March 2011 Rads

Options
1…2829313334…46

Comments

  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    My skin is starting to get blistered and its been almost 2 weeks since my last tx! My dr said thats to be expected- its only where the boosts were also...

    Wanted to pass on a walgreens.com coupon for a free 8x10 picture collage- when you check out enter code FORMOM, it expires 5/7 so not a lot of time to do it!

    Girlfriday- i also am an avid reader and i have thought about writing a book- in high school i tried but never got past the first chapter, i still think about it, but so far havent.... I say the best writers are avid readers. I have read some books that dont flow and hte author loses me cuz they jump from one thing to another and i think- this person DOESNT read or they'd realise that the are losing people!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teal3Pink1
    Teal3Pink1 Member Posts: 109
    edited May 2011

    GirlFriday:  Yes, you should write a book!

    Everyone:  LOVE the stories. Thank you! I'm so glad to see that all this craziness is "normal." 

    I finished WBR 3 weeks ago and boosts last week, so the fatigue is starting to lift. I'm not practically falling asleep on the way home from work anymore. Skin held up really well during rads, except for the paper tape incident which completely healed with 2 days of silverdone cream. Now the sunburn peel is in full swing with a few little blisters and the nipple area is extremely tender. Will get some vitamin E oil! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited May 2011

    Sandymess- The good news is the continued "cooking" should stop pretty dramatically one week out. I was amazed at how quickly after then it started healing. And the depressed part--hopefully-- will pass. You have gone thru so much in the past nine months and knowing that you are done with this phase can put you in a serious funk. It hit me hard too. "Am I really done? Can I say I am a survivor now? What do I do with all my time that was spent going to this appointment and that? How do I know for sure that I am cancer free? Are people ever going to stop looking at me like that poor lady with cancer?"  I guess what I am trying to say is, there is a new normal for us and depression is a natural reaction until we figure out how to move on. I'm still working on it.

    So. . . .what kind of book are you writing?? When you publish, you do know you have a whole support club here that will buy a copy!!

    Ginger--Welcome home!! Bet it feels good to sleep in your own bed!!

    msjag--I want to bottle up some of your positve energy!!! Enjoy your girls' weekend!!

    Girlfriday--I totally agree with all the ladies--you have a wonderful way with words!! Sending that note to the author was and incredibly touching thing to do!!

    And for the RO saying the joint pain isn't rads' fault and the MO saying its radiation, I just keep thinking of that old Family Circus cartoon where the "Not Me" little kid runs around when no one wants to take the blame for something!!!! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited May 2011
    cmblastic...Perfect! "Not Me"! "Not Me"!  I am going to get the giggles at me next appt thinking of that as the MO/RO or whoever is talking to me lol.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gingerstx
    gingerstx Member Posts: 91
    edited May 2011

    A BIG hug to all my March 2011 Rads sisters who are mothers!    Have a great, stress-free Mother's Day with many more to come!  In the words of Helen Reddy:

    I Am Woman

    I am woman, hear me roar
    In numbers too big to ignore
    And I know too much to go back an' pretend
    'cause I've heard it all before
    And I've been down there on the floor
    No one's ever gonna keep me down again

    CHORUS
    Oh yes I am wise
    But it's wisdom born of pain
    Yes, I've paid the price
    But look how much I gained
    If I have to, I can do anything
    I am strong (strong)
    I am invincible (invincible)
    I am woman

    You can bend but never break me
    'cause it only serves to make me
    More determined to achieve my final goal
    And I come back even stronger
    Not a novice any longer
    'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

    CHORUS
    I am woman watch me grow
    See me standing toe to toe
    As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
    But I'm still an embryo
    With a long long way to go
    Until I make my brother understand

    Oh yes I am wise
    But it's wisdom born of pain
    Yes, I've paid the price
    But look how much I gained
    If I have to I can face anything
    I am strong (strong)
    I am invincible (invincible)
    I am woman
    Oh, I am woman
    I am invincible
    I am strong

    FADE
    I am woman
    I am invincible
    I am strong
    I am woman

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited May 2011

    Oh for sure! The next time a dr or nurse says 'that's not from us,' I am going to have trouble keeping myself from laughing out loud! Laughing

    Thanks for the words of encouragement, cmblastic. I needed them. I think the cooking may have just stopped. Since yesterday, it does not feel too bad. No more stinging.So that's an improvement. Now I just have to wrap my brain around all the survivorship issues. I guess that's just going to take some time. But I'll get there.

