

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

    ((((Cruise))))   and ((((Princess))))  gently... Hang in you're almost done..I am sorry you are in pain.  There's a gentle hug coming your way.

    JUDY:

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  • margo1
    margo1 Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2009

    CONGRATS Segan & Puppers & Texas 357!!!

    I finish tommorrow and I am with you Texas357-kinda tired now too although it's more from the DAMN abcess tooth &, root canal which I had last Thursday only now the Dentist thinks I have an infection in the bone because the pesky RADS make healing a slower process.  Thank goodness I am in good standing with my sales at work!Smile  Cause I think I am going to take tommorrow off as it's MY LAST DAY!!!

    Whose sick of sleeping all the time??? I am and this is coming from a 7-8 hours a night girl!  My husband says I am part CAT with the amount of napping I do.  Meow to that! Laughing

    Bold-I have 2 snuggly Ragdoll kitties Kris & Zig that lay on my breast too!

    Princess take care of your skin & if it's getting too bad don't be afraid to tell the RAD Doc that you need a break.  The techs at my office last week admitted there are many patients who refuse treatment for a time to let their skin heal.  It helped that my RAD Doc was on vacation when I continued with my break!  I too was on Silvadine, Vicodin, Advil etc program but just for a little while.  My skin is pinkish tan now with dry peeling-MUCH improved!!

    I like your "This too shall pass..." where did it come from?  I quoted you today to a co-worker & she likes it too.

    LisaLisa-The Silvadine Cream is definately a step-up from Biafine, Aquaphor, etc.  My neighbor is a nurse & she keeps a jar in her kitchen for burns.

    Radiators-I have kept active the entire time I was getting ZAPPED and some weeks it was harder than others but I am glad I did.  Keeping fit has been a part of me all of my life and that's one thing I did not want to give up!  As we all know Cancer it a disease that seems to take away, rather than give. Wouldn't it be great if the chemo/rads gave us thick hair, long nails & a killer bod!!

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009
    Thank you Judy Smile
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  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 425
    edited June 2009

    Lisa, Darcy and Maja:   Welcome to the other side of rads!!!   I was lonely here all by myself... Everyone else -- you'll be here before you know it!!  

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited June 2009

    Carolinachick

    Unfortunately there is no other follow-up for triple negatives.  All we have left for a safety net is vigorous exercise, a healthy diet and prayer. My oncologist was very encouraging about the stats for exercise and healthy eating though.  He said it reduces recurrence by 50%.  Our cancer is fast growing and aggressive.  The positive note is that if it does not come back during the first three years chances are very good that it won't.  We'll have 3 anxious years ahead of us and after that we can breathe a little easier.  But new research is coming out all of the time.

     Yeah to Lisa!!!! 

    I'm all for keeping up with this post.  You are a great bunch of ladies.

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited June 2009

    ONly.... three.... more... to.....go....  Stop that beaming Scotty!

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  • KM47
    KM47 Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2009

    Great to hear everyone getting through this. I have four more to go so all going well (ie no machine breakdowns or more snowfalls that prevent me getting to the hospital)  then my final zap is June 30. Am starting to get red/itchy/sore now so I'm grateful the end is in sight.

    Jess, yes, I have the exact same pain in the same place you described. The specialist nurse tells me it's common and suggested taking Panadol (I'm not sure what the equivalent is in the US - Panadol is a parecetomol. I think it might be like Tylenol?). I haven't tried to see if Panadol helps yet but am hoping it will give me some relief tonight.

    I love how some of you get certificates! I plan to give the radiotherapy team a box of chocolates  on my last day because they have been so wonderful. I've been impressed with all the amazing medical staff through surgery and oncoglogy but the radiotherapy team have been the best. Funny how you come to adore the people who cut, poison and burn you!

    Happy zapping everyone. 

    K.

    PS - Funny quote I overheard from one radiotherapy patient (a dear old man) to another this morning: "jump in, I've warmed up the barbecue for you." 

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

    Jrgolomb - yes, I have tenderness and soreness under my arm and on the side of my breast from the rads.  It has eased up some now that I am only getting boosts, but still have the "gravity shift" tenderness and if the doggies try to cuddle up near my chest, it really hurts.  ibuprofin helps somewhat, seems to take it down a notch, anyway.

    Only four more boosts to go - I can't wait for this week to be finished - but it will be weird after doing this for almost two months - going daily somewhere - my car will have to be reprogrammed not to get off at that exit on the interstate and instead continue on towards home!

