Winter RADS 2012 Club...Please come join the fun!

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited February 2013

    Had a nice thing at rads today ... my RO looked at my boobs and said "WOW" ... he's apparently very impressed with how my skin is holding up so far.   Been a while since anyone's looked at my boobs and said "WOW" in a good way, LOL.

    Through 14/30 as of today.

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  • cowpower
    cowpower Member Posts: 293
    edited February 2013

    Jenniferw, Congratulations! Shachar, tomorrow is it right? Wanted to make sure before I load the confetti into the cannons....

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  • Energy_isme
    Energy_isme Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2013

    QueenKong...I was pretty freaked about having a reoccurrence. Everything I have read about being a triple negative was scary but decided I needed to stop worrying and start living. I had my ct scan last week and I start my rads on Feb. 14, for 25 treatments.



    My boyfriend booked a trip today for a month after rads to celebrate. I hope I will be healed enough by then.



    Energy

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  • Energy_isme
    Energy_isme Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2013

    5luvbugs...I finished my chemo on Jan.17 and have noticed my hair already starting to grow back in. Very patchy looking and lots of grey!! I start rads next week.

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  • cowpower
    cowpower Member Posts: 293
    edited February 2013

    Energy, you will almost certainly be healed by one month past rads- I had many open areas and needed pain meds at the end of treatment, but the healing started immediately, and was fast! By my one month checkup, it was like it had never happened. I was still a bit low on energy, but that is coming back, also.

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  • Energy_isme
    Energy_isme Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2013

    Thank you cowpower!! I appreciate the feedback...I am getting nervous about next week but cannot imagine anything being worse than the Taxodore and the burns I had on my feet and hands...there has been so much helpful information on here.



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  • Shachar
    Shachar Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2013

    Yes, tomorrow morning is it!!! My non boost area now looks like a nice tan...cannot wait to get rid of my black marker circle and maybe even wear a bra! Grab that confetti! :-)

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  • cowpower
    cowpower Member Posts: 293
    edited February 2013

    Shachar, stuffing cannons now. Marching band and baton twirlers doing some warming up. Catering and bartenders to arrive soon. Hope you have your speech ready. Enjoy that last zap- its a great feeling. Wallow in it a bit, you deserve it.



    Energy, oh that damned taxotere!I had the skin burns and toxic reaction also- spent four daysin the hospital and ended up switching to taxol. Rads will be a breeze compared to that crap!



    Today is my first screening mammo. Amazing how a year can change your outlook- last year I was afraid of the procedure-this year I will be happy if I can leave without a core biopsy! Ok , so I guess I am scared, but at least I have ativan. At least it will only take half the time from now on;) I will distract myself planning Shachar's party.

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  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited February 2013

    Cowpower, I'll be in your pocket, as they say on that other thread. :) definitely. Best of luck.

    Shachar, an early Congratulations to you!!!! YAY!!!!

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited February 2013

    Question, I am only 4 into 33 treatments and my breast is already pink.  Did anyone else get pink this quick and how did you fair at the end?

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  • Shachar
    Shachar Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2013

    I AM DONE! Happy happy joy joy!! No more rads! I can have bras, normal clothes, and areola tatoos! Time to wash of my black marker oval and kick my aquophor container to wherever. No more daily boob flashing, over my head handle grabbing, flat on my back ceiling staring mornings! No more boobs-a-peeling, ceiling fans-a-cooling, silvadine a slathering nights! Woot woot, raise the roof, this chic is done! :-)

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  • Shachar
    Shachar Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2013

    Um, now what am I going to do?

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  • sonson
    sonson Member Posts: 162
    edited February 2013

    Shachar congratulations on being done today!

    Cowpower- I'll jump in your pocket too.  I got a call from my BS saying that it was time to schedule my mammo and I was like so soon?  I just finished rads.  Don't we want my skin to heal a little bit longer before doing that?  I can't imagine them flattening my boob like a pancake at the moment.  I think they are going to hold off for a few more weeks.  I guess they thought I would be done sooner.  I am healing up nicely, but I've still got some places that are tender under my arm pit and pulling and tugging on it doesn't sound pleasant at this point.

