August 2011 rads

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    Have 5 left, 1 regular and 4 boosts. Kymn congrats we finish on the same day YEAH!

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  • julianna51
    julianna51 Member Posts: 438
    edited September 2011

    I came home early from work today.  The first time since I've been doing radiation.   I couldn't concentrate and I felt like I was going to cry at the drop of a hat.   I was frustrated at my appointment today because it was doctor day and I asked 3 times if my doctor was there and 3 times they  told me yes.  Finally, after I had been waiting awhile they came in and said he wasn't there and wanted me to see the other doctor.   So  frustrating I have refused to see this doctor since I saw him one time at the beginning and I refused again today but I cried in the process.  I'm so close to being done and it makes me crazy that I am feeling this way.  So....coming home was best for me and everyone around me today!

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited September 2011

    julianna......I feel for you hon.  I am glad you were able to come home and just get away and have some time for you.  I can totally understand your frustration at the doctor thing.  A few weeks ago I saw a new MO, have no idea why except that my doctor wasn't in.  He asked me if I wanted a prescription for Arimidex.  Huh?  I told him my regular MO said I would begin taking it after rads.  He also told me my tests were fine, but that I had a Vitamin D defiecieny.  He basically said just to take Vitamin D.  I have not seen my MO for awhile and won't until after rads.  Fine with me.  They sure don't communicate with one another!

    I hope you are feeling better.  Funny how the meltdowns hit when you are not prepared.  Just rest and try to do something good for YOU.  Hugs!

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  • ann329
    ann329 Member Posts: 38
    edited September 2011

    4 plus five boosts to go.  Having my boost site marked by RO on Friday.  Should be interesting...

    Kymn - you are almost there.  Wow!!

    Julianna - I had a meltdown during the night (always - sigh) this past Sunday.  So, I too had to walk away Monday morning.  You did the right thing - letting yourself feel what you need to will keep you going.  It's about time we all put ourselves first, right?!  ((((hugs))))

    bb - thank you for the positive note about Tamoxifen.  Soooooo appreciated..  it helps quiet the apprehension for those of us who haven't started yet. 

    Two days to the weekend - yay!!

    Ann

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  • cellomomof5
    cellomomof5 Member Posts: 71
    edited September 2011

    FINISHED!!!!  Last boost today!

    Of course, I go right back to chemo (T-DM1) tomorrow... oh yes, and my first dose of Tamoxifen.  But am I ever glad to be done with those daily trips into Boston!

    Good luck to all those nearing the finish line. :) 

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited September 2011

    cellomom...............Congratulations!!!  You must be so relieved.  I hope chemo is not too hard on you.  Same with Tamifoxen.  I hope everything goes well!

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  • Merlinda
    Merlinda Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2011

    I found EMU oil on the internet by googling Minnesota EMU oil.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited September 2011

    Time to celebrate for those of you done and almost time for the rest of you. Keep on keeping the area moist, you will be glad you did a week or so down the line.Image Detail

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  • lrw333
    lrw333 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2011

    Julianne I had the same thing happen to me yesterday. 4 more boost to go. They are not bad at all. For me I was allready broken from the regular treatments. My RO Tech Held me yesterday and told me to get it all out. He would stay with me as long as I needed. They are the true heros for me.  Not the Dr. when I told him 1 pain pill every 8 hours was not enough replied I am comfortable with you quitting Really???  I am suppose to see my RO today but I won't. I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me like this. So many things out there he could have tried but he would not..How he sleeps at night is beyond me. I sure as h*** am not. Sorry ladies just venting... I hope you all have an easy time today. We are so close...   

    Cellomom I am so happy for you... Congrats!!!

    .

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  • MamaV
    MamaV Member Posts: 907
    edited September 2011

    Boost #6 of 8 today.  Monday is the end of this step of the journey - tired and ready to be done.  On a positive, saw my RO yesterday and he said he has never seen anyone's skin do as well as mine!  I told him that was my consolation for being near death with chemo.  He laughed and said I deserved the break then.  I wish I could pass that good fortune onto all of you, but know that I am thinking of all of you and praying every time I am under that beam for all of us - using Merilee's guidance, "Lord, let this be a healing beam and not a burning beam"  Ha ha!  It worked!

