October 2011 Rads

Marthah, wow - you can see the finish line!  Are you experiencing any additional fatigue?  I hope your week end away is a good one.  And in case I forget when we celebrate your last appointment, thanks for starting the thread.  I learned so much from everyone here.
Robyn, I hope that Jasper brings you joy, comfort, and warmth during this time.  I keep longing for a new kitty since my 16 yr. cat passed in the spring.  I am not sure I am quite ready to commit the time to care for a pet, but maybe after rads.
And yes - you will have a good reason to get up and out for your new addition!
I bought bird feeders and seed today to bring some winter joy to my windows.  I hope the cardinals and sparrows find the feeders soon (before the squirrels).
Glad it's the week end! 
Joan

Paintingmywaythru,

Lead the way.  Finish tomorrow!!!  I am excited for you.  I hope to be right behind you on Wed.  Long as I get by the MD on Monday.  Skin looks good though so I think I will be okay.  Actually getting a little tan in the "unboosted" area.

Has anyone here experienced rapid heart sort of anxiety since starting rad? Even a simple stairway has my heart pounding in my chest.

truebff - Huh...I had that happen yesterday, but hadn't really attributed it to the rads yet. It's only happened once so far, and I've definitely been exerting myself a bit more since the puppy came, so I didn't pay much attention. I'll pay better attention now!

Yahoo for so many of us done or almost there! I have #24 of 33 today and am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Just hoping that my skin and tiredness don't get drastically worse between now and then. It worries me to hear about those of you who had a lot more SE's in the last couple weeks. My skin is pink, but not sore or too itchy. No peeling or cracking or blisters. I'm the same level of tired as I have been since week 2; it's hard to wake up in the a.m. and I'm ready for bed by 10:30 but generally OK in between as long as I get an extra cup of coffee here and there. 

My husband left a little while ago for a 6-day trip to Germany, so I'm already planning on comfy jammie evenings with my kids. And my good friend surprised me yesterday with a meal that I can serve one night this week - pasta with pesto and peas, plus the fixings for a spinach salad. Yum! I'm a bit bummed that my husband may have to travel again the week after Thanksgiving, I finish up on Nov. 28 and was hoping he'd be around for the big celebration, whatever it ends up being. i may take that day off work and go shopping or have a big lunch out. 

How exciting to hear so many finishing and/or near finishing!!  Was #30 for me today. . . 8 more to go!  I'm in the boost phase now   My skin is a mess and I'm hoping that the boosts will give some of the painful part a rest.  All up under my arm, the top layer of skin is gone and it's way angry looking!  I have an area that's open on my mx scar, and another area that started to open this weekend.  Hoping the boosts are kind to that. 

My doc said something today I just couldn't believe.  I was asking what creams to use where, and he said "oh just use whatever you think is helping."  um thanks.  His next comment floored me "of course, the best treatment is to just let the skin heal, like when you finish."  Gee, that's wisdom for you.  I wish, wish, wish they would open the tx center just ONE day in the 4 day weekend, cause then I'd be done!  I guess I should be glad, one more regular weekday after Thanksgiving and I'm done, and since it is regular, I can say goodbye to all the regular techs. 

Today they asked about what I'm taking for pain.  I mentioned that I've been eyeing the bottle of percocet left over from surgery, but so far have gotten by using chocolate   They said I should use both!  lol.  Next time I can't sleep, I'm on it. 

Here's to a good week for all!

dawmson--you just reminded me   I have heard of shooting pains, and think I've had a few, but not really bad.  I've heard that sometimes as the nerves start regenerating you feel a "zing" type pain.  Best I can describe it.  For me, it is gone as soon as I can tell someone about it.  Still never hurts to mention

So I see my MO tomorrow, and I'm assuming it will be my last appt for a few months.  I know I can call anytime, but now, all of a sudden I'm feeling like I need to get all my questions together!  My most burning (and maybe a little silly) question is how the heck do we tell if the cancer comes back?  Breast is gone, so I'm presuming if this cancer comes back it would be as a met some where else. . . . That is one thing that just terrifies me. . . . . how do you find cancer that comes back in the liver, bones, lung etc?  Even if it's silly, I gotta ask because it is a worry for me.  Other questions buzzing in my head. . . . when do I go for my next mammo?  Think I'm going to ask about self exams.  My tumor grew to be 6cm before I felt it, so I'm thinking I don't have good skills in that area.  If I manage to get a cancer on the other side, I'd love to catch it before it got that big! 

Any other questions you've asked or wish you remembered to ask?

