April 2011 Rads

Letlet, I doubt wiser, but I did have some other ladies tell me that it would be easier to be treated near home, esp on days where you were feeling ill.  Sorry chemo was so hard, I was lucky that my workplace let me work every other week, so I was off chemo week and worked non-chemo week. 

Our diagnosis (and the good five) are very similiar, we were all dx Aug/Sep and all HER2+. Did you have chemo before surgery also? Isn't it frustrating how slow your hair is growing on Herceptin?  I finished chemo in Jan. and although my scalp is fully covered, I have basically no hair growing away from my head.

Hi All!

Treament #11 done today and I can honestly say that i am feeling back to normal.  I finished my antibiotics and my infection seems to be gone.  I had a very energetic weekend and my shortness of breath has almost subsided.  It just comes and goes every once and a while.  One thing that is starting to happen though is I am starting to itch in my cleavage area.  Am seeing rad onc tomorrow so I will ask what I should do (it is lightly peeling as well).  I heard hydrocortisone cream is good, but need to get his ok first. After each rad I get redder, but definitely recovered almost back to normal over the weekend.

Ducky:  The only thing I have felt during rads was a deep sort of twitching.  Maybe this is what you feel as well?  Might have to do with the milk ducts being affected by rads?

Hope everyone is doing well,

Susan

Mother of3 Bakingqueen:  I actually have experienced this, but it was much worse when I had my infection (it was a second bout of breast cellulitis from surgery).  Still, my infection has gone away and all around my incision is hard, as well as the area of the lumpectomy.  Nipple is definitely swollen and tender, but actually feels better than it did.  When do you see the doc next?  If it is unbearably painful I would get it checked out. 

btw I felt like hell after the first week, but I feel almost perfect now (after 2).  Still can't walk fast though (way too painful for those babies to bounce   )

Susan, it did feel like twitching, you could be right.

Letlet, Thanks, and my family  keeps me going and on my toes................Last night ast dinner I said .............You know guys, I've been trying to pinpoint all my ailments before tomorrow, so I don't blame them on Radiation when I start.............. One of the  "Stand Up Comedians" said "hold on Mom, let me get you the Scott Tissue, 1000 roll sheet, cause that is what your going to need once you start writing them down...................Of course the whole room erupted in laughter, including me..........................Crazy bunch they are............I just wish their father was here to enjoy the fun...........It never ends, you can't be with them and not be laughing all the time......even in the Dr.'s offices, hospital waiting rooms, and the hospital rooms........One of the nurses in the surgical center said the day of my surgery "I never saw so much love in one room" and it is true........You can't be sad around them cause they are all so funny, and the in-laws are just as bad...........goofy as hell, but thank God we are one amazing  family..............People say to me "what did you do to make such a happy family, I said "all it took was love"  There is no secret to it, just love them, and when you think you have shown them enough love, show them more.......................that is all it takes.

Hi Ducky, glad you're on the road to being finished sooner!  I felt the twitching too, but just figured it was my muscles trying to keep the boob from sliding to the floor!

Motherofthree~ I am large breasted, not feeling the hardening yet, but was warned that I will.  On my 5 one nope my 4th one, darn residual chemo brain.....wonder if the amount of tissue has something to do with how quickly that happens.

I'm going to buy Lotto tickets too!!!! How fun!!!!!

Ducky:  Please let us know your winnings!  I think I may do the same thing.  Rads start this Thurs April 28.  So I have a few more days of experiencing your lottery wins.  Best of luck.  

Hello all, My mom has sent me pictures of flowers each day for each day of rads. I have now received 14 cards. Sticking them all on a piece of card stock and making my own bouquet. She also includes positive words, notes, or quotes. It is the sweetest thing. Something positive for every day. I wil remember this when someone I know goes through something like this in the future.

Ducky:  LOVE the idea of the scratch tickets - I'm 11/30 which means if I buy 30 then I'll already be able to open 11 immediately...What a bonus!  Sounds like you have a wonderful family - you did something right sista to have all that love and concern...After losing their dad I'm sure they sure as heck don't want to lose their mom so soon too...

tvandyk:  Love the flower card every day - how sweet is your mom? 

