Fall 2013 Rads

No Sandymomto3 it's not,

sloyd66, I have that pain, they say it is nerve pain.

Sandymomto3 my surgery was 11/11/13 , I've been stretching it out.. I think so joannaraka that it is a nerve..

Hooray hobbesla4!!  Time for happy dancing!

Hobbesla4....you radiant lady, you!!!   Now the healing can begin and maintain.  It gets better every day, hon.

sloyd66...I lost so much weight on chemo because nothing tasted good that as soon as I got my taste buds back I went CRAZY.  I have gained the weight back and am trying to maintain or lose a little now.  It is really hard to give up all the goodies.  I think we have to keep trying even when we are bad.  (But I refuse to eat kale, or quinoa or buy a juicer and call that dinner or a snack.) 

Love, MsP

Sloyd66, I don't think we should deprive ourselves of treats or favorite foods.  When I lost my taste buds during chemo and everything tasted so crappy, I realized how much of a joy there is in eating.  Losing my taste buds was one of the worst chemo side effects, in my opinion.  So I am going to try to eat less, but still enjoy my favorites.  

MsP

Some thoughts on kale... I don't like it either, but it works well in soups or a little bit added to spaghetti sauce.  What I do like is Swiss chard and rainbow chard -- I roast the chopped stalks along with onions and cubed potatoes (shake em in a bag with fresh rosemary and olive oil, then spread on a foil-lined cookie sheet, roast at 375*).  About 5 minutes before serving, I sprinkle with a little Parmesan and add the chard leaves, shredded and shaken in the olive oil bag, then return it to the oven.  The shreds crisp up, and it is yummy.  Baby carrots can be added too.  At my job they have a subscription service to an organic farm where they deliver a box of seasonal produce once every 2 weeks -- it sometimes contains things that I have to look up on the internet to identify, lol!  But I have learned to make a few different things out of necessity as I try to use the stuff.

I agree about brussel sprouts -- lipstick on a pig, haha!  I hate cauliflower too, and I will never be a juicer -- green juice is just not me.  But I do like fruit smoothies, and they are plenty sweet without sugar added.  My downfall is my morning mocha at SBs (usually with a morning bun) -- I will have to make some tea at home and fill my mug.... Better for my budget anyway.

I feel as if I am in the home stretch. Three more regular treatments and then five boosts. Skin is holding up. I think having the days off for Christmas and New Years helped a little. I keep waiting for the fatigue to hit, but it hasn't! I do Zumba or power walk almost every day so maybe that helps. I am going back to work a week after treatment is over so I don't want it to hit then!

I have been a juicer for over 2 years and have found that you can mask the kale/spinach/healthy stuff with a good balance of other veggies and fruits. I am just not into cooked veggies so this has been the main way for me to get the nutrients from them. Juices and salads along with my go-to cooked veggies-broccoli and asparagus. 

Hope us remaining Fall rads gals make it out OK!!

Well, I finished rads on the 30th and then had a hysterectomy the same day.  2014 is going to be all about the healing!!  I was pretty lucky throughout this process.  That doesn't mean it was easy but, I know for some of you it has been a bigger struggle to get through it.  I real feel for some of you that are having skin issues.  Hang in there girls!!!  Here's to 2014 being a year of healing and trying to be a little more health conscious. 

well I should find out this week if the hospital near me is going to pay what medicare does not. Hoping they do because it really is the only choice I have.

I don't actually have a juicer!  Occassionally I buy a fresh made juice as a real treat - and I bring along my own parsley and coriander for them to add.  In general I think eating the veggies must be healthier than just drinking the juice but I think sometimes juicing can be a real help to a sick or recovering body.

Just before finishing rads at night my arm pit felt as though the skin was splitting apart!  But it looked fine.

The day after rads it started to form a scab so I guess the skin did actually split.  It lasted for about 4 days and then healed over the next week but it has left a bit of a scar behind so ask your RO if there is anything you should be doing.

On my last day I asked my RO if he had any advice for me (I meant about my skin, my fatigue, my pain etc.) and he said:  "Stay away from doctors."

I still day dream about blowing his car up.

Rainday2013 - It is so heartwarming that you understand.  I was really thrown by the RO's comment.  I realized he was probably just being friendly or something but I was thrown into utter confusion by his remark.

I realized I was maybe being over sensitive but really - I had just finished 25 rads.  That's five weeks of sore booby, tiredness and total life disruption!  And I had it easy compared to what some people go through.

I do wish I had said something then.  I wish even more that when my MO told me there was no reason to wait another week to recover from my rads fatigue to start Tamoxifen and that I could manage the side effects from both quite well - I wish then that instead of feeling like a weakling and just wanting to cry - I wish then that I had opened my mouth and told her that she is supposed to be helping and healing me - not the opposite!

Its nice to hear from you again.  There are a lot of ladies who I have been thinking about and hoping are doing well now that they have finished (or almost finished hopefully).  So come on all you lurkers - check in and say a quick hello.

I hope the weather is being kind to everyone too!

lurker here checking in.  After all my xmas company left I had 2 whole days of peace & quiet.  One of my twins called & wanted to take off for a last minute vaca, so I've been dog sitting.  Busy busy, we don't have a fenced yard on our acreage & live right on main highway, so walk the dog, walk the dog, poops a person out! She is coming back tonight, just checked, her flight is now coming in at 1:30 am, 3 hours late.  Horrible what this cold weather is doing to the flights. Poor hubby has to pick her up & work tomorrow. He's not going to be happy.

I finished active treatment on Jan 3rd.  My girl is doing well, heat is subsiding today but still red.  Itchyness is gone today as well. I did catch a cold on the weekend, so very tired, lazy, but have to walk the dog lol. The coyotes were here Sunday night, so the dog kept barking at 2 am.  Fun. For all of the above reasons I have been lurking & not posting.

Have anyone had radiation, then had a mastectomy with reconstruction? I heard that radiation can mess up the breast for future reconstruction. My braca test is back, I don't know the results, they said they never tell results over the phone. I'm afraid if it's positive  I will be faced with doing the mastectomy and ovary removal. Right when I felt fine, Im not feeling so good now.

thanks lisa... I just thought you could never but good there is hope.