after radiation

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jlb60
jlb60 Member Posts: 7
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

 Finish with radiation yesterday. Feeling a little sad that I wont be going anymore. Is this normal? I start on Tamoxifen in 2 weeks. I fear taking it because of the bad side effects that I hear about.

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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited August 2010

    Congrats on finishing radiation!  I will finish next week.  I have read that people can feel a little lost when they finish treatment so I think what you are feeling is normal.  Feel free to jump on to the July Rads thread.  Many people there are finishing up as well so you may find others feeling as you do.  Many of us on the thread have just started or will soon be starting Tamoxifen(or some other antihormonal) so you'll find folks in the same boat with that as well.  I will be starting sometime in the next few weeks and I dread it too.

    Good luck and maybe I'll "see" you on the July Rads thread!  Kim

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited August 2010

    very normal.  I met some great ladies during my rads.  The techs called us the cackling hens.  They never herd so much laughter coming from the waiting room.  We all started coming early enough so we had time to talk and stayed long after the last one finished.  I miss those good times.  We plan to get together soon.  So don't be hard on yourself.  Despite the going everyday and being zapped, it got us off our buts and out the house and also kept our minds occupied.

    I too worried about tamoxifen...I just finished up my first month.  Don't forget to check out the tamoxifen post.  Lots of info.  My worst complaint right now is constipation follow by the warm flashes.  I haven't had a true hot flash yet.

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  • rocknesmom
    rocknesmom Member Posts: 39
    edited August 2010

    Congrats on finishing! I will finish tomorrow! Kim is right, check out the July Rads thread - lots of WONDERFUL women who are all finishing about the same time, and most are moving on to Tamoxifen.

    I totally understand what you are feeling - I felt the same way on the day of my last chemo. It had been so terrible, severe bone pain during the last 4 cycles, and yet I cried all the way home at the thought of not going there again. I guess it was the feeling of doing something positive! I fear having the same feeling tomorrow.

    Good luck to ALL of us!

    Linda 

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited August 2010

    Hi - another July Rads girl here.  I feel the same way.  The rad techs are such wonderful people, I will truly miss their kindness and compassion every day.  And it seems like after rads, I'm not going to be doing anything to fight.  But alas, Tamoxifen (or similar) is our new weapon. 

    Check out our thread and healing wishes to you.

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  • tweetybird
    tweetybird Member Posts: 815
    edited August 2010

    Jib,

    I hear you! I had the same emotions when I finished rads. It felt strange for a week or two, but as soon as I got back to my regular routine, it was a distant memory. I even brought the tech's some home made brownies on my last day, as a little thank you token for getting me thru a hard time.

    I'm sure that all of us who have gone thru rads, got extremly close to all of the techs, and one thing that still stands out like it was yesterday, is that each one of the tech's had a different color sharpie that they used to make the tattoo's a little bit bigger, and stand out. Every time that I see a sharpie now, I think of rads!

    I've been on tamoxifen for about 3 1/2 years. It was rough going at the beginning with the hot flashes, but I've gotten use to them. I have an appointment with my oncologist, on Sep 9th, and will find out the results of my bloodwork to see if I can continue on with it or switch to Armadex.

    Good luck with tamoxifen!

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

    Congrats! and yes, you are very very normal.  I mean why not feel sad? Okay there was the zapping but then again, if you were like me, every day you got out of your work and went some place where people were nice and friendly and supportive and now you are out there "on your own." 

    I read somewhere that the transition period--between active treatment and your "new Normal"-- is about as long as the time between diagnois and last active treatment.  That means I'm going to keep feeling out of sorts for some time to go.

    but at least I'm normal!

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