November Rads 2009

Hi Ladies,Finished #24, have 4 more to go. I am now peeling under the arm and in the crease under my reconstructed breast. It is so uncomfortable. Using Biofine and Aquafor. At home just keeping a mens white t shirt on, haven't put a bra on in weeks, and still taking vicodin for the pain 2x a day(rads are bothering the reconstruction site even more)  Any suggestions for the soreness and burning??

Swampy, I hope you're feeling better!  Nobody ever mentioned boosters to me either.  I had a lumpectomy on both sides but I'm only getting 25 txs.  I hope that will be enough to mop things up.  

I am now on Facebook.    I just sent you a friend request, Niknak.  If anyone wants to friend me, search for Tamara Gardner.  

No boosters here.  I can't believe in 48 hours I will be done.  A little nervous but excited nonetheless.

Sparrow, I'm going to go friend you now

HI ALL!  Just checking in, I havent been on in a long while.  I only have 5 more txs to do, as long as my skin holds up.  I am black, red and peeling.  I am scared they will make me take a break because of the peeling.  I will find out tomorrow.  I am scheduled to have my port out the Monday after rads stop on the 21`st.  I will be so happy to be done with this by Christmas. 

I start tomoxifen in Jan. I am not happy about that but what can you do?  I probably have to wait about 6 months before I can do recon, so I will be laid up next summer with that but I will finally have boobs again~lol

I hope everyone is doing great!  Miss you all!  

Love Deb

Hey Deb, Glad to hear you're almost done. I just requested to join your fb group. And don't worry about the tamoxifen. I'm starting my 3rd month and am happy to say that it's not bad at all.

For anyone who's itching, the hydrocortisone actually helped me alot. It also lessened the bumps and raised areas that were popping up.

Found out today that I have 2 more full tx followed by 7 boosts. I'm hoping that the boosts will be a little more gentle on my skin. For those who've had them, what can I expect? Is that wishful thinking?

Had number 20/33 today. I was supposed to see the doctor and get set up measured up (whatever) in preparation for boosts but neither happened as the doctor had a meeting. Maybe tomorrow. I only have 5 more regular txs followed by 8 boosts. My skin is a little pink but that's all - so far so good.

Had to drive (30 miles) in the snow today for the first time. I'm hoping the weather is kind for the next couple of weeks.

I'm DONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNE!

Of course they kept me waiting an hour and a half today of all days... when I got there I was so excited to be getting my last treatment but I got so irritated waiting around that by time I left I was just annoyed.  It doesn't matter though.  I'm so thrilled to be done.  It was getting super annoying going there every day.  Skin is really red and angry looking and peeling in a couple different places now.  My clothes are stained from the Aquaphor but oh well, it's an excuse to shop right?

Hope everyone is doing great!

Hooray Lauren, that is awesome!!!    Niknak, you are almost done!!!    I can't wait till my last day.  I'm going to dance all the way to the parking lot.  

I have 7 left.  After my treatment today I noticed a lot of tiny red dots all over my breast.  The RO said it was from the radiation and is normal at this point. She was surprised how well my skin has held up so far because I'm so fair skinned.   I'm not itchy yet. 

She said I may get one blister under my arm before it's all over.  I think I can deal with that.  I may be able to get my extra treatment in this Saturday.  They may be open to treat an emergency patient.  I'll know by Friday if they can fit me in.  If I get a blister I may want to wait till after Xmas anyway.  

Hubby is at the office Xmas party tonight.  I think I'll take that time to update my FB.   

Lauren, I don't remember right now what percentage my ER was. If I can find my path report again I'll let you know. I think my onc. put me on the Lupron because of my age; I was only 39 when first diagnosed, and from what I've heard, it more aggresive the younger you are.

I get my Lupron just once every 3 months; and I'm in the office anyway because I'm seeing the onc. and getting my Zometa that day. And the insurance covers most of the cost if it's done in the office; if I had to get it by prescription, I wouldn't be able to afford the copay.

My MRI went fine; I took Xanax and it really helped. Another thing that helped is that they had an MRI machine that was bigger around than the machine at the hospital where I usually get all my tests. If I need any more MRIs, I'm going to ask they do at that hospital, and I'll ask for a Xanax again too. 

I see the radiation oncologist on Thursday, and get my results then.

Mom2acat my fingers are crossed for you!

I'm so over rads!  My inner 2 year old wants to throw a fit every day.  I feel like the little bird inside a cuckoo clock, 3:30 strikes and I pop out and get zapped and then I go back in until tomorrow.   I'm really exhausted and burned under my arm.  I'm having a hard time getting the simplest things done.

I'm depressed too although I know it's from being so tired. I'm on Lexapro and I was fine before rads. 6 more days of this feels like an eternity.

Sorry to be such a Debbie downer but it felt good unloading.  I can't wait to feel normal again!   

hang in there girls, we are all SO close!

Ugh, Deb, a chaplain?  How horrible!    My Cancer center has a social worker that manages to corral me once a week in the waiting room.  She's a nice lady but gee whiz, I'd rather be left alone.  

I hate the buzzing too!  I usually park in the hospital parking deck.  You have to push a button for a ticket.   The ticket machine makes exactly the same buzzing sound as the rads machine!  :P It startles me every time.  

Lauren, sorry about the shot!  Sorry you have to go back Tuesday too!     Thank goodness you're all done with rads!  

Niknak, did I friend you on FB yet?  I thought I did but now I'm not sure.  Ugh, I'm turning into my mother!  ;D 

Thank you everyone for th good thoughts!

 I had my MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine last week. Today I saw the radiation oncologist.
Good news, no cancer in the cervical spine. I already knew I had mets in the T-10 and T-12 spine; the T-10 being the worst. But the MRI also showed mets in the T-6, and T-11. They also happened to get the the L-1 and the L-2 of the lumbar spine in the MRI; they weren't expecting to find anything there. But that could explain why I am still having pain in my hip even after the radiation to the lesions on my hip joint.

So, before I have any more treatment, my doctor wants to see the rest of the lumbar spine, so I will be having an MRI done on it. And it's also possible that the pain could be coming from something that is not cancer, like a bone spur or a chip in a bone. The radiation center is going to set up the appointment for the MRI, and then I will see the doctor again. Until then, I don't know if i will be getting more radiation, or another type of treatment.

The diarrhea from the radiation is starting to get better finally. Yesterday I actually felt pretty good, hardly had any of my IBS symptoms at all. Today I was back to having to take the Imodium again, but I think part of that was nerves. It started this morning, and my appointment was at 2pm this afternoon.

Buccaneersdj, what did your RO say about your shortness of breath?  Thinking of you!  XOXO- Tamara