December 2010 Rads

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  • trishd31
    trishd31 Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2011

    Hi I noticed that you are also on tamoxifen...are you having any of the side effects as of yet.  I find that the hot flashes are unbearable especially at nights...how is yours. 

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011

    Lynn I have 9 left I can taste the end and it is sweet

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  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Member Posts: 1,946
    edited January 2011

    I have only been on it for 6 weeks and suddenly found myself having hot flashes at 4am . I split the dose (and checked with my pharmacist today about it and she said FINE) and I have not had a hot flash since...at least, not one where I wake up in a puddle of sweat...I still wake up warm somewhere between 3 and 4am but I keep my heat off and go to bed with a beanbag on cold night so by the time I fall asleep, it is no longer hot. It is working for me.

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    Sherry - FINALLY DOWN TO THE SINGLE NUMBERS.  So happy for you.  You have been through the mill and back.  We are really gonna party soon.  Wish I could be there with you on the last day, we could toast with a nice glass of wine.  I hope you are planning a big celebration dinner or something - to so totally deserve it.  I AM SOOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!!

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  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2011

    5 left for me, I'm very excited. 3 this wk 2 next. Armpit is starting to get a little sore. I put the cream the Dr. gave me on like 5 xs a day, plus av gel.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011

    IowaSue I am right behind you woohoo

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    WOO HOO TO ALL THOSE THAT CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE.  WE WILL HAVE A GROUP HAPPY DANCE REAL SOON.

    Have A Great Day Ladies. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2011

    3 more days to go!!! having a red and painful boob but the end is close. Joining the happy dance!

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  • Latte
    Latte Member Posts: 1,072
    edited January 2011

    don't forget those of us who started in Dec but will only be finishing in Feb - save the group happy dance till then :-)

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  • FaithFollower
    FaithFollower Member Posts: 49
    edited January 2011

    Last one today - I'm soo excited. My sisters (including you ladies) are gonna celebrate w/me tonite, as I will for you!

      IowaSue - The tech suggested a combo - aloe vera gell, topped w/hydrocortisone cream, topped w/zinc oxide.  The zinc helps protect the skin so the aloe and hc can work.

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    Latte - We will have one now for those ladies finishing and then another one for you.  What a better excuse to have continuing parties.

    I can do the happy dance over and over again. 

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  • localgirl
    localgirl Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2011

    Hi all-

    I've been jumping between here and the Jan boards so sorry if you all have heard any of this before!

    Halfway done!!! So excited.  It's going pretty quickly and so far, just light sunburn pink.  Hopefully it won't get too much worse before the end.  Definitely low on energy - sherryc I'm jealous that you get to take a nap - that sounds heavenly :)  I usually want to take one about halfway through the work day which is most inconvenient!

    Raincitygirl, I don't think it will take you a year to take the weight off -  if you work with your naturopath to get on good whole grains, vegetables, moderate amounts of meat and cut out processed stuff and reduce (or eliminate) white flours and sugars, you won't have to wait that long.   

    Congrats to everyone who is almost done - yeah!!

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011

    latte I will hang out here to you are finished and do the happy dance with you.

    localgirl-I had plenty of sick and comp time built up at work so I planned my treatments that way.  I desperatley wanted to keep up my workout schedule because I knew it would be good for me and my RO said my skin would appreciate it.  The only way I have the energy to workout in the evenings is to take a nap after tx.

    I have 2 more reg rads and 6 boost left.  I can't believe it is almost here and my skin is doing good.  Red and peeling my underarm is sore but that is it.  I was really worried at Christmas when I had that awful rash and itching but the rash is gone and the itching is almost nonexistant.

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  • toni30
    toni30 Member Posts: 252
    edited January 2011

    Hi Ladies:

    Checking in late because I was out celebrating - but FINISHED today!  Woo-hoo!! Doing the happy dance and can't wait for everyone else to join.  Got those damn tattoos off.  I'm tired but still kicking.  Have a great night.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011
    Toni-CONGRATULATIONS DOING THE HAPPY DANCESmile Glad you had a good time celebrating
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  • SKW0416
    SKW0416 Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2011

    I started rads in Dec. I have completed 18 of 33...YAY! I have VERY itchy skin, red with bumps. I have tried the creams the RO suggested but nothing really seems to help for very long. It is especially bad between my breasts and under the affected breast. Any suggestions???

    CONGRATS to all who have recently finished!!!! I am right behind you!!!

    Susan Smile

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited January 2011

    Not sure what you are currently using - I am at 15 of 35.  I have been using either aquafor, 98% pure aloe gel, or at night, i use prescription sclair.  So far, I have no rash or redness, a tiny bit pink.  I was told if things got irritated my first step was to use Cortaid 10%.  Also I have read that people like to use zinc on top of other creams.

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    SKW - For the itchness, I found Topicort to be a miracle cream.  It is an RX and your rad onc will have to give you a script for it.

    marriedblis & toni30 - Congrats on finishing rads!

