May 2012 radiation

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  • Dizzy215
    Dizzy215 Member Posts: 74
    edited June 2012

    Wooo Hooo, I'm DONE!!!! What a great feeling! I took the fruit arrangement in and they loved it - see link below for pics. Kids had fun eating the left over fruit while I was making it and eating the dipping chocolate! The girls were all very sweet, hugging me and the two girls that I have had most of the time came over especially from the simulation room where they have been for the last 2 weeks. No bell or certificate but they had all written comments in a card for me.  

    Boob is healing really well and I just have a couple of dry, tender spots where they have been doing the boosts.

    Sb - sending positive thoughts to your sister. Mckenna - I've been following the peanut butter boob story...first it was cornflour, now pb....almost got a meal there Laughing

    AEM - I hope your RO agrees with your plan, it would give your boob some relief just to have the boosts from now on.

    Happy weekend everyone....I'm off to meet my hubby at the beach with a bottle of wine!!

    https://picasaweb.google.com/100344263319430551288/TechSFruitArrangement?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ_Hq960mL2CYg# 

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  • Spokanellie
    Spokanellie Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    Wow, Dizzy, you're good! That's better than the ones they sell.

    sbelizabeth - thank you for the honor you've shown us by reaching out to us for support. You have it!

    It DOES feel good! mckenna - thanks for our sunglasses. Nice. I brought a beautiful hydrangea plant to my techs, but even nicer - a patient I've looked to forward seeing every day (she follows me, so we overlap by a minute or two daily) made cupcakes for me! I called them BoobieCakes - complete with lumpectomy scars!

    BoobieCakes!

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012

    ha ha ha ha ... nice boobs!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    Those are hysterical.

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012
    Dizzy - that is a beautiful DEA (Dizzy Edible Arrangement)!
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  • jdwench
    jdwench Member Posts: 27
    edited June 2012

    SB sending prayers for you and your sister.

     My third from the last boost was this morning, and today I feel so wiped out I just went home and took a four hour nap. I had great energy all week, then all of a sudden it just hit me. Can't wait two more boosts then it'll finally be uphill :) 

    Judy 

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2012

    SB - prayers coming you and your sister's way from me, too.  Big hugs.

    OK, those cupcakes are hilarious!  CONGRATS to SPOKE and DIZZY!  YAY!!!  I'm doing a cheers for you :D 

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    I feel like an old lady. I just bought a 7 day pill planner. I filled it with tamoxifin, vitamin D, and low dose aspirin. I am gearing up for Sunday. BC I never took any meds or vitamins this so new to me but I keep forgetting vitamin D and figured I cant forget tamoxifin. Those on AI's do you take them in am or pm?



    Sb still thinking of you.

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  • JNS
    JNS Member Posts: 24
    edited June 2012

    SB, sending you and your sister huge healing vibes.  You are getting through this and she will too. 

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  • Spokanellie
    Spokanellie Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    mckenna - I took my Femara in the morning - twice. Indigestion and a little queasy. I checked the Femara boards and came up with the suggestion to take it before bed for exactly that side effect. These boards are fabuloso!! Anyway, it's been 4 weeks and so far, so good.

    And yes, welcome to the downhill side of pill-popping. I felt old when I had to get my pill minder a few years back, but now I have two Frown because I've added fish oil and glucosamine chondroitin and those guys are horse pills. They're huge! So I have one pill strip for AM doses and another one for PM doses. Shhhhhh!! I don't want anyone to know how un-cool I am! 

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  • Cindyl
    Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
    edited June 2012

    It's obvious you are uncool.Laughing  If you were cool, you'd just dump all the pills in a bowl and grab a handful...

    I also am uncool  I have a little 7 day planner by I need one with AM & PM.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited June 2012

    Thank you, everyone, for your messages of compassion and support.  I'll tell my sister about all the friends here that she has yet to meet.

    She's hanging in there, and trying to let the news that she's been smacked by the breast cancer bus sink in.   You all know how it is.  It just takes a little while to wrap your head around it.

    On Monday, I'll have my last "regular" treatment, and Tuesday starts the boosts.  Bring 'em on.  The sooner started, the sooner finished.

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  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited June 2012

    Gentle Hugs to you both on so many levels! I don't know how soon she started having symptoms.....from the little I have read it seems the Drs moved quickly & didn't discount her symptoms as something else! It sounds like she has a good team to help her fight this beast!!!

