March 2011 Rads

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited August 2011

    Cmblastic, thanks, doing better today, my friend who thought she may have IBC, is now being told its "probably" a breast infection, thanks goodness, she finds out on Friday definetly. Had a great time with family at the casino, didn't win, my cousin did, won $100, but realized she lost the ticket when she went to cash it in...she's hoping someone who really needed it found it!

    Girlfriday, all that sounds delicious!!! My good friends are up at Saco this week, and they are hoping for sunnier days ahead!!

    Well, gotta call the onc/surg..its time for those mri's, exams, and showing your breasts to the world!!!  I read about some "new" blood tests I'm going to request, and they now have a virtual colonoscopy, instead of the "old" way...I"m for that!!!  I"ll let you all know what my docs say about the blood tests (CDT for lung,  Corus CAD for heart, c-reative protein test. if insurance covers it!!)

    Have a great day all!

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  • heavenschild
    heavenschild Member Posts: 212
    edited August 2011

    Good news ladies!  My sister had a mammogram which showed two lumps in her left breast (go figure, both of us in a year?), but the biopsy just showed a *blood filled cyst*.  The surgeon is going to make her have an MRI because of your's truly (now there's a family history of CA), but it is all lookin' good! 

     Girl Friday:  I used to have earaches as a kid, some of the WORST pain you can have.  I can remember climbing walls at the doc's office.  More wine, please!

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited August 2011

    Hooray for your sister Heavenschild!  Hope the remaining news is wonderful too!

    GirlFirday, hpoe you are doing better with your ear issues.

    can it really be sunday already???

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited August 2011

    Heading in today to see my surgeon for results of my first mammo since diagnosis and treatment.  Hopefully as is well!

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited August 2011

    Heavenschild--I am so happy for your sister, sorry she had to go thru the biopsy and stress. At least you got a positive result!1

    Marjie--how did the doc visit go?? All sparkling clear?? Thinking about you this a.m. Let us know how it all went!!

    GirlFriday-- how is that ear?? Finally gotten relief? 

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  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited August 2011

    Hi everyone. Haven't been on the computer much the last couple of weeks--just quickie visits to Facebook. I've been sewing up a storm for my granddaughters. I love doing that. Last night, had to take my hubby in to the hospital. He had some tightness in his chest and neck, nausea, weakness, and shortness of breath. His bloodwork didn't show a heart attack, but they kept him overnight and gave him a stress test today. Now he's on his way to Portland in an ambulance. They believe he has a blockage and want to do a catheterization to see what can be done. And he has already had stents and a triple bypass 8 years ago. So I'm up at the crack of dawn to get the dogs settled and head to Portland to be with him. Ugh! Just when things seemed to be getting better!!

     How's everyone doing? GirlFriday, how's the ear? Marjie, did you get your results? I hope you are all well and having some fun!!

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited August 2011

    My ear is doing well...thank you all for asking.  It took about a week...with antibiotics.  I think my immune system is just not up to spec yet.  I got a job...temp, but still a job! Yahoo!  It's keeping me busy to say the least.  And is definitely pushing the limits of my energy.  I'm in cubicle land, and luckily my Tamoxifen induced hot flashes are really just warm flashes.  I heard some guy talking about going for his mammogram...I wanted to go up and ask him about it, but I don't know him.  I felt the need to commiserate, but I think I'll wait a while. 

    Marjie:  How were the test results?

    Sandymess:  I'm so sorry to hear about your husband!  But at least they caught it before there was heart damage.  A lot of the cancer fighting diets are really heart healthy.   We tried the DASH diet...basically government heart healthy diet.  We didn't stick completely to it, but we still try to get over 5 fruits and veggies in per day.  If I didn't have to work I'd meet you at MMC for lunch!

    Heaven:  How did the MRI go?

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited August 2011

    Marje, thinking of you, hope all is well.

    Sandymess, hope everything goes well for your hubby, sorry you're dealing with this, ugh, never ends does it. sending positve energy to you and your family.

    Yeah, Girlfriday about the ear and the job. Hope things continue well for you.

    Claire, always nice to see you here!!  Hope you're doing well.  Are you having any s/e from rads? Can't believe its been 4 months since my last one...wow, chemo ALMOST seems like forever ago!!  Hope it is gone forever, that's for sure!!!

