SEPTEMBER 2009 RADS
Comments
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Amy, I feel your joy. It feels so great.
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Congrats AmyIsStrong! I like your vini, vidi, vici attitude too.
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Hey, Sept. Rads Group.......Getting my cards out early this year.
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Elimar - Hee, hee. Cute and thoughtful ! Thanks.
I've got to get some holiday spirit. Normally I do the shopping for everyone, including the gifts they give to others. But between this BC stuff and the economy, I just haven't been in the mood. Thank goodness for the internet; easier to cover lots of ground quickly ! Personally, I'm most looking forward to New Years; can't wait to put 2009 behind me ! Happy New Year ! I know, I know, I'm rushing it a little bit.
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Hey ladies...I know I should post this on the hair, hair thread but I lose track of people on that thread. I went in for my first hair shaping today. Not actually a hair cut but it looks better. It was getting a little wild around the ears. I couldn't believe how emotional I got. I actually started crying when she gave me a hug. I said...wow...there's nothing that can compare to two hormonal women? She laughed and cried too. It feels so good to feel good again.
Amy - doesn't it feel a little bitter sweet. Don't wish it on anyone, but love all the "new" friends and people that have came into your life through the process. We are definitely stronger and wiser...an definitely sassier for it! You go girl.
MTG- I'm with you girl on wishing for the end of 2009. Man this past year has be rough. My uncle died on Monday...so one more funeral to go to this weekend. Friday, is the 1st anniv. of my Dad's passing. TG my Mom is hanging in there. They have given her the Last Rights - they call it something different these days.. three times. The last time the priest said "the number of times you get the last rights does not help you get to heaven any faster. Your covered honey." LOL
Got to go...need to make some Cowboy Caviar for tomorrow nights civil war game.
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Betsy - Cowboy caviar ??? Is that baked beans ?
Sounds like you have had a really tough year; condolences on your Dad; I hope Friday is filled with laughter remembering the nice things about him.
Oh yeah, I LOVE your priest! Not much for the uptight, take themselves too seriously ones, but this guy sounds terrific.
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Cute card Elimar! Thanks!
Betsy...so...are you a beaver or a duck? Remember the winner gets to play the Buckeyes! ...So I'm a nut!
We Buckeye's make..well buckeyes...they are awesome...chocolate with a peanut butter center shaped to look like a buckeye! They are so good!
Isn't it so good to sit in the hair chair again!...When my beautician was "cutting" my hair I was freaking..I was so scared she would cut it all off..but she was just shaping it up....my hair keeps on growing...I want it to be just a little bit longer than it is...I'm also having fun picking out different hair care products at the store...I still have the spiked look..and want to keep it that way.
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Hi all--sounds like this is a rough week for you --my thoughts are with you-- I also have been putting off going to the hairstylist--afraid she will cut too much off--I like seeing it grown needs a little more lenght but is getting a little wispy -- well as i said I started work this week but due to a cold I am taking off already today--I started getting sick over the weekend but felt ok to go in on monday for 4 hours then rested tuesday all day and went in on Wed. but was coughing a lot and felt really guilty being there especially since I am a nurse--so decided to just not go in today--really sucks because besides this darn cold I was really ready to get back to a routine--I hope it clears up by next week ( I only work 3 days a week) and I dont get something on top of this--I am so paranoid now of all the flu and everything and I cant get the flu shots for other reasons so I am freaking out a little about being in public-- I neveer was like that but now I am scared of everything--need to buck up!! hope all is well with everyone else--!!
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lollys wrote::I neveer was like that but now I am scared of everything.
Please, last week I got a giant pimple on my butt and my first thought was oh no, skin cancer. (And no, that area does get any sun) That was the first time that I realized that I'm not sailing thru completely unscathed. Just need to laugh at myself and shake it off.
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Hi, Ladies. Went to PT again. She says the fluid and tighness is due to auxillary webbing. After my last therapy I had a lump of fluid under my arm. She did massage to drain the lymph fluid back into my lymph system. Thought I was done with all this, but I guess not. Anyway, now I have fluid and pain and tightness and need massages to correct it. Oh, well, I guess it could be worse. The massages are great!!
TITAN, you mentioned you had some of these symptoms and I think CAKE IS GREAT did to. The PT says it will only get worse and then go into your forearm.
Oh, yes, now I get to do exercises also for it. Aren't I the lucky one.
