MAY 2009 Rads

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2009

    OK Lisa you got my vote.  Looks like you really have a good shot at winning this.  Good luck. My Dad died April 2008.  It's been a tough 2 years for both of us.  We're gutsy though.  We can do this yes we can. Your family is beautiful and your video is very emotional.  Hang in there girl. There is lots of life left to live.

  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    Deb, I'm sorry about your Dad too.....that has been rough for me....wanting my Dad to be around to help me thru this cancer stuff.  But, you are right....we are STRONG!  and there is LOTS left to live!!!!!

  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009

    Hi Lisalisa, I voted for you!

    I have a friend Lisa who lives in Manhattan Beach too - - she has twins and goldendoodle.

     p.s., Dkrler,  I hope that everything works out as best as possible.  God Bless.

  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 425
    edited July 2009

    Lisa:  looks like it's gonna be you girl!!    Way to go!!  

    Debbie:  Emailing you..... WTF!!!!!!   what does CT "not so good" mean?  A bucket load of prayers on there way to you and your family.

  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    Princess - how funny!  how old are her twins?  we have a cocker and a wheaten....wheatens are sometimes mistaken for goldendoodles!  wonder if I've seen her around town.  Manhattan Beach is not that big!

    kt57 - i know!  i feel like i just may win....can't get cocky though.  i'm so afraid one of the others is saving their votes for the end kwim?

  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    I won!!!  I won!!!

    thank you for the votes!!!  will share photos (of course!) after we do the shoot!

  • dkerler
    dkerler Member Posts: 75
    edited July 2009

    Congratulations Lisa! Can't wait to see the photos.

    I didn't mean to be cryptic about my CT scan. I guess I just didn't want to write all about it because then maybe I had to really wrap my head around it.

    In short my November CT showed a 3 mm nodule in my upper right lung which has now grown to 17 mm and in addition there is now a 15 mm nodule in the middle right lung.

    Keep those prayers coming.

    Debbie

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

    Lisa.... you won??? 

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

    Half asleep....if I had gone to the next page I would have seen that you did........duh!!!

    CONGRATS sweet lady.......hugssssss

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

    Thanks ya'll.....not as swollen today.  I go in Monday to see the specialist.  I'm just babying it until I can get in there.

    lots of love.......have a great weekend

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

    Genia--Glad you feel better.  I hope you have a great weekend also. 

    Yes Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!Congrats on the photo shoot.  You deserve it!!!!!

    Dkler---Sending positive vibes your way.  

    Bold-----Any chance we could see some of the outfits you came up with?  I bet they were great.

    kt57--Hey, now that the port is out, how long before the tenderness went away?  

    I am shedding dark brown dried up skin.  I've never tanned that much before.  

    Chelev---I think your hair is wonderful looking -and quite dark.  Mine is gray!  I dyed my hair for too long and I am quite shocked to see how gray and white it is....... 

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

    (((Debbie)))  What a shock !!    Of course you're having a hard time wrapping your brain around it..

    Just take adeep breath and take it day by day.  I know that is hard, but what we tend to do is play everything out to the end- good or bad.  And the truth is, you don't know how it plays out...

    Be good to yourself, and don't write plays......  We're here for you..   JUDY 

  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 425
    edited July 2009

    Lisa: so happy for you!

    Jess: Took about a month to settle down.  It is still tender if I over do..  Actually moreso than my lumpectomy/SNB sites.

    Genia: Hope your arm is better. Rest and therapy will help. 

  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009

    Congrats Lisa! 

    Genia, If you end up with a sleve, check out this website: http://lymphedivas.com/

    Happy Sat All!  

  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2009

    Debbie you are in my prayers.  God be with you as you wait for the next move.

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

    My fingers are very sore from the Femara, but otherwise I'm doing great.

    I see my breast surgeon tomorrow about "lopping off" the other one. And then I see my eye surgeon on Thursday because my eyes are still watering like Niagra Falls.

    I'm up to 30 minutes daily of exercise! Stamina is getting SO much better!

