June 2012 Radiation Rads

Iniah....I thought of you all morning....Yay.....We made it! What a great feeling! Was so sad to say goodbye to my techs.....they have become my everything in the morning, was sad to say farewell!! Congratulations to Everyone! I feel so joyous! Thank you again ladies!

Yay Iniah and Riverangel! Welcome to the other side.

Is anyone else really tired? I slept a lot this weekend and have been napping every day this week.  

Iniah-I started my tamoxifen last week and so far so good.  I haven't had any problems...not sure how long to expect any side effects.  I got mine from my mail order RX and just decided that was the day I would start it. 

I have to say that today after a trip to the grocery store I passed out.  I find it too much to push and manuever the cart......I was sound a sleep and didn't go get my daughter at work.  I woke to my dog barking and my daughter and neighbor at the front door.  I didn't realize how exhausting this radiation would make me.....two weeks out and I am still tired.  I am guessing the 11 months of dealing with this has sapped me of everything......still need time to heal.

 Glad to be done with radiation!  Strange feeling like-What do I do now?    Guess for now I will nap and get strong.....looking into the Live Strong program at the YMCA.  A few friends recommended it and what a great opportunity it sounds like. 

Oh, I am extremely tired and I am a pretty burned too! The last 4 treatments were 25% stronger so that's when my skin really got it.



I nap quite often and am so thankful the Olympics are on because gives me a perfect excuse to be a bit of a couch potato!! My RO told me it could take up to 8 weeks or so to get the energy back. I have added a lot of protein to my diet and that does really help with the fatigue, the days I have more I am not as tired. My RO said to rest, take care of my skin and recover and he reminded me again....you aren't suffering from a common cold.....he has reminded me of this several times. I think it's hilarious he keeps telling me this. I didn't expect the radiation to make me so tired either, I usually go go go, I am always referred to as superwoman...well I guess this superwoman found her kryptonite! Maybe I have had to go through this to learn patience and how to relax. I am not going to rush it.



So happy everyone is doing pretty well and so happy we have made it through. For those that aren't quite done, you are almost there and we are standing at the finish line cheering you on!!

Bonseye, will you be over in the Tamoxifen community?

This weekend I had planned to do 3x 12 hour days at a conference far from home. I made it to 7 today. Not sure how I will do Monday or Tuesday. I am still more human and less super.

So true I do 8 hour shifts & they about do me in. Last night was the end of my busy week 6 out of 7 nights I usually work. I took one night off & have been fighting coming down with something all week. I now have off for 2. On for 2 then off for 3 then back to that crazy stretch again. I will send you some get up & go vibes! That's if I can keep my own brain awake to do it! ; ). All kidding aside protien & maybe some Gensing as I here some take that here. If I didnt have high blood pressure I would be all over the stuff. They even make tea with it. Take care!

Iniah.  You may continue to feel the effects of rads for some time after you finish.  My RO said to expect to take as long to recover as you spent getting rads, and I think he was an optimist.  The emotional stuff is all part of the standard BC package too.  Rest.  Exercise. And cut yourself some slack.

Hi All,

Boneseye, I did the Livestrong program here in Mass. It was great, I loved it.  The trainers were very aware of the different types of cancer and what would work for excercise and what we should be careful of. It was a huge help getting m y range of motion back.  And it made me feel like I was living and not dying. Go for it!

Like many ohters the emotional piece is doing me in these days. Who am I , what am I , what happens next.  I still get tired but it is much better now , I am two weeks out from rads.  Like Riverangel, thank goodness for the olympics - great reason to just sit at night.  And many nights both of my kids are with me, both teens, so it has been very nice. They are both getting into the olympics , my son cuz he likes the sport of it all and my daughter cuz many of the guys are just "hot"  Whatever gotta love it. 

Wishing all a gentle day and continued imporvement as we all move forward on this road.

Nel

My skin was a bad burn....now it is red but put on lots of Eucerin cream and it works amazing! My skin is soft and healing well. No hot or cold swings so are.....praying not.

Denise - I used the silvadene when all my skin broke down - it's especailly good on the raw red skin. Be sure to use the nonstick Tefla dressings on top - they really do help you heal faster. I had bad "burns" but they had healed completely within a week. 

My skin is all healed now but I still get this crazy itchiness occasionally. I use Regenecare, Aquaphor and Vitamin E lotion on my skin now.

I got my new refrigerator yesteday so now we don't have to go 'next door' to get our milk for breakfast.  I had #4 boost yesterday and I'm exhausted.  Up to now I've not had that much fatigue with the rads.  Do the 'boosts' usually make a bigger impact regarding fatigue?  Thursday is my last Rad. and a Herceptin treatment.  Then I will start thinking I might feel somewhat normal in the near future.

Peggy 

Good to hear Susannah.  For someone who was a very active Senior before all this "C" business I find it really annoying to have legs that feel like they weigh a ton to walk.  I had my Herceptin treatment yesterday and my white and red blood count was below normal.  I'm praying the next blood test in 3 weeks will show an improvement.

The good news is I had my last RT yesterday also.  Now to just heal.