AUGUST 2009 RADS

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  • kawee
    kawee Member Posts: 324
    edited September 2009

    My gosh, Cake and all of this at the same time.

    Is anyone of you nearing the end tired?  Seems like I just want to sleep.  Never ever been a napper, but I've never taken so many naps in my life.  I'm not really exhausted, just sleepy and tired alot.

    Anyway, wonder when that will end? 

     Only 3 more!!!  I'm going to try and get up the energy to make my homemade chocolate cupcakes (I put coffee in the them and in the icing) to take to the rad office on Friday.  We'll see.

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  • LoriR
    LoriR Member Posts: 131
    edited September 2009

    Chris - thanks for the words of encouragement - the end is so close - only 4 more.  Today (just within the last 4 hours) I have just become absolutley wiped out - It is weird not that I want to sleep just that all I want to do is close my eyes - they burn like I have been driving for 24 hours and not able to blink!  We don't have a bell at my facility but I brought it up to them - told them I heard about it here that some do.  If there was one I would be ready to ring it! I watched GI Jane the other night - made me feel good to see  a bald women in a movie and she rang the bell with a baseball bat!  I would totally do that! 

    Since my last one is Monday I am going to make cookies over the weekend and bring in to everyone at the facility.  They have all been so super nice!!  They probably get stuff all the time but I don't care. 

    Kawee and cakeisgreat - Hang in there!  WE are soo close!

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  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 553
    edited September 2009

    I have been tired the past few weeks.  Usually by Thurs afternoon I am worthless!  Same thing...just want to close my eyes.  Doc wanted to stop treatments for awhile today due to my redness and peeling,  I told him if he wanted to get the last 3 treatments in it was now or never!!  We are going ahead as planned and I will just be prepared for some nasty burns when this is all over.  I want done by Friday so I can really celebrate this weekend.  I know a few more days won't hurt...but it has been in my mind that this will be my last day and I can't bear to change it.

    3 more and counting.....

    Chris

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  • peg119
    peg119 Member Posts: 281
    edited September 2009

    I agree with being tired.  I haven't been sleeping well at all.  It doesn't make sense that you can be exhausted and when you close your eyes you can't sleep.  I resorted to Tylenol PM last night at about 11:30 so I could finally sleep.  Had my first boost today.  4 more to go and then I am done.  Yeah.  red and itchy and my nipple is tender which is kind of scary since that is where the boost are targeted.  Will be so glad to put all of this behind me (sort of).  Second bottle of tamox and no se yet.

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Hi Peg--excellent that you have no Tomox SEs.  I have to start Oct 2 and I'm afraid of SEs

    I CANT WALK because I'm in so much pain from my "mole excision" on my foot.  I've had like 10 of these (double row of stitches, usually about 11-15 each scar) on my back and arms, and let me tell you...the FOOT is excrutiating!  That's what's taking up all my thoughts at the moment.

    You know it's so wierd but I was tired in the middle and less now.  But i am getting pretty grumpy which I find odd.  Probably nothing to do with rads...more just stress or post traumatic syndrome or whatever you call it?  Yep to peeling but no more redness on the boost part that the other part.  Been lazy about putting on the cream now.  BAD me!

    Kawee--three more yippee!

    ChrisC--three more (ouchie boosts) yipee!

    LoriR--four more yippee!

    Peg--four more yippee!

    Me-one more yippee!  But I'll stick around :)

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Happy Birthday Alyad!

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited October 2009
    Hope you're feeling up for celebrating Alyad.  Happy Birthday to You!
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  • kawee
    kawee Member Posts: 324
    edited October 2009

    Cake - I only have 2 more!!  I'm done on Friday!!  The boost site is reder than the already redness.  In spots, it feels like an old piece of shoe leather, is itchy, dry and sore.

    In the shower, I dropped a full bottle of Dove body wash, lid side down, on the top of my foot.  After much screaming and cursing I just asked, Why me, haven't I been thru enough?  But, ladies, it's a good thing we're tough!!!  AND when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.  So, that's what I did, limping and all.  Tired myself out, then took a nap.

    We are all so close together, wouldn't it be lovely, if we could all go out to lunch. 

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  • Alyad
    Alyad Member Posts: 817
    edited October 2009

    thanks so much for the birthday wishes cake and elimar! 

    I finished rads almost 4 weeks ago and I am finally mostly done peeling. My armpit turned almost black like you mentioned Christy- - red everywhere else- my TRAM scar peeled too- but had some fluid under the skin first- trying to gently drain it the skin tore and was very red and looked painful- glad I don't have any nerves there! Put my armpit and side of the breast were very itchy.

    I felt like things got worse for about 10 days after finishing- to top it off I got sick with a sinus infection the day after! I felt like I could deal with the skin issues or the sinus ones- both together were brutal!

    But finally I felt better and my skin is much better- still a little flaky in spots and still reddish compared to other breast.

    I have an appt with my PS next week to schedule a revision of my hip scar- I have a dog ear fat pooch thing I hate. I need to take a pic and compare to old pics, but I think rads has caused some shrinkage/contracture in my foob- which is a good thing as it was larger and hung lower than the good one and I had some significant asymmetry.

     I have appt with onc to talk about tamox next week as well.

    hang in there those of you who are almost done! it will get better and you will heal and you will regain energy again! I am still easily tired, but much better than a few weeks ago.

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  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 553
    edited October 2009

    I will also be done Friday.  Had my boosts last week.  Have 2 more regulars and I am out of there!  Very red and raw in a few spots, but hanging in there.  I know that the week after I am done may be the worst...don't care, getting done Friday for better or for worse!

    Happy Birthdya Alyad!

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  • BetsyBuzz
    BetsyBuzz Member Posts: 592
    edited October 2009

    Alyad...Love the hair!! I posted a question on the Sept rads about my black armpit but I'm a little ahead of most of the ladies on that thread, not glad than anyone else's armpit looks like mine but happy to know I'm not alone.

    I'm also on my second bottle of tamoxifen with little or no side effects. At first the hot flashes were very intense but after about three weeks, they've really improved to better than before chemo.The main SE I don't like is facial hair. OMG...it's not bad enough that I barely have hair on my head but the facial hair is all over. Yuck!!!

    My last rads boost is Monday...only 3 to go including today. Congratulations to all of you that are wrapping up! Cakes...it's your big day today!!! Yahoo!! 

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  • kawee
    kawee Member Posts: 324
    edited October 2009

    CAKE IS DONE!!!!!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!  Me and Chris tomorrow!!!!!!!

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  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 553
    edited October 2009

    CONGRATS CAKE!!!  KAWEE...I'LL BE THINKING OF YOU TOMORROW MORNING WHEN I WALK OUT OF RADS...I WON'T BE CELEBRATING ALONE!

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  • LoriR
    LoriR Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2009

    Chris, Kawee and Cake

    Much congrats!  I am with you on Monday!  BetsyBuzz I will be finishing up with you!  I am done at 10 what time do you go?  Yeah - for all of us. 

    take care

    Lori

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Hi everyone!

    Kawee--Ouch on your foot! Now we both have massive foot pain and hobble around...I SO agree with you about going shopping! I just decided on some nice paint colors for my bedroom and am trying to figure out how to scrape up the dough for curtains and bedspread (and pictures and...). I have a $350 doctor's appt coming up soon...very annoying to have to spend it on doctors instead of bedding!!!

    I'm done done done!!! Thanks Kawee, Chris, and Lori for the congrats, and I am congratulating you and Chris early for tomorrow's last day, woohooooooooooooooo!!!!  Betsy and Lori--you go girls! I'll be thinkin of ya Monday!

    Starting Tomixifen tomorrow...I'm nervous. Hopefully no side effects (I'm really worried about the blod clot thing. I plan to exercise every day, but I still cant walk so I'm all nervous. I'm gonna do leg lifts and such to keep the body circulatin'.)

    I'm red and peeling, but manageable. Slept three hours today when I got home! Still tired! I'll be looking for that black armpit. Perfect for Halloween!

    Next...visiting surgeon on Tues, Dec 3 is 6 month mammo, Dec 4 is onco appt, and January is 3 month radiation followup. I think I'm going to *poop* a brick at my mammo appt I'll be so scared. April will be a PET/CT scan (havent had one...wish I did). (I still want wack off these bad boobs, tho! Should have done the mx.)

    May this bleepin blappin crappy disease never rear it's ugly nasty poopie (Laughing) head at any one of us again. Let us only be wonderful guides of comfort to the new lucky gals who will contract this not worthy to be named disease. We can say to them that we understand everything they will go through and that we can offer hope that we all can survive until decades later when we get hit by a mack truck (or something else besides this Smile).

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  • kawee
    kawee Member Posts: 324
    edited October 2009

    The rad onco told me I will be seeing him every six months for awhile.  What's up with that?  I thought to myself, "FAT CHANCE".  Maybe, I repeat, maybe I'll go back once, but that's it.

    I'm so excited for tomorrow I am going to skip out of there.  I don't know who said it, but ringing the bell with a baseball bat was right on.  I think I'll ask them if they have one.   I made chocolate coffee cupcakes with mini chocolate chips to take to the rad office tomorrow.

    I took my husband with me today.  Took him in the rad room.  The three people (techs and therapist came in (2 guys and a girl) and I told my husband, "this is when I disrobe for everyone.  He had a deer in the headlights look, so I let him off the hook and let him leave before I did.  He has been an absolute angel thru this whole ordeal.

    Rejoicing not only for myself, but for all of my new friends finishing up this week and first of next!!!  

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Awesome, Kawee!  Yeah, why do we need to keep going back to the rads onc?  what else does he have to do anyway?!

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  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 553
    edited October 2009

    All done!!!  I went at 7:45 this morning and wouldn't you know..the machine was down!  I had to go back at 12:30 to have my last rad!  I took muffins this morning and was told that since I had to come back later...I needed to bring lunch too!  Everyone was so nice there...I will miss their humor.

    Had rehearsal and dinner tonight.  Everything was so beautiful.  I cried the minute the music started!  My son has become such a wonderful young man and I am so proud of him.  Can't believe I have one getting married already..his younges brother is 8!!

    Hugs to all!

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  • kawee
    kawee Member Posts: 324
    edited October 2009

    Congrats Chris!!  Me too, Delivered chocolate espresso cupcakes, did rad, rang bell, gave hugs, got certificate and cried all the way home.  It's done.

    For all of you starting, my brother-in-law asked me if it was as bad as I thought it would be, I would definitely say no.  I was totally stressed and scared at first, but my breast held up well, I did get some fatigue, but nothing I couldn't deal with (and I have Lupus).  The time flew by. 

    For all of you done Monday, I'll be thinking about you!!! 

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Congratulations, Chris!  How EXCITING that your son is getting maried (probably celebrating right now!) My goal is to stay cancer-free until my kids are all grown up, and watch them all get married, and see and play with their grandkids. 

    Hiya kawee!

     thinking of you Monday gals!

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  • WLL
    WLL Member Posts: 96
    edited October 2009

    Hello all, I am going to have 6 1/2 weeks of radiation. I am hopeing to have my treatments during my  lunch hour, is that realistic? How long does it normally take? Any feedback would be great. God Bless   Wendy

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  • WLL
    WLL Member Posts: 96
    edited October 2009

    I go in for sinulation-i think- whatever that is?

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Hi, Wendy!  My treatments were 15 minutes, in and out.  As long as they dont leave you in the waiting room, it should be fine to go at lunch.

    There is a thread around here called October Rads...you might want to join that so that you can connect with the folks that are going through rads the same time you do.  It was very helpful to me.

    :)

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  • WLL
    WLL Member Posts: 96
    edited October 2009

    Ok thanks

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  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 553
    edited October 2009

    The wedding was great!!!  Couldn't have been any more beautiful and perfect.  It was very emotional for me...in the back of my mind I kept thinking this might be the only son I see get married.  I hate having those thoughts, but they are there.  

    We danced from 4-10:00 last night..and I mean danced...for the bride and groom, for my family, for my friends,,,and for no more treatments!

    Thank you all for your support!  I'll post picks when I can figure it out!

    chris

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Hiya, Chris!  I am SO glad the wedding went great, that you danced till you dropped, and that you made memories for a lifetime...a LONG lifetime, girlfriend, because I'm rooting for you to see all your kids' weddings, and to watch them have lotsa babies and watch your grandkids grow up!!!!  My friend is 10 years out at stage II with lymph node involvement and still doing absolutely fine.  My friend's aunt is 13 years at stage III.  

    Please give my very well wishes and congratulations to your son and DIL Laughing

    Laura

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  • LoriR
    LoriR Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2009
    • Peg and BetsyBuzz - I think you finish up tomorrow - We can all ring the bell with a baseball bat tomorrow!!! Yeah for the last one. 
    • congrats
    • Lori
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  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 553
    edited October 2009

    Posted pics on **New** Started Chemo March 2009. Came up huge and doubles, but I managed to get them posted!!

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  • peg119
    peg119 Member Posts: 281
    edited October 2009

    Lori = I am actually not done until Wednesday.  I had Friday off due to a conference.  I had been doing well before my boost but now nipple area is raw and peeling and the rest of my breast is pretty red.  Dark area in underarm and under breast.  Took my bra off today but not sure about for work tomorrow.  congrats on all who are done.

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009

    I will be done on Thursday and can't wait!!  I now have blisters in the center of my chest and under my arm. Thank goodness I am doing boosts now so those areas can hopefully start healing.

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