May 2011 Radiation

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2011

    slcst12-HANG IN THERE!! You are almost there!! i had to do the boosts in the middle of my treatment, and found them to be easier than the whole  breast!!!

    GMA-i bought Lanacan first aid spray-its the only thing that gave me relief under there!! and i helped the skin ALOT!!!  i often spray it on when i am laying down. it nice because i swear the ointments were not helping because everything stayed too moist under there. It has really been a life saver for me....it may sting a lttle at first but keep trying it-hope that helps!!!

    I ONLY HAVE TWO MORE TREATMENTS TO GO!!!!! i see the RO today, hope she is not upset i didn't take any time off last week, i don't think my skin is any worse for it, and an extra day at this point i don't believe would have helped with the healing!!

    NOW....i have to get that prescription of Tamoxifen filled.....been putting that off. really hoping it doesn't give me too many side effects. kinda tired of playing along with alll of this for the last four months....but i know i should be thankful i have such wonderful doctors and will beat this thing!!!

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited June 2011

    The last 3 seconds of my boost today actually was painful, a burning sensation.

    I went to a wedding Sat night, drank margaritas, shake the bon-bon...and in so doing I rubbed the area under my arm raw... :(  Now it is red and peeling....(the lace hit right beneath my arm pit...of course)

    Oh well.

    Three more.

    I won $2 today.

    Woop.

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2011

    ugh TonLee-OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe some aquaphor and/or my favorite Lanacane spray!! Hope you had a good time though and it was worth it!!!!! When is your last day?

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  • carberry
    carberry Member Posts: 1,153
    edited June 2011

    On to the tamoxifen today for me also.  Wahoo?!!

    Tonlee, yea wearing clothes is a challenge...when I have to wear a normal bra cant wait to get home and get it off.  So 4 days after last rad and I am still just as red and purple.....see the PS today, so will see what he thinks.

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  • NewatThis
    NewatThis Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2011

    Everyone says when they hit the boosts, it was easier. I'm struggling though. I'm more tired, more sore and more swollen than I've been :(   I can't wait until this is over.  3 more. 

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited June 2011

    Ftb, I'll be done Thurs.

    Carberry, I'm actually more red now than I was last week...but its not bad anywhere except under my arm....and I think the boost spot is going to get just as bad as the underarm...without any DANCING!

    New,

    Today I actually took a nap.  My boost lasts 25 seconds counting one-one thousand, two one-thousand...etc.  I don't know if that is about the average zap, but whew...I'm tired too...and the boosts are offending me for some reason...lol, I feel INSULTED every time I go in for one...

    I dunno.

    Crazy.

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  • GmaFoley
    GmaFoley Member Posts: 7,091
    edited June 2011

    Hi Ladies - I'm counting down too LOL Only 8 more left...

    Not sure how I feel about my tech at the moment... I tell him my pink is starting to turn red and he  asks, Is your skin starting to break down? and then looks and says, you look fine, you don't know what RED is... made me feel like dirt... Everyone seemed to be in a weird mood today.... Maybe its because my favorite nurse is leaving (today was her last day Frown ).  I made her a white cake/ brownie swirl and gave her a "thanks for being there" card...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    I AM DONE! Woo hoo!

    Final scratcher loss is $7....out of 30 tickets, a whopping 3 had anything won on them ($20, $3, and a free ticket). Now I know why I don't do that but it was a great way to keep track of how many sessions I had left!

    I'm just not meant to bake, people! I tried to make 2 cakes: one for work and one for the rad center. Only one was even semi-presentable (the other broke in half trying to get it out of the bundt pan...the top half stuck in the pan) and the glaze was too thin so it pretty much soaked into the cake. OH...and I stupidly bought lemon cake instead of yellow cake! Oh well...I dropped the good one at the rad center this morning so they could enjoy it during the day and I could pick up the platter at my afternoon appointment and they all seemed to like it! 

