April 2011 Rads

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited April 2011

    ducky, I just love your sense of humor!

    There are 1-2 guys at my rads treatment and two male rad oncs.. Starting to feel like I should get paid to strip! ;)  Didn't think it would be a big deal, but it is.  When the two docs ask me to reveal my boob on Tuesdays, it seems a bit creepy with them both standing there watching. The one male rad tech is nice though.  When I am at the breast clinic, the nurses are so discreet with my gown.  Forget the discretion with the male docs!!

    still wearing my nursing bra, but getting worried about the underneath part of my breast.  There is a thin red line there so far.  Not feeling too bad today.  10 down 26 more to go!

    Happy Easter!!

    Rest up til Monday,

    Susan

  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited April 2011

    To avoid germs, I have asked the techs to use those saniwipes or whatever they use to clean the handles before I hold on to them for treatment, its the fastest way to spread germs, our hands!! I asked this when I first started because the person before me was sneezing and coughing in their hands, had a bad cold. one of the techs seemed put out, oh well. Most  techs there are so nice and answer everything I ask, I also have two male techs, young ones in their 20's, and they are great.

    Ok, I've eaten the ears off a chocolate bunny, gotta stop, I've been so good with my eating, actually lost 30 pounds since my diagnosis in October, but I am craving chocolate, not a good time for that!!!!

    Hope the Easter bunny is good to all of you!!

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited April 2011

    msjag....................I'm sure he is going to be good to us, but girlfriend............you just at his friggin ears off, of no colored eggs for you sweety................hahahhahhaha

    Have a great Easter Day, but just watch where you take your next bite from.....................

  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited April 2011

    LOL!!! I needed a good laugh today, and all those rabbits I see tomorrow, I'm gonna have a grin on my face!

  • tvandyk
    tvandyk Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2011

    I have finished 12/33 as of yesterday. I have not had any SE yet. It sounds like most have had some by this time. Wondering if I am really lucky or if next week or so I am going to get slammed?



    I have already eaten about 10 chocolate bunnies along with several Peeps!

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited April 2011

    tvandyk.........................oooooooohhhhhhhh, sorry, no colored eggs for you either...................you never make the Easter Bunny angry......................

  • AimeeMac
    AimeeMac Member Posts: 241
    edited April 2011

    tvandyk -

    I have just finished 15/33, and so far no real side effects. I am getting a bit of a red line underneath the left breast, and had some fatigue on Friday. Hoping that will subside as I am back to work.

    Happy Easter everyone!

  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited April 2011

    Ducky, you are too funny!!  Forget the ears, the rest of the bunny is now gone!!!  And I've made sure there isn't any chocolate left in this house!!!

     Sagina and Aimee, noticed that you both are triple negative like me, what did you have for chemo, if any?   Seems like many TN have different drugs, I had  Taxoterre/Cytoxan. 

  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited April 2011

    msjag:  I have been dipping into the chocolate as well-didn't think my son would miss it tomorrow :0 He is getting spoiled beyond belief!  I think it's the cancer making me buy him everything now, like this is the last Easter I will see.   Also, I've lost 30 lbs. too sice my dx. in december.  Supposedly 30 more to go according to onc. She wants me down to the bottom of my weight range.  I'm triple negative as well, but I had a 3 mm. tumor so they did not feel chemo was warranted in my case.  That's why my rads are going so well for me :/  Yeah right! :(

  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited April 2011

    lesleye, free Reiki??? Holy moly....what I would do to get it where at your center! At mine its discounted for ...$90!!!

    Ladies I must confess last Friday I wasn't feeling very peachy at all. After #18/25 I am utterlly exhasuted. I just couldn't peel myself off the couch and take the bus and subway to NYC for rads. Plus it was my daughter's 6th birthday and I couldn't just be away the day and come home to pass out on the couch. She was happy to have me (apart from the time that I slept for 4 hours during the day)

    The side of my chest burns but I have to have to have to make it for 7 more treatments! 

    We can do this ladies!!!!!

