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

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  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited May 2013

    I had my port removed a few days before I started radiation. Mine was in a pretty awkward place however. It was only a couple inches below my clavicle and immediately beside my sternum. The scar is front and center if I want to wear a low cut shirt. :/  It also seemed like it might be in the way for rads unless my radio-oncologist was just agreeing with me to get it out to be nice.

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

    Just got the results of my MRI - the good news is it's nothing to do with cancer, the bad news is it's mild spinal stenosis!!! Well that's a whole other story - I can now get my port removed....And as you said sonson, get rid of that chemo reminder.  by the way my hairs looks like your avitar only mine is 1/2 gray but who cares, thats what color is for!!!!!!

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

    It's good to see that no one has been posting - that means we are getting back to our life as usual. I've been enjoying the outdoor spring weather planting flowers, putting out some patio furniture, going to grandchildrens baseball games at the park, taking long walks - it's feels so good to finally get those muscles working (although my butt is so sore as well as every bone and muscle in my body).  I'm looking forward to tomorrow (Monday) morning at 8:30 my port comes out!!!  Enjoy your day girls

    Tricia

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited May 2013

    I am envious of you getting your port out.  I have 2 more months to wait.  My onc. waits 6 months after final chemo.  Congratulations!

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

    Hellllllooooooo Out there...Where did everyone go?  Outside to enjoy the sunshine I hope...Smile

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited May 2013

    Still here. Working and recovering. Pet scan in June. Hope all is well with all.

  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited May 2013

    hellooooooo 5luvbugs! Not much going on with me except I'm trying to move forward. It's slow. Sorry to hear of your spinal stenosis. I hope your Drs can help you manage it well.

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited June 2013

    Had my 3 month followup with rad onc today and all is good.  She released me.  If anyone knows anyone about to start radiation I had wonderful luck with Aloe Force which I purchased online. 

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited June 2013

    FYI just got the results back on my bloodwork and followup CT scan.  3 mos after final radiation and 5 months after final chemo..............all clear , everything good.  YEAH!!!!!!!!!!  My onc. still will not remove port from chemo until the results of the next CT in 3 mos.  Bummer.

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

    So glad to hear the good news schoolmom - that's a weight lifted off your shoulders... Kiss

  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited June 2013

    Yippee Schoolmom! Congrats on good reports...happy dance for you:)

    Fall will be here soon enough...so enjoy lazy days of summertime...ha! Port will be out soon but until then enjoy each victory.

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

    Hello out there = anyone still around?  Hope you are enjoying summer, one thing for sure we are all finished RADS.  I'm going for my check up on the 25th = have to get my 1st mammo since surgery in August and I'm not looking forward to it at all....How is everyone. 

    Wow girls, I just found this link right here in the breastcancer.org sight - you might want to check it out = Cosmetics and breast cancer  www.breastcancer.org/risk/fact...


  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited July 2013

    Hey luv...I also have my first mammo on August 1. My gynocol also ordered a colonoscopy. It has been 5 years since the last one and I have a history of polyps. Turns out risk factors for colon cancer is polyps and breast cancer. So I have that scheduled in August also. Next ct scan in sept. The one in June was clear. Hoping to get chemo port out after that.

  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited August 2013

    schoolmom, how'd it go? also, I'd like to see some more on the colon cancer risk increased with polyps and breast cancer... doing a quick google doesn't get that specific.

    I have a follow up with my RO tomorrow. I'm going to ask about getting my top front tattoo removed. It REALLY shows on my fair skin. also maybe they can make my port scar look better too? I hope so, it's really obvious in a v-neck.

    I hope all is well with everyone!

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited August 2013

    Well mammo and ultrasound were clear. Colonoscopy was also clear. No polyps. Yeah. Thyroid ultrasound #2 end of month. Biopsy in march was clear. Ct scan or pet in sept.

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

    Sooooo happy for you schoolmom - now it's time to celebrate!!!!

    Allur how did you make out at the RO today?  My port scar shows too but it's better than having the port. 

    Hope all the rest of you girls have your ports removed soon.  Looks like everyone has moved on....I still visit the Arimidex board and the chemo Sept 2012 board...

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited August 2013

    Hope to get port out after second ct in sept post chemo. My onc is super conservative.

  • bexH
    bexH Member Posts: 49
    edited August 2013

    Schoolmom: glad to hear someone else besides me is stuck with their port still in! I had scar tissue on my mammo so they wouldn't take it out. Now, I'm getting a biopsy to confirm it. I Bo back for my 6 month checkup with my RO next week. I spend most of my time on the TNSisters thread. God Bless

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited August 2013

    Not sure if anyone is still checking back in but I have a question.  I finished rads the end of March.  My one breast is still "tanner" then the other.  Does anyone else have the same after effect.

