MAY 2009 Rads

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited July 2009

    drumroll.....goooooooo....BOLD!!!....a toast to you and life....

    saw rad onc today and everything's fine...I'll see him for a follow-up in three months...hopefully, the wig is toast by then...DEB-FROM-OHIO, good point on all those country singers who wear big hats and losing hair...

    to those going on long flights...rad onco recommends getting up and exercising every two hours or so...

    take care ladies...Cool

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

    Hooray!!  You go Bold!  Here's to you..!!!

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2009

    Bold its your day!  Congrats.....  Celebrate.....   Cling! Cling!

    Texas357:  Glad to hear the Femara SE's are going away.   So far I haven't had any and hope not to....

    Hi all!  Hope everyone is doing great.  Healing!  Getting back to normal ....

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

    CONGRATS BOLD! WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

    And my last day will be the 27th...a Monday....that ought to make the Monday more special!!!

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

    GOOD FOR YOU BOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Congrats to the rest of you that I may have missed.....sorry....just haven't been feeling the best in the world.

    I have lymphedema.  Went to the Dr. today....so I have to have to see a lymphedema specialist.  No doubt it was caused by the RADS.......I'm still sore.......can hardly stand to touch it.  Guess it beats havin cancer......but I don't like it.

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2009

    Congratulations Bold,  You made it to the end.  Now on to healing.

    Genia  so sorry to hear about the lymphedema.  I guess it's really unpredictable who will get it.  They say sometimes even really early stage gals get it after radiation.  But, you are right it beats cancer to pieces.

    I am so glad to be back and work and feeling normal.  I love my job, 

    Maybe I'm just high from being done with treatment finally.  But, right now I truly feel healthier and more full of energy than I have in years.  Of course, I'm nearly 25 lbs thinner than I was a year ago and I eat much healthier and exercise a lot more.  Perhaps I needed this cancer to kick me in the butt.

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2009

    Genia, darn it! I'm sure the specialist can help you. From what I understand a big part of dealing with lymphedema is not letting it get out of hand. Thankfully there are great specialist now who didn't exist years ago. And you are right the radiation probably brought it on. My doctor said it can occur anytime even years from now so really none of us are out of the woods. I'm sure when you get your strength back and deal with it all will be fine in the future. You are still being treated, taking Herceptin so your body is still being filled with "helpful" drugs. I think that's got to make it harder for your body to get heal?? I will say a few extra prayers for you. Hugs, and hugs. You'll get past this and then you're going to feel great again!

    Bold just think tomorrow you don't have to go! Yeah for you! Done! hip hip hooray

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  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 425
    edited July 2009
    Bold:  a cyber toast to you!!!  Congrats on being done!!!!! 
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  • margo1
    margo1 Member Posts: 56
    edited July 2009

    Bold-CONGRATS & CYBER CLINK/TOAST!!!!!!!

    Genia-LymphedemaFrown what a bummer! Barbiedahl is right there are specialists now to help control it.  A nurse who specializes in lymphedema management would come to my RAD Doc's office once a month to speak to the patients while we were waiting for treatment and she spoke about a wearing a compression sleeve to control/prevent symptoms.  This might sound like a stupid question but how did you know it was happening?  Or did you just wake up one morning and your arm was swollen?  BIG HUGS!!! 

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009

    Bold!  I'm going to have a glass of organic chardonnay in your honor!  Cheers!  Yay!!