    My book is about two girls coming of age during the Woodstock era of the late 60s/early 70s. It's got romance, abuse, murder and the requisite sex, drugs and rock and roll. And if I could just get back into writing, my last 5 or 6 chapters should not be too difficult to write. (I already know what happens. Wink) Anyway, thank you for the encouragement!

    Texasrose, I think you are right that the best writers are avid readers. I also think that if you want to write a book, you absolutely should make the time.You won't regret it!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teal3Pink1
    Teal3Pink1 Member Posts: 109
    edited May 2011

    I am 3 weeks post-WBR and 2 weeks post-boosts and have been having stabbing pains off and on since week 2 of rads. RO said to use tylenol and RO's nurse suggested motrin and both have helped. Skin is improving and fatigue is lifting, but the intermittent stabbing pains have been pretty intense since Saturday night. They do seem to be in the boost zone and I will wait another day to see if things improve before calling the RO. Anyone else experiencing something similar?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited May 2011

    Teal3Pink1:  I've had those pains...sometimes strong enough to make me want to double over.  No rhyme or reason or pattern to them either.  It's the nerves re-generating; per my RO nurse.  I wouldn't worry about them unless they stay with you...I'm working on 4 weeks out, and I still get them, but not nearly as frequent or as strong as I did at 2 and 3 weeks.  Sometimes the pain will shoot down my arm too.  The good part about this is that the pains are common...the bad part is I don't think anyone will be able to tell you when they will end :(

     Maybe I will write a book!  I'll call it "TufNip, An Irradiated Story"  A True story about a girl's cancer crazy, and her equally neurotic dog.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heavenschild
    heavenschild Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2011

    Teal3Pink1 - I nearly posted yesterday w/ same complaints.  It is a hot-needle like sensation.  Told my R/O and she actually evaded the question.  Shooting pains also down my arm and it's like someone is grabbing my upper arm with their thumb digging in. 

     GirlFriday - thanks for input, nice to know now that it's just nerves re-growing.  PLEASE write the book, title alone will sell millions.  :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited May 2011
    hahaha, GirlFriday! I would LOVE to read that book based on the title alone!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shooshoo23
    shooshoo23 Member Posts: 96
    edited May 2011

    Hi ladies

    I've been off for a while. I saw my MO today and he prescribed the 5 years of Tamoxifen. He said Tamoxifen is easy and other than the hot flashes he doesn't expect any SE's. We'll see.... 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    shooshoo- so far thats about the extent of my SEs too and they arent that bad! Good luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teal3Pink1
    Teal3Pink1 Member Posts: 109
    edited May 2011

    GirlFriday: Please, please, please write that book! Love the title! Thanks for the explanation! I love your RO nurse! Nerves regenerating--wow. I must have lots of boob nerves.

    heavenschild: Yes--hot needle! It's horrible, but only lasts a few seconds--enough to scare the pants off and take your breath away, but not enough to call 911. I have a Lambchop finger puppet at my desk. Got it at AltarBoyz. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • libraylil
    libraylil Member Posts: 528
    edited May 2011

    Two weeks today post boost and the shooting pains you mentioned have disappeared. I thought the boosts would be nothing. However the area overlapped by the boosts and the wbr took a beating. Looks done to a golden turn now. Interesting what the RO nurse said about nerves. I am regaining some feeling in the back part of the arm and the nip is functioning at almost full capacity. More like a monopoly top hat, but I am lucky to still have mr top hat. Lob ray lil

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pinkprincess
    Pinkprincess Member Posts: 280
    edited May 2011

    Anyone experience some throat irritation or is this just allergies? I am going to ask dr tomorrow about it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Angelice
    Angelice Member Posts: 1,739
    edited May 2011

    hi ladies its my last day today rads woohoo

    Teal i have the stabbing pains to they said its rads related

    Kcmomx3 i have had very sore throat, and have one now on my last day, and i had sore chest infection but ok now

    good luck ladies Cool

    i have my bone scan in october

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited May 2011

    KCMomx3:  I had one...but it turned out to be cold related...BC rads don't often get sore throats because of the angle of the rads...If you sore throat is in the back of your throat, it's allergies...if it's lower, it will be the rads...It's called esophogitis and it hurts lower (more like heart burn).

