MARCH 2010 Rads Group

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited May 2010

    Jenn, I hope the pain eases up soon!!

    They told me I could shave now that radiation is over.  All of my armpit hair in the radiaton field was burned away anyway, so I know the hair I'm shaving isn't in the radiated part of me!

    I'm realizing now how SLOW the whole treatment process has been for me.  I was dx'd NOVEMBER NINTH, and I'm not starting Tamox until mid-June!  That's 7 months after dx!  Wow.  Needing 2 reexcision surgeries after my lumpectomy is mostly what slowed the process, I guess....

    I'm looking forward to the swelling in my breast to go down.  It's not swollen a LOT, but my left breast (the formerly-cancerous one) used to be smaller than my right, and now it's noticably bigger - or maybe I'm the only one who is aware of the difference!  But I swear my left nipple is almost an inch higher than the right!  Oh well, I'm just glad it doesn't hurt.

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

    3monstmama you crack me up.......I wish I could drink everyday but for me I would never get up the next morning!  ha ha ha....Have a good one everyone!

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  • MariannaLaFrance
    MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 777
    edited May 2010

    Hi ladies,

    Uneventful week, though very hectic one here for me. I am leaving for a work conference on Sunday a.m. bright and early, and am looking forward to the conference being over.

    My left breast is still a brownish color, a little bit red underneath, and I am two weeks out from the end of my rads treatment. I have not been moisturizing, but I think I need to start doing so. MY radiation onc didn't say anything about not shaving, so I have been doing so all along. What I am happy and relieved about today is the fact that I put on real DEODORANT for the first time in 8 weeks on the badboobie armpit!!! YEAH! I am a pretty sweaty gal, so am so relieved!!

    My scar is actually not so pretty. It's raised, and not at all smooth. It's a keloid like scar.... not sure why mine turned out that way, but the surgeon was a little disappointed with the appearance of it. I don't really care too much, but it would have been nice to have a flat scar.

    Ladies, have some vino for me tonight (allergies, so cannot drink it right now).  I am off to Orlando next week, so I'll post when I get back!  Hope everyone is out celebrating the end of their rads!!!

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  • AndreaS97057
    AndreaS97057 Member Posts: 46
    edited May 2010

    Hi all,

    I'm just back from my work trip.. to Hawaii (I know, I know.. I can't complain).  It's good to hear that everyone is healing up.  I am also.. the peeling is done, there's some weird colors going on - the nipple is too pale, the rest of the breast too dark.  And yeah.. I'm still a bit swollen.  It was a little rough doing some of the physical work - I was climbing in and out of a small boat much of the week.  I'm either still fatigued or out of shape from not really exercising much since December when I got the lovely news.  And PB is pretty tender.. probably equal to what I felt like 2-3 weeks after the surgery.  I sure hope that goes away.

    I don't know if I'm trying to be too conscientious, but I'm not using aluminum-based deodarants anymore.. now that was a little tough in warm weather and physical labor (at least for my colleagues!).  Does anyone have one that seems to actually WORK? 

    I'm enjoying a beer while you all enjoy your wine.. and very happy it's FRIDAY!

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

    Andrea - yes, I've found a natural one that actually works.  After trying several that didn't work, I now use Lafes roll on, which I've purchased at Whole Foods.  Here's a link about it:

    http://www.lafes.com/organicdeodorants.html

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2010

    HI ALL

    Jen

    Your bad boobie sounds just like mine at the moment my nipple is very tender  and sensitive and seems to be erect all the time  , its been  1 week since  the end and bad boobie is deflating at a rapid speed  , and a definite size difference now , but hey, so what im alive, i used to love my boobs before thought they were one of my best assets  (along with the many others lol) but now couldnt give two hoots about them ,as for the wine not me im a southern comfort and coke girl and yes i could easy have a glass or two EVERY night  but ,i restrain my self to 7 or 8 glasses just one night a week  lol no only joking,  well heres cheers to our bad boobies if it wasnt for them we would not have met

