March 2011 Rads

cmblastic - thanks!  They originally did do a mammo on the left hand side in December when all this fun began and found cysts, so I guess they want to take a second look at them because I have such *active* breasts.

As for the sugar, cancer cells can't grow without it, but then neither can healthy cells without it.  My sister sent me a study where women who limited their alcohol consumption to 1 drink a week had less reoccurrence.  I've got it down to 2 beers on Saturday night and boy, oh boy, do I enjoy them!   

heavenschild: That's positive news!  Sounds like they are being aggressive and taking care of business rather than waiting had causing you undue stress!

Heavenschild-Fantastic news!!  I don't blame you, I would want them out too!! One less thing to worry about!!

Marj--just saying if there is a drinking study, it better include a cutie patootie cabana boy. One that really knows how to rub on the sunscreen! 

msjag--I'll be waiting for pics of that cabana boy!! My rad site has to be lubed every day. I stopped for awhile (I am 3 months out) and I noticed a definite change in my skin texture. Back to super lube, I use Aquafor still on the rad site. It seems to help keep it soft. Wish the rads tan would fade. Does anyone have a clue how long that lasts? 

Claire, I found a bathing "dress" that comes up high across the chest and up high unde the arm, everyone loved it...a friend said I should help patteren it for women with BC!  I found it at a consignment shop, don't usually do used bathing suits, but I washed/dryed and its perfect!!    I've looked online/everywhere for one like it...but of course, no luck!!

Today I am so happy to celebrate my birthday!!!  Bring them on year after year after year!!!   being 52 feels great!!  Family celebration tonight! 

Ok..so now I understand why people with wavy, curly hair dislike the humidity...the minute you walk outside...instant curl...hubby calls me "curly top" now.  Lovely!!!! Grateful to have hair, very grateful, but this curly do has a mind of its own!!

Thinking of us all today, meeting from chemo/rads/after rads....how blessed I'm feeling to have met all of you.  Have a great day everyone!!

Happy Birthday MsJag!  If you design the suit, I'll put a crochet fringe on it!

cmblastic:  I'd never heard of the Army of Women before my dx.   I only qualify for this study because I was dx'd at 37...otherwise I haven't qualified for any of the others.  As to my job hunt, I don't even know what to do anymore.  I've been an admin for many many years, and I think that's why I can't get a job...they're all going to less skilled, younger people.  I guess I can console myself with the fact that the jobs obviously aren't for me!

Well, here's a new one for you!  I've been off the boards for a few weeks because we had to fly to NY city for my husband to get knee replacement surgery.  Though my MO is in Birmingham, I was able to have my first labs, my 3 month ones, done on St. Croix before we left on July 7 and didn't get my results until the 30th, after we returned from NY.  Although my vitamin D levels and Ca27.29 were normal,  I was shocked to see that there were a LOT of abnormal low readings in my blood work.  Let me backtrack and say that I've a history (at least 5 years) of lower WBC and platelet levels, but in addition to those being even lower, my RBC, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit were also low.  I've had no physical indications that I've had blood problems: My energy level is high, I've a good appetite, my color is good, no fevers or infectons.  To make a long story short, 3 blood tests, a spleen ultrasound, and several doctor visits later, I saw an oncologist on island this morning and have a bone marrow biopsy scheduled for next Thursday.  Though I've been on Femara since May, no one thinks this could be one of its side effects.  This onc said he doesn't think this is related to my BC.. which is a relief.  However he thought that the radiation I had to treat it might possibly have triggered something in my rib bones (marrow) to create all these abnormalities.  My BHM MO's nurse had said this wasn't possible, but I wonder.  It would be interesting to see if any of your docs would think this could be related to BC radiation. 

Having to do follow-ups to my BC care may have saved my life because if it wasn't for that blood test, I'd never have known I had a problem and it probably would have gotten much worse.   I'm not saying I'm not a bit shaken by all this, but I'm seeing it as another bump in the road and grateful that it was discovered in time to do something about it. 

Ginger--sorry to hear about the hinky blood work. Hopefully, its and easy fix and just a few more vitamens!! : ) Thinking about you.

msjag-wish I could help you. That sounds like something you might want to get checked out. I would think it would have something to do with the clothes you are wearing, but if you have going braless. . . .hmmmm, stumped on that! 

Gingertx:  I have a feeling that this abnormalities are just part of your healing process...rads trigger or not, but bet you'll be able to bounce back from this.  I think we all react so differently to the rads, that the trauma has SE that last a while. I hope your hubby's knee is doing well!

msjag:  My skin is more discolored where skin meets skin...and I'm still having nipple issues.  my nipple peels where the nipple meets the areola...it looks like a dry ledge.  The RO said just keep up with the lotions and we should all do so for at least a year...not necessarily the heavy aquaphor, but Vit E oil or Baby Aveeno.  I wonder if your skin is doing something similar to my nipple?  I would say lotion the heck out of it over the next week, and if it changes or does not improve go to the doc...oh, and try to stop looking at it.  I think I got a neck cramp trying to look at my nipple more closely.

Did anyone else get freckles they didn't notice before?  I've got this little teeny one on my nipple now.  I'm so nipple focused!

Saw the MO yesterday.  She said I look "great"...I have an appointment for follow up with the BS in October...That's when I'll have my first mammo.  I can feel the scanxiety start to tickle.  But it's almost time for Burrito and Margarita's down by our redneck fire pit!  Yahoo!

Last night I woke up in extreme ear pain.  We went swimming a couple weeks ago, and I remember having water in my ear that was really deep and wouldn't come out.  Now I have an ear infection.  I feel like a five year old.  And it hurts, bad.  I now understand why kids cry when they get them.  At least I can dose my self with more motrin when I feel like it!

So my ear canal is so swollen the medicine is not getting to it!  I called the doc on Saturday, and said, my ear hurts more...they replied "It takes 48 hours to work"...So I just took more ibuprofen...it got a little better on Sunday, and then Sunday night I woke up with severe pain.   Now I think I have a pretty high tolerance for pain.  I always have.  I went to the doc again, and they then dx'd the ear canal swelling issue by inserting a "wick" into my ear.  Some sort of cellulose that expands when wet, but first the put numbing drops in my ear to relieve any pain.  So after the drops and before the insertion I was laying there thinking, how are these drops going to work if the medicine doesn't...apparently that wasn't on the mind of the nurse and doc.  So they insert this wick into my ear, and I go..."Uh, that really hurts," so they put more numbing drops in.  Now I can hear my pulse in my ear, and it still really hurts.  I think it's kind of funny though. I didn't think there was much about BC tx that was very painful, but this little ear infection is buckling my knees.  Now where is my margarita mix? 

Today it was a wash out...but msjag you're welcome to visit!  I'm making chicken enchilada's for dinner and a glass a wine is preventing my whine.  I can still hear/feel the pulse in my ear, so I believe a second glass will be required for pain management purposes.  Tomorrow I'm making dilly beans as it's supposed to be rainy again.  You could come and sample the blueberry jam I made a couple weekend ago, and the blueberry teacake I'm planning to make!

Actually that invite is open to anyone here...there's always food and a comfortable bed, and a neurotic dog to keep you company.