January 2011 Rads

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  • Victoria67
    Victoria67 Member Posts: 44
    edited February 2011

    Wow, I've been away for a few days and lots has been happening on this board, I'm not sure if I can catch up.  Congratulations to Omaz and Rachel on finishing - hooray! 

    Suepen, my rad onc recommended Solugel which I think is similar to Solosite?  Not sure if one is OTC and the other prescrption.  I found it quite soothing.  It made the skin look like it was peeling badly but it was mostly the gel.

    My last boost was a week ago and the red, irritated skin is slowly starting to fade.  Still a little bit itchy and I'm getting a few stabbing pains in the breast but otherwise feeling good.  I went on a short holiday for a few days and went swimming in the surf (with a UV shirt on) and the salt water seems to have helped. 

    Eloise, the treatment field for me was half way up my armpit so unfortunately only half the armpit had the hair fall out!  I used an electric shaver which the rad onc was happy for me to use and I had no problems with it, much safer than shaving with a blade when your armpit is numb.

    Michcon, we'll be celebrating with you!.

    Good luck everyone for the rest of the week. 

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Rad onc said the pawpaw was fine to keep using - really left it up to me. She did want to look at the area, but I fobbed her off - just said it's the same as last time. I did get my certificates for work out of her though. Just have to go back in 6 weeks for a follow up.

    Only 4 boosts to go!!!

    Sue

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited February 2011

    I did 21 out of my 35 today.  Tomorrow sounds like it is a no go because even my husbands work is having everyone work from home. I wondered why the techs were asking if I drive in the snow? In Chicago which isnice and flat and e3veryone knows how to drive in the snow, yes I do drive in the snow. In Seattle not in a bigger storm and there are all of these hills. We are having a snow storm. Already all of the trees are totally covered and look pretty.

    I met Raincity yesterday. It was my pleasure, it sounds like her AM group was lots of fun. I hope to see her again. She wore a Kast Fry tee shirt for her final rads. Really fun. 

    Night all 

    GInger

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011

    LoL Eloise about the cat!  regular iodine and rads. he he he.

    Ginger -  I grew up in Seattle and it is beautiful in the snow but a bear to drive around!  21 done you are doing good!

    Suepen -  Friday,Friday and that's it!

    Thanks Victoria!

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011
    Michcon - All done?  Whoo hooo!!!!
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  • Eloise
    Eloise Member Posts: 137
    edited February 2011

    Ginger, I grew up in Minnesota so I know what you mean about people who know how to drive in the snow.  Now I'm just south of San Francisco and the forecasters are saying we might get snow here on Friday, for the first time in decades.  Of course it won't last for more than a couple of hours since the ground isn't frozen, but between the inexperienced drivers and the hills, it could really be chaos!

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  • saturn
    saturn Member Posts: 139
    edited February 2011

    Eloise-- just south of SF, that's MY old stomping grounds!  It was a great place to grow up back then.

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

    Gingerbrew - it was my pleasure as well.  You will see me again, but I will likely surprise you again :)

    Enjoy the snow!

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Omaz - I finish on Tuesday not Friday unfortunately. My breakdown area is looking nice and clean and not weeping. Just got to keep bathing it and applying the pawpaw. Every time I bathe it, more comes off. The whole crease area looks grey, so I guess that's how much I'll lose. You were the smart one - wearing a Tshirt under your bra. I couldn't do that as it's been so hot over here. It's definitely the skin on skin thing that causes it. I did put a pad in my bra but not when I was running around in a sarong so it serves me right.

    Sue

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  • rachel5738
    rachel5738 Member Posts: 920
    edited February 2011

    Just an update--I am a few days post-rads and underneath my arm seems to have become redder and sore. I was on the treadmill at the gym with sports bra and tanktop over top and I think that the friction caused more soreness. Ahhhhh....Have to be really careful with it over the next few days.....just when I thought I may be in the clear :(

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011

    rachel - I saw the LE specialist today and she said my arm was much much better (YAY!!).  But, she also said that I shouldn't do any more than 2-3 pound weights and to take it easy for some time until all the radiation treatment areas inside and out heal.  Not sure how long that is but probably a few weeks I am guessing.

    Suepen -  Sorry to hear about the fold skin problem, I have felt fortunate several times that this happened during winter and not summer here in AZ - that would have been a problem!

