I got my clear margins after 3rd lumpectomy!

congratulations! on you go

Julie E

great for you!

I was were you are now only 3 years ago...guess what? I passed my 3 year mamo last month so I am on a hi!

hope for the same for you as we sound much the same

Terri, listen to the docs and do as they say and you have will celebrate with me!

course I believe in a massage, facial, pedicure and manicure before and after any and all tests to reduce stress!

yeap, keep up doing what your doing

Congratulations, third time really was the charm!!!!!!!!

Good luck with rads -- you'll be done before you know it! 

I've been thinking of you.  checking to see how things went.  I'm very happy for you.

Tomorrow will be a year since my last radiation treatment.  I just recently wrote something on the Radiation section to help new people.  I'm copying and pasting it here. 

Good luck. It's all better from here. 

Well, August 19th of last year was my last day of radiation.  I look on the board every once in a while to see what people are saying.  I write things on occasion.  I wanted to let you know what helped me during radiation.  We are from all over the world, so who knows if we are told the same things.

First, It doesn't hurt.  They told me not to put on any cream within 4 hours of radiation.  They told me what soap to use in the shower and for my cloths (dove for sensitive skin and detergent that has no scent (spelling??). 

My appointment was around 10, so I got up, took a shower and didn't put any cream on until after radiation.  My boob would get a little warm, so on the way home i would point the airconditioner at my boob.  I waited a while before putting cream on.  No one told me to do that, it's just what I did.  I didn't want to put cream on until everything was cooled down.  I used aquaphor at night and udderly smooth (love that name) during the day, multiple times a day.

I don't know why one person burns and another doesn't.  I am a red head with very fair, dry skin.  I got pink to dark pink at the end.  I never peeled, I never itched.  I don't know why.  I did stay in airconditioning.  I figured if I sweat I might itch, but I don't like being hot anyway.  I never wore a bra.  I'm not small (one side is a D the other is probably a B or C now).  But I would rather not have a bra on anyway.

One thing that I felt was the most helpful and the reason I am writing is this.  My sister in law had a double mastectomy.  she told me to go topless as much as possible.  that's what I did.  I don't know if its because things are rubbing against it, or if it's because the air helps them, but I have to tell you that going topless is wonderful during radiation.  Even if you have a shirt that buttons and you unbutton it and air those puppies out.

My sister in law would lock her office door at work, close the blinds and go topless at work. Everyone knew it, but respected what she was doing.  No one ever saw anything.  If they wanted her to work, that's what she was going to do.   

I hope this  is helpful to someone.  The time passes quickly during radiation. First you count the days, then you realize your half way through and then your done.  It's amazing how quickly it passes