December 2009 Rads Group

Just checking in. Hope everyone is doing better today. I have about a week or so left (pending more snow/any cancellations). Now I have an ear infection in addition to all the above post stuff.lol.. I saw the family doc today. Oh well it could be worse. But I cant wait till this is all overwith and hopefully for all of us we never have to deal w this again! Amen!. Take care..Im off to keep busy doing photo albums today I have thousands of pics from before digital camera days and its time to arrange them in albums. Gotta keep my mind busy before I go bonkers :-)

Take care and hugs to all!

Jules

Hey Ladies - Said I would post after my appt. so here goes... First I showed the tech, Nadine (she's been through breast cancer herself and she has helped to establish a lot of the skin protocol fot my onc, she's been with him for over 7 yrs), she said it didn't look bad, the area it was in (the very deep arm pit) was from friction of the area just below which is definitely in the radiation area.  She didn't really give me a reason why it is except it includes some breast tissue.  (not sure I believe her, but oh well).  She told me she had seen worse.  I told her maybe she had but it felt pretty bad to me.  So I thought ok. I will live with this one more day and tomorrow I will see the doc if the nurse has already left today.  After my txt the male tech, Bill, came around and told me he was taking me to see the doc today (my heart went Wooo Hooo!!, it was actually the first time I've wanted to see the doc).  Anyhow, the doc did see me and he said it was from the radiation (not friction...) and I had some dry peeling going on (whatever that is), to leave it more open to air (lay around home with no top on under a fan), wear a bra less (I only wear it to work as it is), use more cornstarch (I don't sweat anyway) and he gave me a cream called REGENECARE, which has lidocaine and collagen in it and is for 1st and 2nd degree burns.  So here's to hoping this works.  I'll let you know...

#19 down with 9 more Regular txts to go and 10 boosts left.  Woo hoo!!!

Renee

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Adrienne - I don't see or feel any healing yet. It's stil quite sore and tender. I spent most of the day sleeping. I am getting quite annoyed by the pain.

Seems like everyone will be done with their rads by the time I start them up again. I was hoping that my rads would be finished by the middle of Febraury. Now I think it will be more like April by that time. Almost a year later since when I found the cancer. Found it May 9th, 2009 in the shower. I'm ranting - sorry.

Today was #21, only 9 left!

My burns are getting bigger. I'm using gobs and gobs of lotion.Today I had acupuncture and fell sound asleep on the table. So, yes, I'm feeling some fatigue! I'm anxious about what's to come, esp with the boost. 

Lissette: How are you? You're almost done and having burning. No boost, right? Did you get a prescription for pain meds or for some sort of skin cream? Good luck!! Almost done!!

Jules: Ear infection too? Hang in there. One week left. Is your stomach ulcer due to the stress of radiation. You have had a tough time.

somanywomen: Only 5 left; but the boosts. Yes, and then the hormones. Just today I started thinking (worrying) about that. I'm scheduled for 5 years of tamoxifen. We'll have to continue our list to discuss the hormone treatments. You're getting all those books now? You're going to be an expert all on your own pretty soon. Have you learned anything good in there yet??

Renee: Your docs are better than mine. Sounds like you got some sympathy AND an rs for something to help! REGENECARE. Tell us how it works. Dry peeling? ICK that sounds bad. Corn Starch? My team never mentions that. They just keep saying lotion lotion lotion.

We can probably just keep this thread, right??? It says Radiation Before During and After. Hormones are after, right??? But I'm there whereever it is. It SO SO helpful to have a bunch of buddies to go through this with together.

adrienne: Re: relief on weekends. I think not. The effects seem to accumulate. I first noticed the burned patch on a weekend. (About the vicodan: I still have some left over from the surgery!)

tbaker59102: All done! Hooray! I sent my surgeon a Christmas card with a thank you inside, but I didn't feel too appreciative of the radiation team at christmas time. Maybe when I'm done I will feel more like it. They really are all as sweet as can be. Now the drugs. It's scary to think of taking drugs for so long.

Veggy: Sounds tough to have to go through healing from surgery again. What a hassle to go through that on top of everything else. I got a big seroma at the sentinel lymph node site, but it's long gone now. Freaky.

hhfheidi: I was advised over and over to make sure to apply gobs of lotion three times a day right from day one. If you used more, maybe it would help with itchiness. I have not had any itchiness. Only the burn...

RunswithScissors: Excellent to hear that your side effects are slacking off so soon. I was getting worried about that.

Hang in there everyone!

Bonnie

lissette, why no followup hormones, I thought that was standard....

I gave my rad techs and onco doc's assistant BPA free water bottles for Christmas...I did not, nor will I send my rad onco anything, since I never see her.....and I was so impressed with her in the beginning,,,,,

Bonnie....The more I read about BPA (bisphenol A, developed in the 1930's as a synthetic estrogen) the more I believe that it is a major factor in the increase in BC......It is used in just about every can good, plastics, and you name it...BPA has been banned in Norway and if you want to read more about and send letter to Congress you can go to website breastcancerfund.org...This site has a lot of other imformation, it's not really a fund raising site as it sounds....I am learning a lot in all my books (so much that it is extremely scary what the FDA allows in our foods and on our bodies) at least I feel that I am in control of what goes in and on my body....

