May 2011 Radiation

Isee,

The techs told me yesterday that the "worst" happens "several weeks after rads."  I don't know if that's true...but I plan to continue using Aloe for 4 weeks after.....

Pej, Yes, I agree, it is possible to lose weight during tx if you are over-weight to begin with....protein consumption isn't going to keep it off though...you will need to build lean muscle and the only way to do that is weight bearing exercise...cardio generally doesn't do that....but I am SURE you already know all that...sorry, I get a little passionate about it....

I am so sorry to hear about the shingles. I was shocked to see that was what it was as I was reading!

Carberry- I am comforted to hear about the arthritis. I have been terribly stiff and sore and have felt very frustrated. My RO acts like none of it is connected to the treatment. I also have fibromyalgia, and it is hard to tell what is the real cause. Mine flares this time of year.. (My sister also has it and hers is really bad right now too.) I would give anything for a day to feel normal, energized!

I am also getting the little bumps- folliculitous (I might have massacred the spelling!) they call it. I was told to get some benedryl creme to help with the itching.

Well this SUCKS!!!!  My Neuophils levels have dropped to 900, so they have suspended Rads for me, only have 7 left.  Will go back on Monday for another set of labs to see if they can zap me or not.  Suppose to stay home, away from germs, etc....  but I have my son's HS grad. tonight, so I am staying home.

Edited to say:  Oops, I am mad, meant to say "I am NOT staying home". 

Week #4 DONE!! i swear since they switched me to boosts i am not as tired or as sore. Two more boosts then ten whole breast then done done done. And older lady in the elevator with me today at cancer center says "Fridays are great for a lot of people, but for radiation patients its really great!" I could not agree more!!!

have a great weekend everyone!

Machine down AGAIN, so now instead of finishing on a Thursday, I will finish the following Monday. Oh well, was looking forward to taking Friday afternoon off with a friend and going out to celebrate, and somehow a Monday is just not quite as celebratory.   

i am thinking after i gt my tatoos, i hope theyre close enough together to have a little kitty face and eyes put on after to make it cute--a just for me thing when i am done and cured!  ok--now i think i am quite sure i am loosing it--lol! i havent had my surgery yet, probably the week of the 20th? or soner.  getting i hope my last test results back (my breast mamo) with no news other than what i already know!  some of this termanology on this site i dont understand mostly the abbreviatons, but i guess if i dont know them mabey i dont need to know him because mabey they dont pertain to me?  thanks all of you for being you and sharing.

Yesterday was my 13th treatment.  One short from halfway.  I have been experiencing nausea and it's been much more prevalent this week.  It is often right after treatment for a little while.  Then it often reappears about 3 hours after treatment. My RO says that it's most likely from a part of my liver being clipped by the radiation.  He wants me to take compazine an hour before treatment.  He says that the liver is so regenerative that there will be no damage to it from the rads.  I find that the nausea is quite often coupled with tiredness and it hits me like a 2 X 4.  I had the nausea bad yesterday so I had to go home from work and just lay down for a couple of hours.  Then it passed and I was able to go for a 3 mile walk with my husband and then go out to dinner.  The nausea hits fast but it also leaves as quickly as appears.

Hello everyone!  This is my first post....I have DCIS stage 0 grade 2  and my lumpectomy was performed yesterday at noon.  I tested neg for BRCA1 and 2, and my mother is a breast cancer survivor but is struggling with leukemia.  I am relatively new to the i area live in and have had to rely on word of mouth regarding surgeons, etc.  I am ER and PR neg and don't know about HER2.   Yesterday, the hemoatoma that resulted from my biopsy ruptured during the guided wire lumpectomy.  The plan was to remove it during the procedure but alas..the bleed out made pathology a nightmare and now I am waiting to see if she got clear margins.  This journey has been filled with lots of good and bad timing issues.  I received the news just 1 day before starting a wonderful new job.  My spirits are good and I'm not angry or really upset about the diagnosis. I am approaching this more from a proactive medical standpoint rather than an emotional one.  Being a healthcare provider myself frustrates me some because I don't feel I should have to ask so many questions.  I share so much information with my clients and I feel that I have  been given handout and booklets to replace my own personal health information.  My pathology report wasn't complete when I received my confirmation diagnosis and can you believe I had to ask my doctor about my hormone status 15 minutes before my procedure.  I was hoping for Tamoxifen, but not deal.  So... I Iive at the beach.  Is it contraindicated for me to be in the sun once I start radiation or will it just make me tired?  And what about deodorant and body lotion?  If anyone has some clear, itemized instructions that they can send or even a link I can reference I would appreciate it.  I have my follow up next week and after the bleed out I don't know when they are starting my rad.  I have a trip planned to Daytona at the end of the month and I want to be as prepared as possible.  Thank you all for your patience and support.  This forum has been my first opportunity to truly vent and it feels good!! 

