January 2012 rads

Love your sence of humour chef makes me laugh.. thank you.. Though I would change my avatar as I am starting to think of myself as a survivour .. Maybe I will convince myself to say I had breastcancer

Have a fantastic weekend

NWArt.. Sound good to me..now if I can only convince my brain to say " I had BC"  Guess it will come with time...

Curious to know if anyone has pain in there non-bc breast?  My right breast has been having the worse pain - especially in my nipple.  Anyone else have this problem??

NWArtlady - I hear you, I actually had to cut my sister and her family out of my life because of their actions and attitude.  I told them it was for this journey, but I'm feeling like it may be forever - don't know that I can truly forgive or forget - I'll be able to be at family gatherings with them but think that's it.  We have to do what is right for us mind, body and soul...

Been off gridding for a while but did the CT/ simulation today and #24. Start the 5 boosts on wednesday.

I am not sure what goes on with my skin but surprisingly enough it seems to be drying up and healing(!), a process that has been going on the past 10 days or so. Red and pimply enough but it really doesn't seem to have changed all that much in the last 2 weeks. I was more painful and lumpy earlier on. Nurse seemed very surprised and said that generally it doesn't dry up until after rads are done. Oh, well. Heck, I am not complaining. Calendula cream and aloe several times a day and some kind of medium to hard excercise every day seem to be the key for me. Oh, and as much raw veggies, nuts, good protein and sleep as I can squeeze in.

itchy itchy no wonder I'm B****y.  Slathering on the hydrocortisone and aquafor 2x a day.  No longer able to wear a bra with foobies so rocking the flatty Sally look.  Only 14 more to go--last 5 are boosts.  Understand where all of you are coming from on the staying away from those who do not get it.  I limit all conversation with my sister right now because she just drains me emotionally.  My brother could care less so I avoid him too.  My mother acts as if I am going to die tomorrow so needless to say her contact is limited too.  Just relying on friends and my husband and kids to get me through this-- my in-laws are also awesome. 

Maggie

I finished rads!!! My last treatment (#25) was today.  Last week wasn't great, as I got some peeling under my arm. Much respect to anyone going through more than 25 treatments - I don't think I could've handled more.  It is uncomfortable now, and each day last week got more and more red and tight and hot. Now the countdown to when I can have the TE's replaced in about 6 months begins...

I got a custom mix of aquaphor and lidocaine from my radiation nurse today, as my burning, itching and sensitivity have worsened. I am hanging in there.

Hi ladies, just checking in. I'm two weeks out now from my last treatment. The area that was red under my arm is now just light tan. And my breast area is almost back to normal. It really looks good. I'm surprised how fast the skin heals. Now, inside my breast is another story. It's still pretty tender with occasional aches and pains. But the swelling and heaviness has really gone away. I saw my RO for my final checkup and he was really surprised that I never blistered. He said he expected it because I have blue eyes. I'll take any miracles the universe wanted to grant me.

I still read what you all are posting and I'm with you in spirit as we all make this journey. I just wanted to let you know that it does get better. I know there were days that I thought I would never make it to the end of the treatments. Hang in there. It's really hard but most of you are either done or really close to the end. I'm sorry for those of you who are having a rough time and I hope your doctors make you comfortable enough to make it through. You ladies are one committed, great group! Thanks for being there for me when times were tough.

Hang in there bojo!!  We're almost there. The pain is bad, but we can do it!!  I hope the vicodin allowed you to get some good sleep.

Thanks for the info Christyn37! Something to look forward to.

Can't wait for this week to be over!!

Bojo - I am with you. My under arm is raw and everyday I lose more skin. I am taking vicoidin for the pain as well. Wonder how long the open wounds under my arm and my breast will take to heal.... Everyday I lose more skin and yesterday (after my last treatment) was definetely the worst!

good morning ladies,

So many of us are burnt to a crisp and still hanging in. You are amazing for continuing to get to that last TX without a break. I took a whole week off, not by choice, but it did help.

Ralston

CONGRATES. Let us know how your healing goes.

Thanx to all who are out of TX for the reassurance that there is an end in sight. I'm sooo glad your skin is returning to normal.

For those of us still getting burned, its almost over. Since I started the boosts the rest of my breast is healing already and the boosts don't seem to be effecting the area as hard as the WBR did. 5 down and 5 to go............Sometimes I wonder if their actually radiating w/the boosts or just going through to motions??

Hi all, have been reading and am so thankful for all your posts.  Only 5 to go as I begin boosts today.  Went through mapping yesterday so have a pretty, albeit  lopsided "flower" drawn on my breast this morning.  Of course everything is a bit lopsided these days.  :-)  I was surprised at how big the boost area is.  I kind of just expected it to be the size of the tumor and margins.  With the exception of blisters a couple of weeks back, the skin changes have been managable.  I'm very, very red, but no peeling and just very itchy.  The pain mostly has been inside with my muscles being just very tender especially near the underarm area.  Today is the worst so far, but a couple of pain relievers will take care of it.  I am so very, very sorry for those of you who have had a rough time.  I would gladly take more skin reaction and pain so that you could have less and we could balance it out.  The worst for me has been the fatigue and that has gotten pretty out of control.  Somehow I am still working almost 7 hours/day (leaving 1 hour early for zaps).  My manager said last week that this has been seamless, which was really nice of her, but I know what I have not been able to accomplish and how tough it is to stay focused.  Trying to hold an intellectual conversation is almost a thing of the past.  The words just escape me and are lost in the fog.  My younger son (30 years old, living in another state) is the one who notices and asks if I am okay.  Thankfully we are able to just laugh it off.  Will be so glad to get my mind back and hope it happens soon.  Next step is Tamoxifen, which I assume starts next week.

Christy, thank you so much for your words of encouragement, they came at just the right time this morning.  Thank you.

 For all who have finished - CONGRATULATIONS!!  Cannot wait to join your club. 

 Hugs to all.

My doc just told me to take a tylenol if it hurt. I tried that. Ha! The pain laughs at the tylenol, eats it up and then spits it out again. It is not constant though, so I can deal, but it is getting old.

Ardychan -The fatigue, etc. does seem to catch up with you.  Hopefully you will heal faster if you take of yourself.  Best of luck, the end is in sight.