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  • lrr4993
    lrr4993 Member Posts: 937
    edited February 2011

    Hey all!  I hope everyone is doing well and close to wrapping up rads, if not already wrapped up.

    Rachel - same thing happened to me.  I finished up Friday and my boost area suddenly turned really red today.  

    The good news is my skin has now grown back under my breast where it was all red and slimy and icky.  I am going to give it a day to two more without a bra, then hopefully I will be able to get back to dressing normally. 

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Irr - good the hear you're healing.

    Got a call - machine break down - delayed until 12:20 - poop - I'll miss my Magnum PI rerun. More skin gone - even a tiny spot in the boost area - wonder what they will say about that today. It gives me the shits as I now have to wait ages to be able to dress the area. At least they called today, which is better than when I was stuck there for over an hour the other day.

    Sue

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  • 1Christy
    1Christy Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2011

    I finished treatment last Thursday. My breakdown area which is under my arm  is looking good,. It seems to be healing. However, I now have a big red with blisters spot in the boost area.  At least I am finished and healing. Hope every is going well for you. 

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  • walker2222
    walker2222 Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2011

    I am one week out from boost treatments and the only residual effect from my break down area under my is that it is a bit more tanned than the other areas. You can see where the radiation burned more. I am now putting Palmers coco butter healing cream on it now.

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011

    I just finished on Monday and now am feeling so tired at the end of the day!  Today it seemed like it took forever to get home to rest after work!

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  • beacher4209
    beacher4209 Member Posts: 540
    edited February 2011

    Eloise, I have the same deal with my cat she is going on 14 how old is yours?

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Omaz - You should have had a rest. I've just been into the city to visit work again - only for an hour and a half and I'm pooped. You don't realise how much it has affected you until you start doing more.

    Only 2 left - machine broken again!!! That's 3 times in one week. Had to wait an hour again. I swear I was getting ready to walk out and forget the last 3.

    Sue

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  • Eloise
    Eloise Member Posts: 137
    edited February 2011

    beacher4209, she's 12.  Hyperthyroid is very common in older cats, as I understand it. 

    Omaz and Rachel, I just skipped out of the gym this week (I missed the day after my lumpectomy but otherwise have kept up with it through treatment).  I have some peeling and blistering around my armpit (not to mention the sore hand on the other side where the cat bit me!) and I couldn't face doing weights or swinging my arms around.  I've got small hand weights and a recumbent bike at home, but will I use them without the peer pressure of my gym? 

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  • momof2greatkids
    momof2greatkids Member Posts: 56
    edited February 2011

    Eloise and Saturn - Peninsula my old stomping grounds! It is so beautiful there, I miss it!

    I finished rad #19 (of 28+boosts). I have not been on the boards much, and am wondering if depression, anxiety and feelings similar to "chemo brain" have happened to anyone else. I see above where someone mentioned they are a mess - that is how I am. Completely discombobulated. I did fantastic through 6 months of chemo, was a warrior for the BMX, and now I am trashed. ANy thoughts, advice?? Thanks! Hugs! (Love the cat story! My daughter just brought her 9 y.o. cat to vet today as she lost a lot of weight in a week, they are checking thyroid and checking for diabetes. We had to laugh - DD is an RN and may have to give her cat insulin shots! My DS has Type1 so we are all too familiar with insulin injections!) 

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011
    momof2greatkids - (((hugs))))!!  We have a family vacation planned in June to the beach and when it just seems like too much I imagine myself there already.  Smell the ocean, feel the breeze, float in the waves, listen to the birds.  It helps me.  Maybe plan a sweet vacation as a distraction??
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  • Pennythoughts
    Pennythoughts Member Posts: 81
    edited February 2011

    Eloise - I am so amazed at you and many others on here who have continued going to the gym through this ordeal.  I think I must be a big, huge baby b/c I can hardly muster enough get up and go to get out of bed in the mornings, let alone go to the gym.  Not that I don't know I should go and I could definitely use it, but I just have no motivation whatsoever to do it.  Zero.  How do you keep yourself motivated?