    Bold, you are getting the fatigue that comes with rads around this time of treatment - it hit me like a Mack truck last week, I literally fell asleep at my desk eating lunch (good thing it wasn't soup or I would have drowned).  Was fine rest of the week, but then on Sunday it hit me again, out of nowhere - all of a sudden so tired I could just sleep wherever I was.  Rad onc nurse said it tends to come in waves towards the middle-to-end of treatment.  Rest is what they said to do.  Okay, so long as I'm not driving down the interstate as my body decides I need to rest right now!

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

    I sure will be glad to have my energy back! Today's my last one and I'm sore but happy. Wearing a tee shirt that my DIL bought me: Cancer you picked the wrong broad!

    KM47: thanks for the giggle this morning. There's never anyone after me or I'd use that one!

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

    K--TOO funny.  He's got that right a very warm barbecue!! 

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

    And, if your x-ray unit rotates, it's kind of like a bbq spit!

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  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 387
    edited June 2009

    I love the barbeque comment - that's priceless!

    Thanks for the info about triple negative.  That's basically what my onc told me, but I thought I'd see if anyone else got other advice.  I've been trying to eat a low-fat diet, but exercising has been tough with the fatigue I've been experiencing.  I've signed up for the Charlotte, NC, Race for the Cure in October, so I hope to start running again after my last round on the big rotisserie!

    And rather than being radiated, I prefer to think of it as being radiant.

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

    I'm finished!!!! The radiation techs gave me a certificate, and I had another bell to ring!!! I go back in a week to have my doctor check my skin but I now officially call myself a SURVIVOR!!!

    Next in line???

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  • ddlatt
    ddlatt Member Posts: 448
    edited June 2009

    carolinachick: here are some websites with great info about triple negative cancer and how we should take care of ourselves since we can't have additional therapy after chemo and/or rads:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/ask_expert/2008_07/index.jsp

    http://www.cancernetwork.com/display/article/10165/1340727?pageNumber=1

    http://www.hormonenegative.blogspot.com/

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

    K- That barbeque is hilarious.  I call it going to Camp Cook a Chest...Only 8 more to go and I hate to say it, but nothing so far.  I am a little tan on that side, but nothing. No itching, no fatigue... I feel like I shouldn't say that because I might cause the other shoe to drop, but...

    I also have really long eyelashes.  My eyelashes got thinner thru chemo, and so did my brows, and I lost my hair, but all is back--with a vengence..Who knows what bodies will do.  So far, I am very lucky.  Fingers crossed for those of you still to go...Let's ride it out together.  JUDY

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited June 2009

    Texas,

    a HUGE, Texas-sized CONGRATULATIONS to you!  YOU ARE A SURVIVOR!!!!!

    Lisa

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

    Congrats to those that are finished. 

    I have 6 more to go......they are reg tx's.  I am SOOO ready for this to be over with.  I had to laugh yesterday.  I complained to my Dr. about being so exhausted I can hardly go.  After her lengthy explanation of why I was so tired......cells try to repair the damage the rads are doing......she told me to come back to her office, where she gave me six packets of Asian Ginseng!!!  lolol........she is Asian and had gotten them at an Asian health food store.  She said to add whatever I wanted to them to make them palatible.  I told her I was willing to try horse pee if it would make me feel better.......lol..........we both laughed!

    Better go get ready for my barbeque......that was so funny K thanks for sharing!!!

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  • seagan
    seagan Member Posts: 166
    edited June 2009

    Congratulations, Maja and Texas!   You did it, and more of us will soon too -- hang in there, everybody.  Us alumna are out here are cheering you on! 

    Bold -- maybe you could take your cat in for zap or two (sorry, PETA).

    darcy

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited June 2009

    Good Morning RADETTES....

    Yeah...I am finished with the regular ZAPS....and now on with Boosts...I have never been so sore, red and blistered.  The doc gave me a prescription for Sulfadiazine...Silvadine...to help heal the oozing blisters. He said it will get worse over the next 7 days...but the boosts won't be as bad... I hope.....

    Congratulations to TEXAS....CELEBRATE...IT's TIME!!!!

    Here is the updated countdown list....

