Any April/May 2012 rad girls out there?

Sounds like everyone is doing pretty well and I am so thrilled that we seem to be through the worst of it.  I am saying that because I keep praying our after-effects will be non-existent!  I still have pain in my shoulder blade area and am hoping it is just muscular.  Saw 3 doctors last week (RO, rheumatologist and PC) no one could tell me what I am feeling.  The RO did tell me that if it continues I should make sure the MO orders an MRI, x-ray or PT.  And the saga continues... 

It was bittersweet to be "cut loose" by the RO.  I really do like her a lot.  However, as I told her, I hope I never have to see her again!  I am sure everyone can relate to that.  I am just glad the skin is back to decent condition.  She did tell me that the thicker skin by the nipple will eventually be normal.  Yay for me! 

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Will check this board again soon.  Miss keeping in touch as much as we did during our treatment, but it's great that we are past the active part of that.  Hugs...Linda

Saw my docs yesterday and another one today. Has anyone had to have physical therapy due to muscle cording? Apparently, my treated side is cramping up in reaction to rads, even 4 weeks out! Weird. I have to go to get PT and am told I will not like it. My doc did a little massage yesterday to determine what was wrong and I was in tears. I'm having chest pain like can't cough, sneeze, lift, etc. Feels good to stretch it. She said the PT will hurt but help and is necessary if I am going to maintain mobility.

Anyone had this? Forgive me but I'm sitting here in tears, not wanting to make the call. I know I have to, but it is so tender and painful. CRAP! Yet another leg of an awfully long journey.

On the upside, my skin is actually great and my PO has said that as soon as we see how I respond to PT, I can talk about my surgery to swap out the expanders. Can't WAIT to be rid of them. Hoping for a September surgery for that...which would be perfect since my daughter is HOPING for a December wedding! AHHH!  At least I will have hair, even if it is short and will have my new boobs!  

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Andi 

I am more than 2 months post-rads, and I still have a good deal of swelling, and more tenderness than I did during tx.  I have had a consult with a lymphedema PT, but the focus of that meeting was on my arm - we didn't really talk about the breast because it didn't bother me at the time.  I see him for my first session next week, so we'll see what's up then. 

Andi

I went to PT during rads for lack range of motion and it was not painful at all just do to your comfort level and gets better every time. I am starting back,had to stop for rad burns.

Andimom ~ Sorry you are having problems with cording.  I feel for you knowing you will have discomfort/pain, but you are strong and will make it through.  Hey, look how far we have all come...you never know how strong you are til you don't have a choice, right?  One of the teachers I work with whose wife has been dealing with BC ignored what she needed to do for the cording and lymphedema...not a pretty sight.  I will think positive thoughts for you that your treatment will go as GFLislander and fredntan...gotta pace yourself!  You are NOT a wimp.  Like the rest of us you have been through so much that still having to deal with another rotten issue sometimes is just almost too much to think about.  Don't be so hard on yourself, girl!  So true about the length of time all of these treatment takes...however, I honestly can't believe how far everyone has come and for me the time (as I look back from diagnosis last August) has actually flown by.  Not so much on the days I felt rotten from the chemo...LOL!  But now it seems unreal that almost a year has passed and so much has taken place.  It definitely gives one a different perspective on how to live life fully every day! 

MizMarie ~ Hope the breast swelling resolves quickly.  I had a consult with the PT who specializes in lymphedema as well.  My MO said I had to be seen and get fitted with a sleeve and gauntlet before I fly at the end of this month to try and avoid swelling as I don't have an obvious problem right now..  I sure hope it works!  Hoping you won't have any big "L" issues as well. 

Mamglam ~ Happy to hear your cellulitis issue is resolving. I so agree with the hardest part being the "letting go." Just the other day a friend said she really wanted to help me during this time, but knew I was trying to handle it with the least amount of interruption in the lives of my family and friends. She is right. I think that sometimes women get so used to being the "caretakers" that we are uncomfortable being taken care of by others. In hindsight I do wish I had let people do more for me since I now know it would have been gracious to accept what they offered and would have made them feel more accepted and appreciated. I guess that's what they mean when they say...live and learn. 