  • AimeeMac
    AimeeMac Member Posts: 241
    edited April 2011

    Msjag

    I had taxotere/cytoxan as well, 4 infusions 3 weeks apart. my tumor was 2.3 cm. I handled the chemo pretty well, not much nausea but lots of fatigue. Am at 15/33 rads and trying to convince myself that I won't get fatigued since I am back to work but I will take time off if I need to.

    Aimee

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited April 2011

    Letlet.......Keep going girlfriend.........you can do this........I start Monday, oh wish I only had 7 left, but like you, I will do what I have to do...................My birthday is tomorrow....cooking a big Easter dinner for my family (they are helping)............I keep thinking about Monday, and my biggest worry is my grandaughter graduates from Catholic University of America on May 14th, and I have to make the trip to Washington D.C. and there is some walking involved, but I have to make it..........I promised her I would be there, even though she said to me tonight "Nan, if you can't make it I understand"............So I am worried, but hoping if I have problems they won't kick in till after the 14th of May................

    You ladies are my inspiritation.....you can do this, I'll say a few xtra's tonight when I lay my head on the pillow, good luck, and keep the faith...........Big Bunny Hug for you

  • LisaMomOfFour
    LisaMomOfFour Member Posts: 465
    edited April 2011

    Posting from my blackberry so this will be short.....



    I should have been clearer.... W are at an INDOOR waterpark!

  • MizChiz
    MizChiz Member Posts: 36
    edited April 2011
    DUCKYB!!! I would like to ease your mind... I believe you will be going to DC for your grand-daughter's graduation on May 14th. My experience w/ radiation is just this... I'm very fair skinned and have turned a little bit pink a few times. I slapped some 98% aloe gel on it and called it a day. I do get a little fatigued, but I have no problem getting up for work in the morning. Honestly, I have been getting some really good sleep at night because I think I fall into a deeper sleep. My RO told me not to be smearing moisturizers and such all over my breast prior to treatments, the cleaner, the better. If I start getting dry or burnt he will prescribe something to help it. I'm halfway done (14/28) and feel fine. To me, this is a breeze compared to chemo... Please don't work yourself into a tizzy before your RADS on Monday. You'll barely notice anything happened except perhaps your breast will feel warmer than the other one. Keep the faith! (((((HUGS)))))
  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited April 2011

    Happy Birthday Ducky, and I second that!!  Other than one week, I have done well with rads, I have 5 more left, and I get tired at the end of the day, which has helped me sleep too!  Just keep your cream/aloe, whatever your using in your purse and put it one when its time!!   I drive some days for my work to visit clients and I have been known to put aquafor or aloe on while I"m driving!!!  Tricky avoiding other cars on the road, but it's worked!!!

    Happy Easter everyone, I promise not to eat any more chocolate ears off the bunnies!!

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited April 2011

    thanks ladies for the birthday wishes, and happy easter to you all............I need this website more then life itself..........You ladies are wonderful, and give great advice........I don't work outside the home (retired), so if you all are going to work everyday, just maybe I can do this........

    Not sure if being 76 is a downside, I know its better to be old with cancer, just not sure if it is good to be old with cancer treatments...........I'm hoping for the best.......I have nice people at the cancer center, and that helps........

    Well I just made my Sour Cream Pound CAke, and now I'm going into make my Pineapple Stuffing...It should be a good dinner today, even though I don't feel much like eating, but I do love cooking......

    You all have a wonderful day, and again thanks so much for your love and support........could never do this without you ladies........your the best......I also heard the  Easter bunny was gunning for the person who ate his ears off..........I'll never tell..............................haha

  • CMC
    CMC Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2011

    Happy Easter!  Tomorrow will be # 16 out of 33 sessions for me.  I have had no SE so far but I am recovering from some food poisining and I hope it doesn't weaken me too much to bring on fatigue.  Would anyone like to share at what point that the fatigue set in for them?  Taking it one day at a time and grateful everyday that goes by that I am full of energy.  Wishing the same for all of you! 

    Christine

  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited April 2011

    Msjag~ I had taxotere and andriamycin, every 21 days 6 cycles, about a three hour process from getting cleared by the doc from labs to leaving the building.  I did chemo to shrink it (over 4 cm) then lumpectomy and now 4 of 33 rads last 5 to be boosts. 

