January 2010 Rads Start

Hi girls. Congratulations to everyone finishing up! Chin up, be good to yourself and listen to your body to deal with the fatigue for those having SE.

To Jakhope and others with the itching, blistering and other skin reactions: The best advice my rad. oncologist gave me was to use a Domeboro soak 3-4 times a day. It is a powder (over the counter) you mix with water and keep in the refridgerator in a zip lock baggie. Soak a gauze  pad or wash cloth in the solution and put it on the affected areas.....AHHH! RELIEF! Good luck!

( http://www.swrads.org/Domeboro Soaks.html )

 I also met with rad. oncologist every Monday (more often when skin broke down under fold) and  had x-rays every Tuesday. I have not had blood work done since prior to first surgery in September. 

Met with my oncologist last week. A bit disappointing. I had met him twice, once for consultation and once to review Oncotype DX results. Chose him over 2 others that I interviewed because I really liked him! This appointment was about 10 minutes long and that was because I asked questions. He gave me a script for Tamoxifen and had me sign a consent that I understood all the possible SE.  That was basically it. I think I felt disappointed because I thought the oncologist would be more like a primary care taker for the next 5 years while taking the meds. and working together to ensure no recurrence. My hubby was with me and gave me a reality check that the oncologist was just the Dr. who perscribes the meds that are pretty much protocol and I was expecting too much. Anyone have a different experience? I wonder if it is different for those of us who did not go through chemo (thank God..) and we do not have that past experience with the oncologist???

Ellen57 - My last visit with my medical onc was pretty much the same.  He asked if I had any questions, gave me my script for Aromasin and said he would see me in 6 months.  When I went through chemo I only saw him 3 times and one of those was because I ended up in the hospital because my wbc's got too low. 

 I figure I will only need to see him for follow-up visits or if I am having problem with SE's from the Aromasin.

Finally my incision is healed (3 MONTHS) and have the go ahead for rads. I have an appt. on monday to start all over. after this much time they will start from scratch. I should have been done and healed by now and on to the next phase. One thing though, I have been reading along all this time and better understand it all now. A lot less worried than I was in the beginning.

Flo

Tang-girl and Sido- congrats!

19 down, 14 to go. tanned, no other SE yet.

I'm doing the 'only 2 to go' dance here!

Congrats to all who are finished! Can't wait to join you.

 Tomorrow I'm going to a "Pink Pajama Party" to raise funds for a foundation called IWIN.  It gives grants to women in Indiana with breast cancer for help with cleaning, cooking, pet care, personal care, etc.  I've used my grant for massages, personal trainer and hopefully a nutritionist. Their annual fund raiser is held at a hotel, with dinner, dancing, auction items, dessert buffet, spa treatments and so on, and we all wear pink pjs. Can't wait to sleep all alone in a nice hotel room - what a luxury! I'll report back next week.....

China...I found the satin formed bras without underwire, (Warner & Victoria Secret)  were very cool and comfy.  No rubbing.  I could wear it during the day and then go with nothing through the evening and night.  Tight tanks as opposed to loose t's. Like you can get at Old Navy or Aero...  I played tennis regularly 2 hours per day and 3 days a week with no problem.  I found that tiredness sneaks up, but if you don't give into it, it goes away.  The most tired I have been is now a week after being done.  I get a bit tired earlier in the evening, but not every evening...it is just every so often.  

Just a note: My rad/nutrition Dr recommended "Bag Balm" I found it worked well when I got the stinging from rads....Put it on with a cami or old white "wife beater" as it is greasy but works well into the skin and by morning it's not gooey or even there anymore.  FWIW....it also works great on regular burns as well!

Have a great evening!

Melinda 

woooohoooo to sido and bird, am doing the happy dance for you both.  I know it is a great feeling to be done.  Now what to do with all that free time.  I am so ready to find out.

I saw my Med Onc today and she is so good.  We were just chatting before I left and she came over and held my hand for the longest.  I wasn't complaining or anything, but she always has been touchy.  It might bother some, but it doesn't bother me.  She has always been the type to stay as long as I needed to talk or ask questions and never seemed to be in a hurry.  I will see her again in about 2 weeks and I don't know after that what my routine will be.

I have my port out tomorrow and also start the boosts.  I am a little itchy and have some redness, but  no burning or blisters.  I will wait to see what the boosts do to me.

26 down and 7 boosts to go.

Hope everyone is doing fine.

Juannelle

My breast is really red today, so I guess I can be like cookiegal and call it "Big Red". It is sore  inside, but doesn't seem to be sensitive on the outside.  Started boosts today and they are much shorter than the regular treatments. 

Also  had my port out today,  so I am just laying around watching TV.  Feel fine, but have taken my pain meds to help with that. I am glad to get the port  out, that is at least one thing down and finished.  It always feels good to get one thing finished.

Congrats to everyone that finished this week.  Hoping the SES stay mild.

27 down and 6 boosts to go.

Hugs to all and wishing a fun relaxing weekend for all.

Juannelle

I hate it when the rads get call off for a day.  I had a snow day a couple of weeks ago, so I know how you feel.  It is really rare that we get snow in Texas and have enough to accumulate on the ground, but it does happen.

Maybe our "Big Reds" will get a rest over the weekend, before starting again next week.

Juannelle

weety, woo hoo on finishing next week.  Good luck on your way to the finish line.

Anita, I know you just started, but it goes by so quick you will be finished in no time.  It is so much easier than chemo.

I am feeling good from my port removal, no soreness or anything.  Can't shower until tomorrow, so I am feeling icky, but am managing.

Still only red and no blistering.  I am only using the Remedy they give me at the clinic, so I am going to stick to it until they give me something else.  When it is all over, if  I have blistering, then I may try some other stuff.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Juannelle

veggy, it wasn't bad.  They did the same thing as when they put it in.  I went to the surgery center and they gave me the Michael Jackson drug, just as they did when they put it in. It  has not hurt at all and I haven't needed any pain meds for that.  He used the same incision as when he put it in and put the stitches on the inside.  I think I have one on the outside.  It should heal up nice and in time I shouldn't even be able to see where it was.

When I woke up the IV was in another place on my hand.  I asked about it and was told that I was moaning some so they thought maybe I wasn't getting the meds.  So they moved it and all was well.  I, of course, don't remember a thing.

Sorry about the delay for the snow, that is so aggravating.  I am really glad to get the port out, it is just one more thing checked  off the list.

Stay warm and have a great weekend. 

Juannelle

Onty, I was just glad to get it out.  It was right in a spot above my left breast, that I found myself touching it all the time.  It didn't hurt, I just wouldn't leave it alone. 

20 down and 13 to go!!  Ladies-- those who have sensitive skin issues-- what type of shirt to wear?  I have been wearing my husbands cotton T's which are really big on me and seem to just soak up the Silvadene and Aquaphor creams...

Thanks,

Loretta 

LOL  You are not serious...are you?  

Personally, I have really appreciated having a port. It has made all the infusions so much easier.  I was luck in the placement of my port.  It does not rub against my bra strap.  Because I am in a clinical trial that involves monthly infusions for the next several months, so I am keeping my port for a while longer....  Forever, not a chance.