  • daisymom46
    daisymom46 Member Posts: 19
    edited August 2013

    Schoolmom - I just commented to my husband today that my 'radiated' boob is still 'tan' and was wondering how long this would stay this way. (I finished radiation at the end of March also)  I haven't asked any other 'rads' friends about this.  Hope you are feeling well and have had a great summer! :)

  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited August 2013

    Another March rads girl here. Yep. Boob still tan. Good grief. Wish it would get back to normal.

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited August 2013

    Thanks girls for letting me know this is obviously normal. Aug mammog and June ct were both normal.

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

    Oh yes - my boob is still tan, smaller, harder and sore!!!!

    Amen for your normal mammo's girl!!!!

  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited September 2013

    Ended March 6th, still tan. I have my first mammogram tomorrow morning. Not sure what they can see through the scar tissue, swelling (lymphedema) and radiation damage. Glad yours were good Schoolmom! (((Hugs)))

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited September 2013

    Scheduled for either pt scan or ct scan on the 20th. If all clear will get port removed.

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

    Schoolmom - Yeah!!! Finally.. and I'm sure your scans are going to be ok

    Swgee how did the mammo go?

  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited September 2013

    My mammogram appt. went well! I took a pain med before hand and it felt like any normal mammogram. They took 5 images and the radiologist said they looked good. I 'll go back in 6 months and they'll just keep an eye on the scar tissue to make sure it's improving each time i go because it looks similar to cancer. My appt. with my Nurse practitioner was good, too. She told me my cough is from radiation and that it will go away eventually. My lungs are clear! (One less paranoid thought in my brain!) My boob is a little sore today but I can handle that. Oh- I asked the NP about the tan boobs. She said she has seen people five years out who you can still see where their rads were. I guess we're all different and it will def. take time for the effects of radiation to go away. (((Big Hugs))) Sheila 💗

  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited October 2013

    5LuvBugs, the RO appt was fine, nothing to see here, basically. He did set me up with a plastic surgeon who said he couldn't do anything about the scar. :( I was sad that day, cried easily and felt sort of embarrassed too about it. I was having a hard time keeping it together. There I was about to cry in front of the PS who had obviously had cleft palate surgery at some point in his life, was a great matter-of-fact Dr. I was thinking "he probably thinks I'm a big baby fussing over the scar on my chest" but even if he was it's no matter because he maybe didn't read my whole file that shows the years of undiagnosed celiac disease, probably thinks the scarring all over my chest is from "acne" but it was probably a part of my celiac disease in either a direct or secondary way because it all cleared up when I finally was glutenfree, doesn't know I was made to feel like I was crazy instead of being checked when I had obvious symptoms, didn't see I was hospitalized in 99 for a colon perforation and given antibiotics that "may cause cancer", etc... doesn't know my PTSD is fairly fresh... guh... I almost don't want to go back and get the tattoo removed. He is planning to just punch biopsy it to get rid of it because it's fairly small. I dunno, it's fairly small, maybe I should just see if concealer will cover it and leave it at that.

    SwgeeWi, glad to hear your mammo was clear and not too tough. I was completely freaking out in June when I was supposed to get one and I convinced the radiologist to give me an MRI instead. I really could not deal with it. I am supposed to get one in December though...

    Can barely see tan line on me but I am very fair and don't tan anyway.

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited October 2013


    Just want to update those who have been traveling this journey throughout the year. I had my first PET scan 2 weeks ago and it all came back clear of cancer....YEAH! I was worried about this one because I know it is more sensitive than the CT scan. The CT was clear in June. The PET indicated gallstones, which I have little or no symptoms of. Going to the gastroenterologist for a plan....Hope all are well and moving forward. I am on a 4 month cycle now with the oncologist, released from the rad. onc, and 12 month cycle for mammograms. Had first post diagnosis mamm. in Aug which was clear as well as the ultrasound. Everyone going through it now, hang in there.

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

    allure - what the heck - leave that little tattoo alone, you've had worse things so just use the concealer and I wouldn't go back to that doctor either....He's not paying attention.   I'm sure you look great - tattoo and all

    Schoolmom so glad your scan came back clear - now how are those gallstones?

    Sweegee glad your mammo is good - don't be paranoid- mine was similar to yours but I put it out of my mind....

    Oh girls, check out my curly, bushy hair - it really grew back!!!!!

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