    TonLee:  my boosts made me feel bruised...like someone punched me in the boob and the pec was bruised or something; not during treatment but afterwards. My tumor bed is near the chest wall, so I assume that's why it feels bruised deep.

    I've been released to use deoterant, regular soap, perfume, et al and can start shaving when my armpit looks ready to deal with it...my only instruction was to keep moisturizing until the dryness goes away and the red turns to tan. I forgot to ask about sun exposure, but the sun hit me in the car the other day and that was definitely not fun so I'll continue to stay out of it!

    I'm free...but I'm also too tired to do anything! LOL I am headed to dinner at my favorite restaurant with my favorite Ginger Pear Martini's shortly, however! Cool

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited June 2011

    Tina,

    CONGRATS! WOO HOO!!!

    Had to laugh about the cakes...I'm fair to middlin' with cakes....until I ice them, then it gets ugly...I usually eat more icing than goes on the cake, and then I feel sick, which makes the cake look worse....buwahahaha.

    Hope you enjoy your Martini's.  They sound lovely.

    I shaved the whole time during rads...just the top part of my arm pit though....the beam didn't hit that and after the 1st week I could tell because hair grew there, but not below.

    I'm going to follow your regimen and lube until I tan...the red spots under my arm are so friggin painful!!  But it was worth it I guess.....the tech today looked at it and said, "What happened?  Friday you were fine."

    lol

    Hope today was a fluke and I don't feel it tomorrow....if I do, I may be quitting. :/

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  • sundermom
    sundermom Member Posts: 463
    edited June 2011

    Tinaj - Congratulations on being done!



    We're getting there ladies- one day at a time has been my motto through this whole mess. I had 24/28 reg today. I'll start the boosts next week. I've been told by the RO the the boosts will target "a completely different" aka the scar line. This makes no sense to me!!! At this point my whole right side is red so I don't possibly see how the boost will target a different area.



    I wore a bra the other night. Big mistake!!! We were going out (and I'm still not completely satisfied with the drop and fluffing of the implants) so I pulled out one of my lightly padded VS bras to help shape things a little. Ouch! About 3 hours into the evening I found myself having thoughts of throwing the bra away in the bathroom. 7 months of no bra has ruined me. LOL



    Tammy

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited June 2011

    Tammy,

    I'm with you.  I wore a bra to the wedding and thought the exact same thing....If it wasn't a $50 bra, I probably woulda!

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  • sundermom
    sundermom Member Posts: 463
    edited June 2011

    I have taken an Ativan and an Ambien every night since my BMX in December. I would really love to get off these medications; however, every time I try to skip them I end up laying in bed wide awake. Anybody had any luck or a similar experience???



    Tammy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    Thanks gals! 

    TonLee: I thought about shaving the top of my rad underarm, but when my arm is down, the top touches the red part and I thought the hairs growing back in on the top part during the day could really irritate the rad area, particularly when they're short and super scratchy stage, so I didn't.

    I have not had a bra touch my skin during this whole process.  Earlier when it wasn't hot, I was using non-pilling fleece under it and these days I'm wearing a lightweight kinda silky tank and then my no-underwire bra on it's loosest setting. I sleep in a soft t-shirt-type pajama with a sports bra over it until my armpit stopped liking that then with the same bra over my t-shirt.

    I've look HOT this last few months; too bad there wasn't a man around to check it out! Undecided

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2011

    Tina J-WOO HOO!!! Congratulations!! Let the healing begin.

    TOMORROW IS MY LAST DAY!!! today was my last "check up"  Monday radiation appt.  The nurse told me to expect the entire area to peel. Super!! and to call if it is OPEN OR OOZING!!!! Also things probably won't look a whole lot different for  a while, Super again!!!

    Since i did my boosts in the middle the whole area where the boosts were done is getting a lovely dark red color and hurts pretty bad. DID I MENTION I AM DONE TOMORROW??? I think we should get  trophy or something for this don't you think?