Renee, I think your idea to stay on this thread is the way to go, it will be a lot easier to see what meds and what se's will be and compare to those that start almost same time....

tbaker, congratulations on getting to the finish line of rads, keep us posted as to Arimidex is working and if any se's show up at first...I believe I will be given Arimidex also....

 Veggy. runwithscissors, jules, heidi and all in pain, I sure hope something works, but I don't believe that enough research by drug companies has been done to tell us the one sure "medication" that works!!...or we all wouldn't be told to keep trying different things...

Start my first boost of five today.....just taking benefryl and ibuprofen...no fatigue has set in at all....

best to all...one of somanywomen...

I just called my family doctor for some pain medication. The receptionist couldn't believe the surgeon didn't give me anything for the pain. I didn't know it would be this painful. Sorry.

Tbaker59102 Congratulations on finishing rads! When I finished it was just before Christmas so I gave my rads team a Christmas card with a thank you message and a big box of nice biscuits to share. I did the same for my surgeon and her team at the breast care unit.

Veggy I'm sorry you are having pain, and not surprised that you are getting annoyed. Hope the pain relief works quickly.

Adrienne you are nearly half way there. It probably seems like a long way to go but soon you'll be on the home stretch. I admire you for walking or biking to your treatments and I agree it is good to remain as active as possible. I try to get out and walk for at least 30 minutes every day. That's a challenge some days with all the snow we have at the moment, but I feel better for it.

Renee, great idea to continue this thread to discuss our hormone therapy.

I have started taking Arimidex. I was nervous about taking it, although I took it for a month as part of the POETIC clinical trial, 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after my surgery. I didn't have any problems with it then so I had no reason to expect problems for at least the first month, but the thought of taking it for 5 years was a little mind blowing. I decided that if the side effects get too bad I can always take a break or stop or ask to try a different Aromatase Inhibitor. I am still waiting for a bone density scan, to get a baseline for future reference to see if the Arimidex causes any bone loss. I am also taking a calcium supplement, with vitamin D3 and vitamin K to try to prevent any bone loss.

Well good luck to all having treatment today. I hope those having pain or other problems can find a solution soon.

Hiya, I hope everyone is doing ok today.

Congrats to Tbaker on being finished. Yay!

Somanywomen youre almost there too! The finish line nears.

Veggy and Lissette and To all those burning. My doc said to get hydrocortisone cream instead of the aquafor. The fan idea is great. I have one of those little ones that hangs around my neck.(seriously).

As far as hormones, I do not qualify for them. Something about being post menopause? (my periods stopped in the beginning of my 40s) and also due to my negative factor? I think thats what they said long ago.

On the perspiration P. U. I get body odor right after my shower which is right before I go to rads. I guess Im so nervous I sweat right away? But, I heard about the cornstarch too but I use that Toms Maine deoderant right after rads and that helps the smell. (which to me is gross and must go..lol).

Well my nausea/sick stomach is better since the meds kicked in for my ulcers . (For me that ie the stomach issues has been the worse of this).

Today I got marked up again w designs and had my pics taken for the boosts.

I have 2 more regular treatments and then 4 boosts = 6 more times and I am finished!!!! I can see the home stretch now.

I hope you all have a great rads free weekend.

((hugs))

Jules

Veggy, good for you for getting some pain meds. It will be easier for both you and your hubby if you're not in so much pain when he's changing the dressing.

hhfheidi, I'm glad to hear that your itchiness isn't bothering you much. Too bad that you have to worry about the tape and lines.

Jayne, thank you for your encouragement. I can't convince myself that I'm nearly halfway done, since it will be another week before that is really true, but as of yesterday I am exactly 1/3 done. Wheeeee!

Since you tolerated Arimidex well for a month, hopefully you won't have any major problems using it. I have my fingers crossed for you. And as you say, if you have problems, you can do something else.

Renee, congratulations on completing #20. It's great that you are having good results with the REGENECARE and the cornstarch. I like your idea of lying under a fan, too: I remember doing that when I had a bad sunburn many years ago, and it did work.

Jules, you are almost done -- yes!!! Regarding the hormones, I think it's the negative factor that's the main reason you won't be taking them. I'm post-menopausal and ER+PR+, and my doctor is recommending Tamoxifen for me. 

Thanks for mentioning the hydrocortisone cream. 

I'm relieved to hear that your nausea is better. Dealing with rads is definitely easier if one is not also wanting to vomit.  

Somanywomen, I feel lost without a mouse, too. I did get semi-proficient with a laptop, but never as good as on my desktop computer.

Lightning bolt sensations? That sounds exciting Almost as exciting as snow in Florida.

You're on the home stretch now. Go, go, go!

Me: Yesterday I had treatment #11 of 33, so I am exactly 1/3 done. Yay!