To all...take care and it's so good to check in with our group and see that in spite of all we have been through, we are moving on in a positive way!

Thanks for the support, ladies.  This morning as I was going to have a shower, I noticed my affected nipple to have turned black!!  I got some saline and removed the crusting that had formed (sorry TMI!!) and now my whole breast is really sore.  I placed in a call to the RO but not sure when she will call back (or if she even will!!).  Has anyone here experienced this??  This whole ordeal has been difficult and emotionally exhausting.  It seems that I move on and then something new comes up.  Just frustrated and venting...

Andimom03,

Glad to hear that your PT appt. went well and that you are resting.

I had an emotionally exhausting day today.  I was crying and was upset about the return of cellulitis and the fact that the RO never bothered to call back.  I made a trip to the ER and was seen by a very compassionate physician who has put me back on antibiotics.  The ER Dr. wants to me to follow up with the RO but I am thinking that I will go to my MO instead.  My MO is sympathetic and has straightforward answers to my questions.  

Have a great Sunday!

I don't post often, but I have a concern and am looking for some guidance. I had a right breast lumpectomy (12/2/11) and 0 node involvement. Did 8 dense dose chemo and 6 weeks of Rads which I just finished end of May. I am experiencing some intense pain in a rib that is a couple of inches below the node incision. If I sleep on it it is too much to bear and forget touching it. I just saw my surgeon for a follow up to having my port out 3 weeks ago. He checked it out and he wants me to have a chest xray done. I am going tomorrow morning at 7:30am. He also advised me to call my chemo doc and advise him of the issue in case he wants to do any tests. Has anyone else gone through something similar? I am a little beside myself here. Thank you in advance.

Hi Andi, I had physical therapy after surgery and then again during rads -- I am going to go back.  I did have cording but that cleared up but have shoulder pain -- things were good for awhile but aggrevated easily.  I do the exercises that I was given but it has flared again.  You are right -- it is cumulative and is ongoing .... 

So how are the April/May girls doing?  I go in for my 6 month mammogram on Wednesday and follow up with the RO on Thursday, and I have to admit I scared.  I have several "things" in my breast.  PCP says they are cysts and nothing to worry about, but of course, I worry.  I'm doing OK with my tamoxifen, not too many SE's.  I do have a sore heel that I need to have looked at...

Good luck!

Radiologist says my pictures look good.  I see the RO and PCP tomorrow, hopefully they will agree.

ang7894-do let your doctor know this is going on.  It could be nothing or it could be something that needs to me dealt with, like le (some drs claim lymphadema doesn't hurt, but that's so not true)

Boy it has been awhile. Sorry I haven't been in here much. Doing pretty well, and the arm/pec muscle issue is MUCH better thanks to PT. My surgery for swapping out expanders and getting my port out is on Sept. 19th. Can't WAIT to have them out! Overall, my energy level is getting better all the time and skin looks great. Moving on, and still have some little issues that are lingering but time is beginning to heal all things. Still checking in with my docs every 3 months, and things are forward motion. Hang in there, ladies! Hope you are doing well and healing and living without fear.  Trust what we have all been doing over the last several months! Keep kicking cancer in its butt!

Andimom-do your expanders hurt? Mine has allways been uncomofortable. I am so sick of it. doesnt hurt much, just enough to be pain is arse.

Well, I hope that the lack of posts on this thread means that we all have healed up and moved on.....  
Andimom, sounds like you are doing better!
Cindyl, glad your pic are good!
mamglam, how are you doing?

Can't believe it has been 3 months since the end of my rads. My scars are still a little tight and sore, especially since I've gotton a pocket bra and a small prosthesis to fill in the lumpectomy space to round out and equal things out; must be the extra pressure on them. ROM is good, I always stretch my shoulder out fully in the shower -- still.

Started hormone therapy and having very little SEs -- taking extra vitamin Bs as I had a little intermittent hand numbness for a while, but resolved now.

Hope everyone had a great summer!