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  • stage1
    stage1 Member Posts: 475
    edited June 2011
    Congrats to you!!! I think I will go buy the Lanacane after all, things are getting a little red:)  I am glad to read your report on what to expect, I don't like surprises when it comes to SE's.Wink  Thank You
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  • Romansma
    Romansma Member Posts: 1,515
    edited June 2011

    Went in today after taking Thurs and Friday off....Ro looked and said I definitely needed a couple more days before we finish the boosts. I was so relieved. I feel like someone poured gasoline on me and lit me on fire. Sleep has been tough...had to take a vikodin the last couple nights.

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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited June 2011

    Tinaj - A big YAHOO and congratulations on being done!!!  Enjoy the Ginger Pear Martinis. You earned them!

    I too feel like someone punched me in the chest in the boost area - my cancer was deep also. Over a week out and it still feels that way on and off - if I reach for something using that arm and whenever I yawn, I feel this deep pressing sensation in that area.

    Now, here's something I did that I don't recommend. I'm a swimmer and stayed out of the pool all during rads. I got the OK from the doc to go back in the pool, but waited until the rash calmed down a bit. On my first big day back in the water, I had a nice little swim, then accidentally let a kick-board pop out of the water and make a direct hit onto my boost area. I'm here to warn you all that area is tender. I don't recommend putting it to the test.

    I too am in no rush to get back in a bra. I had to pull out one of my old swimsuits with the elastic shot and cut wider than the others. Too much rubbing on tender skin with the regular suits.

    Hooray to the finishers! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    GabbyCal:  OMG! I physically cringed on your description of being hit in the boost area! I think now I know how guys feel hearing about someone getting hit in the nuts! LOL

    Romansma:  Ouch!  Sorry to hear you're in such rough shape...hang in there!

    Three martini's later...I'm ready for bed!  Good night peeps!

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  • slcst12
    slcst12 Member Posts: 161
    edited June 2011

    Congrats to all our May friends finishing up! It's been a long road.

    Thanks GMAFoley and Carberry, and Gabby Cal for your kind thoughts. I'm really so close to the end...but it's very difficult for me right now.

    I have 2 whole breast sessions left, and then 5 boost.

    Looking forward to being done on July 8th (and also looking forward to 3 day weekend!)

    My scratch off ticket was a "free ticket today" and I won $2 yesterday. Overall I've won $13 I think. (Spent $33)

    I have 7 tickets left. . . 

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  • carberry
    carberry Member Posts: 1,153
    edited June 2011

    Congrats to all finishing up. YEAH now on to the healing.  saw my PS yesterday and  he really scrunched his face up when he say my big red tomato of a boob.  Wants to wait till Nov before doing and more corrective surgery, nipple, tatoo etc.  So I guess now its just move on with life and enjoy the freedom of no treatments (just Herceptin every 3 weeks)  Gee....what will I find to do?

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  • NewatThis
    NewatThis Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2011

    Tina,  Congratulations! I'm so thrilled for you.  On to healing and better times, I hope.   I am right behind you--I have 2 more. I'm bringing lotions and handwarmers (the kind you use for winter!) for the techs!  No more cold hands on my tummy and boob!

    TonLee, I was in bed by 8 last night.  I know what you mean about the need to nap...the last week I have left work early, climbed on my sofa, and napped for an hour before dinner and a walk! We're celebrating by taking a cruise in a couple of weeks!

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited June 2011

    Tina, I know about styling...I've lived in Levi's and tank tops the last year...with half a pit of hair for part of it...buwhahahaha....don't hate me cuz I'm bootifull. 

    New...I dragged out of bed this morning...usually after an hour on the cross trainer I feel better....today I dragged myself off after the workout, and into the shower.  I didn't feel human until this afternoon and half a gallon of coffee.....

    Pooped.

    My underarm area is UUUUUUUgly.  I may take a pic and share just so you can see how gross....

    IF I can find the energy to get the camera....

