Summer 2012 RADS HANG OUT

chapter4:  I am on arimidex and was told to expect a 3-5 lb. weight gain.  I feel the same way.  Lots of S/E too.  However, so far (it's only been 2 weeks), so good--No weight gain, but then again, it's only been 2 weeks.  Fingers crossed.  I have to remember the good may outweigh the bad.  Don't know if you saw this on another thread, but this is an interesting website:

www.lifemath.net/cancer/breast...  

Had my simulation and sentence yesterday... I have to have 39 treatments!  Boy that seems forever compared to some of you guys!  Anyway, start Monday bright and early after I drop the kids off at school.  The doc has told me not to put anything on my skin until he tells me too?  Hope I have minimal SE's!! 

Sharon just got #3 today. Braless.

Next time..don't wear the bra, but bring it along to physio with you....so you have something to use to strangle the woman if she does it again. :-)



Eric

I was told that the hair starts growing back at 8 weeks and that it grows pretty quicly, so hang in there you 5 weeks PFC gals!  I still have 5 more weeks of chemo to get through.

I should have said... if she TRIES to do it again.



You are right about not giving her the chance to try it again.



Eric

Stacie and Onvacation- 5 weeks PFC and I also can just barely start to see the hair starting to grow. I'm getting real sick and tired I'd wearing my head scarf. The sad thing is that I'm still losing my eyebrows and lashes. Seems to be getting worse instead of better.



5 of 33 done!!!! Starting to feel more comfortable with what's going on. The unknown is always the hardest to deal with.



One girl at rads that has actually gone though it, said to try to avoid wearing a bra if it rubs under your breasts. Mine did so the last couple of days have been bra less. Now I'm trying to find tops to go over my cami and try to also match my scarf. Can't wait to be somewhat normal again.



I'm already set to get my 6 month MRI ... Please wish me luck. Needless to say always worried that something new will show. Wouldn't that be a bite in the ass!!!!!

I lost my eyebrows and lashes after 2/ 6 my hair came back three weeks after last chemo. Think it was six weeks before everything else came back and now 13 weeks and you would never know.

Kim:  6 weeks PFC--my eyelashes are coming in pretty good, but the brows are going.  My hair is coming in pretty well too.  Are you taking biotin?  Everyone is commenting on how much my hair is growing.  I am so excited.  Hope I don't lose the lashes.

Yes, I have been taking Bioten for a while now, not sure if it is helping but can't hurt!

It is a supplement that is supposed to help with hair and nails

I had my simulation and got my tatoos yesterday. I agree with whomever posted above that it is a humbling experience. I wonder why that is. Perhaps because we are not used to allowing people to handle us so intimately, to mark us with pens in areas usually covered up, put stickers on us, mark us some more, then use a needle to inject some ink to leave small permanent dots on us. It was a bit odd and unsettling even though the staff was very nice. I think my practice run will be easier as I understand what is going on now.

I will not find out how many sessions I will have until after the physics department works it out based on whatever scans they took yesterday. That takes a bit of time, five days to a week and a half, so I do not start right away.

The techincians also had me lie on a plastic bag for about 20 minutes that was filled with chemicals that expanded and eventually cooled until it was a mold of my back. It was very warm and rather comfortable. I almost fell asleep.

So interesting how different treatment for people!  I didn't have tatoo's or a mold.  Maybe it depends where the tumor is/was?  No idea!  Just hope it works for all of us!

Ladies......I'm going to join this group. I will have my planning on Monday. I had radiation last year and am doing it again because I was diagnosed with a second primary in the other breast. I finished chemo on July 16th and feel that rads last time was a piece of cake compared to chemo. It was exhausting going every day after work, however. Also, despite meticulous skin care, I got burned pretty bad and they delayed it a week. The RO told me that it may happen again since apparently that's the way my skin reacts. I am olive skinned and tan easily so it was surprising. I didn''t experience fatigue the last time but the RO told me it is differant when following chemo. My counts are already down and they won't start it until they come up. I'm going on vacation to the beach so I'm hoping to start the first week of September.

RN - enjoy that beach vacation!