     

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011

    susan-Hi I am down the road on IH10 from you about 2 1/2 hours from Houston. I go for #27 today.  I had a itch and rash that started on #10 and the RO had me use Hydrocortison 1% over the counter.  That worked for about a week and on #14 it exploded on me.  It was Christmas and my RO was out of town so I used a strong prescription steriod lotion that I had for poison ivy since I would not be in treatment for a few days.  It help incredibly well.  When my RO got back he had me stop it because it was so strong and put me on prescription Kenalog which is also a steriod.  Jo on this thread used prescription Topocort. My rash is gone and my itch is pretty much gone.  I really think the strong stuff is what did it.  Talk to you RO and instist on something for the itch.  Good Luck

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  • SKW0416
    SKW0416 Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2011

    Thanks y'all for all of the advice.  I see my rad onc on Friday so I will ask about some of your suggestions.  Currently, I use aquafor and an RX cream Biafine. Regardless, I still itch.  The only way I am comfortable is at home without a bra in a soft tank top. That is not ideal...I am a nurse and work 12 hour shifts.  When I perspire, it aggravates it more! I am "busty" so I always sweat between my breasts and under them. I take a Benedryl at night so I sleep without itching...it also keeps me from waking so much with the hot flashes!

    Thanks again! ~Susan

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011

    skw-Claritin worked best for my itching and with it being a 24 hour pill gave me much relief.  I took it for several weeks, have finally stopped since my itching is practically gone.

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  • FaithFollower
    FaithFollower Member Posts: 49
    edited January 2011

    Congrats Toni!  Who took out your tit-toos?
    SKW - my RO tech suggested a combo - aloe vera gell, topped w/hydrocortisone cream, topped w/zinc oxide.  The zinc helps protect the skin so the aloe and hc can work. Its messy tho. here's a link to my post for large breasted ladies http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topic/762365?page=12#post_2172919 

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  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2011

    Congrats on finishing !!! 3 more for me. My only soreness is my armpit where my bra rubs. I don't have breast soreness had bimx.

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  • toni30
    toni30 Member Posts: 252
    edited January 2011

    Susan: My RO gave mme hydrocortisone cream for itch skin and it helped.  Marriedblis - I peeled off the tranparent tattoo covers myself - they were gooey but didn't hurt.  Some of the writing came off in the shower. I could probably rub them off, but don't want to rub right now.

    Thanks to everyone for your goods wishes - and to jo for your support and cartoons.  You have been so great to stick with the December ladies.

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    Topicort worked best for me for the itching and burning - have to get an RX for this.

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  • soulswithin
    soulswithin Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2011

    Hi everyone. three more regular rads and then 7 boosts and then done. About two weeks more. Ughh. I've been trying to keep up with walking because of the neuropathy, along with two root canals and Dad in hospital. I am worn out!

    Kind of down when expecting to be charged up about getting to the finish line. After reading about the taxotere possibly not being effective for estrogen responsive cancer, I was really saddened to see that these leg problems could have been avoided. The rads havn't been a huge problem until a few days ago, extremely raw feeling, total sore breast, and would you know the doctor took a dang huge felt pen to circle and mark the boost area for mapping, and then they tried to scrub off the dye with alcohol! Damn, that hurt. And I'm sorry but, what the heck do we bother worrying about carcenogenic foods, exposures, etc., when they go and scrub 'felt pen' dye into you, and now they say this will be done for 7 days during boosts! It stung like heck too on this sore boob.

    Again, this stuff is a real mix of voodoo. Take care everyone, and happiness to you all when the rads are over!

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    soulswithin - Sorry this is happening to you.  I had the ink burn my skin too.  When I told my rad onc, he said the techs did not need the ink marks - the tattoos would be good enough.  The ink marks make is easier and faster to get the zaps done.

    (((HUGS))) to you.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011

    Today is my last reg rads and I start boost on Monday.  Yesterday they marked me up for my boost as well, and took pictures but did not try to remove the ink. I have found that if you put some type of oil on it it comes right off.  So when I got home I have some oil I use on my hair and used it and off it came without scrubbing.  I figured when I took  a shower I would wash the oil off so no problem with rads. I have been using this oil all along.  I had to be marked and take it off each day that they do it.  I don't care if they have to redo it and they have never said anything about it.  They are pretty light are the markings anyway.

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  • Teklya
    Teklya Member Posts: 435
    edited January 2011
    10 today.  No real problems so far.  YAY.  Then I went to have my port removed.  YIKES!  That was something else.  So glad to have it gone!  Right now the freezing is leavng and I just took some Tylenol.  Pretty painful actually, more than I thought it might be.  But, the Dr had to do some digging to actually get the port out!

    Guess the weekend will be a quiet one with very little activity.

    take good care and have a good one

    Teklya

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011

    Start my boost on Monday 6 of them.  Also set up my appt with the PS to see about getting this lopsidedness taken care of.  Feels really good to be making future plans for a change.  Also DH and I are going to the hillcountry mid Feb.  Going to visit all the winery's

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