    Genia, Get a wrap on it as soon as possible, even if you have to use ace bandages.  I developed it in my mastectomy-side arm during rads too.  My Radiation Oncologist pushed me to be a nudge and just go up to the Physical Therapy dept and insist on being seen right away to learn to do a temporary wrap until I could be seen by the lympedema specialist.  It worked.  I was able to get it down with compression and now I have a sleeve, that I don't have to wear always, but put back on at the first sign of swelling or when I fly.  (It flared after I had to fly on two days for work recently.)   The other thing that helps me is drinking lots of fluids and eating cleanly. I also went to get a lymphatic massage and that felt great.  oxo

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

    Margo.....I mopped my kitchen floor last Thursday.  Then over the weekend is when it got really bad.  Hurt like crazy.....couldn't sleep on that side.  I sat in a recliner all weekend and kept it elevated and some of the swelling went down.  It's still not swollen as badly as it was.....but it is swollen.  I'll get an ace bandage.....I know I can't get in to see anyone until at least Monday.  I've been babying it......keeping it on a pillow and not using it at all.  No way to live.....I can tell ya that.  I'm right handed........and this is my right arm that is swollen.  Hard to use my left arm and hand.........but I'm learning.

    Thanks for the advice Princess........this is why I LOVE this board.  Couldn't have made it without it!!!

    Nite everyone.....it's WAY past my bedtime.....but I enjoy the peace and quiet that my late night brings.

    hugssss

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2009

    Genia call your doctor and firmly let them know that you'd like to be seen by someone before Monday. Explain it's your dominate side, really push for yourself. If you get in to see someone not only will you begin to work on the lymphedema, but it will put your mind at ease. My doctor said I didn't have to limit my activities, but I shouldn't sleep on my surgery side. That was tough because it's the side I usually prefer. Now I'm sleeping on my right side and my back, which I never did before but I can't sleep on my right side all night and I'm avoiding the left. It's getting to feel more natural now. I have also been sleeping with my arm on a pillow at night, it raises it and I think it's been good for it. PrincessK would know better, but I'm imagining that you shouldn't wrap it too tightly with the ace bandage? Princess any thoughts?

    Debonthelake it's so nice to hear how good you feel. I only wish I was 25 pound lighter than last year! Maybe I'll be able to stake a claim to that soon.

    Have a great weekend everyone. I've got family coming for summer birthday celebrations so it's going to be a busy weekend for me!

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

    Genia, that's one reason why I'm going back for the prophylactic. I'm right handed, and my cancer was on the left. So right now I'm just having to baby my left arm. But if it comes back, and they do a SNB on my right side too, I hate the idea that I'd have to pamper both arms permanently.

    I've already got mild lymphedema in the left arm.

    Best of luck to you. I've discovered swimming and wearing the compression sleeve are two great things that work.

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    hi all,

    can i ask a HUGE favor?  i'm one of 3 finalists in a contest to win a photo shoot worth $1,000.  go to http://bluelily.squarespace.com   VOTE for me.  taked 2 seconds.  I'm the 2nd contestant.

    thank you!  spread the word if you can!  i'm off to UCLA for PET/CT scans today.  1 vote per computer.  voting ends TONIGHT at midnight!

    thank you!!!!

    lisa

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

    Done!  Good Luck!

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2009
    Lisalisa, voted! It's so nice that others gave up there votes to you. People are so kind and good. I hope you win, keep us posted!
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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited July 2009

    yuppers, lisa!  Voted.  good luck.

    yahooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Clink, clink and toast to BOLD.  

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

    Voted for ya Lisa!!! Hope ya win!

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2009

    Thank you all for celebrating my finishing!!!!! I had a heck of a good time yesterday. I brought in See's candy for my rad onc and all the staff in the rad dept. the sweet girls at the front desk too. They use to all come and see what I was wearing everyday. I am kinda a camilian with different wigs and styles. I think that is why it is so hard to have such uber short hair You are stuck with just one look. And it is kinda extreme.

    I still do not have a computer and yesterday my DH had to take his to work. It was just horrible not to be able cyber drink with my peeps. But this morning it sure was fun to log on. The night before my last treatment I got really sick. I had a blistering headache and was throwing up. TMI. the next morning I was fine and the episode was over. I will never know what that was about.

    I swam last night!! My skin is not broken just red and  a little angry. I am sooooo happy!!!!

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

    Bold, CONGRATULATIONS!!  You made it - you are a warrior!!!!

