MAY 2009 Rads

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

    Meg, My onc and I decided on the Femara mainly because it is what he prefers to start his patients on.  I think based on my history of se's, this could be because maybe it has slightly less than the others?  Either way, I am starting for the next 10 days or so on a half tablet dose, to get my body used to it, then if that works out, will up it to the full dose or I may stay at the half tablets.  This stuff is expensive!! Even with my prescription plan and a discount card the doc gave me, my portion was $53.  If this doesn't work, next try will be for Aromasin.  So far, no SE's, but it's only been two full doses that are in my system.

    Congrats to the rads ladies who are receiving their last treatments today - YOU MADE IT!!!

    I managed to do an hour long bicycle ride yesterday morning, made it up an overpass hill that the previous couple of times I've had to walk up, so that was great!!  We only stopped because it was getting really hot, but I could have ridden longer.  Then, spent most of the afternoon doing yard work, first time in 6 months!!  Weeded the front walk, mulched and watered things.  Finally had to stop, both too hot and getting tired, actually nauseous from the heat.  But, I think I'm finally getting my stamina and strength back - yay!!!

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited July 2009

    Good morning ladies...

    Hope everyone had a great SE-free 4th of July weekend!

    DDLATT...way to go!!!...beautiful pictures...you are such an inspiration...I, too, will be booking an overseas trip soon...med onc said OK to travel without compression garment/sleeve for arm as long as I stretch and walk around the plane and also port is flushed before I leave...YAY!!!

    CHELEV...I also feel the same way about stamina and strength...it's coming back!!!...the aches and pains in legs and arms and hands from TAXOL are going away!!!...slowly but surely...YAY!!!

    BOLD...just nine more...you are almost there...thanks for the prayers you say for all us...

    CONGRATULATIONS to the finishers today...I think we have three??? DDLATT, FACECRAFTER and LYNNVA...a toast to you, wonderful ladies...

    Take care everyone. Cool

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

    Congrats to those that are finishing today.......it's a happy happy feeling!!!

    love you gals

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2009

    Congratulations to the truly radiant graduates  ddlatt, facecrafter and Lynnva,  A toast to each of you.

    I'm really red, itchy and sore today.  But, hey, I'm on my final week.  My count down is 6.  Bold you are finished just three days after I am.  I am so glad to be at the end of this journey and this has been such an upbeat thread even through 3rd degree burns and extreme fatigue.  My energy is steadily improving in spite of the growing breast discomfort.  I'm planning to go back to work the day after my raditaion is done.  I'm ready to begin a life with a rhytmn closer to my pre-caner days.

    I'm feeling happy and peaceful, but, do keep praying for my sister in law.  She is really struggling with the return of her breast cancer.  My brother has a tumor they just found in his knee.  He sees an orthopedic oncologist in the morning.  Please pray for him.  I hate cancer.  My family has had such a rough run of it lately.  Dad died in April of 2008.  I was diagnosed in November of 2008 and just as we are starting to breathe easy about my situation, my brother gets this scare.  Hopefully his is not cancer.  But, as you guys all remember waiting for that initial diagnosis is one of the hardest parts of the whole experience.  Keep us in your prayers.

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

    Thanks all for the good wishes.  I just got back from a lovely day of celebrating...and we're not done yet.  Still have a delightful dinner to go!!  I know that I have another week or so of the radiation in my body causing havoc, but so far, it's nice to say I've come thru it rather unscathed..

    And it over, OVER!  NO more treatments.  Hip hip hooray for all the girls that have finished, and for the rest of you, it goes really fast..you'll be done in no time..  A toast to all the wonderful people on this thread... May we have no reason to ever go thru this again!!   JUDY

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2009

    Facecrafter, Ddlatt and Lynnva:  You finished!  Congrats.   I'm right behind you.....

    Debonthelake:  Keeping your family in our prayers....

    Have a great week everyone!

