2012 sisters

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  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited February 2013

    Welcome mlinthicum. I am in rads right now and go for #5 today. I have no issues so far at all and only expect to possibly be more tired near the end of the treatments. The unknown is always scary but its really not as bad as we think it will be. Good luck today... Hope the practice run eases your mind.

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited February 2013

    Mlinthicum.....the saline solutions and cortisone was for my skin burn a week after I finished....was my own fault as I was not fastidious enough with the creams....lol

    For that one week I did not wear a bra. I am 65 and a teacher and worked every day through rads as I did not get fatigued much at all. My Letrozole is what is making me tired now!!!!

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  • stride
    stride Member Posts: 470
    edited February 2013

    Scottie, it's official: you are my hero.

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  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,942
    edited February 2013

    mlinthicum - Echo what everyone else has said here. I worked throughout rads drove 45 minutes each way to rads, then drove around all day for 6 1/2 weeks.  You can do it.  I did not have the luxury of having any decent bathrooms to put on lotions/potions in so I only did after rads in the morning and at night and only rarely when I got home from work.  Had a litte bit of nip burn but not enough to stop working (like that was going to happen LOL).  RO suggested Domeboro soaks which I did for a couple days after work.  Did all my usual activities (age 59 then) and went to church as usual.  I did get junky bras from WalMart and still wearing them.  Aquaphor (over the counter in first aid section) and prescription cream washed out great from them.  Your rad center will most likely having something they would prefer you use.  Mine had a prescription cream they preferred with the Aquaphor but know there was also an alternative if that was too expensive.  I also bought a Calendula baby cream at Target that smells heavenly that I still use on dry, itchy spots.  I hated the Aquaphor with a passion at first but learned to love it.

    I bought camisoles to wear over bras to keep junk off my scrubs which worked great.  I have heard of wearing shelf bra camisoles inside out so the elastic did not rub.  With my girls that wasn't happening; not a pretty sight.

    Some fatigue near the end but again I did not have chemo either.  It was manageable.

    Most do fine with rads.  Remember the adage that most don't post "hey, I had no trouble with rads, etc.".  Mostly you will find those ones having difficulty looking for suggestions.  You go girl.  Hope the setup/practice session eases your mind.

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited February 2013

    I will be starting rads in March too.  Not too concerned about the physical SEs, it's more trying to figure out how they expect me to carve out 2 hours a day, every day, to go there and back.... and in the middle of snow season too.  I'm still trying to figure that one out.  It's not like you can just show up for work 2 hours late every day for 6 weeks.......  

    My only question right now is, I'm told that the skin will get sensitive so you might not be able to wear a bra.  Well, I only had a UMX so I still need to wear a bra.  Something has to hold up "droopy" on the other side, LOL, or I couldn't go out in public.  The bra strap is still pretty uncomfortable on the MX side where it goes under my scar and under the armpit.  I can't imagine it being even worse.  How do we handle that?  Anyone got a solution?

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited February 2013

    Sorry Jennie....can't help you with that one but I know some of the gals will come along soon with suggestions.



    Stride....chucks....I love you too ❤. Remember, you had chemo, I didn't .......I'pdclass='post_sig'>Dx 2/12/2012, IDC, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2-Surgery 03/02/2012 Lumpectomy (Right)Surgery 03/02/2012 Lumpectomy (Right)Hormonal Therapy 03/24/2012 FemaraRadiation Therapy 05/02/2012 ExternalRadiation Therapy 05/02/2012 ExternalRadiation Therapy 05/02/2012 External

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited February 2013

    Mlinthicum:  My S/E's were very, very minimal.  A little redness toward the last 10 days.  Yes, I wore a bra the entire time.  I got some of the Genie Bras.  Loved them.  Make sure you lube, lube, lube starting NOW.  I used Miaderm 2-3x's a day as well as a combo of aquafor and olive oil mixed together.  

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  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited February 2013

    Jennie, I agree about the Genie Bras very comfy and they have little pockets so you can fill the mx side with soft cotton.

