Summer 2013 Rads

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

    I had my 3rd of 5 boosts today, making a total of 30 treatments. I'm just amazed at how quick the boosts are. Remember me saying, I have degenerative disc disease and lying on that harder table was the worst thing I've dealt with throughout this whole journey, including surgery, AC, & taxol. Before, I was on the table at least 20 minutes everyday. Now, its about 3 minutes.



    I have some red, tender, tightness, in the sternum area. Otherwise my skin has held up very well. I know it can still go south even after rads are completed, but I'm praying that doesn't happen to me.



    I've found the most soothing thing to be UDDERLY SMOOTH.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited August 2013

    CassDugan - I have a DF doc as a "consultant" but I get my treatment at an MGH facility. It is great to get both perspectives and it was the DF doc that gave me permission to skip chemo even though I had a positive node. I have Partners in network health insurance so I can easily go between the two facilities. I was just at DF on Wednesday. It really is the best of both worlds in my mind.



    Heart- at 6 weeks on Tam I got the same symptoms as you ... Aching hip joints, the total exhaustion. I am a little ahead of you as I started taking Tam during rads. Saw my Ro yesterday and he said the Tam may be kickin in. See my Mo in 2 weeks and will see whether she thinks it is rads or tam or BOTH.

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  • CassDugan
    CassDugan Member Posts: 100
    edited August 2013

    25/30 today. Only one more week! I'm kind of going to miss the drive. I live in a very small town, it's a 20 minute drive to get to any kind of store. It's been fun to stop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's and bigger libraries just on a whim.

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  • mshelton
    mshelton Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2013

    Soteria -- I agree with you about that metal hard table.  the back pain is the hardest so far of rads altho the fatique is right up there.  I had my 2nd boost today.   i think they started the boost as the skin is now getting worse and maybe they are hoping it will heal some before I continue the regular whole breast rads.  who knows--just a guess.  They never offer any information unless you ask and even then it is not comprehensive but just the least amount of answer they can provide.   I'm 21 of 33. 

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  • Goldie1431
    Goldie1431 Member Posts: 29
    edited August 2013

    Yesterday was 10 of 30 for me. So far so good. I will have 23 regular and 7 boosts. We will see what next week brings.



    Hope everyone has a restful weekend.

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  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 302
    edited August 2013

    Hi, Beachbound!  If she was a "lovely lady" you spoke to at our RO's office, it definitely wasn't me.  Laughing

    I finished my rads about a week and a half ago and my skin is really starting to heal now; the tan is slowly going away along with the tenderness.  I didn't have much problem during the normal rads, 28/5, but those special ones to the sternum got pretty ugly although I didn't have skin break nor peel.  I go back for a final visit on the 22nd of this month.   I hope your treatment is going well and mostly painless.  And happy belated anniversary!  Cool

    Carol

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  • felicitron
    felicitron Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2013

    Hi everyone! I wish I had found this board sooner... I was using YSC since I'm 29, but the boards over there are so quiet.

    I have about a week and a half of radiation left, and I'm feeling super anxious about how to manage once this is all over! In a weird way, I feel sad and totally scared to be left alone and having to face the idea of getting back to "normal"... whatever that is. I keep hearing this is normal... but I've been so emotional!

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  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 302
    edited August 2013

    I know exactly how you feel.  I finished rads a week and a half ago and am feeling somewhat adrift without constant medical supervision.  I am taking an Ativan each day to try to keep the anxiety under control until the fear wears off a bit with time.   I hope you get your anxiety under control also.

    Hugs,

    Carol

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  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited August 2013

    It is sort if like PTS disorder. Add whatever hormone treatment your taking and try to get your body used to that and get your energy and physical strength back. I am 3 weeks post rad. Still working in sorting it all out. Maybe we should start a post summer rad thread?

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

    How about calling it " Coping After Treatment? "



    I see many women on different threads who are anxious about how they will feel when treatment is finished. It would make for a great support thread for many women regardless of stage or type of breast cancer.



    Paula

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  • melody46
    melody46 Member Posts: 279
    edited August 2013

    I love that idea

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  • BeHereNow
    BeHereNow Member Posts: 222
    edited August 2013

    I love that idea, too! I am surprised I feel anxious about rads being almost done. And sad. I'm worried ill just be left with my fear of recurrence. Do we ever get back to normal? I'm changed forever.

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  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited August 2013

    Summer Rad Ladies - I started a new topic if you want to join in. .. Coping after Treatment - 2013. It is in the Moving Beyond Cancer Forum.

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

    Lenn13~~Thanks for the info....I'll be checking it out.