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    Congratulations to Facecrafter, DDlatt and LynnVA!  I'm so excited for all of you!!!!

    Meanwhile, the fun continues for me.  I had 2 old root canals done over...one had decay, the other was hard to say.  Better safe than sorry.  All this to get ready to take Zometa.  Now, I have to go for a new crown too....one was saved, the other was not.  I'm going to be BROKE at the end of all of this!  I've been a stay-at-home Mom for 10 years....maybe I should get a job LOL!  (well, a PAYING job....I have a job!)

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  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 387
    edited July 2009

    Congrats to those of you who are finished and busy celebrating tonight!  Woo hoo!  I'm right behind you and can't wait!  My boost area is very red and wakes me up hurting at night, but the end is in sight.  We're having a big pool party this weekend with good Southern barbeque and all the fixins to celebrate.

    Deb - I'm so sorry to hear about your family.  They are in my prayers - it sounds like you all have had it rough the past year.  Please keep us posted about your brother.

    I am also triple negative, so I won't have any drug therapy.  However, I do have a mammogram and checkup with my surgeon on Thursday.  I am dreading that experience with my sore, radiated breast.  Maybe an pre-appointment margarita would help??

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  • ddlatt
    ddlatt Member Posts: 448
    edited July 2009

    thank you so much for the good wishes. you know it's mutual! i finished treatment at 2:15 this afternoon and then my nurse navigator and i celebrated at the hospital. she's been by my side every single day since diagnosis. i can't believe it's really over. i'm leaving for texas next week to see my mom, who i haven't been able to see since last september. i think when the plane lifts off i will truly believe all this is behind me. i feel very lucky to have been in this group of women. i love how we've helped each other and listened to each other every single day of our rads. thank you. xoxo

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009

    Yea!  Facecrafter, DDlatt and Lynn Va!  Congrats :)

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  • margo1
    margo1 Member Posts: 56
    edited July 2009

    Congrats to all of the latest GRADS!!!!

    LisaLisa-

    Root Canals & Rads what a combo!!!  Me too!  I think it was my last week and I had an abcess tooth which of course then resulted in a 3-part procedure.  Why do you have to get root canals redone?  I thought that once they remove the root, widen the canal, put that bleach-like stuff inside with the plugs & the post(sometimes) & crown it's permanent.

    Night all. 

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  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 425
    edited July 2009

    A toast!!  to ddlatt, Facecrafter and LynnVa!!!   Tonight for our cyber toast --how about a  fine Bordeaux - in celebration of ddlatt's upcoming return to France!  

    Lisa: dentists and root canals -- hope that's all done soon for you.   Doesn't sound like one bit of fun!

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    Margo - sorry you had dental issues too!  I had an old root canal that looked "cloudy" on xrays.  So, the dentist wasn't sure what it was.  No pain or anything.  So, I decided to have it looked at.  I went to an endodontist....it's pretty much all he does.  It turns out I had decay (gross!) in between my root canal and the crown.  

    The endodontist also noticed that my other tooth (right next to it) and also crowned had 3 roots rather than 4 showing on the xray.  So, he re-did that one too.  But, he worked from the first tooth and saved that crown.  yeah!

    With Zometa, I can't have any major dental work while I'm taking it.  I'll be taking it for 3 years, so I thought I may as well have my entire mouth be in perfect condition going in.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds.

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009

    Lisa, Have you just had this dental work done?  I broke a tooth during chemo and my DDS would only do a temp repair - - she wanted to wait until I was ~2 month post all chemo&rad tx!  There is so much variation, but I'm calling tomorrow for my appt as the tooth is bugging me a bit now. 

    I totally went off my diet this weekend with the "4th" and all, chips, margaritas, bbq, etc.  My surgery-side arm & hand have swollen-up again.  I think my body is really telling me that I'm going to have to eat very cleanly from here on out.  Maybe I did too much lifting with the arm too - not sure(?)