The burning sensations last evening weren't as bad as they were Thursday night, and this morning I think the pinkness has actually lessened. I just don't understand how radiation effects the body. I mean, if I got a sunburn, and then continued to lie in the sun every day (not that I would ever do that), my burn would get progressively worse each day. Yet my reactions to rads are quite different. I'm not complaining, though

To all: have a great rads-free weekend, and remember, you are one week closer to the finish line than you were last weekend. 

adrienne

11 down, 22 to go. 

Adrienne - Yeah on being 1/3 done!!! That is great... keep close check on your skin the burning for you may never be a big issue, but it could spring up unexpectedly. 

Lissette- I'm glad you only have 2 more to go...WOW!!! I can't wait till I can say that.  I pray your burns get better soon.

Somanywomen - Did you get that snow?  I heard that Ocala and Winter Garder, FL did get some snow.  Those lightning bolts in the boobie do not sound like a lot of fun.  You can just keep them o.k.  How's your itching?

Jules - Congrats to you on being almost done as well...

Bonnie - Congrats to you, you don't like but about another week and you will be done also...

Adrienne and hhfheidi that will leave us three I think to finish out rads in Feb.  Everyone else that will be starting oral meds will be on their way, while we are bringing up the end.  Other than Veggy and I'm rooting for you to heal rapidly and get the rads over and done with so you can get RADS done and be finished.  :=)  

Veggy-  I'm glad to hear you got some pain meds to help you through your healing process.  

Renee

Lissette, I hope the next few days fly by for you, so you'll be done with rads. I'm sorry about your burns, and I know you're looking forward to seeing them heal. It's only a few days now. I'm sending healing thoughts your way.

I know that when I start burning in a week or so, the burns probably will get progressively worse, as yours did. For some reason, I had early burning, starting at #8, and the thought of the burning getting worse every day for a month and a half scared the heck out of me, so I'm very grateful that it has backed off for a little while. 

Renee, thanks for the advice on the burns. I have very sensitive skin, and I do expect the burning to return, but I'm enjoying this slight break from it. 

As you suggest, Renee, you, hhfheidi, and I will probably be finishing at about the same time in February, and then we'll wait for Veggy to catch up. I believe I'm the last except for Veggy: I finish February 10th, unless the doctor adds some more boosts.

hhfheidi, I hear you regarding having that date marked boldly on your calendar. I have February 10th marked on mine, and I cross off every treatment as I come to it. Not that I'm wanting to be done with rads, or anything  

adrienne

11 down, 22 to go 

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Lissette - thanks for explaining the triple negative that way!  The doctors always tell you it's good to be ER+ and PR+ and HER-  but never quite put it into words like that.  Wish I had your Onc! He/She sounds like an honest person.  So many of them skate around the truth.  I don't know if they think we can't take it or what.  As far as breast cancer being related to stress... I am wondering.  I have had perfectly normal mammo's since I was about 38 (I think that's when I started having them due to my past h/o Hodgkins).  I have went every year with nothing showing up at all not even one spot.  Then 2 years ago, this past Oct. when I was dx my husband had a heart attack and 4 bypasses, he was off work for 4 months, we got behind on bills, medical bills piled up, I had a boss that I hated and dreaded going to work everyday.  My daughter was graduating from high school, was a cheerleader and always needing money, she started dating a boy we couldn't stand and ended up pregnant a month out of high school.  Then in Jan. of this past year she developed pre-eclampsia and had to have and emergency c-section and delivered her baby 6 wks early.  She's had no child support, no job and couldn't start back to college and we've struggled at times to support a new born, but I wouldn't take anything for my granddaughter.  So, YES!!! I think stress can very strongly be a cause of breast cancer or at least a nervous breakdown (haha)... not really, just kidding on the breakdown.  We have made it through by the grace of GOD!  And by GOD's grace I will survive Breast Cancer!!!!!

As for the RADS it's been great not having to go this weekend and giving the armpit a much needed break!!!  It definitely feels better... it does have little black burnt spots under there.  I just keep telling myself, "The end is in sight"!!!!  And I use my cream.... religiously.

Renee

Hi gals!  Was it on this thread that I mentioned I make my own cream?  It really helped me with the after-effects of the bad infection I got around the "hole" left from the MammoSite device...And it has finally healed from the inside out!  It took about 2 weeks, but I rub it around that, & my 2 scars morning & night.....

I melt cocoa butter cream, (from Whole Foods) and Coconut oil, & mix with Vit. E. oil...(a little) and Tea Tree Oil or salve, Glycerin, & Neem oil, & Shea Butter...   I also mix with Vaseline, which a lot of creams use in their ingredients & call Petrolatum. 

I looked at this expensive "Healing Cream" from a booth at a Farmers Market, took their brochure, & went into Whole Foods, & bought my own goodies, & made my own recipe!  MUCH cheaper!  

You can't really mess with an infection!  I was given an anti-biotic salve, & got an awful rash from that...used a "Triple Antibiotic" and that made it worse...I finally quit using ANY of those, & just took 2 different anti-biotics for 3 weeks...It all just gradually went away...But the Surgeon and the Radiologist BOTH prescribed the meds...

I thought this was so cute!   Sooooft hugs to you gals!  Jeannette