May 2012 radiation

Thank you everyone for asking about me. 

I expect I should probably hang out in the room about surgery.  Thank you for the suggestion.  As being newly diagnosed I was just checking all the rooms and new radiation was in my forecast and trying to learn more about it.  There are a great bunch of women here I know I can learn much from and I thank you all.

My lumpectomy is for June 22.  June 21st I go to the hospital to get the blue dye shot.  The next morning I go to surgery center to get lump out.

During the biopsy consult, I learned that the invasive ductal cancer was actually sucked out during biopsy, and visible signs of the mass are gone.  Tell my breast that...LOL It is still so bruised and swoll even with the ice, but it will get better soon I am sure.  Thank you for explaining the process of checking those nodes during the lumpectomy that ws very helpful.

33 days of radiation after lumpectomy heals and tamoxifen or another like it for 5 years.  My mass was 99% hormone receptive.

Even though I have seen the plastic surgeon I haven't given reconstruction after the lumpectomy any serious consideration.  I thought having small breasts would make it easier (34B) but have learned it makes repair harder.  I know I must consider it more before surgery.

That's about all I know.  My surgeons wife is having 6th child and complications, so have to wait two weeks for him to come back to do the surgery, but at least it will give my breast time to heal from the biopsy.

I will keep you all posted and continue to search all boards.  This is a great group and am glad I found all of you.

nrp

Good morning Goodie!  Welcome.  I don't think they will let you double up on a day.  Mckenna already asked  - I know how you feel, I am in the same boat, I wanted to finish on the 29th, but I have to come in on July 2nd too.  

This reminds me - so, at my clinic they keep a picture of us on file, and ask for our birthday before every treatment.  This never ceases to amuse me, as I keep wondering, "what do you really think that someone else is going to come in and sneak my treatment?" -- I wonder how much I would have to pay someone .   Also, I made the never-crack-a-smile tech smile yesterday.  The nice guy asked how my weekend was and I told him, "great, and I did not miss you for a millisecond" he he.

I hope you all are SE free and feeling well.  And sbelizabeth -- I hope the cookies were well received?  I still can't get over how sweet you are! 

BLinthedesert:  So Sorry about your losses.  As someone who has had many elderly pets, to see them go so soon, I do not say this cavlierly:  get another pet as soon as you can.  It will do so much to take your mind off things, even help your other dog, and will save a pet with a short future.  Moving this discussion over a bit:  does anyone else find they rely even more on their pet(s) for comfort right now?

Oh yes, I talk to my Golden Retriever constantly.  McKenna, I am nearing the home stretch!!!  Yesterday, I picked up my rX for the burn situation Silver Sulfadiazine ( not to scare any of you new gals but thought I should mention it in case any of you have this problem).  It is helping.  My OR warned me that because it contains silver it may oxidize and turn black, not to worry.  I am happy for the warning as you better believe I would freak out if my nipple turned black   I have 5 more full breast rads and then she can target the rays just to my ex-tumor area for the remainder of the treatments. I went to see Men in Black 3 yesterday with a friend (after a nap of course) to get my mind off things, it's a good movie.  My significant other went back to Minneapolis yesterday (he is still working) I am solo for a week or so.     For all of you with jobs and children you certainly are rock stars!!!!  Rock on ladies.  (and yes, I was born in the 60's)

Hi guys!  

Just got back from my set-up appointment.  So for those that haven't gone yet, basically you're on a cat scan table (I'd never had one before - if you've had a breast MRI it's MUCH easier than that.  It's open and there's more room in the actual 'donut hole' part of the machine; you don't feel claustrophobic) with your arms above your head holding on to these handles.  I had something under my knees and they used a band to keep my feet together so that I would be completely still for quite a while.  Then I was drawn on, markers put on, and scanned.  I think the whole thing took about 45 minutes.  The hardest part was my elbow really started hurting for some reason, but I couldn't move.  She did put something under it to try to make it more comfortable.  I ended up getting two tattoos; one hurt (right on the chest with no fat) and the other I barely felt.  Now saying it hurt, it just felt like a shot basically - just one poke.  The treatments start for me on Monday at 8:00.  I'm not a morning person .  Ah well.  30 to go! 

Hey there - even though I'm not a morning person, I purposefully chose that time as nobody will be before me and I won't have a wait.  We'll see if that actually happens, or not!  My end date will be July 16.  I'm one of those that has to end on a Monday, too, thanks to the 4th of July!

Hi glad everyone had a good holiday weekend, so nice having a three day break! I am having dizziness for a few hours everyday lately, I am a little tired but not really fatigued, and it's getting close to 100 degree everyday, my MO is an hour away and I'm trying to wait it out. I'm having blood checked maybe low iron or protein. RO said it was normal to get someone to drive me... I feel ok in mornings and evenings, just mid day. Anyone else having dizziness?

So, I am 1/3 of the way through....yey! Absolutely no SE's apart from a tiny bit of pinkness.  Using my Glaxal Base and Biafine during the day and Aquaphor at night. Still exercising and making myself a protein shake most days Lets hope it continues like this!!

Neeners - you could start moisturizing now to prepare your skin. Use any body lotion and save your Glaxal for when your treatments start, unless you have loads of it? Put it on the whole boob and underneath and the armpit. You can put your Aquaphor or Emu oil on at night, then nothing until right after your zap. I keep a tube of Glaxal in my purse and use it in the changing room.  Put another load on around lunchtime, then again in the early evening if you need it.   

Hello all, I find myself very fortunate to have found you all.  I've found that no one understands this experience unless they've been through it themselves.  With you all, I know I am not alone.  I have a 22yrs old male technician who I am very uncomfortable bearing my breast to.  Its not him, its me.  I identify with feeling like having chemo and being with the nurses and drs there is like a warm security blanket and that while having chemo, it was keeping the cancer away.  In a very strange way, I am glad that I will still continue to go the my MO every three weeks for Herceptin so I still get that sense of security.  I feel that radiation is more emotionally challenging for me.  I too have experienced skin burns and just picked up the sulpher rx cream and hope it gives some relief.  I also can totally identify with the urge to lift up my shirt whenever I see someone I haven't seen for a while because I know they're checking out my boob.  I think people can't help themselves.  I dread the day I have to go back to work in an office of 150 people.  I also hope & pray that my hair grows back by then.

Thank you again for showing my I'm not alone in this journey.

Neeners....they are 4X3 teflon gauze pads no tape she rubbed the aquaphor all over it and stuck on my skin in the worst spot. She suggested a sports bra with wide sides to keep it in place. I have a spot under my arm that seems to be  the worse.so now I put radiaoplex all over. then like every other time I put on aloe 1st then radioplex. tonight I am going to do the gauzepad thing all night and see if that helps ugh! for such a small boob it sure is a lot of trouble! lol

also start moisturizing now it should help

Oh beachbum ... I agree, a 22 year old male would be a problem for me, the two techs that are in my clinic are easily in their 50s or older, so it is not as big of deal to me.

I am also sorry to hear you are having skin problems, I hope the cream helps -- I know what you mean about people staring at your boob, I am most definitely not used to that (being that I am pretty small) ... between the surgery and now radiation, my one boob is shrinking - and *I* can most definitely see it, but I am not sure other people can (and I am hesitant to ask people ) - since my husband is already "trained" he will not answer the question (e.g., "it looks beautiful, honey").