    Energy- I never experienced the fatigue so everyone is different...just so you know.  I'm back to my spinning classes and weight lifting.  I'm walking like an old woman today because of it, but it'll get better!  My muscles won't hurt this bad next week!  I'm just assuming by your name that you exercise or are active so I was just letting you know.  I stayed active all throughout radiation, but a more moderate kind of active.  This week (one week after finishing radiation) I started back on my normal exercise routine of spinning classes and weight lifting.

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  • JenniferW
    JenniferW Member Posts: 29
    edited February 2013

    jojo, I got pink almost immediately.   I got a scrpit for Silvadene in week two of my treatment because the doctor saw that I was going to be sensitive.  I hope they can do something along the same lines for you.  I am still peeling under my breast and under my arm is going to peel as well, but I think it helped tremendously to have the heavy guns on so early. I won't lie, I got pretty crispy at the end, even with a regimen of soaks, silvadene, some other type of radiation lotion with lidocaine, and even aloe.  Just be pretty religious about it and you should be okay. Good luck.

    Jenn

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  • JenniferW
    JenniferW Member Posts: 29
    edited February 2013

    Woo hooo Shachar!  The first thing I did was NOT take a shower or go anywhere yesterday (my last day was Wednesday)!  I wanted to just stay home all day and not have to be someplace!  It was heaven!  Congrats on finishing! 

    Jenn

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  • cowpower
    cowpower Member Posts: 293
    edited February 2013

    Shachar, the days will fill up quickly, so grab a few quiet ones at home in your sweats- after the big parade and party, of course.



    Felt you guys in my pockts, thanks for being there. The radiologist remembered me from last year and offered to read the mammo right there for me- an anxious hour's wait, but I got the all clear! Maybe I wont even need ativan next year!

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  • Toots
    Toots Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2013

    Shacar - so miss my swimming and aquaaerobics - swam every day aquaaerobics Mon, Wed and Friday, drs banned me from pool due to risk of infection during chemo..............so looking forward to getting back in.  Still join the ladies after the class on a Friday for coffee and biccies and the social/gossipy bits!  Could be the reason I have gained almost a stone since my chemo started.......hmmmm?

    Nurse that came to give me the chemo on Thursday got quite emotional when she left for the last time and nurse that came today to give me my neulasta was much the same but they both enjoyed their chocolate celebration cake for the last session....................

    Starting on Arimidex in two weeks rads start in 4..........back into the unknown, except for the memories of taking my mom in for hers..............but absolutely everyone has told me it is 'a walk in the park' after the chemo, will resserve judgement till it is done with!

    Hope all SEs minimal for everyone and lots of hugs xxx

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  • Shachar
    Shachar Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2013

    Thank you everybody! It feels so good to be done, slowly sinking in. I celebrated by getting a very small tattoo (like I needed another after the 7 rads tats!). It is the Hebrew letters for chai, like my profile pic, that means "live". Perfect! Dh asked if it hurt, lol. Compared to what? Hahaha

    Toots, at least with winter rads you will be up and swimming before summer and if you can find a saltwater pool it may even help during rads. Someone on here swam during rads....kept the skin really nice if I remember correctly.

    Keep hanging in there ladies. I was most toasted and already skin looks almost normal. Another week and I will bet there is no tan line even. No more pain, now that is nice! I do have some tight cording under my arm so will be stretching that puppy out.

    Time to put on a BRA and go get pizza. Sweet!

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  • Shachar
    Shachar Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2013

    And cowpower, YAY!!!!!! Peace of mind and you can move forward without fear. :-)

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  • Tedebarre
    Tedebarre Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2013

    Well I feel bad 'cause I haven't kept up with everyone like I intended too when I joined this thread but I'm 36/37 today! Last one will be Monday! I'm nicely tanned under my arm where the blisters broke open 3 weeks ago it was a really red mess but silvadine & lidocane compound is working quite well. The fatigue is my biggest problem right now! My eyes just want to snap shut & stay that way for the weekend ... and probably will for most of it. I hope everyones txs are going well. Just remember "LUBE THE BOOBS! It really helped my skin stay mostly unbroken for the last 36 txs!

