Radiation only, no chemo

Cindy -- thank you so much for the warm welcome. It's now been exactly 3 weeks since my last treatment, and I'm feeling better every day. It's so nice to be able to wear "normal" bras and shirts again!

Pam

Hi AmyinMI



Talk with your RO.

My cancer center has a visiting nutrition expert Carolyn Katzin , Ms, CNS, MNT, who meets with patients and speaks here. According to her book, The Cancer Nutrition Center Handbook. " Radiation: usual preventive nutrition diet, but no supplements BEYOND usual RDA level multivitamin of C or E." pg 8

I meet with her next week to discuss my diet/nutrition program ... Hormone specific plan:)

Nice to have the added team members expertise.

Hope this helps.

Cindy

MMSS, Cindy, Bookwoman, Brook, JPH and Amy thank you so much for taking the time to help. I really appreciate you advice and support.

I took your advice and talked to my RO and my professor.

My RO recommended I postpone the exam, esp since he said all the additional stress is making the fatigue worse. I also emailed my prof, who was very understanding. The logistics of graduation and applying for my certification exam become difficult if I postpone too long. The most I can postpone the exam is for 2 weeks. I am going to see how I feel about the material and energy level on Monday and let my professor know then.

I am so dissappointed in myself, as I know people who sail through radiation with minimal side effects and continue their daily life, while I have this significant fatigue and am toasted to a crisp.

On a positive note, I'm on 24/28... Only 4 to go!!! So excited to be finished. I am planning to bake peaches and cream oatmeal cookies for my radiation team.

Amy keep us posted on what your RO says. I take a daily vitamin too and didn't think twice about it interfering

Welcome Pam! Thank you for all your helpful advice and congrats on finishing! Hurray! Happy to hear you are healing well.

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Sending happy healing thoughts to all the strong fighters on here.

xoxo,

Fritoz

So glad Fritoz that school is working out for you.  Sometimes all we have to do is ask and the impossible is suddenly possible.  Good Luck with your exam, I am sure you will ace it!!

AmyinMI - I have not stopped taking any of the supplements that I take nor have I stopped the two probiotics I am taking.  I am at 15/16 full breast and still to be determined boost - no more than 4 and am hanging in there.  Not much fatigue and only darken skin under the breast with no blisters or peeling as on now.  I know I am not out of the woods yet, but staying totally positive!  Only way to get this done!  I have done lots of research online about nutrition - but not specifically about supplements - and I have not run across any information on supplements and radiation.  I will check it out, the nutrition teacher in me has to research everything!  Good luck!

Hi Cindy and all of my rad sisters.  I am done 30/30! This morning I could ring the bell. I had 23 regular full breast treatments and 7 boosts. I was pink in most areas since the end of week 2 but then I turned dark brown under my arm and under my breast (basically near and close to the incisions). During my boosts those same areas began peeling but not painful. Very fatigued during the last half of treatment and expect that to continue for several weeks. My RO has been pretty right on about what to expect when.  I am grateful to be moving on to the hormonal therapy, long-term part of this journey. I can tell you that I know all of you are stronger than you think. There was a time I couldn't see the light at the end of radiation and still many doctor appointments in the future but those are good reminders that I am a survivor. These last 4-5 months sometimes don't seem real until I look at my body and feel the stabbing jabs of the healing breast tissue. I am very blessed that technology and research has led to early diagnosis. I know that we are blazing the trail for newer better treatment protocols. I am sending healing hugs and peaceful thoughts as each of you move to ending this chapter and playing it forward to a normal healthy future.  Blessing to all.

Patty

Yippee! Patty:))) you have finished! Ring that bell loud...I can hear it and your smile...congrats sister warrior! Happy Dancing for ya:)))

So glad we were able to share laser tags together ...I'll catch up with you on the HT path soon. Let us know how your skin recovers...it's been a journey.

Blessings to you (((hugs)))

Cindy

Congratulations Patty yay! I'm happy dancing! Did you videotape it? I wish my appointment had been earlier or yours had been a little later. 😊 Now you can relax, recharge, and heal. Sending you hugs!