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

    I agree, Texas, my stamina is getting better . . . or was - I've been having nausea after every meal, and just looked up the se's for Femara and that's one of them.  I'm going to call the med onc tomorrow to report this in, as I can deal with the fingers swelling, and the hip joint pain and headache - Advil helps with that a lot, so does moving around and I have been trying to really work out more, but being nauseated all the time is not helping me at all!! 

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

    I can relate to that Chelev! After the chemo nausea, and some of us had radiation nausea, we certainly don't need more nausea from the Femara!

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2009

    congrats Lisa!!!!!!

    Debbie, I can only imagine your fears. Please remember that there are so many options and know that you are in our prayers.

    Chelev,what a drag.maybe if you take it a different time of day? I hope that it get resolved soon!!

    You know its funny I do not know how to post a picture on the site. I am a photographer but I do not know thats pretty pathetic. I have gone out more and more with my head exposed. I am still not completely filled in. You can see some scalp but hey its hot and I did not do anything to be ashamed of sooooo there.

    I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Thinking of deb from Ohio. I think snappygodess is on another rad site as it seems her treatment was delayed. I could be wrong but that is what I understood. So I think Deb is final gal. I can't wait. Then we will all be off and running or walking or any form of exercise!!!!

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

    I have 6 more treatments and I'm done, that is if they will do them now..Now i have pnuemonia...I just go from one thing to another....That's what the itch in my throat was from. Just really woke up coughing and felt horrible yesterday morning so went to the doc....But from what I know, will be 6 more...

    Hugs....

  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2009

    Deb:  So sorry!  Hope you get feeling better. 

    Femara Gals:  When are you taking your pill?  I have read on the web you have less SE's if you take them in the morning.  I take mine in the morning and not on an empty stomach.  I am into my third month now and am just beginning to have some tingling in my arms.  Once I get moving around it goes away.   All I have read on the web on the benefits of Fermara in clinical trials are based on 24 months of treatment and that further follow-up will be needed to determine long term results, including side effects.  Guess we are all guinea pigs....

    Chelev:  Sorry your having the nausea.

    Has anyone else besides Ivorymom and I been put on osteoporosis prevention medication?  If you are on hormone therapy vitamin C & D may not be enough to prevent osteoporosis.  Link is to the Nation Osteoporosis Foundation Website http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/medications.htm

    More website to check out: http://www.facingourrisk.org/risk_management/chemoprevention_breast_cancer.html

    http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/CancerManagementGuidelines/Breast/Management/04+Adjuvant+Hormonal+Therapy.htm

     http://www.lbbc.org/content/news/tamoxifen-and-raloxifene-reduce-breast-cancer-risk-in-postmenopausal-women.asp?section_tag=G

    I am on Actonel and was reading on the pamphlet this morning on it's SE's which one is bone, joint or muscle pain.  Not Good ......  I started taking it the same to I started taking Femara.

    After reading so much on the web this weekend on estrogen receptors it has gave me a major headache and tons of questions to ask my med onc.....Frown  Sorry if I'm babbling.

    Link to a survey report on aromatase inhibitors side effects:

    http://bcaction.org/uploads/PDF/AIReport.pdf

    Oncotype Score: 12. Radiation: 33 Treatments. Hormone Therapy: Femera for 5 years. Working on a healthier lifestyle.
    Dx 2/24/2009, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2009

    Deb from Ohio,

    Good grief pneumonia.  I hope  you get well soon.  Will that delay the rest of your rads? Was it caused by the radiation.  You are in my prayers.  That Femara sounds like rough stuff.  I guess that's one of the benefits of being triple negative.  Hang in there gals.

  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009

    Sorry it was more serious than allergy Deb.  I hope you have a very speedy recovery.  

    Take care all.   Lvoe & Light, Cool

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

    I dont know what it was due to...she (the doc) did say to talk to my radiology onc about it...so I guess I will do that tomorrow...and don't know if it will delay it or not, hopefully not, have already had one delay, don't want another and I only have 6 treatments left....but guess will find out tomorrow when I go in....oh boy!

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

    Ajlive: I have osteopenia (have had it for years due to hyperparathyroidism), and my oncologist wanted to put me on Fosamax. I refused for the time being because that causes the same pains as Femara and I wanted to know what was causing what side effects. I'll probably join the Fosamax train by this time next year.

