MAY 2009 Rads

Yay, Texas!!!!!!!   That is the BEST news!!

Barbie, thanks for the kind words!  Yes, I had the itchy thing ocassionally, usually right around the nipple area.  I think it is just healing skin.  And you know, the immune system thing makes sense, because I too had some weird things going on - I developed mono, at 30, out of nowhere, and it is part of the Eppstein-Barr virus.

Deb, you've got the list about right on the immune system: exercise, rest and a wide variety of plant-based veggies are supposedly the major players in that one.

Meg, I think you're unusual as most people report their radiated side contracting and getting smaller. That might be good news for you because it may mean that you're not developing extra scar tissue.

Today I've GOT to try cleaning house. The vacuuming is my major problem. I'm right-handed, and that's my new surgery side. So I have to try it left-handed, which is not only awkward but also with LE I'm not supposed to be doing repetitive motions. But we have 4 dogs and people coming over tonight. I don't want guests wading in dog hair!

All I keep telling myself is that it's temporary. I can't imagine if I'd waited until they found something, and I'd have the risk of LE in both arms! So I'm feeling very blessed.

Well said Ivory!!!! I believe that appreciation and happiness are synonymous. I have so much to be grateful for too. I have Herceptin today. I am drinking a ton of water to get ready and I am going to exercise now as I feel very tired after infusion. I am going to visit a friend who is in the hospital after. He is only a few blocks away from my onc at Cedar Sinai hospital. He has ALS. Yikes huh? I would appreciate it if you all could say a prayer for him and his family it is really a tough one. Thank you. You gals rule!!!

Tex do you have some on that could vacuum for you? I would do it but.............

I had a great weekend and now it is time to get stuff (allot) done.

OH guess what? I got a iphone and it is soooo cool!!!! I love it. Pandora is a wonderful application. It is a radio that plays only what you like. This new technologies are kinda spooky.

Peace and health.

Well, Pam, I don't know whether the dark armpit is caused by "scatter" or not but I do know that since my rads the lower part of my right armpit is darker and I don't have hair there (though I do higher up in my armpit).  Also it swells a little bit from time to time and feels tight (not a big deal, I only notice when I put my arms up above my head), so I'm pretty sure they irradiated it.  I haven't asked the rad onc about it but I plan to ask the med onc about that and about the breast pain I've been having over the last week or so when I see him next week.  I think it is normal and am not worried about it, but plan to confirm.  This probably doesn't help you much but at least you know someone else has had a similar experience!

I hope everyone is doing well.  I haven't been on the boards as much lately (and never really posted that much) but I think about all of the May rads gang regularly ....

Pam, I don't have armpit hair on either side yet. I finished chemo in April and rads in June -- still no sign. It's the only place that the hair has not started to grow yet.

Pam, just checking in as well - my darkened armpit eventually faded to almost normal coloring.  Last rads was June 26 (the last of the boosts) and it was very dark.  No hair either, but that unfortunately has come back, sort of sparse, but there.  Breast pain is lessening, but still there - only really notice it while laying down on that side.  Can wear a sports bra and actually start light jogging / heavy walking with minimal discomfort from bouncing.

Hi all. I had no discoloration in the pit. I did on the nipple but it is totally normal color now. I wonder if the discolor comes from skin touching skin when you lay down. I would wonder if larger breasted gals experience this. Just thinking. I have costchondritis.(Inflammation of the muscle that connects the breast to the chest wall) I am self diagnosing as I still have not been seen by my onc since the 18 of June. I am still on herceptin and yesterday had an infusion. I was 16 mins. late and she said she could not see me. I was soooo angry. I come from a long way to see her. I have decided to switch Dr.s. The fact that she did not even ask if there was any important reason for seeing her or make a new appointment for me. I have had it with her!!!!! GRRRR. My heart functions have decreased by 20% since I have seen her too. Oh well onward and upward. The Truth of the matter is that I feel better than I have felt in years. But still. Thanks for the vent.

Is anyone else's radiated skin SUPER dry? I went a week without moisturizing, and the skin started flaking. The nurse warned me that some of the oil-producing cells had been permanently damaged, but I didn't expect the dryness to this extent.

Jess, oh yes, it's been fun, flashing before my mother even started having flashes!! 

I haven't noticed weight gain yet, but I am still only into my 3rd week on tamox.  I am fervently hoping that I will be one of the weight loss people on tamox, but with my luck, it won't be.

Texas, haven't noticed super dry skin except around the nipple area and it comes and goes.  I am having pain still where my port was inserted and removed - it is the weirdest thing.  The scar is kind of raised and a little redder than I'd like, so I'm thinking it is maybe keloiding.  I'll have to point it out to my onc at the next visit and see what she suggests.  It hurts to push on that area, and the port was removed in April.

Could be - or it just could be that some scars keloid.  I had a C-section scar that was like this too . . .and when I had the hyst. 10 years later, my doctor fixed it so it wasn't like that.

I just had to post something here because it's in my favorites and the last post was Sept 11th which made me feel sad every time I saw it.

I hope everyone is doing well. I'm still getting a little swelling in my rad breast, and sometimes I over do the exercise and I'm sore. Every day I heal a little more.

My plastic surgeon said tightening was common for a few years after radiation, if that helps.

Yes, I just discovered the massage after doing an Internet search for ways to help prevent implant failure after radiation. There are videos on a few sites. I asked my PS about it, and she said it can be helpful.

She told me that if my implant was going to fail, it would probably be a couple of years after the surgery.

Lisa, congrats on all the work you've done to restore your life and body!