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  • PaEaglesFan
    PaEaglesFan Member Posts: 277
    edited February 2013

    mlinthicum--Rads are a walk in the park compared to chemo.  I worked FT the entire time I was going for treatment and hope I can offer you some advice.  The biggest issue I had with rads is that I had to go EVERY DAY for 6 1/2 weeks.  I was also really tired (sleepy). As time went on, there were nights I'd just grab a quick supper when I got home (Maybe yogurt and cereal or soup) and a warm shower and off to bed I'd go.  I could easily sleep 10-11 hours.  BUT when I got up in the morning I was fine.  Unlike chemo where it just kicks your ass and keeps you down.  
    So my advice to you is that if you can do some meal preps on the weekend so you have warm ups during the week, that will help you out A LOT.  SLEEP when you are tired.  Let the household chores go.  There will be time to catch up on that after you are finished treatment.  You might also try contacting the local American Cancer Society,a woman I work with was eligible for handy-maids to come and clean for her during her recoup from the BMX.
    Your Rad techs and RO will keep a good eye on your skin during your treatments and will take care of any issues that might crop up.  I had 1 nasty looking blister at the very end of my treatment and they gave me silvadene (sp?) cream for it and it healed in no time.  
    I hope your setup goes well and your RO will be able to lay your fears to rest.

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  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited February 2013

    mlinthicum and Jennie, Hop on over to this rads thread and poke thru it: http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topic/796394?page=39#idx_1169

    cheers!

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited February 2013

    Miranda, I have a copy of the most recent edition of Dr. Susan Love's breast cancer book and it says right here that Black Cohosh is perfectly fine to take.  She quotes studies that proved that it does not interfere with Tamoxifen nor affect ER+ tumors in any way.  As far as whether it does any good or not, that part is still unproven, but if it seems to help you there's no harm in trying it.

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  • mlinthicum
    mlinthicum Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2013

    Thanks PAeaglesfan and allurbaddayswillend.

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  • PrincessPincushion
    PrincessPincushion Member Posts: 74
    edited February 2013

    *happy dancing* My chemo is done! I had the last one on February 19th. I have to say, it hit me like a ton of bricks, and this last set of Neupagen shots were worse than any others, but I just kept telling myself, "This is the LAST time you'll have to feel like this!" Oh, the joy! The freedom! I DID IT!!!!!!

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  • stride
    stride Member Posts: 470
    edited February 2013

    Congratulations Amethyst Butterfly! You did it!

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  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited February 2013

    Yay amethystButterfly.... for you.

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  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited February 2013

    congratulations amethysbutterfly!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2013

    yeah amethystbutterfly - congrats!!!

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  • KarenZ0305
    KarenZ0305 Member Posts: 487
    edited February 2013

    Congratulations amethyst! I ditto what tazzy posted!

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  • juneaubugg
    juneaubugg Member Posts: 951
    edited February 2013

    amethysbutterfly: WOOT WOOT!!!

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  • bobdevito
    bobdevito Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2013

    Hello ladies.... I am a 50 year old male who was diagnosed in May 2012 with IDC stage 3a. I had a mastectomy and Sentinal and axillary node dissection on June 13. I had Chemotherapy ( A, C and T every 3 weeks. I just completed 25 radiation sessions on Jan 18th.

    Male Breast Cancer is rare. I "adopted" by a womans breast cancer support group. They realized I faced most of the same issues they did. I'm very thankful to them. I wanted to post in this forum to raise awareness. Tell the men in your life to do self exams.

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  • lisa2012
    lisa2012 Member Posts: 652
    edited March 2013

    Juneaubug, your hair and eyebrows look great in your new photo!! My hair is almost like yours now but the eyebrows and lashes are still thin, seem to start filling in and then lose bit. Been 7 mos. thank good ness for makeup!

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  • stride
    stride Member Posts: 470
    edited March 2013

    Hi Bob, I guess we need to change this thread to 2012 siblings! There is a man, Charles, who has posted a couple of times on the 2013 survivors thread. He wrote an article for the Huffington Post about trying to raise awareness of male breast cancer. I think there is a thread for men on this site, although you are welcome on this one, too!

