MARCH 2010 Rads Group

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  • TreadSoftly
    TreadSoftly Member Posts: 192
    edited April 2010

    I like the new profile pic Marie, glad to hear your skin is improving!

    Yeah, I was told about the factor 50 sunscreen too, but I have such fair skin/blue eyes/red hair that I always used it anyways!  It is SO GOOD to be finished, I love not going into the hospital every day and having to strip off in front of strangers!  Have apt with Rad-Onc in 4 weeks, hopefully he will discharge me from his care then....

    Good luck to those ladies who are still getiing zapped, I hope the time flies for you! Smile

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  • tic
    tic Member Posts: 23
    edited April 2010

    DONE!  Just waiting for the the "redburned' boost area to go away-living in Aquaphor for now  but happy to be finished

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  • Tex17
    Tex17 Member Posts: 11
    edited April 2010

    Congratulations everyone who has finished, I wish you all a wonderful week ahead. I have ten more treatments to go and today, due to the advise of this group, I ate chocolate!

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited April 2010

    3 weeks out as of tomorrow.

    I still have a very dark area under my arm. My breast is slowly returning to its normal color, but I noticed it seems to look a little smaller than my other breast. It may have always been that way, and I'm just hyperaware now, or it might be from the radiation. The doctor did say that my breast would not feel totally normal for up to a year-my lumpectomy area will continue to feel "lumpy" for some time, due to scar tissue. 

    Just got back from a great trip to Disneyland to celebrate the end of rads!

    Mary

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  • Sugar77
    Sugar77 Member Posts: 2,138
    edited April 2010

    Mary - lucky you going to Disneyland!!

    I went in to Toronto today and got a $40.00 parking ticket. I think the chocolate I just ate has helped with my mood about the ticket. 

    My boob is starting to feel better and it's peeling. The brown dots are still there but not as noticeable. I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!!

    Sherri 

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  • charmainejensenvoisine
    charmainejensenvoisine Member Posts: 369
    edited April 2010

    YramAl:  Hello Mary I am nearly 1 month post radiation as of April 30th and I am still quite brownish under the underarm area.   As for the one breast being smaller than the other, yes mine is that too, I am aware that it is quite a bit smaller than the other.   My RAD Oncologist did warn me that the breast once it started to heal would shrink a bit smaller than the other breast from radiation.

    Charmaine

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited April 2010

    HI ALL

    Well im finishing our long week end today it  was a public holiday today for Anzac day  ,and yes ive had a fabulous week end  loved every minute of it ,back to the zapping for me tomorrow  ive got  4 full breast and 5 boost to go, lordy lordy ive just counted how many ive had from my calender its gone so fast, i didn't think i was that far ahead wow im feeling pretty happy now.

    Keep smiling ladies life IS good

    JOJO

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited April 2010

    I just want to have my nights of sleeping back.  My breast and under my armpit hurt so bad that I literally cannot roll over or lie on that side AT ALL!  That is why I am waking up so often.....Under the armpit is by far the worse for me and the dark tan/redness of it amazes me, I just hope it does not stay that way forever.....I do hear it fades but I look like a piece of TOAST gone bad!  I have only 4 more boost to go and I will have completed my 30 treatments and let me tell you I am going to celebrate by having a most fattening dinner as I feel I really deserve it......I cannot wait to put this all behind me.  Thank you Sherri for starting this thread and  agree we should all check in with each other to see how one another is doing.....

    Have a wonderful Monday!  June

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  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,786
    edited April 2010

    CONGRATULATIONS FLO!  AND ALL you gals that went through Radiation!  I know it is hard, & some of you are just getting started......"It ain't easy".....but if it helps us keep this cancer away, it is all worth it.

    I'm taking Tamoxifen now, for 3 months...do you have to get this additional hormone therapy also? Best wishes to you all!  Jeannette

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  • Irishmom
    Irishmom Member Posts: 52
    edited April 2010

    Hi girls - I'm wishing everyone a good week and for all those that are ending this week - have the celebration ever.  I finish on Wednesday, 3 more boosts to go.