    JOJO

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited May 2010

    Awww, our boobies aren't bad... the cancer IN them was bad!  But our boobies rock! :)

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  • Tex17
    Tex17 Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2010
    I just returned from a business trip to Milwaukee. Finished Friday the 7th and left on the 10th, it was hard to deal with the long days with tender nipples. One problem was my door key kept deactivating, I had to go to the front desk at least five times in four days. My room mate kept laughing but I thought it was just weird. (I kept it away from my phone) Was it the door or some type of weird radiation reaction! Glad to be home recovering for the weekend. I meet with the oncologist on Monday. Most of us have been done for over one week at least, we should all be feeling better soon. For those still having treatments hang in there. 
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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited May 2010

    I'm wondering about something.  For most of the duration of radiation, there was a small, round, clear sticker that the techs had put on my skin, centered on the tiny tattoo about 1.5 inches from my nipple.  About a week before the end of rads, they took that sticker off to put a different sticker on in a slightly different place.  And I noticed that the skin that had been under the first sticker for most of the time was doing much better than the rest of my skin - e.g. was normal-colored, not burned!  And even now, I have this circular spot of "normal" skin, surrounded by the burnt/tanned skin, as it all heals.  I'm surprised that merely having a thin, clear sticker over that skin prevented it from burning.  It makes me wish I could have had a sticker over MORE of my breast (even my WHOLE BREAST?) for the duration of rads, because it would have been so much easier than rubbing aloe into my breast 4 times a day!  It was a pain having to find a place to be in private for 10 mins, 4 times a day, because I had to leave my breast naked until the aloe dried, otherwise it would stick to my shirt and it was just a pain.  Why aren't we offered big stickers to put over our boobs if we want them? :)

    I'm assuming that while the sticker prevents the skin from burning, it does not prevent the radiation from working on that spot...otherwise, it would have been counterproductive for the techs to put a sticker right where the tattoo was, right?

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

    Raili - I didn't get any kind of sticker like that so I can't comment. I had the tatoos and the techs would put an "x" over top with a sharpie...that's about it.  Good news is you're done and you won't have to worry about putting the aloe on so often before you know it! 

    I used Glaxol base cream as recommended by my hospital and it worked really well. I hope everyone is on th mend!

    Sherri 

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  • AndreaS97057
    AndreaS97057 Member Posts: 46
    edited May 2010

    Tex17 -  You are tough!  I ended up bailing out of my meeting that was 5 days after the end of radiation.  I was just so distracted by the tenderness and scared that I wouldn't be able to gracefully retreat to my hotel if need be. 

    But.. time marches on.  I'm now onto business trip number three that was in my 4-trip-in-a-row line-up.  And although I'm still a bit tender and swollen (and my chest muscle aches from carrying a computer-filled backpack), I'm glad to be back in the swing of things.  And when I get back home from these trips, I can't wait to putz in the garden and do some mental decompressing.  But for now it's good to be working and building my confidence back up - it sure got shaken in the last months.

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  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 826
    edited May 2010

    Hey, great to see how well people are doing. I was so pleased that i didn't peel in the end, just got very pink and itchy.  Not too pleased with the scar, i hoped it would be better by now but the rads set it back about three weeks. The aloe vera cream someone here recommended is also a great help. Maybe i should ask on another thread, but does the red go to suntan colour eventually or go back to pale or what?

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited May 2010

    My breast looks suntanned right now, hymil.  And the tan is starting to peel a bit...

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

    Raili,  I'm not sure a sticker over the whole breast would make much difference.  Radiation isn't blocked by cloth or plastic or whatever.  I would guess that the reason you haven't had much reaction is more that the area under the sticker was not geting hit by the radiation.  I have to say, I had more peeling on the whole breast by the end of the first week post zaps [still in the boost period].  But the nipple part has just kept going though it is significantly less painful than before.

    What I have noticed is that even where I didn't seem to have blistering or the like, the skin under the peeling area is more scarred than I would have expected.  I've had more than my share of sunburns and after a peel, the skin looks pretty much the same.  This is different---if I squish it together [not sure if that makes sense but don't know another way to describe it] it looks wrinkly, more like a real burn offf a fire than a sunburn.  On the bright side, it is feeling better as long as I keep the lotions on it.

    Jojo, we have the same "bad boobie"  I am wondering if your stupidbreastcancer was very close to the nipple.  Mine was and I think the boost really did a job on me.  I am feeling much better right now--not nearly as sore and irritated and most of the peeling is over.

    I would encourage everyone to keep hitting whatever creme you were using before.  I credit that for the good recovery I am having--color is almost completely normal, peeling mostly gone, etc.

    Hope everyone has a great week!

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited May 2010

    Hi All!

    I finished my 28 rads on April 9 and I continued with the "creaming" twice a day right up until last week. 

    Last Wed I forgot and nothing happened.  My skin did not ache or chaffe.

    Now I just try moisturize all over when I come out of the shower!

    My skin looks normal - right after rads it cracked, blistered, peeled, then was slightly red like a bit of sun burn and now NORMAL.

    You can't even tell I had radiation except for the stupid black dot tattoos!

    Keep up with the cream girls!

    Marie

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited May 2010

    Marie, glad you're doing so well!  Thanks for the encouragement!

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  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 826
    edited May 2010

    I'm not someone who ususally takes a tan but the red does seem to be fading a little every day now. I even got back to swiming today, two weeks after last zapping, have decided it's all going to be okay!

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

    Hi universe!  I am home from work sick for the second day.  I woke up yesterday feeling like I was freezing to death, called in sick and went back to sleep for another 3 hours, was awake for about an hour and went back to sleep until 4pm!  The only reason I didn't sleep longer was I was afraid I'd wake up at midnight!  This is SOOO not me.  My husband thinks I have just been hit with a virus [my temp is subnormal] and that it got me so hard because I am still recovering from the zaps.  I have to agree that its "something"---poor hubby was up for about 15 minutes this morning and went back to bed himself and that was over 3 hours ago!

    The frustrating part is that I was soooo happy to be done with zaps so  I could go back to feeling like a productive member of my office.  And yet, here I am, home sick AGAIN.

    On the bright side, I can hardly see the scar from my incission and I have not had nearly the pain and soreness of last week. Still peeling a bit but more like regular sunburn peeling than burn peeling.

    Hope everyone else is doing better and that none of you are taken down by this stupid virus.

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  • Mommaof2
    Mommaof2 Member Posts: 112
    edited May 2010

    I am so enjoying NOT having to go in for daily RADS!!!  I'm finally starting to feel like my old self again and am so looking forward to a new start this Spring!  My skin is almost healed, just a tiny bit sore - I can actually wear a bra again.  WHOO HOO!

    Today was my first Tamoxifen...since I'm already having hot flashes I really hope I won't have many SE's from that little white pill.  One SE I sure wouldn't mind though is the weight loss it could cause!  Money mouth  That would be so sweet!

    3momstmama - sure hope you feel better soon.  Take care of yourself!

    Hope everyone is having a great day!

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

    Mommaof2 - we went through chemo and rads together but it appears now our treatments are different going forward.  I see you started Tamoxifen...I'm triple negative so there's nothing further for me, except hope and prayer that it never rears it's ugly head again.  I wish there was a pill for us TN gals! 

    3monstmama - take care of yourself...you've been through a lot lately!

    Sherri 

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  • beceen
    beceen Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2010

    Med Onc told me it would turn tan and then eventually fade, but never fade totally.

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  • Tex17
    Tex17 Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2010

    I'm home today and I have nothing to do, it's such a wonderful feeling to have to day to myself with no rad appointment. I went to a yoga class this morning and realized I'm finally beginning to feel like myself. The dark markings are beginning to fade so you can't notice the dark outline on my chest that looked like I had been burnt by an clothing iron. I have to pick up the Tamoxifen today, I was suppose to pick it up yesterday but keep putting it off. When I look at the last five months it feels like a bad dream and I just want to wake up and be able to forget it ever happened. Two pills a day will be a five year reminder. 