    Getting ready for hurricane Irene to make her presence known on Sunday!!   I'd better check flashlights, batteries, and that kind of stuff!!

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited August 2011

    Mammo was clear...YAY!!  Now I just wish the weather would settle down.  My DH and I were watching TV and they came on and said "If you live in the London area, you need to take cover immediately!"

    What??? and miss Big Brother?????

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited August 2011

    YAHOOO for you MARJE!!!!    I am actually watching Big Brother this season...usually catch one or two episodes, but have rarely missed one!

    Hope everyone continues to have great news like Marje!!

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited August 2011

    marjie-- HAPPY DANCE FOR CLEAN MAMMO!!  What a relief! When is your next one scheduled? Gee, I'm so sad I don't have to have a mammo again. . .  NOT!!!! 

    msjag.--eight months since I finished chemo, 7 months since my BMX and 4 months since rads ended. But whose counting??  Keep looking in the rear view mirror and BCTX seems to get smaller and smaller. I don't know as much of SE's still, still trying to return to pre BC energy level. My muscles around my MSX site are sore and don't seem to want to stretch out. Like a rubberband that keeps ruturning to its original position. I do stretches everyday and it doesn't seem to relieve it. Just want the healing to be done!!  : ) 

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  • heavenschild
    heavenschild Member Posts: 212
    edited August 2011

    GirlFriday;  Did not have MRI yet - BC/BS said I already had a DX of CA so I don't need anymore diagnostic tests.  Very confusing as no one said anything about my left side except for one tech (that I can remember, my brains have gone to the Bahamas, wish I could join them).  Just left the issue alone for a couple of weeks to catch a breather and left message for my surgeon this a.m. asking for lumpectomy anyways.  We'll see, but I'm not worried about it. 

     Congrats Margie - many more to come!

     Sandymess - hugs re: your husband, let us know how the cath turns out, hopefully/prayerfully it's just something minor. 

     msjag:  glad you are hunkering down, it's better to be prepared with a year's worth of toilet paper and p-nut butter than go without!  I used to live in Florida, so I know the drill.  Now I live in CA and prefer hurricanes to earthquakes, at least there is a chance to get ready and get the hell out (did I say that?)

     Hugs to all of you! 

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited August 2011

    Day one of preparation:   Going out for a couple of drinks with friends that are visiting from Florida!!!  She is a special friend, does mammo's/US, and I sent her my results and she brought them to her job and her and her radiologist read them for me, to put me at ease...first time we are seeing each other since diagnosis. She is the one who said "go to your primary and tell her you found a lump" because radiologists said it was ok on mamo, and she knew they didn't follow protocal (marking lump, telling me md I felt a lump )Thank GOD, she helped me save my life along with my primary...

    Day Two.. Going out with all the crazies to the grocery store the day before a hurricane..figure I might find a loaf of bread left!!! maybe!!!!

    Hope you all have a great weekend, hoping everyone stays safe with Irene!!

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited August 2011

    hoping everyone made it through Irene.  Just some flickering of lights here in MA.

    GirlFriday and Sandymess, hope you are ok, my son is up vacationing w/friends in Bath Maine, and they are without power.

    Claire, hope you were ok when it went thorugh Fla.

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  • sammolisa
    sammolisa Member Posts: 180
    edited August 2011

    msjag --  you still having acid reflux problems?   I just got diagnosed with it too.  Radiation related most likely.

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited September 2011

    Sandy--How is your DH??Hope he is healing well--and you are doing ok. Being a caregiver when sometimes you need a caregiver is kinda rough.  My dad went in 2 weeks ago for a stent, no previous heart issues. He still gets dizzy. Had PC and was on all the female hormones which REALLY messed him up. Told him welcome to my world!! He even had to have a mammogram!!! We joked about him acting like he had PMS. 

    Hope everyone survived Irene. We got about an hours worth of rain. We have daily afternoon storms worse than that drive by!! But the flooding up north, oh my!!!

    When I saw my MO last week, she scheduled me for a chest xray in November. Hmm, I see my RO in 2 weeks wonder what he has in store for me. It's like I want follow up scans--but then I don't. . .  I want to believe that all this crap I did to keep the cancer away--kept it away--and didn't give me some other medical issue. . . .