    Hang in there everyone ... the end is near!

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  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited September 2011

    Irw33:  My heart goes out to you.  I, too, had my meltdowns with the rad techs.  Unfortunately for them, my meltdowns came in the form of anger instead of tears.  Still, they were always so kind and understanding.  Like you, they were my real heroes.  Whenever I saw my RO, he just brushed off all of my complaints.  It got to the point where I dreaded seeing him.  Also, I walked past his nurse every day on the way to rads treatments and she never once smiled at me or asked how I was doing.  Like my husband said, "Accept the fact that they do not give a darn about you and proceed accordingly."  Thank God for the amazingly caring techs.  Rads would have been a nightmare without them.

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  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,498
    edited September 2011

    I am so sorry to hear that some are experiencing indifferent doctors.  I hope you all will mention the treatment you are receiving to your Onc (or whoever referred you to this provider) because honestly BC is enough to deal with!  I believe that if several women make the same observations to their referring physician that original physician might start rethinking their choice of RO.  

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    Neither my surgical oncologist or my radiation oncologist are very warm and caring, but I think they are good. My medical oncologist is very warm and caring, and since he is in charge I am ok with that. My radiation therapists and the radiation nurses are not very warm either. They are just matter of fact business people.

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  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,498
    edited September 2011

    katehudson, You are right, they don't need to be warm...I don't need them to be my best friend!  But don't you think that being told to quit, being refused pain meds and having questions brushed off is just wrong?  

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    SAB. Yes I agree it is absolutely wrong. You are paying for this. I would tell them if they don't answer my questions I will get radiation somewhere else. They should give you pain meds if you are in pain, but they are not required to do so.

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  • sarahbob
    sarahbob Member Posts: 131
    edited September 2011

    today was #15.....right about 1/2 way through!! YAY!

    Today is also my birthday. My family totally forgot so I have been in a "pitiful me" mood all day. I have been on the verge of tears all day.....probably b/c of feeling alone today. I said something to my husband when he got home from work about him forgetting my birthday and now he is trying to kiss up by fixing dinner.

     Hope everyone is having a good week.

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    I finished full breast radiation today. I am having 4 boosts and then I am done. It is only about 3:20 here, but I am having a glass of Chardonnay to celebrate. Happy Birthday Sarahbob!

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  • lrw333
    lrw333 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2011

    Sarahbab Happy Birthday! Best wishes! What an awful way to spend your B-day In RADS. Hugs!!! I would not wish it on my worst enemy... #15 Your halfway there Just hang on. I promise it gets easier. What helped me the most? Getting pissed off about my RO. SAB I have an appointment Tuesday with my Onc. Rest assured he will be told. NO one should have to deal with this. I think they forget what a powerful tool the internet is. He had the nerve to walk by me and say Hello. He had to go answer a question and walk back through/ No words Ladies  When he saw I was not giving him the satisfaction. He left me alone. That was the lowest point for me.

    Elizabeth I borrowed your quote and thats what I told them. Thank you so much for that. No truer words were ever spoken ... I did my treatment and left. . I hope to hell they just leave me alone. I needed help 3 weeks ago not now. I might be broken but I still have my pride.Your right they don't have to be warm but damn a little compassion goes a long way...

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  • ann329
    ann329 Member Posts: 38
    edited September 2011

    One more down, 3 plus 5 to go...   oh boy cannot wait to be done with this phase of treatment.  Like Merilee, you'll hear me peeling out of the parking lot - it'll be the NEW sound "heard 'round the world."  LOL  Cool

    Cellomom - congrats for finishing!!

    Regarding the unfeeling and nasty bedside manner of some of the people who care for you.  Maybe they are going overboard trying to remain detached to protect their own feelings and maybe they need to be told how they are making you feel.  You might try to gently speak up... I just wonder.  Of course, maybe they are just nasty folks who seriously chose the wrong professions!  For me, I have met very kind people at all levels of my journey; I am very fortunate.  God knows we all have enough to deal with without getting attitude from caregivers who are suppose to comfort and heal.