    June - Mt prescription was for 28 full breast treatments and 8 boosts.  At the very end of the full breast treatments I was out of my mind, my skin was all burned, all my lymph node incision was completely raw.  As I started the boosts every time I slipped into the mold, the incision would open again, BUT by the 4th boost (which is at the 6:00 position under the right breast), under the arm is finally starting to heal up and peel. I'm now able to sleep thru the night and he only thing I pt on nit was the aquaphor.I was really sore for about a week and extremely painful for 3 or 4 days and then it starts to pass. My breast has all the brown spots, looks like alot of hair folicles gone bad.  hang in  there, it does get better. Take some advil or tylenol, I  found that helped too.  Have a good day and I hope you get relief soon.

    Kathy

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  • charmainejensenvoisine
    charmainejensenvoisine Member Posts: 369
    edited April 2010

    Jeanette: I too am on Tamoxifen and I am nearly 3 months PFC, and I am nearly 2 months post radiation therapy.

    Charmaine

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited April 2010

    I have been on Tamoxifen for 3 weeks now. No SE's except for some mild hot flashes, but I was having those anyway.

    Mary

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited April 2010

    I have been on Tamoxifen for two weeks. Like Mary/YramAL, no SEs except for some mild hot flashes. Flashes worst at night and wake me up. Chillow seems to be helping with that. Wondering if the hot flashes will get worse as the weeks wear on and the Tamoxifen level increases in my body.

    One other thing I noticed is a slight tendency toward constipation. That acts as a gentle reminder to eat more fruit and veg, which is always a good thing anyway.

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited April 2010

    Hi universe!

    Today I started the final countdown with Zap #10.  I have five more regular Zaps followed by four boosts and then I am done.  But before I am done, the SEs are starting.  This morning while sleeping I rolled over and put my left arm under my head and OUCH. So much for sleeping.  It felt as though the skin had torn but when I looked at it, I couldn't see any thing.  My Zaps are near to noon which means I am going about 15 hours between lotion ups.  When I got up, I put on my calendula cream and hung out for an hour before taking a shower and heading to work.  That seemed to help.  Today is my doctor appointment and he looked carefully to see if the skin had actually broken but didn't see anything besides toasty color and redness. 

    Right now, it is sore and I am sleepy.  The Zap Techs reminded me, "Listen to Your Body," and right now My Body is saying "Nnnnnnapppppp.  Want to NAAAAAPPPP."  We shall see if that improves after a bit of work and tea or if I check out early like last week.

    Congrats to those finishing day by day.............

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited April 2010
    3 monstmama I too feel like my skin is ripped with certain movements that I do.....especially sleeping and rolling over to that side or lying on my front.  If I go to reach for something high up on the shelf it hurts as well.  I also have looked and nothing broken just really dark brown/red....yuck!  Today was the 1st day of it hurting lying on the table for my boost.  I am lubing in the morning with aloe vera and my appointment is at 4:00.  My doc said it is completely absorbed into the skin many many hours before I get there which is at 4:00.  I have also been using aquaphor too.....I try to do at least 3 times a day and I am so looking forward to this ending!  3 more boost to go and ALL DONE!!!!!
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  • kathylev
    kathylev Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2010

    Hi Ladies,

    I had my first boost today, 7 more to go.  I've been reading all your posts and am wondering why so many of you seem to have pain in your armpits.  Are your armpits being radiated?   

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  • tic
    tic Member Posts: 23
    edited April 2010

    I had some shooting pains in my armpit at the end- most likely related to  nodes and inflammation  from the boosts-  I think-

    My nodes were not radiated under my arm

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  • ve1787
    ve1787 Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2010

    Hello all,  I just had my 1st radiation today.  I am scheduled to have 28 regular treastments followed by 5 boosts.  So glad for those of you who have finished!  I see some some of you are using Aquaphor.  Does it help really really well to keep down any burning/redness?  Do any of you know if your lung was affected at all?  Thanks

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited April 2010

    TODAY  was my LAST boost!  Hooray!  I gave my homemade cookies to the techs and the nurses, and they loved them.  I got a "diploma" of sorts, to commemorate the end of rads, signed by the techs, the nurses and the doc.  Totally cool!  Now I need to figure out a celebration for myself...maybe some ice cream?

