AUGUST 2009 RADS

Cake - I had a hyster 4 years ago.  Too many fibroids, so I had them go ahead and remove ovaries too.  Glad I did that now.

I dont think tamox side effects will be too good for someone with Lupus after what I've been reading.  I'll talk to Onco tho.  Who knows, maybe I won't even notice with all the SE I already have. 

They found my her2+ with 1 mm tumor, but maybe they typed it from the DCIS, who knows.

Hiya Lori R (btw - my name is actually Laura R.  funny!)  I havent had boosts yet, so sorry I'm not sure about your question.  But I do wonder why we all have different amounts of boosts and days of rads.  I have 33 total rads with only 5 boosts (3 regular left and 5 boosts to go!).  Curious.

Hi Lori R

I had 24 regular whole breast zaps and am on my last 5 (out of 9 boosts). My energy level really dropped my last week of whole breast zaps and I am still really tired  --my energy level has tanked--.  The appointment itself for the boost is much faster.  They don't have to line you up so particularly as they do with the whole breast (in my case at least) -- the only zap me in one position and they only hit a small area around my scar.  I am getting very red on that one spot, but the rest of my skin that was red and blotchy, that is no longer being radiated, looks a lot better.I will be done on Friday!  Hang in there everyone.

Helen

Thanks CC for the info.  I know, I read so much on the internet.  Don't know what to believe.  Anyway, Onco said he was on the fence because of the 1mm, I see him at the end of Oct.

LoriR - They did my sim today, because I start my boosts on Friday.  (26 reg and 6 boosts).  Breast has more stickers and a big green circle on it, (will it never end?).  Anyway Dr. said it shouldn't make me anymore red (I have very little redness) because as Chris said it isn't as hard on your breast and he said it's a different kind of radiation - electrons or something.  I forgot already??!!  He also said it shouldn't add to my fatigue either.  Actually my fatigue has lifted some these last few days, don't know why, maybe just a little less stress knowing it's almost over.

Hey Everyone, haven`t been able to post lately with computer problems, but now seems to be running ok again!!  Will give you an update.  Finished Rads on Sept 10th (25 + 5 boosts).  At tx 23 started getting skin breakdown under the breast and along lumpectomy scar (lower inner quadrant),  This progressively got worse until I really could not even wear a camisole.  I was told at the final boost that it would get worse for 2 weeks and have noticed just yesterday that it is not oozing so bad and today hardly at all. I tried to give it as much air as possible, but kinda hard with the location (I had to lay down in the tx position to allow air to it!).  It looked and felt like a burn (not sunburn) and stung whenever I moved!  Even with the burn cream (silver sulphadiazine) it still stung quite a bit.  I was also pretty nauseous for about 3 - 4 days after my last tx.  Now the area seems to be healing, but the rest of the treatment area is now peeling.  The skin around my nipple was thick and lumpy, but is now peeling off.  I still try to rest at some point during the day, but don`t always get a nap in.  Things seem to be improving and that is wonderful, cause I would like to get on with my life!!  Hope all are doing well and congrats to those who are finishing up!  Be Well All!

Lori,

Hope you had a good time at the canyon.  We love to camp in that area and hike it every now and then.  I too had a close margin so am having 7 boosts instead of 5.  They haven't been bad.  My other areas have been healing nicely and the rad doc didn't think that my last 4 reg. treatments on those areas should be too much of a problem.

Fatigue is still bad for me even with boosts.  By Thurs. afternoon I am wiped out.  O.K. Friday AM and then back to washed out by PM.  Can't wait till this is all over and I get some of my energy back!  These kinders and first graders are kicking my butt!

Take care,

Chris

Me too!!!!  Now only 6 boosts left for me!!!!

ack i'm SO itchy right now! LOL

First boost went well.  I found myself being a liitle anxious and afraid when it first started (have no idea why).  Machine was on a liitle longer and was almost touching my breast, but other than that it was pretty much the same.  Just think only 5 more.  I ordered the tamox from my mail order drug company today.  Probably won't start it til a week or two after rad complete.  Hope that's okay.  I'm going to TRY and take it -- we'll see.  Doesn't it seem that when you're postmenopausal, have no ovaries, and only a little ER+ you might be able to get by without it.  I have to ask the onco, but we all know what he'll say. 

I had visit with rad doc yesterday.  My usual wasn't there so I had a fill in.  He has a nutrition center at the hospital.  He said that BEFORE starting any drugs to block estrogen, get tested to see how much your body is putting out naturally.  I had hyster..ovaries too in 2005.  He said that my levels should have been tested prior to meds to see how effective they would be.  If I already have very low estrogen, the benefits don't outweight the SE's.  He said no one in his family would ever see Arimidex...SE's are terrible.

Now...does he have me confused!  I've already been taking Arimidex for about 3 months so I'd have to go off for a few to have test done.  Going to talk to onc. and bs again.

Just some info to really cloud the water...

Chris

wow, I had no idea that you can even test for estrogen levels.  Wonder if it is high because my bc is 100% E+, or is it just that E+ people get affected by estrogen level either way, low or high. 

There is SO much stuff to learn about this whole bc thing!  I was so ignorant 4 months ago.  Now when i talk about bc to my "non-bc" friends (lucky stiffs!), I feel like I have a PhD in the darn disease (but stuff like testing Est shows me I would really need to go to school for a PhD, ha ha!)

Thanks for the info!  I'm going to put that on my list of questions for my next visit.  Kawee and Chris, LMK what your docs say when you ask them.

Hi, Lori, yes it is a blood test.  My sister had one once and they told her she had the estrogen of a 7 year old.

I am so looking forward to Friday.  Really the time went by really quick.  My breast is just now looking sunburned, so i'm glad I'm in the boost phase.    My husband's going with me on Friday and then taking me to lunch to celebrate. 

Me, too.  I said you could hardly see anything, well now you can.  I am especially red, itch and sore under my arm moving onto the side of my breast.  I think we're continuing to cook even tho our whole breast is not radiated.  At least that's what it seems like.  Dr. said to use cortisone on it for the itching.

Today, when I asked the Dr. AGAIN if the boosts were going to burn me more, he said, "well, let me see what you're getting.  Yes, it probably will some."  Different answer than I got last time.  He also said yes to the flu shot.  He also told me that the healing process doesn't usually start for a couple of weeks. 

Still tired, especially if I do alot the day before, I wake up really tired the next day.  Been wiped out today cause my husband is home on the weekends and i don't take time for rest.

Anyway 4 more to go!!!

Thanks Chris!  Two more to go!

Got stitches today for an incision to "ward off more melanoma."  When I get moderate abnormal skin cells, out come the drs knife to get rid of them.  yippee!  more scars!