    momof2greatkids - I completely relate to you. I didn't have chemo, only surgery, rads & Tamoxifen.  But even though I didn't have chemo, I still feel as discombobulated (love your word!) as though I did, from what others describe of it.  I am tired, find it hard to focus, can't remember so many things, have trouble finding words in the middle of a conversation so I just stop dead and draw a blank . . . it's embarrassing!  As I said above to Eloise, it is a struggle to make myself get out of bed in the morning.  Not physically, but mentally & emotionally.  I know that in relation to so many others who have it so much worse than me, I should be thankful and happy that my treatment was what it was, but ever since diagnosis, I just can't seem to pull it together.  And it doesn't help that about once a week, when I put the effort into getting myself cleaned up, put makeup on and go out, people ask me how I'm doing and I say I'm struggling, they say, "Well, you look fantastic!"  I want to tell them that anyone can dress up the body and the face and put a smile on . . . that's easy.  But the turmoil going on in the inside . . . yikes!  You said it well - - " . . . and now, I am trashed."  Here's to our climb out of that and into the light again!  (((HUGS)))

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011
    pennythoughts - Yeah!!  Everyone says I look great.  Like I'm all done or something.  Annoying.
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  • michcon
    michcon Member Posts: 145
    edited February 2011

    Finished on Wednesday! Yay! I love that they had a bell to ring. 

    My peeling in the arm pit is doing alright, not as bad, but now it peeled overnight by the nodes scar and it's raw! I'm nursing it with plenty of lotion, but if it's still raw and gets any worse I'll have to call the doc.

    I'm with Omaz, why do people keep saying, "congrats you look great"? I don't think I look so great... ha. 

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  • rachel5738
    rachel5738 Member Posts: 920
    edited February 2011

    Penny----I completely relate to how you are feeling. Some days---just feels like my mind won't get into the right spot--no focus and my mind keeps racing. I have joined meditation/relaxation and although it is great during the session--seems like I cannot apply it at home. Someone mentioned something once to me when people keep saying "You look great"--someone said they answered back--cancer was in my breast not my face. Not sure if I would have guts to reply back like that--but it did make me laugh. People always tell me I look great even when I know that I don't--I know they are being nice and don't really know what else to say.

    My underarm area is pretty sore and started to peel---Doc said as long as it is dry then it is OK. I have to put something there when I go to gym or else the friction makes it worse. I only just started back at the gym--I couldn't have done it through treatment--I am in awe of those that could.

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011
    Hey michcon - Yayyyyy, you are done with rads!!!!!!!!!!
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  • lrr4993
    lrr4993 Member Posts: 937
    edited February 2011

    Congrats to the newly finished!  

    Those of you talking about brain mush and exhaustion, have you had it all along?  I seem to have come down with a huge case of this post-treatment.  I have been super busy at work, so it may just be normal burnout.  I feel like a vacation would do wonders for me.  I worked full time thru chemo and rads and have not had a day off, so maybe I just need a break.  Have one coming up at the end of march.  In fact, have three coming up in the next 3 months . . . lol.  My boss is going to freak.  

    To Mari and any others with the skin problems, mine completely healed over this week.  It lasted exactly 10 days from start to finish.  Wore a bra yesterday and today for the first time in a couple of weeks.  I forgot how much I hate wearing those damned things. :) 

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited February 2011

    22 down 13 to go and possibly an extra additional treatment added because I missed. We had a lot of snow and driving here in the snow is difficult because of the hills and curves. It turned out when I got there today there was no snow in Kirkland and never was much. At my house there is still snow on every tree branch, the lawns and even on the paved parking area in front of the house. I had to be especially careful going to the main highway because our road has about 1/2 mile of curves next to a ravine. My husband even had someone spin out in front of him this AM on the main road. I expect it will all be melted and above freezing temps by monday.  In Illinois we knew where the snow was headed, here it varies greatly and seems much harder to predict.

    Getting pretty red, lotioning up!

    Ginger

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Now I've got an area on the side of my boob that is really sore. I've put medi honey on it - stuff them, it can't hurt for over the weekend. I think these extra areas that are raw are from where they are sticking the tape for the treatment. They try to remove it gently but admitted they caused the loss of skin in the nipple area. I must say the PawPaw ointment in the crease is nicer than using solosite. Can't wait for Tuesday and it will all be over.

    Congratualtions Michcon!!!!

    Have a great rest over the weekend girls!!!

    Sue

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011

    Tuesday Tuesday come quickly!!  Then you are done!!!

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