    Genia, go get that taken care of - like Barbie said, push push push - you have to be your own advocate sometimes to get things done. 

    I ordered the Firm Wave today - looking forward to it arriving and me starting to work it out.  Been doing yoga and I tried my tae bo on Tuesday, and ouch, I hurt everywhere - those muscles were getting used to the sedentary lifestyle!!

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2009

    Deb you cane do it!!!!

    Genia I am sorry to hear about your arm. I hope that you get the support you need to arrest the lymphatic pooling. I know that if you do the exercises and wear your sleeve that it is managable. I would get in today!!!! there is no reason you should have to suffer over the hot weekend.

    Lisa I will go and vote. Thanks for starting this wonder group. I know that we are moving on. But these bonds will forever be with me. I hope that we can check in with eachother in our ongoing fight against recurrence. I start on Monday with my long walks and clean eating.

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

    I am with you on that, Bold!!  This group has been such a wonderful sounding board and we've all gone through so much together with the burning, searing, cutting and poisoning of our bodies and now we are on the road to rebuilding ourselves for the better.  I thank each and every one of you for being there for me, and I will definitely check in a lot to see those sisters remaining and counting down get across the finish line and those who have finished to check on their progress during their remodeling phase!!

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited July 2009

    Good morning ladies...

    Genia...I hope you get the LE taken care of...and soon...hugs...

    Lisalisa...I voted! Congrats! Looks like it's in the bag!!!

    Yes, please...let's all check in on each other as we move forward...

    Deb-from-Ohio...hang in there, ok? just one more week and one day, right? we'll be here for you...

    Have a great weekend everyone...be well...Cool

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  • dkerler
    dkerler Member Posts: 75
    edited July 2009

    Lisa- I watched your video and sobbed all the way through and of course voted for you. 80% of the votes. Look like you'll win. Congratulations.

    You and the rest of the May radiators probably don't know me well.  I was with you through chemo but started rads in April.

    Now I have a favor to ask of all my sisters. My latest chest CT was not good so I'm asking for prayers. Some for my family and some to help me through the following months.

    I will keep you updated. The first coming Monday when I have an appt. with my medical oncologist.

    Thanks everyone.

    Debbie

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

    Debbie, I will be sending up my fiercest prayers for you and a big, gentle hug!!!  

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    Awww thanks for all the votes!!!  I really appreciate it!

    To all of you, I really do hope that we can all keep encouraging each other.  I NEVER would have made it thru treatment without all of you!  Let's not lose that!

    Debbie - oh my...prayers are on the way!  Please lean on us for support and keep us posted.  I had my PET/CT scan TODAY......sitting here a bundle of nerves while I wait for results.

    hugs to all of you!
    Lisa

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

    Debbie--All the power of positive thinking goes to you!!!  You will be OK, we won't have it any other way!!  Judy.

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2009

    Lisalisa:  You got my vote.  Your video was precious.

    Genia:  I so sorry.  Hope you are feeling better today and got to get into a Dr. without having to suffer all weekend.  I also was told not to sleep on the side that I had cancer.  My right side and also my favorite side to sleep.  I had to put a pillow on both sides of me to keep me off my right side.  I am finally getting used to sleeping on my left side and have done away with the pillows.  Now if I turn over on my right side it is painful and I immediately flip over.  ((((Soft Hugs)))) 

    Dkrler:  Your in my prayers (((soft hug))).

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009

    Genia, Barbie is right, when I was taught to do the temporary wrap, the Physical Therapist told me only to stretch the ACE bandage out about 30% to 50% as you're wrapping.  It doesn't have to be that tight.  Also, you don't have to keep it on all night - - I did maybe 2-6 hours at a time initially.  My hand / fingers were swollen too - - go out an buy isotoner gloves without fingertips. oxo c

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2009

    Dkrler: you are in my prayers. Please let us know how it goes. Your post was a bit cryptic. I hope that it is manageable and curable.

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