    • kt57 - June 18th ....FINISHED
    • Seagan - June 22nd ...FINISHED
    • Puppers - June 22nd....FINISHED
    • Texas357 - June 23rd....FINISHED
    • margo1 - June 24th
    • americanpinay - June 25th
    • Ivorymom - June 25th
    • Princesskaui59 - June 25th
    • chelev - June 26th
    • lisalisa - June 29th
    • Cruise4Life - June 30th
    • Genia - June 30th
    • KM47 - 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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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2009

    Hi ladies...

    Whooaaa....my head is spinning from trying to keep up with all the posts and celebration...luv it...

    CONGRATULATIONS to Texas, Seagan, Puppers and Maja...

    CRUISE...LOL on missing eyebrow...congrats on finishing the regular zaps...I'm finding out boosts are not as bad as regular TX on skin...so hang in there...

    LISALISA...congrats on finishing the regular zaps...sounds like you had a fun day on the westside...

    JRGOLOMB...my mustache and sideburns are also growing way faster than hair on my head...

    BOLD...bald and beautiful would be bold and beautiful once again before you know it...

    KM...barbecue...hilarious...

    PRINCESS...LOL on the "new" me...I stopped using deodorants altogether when I started rads...but I need to be thinking about what to use after rads and before embarking on an exercise program...did a three-mile hike yesterday and boy was I dripping wet...like TEXAS, I feel that I need to be vigilant about toxins on everything...deodorant, lotion, household cleaners, you name it...

    Let's keep this thread...please...pretty please...

    I had three of five boosts today...two more to go...yay...nothing new to report on SEs...

    Be well....

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

    Cruise, my doctor prescribed that for me this morning. I've found it soothing. She's got me using that 3 times a day, and the aquafor at night. She wants to see me in a week to see how my skin is doing.

    It sure felt good to remove all those lines from my body! I celebrated by putting on a top with a lower neckline.

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited June 2009

    BOOOOYAH!!!!!! TEX!!!!!

    I was ready to leave for the BBQ and got into the explorer and BAMM! and a puff a smoke. Then no breaks and a real ruff engine sound. UGGGGGG! I ask my neighbor for a ride and they could'nt. I called and my DH was in a meeting.more UGGGS. Called rescheduled appt. then called my sister and she is picking me up. Thank God!!!! I want this behind me soooo bad. (and HAIR). I then called the mechanic and he is making a house call for me thinks its just a vaccum hose. How incredibly kind of him to come to the house. Unbelievable!

    I am soo out of shape, de-conditioned as my med onc called it. I am going to be starting from scratch. I was really wiped out with chemo and now Rads too. I am having a hard time sleeping at night so the days are harder too. I am having hot flashes that wake me every 40 mins or so all night. I am still so much better than I was during chemo. I also noticed that I have a palpable underlining nervousness. I do not express it or entertain negative thoughts but they dwell deep in my subconscious. I need to meditate more often and replace those thoughts. In regard to exercise and diet. I am so embarrassed to be this over weight and in poor shape. I have not been making the right food choices or the right amount. I am 5'10 so now I am a big girl. I hate that. I have to loose 40 big ones. Thats a boat load. I have never had to loose any more than 20 pounds on a diet in my life. So I know that this is going to be hard for me. I have cravings I have never had and need of comfort too. But I am determined to win so (I hope you don't find this weak) but after Rads I am making a total commitment to exercise and good choices. I forgot but someone on our thread said they need to loose 5#s I know that it is all relative but I can gain that much in one day it seems. And loose it too. I still have a lot of swelling from chemo that is water weight. Blah Blah. Sorry to bore you wonderful gals. It is another part of this profound journey.!

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  • nurlaw
    nurlaw Member Posts: 36
    edited June 2009

    Hello to All:

    Have been reading your comments all along and thinking of each of you. But unable to keep up with the all of the entries and the ones coming and going!

    I finished 25 treatments last Monday. Except for 2 days when I came home and went to bed for the rest of the day (in the last week) - I felt energetic.(I just let myself be a radiation queen for 2 days then got back up and started going.).I had one meltdown with techs, but more with radiation oncologist.Depression was my biggest problem.The sheer grind of daily rads on top of chemo and bilateral mastectomy, hot flashes, and too many medications, with all of the side effects and complications that go with each of them ( not to mention losing hair, and eyebrows ) was amazingly as difficult in its own way as the chemo was.My skin never broke down but got very raw under the arm. It has peeled like a sunburn and is getting better everyday.