    Quick question--has anyone seen any skin changes that they are concerned about from the rads? Enough to question a need to see a dermatologist? It looks like just an age spot but it wasn't there before. . . Last time I saw the dermatologist he took a chunk out of my ankle, ugly scar, dont want ANOTHER ugly scar on my chest!!!

    Almost the weekend,YEAHHH!! Ladies have a great Thursday!! 

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  • heavenschild
    heavenschild Member Posts: 212
    edited September 2011

    Just talked to my surgeon's office and they are going to do lumpectomy on the left.  Just fighting with insurance company.  It is not a good feeling that an insurance company is trying to direct my care.  Relieved and anxious at the same time.  This too will pass!  Hope everyone weathered the hurricane well and it just watered your lawn and nothing else!

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited September 2011

    SAMMOLISA!!! So good to hear from you!!!  I have some minor issues on and off with acid reflux/gerd...my gastro had me take 2 prevacid for 14 days to start...double the usual dose, then when rads ended, 1 a day for 7 days, then a week off, and back on as needed.  I don't have any doubt rads stressed my whole gastro/intestinal/digestive system...even if the rad nurse didn't want to admit it, the rad onc, said absolutley, and the gastro doc said, "you didnt have this before rads, did you?"  BINGO!!!!   Hope you are doing well otherwise. Seems like a life time ago (well, at least today) that we were all together on our chemo journey.  1 yr out for me, starting the scans, tests on the 19th.

    Yes to the brown spots,  on my chest, face, my sister actually found a few on my back today, where my skin was itchy...I hope radiation didn't get to the middle of my back, that's scary!

    Hope everyone is doing well~~~

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited September 2011

    msjag: I have some freckles that are larger...look like sun or age spots.  My skin is still tan too.  I don't think it's possible for the radiation to get to your back...as it was explained to me...the neutron bursts can pass through the body, but that's why they spend so much time lining you up at an angle...the boosts are electron, and will only enter the body so far and then lose power.  My doc said the issues with our skin are directly related to sun exposure when we were children, and there's not much we can do about changing it now...even staying out of the sun, won't stop the spots from coming to the surface. 

    heavenschild:  I don't under stand the lack of testing and Dx with your issue. I would think they would spend the time correctly dx rather then take you right into surgery...which is so expensive.  Maybe you should seek a second opinion and work with someone that is going to work with you instead of just tell you what they are going to do to you. A dx of C does not preclude other benign conditions, and it is possible to have a different type of C...BC is a freaking moving target!  If you would like I will call your insurance company and tell them to take a flying leap!

    marjie:  CLEAN MAMMO! Yahoo! That rocks.  My heart skips a beat every time I think about my October breast press.  It occurred to my whilst stting in my MO's office, that although I have a G1 BC that if I'm at a genetic predispo then I could get any type of BC again...a new primary...I don't know why I didn't think of that before!  It was one of those sinking light headed realizations.  Thirty seconds later I decided to say F it to BC.  My life has taken turns for the better, if it happens again, I'm just going to look for the best tropical island to live on.  I can braid hair and sell t-shirts!

    As for Irene, I didn't have power from Sunday at one until Wednesday.  Longest I've ever been without since moving to Maine, and it was odd because the storm didn't seem all that bad!  But I am so happy to have electricity again!

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited September 2011

    Ok girls,....approaching all scans, tests, next week,  getting a little edgy here and there, not bad...til hubby called and said he got laid off...ugh......so much for avoiding stress!!!

    Hope everyone is ok!

    GirlFriday, thanks for the info, just seems so strange that right after rads, itching on left side of back ,and brown spots..probably age....

    not ready for fall or winter..blah...bring back the spring...I think I missed it this year!!!

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited September 2011

    msjag--so sorry to hear about your DH. Man that bites.  

    Don't worry about your tests--they will be fine!! I have faith!!!!!!! 

