March 2011 Rads

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited May 2011

    Ooh, my radiated side/cancer side is been giving me all kinds of mixed signals. It's hard to describe, pain, but different kinds. One moment stabbing, one moment sore and throbbing. It still hurts to touch at certain places. Five months out from Chemo and 4 from BMX. All my little nerve endings are firing away like crazy. I agree with all of y'all--I am impatient and just want to be past this part of healing and be normal again!!

    On another note, does anyone have a hard time swallowing? Every once and awhile, I feel like my throat has closed off and I can't swallow. It started during rads and I have had a few times since I finished. Part of me thinks its stress, duh-uh, but it doesn't happen during stressful times--it just happens at the oddest times.I've never had a panic attack so I don't know if this is a SE of rads, tamox or just me going crazy. 

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  • starella
    starella Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2011

    hi, i had problems with swallowing after rads and i asked my ro about it.  He said the esophagus probably got some radiation.   Has anyone had a mammagram yet? I'm scheduled for one in June, my breast is still sore. How soon after rads is the standard time for a mammogram? anyone know?

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited May 2011
    cmblastic - did you ever have any problems with thrush during chemo?  I thought that I didn't but turns out I have it down in my esophagus and it is lasting FOREVER!  I think it's gone, then I start feeling like I have something caught in my throat and eventually it's difficult to swallow.  I have to keep taking nystatin until it finally gives up.
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  • libraylil
    libraylil Member Posts: 528
    edited May 2011

    Marjie. I had 2 bouts with thrush during chemo. That is when I felt the worst. Hope you get over this soon.



    Starella I asked the RO because I had a lingering sore throat after rads and a cough. One month after rads and it seems to be going away. Libraylil

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  • pumela115
    pumela115 Member Posts: 231
    edited May 2011

    Hi everyone! I'm so glad i came here today. I thought i was going crazy, but sometimes i have a problem swallowing too. I also get heartburn really bad now too.

    cmblastic- I still get very sore where they took all my lymph nodes out and June 9th will be a year since my surgery, and somtimes it doesn't bother me  at all. Don't know what to think.....

    starella- I had my first mammo before i had rads and i am scheduled for another one at the end of July. I thought it would hurt, because i was still sore also, but it was fine. I don't know the standard of time after rads, but i will be having them every three months for a while.

                                                         Happy Memorial Day!!!!!

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  • libraylil
    libraylil Member Posts: 528
    edited May 2011

    I will get mammo d July 20. 6 months after surgery. 5 days after my one year diagnosis anniversary. I am trying not to get scared and will concentrate on planning my outfit and seeing dr cute and dr so fine on the same say. My mo was so funny. I saw him out a month ago and he just patted my hair and said "look at that". I luv him....he's hot. Libraylil

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  • susie1999
    susie1999 Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2011

    Wow. I was so glad to read your post marjie! I leave June 6th for six to seven weeks to start my radiation. My little boys have never been away from me more than two nights. Hubby will be figuring a lot of things out....but I am also thinking that it will be a good opportunity to go for the rest to cure. Any advice about the whole thing would be greatly appreciated. I don't know how I'm going to handle my skin in the heat....it's 87 today, and I live in the shore. The city will be hotter. . Won't I have to keep the radiation site dry (from my sweat etc). I'm wondering if I'll be confined to air conditioning.

    />Questions for anyone else....I also have fibrosis/cording from surgery.... bilateral mastectomy last December. Got through the chemo, been 12 days since last taxol. Still have tingling in fingers
    and toes, irritable bowels but mostly trouble with tightness under my arm and nerve feelings all the way to my forearm....and feedback on that would be great. Thanks all, susie

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  • gingerstx
    gingerstx Member Posts: 91
    edited May 2011

    Starella:  I won't be getting my first mammo after rads (completed 4/25) until the first week of December.  My last one was a result of my having found my lump, last December, so they'll be a year apart.

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited May 2011
    Susie - This is a LONNNNG thread!  All the ladies on here still keep in touch even though we have all finished our rads.  If you go back to the beginning of the thread you will find SO much information on how to take care of yourself and your skin.  Rads is relatively easy compared to chemo (at least for me it was!) but you'll find the fatigue will get pretty heavy.  Everyone's skin reacts differently and to various degrees.  I had no reaction until near the end - follow your RO's advice for skin care but take a look at some of the posts here for my advice since we've all been through it!  I'm sorry you have to be away from your family, but you're right - use the time for you.  Rest us lots and heal.  (((HUGS)))
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  • PitPat
    PitPat Member Posts: 156
    edited May 2011

    Stiff and sore, hard time swallowing occationally, still tired, wierd tingling at rad/mammo site, hot flashes with or without tamoxo. We know it all and are living it. You ladies have no idea how much I appreciate coming here and reading about the sameness of us all. I feel normal.

