August 2010 Rads
Comments
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phxsunshine, a big congratulations (((hug))) to you!!!
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phxsunshine: That gives something to look forward too! Sometimes we get (I) get so wrapped up in all of this BC and can't see past it.
So glad you had a wonderful walk and feeling better!
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Having an exhausting weekend--but that is to be expected at this stage. Tomorrow is a new week and six boosts to go. Then on to the next stage of treatment and a brighter future.
Have a better week all.
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"Trying to get past it" is where I'm heading. Not exactly sure which path to take, but I'll get there. I was living with this cancer, for years, without knowing it was there and it never bothered me a bit. It's the knowledge of it's existence that hit me in the head like a cast iron skillet. BC has robbed me of a summer and I'd like for that to be enough. I'm doing everything I can to help myself and the Docs eradicate this stinker. If worrying helped, I'd be all for it, but it doesn't and it steals even more precious time away from me. Chabba, the boosts are a breeze, even the machine makes a nicer sound. They don't poop you out like the whole breast rads do. I'll join you & againmine on the looking forward to a brighter future!!
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What a day..worked last night and did fine. Got off at 7am, came home, showered, and went to church. Today was my day to teach the kids for Sunday School and Children's Church ( I do missions with them once a month). I felt pretty good.
Then it was service time (before the kids are excused) it hit me like a ton of bricks! I had to sit down, my calf was cramping (song time) and I was getting short of breath more. Then the tears and the shaking started real bad. I felt like I did when i used to have seizures years ago. (the pre- smell and taste). My friends helped me to the kitchen and it took a while before I could breath better and my husband took me home. Needless to say I have camped out in the recliner all afternoon! So glad I could find a replacement for my shift tonight...just didn't want to risk it.
I guess it all just hit. felt so bad disrupting service..but my friends are wonderful! The pastor's daughter has battled cancer herself over the last few years and lead them all in prayer time..her 5 year old daughter came and sat with me in the kitchen. it really touched my heart.
Praying for us all.
pam
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Againmine, I hope you are feeling some better now. I can't tell you how many times I have cried in church, especially when I start singing a hymn. Even before the BC! Cleansing, healing tears I like to think. God listens to us in our pain, I hope you got it all out, He can carry the load for you. We're going to be fine, just heading through the desert now, is all.
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Bubbalu: Isn't Pittsburgh closer for you than Philadelphia? Have you checked out any of the city hospitals? How about UPMC Cancer Center at Magee? I had my lumpectomy there - Dr. Joseph Kelley was the surgeon and they have a great reputation.
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Againmine, hope you are feeling better today!
It's a new week... hope it's a good one for everybody. Good news from my cousin, her cancer has not spread to her brain or any organs. So it's only in the lymph system and chest wall. She started chemo today.
Tomorrow is my last radiation- Yay!!! I had a quiet weekend and regained some energy. Feeling good and glad to be checking some treatments off the list!
Said prayers for all my bc sisters last night. Waiting for the day we are all celebrating the cure for breast cancer together!
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Feeling better today..saw my reg doctor and she upped my Efexor, said it should help with the side effects more. Also my blood count was a bit down so that had something to do with the 'short of breath' plus she said i was physically and emotionally stressed out...I do agree!
My last boost is Thursday! Yippie!!!!!
Said prayers on the table again...boy those boost are short! lol
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AnnieBear: That's where I am, the UPMC system. Had my chemo at the Palmer satelite, my LMX at Magee (Dr. BonaVentura and now back to Palmer satelite (close to me) for radiation. They do not know what's causing this out of rad area burn and I went to the radiation oncologist at Magee Dr. Beriwall and he doesn't know either. He has only seen it once. They are afraid to treat me anymore because it could cause me a serious infection.
That's why I'm going to Phila to the Abramson Cancer Center to see if they have seen it or know how to deal with it.
As soon as I knew I needed a biopsy I headed for Magee. They are great and my surgeon is supposed to be the best in that hospital. Good results with it. Surely someone on this planet know what's going on with me. I don't know what my window in time is from surgery to radiation but I got an apt. in Phila for next week.
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So good to hear your cousin got some good news Lady M. And I do hope her chemo goes well. How exciting that your finished with Rads today!!!! Happy for you
it's on to bigger and brighter tomorrows.Againmine, I bet the Effexor increase will help a lot. It sure has helped me, esp with the hot flashes but with my mood too. It takes a few weeks so give it some time. Happy for you too! This week - finished with rads, wow
another one off into the wild blue. I'm right behind you -- next Tuesday is my last. It's going to be a great Autumn - don't you think? Pumpkin's, Indian corn, apple cider, Fall Festival's -
My rad-onc is Dr Lambert at MGH. Very abrupt on clinic days but super nice the rest of the time.