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

    Hello ladies long time no talk......hope all is going well and just wanted to check in and say hi!!!! 

    Tex17I am glad you had a day to yourself and you are feeling better and your skin is healing nicely......I am 3 weeks from my last appointment and I too love how my skin is looking.  Under the armpit it is more dark and has faded some, but not alot....I wonder if it will ever be the same again......How come 2 pills a day?  Split 20 mg in am and pm?  Yesterday was completion of the third week for me and I have to admit no real SE yet, so not that bad but I do know everyone is different and what might not bother me might be bothersome for others.......GOOD LUCK!

     Wether here in Mass is improving and I am so looking forward to the weekend....

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

    hello world!

    Well I am feeling a darned sight better today, even though I am at work.  I even managed to get it together to schedule my appointment with the oncologist about the tamoxifen and the follow-up with the radiation oncologist.  Sigh, I just needed a week where there wasn't an appointment.

    Recovery wise, I am just hitting 2 weeks out and looking pretty darned good.  No pain at all, no nipple sensitivity, why at this rate, I'll be back in real underwear by Memorial Day!

    Hope everyone is still making time for themselves and that all have a great weekend.

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2010

    HI ALL

    My skin is healling up so good still a bit tender but it doesnt stop me from moving on

    3MONSTMAMA

    My tumor was 2 cm from the top half of my nipple and 3 cm big and no clear margin the first time so yeh my nipple got blasted with rads i found the boosts the worst ,glad your feeling better must have been a bad virus

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  • idha
    idha Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2010

    MarieK..Hi good to know you are doing so well..please do tell the name of the cream that you have been using  for the radiated area..i finished my radiation 12 weeks ago..have been using coconut oil every night there is a TAN especially in the underarm...  its darker there  ..also the sizes of both boobs are so different...please help

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  • MariannaLaFrance
    MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 777
    edited May 2010

    Hi everyone,

    Back from work conference, and feeling pretty darn good. I worked 14+ hour days for the entire conference (4 days), so was a bit fatigued this a.m. when I got up, but overall, I made it!

    I am really feeling so much better now, and have my checkup next week with my surgeon. My meeting with the onc isn't until July, so after my colonscopy next Monday, hoping I have some time without seeing any hospitals or doctors.

    Hope all of you are well!

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  • Tex17
    Tex17 Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2010

    Marianna, When I was away last week and woke up on the fifth morning I realized this wasn't good nor was I. I really needed a restful weekend and Saturday was a real recovery day. So take it easy, these business trips can be way too busy and the work hours way too long!

    I'm really trying to take more time to take care of myself. Which means cooking good food and physical activity.   

    I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. 

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  • MariannaLaFrance
    MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 777
    edited May 2010

    What a relief....

    I had my colonscopy today. I cannot tell you how scared I was of the results. As it turns out, my GI doc did not find any polyps or abnormal looking cells. He greeted me when I woke up with "I saw no evidence of cancer!"  WHEW! I had already looked up support groups and all sorts of information this weekend, trying to brace myself in case it was bad news. I guess once we have heard the worst type of news once, we just expect it again, don't we?

    So, I do have low levels of IgA, which means I am more susceptible to GI infections, etc. I have been like that my whole life.... basically if there's a stomach bug, I am sure to catch it. Which doesn't bode well when my kiddos start getting sick.... :(

    Anyway, just another OH YEAH! moment in this wild course my life has taken in 2010.

    Peace and all the best to all of you. Noticed not many are posting. Are you taking a cancer hiatus, as I am tempted to do? I checked in all my cancer books at the library, hoping to cleanse the air a bit in my house. I am trying to focus on healthy pursuits, and with today's results, I can breathe easier, knowing it's probably just IBS.

    Cheers to you all

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited May 2010

    That's such wonderful news, Marianna!!!  So happy for you!!

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