Robin- Welcome! I agree with fblmom3 , you will find a lot of good information here, and it is the perfect place to vent. You can really say what is on your mind, complain and commiserate. And yes you should avoid the sun. I live in Orlando, so I know that it is hard to do. I was told that from the time I started chemo in November, and especially now during rads. The upside to that is that I have conveniently avoided yard work! As for deodorant, I bought Tom's at Whole Foods. No lotions to the chest a couple hours before rads, and always go with a clean, dry chest. As for information, online I found the nurse who is the Breast Care Coordinator for Florida Hospital Cancer Institute. She was a great source of guidance and doctor recommendations. I'm not sure if you live in FL but you mentioned living at the beach and going to Daytona, so I just assumed.

Ok I posted this on another thread but here goes.

I'm not a "juicer" or even an "organic" only consumer; really not a fruit and nutter.  I have reasons for that, the latter of which I've covered ad nauseum on other threads.

However, last weekend I started taking Juice Plus capsules (thanks Eveberry!).  It's not a vitamin, but a "whole food."  You can google it and read all about it.  There are also clinical studies on it.

Long story short, I started last weekend, and despite reading all the propaganda I was skeptical.  I mean aren't all supplements advertised as miraculous? ~snort

But WHOA!!!

I don't know if it took 3-4 days to build up in my system or what....but this week started out normal on rads....Mon and Tues, ok...but by Weds my butt was DRAGGING, energy at an all time low...(this happened the 3rd week of rads too, sans Juice Plus, and by Friday last week I was totally wiped out...bed early, etc,)  So on Weds this week, with all the exhaustion, I dreaded thurs and fri).

Thursday rolled around and I did an hour of cardio (usual morning), went to rads, (and usually as I'm walking out to the vehicle get the veil of exhaustion)...but it didn't come!!  I felt so good I went to the gym and lifted for two hours, then came home and cleaned house all day, cooked supper, etc!

I figured it was a fluke.  Just a burst of energy.  I'd pay for it Friday.

Friday morning was normal, workout, rads, and again NO VEIL!!

I came home and cleaned the garage for 4-5 hours, cooked dinner, and stayed up until 11pm watching a movie with DH.

WHAT THE???

I have plenty of energy...heck I have more than enough to spare....and I am cautiously attributing it to these Juice Plus capsules.

It's not like caffeine energy, but like my old-self energy.  If it wasn't for the pain of rads and pink skin...I wouldn't know there was a metabolic toll on my energy.

I will continue to monitor my energy levels and let you know (if you're interested, ha!)  But ladies, if it REALLY is these capsules...then I can't recommend them enough.  (And I can't believe I'm writing that because I don't EVER endorse things...)

Of course this isn't scientific, but as many things as I've taken/tried to maintain health since dx....well, I figured what the heck...what's one more thing?  lol

I don't sell it...so please don't think I'm pushing it.  Just wanted to share something that is working for me thay may help you as well.

Have a great weekend.

Hello, I also have been a lurker. But just since last night. I've not really discussed my cancer with people, support groups, cancer center, etc. Last year my mother died of heart attack, my sister of a drug overdose, then my father of cancer, all in a 10 month period. Two months later (Dec, 2010) I was diagnosed  with two types of breast cancer, one is DCIS the other is IDC (grade 3 and stage 3). I did a month of Adriamycin, a month of Doxeurubicin and just had last of 12 treatments of Taxol. I will be having Bilateral Mast with recon at same time with tissue expanders. Can't save nipples so they will be added later after breasts have been expanded and 6 weeks of radiation.

You all seem so loving and supportive. It does my hurt heart good to see so much comfort. I am glad there are so many sweet, loving people in the world. If you have a moment, could you tell me what to expect in recovery from mastectomy?

Thank you for all the wonderful sharing.

Stacey: I know this isn't a place you want to join...but welcome and you can rant and rave all you want here and our prayers will always be with you.. - as far as mastectomy goes I've seen some good info on the mastectomy forums...I also had a lumpectomy as Tina did..

Tinaj: Thank you for all the information...You have always been the one that seems to have it together... I just know about the few things I've seen on the boards and my info from the nutritionist anything else seems to fly right by me at the moment.... You are an awesome person and again, thank you for being here...

Stacey-I had a somewhat similar situation as far as your cancer. Same chemo drugs, then had a BMX- with reconstruction to follow (no TE's though). I am almost done with rads, I just started my boosts. The Mastectomy wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. There is plenty of info on the Surgery-before and after boards. They have complete lists of what to take to the hospital, what to have at home afterwards...very helpful. The worst part for me was the pesky drains.

You have have quite a year! It has to start getting better. You will find wonderful support here.

MaggieMc2 - Oops, my bad spelling, it is neutrophil.  My neutropil count is now 900, normal is around 1700 - 7700.  They are the white blood cells that help immune systems fight off infections. 

I hope you are able to visit your grandchild soon!