May 2012 radiation

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    back to see RO nurse this afternoon she is going to try the patches that bl has been talking about.  also going to refill my pain meds. again, radiation the gift that keeps on giving.

    sending positive thoughts to kane :)

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited July 2012

    sbelizabeth - thinking about your sister and sending her lots of strength! It is so wonderful you can be there for her and guide her through her own cancer diagnosis.

    I didn't have that support from my sister, for her the cancer subject is something out of this world.  like " cancer  = getting new boobs for free with a little inconvenience".

    :-/

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    Silvia glad ti hear from you. Sorry sister was not supportive.



    Got new stuff to put on the burns. She said to call back tomorrow to make sure I don't have a fever because of the pain and the fact that it is very red and raw. New pad thingy seems to be providing relief. We shall see tomorrow. She also gave me wound cleaner so I don't have to clean it with soap and water which really hurts.



    One more day before your mid week break!!!

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited July 2012

    McKenna - so sorry you are in pain! yes it is healing slowly but hopefully it will only get better from now on!...

    I enjoy seeing all the smileys behind our names.  Cool

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

    Well, here I am, back from the RO, and no treatment today.  None tomorrow, Wednesday, or Thursday.  He wants to let my skin heal up before he zaps it again, but I can't help but worry.  Won't this long break in radiation be a bad idea?  Just let the dying cancer cells get a breather and perk up?

    This is the RO whose opinion was, the redder the better, it means the radiation is working.  You would think he'd be dancing the macarena with the redness, blisters, and open sores, but no...I get temporarily kicked out of treatment.  McKenna, you can scratch the July 10 finish date.

    I'm sad, worried, stressed, and about to crawl under the bed. I HATE THIS.  I HATE THIS.

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  • etherize
    etherize Member Posts: 423
    edited July 2012

    sb, so sorry to hear about this crummy delay in treatment, on top of everything else.  I would think a 3-day delay wouldn't be too bad.  Remember, radiation continues to kill cancer cells even after treatment ends, so it's still doing the job.  

    I am sending prayerful thoughts to your sister Kane. 

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    Sb that sucks! Wish there was something more profound to say. But it just is not fair. Did you ask about pain meds? If it is bad enough to take a break you deserve some pain relief. I hope you get some relief this week.

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  • AEM47
    AEM47 Member Posts: 297
    edited July 2012

    Sb - I just came off of a 3 day break and I'm more purple than last week.  I don't think the 3 days will hurt...I doubt anything is surviving by this point. 

    My RO has decided upon seeing my purple rectangle, fluid filled and wrecked skin that it certainly looks like I've had enough radiation (she was on vaca last week)  So we started boosts today and she says although she will look one more time into my case, she feels that we can finish up now with just boosts.  I reminded her we were "possibly" chasing a stray cell due to LVI and reminded her that I had chemo...I have a tough time thinking that 31 treatments opposed to 33 would make a difference.  I'm hoping I'm one down and 5 to go, but if the treatment plan changes again, it would be far from the first time !!

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  • Goodie
    Goodie Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2012

    Today was such an awesome feeling to be done!  Done with rads and active treatment!  It feels so good.  I don't even mind taking the tamoxifen because it feels good to be proactive with it.  It's been two weeks with minimal side effects.  The best was taking off all those stickers all over my body!  That and the smiley face with the sunglasses!

    mckenna - sorry you are in such pain.

    SB - sorry they delayed you.  I think the break will be good for you.   

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  • etherize
    etherize Member Posts: 423
    edited July 2012

    Yay, congrats on finishing, Goodie!

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2012

    Goodie I am sososo happy for you!!!

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2012

    Today was #21 for me, and it seems fitting that we're now going to Atlantic City for the night!  Haha!  So happy to have tomorrow off as I'm a bit of a crispy critter on the chest.  The boob is still OK.  4 more whole boob, then the boosts.  I'm finally to the single digit countdown!

    McKenna - really hoping you're feeling better today!  I feel so bad for you :(

    Goodie - did you celebrate yesterday?

    Rachel - congrats to you, too!!