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  • Goodie
    Goodie Member Posts: 244
    edited June 2012

    Congrats Dizzy & Spokanellie!  Hope you are having a fantastic weekend! 

    mckenna - I hope your boob is feeling better with all that nutrition!  "They" say it gets a lot better two weeks after!  I started my tamoxifen on the 18th and it hasn't been too bad.  I'm just a bit queasy but I'm also on the metformin trial (hoping I have "the" pill too).  I wouldn't say I have hot flashes (I had them with chemopause) but it's like a warm feeling on some days but it doesn't last long and it's not overwhelming.  I take calcium, magnesium, vit D, B12, metformin and tamoxifen and a low dose aspirin 5 days a week in the morning.  Then, I take the calcium, magnesium, vit D, melatonin and other metformin pill at night.  I chose to take the tamoxifen in the morning because it could cause insomonia and I need my sleep.  I've had enough sleepless nights during all of this stuff.  I have a pill organizer too with am and pm slots.  I love it. 

    SB - It does take a while to wrap your head around this news.  I'm sure you will be a wealth of knowledge for her too

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  • jittersmom
    jittersmom Member Posts: 165
    edited June 2012

    SB..so sorry about your sisiter..prayers for her and yuo family

    love the cupcakes!

    congratulations  to everyone that finished...and for those who aren't enjoy the weekend

    I now have a 7 day pill planner ( or as my brother calls it my rattler!)..I had to get one that has am and pm! Never thought I would see that day lol

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  • AEM47
    AEM47 Member Posts: 297
    edited June 2012
    FLislander - so you just tacked the regular rads onto the end after the boosts??
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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2012

    Congrats Dizzy and Spokanellie!!!! SB many well wishes for your sister and you both. I have been comforting my friend as she was just diagnosed and often I don't even know what to say as right now I can't find the right words. It's so 'not' funny I was just telling my sister I needed a pill organizer aka a rattler. Spokanellie, my sister drove me by our meeting place so I'm all set, love the Boobiecakes and see you soon.

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  • FLislander
    FLislander Member Posts: 243
    edited June 2012

    Yes had a 4 day break, then did boosts, that was not burned area, then had another weekend, then finished 4 regular rads. The boost is a lower dose I think just to a concentrated area. Reg. Rads I had 5 areas, on the boost just one for 17 seconds

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    Took tami 5 hours ago. So far so good. My 7 year old is distracting me while reading me every bat book she owns. I am shocked at how many books on bats she has :)

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited July 2012

    Hello Everyone!  AEM, I hope you are doing a little better after a couple days rest.  

    I hope that Laurie and Spokanellie had a nice visit.  

    I just wanted to let you all know that tomorrow it will be a week since my last zap, and my rash is already getting better!!  My nipple is peeling, and I am sure you will all be happy to know that there is a pretty little new pink skin under there Smile not everyone would understand what good news this is, particularly since last weekend I thought it was going to fall off Wink

    Hang in there ladies, it will be over soon, and the healing is GOOD! 

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2012

    I'm getting a bit of a rash.  I'm going to ask the RO about it.  It's in the same spot the tech told me 'wasn't because of rads'.  yeah, right lady!  Anyway, I'm also going to tell the RO that some of the techs really need to make an effort to be friendly; this is a sucky situation for the patients as they very well SHOULD know.  Kindness is appreciated.  

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited July 2012

    Neeners ... this is what I have been using http://www.metromedicalonline.com/mplgsfall.html - you wouldn't want to put it on your whole breast (because in order to work it has to lay flat on your skin) - but it works for "smallish" areas -- my worst rash (it was sort of blisters, as they were wet) was about 4 inches by 3 inches.  There is no medicine on it ... it just keeps the area dry - you don't want to put any lotions on it once it starts to get rashy, most of the lotions will only irritate the area (or at least that is what happened to me).  This dressing really did help me heal faster.  One of the nurses put this on for the wedding, and then I bought some and have been using it all week.  You can't get it wet ... but I put it on after my shower (you would put it on after your treatment) and wear it all through the night, and every morning it is looking better and better.

    I was lucky, all the techs were pretty nice at my place.  One woman was a little "standoff-ish" but, the guys were super nice.

    Good luck this week! 

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  • etherize
    etherize Member Posts: 423
    edited July 2012

    mckenna, it's scary taking that first anti-hormone pill, isn't it?  I've been on Arimidex for 13 days now (counting today).  I haven't noticed any side effects yet and I'm hoping it stays that way for both you and me!