    I am feeling a little tired but I'm not sure if it's the rads or since feeling so good after chemo I'm doing to much? I worked full time though it all, and now started to volunteer again....I took a nap Friday, Saturday and Sunday - the kind of nap where you just have to find the bed quick, shoes, clothes doesn't matter kind of nap!

    Ducky ~ Happy happy wonderful birthday ~ I am inspired by a lady at church, Irma, she is 79 - I didn't know her until one day at church she reached out her hand and grabbed mine, and said six years she battled breast cancer - she looks wonderful now - and I look for her each Sunday! You can do this!  And one day you will be reaching out your hand to grab someone just diagnosed or going through treatment!

  • HKCrazee
    HKCrazee Member Posts: 15
    edited April 2011

    Hi everyone, 4 down but its Easter and ANZAC Day today so it turned out to a 5 day holiday weekend in Australia so I am having 5 days off rads.
    My scar (on the side of my breast) is feeling very hot and my nipple and aeroli is very tender and feels hard - would that be the radiation? The four days I was having the rads were absolutely fine and I wasn't even bothering to put on any cream.
    Next weekend is also a holiday weekend of 3 days so its 3 days or rads and 3 more days off then back to "normal" life Monday to Friday.
    I am so in awe of you ladies who have a "long road' to go and so upbeat! Enjoy those bunnies!

  • MizChiz
    MizChiz Member Posts: 36
    edited April 2011

    HKCrazee... I'd say to put some aloe on your scar, the purer, the better. I have the same scar tissue under my nipple and areola from surgery, and then it started increasing w/ radiation. Now, I don't know if you want to do this or have a significant other, but massaging that hard, dense area helps break up the scar tissue. It's easier to do with a moisturizer and it seems to have decreased the tenderness I was feeling, somewhat. Quite honestly, I think I have only been down once during this entire cancer fiasco... It was when my white blood cell count was down to 300 and I couldn't have anybody around me for 4 days... I was lonely! As soon as I was diagnosed I made up my mind that I was in control, not the breast cancer, so I have laughed and joked my way through the last 7 months. Laughter IS the best medicine! Stay strong!

  • MizChiz
    MizChiz Member Posts: 36
    edited April 2011

    DuckyB! Happy Birthday! You're going to sail through this! Wink

    Pineapple stuffing? Sounds yummy! What are the basic ingredients?

  • HKCrazee
    HKCrazee Member Posts: 15
    edited April 2011

    MizChiz, thank you for that - I appreciate your reply.
    You are so inspirational. My BC is only small and my treatment has been / is only small too but I am so in awe of you girls who are coping so well.
    I must admit I didn't want to talk to anyone at first, but the more I have, the more I have spoken to such inspirational people who have gone through it - and a lot more serious than me - and lived to tell the tale!!!

    ETA Yes, all the rad people are young guys and girls and they are just so lovely and don't make me feel embarrased at all - the guys joke about saying their job is looking at girl's boobies all day long! Actually everyone in the Cancer centre are just so supportive - I can't praise them enough.

  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited April 2011

    Hi Ginger, I've laughed my way through as well, as an example my facebook post Friday was "on my way to the Macrowave" and when I started rads it was "first they fry my brain now they fry my boob".  Laughter certainly has been a great medicine and poking fun myself helps other people get over the aw crap what do I say to her awkward moments!

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited April 2011

    Hi Ladies...........Well 1 down, and 32 to go.........Well Mark wasn't there today (my good looking, young tech)........I guess after the final tattoo, and getting a load of me (robe off), he needed a break.............

    Question girls.......I know they said "you won't feel anything", and I truely didn't......however....at one point I felt a twinge of something in the nipple area, not a pain, but an odd feeling, almost like when the milk comes into the breat after delivery..........Happened only for a second, thought................your goofy............then they switched the machine to get another angle, and damn if it didn't happen again.........very briefly, and for a split second.........

