Sept 2011 Rads

Congratulations, Steph N

Congratulations, StephN!  Wishing you quick and pain-free healing!  I'm 10 days post rads and wearing a bra already.  One step closer to "normal!"

Congrats on finishing Gail and Steph!!!! Two more Mostly Sew, hang in there!!

Ok, so 1 week post radiation!!! Doing well, skin healing wonderfully...Went back to work for first time in a month, work went well, even got out early...was looking forward to an afternoon nap..........Then I was in a car accident, REALLY???? I was not injured, sore neck, hit my "good" boob and my knee. I stopped at a stop sign, no traffic, then a truck pulled up on my right to turn right, blocking my view, I started to cross intersection and was smashed into by a car coming from the right... I did not see that car until it hit me!!! I wonder if it came from a parking lot across the road and the truck had blocked my view...uugh...so of course i got a ticket because I was at the stop sign....Both cars were towed away, All 4 people in other car signed refusal for treatment forms, then when the driver got out of her car  and started walking around she said her back hurt. The ambulance came back and took her in, hope she is okay.There were no skid marks I don't think, she had to have been accelerating when she hit me. Bad intersection, has needed a 4 way stop for years, but it is a state highway and not happening...UUgh!! It could have been much worse but this SUCKS....REALLY GOD??? Haven't I proved I am strong already this summer (separated from husband, 3 weeks later BC diagnosis) now THIS???

STEPH (and SEW?) CONGRATS on making it thru! 

TAM, gee whiz, just when you get your license to drive as a cancer-free woman, they take the keys to the T-bird away.  Oh, my, and I hope you are not too sore, wrecks can hurt for a few days after.  I still do not know how I got home from the hospital every day for rads.  Oh, what shall you do for a car?  I suppose you have a second one.  Our second one needs a brake job.

Hmmmm.  Well, I've been healing up from my last rad burn, I've stayed right here in my house to regroup.  The prednisone they gave me for inflammation pain, I cut back each week for total three weeks.  So, with less drug in me, last two days I noticed skin came off in another place, in my sorest spot on the smooth skin below the incision, so it's double sore, no infection tho.  I have been doing NOTHING so my left arm and shoulder are sore from not keeping up with range of motion exercise.  GG

I have almost pulled out in front of several cars and a TRAIN!  Too many close encounters.  I think my problem is chemo brain! 

So glad you are ok!   

Congrats to those crossing the finish line this past week!  I guess I'm about 12 days out and continuing to heal.  As they say...moisturize, moisturize and moisturize!

Hi Jackifp,

The survivorship program is new at Redwood Regional Medical Group and the head is Dr. Amy Shaw. Her job is to oversee your whole body health, but doesn't replace your med. onc nor your primary physician. She has a coordinator working for her and would be the one you call with any questions about health issues. They then let you know what to do/whom to call etc. My visit was an hour and I got numerous handouts (health tips, etc. etc) she addressed arimidex/tomoxifen side effects, how to deal with them etc. etc. She also summarizes your treatment plan for you, not only going forward but also what you've had, like how much and what kind of radiation. Etc.

I see her again in Dec after seeing my new med onc as mine left the practice. Then I think I check in with her every 3 months and shortly after that move to once yearly.

I know it's a long drive for you, maybe she'll be up your way a few days a month since Redwood Regional covers your area too. I think it's worth at least one visit to her. After all, where else do you hear about dealing with the whole aging/hormonal/going forward issues of breast cancer? I just wish they'd change the name to the Cancer Moving On program or the Cancer Wellness program. Think I'll suggest it to her.

Let me know if you go see her.

Thanks for all the kind words about my accident, I appreciate each and every one of you. Life continues and its hard to control, whether you have cancer or not. Congrats on those finishing this week, I am 9 days post and my bc breast is doing great!! Now the other one is purple from the seatbelt, oh well!!!!

Janis, I am sorry that your surgery had to be postponed again.  I hope your cold will improve soon.  My prayers for you continue.

Janis-So glad that you're feeling better today. Hooray!!!

RADS LADIES,  Just a quick drop-by.  I completed my two weeks "off" where I sat home and vegetated.  It was a very good idea.  Now I am actually not afraid to go to my doc appointment this week or any of the other things I need to do coming up.  I was so spent even well before rads that I was in no humor to be around people. 

TAM,  My cancer doc on Wednesday I'm sure will finally give me "the pill" to counteract my ER+ finding, which bothers me to take it, but I shall take it.  I worry all my feminity will go and, as old as I am, I fear I will become older.  On the other hand, I have read it only stops estrogen from hooking up in the breast.  We shall see. 

PORT TALK,  Also, I don't know about you others, but I still have my port in from chemo back last spring.  It went right thru rads with me, altho the beam missed it.  It's been cleaned out, maybe two months ago, and I meant to ask to have it removed before rads and forgot.  So, I am going to ask cancer doc this week to PLEZ take that thing outta there.  It has actually become the sorest part of my body, other than my already strained back.  I think there is a bit of infection just below it, so good thing I see cancer surgeon in just two days.

That's all.  If I have any trouble this week with the five things I have to do (one is my birthday, but just eating out up the street with my folks and husband), I'll report back, since this will be my first outing post-rads.  GG

KATE, I did notice a sort of bump, but determined it was what was left of a fatty place that had gotten smaller after the incision began to heal.  I saw my cancer doc yesterday, and pointed to another bump, or hard place I guess, I didn't know if it was a mole or what (I have plenty small ones in the vicinity).  He said he thought it was just part of the scar process (I think that's what he said).  If your bumps are tiny, then my guess it's wear and tear on the still-sensitive scar area has caused a rash, perhaps.  If they are directly adjacent to or on the scar, then must be the lumpiness that happens with scars.  I surely do not know.  We will compare notes after you see your doc, I'll be interested in what he says.  Oh, I still put my prescription lotion Radiaplex on my whole rads area, I finished rads end of October, they said keep putting it until all that skin completely heals. 

PORT TALK update:  Told my cancer doc yesterday that my port was bothering me.  Fortunately he said it was not infected, but it indeed should come out, so second week in December they'll take it out, small office procedure downstairs.  Hooooray!   GG

KS, yes, I have that same pain!  What a relief, sounds like this is a normal thing, then.  GG

Hi Dogeyed, My bumps have subsided, but my scar area still looks red. I tried on some clothes in the mall that had kind of a itchy material, and I think that caused the bumps. I had the mri for my back last weekend, and this week I am seeing my medical oncologist, and will find out the results. Tuesday I am going for pre-op, and Dec 7 I am having my suregery for implants and lifts.