Oklahoma girls (or guys) out there?

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited November 2010

    Happy Thanksgiving to you all as well!

    Hope you are enjoying the beauty of today with those that you love!

    Treatment #4 tomorrow..then only 2 left!  So really, 6 weeks from tomorrow, I will be getting my last one!  (then rads)....

    Enjoy the blessings of the day!

    peace and prayers,

    Tori

    DE COLORES! 

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  • katsOK
    katsOK Member Posts: 142
    edited December 2010

    Anyone know of a oncologist named Dr Bowen at St. Antony's.(not sure of spelling)  A friend of a friend is trying to get an appointment and wanted to know what the scoop on him is.  She had heard good and kind and that is what she is looking for.  She drives a long way to get to OKC.  Let me know if anyone knows of him.   

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  • CherylQ
    CherylQ Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2010

    Well I have one more chemo before rads.  So far everything is great, but time will tell.

    Peace and laughter,

    Cheryl

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited December 2010

    CherylQ-Woo Hoo!  One more to go!  I have one next Friday and then my  last one 3 weeks after that...then on to rads for me too....since you a bit ahead of me, you will have to pass on your words of wisdom on to me to let me know what to expect, okay?  :)

    kat43-sorry don't know Dr Bowen...hope someone comes along that can help you out!

    Hope all you ladies are feeling blessed,

    Tori

    DE COLORES! 

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  • Fiver05
    Fiver05 Member Posts: 28
    edited December 2010

    Congratulations Cheryl & Tori - you're almost there!  I had my follow up checkup with my radiation doctor today - everything looks good.  My skin is totally healed up, you would never even know that my skin went through 34 radiation treatments!  Scheduled my first (after cancer) mammogram for next week - figured I might as well get everything done before Dec 31 since my insurance is paying at 100%.  REALLY not looking forward to it - the mammo itself is no big deal...just dread waiting for the results.

    Now have close to 1" of hair!  Still not quite brave enough to go anywhere without the wig though.  I am thinking of a "no wig" New Year's Resolution...maybe.

    Teri

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited January 2011

    How are all the Okies doing?  You enjoying the fabulous weather?  I guess we better, since next week will not be as great, huh?

    Anyways...20 days PFC...will be starting rads in the next week or so.  Feeling pretty darn good, just need to get the ball rolling on rads...For those of you who have completed rads, can you do a mammogram during rads, or do you have to wait until you are done?  If you have to wait, how long after rads can you do it?

    Thanks so much ladies...

    Have a good one!

    Peace and prayers,

    Tori

    DE COLORES! 

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  • Fiver05
    Fiver05 Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2011

    Hi Tori!  So glad to hear that you're done with chemo!  I think I started rads about 4 weeks after finishing chemo.  For me, radiation was a piece of cake compared to chemo - hope it's the same for you.  I used Biafine cream (prescription only) and ended up with what would compare to a severe sunburn, but really no blisters or peeling.  I would highly recommend Biafine!  It's a hassle having to go every day, but was finished before I knew it.  I had a standing 9:30 am appointment, so went to work for a while, then go do rads, then back to work.

    Teri

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited February 2011

    Teri!

    Thanks for the response!  

    You ready for the snow???  You would think we were gonna all be snowed in for weeks by the way the grocery stores were the last couple of days...craziness!

    Thanks for the heads up on on rads...I'm looking forward to getting done, but at the same time a bit apprehensive that the "active" part of treatment will be over...just another hurdle to overcome, huh?

    Take care!

    Tori

    DE COLORES! 

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  • Fiver05
    Fiver05 Member Posts: 28
    edited February 2011

    Hey Tori & Cheryl - just checking to see how your radiation is going?  Hope it's not dragging you down too much - toward the end of mine I was pretty tired.  But once I was done, I rebounded pretty quickly. 

    I finally ditched the wig about a month ago - it's SHORT and CURLY, but it's all mine!!!

    Teri

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited February 2011

    Teri---



    I'm still waiting on my simulation, so haven't even started yet. I'm so ready to get going though!



    Awesome that you were able to get rid of your wig! Hooray!



    Thanks for checking in on me! I'll let you all know when I get started!



    Peace and prayers,



    Tori



    DE COLORES!

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited February 2011

    Jill---

    Welcome to the OKIE thread!  Great to meet you, but sorry under these circumstances.  

    Wow, 20 days out of your surgery and your are feeling great already?  That is wonderful to hear! I hope and pray that your recovery continues to go smoothly!  

    Do you have any other treatment to do now?  

    I just finished chemo almost 5 weeks ago and am currently getting ready to start rads.  If you have any words of wisdom about rads, I'd appreciate them!

    Peace and prayers,

    Tori

    DE COLORES! 