    I'm now 11 days post my last Rads tx.  At day 7 post, I developed the more intense peeling redness along my scar line boost site, but (since that area is still sort of numb) it didn't hurt nearly as much as the axilla & collar bone areas when they opened up.   I did skip going out on the canoe yesterday - - took a long lovely nap instead.  

    Keep mosturizing!  oxo Cool

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

    I have my dental cleaning today. Guess it's time for all of us to start resuming the normal maintenance on our bodies!!!

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

    I am having dental cleaning tomorrow. 

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

    My teeth escaped the entire chemo phase in remarkably good condition. I think it's because I had a horribly dry mouth, and was constantly rinsing, brushing and flossing.

    For those of you with 3rd degree burns, the Silvadine and Aquaphor worked like a charm. My burns were nearly completely healed within one week. I have a few tiny scabs, but overall I have a hard time seeing the radiation field now.

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2009

    Good morning, I hope that I did not forget to toast to ddlatt and lynnva. I have been drinking so much toasting my sisters that I have short term memory problems Anyway I am soo happy for all that have completed this arduous part of the journey.

    Today is a heck of a day for me I have my Herceptin infusion at 11:00 in Beverly Hills, then I have to go to Radiation in Duarte by 2:30,(8 left) then I meet with a new med onc. at 3:00. UGG! All this with Micheal Jackson traffic.

    I have to go to the dentist too. I can not even think about it today. It gets so overwhelming. I have to go to the dermatologist. I have to get a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. I have to address my tipped uterus and fibroids. I need to have my varicose veins removed..See the thing is that I have paid the max on my insurance so I would like to get this all done before January. Did I mention diet and exercise. So this is the new me. Yikees.

    Deb, my prayers are so with you and your family. I try to remember we are never given more than we can handle. I hope that you and your family can beat this insidious disease and live long and wonderful lives.

    Princess, I am glad that you are healing I wish it were faster, How is your energy? Now that you are finished with all the aggressive treatment are you going to rebuild your immune system with supplements? I would love to share some of the tings that I have learned. I am also going to go to a eastern internist and work on that.

    I wish my hair would grow faster I have a covering but it is still transparent so I have to wear my wigs or hats and scarfs. GRRRRRRR.

    ITCHING!!!!!! to be finished.

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    Hmmm.....I was told it was OK to do dental work as soon as my WBC's returned to normal.   I had my teeth cleaned DURING radiation....no more tartar than usual.  But, I used lots of mouthwash during chemo, etc.

    The dental work that I had done was repairing old root canals....the roots were already dead....just cleaning out some decay in the crown, etc.  So, maybe that is why mine was oK!?!?  I have an appt on Thursday for a new crown.  It will take 2 weeks to get the crown in and then I can start the zometa infusions.  fun times Kiss

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

    Well my finish time is delayed, went to my rads onc today, have 3rd degree burns so I'm off till Monday...Would be happy if I didn't hurt so bad.

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

    Oh Deb, I'm so sorry...#rd degree burns?  Ouch,,What is the doc giving you for the pain?  or for the burns?

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2009
    carolinachick:  Congrats on finishing treatments today!Smile  Today was my last treatment also.Smile
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  • Deb-from-Ohio
    Deb-from-Ohio Member Posts: 1,140
    edited July 2009

    She gave me vicodine for pain, and silvadene with lidocaine for the burns and I even have plain lidocaine, and it STILL hurts....what's so bad, is I told her how badly it hurt inside and told her that I thought the inside was burned also, she didn't argue with me, sort of agreed with me... So it's a double whammy.........just pray to God it's gone by Monday when I go back.

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

    You got it.  All the prayers and good thoughts.

    And congrats to Carolinachick and Ajlive on finishing...  Come on you guys--catch up!!  Wink

    JUDY

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited July 2009

    Hi ladies...hope everyone is doing well...

    Congratulations to AJLIVE and CAROLINACHICK!!!  Hooray for you!!!