You ladies have been talking about your hair coming back. I was one of the lucky ones who didn't have chemo, but I can't do anything with my hair anyway. I don't know what's wrong with it. Lately, it's just a mess. (radiation poisoning, ya think?)
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It's not bad..it just is different..with my right arm..I can put my left arm above my head and not feel anything..if I put my right arm above my head I feel some tightness..it is..just different...
So..is everyone getting ready for Christmas/Holidays????? I ran around and did so much today...I keep comparing myself to last year...when I had a lump growing and didn't know..I keep thinking..do I feel better this year? And honestly..I think I do feel better...alot more emotional though...some Christmas songs make me break out in tears...I miss my kids in school..can't wait for them to come home...
When do you all see the rad onc again? I don't see him for a year...the appt. clerk was surprised..but then she said that mostly it was older people getting rads..made me feel good.....not! But she is a sweetie...guess that is why it is a year rather than 3 months.
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Hi Ladies!! I don't know if all of you remember that the radiation caused my skin to burn very badly and also caused my expander to fail. I am going to have my surgery for a S-GAP flap surgery on December 15th in New Orleans at the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery. My husband and I are driving there. It is about a 12 hour drive. I am nervous but anxious to be rid of this expander. We will be there for a few days and get home just in time for Christmas.
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CC, good luck. let us know how it goes.
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ccbaby, have a safe trip. Hope it all goes smoothly and we'll be waiting to hear about it.
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Good Luck ccbaby--keep us posted!!
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CCBABY - I'll say a prayer for you.
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Christy - Glad you are healed enough to have surgery. May the Flap Fairy be good to you, YOU DESERVE IT!
Titan - I'm a Duck fan...GO DUCKS (I know it's a lame mascot but hey...what the 'ell is a buckeye, a tree??) and...yes...you are a certified NUT!
MTG - Cowboy caviar is a yummy bean dip. The guys in Blazing Saddles would love it! Remember the scene around the campfire....Hoo Wee...I do believe you've had enough! Yeah...you've got it! LOL
Michele - How's chemo going? Hope all is well.
Has anyone's skin gotten red again? All my redness went away and now this past weekend it came back and my tissue is sore again. Plus my dh says I'm swollen again? I've been a little lacks with the auqaphor lately...so I'm headed back to the basics. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this?
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Christy...good luck girl...I will be checking in on Facebook!
OMG..Betsy..you are a duck..and I am a buck...we are going to have some fun..aren't we..before the Rose Bowl? Yes..A Buckeye is a tree....we all know what a duck is...guess it is better than playing the freaking beavers...We are going to have soo much fun with this!
Go Bucks..beat the Ducks!
My skin hasn't gotten red again...but I will watch for it...Your DH says your breasts are swollen? I think mine are getting bigger...not swollen..I think it just may be from the weight I have gained.....breasts and this new wonderfull roll around my middle...oh well..middle age..gotta love it.
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Betsy, my chemo is going quite well...I am done 3 of 6. Whaahooo. It the chemo fairies have been kind...some mouth yuckies, and a few days of fatigue but that is it. Oh ya the chemo brain has taken over my body..I start Taxotere for my next three tx...I am dreading that a little...and by little I mean a lot..I don't like needles and am freaking out at thought of neupogen shots...but my PICC line nurse will come to give me the shot...I would faint at giving it to my self. Wouldn't be pretty, me fainting and dropping such an expensive drug on the floor.
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Thanks so much everyone! I will bring my laptop and try to keep you updated. Betsy...My skin where I burned the worst at has been very pink for awhile now, but I did noticed it got redder this past week too, so I put the silvadene and xeroform on again and now it just looks pink again.
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Michele - the neupogen shots don't hurt as long as they give them to you slow. If it starts burning, ask them to slow down. My pain came much later...day 4 or 5, just as I was coming down from the steroids. Hopefully, you will be one of the lucky ones that don't experience bone pain. As I recall, I think Titan did ok... Probably because she is a buck.
I'm a little surprised how sore I am again? My tissue feels like about day 25 of rads...so strange? Feels like its burning from the inside out. I'm definitely swollen. I wish I could think of what might have changed to cause this. The only thing I can think of is the weather got very cold. Oh well...this too shall pass.
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Betsy Buzz - I know I keep preaching this, but if it's your breast and underarm that's sore, so is mine. Physical Therapist got rid of the fluid (swelling), but now she's working on the scar tissue, she says not everyone gets it, but it's not uncommon. Get it checked out, because if it's auxillary webbing, it will only get worse.
