Radiation recovery

Joan the fatigue should being to wane soon and you will find you will get your strength back.  I hope you begin to feel better very soon hon.  It does happen, I promise!   It is subtle at first then all of a sudden you realize you feel better.  Such a great feeling!  Sending lots of healing hugs to you! 

Hello to all - I had my last boost on Monday! I had a one-hr. drive, each way, so I am definitely relieved in more ways than one. I am itchy, red and tired, but am so glad it is over. Even my grandchildren commented on how much happier I seem to be. I will be seeing my rad onc next week for a skin check. I will also be seeing my med onc this month to determine when I will begin participating in an oral chemo research study I was "invited" to join. I like the term they use, "invited", like I am going to a party. I was "invited" because I am a prime target for recurrence - Oh well, the chemo may help "prolong" (their words) recurrence or it may not. I feel it is worth a try. I also made myself schedule a yearly exam with my gyn - I will better after hopefully receiving a clean bill of health from her....

Please wish me good luck. Tomorrow afternoon, I am having my first mammogram since my BC diagnosis.  I was fine until today, but now I am nervous.  I think I will need an ativan tonight to sleep.

Elizabeth....I will come along and hold your hand okay?  I think all of these "first" milestones are so scary.  I am right there next to you.  Feel the love my friend!

Joan, How wonderful to be finished and know things will keep getting better! 

Anandagram.....I know you still have a way to go on this journey, but so happy you are done with rads.  One day at a time with this disease.  Hang on...and stick around.  We are all here to help.  I hhope you do well with your "invitation only" oral chemo.  Yes, does sounds special doesn't it? 

Big hugs ladies!

Joan, you're so close.  You'll make it!  I finished rads October 31 and was feeling much better by Thanksgiving.  

Anandagram, good luck with your oral chemo.  I hope it works great for you!  Congrats on finishing radiation!!

Elizabeth, good luck with your mammo.  Mine is next month.  I'll be coming here for some hand-holding, too!  Hugs from me, too.  We'll all be right there with you.

Pat, glad you had a good report.  No worries.  I have started taking Kleenex for the car after my visits to the clinic.  Something about the letdown of stress when I get back to the car I guess.  You're definitely not a baby!  Cancer sucks!

Eileen, my clinic is like yours.  They read it right there and then I go to the breast surgeon for a checkup.

Merilee, I'm becoming an earth mother (or at least that's what my friends are teasing me about).  I made homemade bread, have gone organic even to ordering a quarter of a cow that is locally raised (on grass without hormones etc), and started making my own cleaning products.  Love it!  Now...if I can just find time to work...:)

Cheers,

Steph 

Thank you for the good wishes, everyone.  I survived the mammogram.  The left breast which had the BC got some extra views, but squishing that breast was only a little bit more uncomforatble than squishing the right one.  Now, I will be on pins and needles whenever the phone rings for the next couple of days awaiting the dreaded call back for more views.  I see the surgeon on Jan. 16 to discuss the results.  If BC has taught me nothing else, it has taught me patience.

Sending hugs to everyone and wishing for clear mammograms for all of us. 

Elizabeth.....I am so glad the Mammo is over but understand the angst about waiting.  It will be good, I just feel it.  I hope you just get one call with great results very soon!!!!  Big hugs, and thanks for your support in my wait! 

Janis,

Im so glad you don't have more cancer. That's a big relief. The herniated disc sounds pretty major to me, but I'm praying the Pt Works. Just don't let them do any unauthorized massage if possible:)).



Elizabetth....I'm so glad you've gotten thru the first mammo and do hope they'll get you the results soon. We do learn patience you're right, but the waiting is murder. )



Pat and Eileen, it's so good to hear both of you got a good report too. That's what I'm hoping for this year....all good reports for all of us!

Janis, praying that PT works for you and so glad it was a disk and not cancer!  

Elizabeth, you made it through.  We'll be waiting with you for good news on Jan. 16!

Steph

Well, it's Ultra Sound for me. This little sore lump is still there so they're ordering an Ultra Sound with immediate biopsy if the US can't identify this thing. Scary. The Nurse Practicioner I saw today (doc was 2 hours behind schedule at 4:30 and I wasn't postponing this any longer) believes this could well be an inflamed lymph node (which they don't do anything about). I certainly do hope It's that. Naturally it was too late today to set up the appt, but it should be some time next week.



Oh, and now I'm full blown osteoporosis. Had been osteopenia for years, but apparently arimidex threw me over the top. Now they may want to change to Tamoxifen or just treat the osteoporosis. First we're identifying the current breast problem.



My house got very clean waiting for this appt. Told my DH tonight I might have to clean the house again. He actually thought it'd be better if I went shopping.....ha...another first!



So, I'm waiting again. And I thought all this stuff would be over when I finished radiation.

Great thought Merilee, Thanks. I'm going to take ibuprofen right now. It didn't occur to me to try to subdue this beast and this way I'll feel like I'm doing something. Who knows maybe it'll be gone by the time the Ultra Sound gets set up!



Cancer does suck, and I'll either end up with the cleanest house known to man ( cleaning isn't really my thing) or I'll have gained 15 pounds eating comfort food......cashews anyone?

Hi mostly sew, So sorry that you have to do an ultrasound. I have osteoporosis too. Just recently I had an infusion of reclast. Was sick as a dog for 2 days from it, but you only have to do it once a year, and in some cases every other year. It does beat taking pills everyday.

Thinking of you all and hoping you have a peaceful weekend.... Hugs, lisa

Thanks Merilee, Janis, Elizabeth, Kate, irw333 and everyone for the good thoughts. I'll get thru this, because that's what we do, right? But your encouragement means lots especially as this time aroun I dont even have the heart to tell my family or friends. I keep telling myself this must be just another small bump in the road (bad pun, I know) because what else could it be this soon after treatment? Ugh...cancer...



Kate, do you take arimidex? Or some other AI? Is the recast a new treatment for you? Guess I'll have to study all about osteoporosis and the hormone drugs now..... Thanks