August 2011 rads

bb226.....i finsih next week, hopefully.  My first boost was cancelled yesterday due to equipment malfunction.  Hopefully today it will be repaired.  I have a much later appointment then usual, not until noon.  Then I have to see my RO, then be at a different hospital 20 minutes away for my thyroid biopsy.  I hope I make it on time!

Beana...thanks for the happy thoughts.  I hope you are doing well.  I take Benadryl already for allergies so that has helped with the itching as well. 

sarahbob.....I am So sorry you have cellulitis yet again!  Better than a blood clot of course, but sure not what you need right now.  I hope the antibiotics kick in quickly and you get to feeling better very soon.  Sending BIG, but gentle hugs to you!  Feel better soon!

jenny....congrats on finishing and enjoying life to the fullest!!! 

Jenny congradulations... Kate I bet your thrilled to have the dental work done. I bet your so proud of your new smile. Glad you have such a wonderful friend to help you... I hope your trip home went well.

Sarah I hope your feeling better soon. I know how hard that must be for you. Hugs!!!

I used alot of Ice Jeana it numbs you and the itching is not so bad.. I am still using it. My breast is soooo hot.... Glad your doing well and almost through....

Ann and bb Thanks for easing my mind a little. Having BC is enough. I hate to deal with anything else right now. I went to the doctor 3 times this week and go 3 times next week for test. Driving me crazy. It helps to know you can relate and understand... Janis as always you are so positive and always bring a smile to my face.. ThanksI hope everyone is having a good day with RADS..

Sarah, I'm so sorry.  You do seem to get every side effect there is! 

I was pretty tired this week (finish with rad almost a week ago) but I am healing.  The boost area bothers me when I sleep (try to sleep).  It's hard to sleep on your back all night long.  I'm totally exhausted right now but I'm pushing myself to go out to a Swing Dance tonight.  I took a few lessons last year.  We'll see how it goes. 

I decided to do the Breast Cancer - Making Strides Walk this weekend here in Rochester.  It will be so strange.  I've always donated money but I've never been to one of these events.  I'm excited but also have a strange feeling at being one of "them" now.  I guess I should wear all of the Pink things that I've been given through out this journey. 

Go get em Katehudson!  

did everyone drop off the face fo the earth? Where is everyone?

I finished # 28 today!!! Only 5 boosts to go!!

Saw the RO today and he noticed some skin breakdown under my arm. It is about the size of a silver dollar, so not big at all. I looked at it in the mirror when he was done and it really just looks like after a sunburn and the skin turns dark and then peels. The nurse agreed it really just looked like some dead skin sloughing off. He put silvadene on it and I am to apply it 2x a day until I see him again next Tuesday.

I go to the lymph-edema clinic tomorrow morning. My arm is still swollen all the way to my hand, bit not as tender. It is still a little red at the elbow (which led me to tell the doctor about it). The RO commented today how it seemed to come up all of a sudden and not gradually like lymph-edema typically does. This just goes to show I am not typical! LOL!

I walked in a Women's Only 5K over the weekend. It is sponsored by the Breast Center in Greensboro and raised more than $100,000 to help fund a scholarship to provide mammograms/screenings/biopsies for uninsured and under insured women. I only finished about 1/3 of it, but hey.....that's still 1 mile! I was plenty tired just the same! LOL!

Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

lrw333: the LE is in the opposite arm as the rads side. I have had a seroma for over 4 months on that side also (and only had the sentinel node removed). I had 14 nodes disected from the left side , plus 28 rads, and no issues there. It is odd. I have been working out at the gym, doing weight lifting, and I think that contributed more than anything.

As for the walk, I only was able to do 1 mile bc of the fatigue from rads. I walked about 1/2 mile, rested for about 10 min and then walke the 1/2 mile back across the finish line. All that took 50 min, so that tells you how slow I was walking. LOL! I was worn slap out afterwards! LOL!

I am still here too Sarah although usually in the September rads.  Even though it is October!  My last treatment is tomorrow!  I am so excited, the burn is bad and I just want to start healing now.  HUGE congratulations on being done with regular rads!  Onto boosts and then you are done.  Congrats too on doing the walk...that is awesome!  Doesn't matter that you didn't finish, you tried and that is more than enough considering you are in active treatment.  Good job!

Hi MamaV!!  How are you doing hon?

WOOOO! WOOOOO! YAY! for Janis!  Congrats!

This is fantastic Janis - your LAST day!!!!  wootwoot!!  Sooooooooooo happy for you. 

Ann

Merilee....thanks so much for the fireworks!  Beautiful!

So I am oficially done now.  No parties or big celebration.  One of my techs, Juanita, gave me a small box of gourmet chocolates for finishing.  How sweet!  I was low on pain meds and my Mo was there.  The techs went back to talk to him and he wrote me a fresh script.  So I am good to go.  I was ordered to go home and do nothing for one week!  LOL....not likely to happen of course but will try to rest.  Juanita and Maria both told me this burn will likely get worse before it gets better.  I knew that pretty much and will do my best to take it easy.  I am supposed to spend as much time as possible on the couch with my arm resting up high on the back.  I have Domeboro soaks to help dry it out.  Plus Aquaphor mixed with lidocaine.  I am so ready to heal. 

Thanks for the support all of you, it means so much to me!!!

Irw.....I have not had any real fatigue.  They just told me to take it easy so my burns can heal.  No bra and elevate my arm on the back of the couch as much as possible.  Keeping me down for that long won't happen, LOL! 

Irw.......yes, ice is very helpful.  My techs gave me some samples of "Tender Wets".  They are gel pads filled with Ringer's Lactate.  Very soothing!  Another gal on this forum said that you can mix peroxide 50/50 with water and use a washcloth to soak it in.  I have not tried it yet, but she said it worked really well for her.  You are right, rads do strange things to our bodies.  My nipple area started bleeding just a little late this afternoon.  Nothing serious and I just put more of my burn ointment on it.  No plans to put a bra on for a long time!

bleeding nipples? I'm kinda glad I don't have any nipples anymore then! LOL! I have just some very mild peeling (like after a sunburn) under my left arm. I have not worn a bra in about 2 weeks (not like I have anything to put in one any more! LOL!). I really think that has helped keep my skin from breaking down more. The RO gave me silvadene cream and I am still using the radiaplex aloe lotion. The techs said today that my skin has held up remarkably well, but to expect it to get slightly worse next week after I finish......and that would be only 4 more days!!!!

I saw the lymphedema PT today. She said it looks like I have mild lymphedema and she recommends I wear a glove a sleeve daily, during waking hours, on the right arm for months and one on the left if I am flying (preventative). No more BPs or blood draws from either arm for life. I will go to see her 2x/week for the next 3 weeks to start with for manual drainage (massage) and see how that goes. Gee thanks cancer! You suck!

Great news lynniea!  You are almost there!  Enjoy Boston - I love Quincy Market!

I am so glad you are almost finished Sarahbob. You have been through so much. I have my follow up appointment with my R O today. I am 15 days post rads, red and itchy, at night, in the boost area only. I am hoping this will be gone in a week.