Radiation only, no chemo

dalie219 this may sound harsh but they are not the ones who had to hear they had cancer! What a blessing you found it before it became invasive. I agree when you see a 4" scar and went into the cancer center everyday for radiation treatment you know you had cancer! You are the survivor; I certainly hope they never have to face what you and our bc sisters have endured I wish no one any ill will. I know they are likely just trying to be encouraging and positive but it is much more than nothing.

Katlou you made me smile about your rad sisters meeting at the club everyday like you were our for a glass of wine and social hour.  I start my rads tomorrow and hope to experience that same blessing. Thank you for sharing your experience.

AmyinMI and I are meeting for lunch tomorrow to celebrate my first rad treatment.  I feel very lucky to have the support of someone in my area. For those who are more distance sending virtual hugs and peaceful thoughts for a good week.

Patty

I follow "Breast Cancer? But Doctor I Hate Pink" on Facebook. Ann is also a member of BCO, so I don't think she'll mind that I share this here:

Triple negative. HER2+. Age 35 or lower. Colon Cancer. Ovarian or Pancreatic. We don't need a different day, a different hour, a different charity or a different color ribbon to differentiate our specific cancer. If you feel special or more important because of your subtype, that is a problem. All that counts is if you respond to treatment, and some do, some don't.

I don't like the balkanization of cancer. We are all in this together, my friends.

We are all sick, we are all in pain and we all want to survive. One solution leads to a breakthrough in another cancer. Herceptin is now used for stomach cancer. Parp inhibitors are used in lung. The truth is, some HER2 (like mine) doesn't respond. Some triple neg does. Some Stage 1a goes mets. Some IIIc never progress. Some ER+ never get their estradiol down, some ER- do fine.

Treatment might be easier or harder, but it's cancer for everybody.

That's why I support the AMC or StandUp2Cancer and not typically BC charities. It is not about your type. It's about how to cure cancer. Nobody suffers more because they have a different cell type. This "day" of one type being special, and "month" of pinkTober needs to go away.

Cancer is cancer. It is all horrible.

Amy and Patty - what fun that you can meet up and go through the rest of this journey together! I hope you have a great lunch. Great point Gail!

Yay! I'm happy dancing with you! Awesome news! 😃 I'm set up for my consult, sim and tats on Monday now. I can't wait to get started!



Lunch with Patty was great! So nice to meet a fellow sister who is close to me. Patty, if you're reading this, I hope we can meet again for lunch again someday soon! Maybe to celebrate my first rads treatment? Hugs!



Goodnight all! Sweet dreams. 😴

Sam44 - I had the same thing ... everyone in the waiting area looking at me like "how young" (I'm not THAT young - 45, but that seemed like it was at least 20-30 years younger than everyone else there).    One day they had a temp receptionist and she assumed I was there to pick up my mother, LOL.

I never minded though - since I teach at a University, I am usually surrounded by younger people and usually feel "old" in comparison, so it was nice to be the "young" one for a change!

Good luck to everyone - you will get through it and will be done before you know it.

Honestly, katlou, I'm too scared to go back to regular antiperspirant. I'm using Tom's without any aluminum right now. It helps a bit. Still, I want to avoid the aluminum being 80% ER/PR +. Even though everyone assures me that there is no link I'm not taking any chances. Yep, I'm crazy. 😉

Sam, sorry to hear about your discomfort. Hope the calendula gives you relief. My nurse gave me a tube of aquaphor, but I really don't like the consistency. I'm trying Miaderm based on other women's recommendations and may use the aquaphor at night.

I did have to chuckle at your "'nice old lady" inner dialogue. The humor really helps get us through a lot.

Hi Gemini! Great to see you on the Team ILC Warrior thread! 😃We don't have a Lush store around here that I'm aware of but will check out your link above as well as your other recommendations. Thanks!

Destina - today 4/16 for you:)) felt like a little girl vulnerable laying there...where's mom...but it past. Next Wed is simulation Thu real lasher beam tag...beware. Like the gift of a special trip with DH to note moving on. Hope you're feeling good & skin is great.

Katlou- wow half marathon you go...no problems with LE or skin on skin contact running?

Gemini- agree that a more organic deodorant gives a bit more peace of mind...using desert essence too, but not the same coverage.

