MARCH 2010 Rads Group

Congratulations, 3monstmama, I'll take boring everytime!!!!

Good luck, YramAL/Mary!!!!

Got nothing new to report, thankfully, at least not until my Aug. '11 mammo but I did want to bump this thread up because you all will always be important to me. We laughed, cried, shared, and slam dunked through every one of those zaps.

3monstmama-I go to the Breast Center at NW Hospital. I'm guessing from your past posts that you go to Swedish? 

I don't think I'll need the pain pills. My breast is still somewhat sore, even a year+ out from the end of rads, but it's not that bad. I'll see how I do this time, and if I freak out too much, I'll ask for the nerve pills next time.

Thanks all for the positive thoughts. 

Mary 

Jenn-

No, this is actually my 3rd mammogram on the "bad" boob since finishing rads last April. Previous 2 have been just fine and I'm hoping this one is as well. I have one every 6 months on the "bad" boob, and every year on the other one. I don't know why I'm still sore, but I'm assuming it's from the rads-the gift that keeps on giving.

Thanks for the crossed fingers.

Mary 

Woo hoo! All clear! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Mary 

Hurrah Mary!  Have a great weekend enjoying all the sunshine.

I know I'm not the only one here coming up on the 2nd anniversary of their diagnosis. Mine is Dec. 7th-Pearl Harbor Day. I'll be having my next mammogram on Dec. 5th. This time it's on both breasts, and I'm starting to get a little anxious. I can't believe I used to be so calm about getting my annual mammogram before I was diagnosed with BC.

Mary 

Hey Mary,

more good luck wishes for your upcoming scan.  I just passed my 2 year cancerversary--November 16? 17?  honestly I forget the exact date.  I also find I get very nervous about my mammograms---part of me is always convinced they will find something.  Plus because of the scar tissue, it hurts like hell which it never did before.

The answer: drugs.  I got meds from my oncologist which deal with the pain and help with the worrying.   For anyone stressing about their mammograms, I would encourage a call to the oncologist.

Drugs are the answer!  

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On another note, just this past Tuesday (the one right before American Thanksgiving) my 83 year old mother was diagnosised with ovarian cancer.  She had been experiencing a lot of abdominal pain and a lot of symptoms of "something" and they finally sent her for a contrast CT.  I guess she lit the thing up like a Christmas tree.  Unfortunately, because of the holiday, thats really all we know. She was not able to see a doctor on Wednesday and won't find out details until Monday.

I am not with her.  Our relationship is strained at best and she is more often than not, down right mean to me.  She is not alone--my godbrother is there and she loves him like a son.  I feel awful for him as he thinks of her as a second mother and his mother died of ovarian cancer roughly 20 years ago.  My guilt level goes up and down but I am coping with that part.

What I am coping with less is the absolute terror as to myself and my own stupid ovaries.  I never did the genetic testing---my children are not biological, there was no other cancer in the family of this nature so what was the point?  And now here she is with ovarian cancer.  And I am feeling like someone tucked a bomb in my abdomin.  I tried reading about her cancer --to get some sort of feel for what stage she might be--but kept getting caught up in thinking some of the symptoms were things that fit me.

I have always been scared of ovarian cancer--nothing like watching someone die from it to make you fear it--but told myself it was illogical because there wasn't any in my immediate family.  And kept telling myself that when I got my BC diagnosis---no ovarian in the family, nothing to be scared of, no reason to freak.  And now I can't tell myself that anymore.

I have an ultra sound scheduled for Wednesday.  It will be followed by the CA125 blood test.  The following week I have an appointment with the surgeon and the yanking of the ovaries (or as I said it when I made all the calls within hours of my mother's diagnosis, the little fuckers are coming out NOW!) will take place on the 16th.

In the meantime, holding on by my fingernails.

hugs to all.

ok girls, i found you:) i had rads last year from jan- march had to take about 10 days off because of burns. My question is has anyone had the side effect of tightness from collar bone to below imframmatory crease. What it actually feels like is you are wearing an iron bra! I went to see my original ps yesterday and he said all this is caused by my radiated tissue,and i also have cc stage 2 but my tightness is not just the implant as i said. He also said it may get better but basically its will always be there! i was going to have reconstruction again(not with him ) but thinking whats the piont the pain will stiil be there  does anyone else have this?

beacher4209-I too,have tightness on my radiated side, from about underarm down to the bottom of my ribs. I can feel it pull if I stretch too high, too fast. 

Sugar77-Please let us know how your test went today.....

3monstmama-When I'm sick, I don't want anyone around me. I know they mean well, but I would just rather nurse my wounds in private. Maybe your mom is the same way? I do remember your stories about your mom's hoarding-I'm sure that has something to do with it as well. Maybe all to do with it. Do you ever watch "Hoarders"? The people on that show are frequently asked, "Do you want your family or your stuff?" They hesitate every time......and some actually chose their stuff. Best of luck with your surgery-be sure to get those monsters and Mr. monster to help you as much as possible with the holiday preparations.

Mary 

No-I do not have implants.

Mary 

Sugar77-I do remember the slam dunk! I'm so glad you feel like your ultrasound was good. I have not had a period for 8 weeks now and things are getting a little congested feeling. My periods are very irregular these days, but my FSH levels continue to be pre-menopausal. My next blood test is next Monday(same day as my mammo) so maybe they will be different this time.

Mary 

3monstmama-My husband refuses to watch "Hoarders". He says it hits too close to home. His mom is quite the hoarder. We've moved her into progressively smaller places over the years, as her financial state worsened, and each move was excruciating as far as getting rid of stuff. And she would fill each new place as the years went by. She's now in assisted living because she has dementia, and she tries her darndest to hoard there too. She's quite often tuned out of the real world, but the one subject that will bring her back to the present time is her "stuff". I swear she can hear us kids talking about some old crappy stuff she had years ago, from across the room, and her attention immediately snaps to what we are talking about. Her "stuff"!

I'm hoping sugar77 good luck is catching too-my mammo and blood tests are on Monday.

Mary 

Hey ladies! Long time no talk. We always seem to circle back around during testing time. Do you know what? I am supposed to schedule my test for December, but get so nervous about it that I am waiting until January. I want stress-less holiday season before I have to deal with all that emotional baggage. I sure am glad that Sugar's results came back well, and I wish everyone the same success. It's truly nail biting time. 

I had a unique, funny, strange experience  2 weeks ago. Went into my dermo because I found yet another strange mole, this time on the nipple of my radiated breast. She took one look at it and told me it was a CLOGGED pore, i.e. a ZIT???? And proceeded to squeeze the ever loving mother out of it. "Yep, it's a clogged pore, you have pores on every surface of your body".  Ughhhhhhh. Why was it a clogged pore on my BC side???? I try not to think about it too much, but it does cause me a bit of worry.

Good thing was she performed an entire body scan and found a precancerous mole on my back. Cancer, cancer, cancer. Yikes. Just thinking about the possibilities fills me  with dread.

Ladies, I hope you are having a WONDERFUL, slam dunk kind of holiday season!!!!