    Merilee, what did you mean in your post about keeping the area moist?  The area under my breast feels best dry and silked up with pure cornstarch....keeps it friction free. 

     Take care everyone.

    Ann

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    From my experience surgical oncologists and radiation oncologists are cold, and medical oncologists are warm. Surgeons are usually matter of fact and not talky, feely touchy and sweet, and radiation oncologists are very matter of fact. In my opinion medical oncologists being the warmest is the best because they administer chemo, and chemo is hell in comparison to radiation. Thank God I didn't have to do chemo, but I am smart enough to realize that radiation is a walk in the park in comparison to it.

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  • summergirl1
    summergirl1 Member Posts: 182
    edited September 2011

    Hi guys , hope u dont mind me jumping in on your site although I am only on my second round of chemo I will be having radiation around Dec and I had a couple of questions for you guys who have already done rads, I am kinda scared as I live in Ireland and the general procedure is surgery MX , chemo followed by rads, then reconstruction ,  I pushed to have immediate reconsruction as I thought it would help me cope mentally (which it has,) I now have a TE and feel  fine as it was filled at time of surgery to match the other side (which is a small B cup) the problem is I am now freaking out as I have heard the radiation can damage the TE , Has anyone who has had TE's followed by rads had problems I just could not bear to think it will all go wrong for me , already feeling down as I just lost the hair and dont feel good about myself at all . hope you can help me with this as many of you have finished the rads , and well done to you all !!!!

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  • lrw333
    lrw333 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2011

    Kate it is so true. I feel very blessed not to have chemo. I can not even imagine the strengh and courage it takes to get through.

    Anne hehe Thanks for making me laugh. I can just see us all on our last day.  I will be the one running and screaming from the building..   Laughing

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  • lrw333
    lrw333 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2011

    Summergirl Welcome and sorry you have to be here. I can't answer your questions but I am here for you. Listening!!! It is scary. I freaked out to. Did not even have TE's or chemo. Look what all you have been through. What a couragous, stong woman you must be. Your amazing to me.... Sending you Warm Hugs and prayers. I hope you have a peaceful journey....

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  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited September 2011

    I had chemo before rads and I actually found it easier than rads.  There were some bad days after each round of chemo, but I felt pretty good most days.  Chemo misery was sporadic and I just lived my life throughout the treatments.  Also, the MO, chemo nurses, and office staff were so supportive and compassionate.  Rads was a constant upset for me and everyone except the techs were cold and uncaring.

    Sarahbob: Happy Birthday.  So sorry that your family forgot your big day.  Wishing you a happy and healthy year.

    Irw33:  You are my hero.  Good for you for standing up to your RO.  Compassion goes a long way toward healing and every oncologist should realize that. 

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  • bb226
    bb226 Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2011

    Sarahbob Happy Birthday. Here is your cake. I would also serve a nice cold glass of wine but I don't know if you are taking pain meds. Someone asked what could be worse than having rads on your birthday...being dx on your birthday. It really sucks.

    Celebrate that your treatment is almost over.

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  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,498
    edited September 2011
    Sarahbob-you milk that DH guilt for a nice present Wink and have a great birthday--it's the year of good health I hope.
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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited September 2011

    For you, Sarahbob:  Since you already got that beautiful white cake.....

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited September 2011

    Ann- There are some things that happen to the skin even after Rads are finished. One is that the cells want to retract like any burn and if you don't keep it moist it will start to feel very tight and that hurts when you stretch up or out your arm. Moisture helps keep this at bay.

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  • sarahbob
    sarahbob Member Posts: 131
    edited September 2011

    thank you for my cakes!! I bought myself a cupcake, and of course all the kids wanted some of it. LOL!

    Today is #16....1/2 way!

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited September 2011

    Congrats on making it to the halfway point.  I passed that and am on the home stretch!  Yippee!

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