    Maybe your 7-year-old will become a biologist? ;)

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited July 2012

    Good morning, everyone!  Happy Monday!

    Yesterday was such a nice day off.  Our son finished his shift at the hospital (he's a first-year intern) and drove 1 1/2 hours to visit with us.  He's so crazy busy with his "brand new doctor" schedule he doesn't have time to eat lunch at work, so it was a nice break for him as well.

    Today...last "full field" treatment!  Last time for the zap-rays to sizzle my neck to my armpit to the bottom of my ribs!  I'll start boosts to the mastectomy scar on Tuesday, so I'm holding off on the cheering until we're finished with those, but progress is being made.  I'll have the seroma drained (AGAIN) this morning so the anatomy is consistent for the rads targeting.  I'm doing this weekly at the request of my RO, but fortunately, it's not at all painful, just another reason to be late for work...

    Thanks for the prayers and good wishes for my sister.  I've talked to her several times over the weekend and she's hanging in, starting to ask practical questions--how long until hair falls out, what does the port feel like--so I know she's processing all of this.  She sees her oncologist for the first time this morning, so please send prayerful support for Kane in Colorado.  

    Have a great day! 

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    sb, yeah for the next step which means one more step closer to being done!!! your sister is in my thoughts

    Goodie & Rachel Congrats!!!!!

    neeners, sorry about the rash, it sucks

    bl, glad you are healing. 

    wish i could say the same.  under my arm and my nipple are healing but under the boob is actually worse and i have to take a pain pill just to shower and clean the area and even then i am in tears by the time i get out of the shower and the aquafor pad on.  i feel like such a wuss.  i left a message for the RO nurse this am to see if i am doing something wrong.  why am i not healed 2 weeks post rads?  i am almost out of pain meds and i don't know how painful a shower will be without them.  this is insane. so glad i only have to work 2 days this week.

    i am excited for all those finishing this week and for everyone that gets a middle of the week break!!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited July 2012

    Speaking of pain pills...has anyone here asked their RO for something stronger than Advil and been turned down?  I'm OK most of the day with the burning/blisters/chafing/open sores, but sometimes toward evening I'm pretty miserable.  I asked my RO and he said, "No.  It's topical and we'll treat it topically."  

    I know our doctors have to be careful about getting patients hooked on pain pills, but this seems a little ridiculous.   I left his office feeling strangely ashamed, like I'd just asked him for a month's worth of heroin, and resolved to never mention again how much pain this involves.

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    sb, i got pain meds when i was having the edema issue and i have been trying my hardest to only use those when absolutly necessary because i did not wnat to ask for more.  but when i am in tears trying to take a shower, it is not worth my "pride" when i left a message this morning i said i am going to need more pain meds.  i am worried they are going to say no.  i am sorry but open sores warrent pain meds.  i would like for them to walk around with thier skin looking like and feeling like ours and get no pain meds.  and then they have us not wanting to say how we are really feeling.  sorry you are having pain too.  radiation is not nothing, it is pain. :(

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2012

    Oh, McKenna!  I am so sorry you're in such pain :(  It truly sounds horrible!  Here's hoping things turn around right quick!

    I got up this morning and that rash was almost all gone!  Yesterday was the first time I tried Aquaphor (sp?), and it did the trick.  I put some on, then put something over it, then put on the Ah Bra.  Today I had a NICE surprise (besides that)... the other rads tech was there (the woman)!  She actually came into the room and got me, asked how my weekend was, patted my arm, etc.  It's the little things.  I kept telling her how nice it was to see her.  She said the only other person that gets that excited about seeing her is her chihuahua Max.  Hahaha.

    Just think, ladies - only one more day and then we get a free mid-week day off.  Hurrah!  I'm 2/3 done today (#20).  HUZZAH. 

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  • FLislander
    FLislander Member Posts: 243
    edited July 2012

    Hi, I don't understand RO not wanting to admit it hurts! Mine too. I couldn't use silver cream so I got biafine and it really healed things up in 3 days. I greased up gauze pad and kept it on over night on bad places used aquapor also. The biafine really worked! I read about it and requested it, they would not have given it to me otherwise.

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  • schatzi14
    schatzi14 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited July 2012

    Kane in Colorado...deepest thoughts for you and your family.

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