    God Bless

    Paula

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  • LW0919
    LW0919 Member Posts: 196
    edited August 2013

    My armpit area is really red with some places that are purple and and almost black. It looks like someone as punched me really hard in the armpit and is so sore and tender. Tomorrow will be 19 and I have a total of 33 planned. I'm really hoping I can hold out. Anyone else had these results this early?

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

    Lenn~~I'm having trouble finding "Coping after treatment 2013." Would you mind posting the link?



    Thanks

    Paula

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  • IamNancy
    IamNancy Member Posts: 1,158
    edited August 2013

    Soteria205 - hope Lenn sees your request - I don't know how to post a link but this is the site :

    Topic: Coping After Treatment - Summer 2013

    Forum: Moving Beyond Cancer — Getting on with the rest of your life, from rediscovering intimacy to coping with hot flashes.

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  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited August 2013

    Lenn13ka- Please do tell me what your Ro and MO say. I would also like to know if it is rads or tamoxifen. Kind of worried it is the tamoxifen and this could go on for another 5 years. The fatigue has gotten so bad that if I do anything (weed the garden, workout, etc.) I can't do anyting for a couple of days after. My boss actually sent me home from work the Friday before last because I looked so exhausted. I see my RO in 2 weeks, but I don't see my MO for another month.

    LW0919- My skin started breaking down early too. My thoughts are with you.

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

    IamNancy~~Thank you. That's where I've been looking, but I'll go back and look again. Maybe I'm missing something.



    Paula

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  • beachbound009
    beachbound009 Member Posts: 89
    edited August 2013

    Carol - You are too funny!  I had 26/33 this morning.  I did not sleep last night due to the sharp, stinging pain.  I took the pain pills but I still felt those stabbing pains every so often that kept me awake.  The pain is similar to the pain I had after my mx and I think it's due to the swelling and tightening around my implant.  Just 2 more full rads and then 5 boosts.  I'm on the count down!!!

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  • melody46
    melody46 Member Posts: 279
    edited August 2013

    LW the area around my node biopsy area got really dark and looked like a bruise but its gone now

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  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited August 2013

    Heart - my RO said it could be the tamoxifin. He says my expectations are too high right now . Like you, I am just getting through the day, barely. Eating the 70 grams of good protein has been helping. I rested all weekend and was feeling a little better but now I think I have a UTI so off to the doctor today! We started a new thread - Coping After Treatment - Summer 2013 on the Moving Beyond Cancer forum. Hopefully other people having trouble with their hormone treatment will chime in. I see the MO on Tuesday and I have a huge list if questions for her!

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  • Jen987
    Jen987 Member Posts: 145
    edited August 2013

    So my skin is now breaking down and my nipple is so red and itchy I want to cut it off and throw it across the room. LOL

    My RO gave me a prescription creme that seems to be relieving the itching at least. But under my breast and by the SNB scar it's peeling. I'm glad that next week Friday is my last day. Hugs to everyone else with skin issues.





    26/35

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  • melody46
    melody46 Member Posts: 279
    edited August 2013

    Jen I had the same problem, it drove me to tears and nutty!

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

    Today is my last rads treatment. I'm really feeling the burn. The hardest part for me is the tightness of the skin. I lube several times a day, and even during he night, and take Tylenol. That really takes the edge off, but its difficult for me to bend or stretch.



    Today I'm going to RING THAT BELL for The Father, The Son, & The Holy Spirit!!!



    Paula

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  • Jen987
    Jen987 Member Posts: 145
    edited August 2013

    Congratulations Paula!

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited August 2013

    Congrats Paula-Yahooo! Make sure you ring it loud enough so I can hear it in Canada! I just had my first boost, so 7 more to go. My underarm is bruised looking also and very tight feeling. My shoulder also seems quite sore, not sure what that's about. This has been such a long process- I'm really looking forward to not having to drive 4 hours a day for rads! A little scared about feeling alone after all treatment is done, but realize this is normal and ill have to find my new normal. Hope everyone is tolerating SE and feeling alright.

    26/33

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

    slv58~~Thank you. I'll do my best to ring it for you! I'm very blessed in that I have an awesome Comprehensive Breast Center 20 minutes from home.



    Here's a brand new thread just started for coping after treatment. Many of us feel kind of alone & fearful when treatment is done.



    Blessings

    Paula





    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/7/topic/809177?page=1#idx_18

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  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited August 2013

    CONGRATS Paula - It does feel good to stop that daily grind. Ring that bell!

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  • Netter
    Netter Member Posts: 107
    edited August 2013

    I am just starting radiation August 22.  My cancer was very deep on my left breast and I am worried about the heart getting radiation.  Do any of you have this kind of a problem and if so what was done to protect the heart.  I have a friend who had breast cancer and died of a heart attack because of her treatment.  Makes me a little uptight.  Glad for those of you who are finishing...........it will be me before long:-))

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