    I asked the tech,..............has anyone ever told you.............gave her the story of what happened........she said "funny you should say that, no your not goofy, other women have said they had that same sensation too".............Didn't ask why, or what causes it to happen, and I'm sure they don't know, but has any of you gals had that experience..................I thought after.............well if it was going to happen to anyone, it would be me..........hahaTongue out

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited April 2011

    Footnote.............one of the ladies told me to buy 33 lottery scratch off tickets, and to scratch one everyday for 33 days.....................seemed like a fun thing to do, so I bought my 33 tickets today, and will start scratching....................Hey maybe there is an upside to this...........I could win some big bucks ladies.................Well even if I don't it sure seemed like a good idea, so I did it...........Turn this thing into some fun............

    I thought to myself as I walked out of the Rad Dept..............Gee, I wish this was my last treatment, then remembered something my mother use to say when I would say "I wish".  She would say "Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which gets full first"..................she really was a funny lady, and I loved her dearly...................Always with the 1 liners............but she could sure make people laugh.............................So here I am among my good friends on April Rads 2011................Love ya ladies.

  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited April 2011

    Ducky i hope you had a wonderful easter and birthday! what a great idea about the scratch offs, maybe i'll still get them even though i'm 19/25.



    I want nothing more than someday to turn 76 with my family, i pray to God that he will grant me that.

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited April 2011

    Letlet.............I did have a wonderful birthday, and a glorious Easter.. It was beautfiful here in Pa., and my twin grandaughter, brought over my twin great-grandaughters to help me blow out the candles...............so wonderful to see new life........they are almost 2 months old, and beautfful, like their mother..............There is nothing like family, and mine could never be replaced.  the love and support I have gotten these past 2 months has been wonderful...........they have literally re-arranged their lives around my cancer...........I have not gone to 1 appt. without at least 1 of them being with me.........even today i was perfectly capable of driving to Rads, my son said "no I'll take you to your 1st appt to see how you do"......................On the way out of the hospital he said...........9am tomorrow too, right........I said "no  I can do this myself".......He said "no, I'll take you"...........I said "you told me "the first day", and this is the 1st day.."...........He said, "no, I said the 1st week"....................I said "no, you said the 1st day".............he said, "well I changed my mind", I'm doing the 1st 3 days, and Nikki (daughter) is doing Thurs, and Fri............again I said "no necessary"..........He told me "I can't hear you"  So they are great kids all 6 of them.

    You will have this too.......you will make 76, and longer..........and you will have your family around you................when you put so much good of yourself, into something, only good comes back.............love and hugs.

  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited April 2011

    Ducky, I love the scratch off idea also!  I never buy lottery tickets or scratch offs, but I would enjoy seeing the "pile" shrink each week.  and You Never Know (which, by the way, is a good book that just came out by Liliian Duval about a lottery winner.  No vested interest, but my book club did read the pre-publication version due to a fluke meeting with the author).

    Most of my techs are women, but I have had a man once or twice so far. It's Monday and already I'm looking forward to Friday.  Am suppossed to be working from home, but haven't done anything yet today.  Was very tired this morning, more from Easter than Rads I suspect, so I let myself sleep in till 10am.

     Letlet - I can totally understand you not wanting to go into NYC on Friday.  I met with a few local BC and then one at Sloan and when the one at Sloan heard I worked in the city, he said "great, then you can get chemo here and go right back to work".  I was thinking, NO way, I'm at least going to give myself the day off when I get chemo!  I'm only going into the office 2x week now and leaving at 3:30pm to get to Rads.

  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited April 2011

    Ducky i think i am in love with your family, they sound so wonderful. I love the 'i can't hear you' part.



    Readingmama, you were wiser than i was at the beginning. I work in the city too (haven't gotten back yet). I told my boss yeah I'll get chemo on thursday, show up on fri, and be sick on the weekend and show up on monday too. Well my first dose of chemo was like a kick to the gut and a punch in the face all together -got so sick. Had to go on disability.

  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited April 2011

    Happy Birthday duckyb1!  I'm sitting her eating pineapple stuffing as I'm reading!

    finished 6 of 33 today...feeling a little warmth, especially at my scar.  Other than that, feeling good, except for a horrible cold and sinus infection.  I have a node they are zapping right by my sternum...not easy to not cough and have that thing zapping me!  yikes!

    Loving the facebook entries...one morning my status was my excitement about waking up with bed head!

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