SE's:  some redness, some warmth and I've swelled at least a cup size (how swell) no pain in that area though...My only problem right now is that the ribs on the other side hurt because DH and I were out with friends on Saturday night and I ended up getting a piece of chicken lodged in my throat and DH had to do the Heimlich on me!  What a weird, embarrassing situation that was.  Apparently, he got a bit too enthusiatic on the ribs and now it's sore whenever I breathe in deeply...I refused to go to the doctor - I've had enough of doctors these days!  I'm thinking later - really?  Two bouts with breast cancer and I'm gonna die from a chicken?  That's not right...LOL

Hugs to all

Just back from radiation #17 of 33, so I am officially more than half way. I should be feeling happy, but do any of the rest of you get hit with a wave of sadness every time you go into the treatment center? I am having trouble picking myself back up once I get home and am thinking of calling my docs for depression meds. Has anyone found that they help and if so, what are you taking?

had my tats and simulation today. it was a breeze! and.. my rads tech is about my age, and what a cutie!!! i lucked out on that one

OK, everybody, some of you are making me jealous w/ all this talk of "cleavage." I've never had it. I refer to the area between my boobs as The Grand Canyon. Nothing there. Just open space. Also, my breast has become a tad bit larger since RADS... I was calling the "good" one "Pint" and the cancerous one "Half Pint." Hoping I will have to rename them but I'm sure it'll deflate again... sighhhh... One good thing about the breast surgery was that it seemed to straighten out my nipple and breast. It used to point down and outward as if it was a spotlight on a cop car looking for footprints... I thanked my surgeon for that. This evening is 16/28 and I will see the nurse practioner. Dr. Quirky is on Thurdays. I told Dr. Quirky last time how I flashed my guy friend who mows my lawn last summer. At least he laughed! Wasn't sure he was human. Oh, and if the nurse practioner wants to look at Half Pint tonight, she'd better produce some beads. After all, nothing in life is really free.

msjag - thanks for the encouragement. I just passed the halfway point but am still having a hard time with the whole concept. Even though it's 10 minutes from my house and is over in a flash (pun intended), it hasn't gotten easier and I find myself down all morning afterwards, unless I keep busy at work. Any advice on how I can turn my mind around?

Hi Ladies..........I had my 2nd Rad today, which I said above..............both ysterday and today I felt a little sick to my stomach....that never happens to me............did any of you ever have that happen........everything you read says it shouldn't since your not having your digestive track zapped, unless its just  an oddity..........Nothing horrible, just queezy...............Although I was up at 4am this morning, so I had 4 hours sleep on 2 days of Rads, and have not laid my head down today at all.........maybe i should try a nap, but i don't want to do that either, and then not be able to sleep tonight.................Maybe its nothing, or paybacks for the tiuamisu I ate after eating grilled cheese, roasted peppers, and chocolate milk for lunch........Yea, and come to think of it, I ate "sardines" yesterday..............ok, don't yuck me.........its Omega 3's babyeeeeeeeeeee.

Love you ladies.

Hi everyone, 5 down of 33, but ~ I have a large seroma, right where the incision is on top of my boob, I thought for a minute I was growing a third one....Anyway, I am now officially on hold, yes that holding pattern we get put in when the plane can't just land yet...I see the RO every Tuesday through treatment ~ their rules and thank goodness!!!!  He called my surgeon while I was in the exam room, that serious?  I am to report to radiation tomorrow but not have treatment until they get a hold of the surgeon.  Can seromas wear you down? I didn't have a temp....

Heeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyy Ladies...................maybe my luck is changing........remember my 33 scratch off tickets..............did # 3 today................damn I won another $15.00 on todays ticket...........that is $18.00 total.........I won $3.00 Monday.........0. on Tuesday, and $15.00 today.........yowza yowza...............This is fun, and I still have 30 more tickets to scratch.....................Hope the Rads go as well as my gambling habit.....hahahahhaha

Rads are good so far, but I'm not getting euphoric yet........its only the 3rd fry..........everyone is so great. going to see am LE specialist on Monday......shirt sleeve is getting a little snug on the lumpectomy side.........just a precaution, suggested by my RO.  she's a sweetie.......hugs ladies