How did your appointment with Dr Burness go? I don't see her again until May 10. Two weeks after I finish rads on April 26. Looking forward to getting on with the tamoxifen. I hope we can have a celebratory lunch after I'm finished. 😃



Boy, am I beat today. Wish I could go to bed early. But that's almost impossible with kids. Oh well. I guess that's my only complaint so that must mean life is pretty darn good. 😉



Hugs to all. Have a wonderful evening! xoxoxo

Yippee JPH! Just 3 boosts and you are done:))

What a relief, but a shock if they had not told you of the bonus round of laser tag. Surprise!

Past rad grads say it is easy...aimed at tumor site only and very fast 15 secs or less. Yea!

3 2 1 ! You will be out of there and on your way to healing. The 5yr RX well that will come soon enough...(((hugs)))

Cindy

Thank you all for your cheers! I started the Arimidex on Saturday so far so good.  She didn't commit to 5 years she said it could be for the rest of my life but research is showing the benefits of long-term treatment. It felt really strange not going to radiation this morning and I looked at my husband and said this is really over and I can mark the day as a survivor on long-term maintenance and follow-up. My skin does need a break and my energy needs the boosts now.  I will take one day at a time and cheer you all on.

JPH- three boosts you are almost done. Amy you are circling in on done as well.   

Pam7712 - sounds like you may have closed this chapter. My Rad team was great but I told them I didn't want to see them again and they totally understood. 

Blessing to all my rad sisters. Have a wonderful day and spring can't get here fast enough in Michigan.

Boost one done!  Total time for the actual treatment less than 4 minutes.  The full breast had been less than 9 minutes!! So that is great! Saw RO today and he was not happy with the condition of my skin - so using Triamcinoline and polysporin now.  He said I could expect the skin to get worse in the next 10 days.  But it's better than losing my hair!!  Got to keep positive! 

It is so good to be near the need of the trips to the hospital everyday!!

Thanks for all the good vibes fellow warriors!!!

So sorry to hear you are having to drive more Cindy.  Are you getting treatments on Sunday's?

I don't think that is done around here.

The short drive has been my saving grace!!

Yes, kicking cancer to the curb!!   The new meds (creams) at least did not burn when I put them on today!  Was told that could happen. 

Only one more to go!!!

Check!!! Done with radiation!!! Yippee........  Was told by my MO not to start arimidex until SE from radiation have subsided!! Yea - no chemicals for 2 to 3 weeks!!!!

No more sharpies on my skin and yucky tape!!!  Life is good!!

Take care all - this to shall pass!!!!

Jayne

Yay JPH! Happy dancing! Enjoy your break. 😃 Meanwhile, I had my first boost today. Six more to go!



Hugs to all,



Amy

Hurray for Jayne!  I am going to the RO on Monday....I think this is the practice run.  I am sure I will have lots of questions for all of you.  Thank you for your support.

Chick

Hi all!  I had been posting on this board back in February, but then things got crazy and I haven't been around much.  I'm glad to see it's become super active!  We all need shoulders and this is a great forum!  I finished up 30 rad treatments on February 6 and had a post-treatment infection, so I ended up on antibiotics for 10 days afterwards.  everything healed up nicely (with some scarring at the infection site, but it's underneath the boob with my actual surgery scar, so no biggie).  Here's my newest "my cancer wasn't as bad so I feel guilty" situations.  I got a card in the mail for the Komen "Survivor Celebration" the week before the walk.  I've sponsored a team for the walk in my area, but I feel "weird" about attending the survivor celebration.  Again, I didn't have chemo so I didn't lose my hair or get sick.  I know I am a survivor, but I feel a little like a fraud since I didn't have it "bad."  How is it that these feelings keep surfacing even though I know I had cancer and had treatment for it, etc?  I AM a survivor, but I still feel like I'm taking adavantage of all the parties, etc when I didn't "suffer" enough?  What the heck is wrong with me?

Jenn