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited September 2011

    msjag:  Unemployment sucks!  Tell him to stick to a routine, it's your only salvation.  I'm not ready for winter either, but it sure does feel like autumn!  I've got three cord of wood to stack, and I just keep ignoring it...maybe this weekend it will get done!  I've been hearing good things about coconut oil...I have yet to try it as the Tamoxifen has been making me look like a teenager that ate too much chocolate, but it has nothing in it to irritate your skin in terms of toxins.  I found some in the grocery store in the oil section.  maybe it will help!  And as for your scanxiety...where is that damn cabana boy???

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited September 2011

    I volunteered at Race for the Cure this weekend.  It was a last minute thing.  It felt odd.  I don't "look" like I have cancer, or have been in treatment in the last year.  I didn't get a survivor hate or even ask to be recognized.  One of my volunteer tasks was to direct people on the course (at the first major turn).  I didn't really cheer people on that much because the runners didn't seem to care, and the walkers were all talking to each other.  I found my self starting to choke up and almost blubber as some of the survivors passed.  I could see them working so hard,trying to out run the big BC demon chasing them.  I guess that's just the way it's going to be.  I'm going to start running again...maybe I can gain som distance!

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited September 2011

    You mean you didn't wear your pink "i am a survivor" t shirt?? I know what you mean, my hair is back and I don't have that sallow look I had earlier this year so people don't look at me and think BREAST CANCER. I guess that's a pretty good thing. We still carry it on the inside, its just we are not screaming it to the world any more. I don't want everyone to think Oh she had cancer. I want that part past me. Not to be the first thing people think of when they see me. Oh, I still think, breathe and live every day about BC--but I want the world to think of me for something else . . course what that is not really sure. . . 

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited September 2011

    I meant survivor hat...not hate...that must have been some sort of slip!

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited September 2011

    Just out of curiosity, does TN show on the BC tumor marker panel?  My mammo is on 10/10.  I'm having dreams, that follow me into the daylight hours...I can't say their nightmares because I really feel like I'm just going through the experience...but I have this re-current dream that they made a "mistake"  and didn't diagnose the TN in my left breast.  I know it's all irrational, and just part of scanxeity, but knowing that TN would show on the blood tests would be very helpful to console my cancer crazy!

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited September 2011

    GirlFriday, I don't know that specific types show in blood tests, other than having it tested through pathology.  Don't worry, it is just a dream.  Your oncotype would not have been 4!!  When they thought I might be Pr positive they ran the onco test..scored over 50!!! Onco's don't help TN, score would be so high!!  So relax, the odds are certainly in your favor that you have been diagnosed correctly!!  Deep breath!!!!

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited September 2011

    msjag...In my dream it's all about my left breast...the "healthy" one.  And since I'm on Tamoxifen which would do nothing for TN it's just my fears sneaking up on me while I sleep.  I did talk to my MO, because of my age (under 40)  they believe there is most likely a genetic cause which has not been identified yet. None of that really matters, but it just kind of seeps out the cracks of my cancer crazy!

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited September 2011

    girlfriday--sometimes our fears play out at night in more vivid detail. Now you have an image to those awful thoughts you have during the day. You're allowed to have your fears--but try to weigh them out and see how realistic they are. Its hard not to live in fear--but sometimes you have to grab hold of those fears by both fists and shake them around and slap them down.Don't let them win. You are STRONG!!! you can beat these nasty thoughts!!!!

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited September 2011

    well said Claire. 

    GirlFriday, I have those nights/days.  I was doing ok, til a few days ago when II read on here some interesting info on TN, that I should get genetic testing, people who are 60 or under could carry the gene, is what the oncs around the US are saying, one of them being from Dana Farber, my onc is affiliated w/Farber and she works with Dr. Winer.   But like Claire said, I often have to shake those fears right out of me, not easy ESP at night.  I've been walking/exercising faithfully and that has helped me to sleep. Work has me busy so I'm not always thinking about it.  Family and friends are so happy I've reached the one year mark, but they really don't understand the scanxiety, they just say, you kicked it..hooray.....so I am jumping on that band wagon for now!  I'm making room for you...and I'll pick you up in Maine!!! Claire, get ready cuz then we are coming to pick you up in Fla!!   (Actually flying in in March for my nephews wedding, he lives in Cocoa, in Afghansitan right now.)

    So why can't we drink with this nasty BC stuff?  I don't know any alcoholics who have BC!  just sayin...........

    Sending positve thoughts your way GF

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