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Michele...keep going girl with the chemo...that is aweseome you are doing well...but can I tell you this..you will look back on what you wrote and not even remember writing it! I look at the chemo April thread and I'm like..did I really write some of this..luckily some of it did make sense...but I have to laugh at it now...anyway..I did not have neupogen shots..I had neulasta shots..I think they created them for "special" people..I hated them..not the day they shot me..the day after..I was good until about 2 pm in the afternoon but then I went to heck...I was fine the next day but I never did too well the day after..the day after....I'm just used to always moving around and all I could do was sit..I hated that..I just wanted to feel "normal" and I couldn't...oh well..it is over...
Betsy....dear....we bucks are going to be skinning your ducks...wish we could go to the game in Pasedena....if I win the lottery between now and then we will go..via Oregon...to see what you duck people look like.
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My latest cancer adventure is going to be to get some physical threrapy. After my SNB surgery, I had a little "cording" tightness in the armpit, but I stretched the heck out of it and it was feeling about normal. However, after radiation (not so much during, but after,) the area seemed to re-tighten. So, I'm going to see if therapy can work that out, plus work on "loosening up" the scar tissue and help to drain the little bit of lymph fluid I seem to have near my lumpectomy area. I'm not having a big problem, but I'll post again on how beneficial the therapy is for me and how long it takes to notice any difference.
P.S. My RIBS hurt on my treated side. Not terrible, but it's a soreness that gradually became more noticeable since the time I finished my rads in Oct. I heard that can last for some months. Who had this happen to them?
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Me too Elimar, I'm going to a PT that is a lymphedema expert to just stay ahead of the game when it comes to swelling. I notice it a little when I do anything active or strenuous with that arm. She says the pain on the ribs and elsewhere is usually nerves rejuvenating. It happens very slowly so feeling it can last for a long time. The tightness in the muscle tissue feels to me like tupperware that has gotten tweaked in the dishwasher and now the lids won't fit.
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I didn't ask for the PT right away, cause I thought with only two nodes out, maybe I would not have a problem. Well, luckily, I am not bothered at all in the arm, but I have intermittant soreness in the breast (not shooting nerve pain, I know how that feels) that I believe is pressure from exra fluid in the tissue. So I'll go for a few sessions of PT (and my BS is sending me to the lymphadema team) and see if my guess is correct. My Rad-Onc did say that new channels can form for drainage in about a years time, but why should I go with the soreness for a year if the PT can help that?
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Hey -Mary & Elimar, I just called my rads onc., have an appointment for tomorrow. The onc nurse asked me about lymphedema. Fortunately, I'm experiencing more of what elimar is talking about. Looks like PT may be in my future too. Mary...thanks for reminding me about it.
Titan - neupogen is another name for neulasta...you had it my dear. Sounds like you and I had similiar experiencing with it. It was always a few days into the process when the pain started. I thought you faired better than I but guess I can use the chemo brain excuse. I hear you girl on not remembering what I wrote back in chemo days. Maybe it's a blessing. Michele..I had the shot with 6 of my 8 treatments. Not fun..but you can do it!
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ELIMAR and ECHO - I only had 1 node removed and I have the same thing. The PT has already gotten rid of the fluid in 3 therapies and is now working on the scar tissue (she calls it auxillary webbing) and she says it is usually from radiation. My armpit and breast already feels better just hurts when I do the exercises she gave me and when she is doing the stretching. She says sometimes you will just hear a pop and the pain will go away. (Not really looking forward to the "pop". ) Anyway she thinks in my case it should take about a month.
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You know, working on that scar tissue really does help. I had bilateral mastectomy and 18 nodes out with no reconstruction so the scarring pretty much goes all the way across my chest. On the side where they took nodes and did radiation I ended up having that "cording" issue all the way down my arm. It's still there but I've managed to get it stretched out better than I thought I would post surgery, so try to keep a movin' and a shakin' girls!
Hey Betsy, I don't know if you have a PT yet but there is a woman named Sandra Kirchner at Good Sam that is a lymphedema expert (LANA certified). I saw her last week for a consult and we're planning about 6 sessions together so I can learn the manual self drainage technique and other arm/chest/shoulder exercises. She was very thorough, did a two hour evaluation, so we'll see how this goes.
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Neulasta and neupogen are different..I looked it up on line...but they are both used for the same thing..to help with your white blood cell count. I rec'd my neulasta shot 24 hour after each and every chemo...I believe that the neupogen is administered differently..don't quote me though..I didn't read the whole article
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