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    Not to make you all jealous or anything (well, ok maybe a little) but today I shaved (for the most part), and used my favorite soap, my favorite anti-perspirant, and my favorite PERFUME.  That's right...today if I smelled....I smelled GOOD for the first time in WEEKS! Ahhhh, the simple joys of life! Cool

    Now if only I could get rid of the gut this process seems to be giving me. Undecided

    NewAtThis:  I love the gloves for the cold hands they've been touching you with! What a great and funny thank you gift! I'll be jumping up and down (while holding at least one boob) with you on Thursday, eh?

    TonLee:  You sure you want to freak out the lurkers who've yet to start? lol

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

    Ladie who are done............................yaaaahoooo ...............ladies almost done..................hang in there.............your almost at the end......................all our cancers are in different spots in the breast, but I can say I found the boosts to be less irritating, but I got very tired after they were done...............never was tired during the whole breast...............I'm still foggy, but feel ok.............peeled a little, but nothing horrible.......................swelled a little, face it..........................this poor Puppy has been through hell....................so I can understand the swelling, redness, and peeling...............................however, I did fine, it never stopped me from doing what I had to do...........right now I am up at 5:30 3 days a week and take care of 2 of my grandchildren from 6:30 am to 4pm when my son in law comes home and relieves me.......................I even play 500 Rummy, make all their meals (except dinner) and find no problems doing it.........................You will be fine, and will be back to normal before you know it..................this is tough stuff, and your all doing wonderful.............keep creaming, and above all keep praying........................I'm 2 weeks out of Rads, and my Puppy looks better every day..................yours will too................hugs.

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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited June 2011

    tinaj - I'm totally jealous you're back to your regular "toilette" routine. I'm stuck (literally) with Aloe and Aquaphor until the rash clears. Looks like next week will wrap it up.

    I finished up 2 weeks ago and today way my day to hit the wall. Just exhausted. Reminds me even when the skin is back to normal, we're still rebuilding cells and healing internally. 

    We're stepping out-on-the-town with some out-of-town friends this week-end, so I've got an incentive to kick my style up a bit from loose tops over t-shirts.  I think I'm craving Ginger Pear Martinis, even though I just heard about them yesterday. That's it - I'll wear perfume and drink Ginger Pear Martinis. Tinaj - you know how to live!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    GabbyCal: I'm happy to be your life coach! lol 

    I'm still on moisturizers and such, but the doc said I could go back to my usual routine otherwise since the restrictions had to do with the radiation treatment itself. My underarm is better, so I shaved the area that hadn't turned red.  Of course...I just finished yesterday so I could get worse before I get better!

    That martini is just awesome...they seem to use somewhat crushed ice because it's got little ice pieces floating in it when you get it. Come out to SF and I'll buy you one! =) The description of the cocktail as I get it from the restaurant is:

    Absolute Pear Vodka, Ginger-Cinnamon infused Simple Syrup, Splash of Cranberry Juice with Fresh Squeezed Lemon, Shaken and served up with a Cinnamon Stick

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2011

    I'M DONE! I'M DONE! I'M DONE!!!!!!

    This thread has helped me so much making it through this! It was TOUGH!!!! Now we all seem to have alot of the same sort of reactions to it, how in the world do people do this and have NO reactiuon. Someone i know said  her skin didn't turn pink or anything!!! I think they forgot to turn her radiation beams on or something!!

    I am SO excited to wear deoderant again!!!!

    My wonderful sister, who i don't know that i could have made it through the last 4 months without, took me out for pedicure and martinis and dinner last night. It was wonderful! (truth be told, i almost cancelled because i was so freaking tired yesterday, but i am SO glad i didn't!)

    Now i have to get that prescription filled. ugh

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

    Yeah frblmom3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • NewatThis
    NewatThis Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2011

    Ftblmom! I'm celebrating for you! Congratulations! How great!

    TonLee! No pics please! Look what happened to Weiner!!

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  • juliet62
    juliet62 Member Posts: 3,412
    edited June 2011

    congratulations ftblmom!  

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