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited March 2011

    How are my OKIE sisters doing?

    Sorry, I have not kept up lately...how does it happen that time gets away from me so quickly?

    At any rate...I just finished rad treatment #11 today.  So far, so good....skin is getting a tan and I am "lubing" up as much as I can to stay ahead of the game.  It's still early, but hoping that all continues to go well.

    My husband left this morning for a 3 month deployment, so gonna finish the rest of rads by myself...still trying to figure out how I feel about that...but, what is a girl gonna do??  :)

    Hope you are all doing well...those of  you going through treatment, I pray that you are having minimal and tolerable side effects..those of you just living your life...awesome!

    peace and prayers,

    Tori 

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  • Momcat1962
    Momcat1962 Member Posts: 665
    edited March 2011

    I am waiting on tests..just a lot of issues for the past 18 plus years, and now some weird stuff again. I am in Oklahoma! ;)

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited March 2011

    Welcome Momcat1962!  Waiting is the pits, isn't it?  Hope all turns out to be fine...please let us know when you can, okay?  What part of Oklahoma are you in?  I'm in Edmond.

    Tori 

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  • Fiver05
    Fiver05 Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2011

    Hi Momcat - nice to "meet" you, but sorry for the reason we are all here!  Tori - how many rad treatments are you going to have?  I had 33, and it went really well for me.  Probably the last 5 or 6 was when I started to really get red.  It wasn't that bad...maybe like a really severe sunburn, but within a week after I was done everything was pretty much back to normal.  I used Biafine and just made sure to never skip using it.  Going to the treatment center every day got pretty old, but it all seemed to go by quickly - hope it's the same for you!

    Teri

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  • Momcat1962
    Momcat1962 Member Posts: 665
    edited March 2011

    Moore. :)

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited March 2011

    Teri--I have 28 regular treatments and then boosts...the number of boosts is still being determined, but more than likely 7 or 8...all seems to be going okay so far.....I had number 12 today and I'm getting a tan...keeping up on the "lubing" to stay ahead of the game....it's nice to get the 2 days off though. :)  Thanks for the well wishes!  I appreciate it tons!

    Momcat1962--You are just down the road from me!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend and check in when you can!  

    peace and prayers,

    Tori 

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  • Fiver05
    Fiver05 Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2011

    Hello Okie Ladies!  Hope everyone is doing well...Tori, seems like you should be nearing the end of radiation?  I know it sure is a relief to get done!

    I am going for my first haircut in a year today - kinda exciting!  Just need it trimmed up around the neckline, so not really getting anything cut much.  It's almost 2" long now, and so curly that I'm not sure what I will do with it...but glad to have hair of any kind at this point!  

    Teri

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited March 2011

    Teri,

    Just started boosts today.  I will have my last one on April 11th (missing one due to going out of town)....My skin held up for the most part...got some burns on the clavicle, on the SNB and under my breast....those are healing slowly...

    Can't believe treatment is almost over...makes me scared to be done....Am I crazy?

    Hope you all are doing wel...let's hope that pretty weather gets back here soon...I think Friday it will be in the 70's again!  Can I get a "Woot Woot!!"??

    Take care,

    Tori

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  • Fiver05
    Fiver05 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2011

    Hi Tori,

    Sorry, haven't been back here to check on the posts... Treatment seemed to go fast for me, maybe I was just in a daze, or in shock!   Will you be taking tamoxifen after your treatments are done?  Since my cancer is triple-negative I really don't have a lot of options after chemo/radiation.  I did go this week to OU Womens Health and did the testing for BRCA1/BRCA2 gene, but won't get the results back for a couple weeks.  Not really sure what I will do if it comes back positive!

    Teri

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited April 2011

    Welcome Diane!  

    Nice to add another Okie to the mix!  Hope that you are recuperating nicely and letting others fuss over you!  :)

    Teri-yes, I have started my AI already and all seems to be going okay with that...hope your BRCA results came back with good news...

    When is it gonna be spring??

    Hugs and high fives!

    Tori 

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  • CherylQ
    CherylQ Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2011

    Hi everyone, It has been a while since I last posted anything.  Finished rads on March 28 but had some unusual side effects.  Developed 1st and 2nd degree burns regardless of all the prevention creams they had me using.  Right at the beginning of my boosts (27 direct + 6 boosts) I was admitted with the diagnosis of pneumonia.  I have never had total body pain like this with pneumonia before and with good reason to doubt the diagnosis.  Was discharged on a Monday and on Wednesday I questioned the radialogist about some chest soreness and swelling.  He sent me to the surgeon who opened the swelling area at the old mast site (in the office) and it exploded like a volcano of pus and blood.  Turns out I had a rare abcess only seen in old medical books.  

