August 2011 rads

Janis-Thanks so much for the info. I hope that the new med will result in quick healing for you!

irw333, Yes I hear that side effects for hormonal therapy do not show up right away, and that it takes about 6 months.

Hey, ladies, I wonder if 6 month mammogram follow-up is counting from the initial mammogram, or from the day we finish the treatment?

I went see my MO today. He is fully supporting my decision of not taking the Tamoxifen. I asked about my follow-up care. He told me that I don't need to see the breast surgeon...just continue seeing him...next appt is in 6 month (he did let me know that I have the choice if I want to see the breast surgeon instead). I don't need the mammogram but yearly (he said that DCIS is very slow growing and yearly is sufficient)..and I do need to do the self exam every month and need a physician to check my breasts every 6 month. Then he examed me and said it's better to do another mammogram (6 months counting from the initial mammogram).

I am just thinking if I am not taking the Tamoxifen...why I still need to see him? Would it be better just go back to see my Gyn doctor instead (who I really like)? Wouldn't Gyn doctor be the best expert in examining our breasts?  

Hugs here too kate!

Jenny,  I just saw my rad onc today and she said that I healed very well and that I could have a mammo next week (my surgeon wanted one before I see him and it's about 6 months since my surgery).  I don't like the idea of getting the poor little thing squished but I supposed it's a good idea to see if they can see anything.  I found a little lump under my arm and was worried but the onc said it was from shaving (an ingrown hair).  I know what you mean about worrying about every little thing. 

I am running in my first 5K tomorrow.  I haven't really prepared for it.  I'm just doing it to do it.  I still feel really tired and thought that would be over by now but the rad onc said that it can take 9 months to a year to get back to "normal".  She said not to conserve energy and pace yourself. I really feel like I should be working out more but I kind of like her prescription.  :-)

 Ceez, we should be taking lots of vitamin D3 but I was taking mine all at once and learned that we should space it out.  Do you know your D level?  I don't get much sun at all where I live (north east) but  my D count was in the 40s so that's not bad.  I take about 3000 mg a day but if you are low, you should take more until you get your number up.  I guess it takes some time to raise it. 

Did anyone see the Life Time movie "Five" on BC?  It was pretty good and made me cry and remember all the different stages you go through.  I feel like I want to help other women going through this.  You feel so alone and lost in the beginning.  I feel so much better about it all now.  I just hope I don't have to go through it again. 

Hi ladies I am now finished with my radiation I finished on the 14 of Oct comp was broke.  I had a great time in Boston my niece was beautiful.  Now what do you do not many more appts.  I need a job for the winter.  I have my mammogram at end of February.  God was good to me I didn't start peeling until the end.  Hope all is well with everyone.

Done is good, who is next?

I had a wonderful time last Saturday at New Orleans race-for-the-cure 5K run. Weather was no extremely nice. 14,000 people participated the run and the walk. I got placed in #141 female overall...Yeah, I am proud (this is only the second race I have ever done in my whole life). It's a very fun day. Nice to see so many supporters (especially all those male guys wearing pink:)). I really admire Susan Komen's sister who unbelievably changed people's attitude toward the breast cancer. It definitely is so different compared to 20-30 years ago because of her and other couragous survivors, advocators, organizations...etc. For us, to even have this dicussion board has helped so much.Hope there is a cure one day and we all don't ever need to worry about reoccurance!

I need to find a job for the winter I am going ster crazy with noththing to do

I am on my third week of seven Rads. I have some peeling, and the three scars form my surgeries are looking pink, and starting to feel a little sore. I teach zumba, so I hope the peelings are burning don't get alot worse. I will have to be creative, and maybe wear a few fitted tank tops instead of the intense exercise bra.

zumbagirl-Hang in there. The last two weeks will be over before you know it. Hugs.

I haven't been on here in a while, but Rads are finally over. I had my last one #35 on Dec 7. My skin is just now feeling normal. It doesn't look great , but the pain is gone. Thank you for all of your encouraging words. I used aquaphore through the whole treatment , and I think it really helped. The boosts at the end fried the skin but I globbed it on twice a day, and I believe it help to speed the healing.

zumbagirl, Congratulations on being done with rads.  Please continue visit us at Radiation Recovery and After Radiation.

Hooray zumbagirl! What a relief, right?

today is 1 year since I heard the life changing words: it is cancer. So much has happened in the last year: lifetime's worth of mammograms/biopsies, Bil mastectomy, chemo, rads, lymphedmea, persistent seroma, cellulitis......I think that's all. I sure hope I get something better this year for Christmas than I did last year!!!