    I've switched from Arimidex to Tamoxifen to Aromasin due to depressive episodes.Doing much better since radiation is finished and I seem to tolerate the Aromasin so far. 

    Have had 2 doses of Zometa now for the study I'm in. No side effects first time, but significant hip and thigh pain all night last night. ( It is known to cause bone, joint and muscle pain.) I just hope it is for only one night( why is it everything hurts more at night?) and goes away.

    I am 15 weeks out from Taxotere and Cytoxan and have hair about an inch long on top and sides- about 2 inches long in back!. It came in looking like Jamie Lee Curtis' hair. But salt and pepper looks better on her!I It is now long enough that it was showing through my wigs both in back and in front. So my daughter came over yesterday and colored my hair back to the color I've had for years. Honey blonde.She is a former hairdresser and made the comment to me that she was never so happy to go to the beauty supply store and buy a tube of hair color. Made me cry. So last night I ventured out with just a cap to my grandson's baseball game.I'm not ready to ditch the wigs yet, but at least, like some of you, I can go bareheaded at home when my husband isn't home- he has not seen me bald.-and wear baseball caps with a little hair showing on sides and in back..  

    I saw my med onc last week for check up. He says I am in remission! I have decided that I am cured.

    I will sign off this thread now with good wishes to each and every one of you in the remainder of your journeys.I will keep all the "May Rad Women 2009" in my prayers.

    Sincerely, Dee   

      

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited June 2009

    Texas YEE HAW! Celebrate, celebrate dance to the music.

    KM That bar-b-q comment priceless. How will I ever be able to keep a straight face in the room again????

    Cruise I'm so sorry you're hurting. The good thing is that the boosts are supposed to a lot easier, or so my doctor said.

    Bold At least you made it today and that's one more down.I know just how you feel, bald, fat and like someone else. I keep giving myself a pep talk every morning, but some days I get sick of myself (shut up!!!!!!)  I know when this is all over I'll be able to commit like a banshee to diet and exercise. We have to remember that we are still putting our bodies under a lot of stress with the treatments and supposedly the chemo SE's take up to 15 months to disappear. And I want my hair back and my waist back now!

    I had my first of the boosts today, it seemed to take a little longer, maybe just because I'm in a hurry to get out. 3 more this week and then weekend break and then just 4 more! Come on body you can do it.

    I purchased some natural hair dye at local health food store and colored my fluffy hair. My DH says it looks "better" less clear.It didn't seem to color the really white hair and did color the darker hair some. I promised myself no more headcovers after rads are done. I guess I'll just have to accept the fact that I'll just look like a bald fat women rather than the chic chick I imagine.

    Okay today I'm thankful that my eyelashes are coming back, I really missed them.

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

    Texas, a big CONGRATS to you!  I love this - every day we are seeing more and more of our wonderful Rads sisters graduate.  Can't wait - only three more to go!  Saw the rad onc today and she said my skin is holding up really well, and that I'll get an appointment on my last day (Friday) for a follow up with my regular rad onc in about a month to see how I'm doing.  Woo hoo!!!

    Also, went and had my eyebrows shaped - feel like a new woman!  Even though they are thin in some areas, they were really growing well in others, and the esthetician did a great job getting a really nice shape going, and she filled in the rest with pencil.  they are thicker than what I had been wearing pre-cancer, I think I was over plucking to remove the gray hairs that were showing up there first before hitting my head, so I am going to try to not pluck and only let her shape them and if they grow in gray, we can color them.  She said she can see where my lashes have baby hairs, so maybe it's all coming together. 

    Barbiedahl, it does look better even with fuzz that has a little color to it, than the gray or colorless hairs do - my DH said the same thing. 

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited June 2009

    Nurlaw...Dee...Congrats on being finished....and so sorry you are having the bone pain...hope it goes away.  Thanks for popping in and best of luck to you....Come back once in a while to say hi...and it may be comforting to the new gals to help give them some advice and encouragement on some of the other threads....I know when I first came to this site...it really helped to have those experienced gals give some advice and share experiences.

    barbie...I sure hope you doc is right and it will get better.  Now that its hot here in CA...I want to get in the pool and can't...very frustrating.

    chelev...I am jealous of your eyebrows....I can't sweat anymore as I seem to miraculously wipe off the penciled in eyebrows.Embarassed

    Bold...I need to lose 50+ ...and just have to work harder at losing weight.   

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