    Be well everyone!

    Shelby 

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  • Sugar77
    Sugar77 Member Posts: 2,138
    edited April 2010

    Congratulations Shelby!!!! Go for ice cream you do deserve it.

    I'm peeling and and tender around my sentinel node biopsy scan but am otherwise on the mend. 

    Take care everyone!

    Sherri 

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  • AndreaS97057
    AndreaS97057 Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2010

    Today was my first day with NO zaps.  Oh boy, did that feel good.  My underarm is not pretty, but no cracking - and nope, I'm not reaching for any of those dishes on the upper shelf right now.  I used the silver sulfad.. cream for a few days, but I think I'll quit since I don't see any signs of blisters anymore, and I'll just use the greasy Cetaphil lotion that was recommended and a little calendula too.  I don't seem to be getting any worse skin effects after the fact, thank goodness.  But oh boy, am I tired around 3pm, and even with a nap, I don't really recover until the next day. 

    I need to decide whether to go on my business trip on Thursday -- I know that I can do it (with some discomfort and a few extra naps), but not sure that I really want or need to do that to myself.  On the one hand, I don't want to let cancer stop me from doing anything else, and on the other I want to take better care of myself - and I've always taken work a little too seriously. 

    I got a book (done in cartoon form) from the Resource room last week called "Cancer made me a shallower person".  I didn't think I'd really enjoy reading a "cartoon", but loved it and would recommend it to anyone who needs a laugh at this awful situation we are in. 

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited April 2010

    Hi All!

    I finished rads on April 9th.  I had the brown spots, chaffing under the arm and the blisters and skin breaking on the collar bone.

    Everything has healed up nicel and today I saw the PS.  He says we are good to go with TE and I've got a surgery date of Sept 9.

    I know it seems like a long way off but it was nice to hear that my skin is doing well and that there is a plan for reconstruction.

    Congrats to those that finished up these last few days and hang in there to those that are still zapping.  You can do this and your skin will heal in time!

    Marie

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  • Mommaof2
    Mommaof2 Member Posts: 112
    edited April 2010

    I'm in single digits now - 4 more whole breast and then onto my boosts.  I'm going in today for the boost simulation.  I am SO ready to be done - the first four weeks went by so fast, I hope these last two go by quickly too.  My only SE is the itchy rash on my chest.  I've noticed my skin getting darker but so far no blisters or burns. 

    Shelby - thanks for sending some warm weather for me, I think we'll be in the 60's today!  WHOO HOO!!!  Smile  At least the snow is melting fast!

    Have a great day everyone!

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited April 2010

    HI ALL

    JUNE

    Sorry your having a bad time with all this no sleep doesnt help with the emotions either things will get better hang in there your just about at the finishing line

    MARIE K

    Love your picture your hair is looking a little like mine

    SHELBY

    WELL DONE YOUR ALL FINISHED HAVE TWO BOWLS, ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR US

    oops cap locks again sorry

    Only 1/2 of my underarm is being radiated i dont know why i had no node involvement and now only 1/2 my pit hair grows weird !!!

    Happy slam dunking girls

    JOJO

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited April 2010

    Jo Jothank you but I am actually doing okay skin is tender but not blistering and hopefully I wont.....annoyed about the lack of sleep but have not turned into a monster yet.....notice how I do say YET.....ha ha

    MarieK They are actually going to reconstruct your radiated breast?  They say they cannot typically do that here and when I pressed them for an answer as no-one told me they couldn't she then said we take it case by case.......I am so bummed as everything I heard in the beginning was that they could, but they were talking about my healthy breast and shrinking it down to match the now small one,.......big time lack of communication!

    Shelby you should go for the ice cream and MORE!!!! Congrats, so happy for you!

    Mommaof2 good luck and the countdown of single digits in on......yeah

    I just got a call from a friend of mine who's friend is in for a biopsy today, looks like she might be the next.....boy how this sucks for all involved!

    Have a wonderful day ladies.....

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited April 2010

    June I do not have a radiated breast - I have nothing.  I had a mastectomy so I say I have NEGATIVE A cup on the left and saggy C+ on the right.