    I've been VERY sore lately. I have no idea to move or not move. If I get busy to keep my body moving I pay later.  Now I've got a cold (pretty sure I got it from the hospital when I got my port out) and wanting to move so I don't feel sore, but I need to rest, which is also making me sore....ARRRRRRRRRRRRRG.

    Take your pick Naproxan, Ibuprophen or Tylenol #1 here I come...add a sleep aid on that and I think I'll kinda feel normal in the morning..that is until I move.

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  • gingerstx
    gingerstx Member Posts: 91
    edited May 2011
    Susie1999:  I had to be away from home for the 7+ weeks of radiation and even tho I don't have kids at home and was staying with very close family, being away from my "life" was the most difficult part of the process for me.  Luckily I had access to the computer and my iphone, so I was able to feel somewhat connected.   However, not having to cook or clean or do any of my "normal" chores freed me to just focus on myself and doing whatever I needed for myself to feel comfortable.  Make sure you talk to your RO and the techs to find out exactly what area is going to be radiated and from day 1 start spreading whatever ointment or cream your RO recommends.  You don't have to worry about keeping your radiated area dry or about your own sweat but you do want to be able to wear loose clothing and be able to keep that area "lubricated."  If you're able to go bra-less as I was... do it.  If not, wear a camisole.  If you go to search at the top of this "page" and type in camisole for rads, you should be able to find out what's recommended.  In addition to the rads cream or ointment, you might want to get a tube of hydrocortisone cream and a small aloe plant because you will most likely end up with an itch and want something to counteract it.. the sap from the plant is also very cooling.   Rads are very do-able and the treatments go by pretty quickly.  Doing a countdown helps make you see your own progress.  If there isn't one already, you may want to start a June thread to share with others who are beginning their rads in June.  Not only will you find yourself bonding with them but it's helpful to hear about each others' experience.   This is a sisterhood and we're here for all of you, so be sure to keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.
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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited May 2011

    Marjie, I hadn't thought about thrush--mainly cause its not painful or consistently often. Maybe every few days. Fortunatley doesn't happen when I am eating--just trying to swallow saliva. Weird feeling, for sure. Glad (but not really!) that others have the same issue. PitPat, my whole body aches too. Ibruprofen is my friend, well along with ambien!!! I started riding my bike this week. My DH and I got out on the local bike trail on Sunday--and it felt so good. Surprised that the only real part that hurts is my "bike Bones"! And then I went swimming at my inlaws house, laps and all. Thought it would help stretch out my shoulder and arm--well not yet. . . 

    Susie--I agree with Marjie--go back and read this thread from the beginning--there is a lot of good advice!! Important to lube multiple times a day-from the beginning and for weeks after. Taxol is a bear. I am 5 months out and still get the nueropathy in the toes, my MO has me taking B6 to help combat it. Good luck, and we are always here for you! 

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited May 2011

    Is anyone still having "brain" issues?  I still can't seem to hold info in my brain.  It's so frustrating.  I've always been a multi-tasker, and now it's one task at a time, but only for a short duration.  I didn't have chemo, but the fatigue from rads has surely knocked me for a loop.  I've been on Tamoxifen for almost two weeks, and I wonder if that has anything to do with it too...being an estrogen blocker on the tumor, makes me wonder how much it joins with other estrogen dependent processes in my body. 

    Susie:  I'll PM you the summary of much of the info on here...it's a list I compiled for myself out of all of the information that worked best for me. 

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  • PitPat
    PitPat Member Posts: 156
    edited May 2011

    I had a cold this weekend and recovery from getting my port out set me back. The house look it rain clothes inside. I'm feeling better today and not so achy.

    Differnce: yesterday I took my daily vitamin, Calcium, vit C, 1000mg Vit D, an omega 3-6-9, MSM, and glucosamine. Plus I upped my water intake (I'd let it drop). i feel much better today.

    So...I'm going to get one of those big medicine holders for taking meds several times a day for a week. Then I'll track how I feel as each day progresses.

