JUNE 2011 RADS

suebak... can I join the pity party, please!  I have been crying for a week.  I don't know how I'm going to go back to work in August. I am so emotional.  My skin is so red and it hurts.  I get the bolus 2 days on and 1 day off.  I did have a mastectomy, but I also had cancer in the skin lymphatic vessels.  My bolus feels like it is also in my arm pit.  I'm not too tired yet and I'm not planning on it.  I have 6 more regular, then 5 boosts to the breast.   I'm wondering why they don't boost the lymph nodes

Mammalou and Mostleymom-It is nice to hear I am not the only one losing it here. I am working full time, have not missed a day, with the exception of right after surgery.  I open our agency everyday, the agency owner has always been able to depend on me to do that and he has no sympathy what so ever for what I am dealing with right now.

Duckyb-Getting together for lunch sounds great.  I too, grew up in Phila, moved to Ridley 17 years ago.  Hopefully, I won't be too tired after rads are done.  DH, the kids and I are all heading to Vegas on Aug 10th, 2 weeks after rads are completed. Our youngest daughter, we have 4 children, is turning 21 and that is what she wanted to do for her  birthday.

Another day, another treatment.  Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Sue --  I also start boosts on Friday.  Can't wait for this to be over with.  I have been quite tired off and on the last few days and very emotional.  Hate the thought of being more tired after boosts.  Take care everyone and we will get through this..

 Cindy

Wow surback! I really admire you guys for working through it all , I couldn't I haven't been working since sept and doc said probably not until march next yr! You guys can't apply for disability? I did! Don't get a lot but is something! I hope your boss changes his attitude, unless you don't go through it yourself, you don't know what is like! And it would suck that he get something like just so he can learn to be more sympathetic. We are not immune to this disease now more and more cancer it's been diagnose it's in sane! Really makes you wonder what we have done to our environment, and what we are being fed!

We all seem to have company with our emotional turmoil.  For some reason, rad treatments make the tears flow.  Sending hugs to everyone who is crying today.  Hang in there.

I have 3 more "regular" treatments and then 8 boosts. I already have been positioned in a mold for all the previous treatments. Do they make a new mold for boosts and how would it be different?

Two more days this week!  Yea!  Good luck to all!

Sue, I want to echo what others here have said.  I learned the hard way that no matter how much I overextended myself at work, I wouldn't get any recognition for it.  All last year, I worked an overload (I'm salaried).  I really think the stress was a catalyst in my cancer.   I had my first surgery on a Friday and was back at work at 8 a.m. on Mon.  No thanks or acknowledgement for a job done--and done well.  Do what you need to do for YOURSELF.

ETA:  I'm worried, cause I don't think my boosts are going to be easier.  My incision/tumor site is where I'm the most tender and red--my underarm.  I'm dreading the boosts, I must admit.

Thanks guys for all the kind words.  I asked him  to back off, I am a little stressed out right now.  His reponse was "so am I". He is building a million dollar house, that is the stress in his life (lol).  Boy, what I wouldn't give to have his stress.

maybe484-I too am a little nervous about my boosts.  My incision/mass is where I am most sore and burnt.  But, again, we will all get through this together

Question for you pre-menopausal woman.  Has radiation interupted your monthlty period.  I did not get mine last month.  When I mention this to my RO, he said "you are not pregnant are you". I cried, this was yesterday, told you guys I was very emotional yesterday. When I could finally  answer, I said that would just be my luck.  I am 48 years old and my husband had a vasectomy 20 years ago. If whatever they cut, burned or whatever they did to him, grew back, I think I will cut it off. RO did say, it could be related to stress. 

Bettlebum-You are so right.  All the money in the world coudn't buy what I have and I know and appreciate that.  Would be nice, when you are being taken advantage of, to be able to just walk out and quit.  Unfortunately, the bills must be paid.

Well tomorrow is my last day of radiation.  I only had to do four weeks but at a higher level of radiation.  The last three have been boosts.  I'm red, itchy, and tender but the skin looks good and my RO is very pleased.  No blistering, sores, open wounds.  I'm just tired.  I could sleep all day if someone would let me.

And I never quit wearing underwire.  I just can't.  The only cream I used is what my RO gave me and that is Radioplex.  The whole experience has not as bad as I anticipated, thank God.

And are the shelf camis the ones with soft built in bras?

Next is the journey on Tamoxifin.  Oh, joy.

One thing I have learned through this experience.... the week after you finish is the worst.. I took pictures all the way through and all the red turned to peeling blisters the week after I stopped. (look horrible but it is part of the healing process I guess).. Keep the creams going all the way through even after your last treatment... I can see some light at the end of the tunnel, ladies... WE will be fine...

suebak- Im premenopausal...well at least I hope I still am. But I haven't had a period since January. I started chemo Feb 1st and haven't had one since. So I'm not sure. But I'm sure any amount of stress on the body can stop your period.

I'm down 18/33. And getting red. 

I would love to take a break from work. I never did throughout all of this except for a few days here and there when I was really sick. But at those times I didn't really want to. It was something to do and keep my mind off treatments. Now, when I feel like I could..my job ends in a couple months (its temporary) and I kind of need the money. I used all of my paid time off and I'm not married so I don't have any other financial backup...I guess I'll get a break in a couple of months if I don't find a job right away. 

Ladies who are ready for "boosts"..................I had 8.......finished on June 15th.........Probably should not be on this thread now , but figured if I could help anyone and ease their mind I would try .....................my boosts were uneventful...............I have to say near the SNB scar, and the lumpectomy scar there was a little bit of peeling , and some discoloration, but that was it..............As far as tired goes..................................WOW..............that is what gets you.............the fatigue.............I still get tired, but then again it depends on the day, and what I'm doing...................My techs did tell me that I would get very tired after it was done, because the Rads are still working for you...................good luck, and hang in there.............its almost over, you should be able to see the finish line.................hugs.