I never got the results of my bone density so I guess it was fine. It was 2 yrs ago so I don't think that's a problem.
Waiting on the pancreas thing - probably nothing. I'm at a point where I honestly cannot handle another thing!
My husband is not feeling great either so the house is going to h--- in a handcart!
Post radiation - I'm more tired!!! The boosts did me in. I have a lot of discomfort under my arm. It's nice not to have to travel into the city everyday for sure. And parking was horrid even with a parking pass.
Dr Lambert insisted I be off work until mid Dec. I don't think I could have handled the 3 hour round trip on public transportation at the moment.
It will only get better from here in. Stick with it.
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Bubbalu: Good luck. It sounds as though you have exhausted all options in the Pittsburgh area. This whole experience is so strange for all of us. So many weird things happening to us. After I bragged to everyone that I'd been having smooth sailing I ended up with a burned boob and underarm on Thursday. All rads patients see the doctor on Monday and she prescribed Silver Sulfadiazine (Thermazene) for my burn - it is working, thank heavens. Good luck to you and good luck to us all....
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Anniebear: Yes, I'm done for the moment in Pgh area. Today my radonc said he just can't treat me (in all good conscious) with this sensitivity issue. He discharged me but left the door open if I needed him in the future. I told him I was going to Phila for a consult Tues and he rather poo-pooed that by saying 'they won't know the answer there either.' You could see an immunologist and find out what's wrong in your system but it won't change anything....you can't do radiation!
Well, you know, I think that was his sour grapes. I'm pressing on and if I get the same report in Phila then I'll find some alternatives to radiation. I can't believe the hoops you have to jump thru to get an out of network opinion and all your records from your hospitals and center. 3 days we've spent on this and our brains are fried. But I'm pressing on.
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Sick to my stomach today, very worn and at times;giddy. Does these boost take more out of a person? I was sent home with a marker to keep up my 'marks'. The places that the round tapes were are causing me a lot of skin irritation and when they come off...so does a lot of me with them !
I keep thinking...Thursday...make it till Thursday.
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Bubbalu - you're still welcome here. It's sad that your doc was less than supportive about you trying to reach out to others to help you - don't they know how much they mess with our minds when they do stuff like that. I hope that you find an answer either in Philly or somewhere else and you can go back to him and tell him all about it!
I had my last treatment today!! Woohoo - skin very intact and I know I'm very lucky. My doctor, Marisa Weiss was so sweet and told me that she was honored to have treated me and of course I broke down and cried. Friends have been calling and stopping by to congratulate me and my family for having this part over. All still very strange. Feel like I can go into the fall with a renewed outlook - no daily grind of appointments or treatments - like being let out of prison, in a way. I wish you all continued health and hope to hear how everyone is doing along the way. Best to all - Mo
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mofend: I'm glad to hear that you are done and have your life back. Also glad to hear that the offer is still open! I'm hoping that they can treat me there (by some miracle) and then I will surely be hunting housing. They told me at the hospital that there is a social worker who will assist us with that if we need it. If you would PM me your email I will contact you when I know if I'm going to be there for an extended period of time. We surely do appreciate your welcome.
Celebrate your freedom!
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Morning Ladies,
Tomorrow I begin the last of four tx's and those are 'boosts'. Then next Wednesday I'm off to the mountains of TN and NC for some much needed R & R. Banner Elk and Blowing Rock are two of my favorite places -- walks in the mountains, cute shops, good food and friendship. One of my best friends will go with me. She has been such a support, in some ways better than my family. Don't know how I would have made it w/o her. My cheerleader, cook, medical researcher,advocate all in one little bundle of energy and love. Hope the leaves are changing!
Mo, it's been so nice to see how ready and open you have been to help Bubbalu. My friend and I have know one another since 5th grade. I suspect you have not known Bubbalu for more than 5 pages here on BCO. It's very heartening for me to watch a friendship grow beyond these pages. We've been through a battle together on this site and somehow that makes us all kindred spirits but you have reached beyond that. Thx for the encouragment.
Bubbalu, I know you must be so disappointed. I finish soon and had expected we'd finish at the same time. Please know I think of you often during the day and say a special prayer for you - for wisdom and direction to the right person who can help you.
Againmine - Hang in there --- your almost there! YAY
Blessings to you Ladies who are working hard to win this battle, Carolyn
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Dear Bubbula;
I am also in Pittsburgh...let us know what your dermatologist says as my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are fairly scant. I'm sick and tired of my ballcap as well and it is starting to get cold especially at night on the dog walks.
Heather
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Bubbalu - I'm being totally brain dead and can't figure out how to send a PM! I have done it before but just can't get it to work right now. What a knucklehead! Anyway, my email is mofend@aol.com - just let me know what's going on and we'll go from there. Mo
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mofend: I hear and understand!!! Log in, go to 'my home' - private messages.