    I've the goal of running a half marathon next year, so really want to get this body moving well, sooner than later.

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited May 2011
    GirlFriday - I can't remember what I wanted to say to you.....oh......brain issues........that's it!!! I have horrible chemo-brain or rads-brain, it's just awful.  I forget things so quickly it's ridiculous.  I try to write things down but I have even caught myself with a pen in hand and not remembering why LOL!
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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited June 2011

    If I had a dollar for every time I walked into a room and said, Why am I in here? Just to leave go out, and then go back into the room again and forget AGAIN why I went in there. 

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited June 2011
    Claire...we'd be rich!!  Except we would forget where we put the money, lol.
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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited June 2011

    Too Funny Marje!!!

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  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited June 2011

    hahaha! So true, marjie and Claire. I forget everything!! I just wrote a big, long post here and then my computer froze and I lost it. Forgot what the heck it said, so I'm starting over. The thing that gets me the most is that sometimes I'll say something or someone else will, and the very next second I forget what was said!

    I am also achy all over--arms, shoulders, neck, hips, back. And kind of weak, too. But this past week or so, the fatigue wasn't that bad. I managed to Spring clean most of my house, made curtains and pillow covers, and also had houseguests this weekend. Had a blast! But yesterday I went for a DEXA scan to prepare for the AI I'll be taking, then I stopped at a couple of stores when it hit me. I had to go home and just laid on the couch and snoozed off and on all day. I went to bed at 8:30 and read for half an hour. Then slept until 8:30 this morning! I took a tylenol pm so not even the hot flashes/night sweats could keep me awake for very long.  Surprised

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  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited June 2011

    I walked into ACMoore this morning and had to walk around a little bit to try to remember what the heck I went in there for....you would think I would have remembered that it was for dot to dot books for the techs tomorrow for my last day...I went straight there after my tx!  damn chemo/radiation brain!

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited June 2011

    i just started Biotin (B Vitamins) to offset the damage to hair and nails while on Tamoxifen. I've seen that other women take Glucasamin/Chondroitin for joint issues...What do we take for brain issues? :D

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  • gingerstx
    gingerstx Member Posts: 91
    edited June 2011

    I woke up this morning extremely thankful to be able to celebrate another birthday!  The journey I've been on these past 6 months has made me appreciate my day even more!!   Life is good!

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  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited June 2011

    A very Happy Birthday to you Ginger! 

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited June 2011

    Birthdays are definitely better now! Hope you had a wonderful day ...

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited June 2011

    Belated Happy Birthyday Ginger!  Are birthday's better in the islands? I've got one coming up in a couple of weeks and I was thinking about avoiding it!

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited June 2011

    Happy Birthday Ginger a day late!! Every day is a celebration!

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited June 2011

    Hey SandyMess! How were the storms last night! They ripped through here, but it was fast. I saw on the map that your area was going to get hammered!

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  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited June 2011

    Happy Birthday, Ginger! Hope it was a good one!!

    GirlFriday, one of the storms was pretty scary because we were on the road driving right into it--coming home from zumba. There was lightning all around and it was so dark and ominous looking. The sky was so strange and kinda beautiful. People were out in the streets taking pics! They think a tornado touched down in Embden which is only about 15 minutes from us. Whew! Hope that doesn't happen again for a long time. BTW, my birthday is in a couple of weeks, too--the 18th. When's yours?

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  • gingerstx
    gingerstx Member Posts: 91
    edited June 2011
    I don't know about the rest of you, but facing breast cancer gave me a new appreciation  for my own life.  I'm not taking it for granted any more.  I've seen my own mortality.  Now when someone says to me "Hi, how are you?"  my response is "I'm great!"  I am, you know, because, after all,  I did wake up and I'm still able to do everything I did before BC.   Birthdays are one of our milestones, so let's make sure to celebrate everyone's!  In the meantime, have a great day!
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  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited June 2011

    I agree Ginger!  When someone asks me that and I respond that way, they look at me like I'm crazy!  I just said to my dh last night that people who don't see me often but know I was having radiation must think I'm in bed all the time...a friend of mine brought us dinner last night and looked at me like I had 2 heads when I was sitting there pricing stuff for a yard sale this weekend.  Don't get me wrong, radiation did knock me down sometimes, but for the most part, I feel great!  It's funny how now when someone complains about something trivial, I'm thinking "really?"...makes you put things into perspective really quick!

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