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  • 5LuvBugs
    5LuvBugs Member Posts: 506
    edited February 2013

    I just finished #5 and tonite my boob hurts - dreading what comes next....and everytime I lay down on the table my wig falls off!!  I sure am a pretty sight

    Congrats to you Shachar -what will you do?  I bet you'll think of something really quick.  Annette you made me laugh about the boob comments.

    a

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  • Energy_isme
    Energy_isme Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2013

    Shachar. Congratulations!!! You are an inspiration



    Cowpower so pleased that everything was clear, what a relief for you!



    Sonson. I played my first game of soccer on Tuesday night. I have not played since August so it was great to be on bench with my team...I was pretty winded and tired midway through the second half....but my team was happy to have me back...and OMG was I sore the next two days. It has been 3 weeks since I completed chemo and I still have teary eyes which I hope will go away soon.

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  • daisymom46
    daisymom46 Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    jojo2373 - welcome.  I have finished 7/36.  I started off with stickers, but after a week begged for 'tattoos' (my grown kids laughed at this)  The stickers were clear with blue marker behind them and even with not letting the shower water directly spray on them, after 4 treatments the stickers had bunched up a bit and moved over a little which made me panic that this would affect treatment. (plus one was up so far on my chest ...and I have a small chest anyway that hardly any of my clothes cover it up and I had this giant blue 'L' shape/sticker peeking from my blouses!)  The techs were hesitant to tattoo saying most women do not want the permanent reminder...I'll be reminded anyway!  The tattoos hurt but are so tiny (more pain than pleasure said my tech) and much easier to deal with.  I asked if I could get a heart or a star tattoo and they said 'no'. They should make it a little fun. Smile Let me know if your stickers....stay stuck!

    Susancats ~  I know this is a bit tardy as I have not been on site, but you asked if anyone in northern Ca had a problem with machine breaking down. I would like to say my machine broke down THIS week (southern CA) on Monday...then when it happened again Tuesday.......and after the tech came in and told me I was not a jinx they got it working again.  He shared that the FDA is requiring an additional program (software?) on the machines and that it was not working correctly and kept shutting the machine off.  Had to remove it and reprogram and/or get a different copy.  I almost had a panic attack Monday because I had a new-to-me tech and treatment time was taking waaaaay too long. Maybe all of California was involved in this update over the last few weeks?

    How do you guys like your rads. techs?  Do you have the same person for each treatment?  had several people for the first 4...but now have just one.   Just love the guy....looks like Clark Kent. Very difficult to display my ugly scarred boob at first to any of them(my surgery included removal of the nipple because of where tumor was located)  Frown but entire staff minus one tech that I only had once that was not gentle or professional... is superb!  Like it or not, they are getting cookies once a week. Trying to convince the 'hen house' (what the techs call the ladies dressing room) to wear rub-on tattoos on Valentine's Day this week to freak out the techs.  Trying to keep it lighthearted. (can you tell the exhaustion and burning has not started yet?)

    Someone (sorry did not note who) asked re: my uterine problems.  I asked MO for an ultrasound because of pain, bloating, heavy menstrual bleeding,spasms, etc.  pelvic US showed a polyp.  Hysterosonogram confirmed polyp. Endo. biopsy clear. Gyn dr. doing hysteroscopy 2/26 to remove polyp. asked US techs to please take a good look around because I want to know if anything else is brewing besides my BC.  I agree with the member who posted and said a baseline pelvic US should be done.I completely agree. My MO said she wouldn't have done an US if I had already started Tamoxifen because most women show extreme thickening of the uterus when on Tamoxifen...and it wouldn't have been accurate...and polyp prob. would have been hidden.

    I like MO and she wants me to begin Tamoxifen now that endo. biopsy was normal, but I do not feel comfortable and have chosen not to go on it....  I am sure there is another forum for that topic!  Will meet with MO Tues. to discuss 'plan B'

    Thank you to all the ladies who post.  I am learning so much and am soaking up the encouragement.

    Congrats to those who are done!  so great to hear! You are such strong women!  I did not have to go through chemo and rads is still a challenge for me...and I know I am at the beginning of this journey...and this may sound strange, but when I go to rad. tx I feel like I am DOING something.  I am worried that when I am done I will panic a little because that part of my journey is finished.  Any thoughts?