Argh, one of the machines was down yesterday so I had to wait 90 minutes for rads. I decided to take off the little smock they gave me after about an hour, because the material was way too rough for my sore nipple. I am switching back to the giant hospital gowns, because at least they are soft. Also, another one of my stickers fell off this morning as I undressed for my shower, so if they are on time today, I am going to ask for tattoos already. I will be 1/3 done after today's tx!

truebff - no rapid heartbeat for me, and I have a history of that because I have mitral valve prolapse (a very common and non-dangerous heart murmur condition). I have been able to run and paddle and otherwise exert myself normally so far.

dawmsom, my place is like yours - the techs just do their jobs positioning and zapping and marking me, but never ask me how my skin is or if I'm in any pain. My RO doesn't ask about pain, either, just asks how I'm doing once a week. I do get the odd sharp pain but usually my breast doesn't hurt too much if nothing is touching it. It's just really swollen and red and tender.

I think you should definitely take your last day off work and celebrate and treat yourself, especially if your DH is out of town that day. I may not be able to take off work because I already feel so behind, but I am certainly going to celebrate that evening with a special meal (and a cocktail or two).

rn4babies, my place is open the Sunday before Thanksgiving, too but unfortunately I made plans a month in advance to visit my family in VA this weekend and I only heard about this option last night! So I am only going to have 3 tx next week, because of course they are closed both Thur and Fri for the holidays. But I figured that I can still finish by Dec 15th if I don't have any delays. And certainly by Christmas, even if I do have to skip a few.

Robyn, is it hard to keep the new puppy from bouncing around on your sore chest? I have to constantly guard my sore boob from our minpin when she gets excited, if I am lying on the couch or somewhere she can jump around on it. And even our little cat sometimes will try to walk on it to come lick my face or something, and I have to pull her off because that hurts too much now.

5kidsmom, I just saw my MO but he didn't mention any mammograms. Oddly enough, it was my BS who said that I should get one next year, about a year after my dx. He said that would give my boob time to heal from rads before going to get squished. I was a little surprised that they didn't want me in every 6 months. I am no good at self-exam, either, and always relied on my PCP to screen me at my annual checkup. I asked about an MRI and he said I'd still need the mammo and US because calcifications don't always show up on MRI, or something like that.

martha - last day of regular zaps!!! How happy are you?!!!! 

WOOOHOOOO! I am jealous that you are finishing up soon, and that you get to SHAVE! But not jealous of your fatigue. That really stinks, martha. Be gentle with yourself and allow your body to recover. I know that's easier said than done. Thank you again for starting this thread

Tomorrow is my 34th and final treatment.  I can't wait to finish this part of the journey.  I just picked up a platter of wrap sandwiches for my radiation team.  They really made a tough time easier.

I have treatment at 7:45 am and then have to work 11 am- 9:30 pm which makes celebrating a little tough.  I love to go out to breakfast so decided to take myself to breakfast at one of our great NJ diners.  Unfortunately, my husband and friends are working so it will be a solo celebration but I wanted to mark the day somehow.  Will have a nice cold beer when I get home at 10 pm.

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of you finishing.  Hang in there!  It does happen!

Pam how exciting that you will be done tomorrow!!!  I think you are right to mark the day in some way.  I'm thinking that my last day of rads I'm going to do something too.  Thinking it might be nice to mark that day, and keep it as a day that I remember each year, the journey I went on, and all that it involved.  It's been a long journey and I know I'll never be the same.  That deserves a little time to ponder. 

another thing I'm planning,  idea I got from a book. . . . going to go get/buy a bunch of stones from a craft store and paint on them, my fears.  Going to take those babies either to the ocean or to a lake and pray over them, then throw them as far as I can from me. 

So I went to see my MO today, and saw the NP at the office instead.  Apparently he resigned and left the practice suddenly.  No one knows what happened, or where he went.  Very weird.  Kind of leaves me feeling a little lost. . . . just went through all that, built up trust with him, and now I have to pick someone else to follow me. 

Jandot: no scans for me either.  I do have to have a mammo in January, and it kind of freaks me out, they want it done the day after my mammo from last year.  Insurance will only pay for one a year, but they want it done asap.  It will be on my one remaining breast, and one of my biggest fears is that they will find a cancer there, that they couldn't see last year.  I was breastfeeding at the time of dx, and the radiologist mentioned that breastmilk makes it easier to miss things, as it takes up the dye just as a tumor would.  Trying not to stress from now till then.  I keep thinking how awful it would be to have been in treatment for a year, then have my mammo, and have to start all over again. 

Trying to decide what to bring for my last rads tx.  My techs have been so nice, the nurses and docs too--even the receptionist.  I bring in baking for them occasionally and they are always so appreciative.  Trying to decide if I should bake a whole bunch, or just go buy a party platter or something.  My appt is just after lunch so they need dessert to snack on all afternoon!