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

    I have left a message with my med onc about the nausea.  Found that 1/2 of a compazine tablet helped a lot - but I really do not want to have to now take an anti nausea drug every day on top of the Femara, plus all of the vitamins, priolsec, etc.  It's getting to be a little much, no matter how I spread them out.  I'll wait to hear back from the onc's office about the nausea.  Also told them about the swelling in my hands - some days can't put my rings on.  I don't know about the bones yet, because I can't get another bone scan until next year, so that's kind of scary about the osteoporosis thing - I already had slightly thin bones from being in menopause for 10 years without much by way of estrogen replacement.  Hips are starting to get achy too.

  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2009

    Debbie, prayers and hugs. Let's hope anything questionable is a result of a poor test.

    Genia let us know how it goes and how you're feeling- I'm hoping better.

    Deb from Ohio I can't believe you got pneumonia. UGH! My doctor talked to me about a possibility of having my lungs effected by the rads because of where they had to shoot the beams. Is it that? Whatever, I hope that they let you finish rads on time, and that you're feeling better soon. HUGS 

    Chelev sorry about the nausea, I can't imagine how annoying that is. Haven't we all had enough of this??????  

    I was reading a study about building bone strength. They suggested eating dried plums, formally known as "prunes" Since I love dried plums/prunes anyway I'm going to start eating them on a daily basis. I'm already doing weight bearing exercise and I want to support my body through my diet as much as I can. I hate the idea of taking any more medicine.

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

    Debbie, we're all thinking of you!!

    Genia, feel better soon - and same goes for you, Deb-from-Ohio!!  You two have defintely been through the wringer!

    Thanks, Barbie.  I thought the compazine was helping, but nope, nausea came back this morning while I'm trying to be productive at work.  Have a call in to the onc, we'll see what they say because this definitely sucks - I'm hungry, but not really, and doesn't matter whether I eat or not.  Ginger has not helped either.

    Prunes (plums) are delicious!!  I've also heard about broccoli sprouts. 

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2009

    Deb of all the luck!!! You must be a very strong woman to be tested the way you have been. Well at least your hair is growing. I hope and pray that you feel like yourself again soon.

    My Dh and I are going to look into Weight Watchers on line tonight. We both have gained and it is time to turn back the clock and get our mojo and strength back!!!!

    It is very hot here got up to 99 yesterday. They have started to impose a water ration here, I have a very lush garden and lots of hydrangea and they are always thirsty.This should be a challenge.

    I am still not totally back to normal. I know it has only been 3 days post rads. I just want to feel like myself again. I am tired then get burst of energy, then pooped again. I think that I am just deconditioned. I envy those who where able to exercise through chemo and rads. I was not one of them. grrrrrrr.

    I am using that real expensive eyelash growing stuff on my eyes and it is starting to work. It has only been a week. Cool huh? The problem with real short hair is that you are stuck with a certain look. I have always enjoyed changing my look. Now I look like I am in the metrics.

    I hopae that everyone has a wonderful week with less and less thoughts of cancer and fear.....

  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited July 2009

    Hello ladies...

    Dkerler...you'll be in my prayers...Bold is right, there are so many options now...

    Deb-from-Ohio...hugs...pneumonia on top of everything else??? hang in there...

    Chelev...sorry to hear about the nausea...I haven't started hormone theraphy yet but I also experienced nausea after meals a few days last week...doc got me started on Prevacid again (I was on it before DX and during chemo)...I've read posts from other threads that it could be from rads?...in any case, hope you get it resolved soon...

    Ivorymom...glad to hear about the no SEs on Tamox...what dosage of Tamox are you taking? what time of day do you take it?...thanks...

    Bold...I also did not get to exercise during active treatment..I am almost 4 weeks post-rad and while my stamina is back, I still feel pooped some days...

    Speaking of exercise...I've been trying to get in at least 30 minutes of cardio 3X a week...my goal is 30 minutes everyday...I am doing arm stretches but still afraid to use weights on my at-risk arm...any thoughts?

    Cruise...where are you?...hope you are well...

    Be well ladies...

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