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  • Loafer
    Loafer Member Posts: 121
    edited February 2013

    Gals ~ you all make me laugh!!



    I also have finished 3 of 15 and my boob hurts too. Not external, but internal. Feels really wierd. Also hurts to raise arm for treatment because it pulls on a muscle/seam from the sentinel node removal. Anyone else?



    Onc still insistent NO cream, gel, ointment on the breast. A' natural only!!!

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited February 2013

    Daisy, I hear you about stickers. Mine are bunching up slightly and I have one in the center the shows too - the L. Staying with them for now, even with someone at work this week saying "hey, you got something blue on your chest". I said, yeah I know!



    Loafer, I notice the afternoon after treatment my underarm muscles get tight. I just do my surgery exercises then - again.

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  • stride
    stride Member Posts: 470
    edited February 2013

    Damiana9, you asked if anyone had problems with fatigue right at the start. Yes! My RO said some people experience that when their bodies "see" radiation forthe first time. Then their bodies adapt, if you can believe that. I have finished 18 of 33 and it has gotten much better. I think those of us who adapt to radiation must have Spider-Man DNA.

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited February 2013

    Stride, love that! I am one of the early fatigued ones - always wanted Spiderman DNA.

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  • cider8
    cider8 Member Posts: 832
    edited February 2013

    Daisymom, it's not unusual for us to have an adjustment period after treatments are over. A let down or even depression. We feel like we are working or just doing something during treatment. Also, we go from getting so much attention from our medical team to almost nothing. Like our hand is held and then let go. I find ways to fill that void or fear. Support on this website, friends and family, eating right, exercise, prayer and meditation. Some people experience it less, some more.



    About the tattoos. I want to make the one between my breasts a tiny little heart! It so does not look like a freckle on my pale freckled skin! I want it to look like a heart shaped freckle. :D



    I saw my pain doctor this week to get back to physical therapy. My ribs on rad side are feeling really tight, plus some muscle pain around shoulder blade. And lower back pain! I recognize it all from post BMX plus my own issues. I wanted to go during rads but I just couldn't take adding more med appts to my days. My pain doc had BC with aggressive treatment like me and knows her stuff about pain related to BC treatment. My stretches have not been cutting it.



    Everyone is doing so well! Be gentle with yourself. Treatment is temporary.

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  • Mother4Life
    Mother4Life Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2013

    Need help dealing with radiation burns. The docotrs have me doing the salt soaks about 4 times a day, flamazen (sp?) for open sores, mosturizing cream, and hydrocotisone cream for itchy spots. I am also been give prescription for pain killers as over the counter products were not strong enough. Anyway, I have done 26 of 30 treatment. I am crying in pain it hurt to move. If I move the open sores, missing skin areas start bleeding. I have not gotten out of bed ( expect to use bathroom) the last two days as it hurts so much. Yesterdays appointment was cancelled due to major snow storm here. On plus side it gives me an extra day to heal. Anyways, I am in major pain (child birth was not this painful). I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to deal with pain/sores.. Maybe something they did that helped. I am a mother of 4.. I can not be flat on back in pain. The pain is the worst I have ever experience. I keep reminding myself ..last treatment is next Thursday. Then the battle will be won.. But right now the pain is so bad I want to die. I am on pain killers that knock me out for a bit when I take them... But when I am awake ..my chest feels like I am standing in a fire burning to death, it is hell. Any tips to help pain and healing would be greatly welcome. When I go in on Monday I will be asking to see doctor.. Right now I am just trying to get though the day... These radiation burns are hell.

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  • JenniferW
    JenniferW Member Posts: 29
    edited February 2013

    So I thought I was over with dealing with things for a while, but alas my skin had other plans.  I now have an infection where the skin has peeled on the underside of my boob.  I have been doing EVERYTHING they told me to do (soaks, silvadene, etc etc) but I guess it just didn't help as much as it should have.  Yesterday I noticed a greenish discharge and today my hubby looked at it (since it's in a spot that's hard for me to see) and he told me there are a few pockets of pus.  Oh joy.  So, I'm now on antibiotics for 10 days, even more soaks, some topical antibiotic cream, and pain meds.  :(  It's always something.

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