Good luck
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hmh23: My derm said Biotin can't hurt. It helps the skin, nails and hair. It's Vit B. My husband got me the mega 5000mg. I guess he wants my hair back too! I'll probably get a chin full.
I feel exactly like you.......sick of the ball caps and co-ordinating with clothes and it's getting cold.
When did you finish chemo and what did you get?
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Hi Ladies,
Well am on the home stretch now - 25 down and only the 5 boosts to go. My skin is still intact BUT am very sensitive under my arm (skin very dark brown) and around nipple area - my nurse said to try salt water bathing which I'd never heard of before but she said it helps with healing and can take the sting out so will give it a go. A cold facewasher that I've been keeping the fridge is also helping a LOT! Am hoping that my scar holds up with boosts, I had my review yesterday and they said there's a chance that it could break down with the boosts. I had so much toruble after my initial surgery with infection that I had to have more surgery after chemo to fix the scar so am really really hoping that it holds up.
bubbalu - so sorry to hear about the torubles you've had. Good on you for seeking a 2nd opinion. It's absolutely your right to get answers if you can - I hope they can get to the bottom of it for you.
Well am pretty tired tonight as I've had a busy 5 days with my ballet girls dancing in a local Eisteddfod so have been busy busy busy. Had been travelling well with the fatigue up until this week - crashed on tuesday afternoon but am kinda glad that I coped with the long days overall. Off to bed now though. Night all
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Dear Bubbula;
I tried to PM you but for some reason both times it wasn't successful. Anyhow, I was diagnosed on Jan 28th and had mastectomy of left breast on Feb 10th at Magee. Started chemo at Hillman on March 31st with 4 rounds of AC followed by 7 of Taxol and 5 of Abraxane. Had to move to Abraxane because of neuropathy. I see my rads onc at Magee on Sept 29th so I'll have a better idea of what I'm up against on the rads front then.
You are just ahead of me on rads so I'll look to you for guidance. Where did you receive your chemo and where are you having your rads?
Take care...fondly, Heather
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Dear Bubbula
Just re-read earlier posts and remembered reading that you were treated by Dr. Beriwell. That is who I am going to as well. I'm so sorry you've had such a tough time. Please be sure to keep us posted on your progress in Philly.
Fondly, Heather
PS. Sorry for my brain freeze...they seem to be happening far too frequently.
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hmh23 I tried to PM you too and it wouldn't go through. I wrote this long response and couldn't send it. What's going on here? I will save it till I get it thru.
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Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a few days but I've been on fatigue overload and after work I'm so zapped I can't function. Just cry myself to sleep at night. I saw my regular oncologist this week and he did some blood work which was fine so he says its all the radiation. I told my boss I'm only going to do five hour shifts instead of eight this week. Started that yesterday and last night I wasn't so emotional and exhausted. We are short staffed at work too so I'm doing 2 peoples work. Of course now I feel guilty that they are even more short but my priority now has to be getting this done and staying as strong as possible. I started my boosts yesterday. Not too crazy about the big black circle but the treatments do go fast. My armpit and side were so sore I just am glad they can get a break!! He still doesn't want me to put anything on it other than aquaphor so hopefully it will start healing now that it isn't getting treated. I told my rad onc that I feel like a senior getting ready to graduate - kind of giddy. Next Tues will be my final boost. Then I start tamoxifen on Wednesday. How long does it take for the fatigue fog to lift I wonder?
bubbalu - praying you find your answers!!
Carolyn and dancerme - we are on the same schedule!! Are either of you taking or starting po meds after?
phxsunshine and ladymadonna - Congratulations on being done!!
You are all in my prayers and thoughts! It has been so wonderful having your support and shared information through all this!!
Carole
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cpJuly10, I started getting back to normal within a week. My skin feels better every day, the pain, burn & itch are almost totally gone. Sometimes I forget I have BC now, when there is nothing physical to remind me.
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Thank you and I too am feeling better every day! Haven't started Tamox yet and only have Herceptin every three weeks so I'm putting bc out of my mind a little bit. No pain from rads at all now. Skin is still darker but not really any other skin effects from the rads. Wish I could be as lucky as phxsunshine, won't get there for a while! I guess when I get done with H and get the port out I'll feel a little more normal! And when I have some more hair!!! Can't wait!!
phxsunshine, very fortunate you didn't need chemo- so happy you're done! Are you on Tamox? (Sorry if you already addressed this) Is it going okay?
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Yep on the meds po - Carole, I'm to start Tamoxifen two weeks after I finish rads so I'm checking all the boards on what to expect now. So far I'm finding it to be much like rads -- everyone's so different relating to the SE's. But checking what to expect helps me a bit.
Love the idea of putting BC out of my mind - it would help to do that if my hair would grow faster. ;-)
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