    SB - you've been through sooo much.  You're almost there.  You can do it.  It's frusterating, but if it saves you from more horrible pain in the end without risk it's totally worth it IMHO.  Your RO wouldn't put you at risk.  Gentle hugs to you.

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited July 2012

    Congratulations Goodie!!  YIPPEE!!  

    SB - I am stunned.  I don't think that a couple extra days off are going to put you in any more risk, but I am just so sorry that it prolongs this part of your treatment.  You are in my thoughts.

    Good luck ladies, and enjoy your extra day off this week.  

    I am so lucky.  My skin looks better every day.  I am tired, but it is most certainly better every day as well.  I am hoping good things come to all of you this week. 

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  • Goodie
    Goodie Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2012

    Neeners and any one else who hasn't finished - it will be done before you know it and it is a great feeling.  I even had a great weekend leading up this last treatment just knowing I only had one more.  And my son decorated my car with streamers and balloons on the inside and my family made me a special dinner with make your own sundaes for dessert!  It's been a long haul for my entire family too!

    I am a bit anxious about what's going to happen with these radiated areas.  My arm pit is a bit sore and ugly looking and there are some signs of rash coming.  It seems to get worse before it gets better. 

    Oh, wasn't asked to ring their bell but I didn't really care about that.  My male tech was the only one there and he gave me a hug.  It was really nice way to end.  It will be nice not to have to drive there so early in the morning and be on the beltway for almost 2 hours!

    Hope everyone enjoys their day off mid week tomorrow! 

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  • Spokanellie
    Spokanellie Member Posts: 46
    edited July 2012

    Jan24 (Lynn) and I just had lunch together. What a beautiful, engaging woman! It was so nice to visit and compare notes. Smile

    The owner of the restaurant took our picture and Lynn said she'd post it here, so stand by!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    So glad you had a nice lunch. Cant wait to see the picture

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  • Goodie
    Goodie Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2012

    Spokanellie & Jan - so awesome you got to meet for lunch.  Can't wait to see the picture too!  Smile

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  • jdwench
    jdwench Member Posts: 27
    edited July 2012

    done! last boost was today, area from treatments is already starting to fade. It was nice having ya'll on this board! Happy Independance day Cool

     Judy

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

    I feel like the last kid picked for dodgeball.  I am glum.  Frown  You are all leaving me here, looking at the manhole cover thingy and wishing I was finished, too.

    Oh, well.  One day at a time.

    The good news is that the light-bulb red is fading a little.  The bad news is that the open blisters have scabbed over and I look leprous.  It feels like I've been wrapped in barbed wire, from my neck to my spleen.   Somebody call the waaaaam-bulance!

    Congrats, jdwench!  Spokanellie and Jan, wish I could have been there for lunch!  Neeners...thanks for hanging back here with me, we'll get through this.

    My sis Kane saw her oncologist yesterday and got a game plan mapped out.  Echocardiogram, MRI, PET scan, biopsy, port placement, chemo teaching, then #1 round of chemo next Wednesday.  They are moving fast for her, which is outstanding.  She's a little dizzy with all of this but hanging in there.   

    Thanks for the support, everyone.   

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  • Goodie
    Goodie Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2012

    SB - you have had a very, very stressful week.  I am so sorry for you but please know we are here for you.  We still need you to kick that homerun ball for us!  You will be done before you know it.  I kept getting delayed at the begining of my radiation treatment and it was bumming me way out. I felt I like I did everything they asked me to do rush into chemo, have BMX three weeks after finishing chemo, and then the radiation seemed to take forever to set up.  But I am finally done active treatment and you will be too.  I'm just sorry you are in so much pain. 

    That's good your sister has a game plan and they are moving so quick! 

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

    Thanks, Goodie.  And thanks for sharing.  I know the day is coming; I'm just disappointed it was delayed by a few!

    Happy Independence Day, everyone!  

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    So my goal was to be healed from rads by today. That did not happen but I took a shower cleaned the raw areas and put new dressings on and I am not in tears! It didn't feel great but it wasn't as bad as yesterday :)

    I cant wait until we are all done and healed. Just like neeners we will never leave you behind sb. I have great confidence that by the end of August we will all be on the mend.

    happy 4th of july

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited July 2012

    None of us will leave you sb ....