Whippersnappers- yippee wish I was at your rad center. Did not see anyone in there my age either. Maybe they have earlier times...only 11am open so of course it will work for me. Lets get this done.

Going to make a high protein smoothie & enjoy a movie just like the good old times...:))

Oh kkuziel- 3 hour drive ugh Hope you have some great appointment buddies who will also like to drive ). Pray BFFs will jump at the opportunity so ask!

My simulation is this Wednesday & Thursday will be my first rad. Guess we will be on the same schedule I'm 11:15, but I go just across the street 10 min drive 20 min walk. Makes me feel guilty but thankful that my care is so close.

Are you conditioning your skin? Working on closing eyes & holding still but no deep breathing worried might expand my chest too high.... We will rock this!

Kkuziel, I was whining about a half hour drive one way! I switched to a facility that is now only 20 minutes from my home. It's still run by U of M but 10 minutes closer. I have nothing to complain about knowing you have such a long drive.😶 I go for my consult, sim, and tats on Monday now instead of Thursday. Not sure when I'll actually be starting treatment though. I'm hoping it's this week.



RMlulu, we will rock this together! 😊

Hi. I joined these boards a couple months ago when I was diagnosed, but haven't written until now. I just want to say thank you to the person who started this topic and to all of you for sharing your stories because reading them is helping me to get through a lot of feelings now. I had a lumpectomy and will need rads but no chemo and I feel like everyone around me assumes the whole ordeal is done and, wow, it wasn't so bad after all. They're all so happy talking among themselves about how great this all is. No one asks me how I feel about rads or acknowledges that I will have to take a pill for 5 years and that those will take a toll on my body and emotions. When I talk about worry or how uncomfortable some of these procedures are, I hear "yes, but" or all about how someone else did it and it didn't bother them at all. I feel kicked to the curb by people who seem so proud of themselves for being so supportive of me. But, yes, I feel guilty for feeling that and guilty for not being a happier Stage 1 person because I know how much worse things could be. So this thread is helping me get through and making me feel like my feelings aren't so weird after all.

Hi y'all



Maisy - Welcome! Great news that you are on top of c & kicking }€{! It is an emotional journey but together we are stand strong! I have appointment buddies which helps & have been one for friends...I now know that there are times when just being there...showing up...silent...is the best.

Katlou's - you are in the red zone and the goal line is right there whoa who! A 20 mile hilly ride now you are rockin. I'm happy walking 3 milies or riding my bike for 1 hour...wow )

Kkuziel - how are you doing on rads & your drive. Hope you are hydrating eating well and able to get some exercise in so your bottom isn't so sore from the car time. Did you find a appt buddy to share the ride or a good DVD to listen on the drive.

Amy - has your start date been determined? If you started how did it go:))



I'm 2/30 and I know that each zap only lasts about a minute. But I still prepare each morning with some deep breathing reflecting on healing light praying for the light to be guided to just the right places to zap any lurking errant cells out of my breast. Funny how much this becomes a mind game...control the mind calm the emotions.

Keep hydrated, moisturize the breast&armpit, eat extr protein, walk, & LOL joy is good medicine! (((Hugs)))

Welcome Maisy!!

Thanks RMlulu for the kind words and congrats on getting started! It seems like so many treatments, but it will go by faster than you think.   I am in single digits now with only 9 treatments left.  Unbelievable!  Amy, good luck tomorrow!  It feels so good to get it started, so you can start the countdown.

Speaking of countdown, I wanted to share what some amazing friends made for me.  It is a radiation countdown advent calendar.  The uncovered days are all pink paper with the breast cancer symbol. They are arranged in a large circle on a big pink board. When I get back to work after treatment each day, we all gather around and I get to uncover that day and reveal the treat underneath.   The last day is in the middle and it is huge.  I can't wait to see what's hiding behind there!  It has actually made radiation fun!!  I thought I'd throw that out there if you have any friends going through this, because it is awesome!!

I hope everyone is doing well and that you all have a great week!!

Everybody seems to say that the time for radiation treatments goes by fast, fast, fast.  It hasn't for me!  I finished 28 regular tx last Thursday, had boost sims on Friday and will start boosts Monday, theoretically to finish on Friday.  This has been one of the most drawn-out miserable experiences I can remember.  It apparently will actually end but I'm so mired in the endlessness of the whole thing that I can't believe it's really going to end.