    DEB-FROM-OHIO...so sorry to hear about your third-degree burns...hope you heal soon...

    DEBONTHELAKE...I continue to pray for your family...

    LISALISA...did you start tamoxifen yet?  I would love to hear how you're doing with it. Also, do you know why you're also doing Zometa? ...thanks...

    Take care everyone...

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

    Debonthelake---thinking of you today and sending positive hope and vibes to SIL and bro.

    Deb from Ohio---Sorry for your delay and the pain.  Wish there was something I could do.

    ivorymom-I have issues when I take vitamins-mainly a stomach ache, so I have to be careful to time when I take them. 

    Anybody from this group going to las Vegas to the   Ta ta Sisterhood gathering in September? 

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2009

    The ta ta sisterhood sounds great but, with work just starting again, probably not this year. 

    Deb from Ohio,  Ouch!  May you find relief, rest and may your healing happen fast.

    A toast to the Tuesday finishers alive and Carolina chick.  Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Well they started boost today.  And just in the nick of time.  I am fried.  Not third degree but raw and quit uncomfortable.  4 left to go.  I have my eye appointment and dental appointment set up for next week.  I'm also planning on getting a CA125 and a colonoscopy before the year is out to cash in on the insurance coverage.  Someone explain to me why a CA125 is not part of routine screening.

    I'll be checking on my family members this evening and I'll let you know.

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2009

    AJILIVE AND CAROLINACHICK!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!! THANK GOD THAT OVER HUH.?

    Deb from OH. Jimminy Cricket Girl. Thats got to hurt. I am sooo sorry. Take care of yourself. Its not a race. Just take your time and heal. We will still be here cheering and praying for you.

    I have a rash and my nipple is on fire but only 2 more regular and 5 boost to go. So next Thursday will begin the party. I had the best appointment with a new Med Onc. today. She said that I did not have to take Hormone therapy!!!!!!! She said that 2% Er+ was not enough to benefit. I told her How concerned I was that I read my chart during my Herceptin infusion today and it said that I have a relatively high risk of recurrence. I was so bummmed when I read that. She has been very pessimistic on my prognosis since day one. ANYWAY my new onc. said that I have a 91% chance of no recurrence and survival. I'LL TAKE IT!!!!!!! She took the data from the New England School Of Medicine website. I saw it with my own two eyes.  Today I had to go to Beverly Hills passes all the Micheal Jackson Press tents at Forrest Lawn. It was a trip. Must of been like 40 different T.V. Stations from all over the world. When I was leaving the Chemo center I was talking to this woman about the outfit she was wearing. I recognized the designer from years ago. Joan Vass I did some modeling for her. She has not been around for 20+ years. She was wonderful she used cashmere cottons. Anyway the woman's husband who was with her was Dick Van Dyke. Cool huh? I have loved him forever. So I had a chance to thank him for a lifetime of laughs. He gave me a hug. AWWWWWWW!

    Ivory, I will get that list together for you. I think I might of over stayed my welcome today. (long post)

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

    Bold-How sweet to have met and then gotten a hug from Dick Van Dyke. 

    And very cool to have gotten an optimistic view from a different oncologist.  I think there is so much changing so fast in terms of great treatment that the view and outlooks for survival are much greater than ever.  I mean tx has even changed since I started in October. Treatment isn't cookie cutter so much and there is a definate push toward individual therapy. 

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2009

    Deb from Ohio:  Ouch!!!  taking the break will help you heal.  It won't be long.

    Debonthelake:  Down to the boost.  Long long now.....

    Bold:  Sounds like your appointments went well today.  Hang in there your almost done.  Enjoy reading your post.

    Did I ever do a dumb thing tonight.  Thought I would take off the marker tapes before taking a shower.  Wrong thing to do.  A layer of skin come off with it.  Ouch!!!  Below the armpit where the bra will rub along the edge of the redness. Think this is worse than a burn.  Do I dare put a bandaid on? 

     Everyone have a good evening!

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