    My PS says that he can make me a breast pocket with a TE under the muscle, put in an implant and then lift my remaining breast to match.  He will not put in an implant in my natural breast even though I asked him to remove all my breast tissue and start again for better symmetry.  He says - we don't do that here. 

    It's funny because years ago when I took my saggy C+ breasts in for a consultation with a PS for a lift (this is long before BC) he told me that they cannot do a proper lift without adding an implant.

    I believe it's just not done in the case of breast cancer reconstruction so as not to obstruct the natural breast tissue from future scans?

    Anyway this PS claims that in clothes I will look "matched" but in reality my left breast will be harder/firmer than my right.

    I am not opposed to going completely flat so I am going to give this a try and if it works great - if not I'm ok with that too.

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited April 2010

    I see that others are having trouble sleeping.

    I am having trouble sleeping too - a combo of issues as I've mentioned before on other forums.

    I started clenching my teeth so I wake up to make sure I'm not clenching.  I do this because I am stressed - I know.  Not from my BC but from life in general - doing a whole home reno and I have 2 teenagers.  Do I need say more?

    I'm also getting up in the night because said teenagers stay up until very late (2am!) so I'm always kicking them off their iPods, computers etc..

    I was in pain from my mastectomy, feeling sick during chemo, hurting during radiation, and general discomfort from my head being cold at night or too hot etc.... I could go on and on why it is that I am not sleeping well but I'm sure that a lot of you are suffering the same!

    It wasn't until I was in radiation treatment that a DR offered me a drug to help me sleep.  Actually he offered me 2 drugs and I took the lesser one - Ativan.

    I only took it at night and not every night. 

    It was heaven.  I actually got great nights of sleep and felt less stressed.

    BUT now my RX has run out and my sleep is being disrupted again by the teeth clenching jaw pain, headache and neck ache.

    I called the prescribing dr, left a message and he has already called in my refill. 

    Now that's what I call servicee! 

    I will be sleeping well tonight - even though my teenagers will still be up and most of my house is covered in poly and dust!

    I'm not normally a drug "pusher" but I know when to admit I need help and take it!

    I'm just saying....

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  • Sugar77
    Sugar77 Member Posts: 2,138
    edited April 2010

    Marie - I take Ativan and it helps me so much.  Regarding the teeth, I'm a clencher, too.  I got a cusom mouth guard through my dentist (before breas cancer) and I find it really helps me get a better night's sleep.  Something to consider if your benefits will cover it.

    Sherri 

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited April 2010

    Only 8 Zaps to go......Lots of redness.  I have turned my tshirts inside out--the very attractive 100% men's cotton undershirts with the collars and sleeves cut off to make them less binding that I wear under everything, NO WAIT, More Punk and Fashionable, thats it! Thats why I cut off the collars and bindings on the sleeves, I am a trend setting fashionista!  Soon every woman will abandon Victorias' Secret and lacy underwear for inside out white torn t-shirts from Hanes. . . . . .

    But Now this Fashionista is going home.  I am zonked and if I go home now, I can maybe squeeze in a nap before I tidy up my knitting mess and eat dinner with my monsters and listen to my oldest bewail the torment that is his social studies project.

    Best to all!

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited April 2010

    Only 8 Zaps to go......Lots of redness and tightness under the arm.  Rather sore nipple too but the rest is just red.  I have turned my tshirts inside out--the very attractive 100% men's cotton undershirts with the collars and sleeves cut off to make them less binding that I wear under everything, NO WAIT, More Punk and Fashionable, thats it! Thats why I cut off the collars and bindings on the sleeves, I am a trend setting fashionista!  Soon every woman will abandon Victorias' Secret and lacy underwear for inside out white torn t-shirts from Hanes. . . . . .

    But Now this Fashionista is going home.  My biggest side effect is fatigue.  Right now I am zonked and if I go home now, I can maybe squeeze in a nap before I tidy up my knitting mess and eat dinner with my monsters and listen to my oldest bewail the torment that is his social studies project.

    Best to all!

    editted to add: not sure why this posted twice.  silly computer!  sorry universe!

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