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  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013

    bumping for anyone not over on the 2013 Survivor thread.   Hugs everyone and hope you managed to have a good long weekend.

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  • jpmomof3
    jpmomof3 Member Posts: 643
    edited April 2013

    Hello all, i have a rare moment to myself waiting for my son to wake up. i love seeing all you ladies that went through this bc stuff last year with me with hair now. kjiberty, you especially look great!



    I am almost 10 months pfc and 6 months post last rads. I am feeling great. I have about 4.5 to to 5 inches of curly hair. I am not getting it cut for a long time... I am running and will be running the timed part of the Komen race in a couple of weeks. I am about to get my dream car. My reward for surviving 10 years of kids and last year, the year of BC hell. I still obsess about my hair, but it is getting better. I am getting over my lymphedema fears. I used to measure my arm every day, I haven't done it in a couple of weeks now but all this stuff is fading some. Not that it will ever go back to normal but it is better. Life is getting in the way of BC now, not the other way around.



    Have a great day!

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited April 2013

    JP:  It is great to hear from you!  Thank you for the compliment.  I am keeping my hair short.  I have been getting it cut about every 4 weeks.  I feel like I actually have a "hairstyle" as opposed to a chemo cut.  I am embracing the curls.  They are as tight as ever all over my head.  I have been using a flat iron on the front.  Glad to hear you are doing well!  :)

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited May 2013

    Hello my ladies!!!! Haven't seen you guys for a while ... Had my surgery on march 21 .... Everything went ok not a lot pain just where the lump nodes where remove ..... Well had the stupid drains in for 2 weeks .... Removed 3 left one cause it was still draining .... Well the day It was going to be remove it was red and had some pus... So the floor manager removes the drain and I explain to her what's going on ... She cleans it and tells me that's fine some times it happens..... So after a few minutes my PS comes in and tell him ... He looks at it and tells me it's ok...??????? Really.... I was in the ER with in 8 hours .... Chills back pain..... All blood work came back fine...... Finally they find the problem yes I have cellulitis in the same drain that had pus .... I been on antibiotics for 15 days ... Had 2 more days left but I told the doctor can't take it any more I was really sick ... Headaches vomiting heartburn no appetite sleep 24 /7 and everything smelled bad ... So I'm off antibiotics all red is gonna no pain.... The weird part is that I got fever pass two days same time at 7 pm... And goes away with in 30 minutes the infected foob is warmer then the other .... I been looking up stuff about TE. And cellulitis but can't find much info.... Ladies I don't know what to do..... Herception has been called off cause of infection cause the antibiotics is going in through my port and radiation is calling me to go in ASAP .... It's been 48 hours off antibiotics......has anyone know or have any info regarding cellulitis and TE please help

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  • KarenZ0305
    KarenZ0305 Member Posts: 487
    edited May 2013

    Patricia I had it after rads. My infection was totally contained to the inside of my breast (no drainage). This gave me a roaring high fever, a 9 day hospital visit and a new drain tube 3 months after surgery! IMHO I would be afraid to start rads because of skin breakdown and risk of infection. My herceptin picked up right after I got out of hospital so I wouldn't worry about that. But be persistant in getting the care you need. Good luck!

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  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited May 2013

    Sorry Karen - cant help you with your issue...... but I have just noticed we have pretty much the same saying in our signatures.    Great minds think alike as they say.

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited May 2013

    My ladies anyone had any TE issues ... I got cellulitis 1 month ago and now I'm getting it again... I have to have radiation but its been postpone again.., how long can we go with out radiation please help so helpless

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited May 2013

    I didn't have those, but my radiation was postponed twice for other reasons... They said they were perfectly comfortable starting as late as 60 days after last chemo... and even later if necessary would be no big deal...



    Try to relax, de-stress, get rid of that infection, it will be ok! Hugs!

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