    Congratulations Judy!!!!



    Mckenna, I am glad things are a little better.



    Can't wait to see the picture of lunch Spokanellie and Lynn.



    Happy 4th everyone!

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2012

    SB - you're still beating me!  

    I had a great night away in Atlantic City.  We had a nice steak dinner, and won a little on the slots.  Today we went to an aquarium and I got to pet sharks and sting rays (obviously in different tanks ;)).  It was so nice!  Only two zaps this week, then two days off! 

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  • Spokanellie
    Spokanellie Member Posts: 46
    edited July 2012

    SB - I'm not going anywhere either. I don't post very often because I receive all your updates on my phone and it's a pain to log in and type in its tiny browser window. But I read every one of them and I think of all of you often. And I've raised a glass of wine EVERY night, just in case someone's finishing that day. Laughing

    Katy, you've had a major setback. I think of you as one of our leaders, so I want to do everything necessary to make you know we care about you and we're tracking your progress - and the lack thereof right now. Would it help if I mailed some boobiecakes your way? 

    I'm 5 days post-rads and so far still good. There's peeling in my armpit, but the old skin had the courtesy to wait to exit until the new skin was ready for prime time. I still have swelling on my side (between the armpit and what would be the lower bra line if I had been wearing a bra all this time - not) and Bertha's still a lot bigger and redder than her unaffected sister. I suspect it's still the lymphedema plaguing me, but at least there's hardly any discomfort. 

    Last Sunday I hit a wall of exhaustion for the first time, but I was a scorekeeper all weekend at Hoopfest, Spokane's annual 3-on-3 street basketball tournament -- 7,000 teams, 3,000 volunteers, 250,000 players and fans, 458 courts spanning 42 downtown city blocks. It's loads of fun, but the focus required of a scorekeeper is exhausting. I hoped Sunday night that the exhaustion was just from last week's nutso schedule at work followed by volunteering all weekend, and not from radiation or the Femara. I took Monday off and was back to my usual wiseass self by Monday night.

    Yay, Goodie and Rachel. And good for you mckenna for advocating for yourself and getting those pads that seem to be helping.

    Lunch with jan24 was really neat. She's doing family things today and flying home tomorrow, so she might not get that picture up right away, but I bet it'll be there before July XX (whatever our group's latest date ends up). If any of you see an opportunity to meet in person with someone else on here, go for it! 

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  • Goodie
    Goodie Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2012

    Ladies - I must thank you so much for this thread and being a part of this radiation journey with me.  You all have been awesome and so supportive!  I think radiation is a lot harder than anyone thinks it is.  I too thought it was going to be much easier than my other treatments but to be honest I think it was the hardest.  It's very lonely driving 5 days a week to it and then being alone changing into our "gown" (who decided to call that thing a a gown? try to make us even more unfeminine), laying on that "table" (plank) all alone, and then rubbing all that lotion on our skin before we change back into our clothes.  Then, the SEs start that go from truly uncomfortable tightness to raging on our treated areas!  Then, lets tack on just being flat out tired all the time and at the drop of a hat. 

    I was reading the post this morning I just started crying and my son was like mom are you okay.  I feel for each and every one of you and I know you are here for me which is a lot more than I can say of some of my friends.  I do have some most amazing friends too and I know I am truly blessed to have them and you all in my life.  So, even though it is not thanksgiving but the fourth of July I am very thankful of all my friendships!

    So, thank you all for this incredible friendship and support.  Have a wonderful 4th of July!  I am blessed to have you all in my life!   

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited July 2012

    Ditto...



    Goodie, it has been such a pleasure sharing these couple of months (3 already?) with you.

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    You all get it and that is very comforting.

    just looked up the nu-gel pads I am using. They are $11 each. That could be expensive each day if they didn't give them to me :)

    I feel like such a complainer and this is tmi but I think this damn tamoxifen is causing constipation. I have tried all things I have looked up to help and nothing is working. Any suggestions?

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2012

    McKenna - wine.  Seriously!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited July 2012

    Neeners thanks haven't tried that but will pick up a bottle tomorrow :)

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