    Angelice:  Congratulations!  I went to a meditation workshop this weekend and really struggled.  Talked to a BC survivor and she said she had difficulty through treatment too.  Took her at least six months to get back into a deep meditation.  How are you doing with it?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • libraylil
    libraylil Member Posts: 528
    edited May 2011

    Congrats angelice, keep moisturizing. I m a tad over two weeks out and back to normal....just done to a golden turn. Libraylil

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited May 2011

    Sorry everyone ...reading lots but not posting as much these days!  In my fourth week out from rads and my skin is all healed up.  Still have days of extreme exhaustion but they are getting fewer and farther between.  Last week, my boat team hit the water again for the season so we are out paddling 3x a week.  I was just soooo happy to get back in the boat after the winter I had - likely won't be strong enough to race until end of the season but I don't care!!

    Like you Libraylil my radiated boob is a lovely golden tan, lol.

    Photobucket

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited May 2011

    marjie, those boats are so cool! It must be a lot of fun. I don't know how the heck you can row, though. I am still very sore and achy. Plus, I'd have to wear a sleeve for my LE.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited May 2011

    Sandy - My new team this year is called Rowbust.  They are all BC survivors (same coaches) and they are so hard core.  Many of the ladies wear their LE sleeves to paddle.  I'm very sore and achy for sure....just more stubborn, lol.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited May 2011

    Haha! Marjie, I love that name. How appropriate! It sounds like a great workout. Makes me want to grab the hubby and take the canoe down to the river.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gingerstx
    gingerstx Member Posts: 91
    edited May 2011

    Marjie:  I love your attitude!  You GO girl!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited May 2011

    Angelice-Congrats on finishing this phase!!  I have the stabbing pains too, fortunately they don't last long. Just enough to be annoying!

    Marjie--I LOVE the name of your team. I wish I had your stamina! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    That is a NEAT name!!! i've never done rowing myself but a friend of mine in high school did and she had these massive thighs! i was so jealous- mine are strickly fat LOL

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited May 2011

    Hahaha - just have to point out, I paddle...rowing is completely different.  I have lost ALOT of stamina but hopefully it will all come back a little bit at a time.  Check us out at:

    www.rowbustdragonboat.com

    I was participating in the sport before I was diagnosed and consider myself so lucky to have known these ladies and be so welcomed and cared for as a new member of their team. This has been a hard year for Rowbust, we have lost two members and another one is very ill at this time but this is something we all face and get through together - the support is just so amazing.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    my bad- lol y'all are called the rowbust so i assumed its rowing, btw loved the page- the facts page was very informative!

    SO do you have buff arms then???

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Angelice
    Angelice Member Posts: 1,739
    edited May 2011

    thanks ladies i feel pretty good , bit tired nothing to worry about just feels good i have no where i have to be early mornings and every day , and my rad boob is also taned and peeling now some spots ..

    Marjie  your boat paddling looks like fun .. i dont think id have energy for it though ..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited May 2011

    texasrose - believe it or not it's more abs but yes, by season's end our arms and shoulders are looking pretty nice, lol.

    angelice - I hear you about energy.  I really need to force myself forward, but this is something that I have really loved for the past few years and I'm just not willing to lose anymore of my "normal" life at this point.  I knew these ladies before my diagnosis and I guess what they helped me to see as I went through treatment is that there IS life after BC, no matter how long or how short.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited May 2011

    did any of you wonderful ladies get little tiny blisters on your chest?  If so, what did you do to help it or did you just deal with the pain?  I'm so itchy there and will forget and go to scratch it, then I want to jump out of my skin from the pain!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories