SEPTEMBER 2009 RADS

Today was my first day w/o rads.  It felt so good,  I went out, ran errands, did a little shopping (got a little overtired), but I felt relaxed and free knowing the worst is over.  What a wonderful feeling!  You all have this to look forward to! 

Betsy!  are we repeating ourselves now!  Must be the taxol giving us the itchy finger! 

Anyway, first booster zap today..no big deal..quick..saw the rad onc..nice guy, very quiet..always asks me if I have any questions...no not really,,just not alot of questions for radiation...is there?  Think I have learned most everything on here! 

So..anyway..dug out the fall/Halloween decorations tonight..weird..thinking that back in March I wasn't even sure I would be around to put them out..but I am...here I am crying while I put out ghost and witch decorations...!   simple things..but they are so special!

Tomorrow is pink day at my work..if we donate we get to dress down...there is sooo much I want to say to people but I don't know if I can do it....I want to send the obit. from BCO's Heidi Ho who just died from breast cancer...I just want them to be AWARE that people still do DIE from breast cancer...not that they can do anything...just want them to know that someday..it will touch them too....!

The one thing I have learned is that whenever I make a mistake I blame it on the chemo!   Works every time! 

Today is Pink day at work..alot of people have on pink and I have on black!  There is pink EVERYWHERE..in fact someone just gave me a pink ribbon cookie...

Good attitude Betsy..you will start healing now...My rad onc. said that the rest of my breast will start healing now that it is no longer getting zapped. ..it was getting a little red but nothing like you are describing...you have really been through it!

Hooray peg119!  It is a great feeling to be done!  Good for you and I'm celebrating with each of you as you finish.  Tomorrow is another big day for those of you who are finishing up.  I had mixed emotions; I think relief was the biggest.  Now I have all this "free" time, not driving back and forth to treatments.  It's a little weird not having weekly doctor visits; I'm scheduled for six weeks from now to see the rad onc.  Under my arm is healing nicely and I'm still bright red where they did the boosts but I find that I'm not using the cream as much, which feels great that I'm not a slave to this regimen so much anymore.

You are all a little closer to the finish line - hooray.  Stay strong.    Chris

Congrats to those of you just finishing--or almost finishing!!! I only have 5 more boosts to go, & then I can join the group. I started my boosts on 10/1, & already I'm noticing an improvement in the rest of my skin issues. The itchy rash is getting better, the yucky-looking nipple is beginning to soften some, & since the rad onc told me on Mon. to get some Telfa nonadherent pads to put under my boob, then the raw area is not quite as tender with not having raw skin rubbing on raw skin. I've been using Silvadene on the area for a little over a week,& it's really helped. Can't wait to celebrate next Wed.!!! Met with the med onc yesterday, & he plans to put me on Femara for 5 years. BTW, anyone know if the areola will stay dark brown & rough-looking? Not that I expose my areola all of the time...but would like to know. I keep forgetting to ask the doc.

Congrats Peg!!!!

Tomorrow is my big day and I can't wait!!!  My skin in the middle of my chest looks horrible. I had blisters form and break open over the weekend and now it looks like yellow/brown thick scabs (sorry, I know it sounds gross)   The doc today gave me some vaseline pads to put on it tonight and if it doesn't get better in a week, to call him.

My Gyn doc, and then my Med-Onc were both "recommending" both the regular and the H1N1 flu shots.  I didn't even have chemo, just radiation.  I don't feel at particular risk for either virus, but I am planning to get the regular flu shot and pass on the H1N1.  I'm just going on instinct.

Congratulations to all who are finishing this week or have just finished. I am so so happy for you all. I am just about 3 weeks behind all of you. I remember from the chemo board, I was also one of the last ones to finish too. I guess I'm just a bit behind everyone on this one!

It is truely inspiring to hear how all of you are faring with the treatment. I have had 20 treatments so far and despite being tired, I'm feeling a bit stronger each day. I think some of the chemo fatigue is going away. My skin is doing okay so far, no real problems yet, but I have cream and ointments waiting!

I did get a flu shot today and will probably get the H1N1 shot when it becomes available. I think it's safe and would really like to avoid any sort of influenza this year.

I hope everyone is out celebrating finishing up.  I"m off to bed. I had rads this morning followed by Herceptin, Zometa and my flu shot. I'm tired!

Pam

Congratulations to those who have finished rads!!!!  I have 7 more to go (had 25 so I guess I have done 18).  I have to say that it has gone by quickly - but I am now burned and it does hurt.  I have religiously and liberally used the creams but my nurse and techs said that each person has their own reaction and boy have I had a big one.

I am just happy to only have 7 more.  My radiologist did prescribe a lidocaine cream that has helped numb the pain a bit in case anyone is having pain issues.

Susan

peg119..thanks for the advice..my onc. said I should get both shots also...I have never had a flu shot...hope I don't get sick from it..yuck..I still shudder when I think of that darn Neulasta shot..I had blood taken yesterday and I thought that if my wbc was low..what would they do..give me a neulasta..well NO WAY...I hated the feeling I got that from that stupid shot

Way to go simonesh!

Aris..we will stick with you until you are done!  Rads seem to go quickly!  Agree with you on feeling better...Chemo seems to both MENTAL and physical...Rads seem to be just some physical effects...felt so much like a cancer patient during chemo...hours and hours of drugs, taking drugs, side effects..just the whole weird feeling of it....

Good for you Kawee ...I think!

nas14..you and me are both DONE at the same time!  Yay..I will be thinking of you next Weds.....where are you..lets do lunch!

Betsy...how are you doing?   Are you healing some!  Hope so..your descriptions of your aching boob made feel pain for you...! 

Please do be careful if you've had implants.  My wife was in for an appointment today and the nurse said they have seen a few cases of infections after having received the flu shot.  She said she also saw an infection that occurred after a spider bite.

Erik (Route53)

http://route53.wordpress.com

The pH of surface skin is 5 (slightly acidic.)  The pH of vinegar is 3 (more acidic,) but a dilution would be weaker, of course.  

Soap is alkaline, and removes the acid mantle that protects to the skin.  Normal skin glands replace this without much problem, but the glands are pretty much out of commission after taking a hit from all the radiation.  Eventually the glands do recover, and then your skin won't be so dry. This explains why my Rad-Oncs just told me to keep moisturizing for up to a year after treatment ends.  Or keep using the vinegar.

[I'm no scientist; & did have to look up the pH numbers.  I remember hearing this before about sunburn damage and vinegar though.  I use a vinegar rinse for dry scalp same reason.]

Don't know about the heat.

I never did have extra heat in my radiated breast.  Even when it was kind of puffy in the beginning, it seemed the same temp. as the other.  (One person posted that someone felt her heat through the clothing when they hugged.  Wow.)