    Well now 5 weeks later I still have a large hole in my chest with daily wound packing. How ever hard this may be, the good side is the infection destroyed any lingering cancer cells in the surgical area. 

    We all are going to beat this, hang in there sisters!!!

    Cheryl

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited May 2011

    Cheryl...oh my goodness....so sorry to hear of your troubles, but glad that things are getting better for you and hope they just keep improving more and more each day.

    Although I have olive complexion, my skin also broke down and I ended up with some ugly burns.  I didn't have any blisters, but just hurt...My last rad was April 11th, and right now it looks to have healed quite well, although it's still tanned...

    Such a pretty day here in Edmond today..hope everyone else experienced the same...

    Take care!

    Tori

    DE COLORES! 

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited May 2011

    Cheryl, oh my! You have had quite a time.  I am glad things are getting better for you now.

    Diane, we are practically neighbors!  I live in Mannford.

    Update me:  I an still having issues with my scar on the radiated side.  I've had 3 rounds of acute cellulitus.  So I decided that it was time to have a scar revision done.  Before the PS will look at me I had to do Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy in order to improve the quality of the radiated tissue & scar line so I can get a good clean scar.  This treatment is 5 days a week for 6 weeks. 

    I have been a bit anoid my the fact that I haven't actually seen the PS.  I have seen the wound dr but not the PS.  She keeps putting me off which is ticking me off.  Now I have to wait until June 6 to see her.  I finally called my breast specialist and she personally returned my call, of course while I was unavailable to answer my phone.  The PS assured her that she would be seeing me in a week or SO.  That So is another 2 weeks.  I have been trying to get into see her for over 2 months. I just do not understand why she won't look at the scar when she is in the HBOT unit on Mondays & Fridays. 

    I really want to get this done soon, so I don't have to waste another summer dealing with breast cancer issues.  I haven't had a good summer since my diagnosis in Jan of '08.   I am grateful that I have not hadd a reoccurance but dealing with these other issues wears me out mentally.  Sorry didn't mean to go on & on.  Just need to vent a little I guess.

    Diane, if you want to get together sometime send me a private message.  I would love to meet you!

    Sending love & prayers to All.  NJ

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited June 2011

    I don't see anymore updates but I have one.

    Finally got to see the plasitc surgeon and was I blind sided. She takes a look at me & then said that she couldn't do a scar revision but that I would need a lat-flap.  You could have scraped me up off of the floor. I was devestated to say the least.  She made me wait all that time for that.  I was not a happy camper.  

    It didn't take me long to decide I didn't like what she had to say.  So I found aoother plasitc surgeon & I love her.  The doctor & her staff are amazing.  So I decided to get the DIEP so that I can get ride of the damaged skin from the radiation.  She explain why that would be my best option & I aggreed.  

    So now I wait to get things set up. Hope you are all doing well. NJ

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  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited August 2011

    Hey Norma June,

    Did you have your recon yet? How did it go? who is this terrific lady PS who does DIEP?

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  • Starak
    Starak Member Posts: 536
    edited August 2011

    Hi All, I too am in Oklahoma.  I live on the far west side of OKC just off I-40 near Yukon.  I had a BL MX 15 mos ago.  In the name of "skin sparing" I was left with 2 booblets right in the center of my chest - right on the breast bone.  There was no heads up by anyone that I would be left with these mutant things though I am now finding that this is routine with many of our BS here. I see a PS later today to see what it will take to remove them.

    I see there haven't been alot of posts recently.  For those of you who had been going through the thick of treatment earlier in the thread, I hope you are now on the other side and healing.

    I am so glad to have found this forum.

    Barb

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited August 2011

    Welcome Starak!  I pray that you continue to heal quickly and that reconstruction goes well for you.

    Norma-would love to hear an update when you can!

    Hope you are all staying as cool as you can right now...

    Take care!

    Tori 

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  • Starak
    Starak Member Posts: 536
    edited August 2011

    Hi Tori - So nice to meet you.  I saw the PS and it should be a fairly minor fix (outpatient day surgery) to remove the center dog ears.  It will be a 6 wk wait to hopefully get approval from the insurance.  To survive the heat I had to fashion a Yorkie pool for my girls out of a giant plant saucer.  They of course rarely leave the comfort of the AC but even a few minutes warrants a wade by Hailey.  She somehow fails to see why paw prints and drips across the kitchen floor could possibly be an issue.

    Love your Avatar Cool

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  • Starak
    Starak Member Posts: 536
    edited August 2011

    Hi All - Just wondering if any of you might be planning to be out shopping til you drop at The Outlet Shoppes this weekend?  I live nearby and would love to meet you.  I am pretty easy to recognize as I am a "flat all the time".  Barbara

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