March 2009 Rads Group?

Hi!  Yes, it was a gorgeous day here today too.  Hubby took off from work early and we took the bike out and just rode around in the country.  Stopped along the way in a lil meadow..it was really cool.  Felt like kids again!   

Well hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow! 

Boy just got back from seeing my Oncologists, gosh do I love these two!  He told me the redness was not a recurrence, and my wound breaking down and opening up is not that unusual.  Put me on antibiotics and cortisone cream.  Redness is just Radiation Dermatitis, (I had a lot of radiation due to my diagnosis and it is just taking me longer to heal from it).  It is so wonderful to have doctors that you completely love and trust.  What a relief!!!  

Here is a tip from one of my nurses cut off the top of a man's T-shirt like under the arms, it has to be small so it is tight like a tube top, and wear it under your bra, cotton T puts a barrier between your red radiation skin, and the bra and form.  The netting like material on the pocket side was irritating my red skin, Works great! 

great news susie - what a relief!!!!  yes, I have been using cut up t shirts from the beginning, and now I still have to use them to prevent rashes underboob.

what a wonderful thing to have oncologists you love and trust! 

Hi, Mary!  Always glad to hear from you here!  I had a good weekend.  Did NOTHING!  Made some baked ziti that was good, though!

Susie, great tip!!!!  I was wearing men's undershirts, but never thought to wear one UNDER the bra.  Duhhhhh!!!!!

Saw my oncologist today.  Good visit.  He reassured me that the lump I felt was nothing and that there was nothing on the PET scan.  He did surprise me, though, when he asked if I had ever thought about the lap band surgery for losing weight.  He said the reports coming back are "amazing" and "fantastic" as to it's success rate and that I should consider it.  He knows how I'm struggling with this, and so far, seems like a fading dream!!!!!  Has anyone had it done?

I had to have my port flushed today, too, and I asked him when I could have it out.  He bluntly said, "never!"  Then went on to say that realistically, I have to face the fact that there is a "very good chance" that the cancer will return.  That was the one dismal part of my day.  I think I knew that from the beginning.  It's just that you fight so hard and go through so much, and to hear that doesn't make me feel like much of a winner with it all.  I hate the fact that this is all just a crap shoot!

Rachel, you always make my day!!!!!  You just have to take this guy with a grain of salt!  He's definitely NOT one you would want by your bedside when you are dying, that's for sure!  I think his "never" was sarcastic, as he did say 5 years a while back.  I think he trying to shut me up and face the reality that just because I feel good doesn't mean it won't come back.  What he doesn't know is that I AM very reality based and know all the odds.

 I'm on Arimidex.  Hate it, but I'm doing it religiously!

And keep that 2 x4 handy!  I might need it!

Mary, I'm doing alright on the Arimidex.  My only complaint is the night sweats that keep me awake.  But it does seem that that is calming down some.  I'm trying to figure out what triggers it -- what I eat, stress, etc.  Sometimes it's horrible, other times I'm ok.  There is a thread somewhere on here about Arimidex.  Some gals are really complaining about bone and joint pain and other things, others seem to be doing ok.  According to my oncologist, right now my complaints do not merit quiting.  He feels I would benefit way much more if I keep taking it.  I've heard that the tamoxofin has worse side affects.

Looks like Rachel can start a business here renting out the 2x4!!!!!!  When I told my sister what my Onc said, she was really mad, too.  Funny thing, I was mad that he said it, but when my sister got mad, I found myself defending him.  I tried to put it into context:  I bugged him again about getting the port out, asking, "When can I get this thing out????!!!!"  He rubbed his bald head and said, "LOOK!!!!  Most likely, because of the severity of your cancer and how long you let it go, it will come back.  We have to face reality here.  You CAN'T have the port out -- ever!!!"  He was trying to get a point across to me, but in doing so, he flushed my future down the toilet!!!!!

Susie, the swift kick sounds like a good plan!!!!  I'd love to be a fly on the wall when you do it!

Hi girls, well things couldn't have gone better, no kicking needed nor did I have to pull out the 2x4!   So I think the surgeon may be one that "thinks out loud" rather than think and THEN speak. I showed him my ever increasing "hole" in my incision and told him it just about doubled in size in both areas in just about a week.  And he sort of said well if we biopsy it may breakdown and we will end up with a worsened situation blah blah blah and goes on to say how it may be cancer again.  I stopped him and said well the last time you told me this I cried for 4 days so with my diagnosis and the possibility of Inflammatory breast cancer we need to act fast so if you think there is any possibility of a recurrence we need to do a biopsy fast so I can go back on Chemo if the need be, this is upsetting to me.  He looked rather like he realized he didn't handle things right and then said Oh I don't really think this is a return of cancer but just that there is a remote possibility, I don't really think it is, what you have going on is not uncommon with radiation!  So my surgeon will hopefully be back by then and will take me in surgery and cut away the dead non healing tissue and I will be good to go!

So I am here returning the proverbial 2X4, use it wisely!

Hello Mary.

Sorry Susie.  I know what you mean.  I've been having problems breathing for the past 3 weeks and finally went in to see PCP who did an xray.  She was busy so told me she would call sometime the next day.  Well crap.....you can't do that to someone that had cancer.  I was up all night long organizing my life for chemo again.  No cancer in the lungs but I still can't breath. 

I'll barrow the 2X4 for awhile if no one cares.

Keep us posted on the hole.

Susie I am so glad you are back in a comfortable place and really happy you sorted out the issue with the doc... He's got that thinkitsayitwithoutthinking thing.  Sheesh.  And GOOD FOR YOU that you OPENED YOUR MOUTH AND SPOKE TO YOUR FEARS.  That's just brilliant.  You didn't go nuts, you just accurately defined the issue.  That is SO difficult!  That's when we are being women, right?  We deal with the dirty stuff.  Well done.  Still this thing with the hole is pretty whacked.

Renee- so you did get the results and you know its not cancer?  What's the story with the trouble breathing?  I know you have been under a lot of stress recently, and the oomph.  You are welcome to the 2 x4.  I got plenty here- it's NYC ya know. 

Mary I love the pic!  Rib pain does sound familiar

ReneeS: So how are they explaining the breathing situation, it isn't something simple like asthma or allergies?  The reason I say that is a friend of mine who has had breast cancer (2 times) had no allergies or asthma until after her chemo's/radiation and then developed a bad case of Asthma/Allergies. Thought I'd pass that along.  I know for me my mind doesn't go to simple it goes to the worse case!   Here is Rachel's 2X4! 

Good luck Renee, I had my bone scan and CT today. I initially thought the pain was from my asthma or my allergies as it first appeared during allergy season for me. Now I am a bit scared!

But I have to hhave faith.

I feel a tightness in my chest, and difficulty taking a deep breath. Sometimes before an attack, I feel a slight pain in the lower area of my lungs.

Good Luck.

I have to wait two weeks for my results, but I am going to try to get my other dr to get the results from the hospital.

My CT came back clean, so I just have to wait for results of bone scan.

The waiting is the hardest part. Tom Petty, said it best.