Starting Chemo in December 2013

Robin, love the pics! Thanks for sharing. A great idea!

Kim, I started Tamoxifen on Saturday. So far, so good. I have read on another thread that there is a (controversial) test that can be done to see if it is metabolizing at is should. I haven't read the studies. I will see my MO in 3 months. I didn't have a 6 month mammo bc I was in the middle of rads. So I won't have mine until end of August again. MO said she will ck my Vit D level again at that time. Was 17 last time she checked. Not good. I guess it is important in BC patients to keep it at least in the normal level, which is over 30. 

Leealice, I hope your hair starts coming in soon! It took mine about 6-7 wks before I started to see peach fuzz growth. I am over 3 1/2 months PFC and I guess it's about 1/2" long and a bit wavy, as it always has been. I'm okay with going "topless" now, but wish I had a real hairstyle! How are rads going? Check out the Hill Country thread-planning another get together soon. Maybe you can join us. It will be South this time, I think. 

My DD posted a glamour shot photo on FB, of her and I, when she was about 5 I guess. Boy, did I have a lot of hair then...of course, it was about 1990 or so and I live in Texas-what can I say?! It did make me miss my long hair though.  

Going to Lake Bastrop tomorrow, with my friend that took me to chemo, to celebrate end of TX! Looking forward to getting away for a couple of days! Have had a stressful month with step-daughter leaving her husband, and my son was in an auto accident last Thursday...he's doing pretty good, but still off of work. I think I need a break

Have a Happy Hump day!

Thanks for the info. Robin.  I need to go to Costco today to get some organic coffee, will look for the coloring books.

Keepthefaith - My D level was 21 last time they checked.  I too heard it should be between 30-40.  Hope you have a relaxing couple of days.  

Kim

I start radiation in one hour..........why the hell am i so nervous???????? ugh.......feel nervous diarrhea coming on....thats never good with the hemmorhoid problem....i'm a mess!  

Wish me luck! I know i'm worrying for nothing but it's what I do best! ha!

michelle

missy, sorry you are feeling anxious. BREATHE! You can do it! You will probably feel better after the first one and then it will become boring:). I only felt anxious when they took images a week or two in and didn't tell me that was standard procedure,  beforehand. They may ck your blood also, a couple of times. 

char, I didn't have drains with my LX and it was an out-patient procedure . I  recovered quickly and was back at home an hour or two after I came out of recovery.  They bound my chest with an ace bandage and gauze, which I left on for a day or two...can't remember. It was a huge relief  for me mentally, bc I had to wait longer than I had wanted to for surgery (BS on vacation). I just wanted to get that (*^%%^%$#@! thing out of me. I don't remember having any problems at all. Try to take it easy for a week or so; no heavy lifting, etc. I wore tight fitting open front  cotton bras for a while and iced it for several days until swelling went down. I think I used OTC pain meds for the most part. I was able to sleep on my stomach within a couple of weeks. I found it easier to wear button front clothes also. I hope you do well with no complications! Let us know.

I did it! whew! laid on that hard table for over an hour while they did all the xrays and whatever else they were doing, my boob and chest look like a dot-to-dot.  I think the worst of it was the being uncomfortable and the anxiety and not being able to relax.  They said they usually do this as a 2 step process but felt i could handle doing all on the same day.  Glad they have faith in me! My RO ended up not going with the IMRT radiation and instead is doing the 3d radiation because he said how my body is he just couldn't get a clear enough area around my heart and lungs and he could with the 3d.

Charusa, think about getting a good squirt bottle, fill it with warm water and use that for cleaning and then pat it dry from the front like you normally do.  

Well ladies, one treatment down, 30+ to go! 

Michelle

Charusa...no worries, with the constipation you will get after surgery, BM's wont be a problem!  LOL

Seriously, you should not have an issue reaching down.  BUT I did see another post from a woman who used a wooden spoon that she wrapped with toilet tissue.  She said the paper would drop into the toilet easily and wooden spoons are cheap!

Best wishes, I am sure you will find you get through this much easier than you anticipated.

Michelle,

congrats on getting started.  I know just how you feel, I  have my dry run tomorrow, expect to get a 5th tattoo and hear it will be right on the nipple area since my surgery was just below it. Told to expect it to take about 60-90 minutes and  then should get the real thing starting Friday. I think the fear of the unknown is the worst thing. Hearing about all the burned skin is making me scared. But of course I have to do this and what will be will be.

char, I didn't wear a bra home after LX. That dress sounds perfect.  IDK about an answer to your other question. I used flush wipes for a while, while on chemo bc of some tenderness downstairs and a yeast infection. 

good for you Michelle, for getting thru it!

For the rest of you starting rads soon, the red skin that I had was not painful like a sunburn. It did get warm for a few days and had a few pings of pain now and then; some tenderness and nipple sensitivity after a few weeks, but it goes away quickly. I know we are all different, but for me, it was more annoying than anything....trying to find something comfortable to keep my "fold" from giving me problems. I used corn starch baby powder at my fold to keep it dry and didn't have any issues. I usually wear a wire bra. Found some soft bras at Kohls; not much support but works with big shirts. I had some red bumps on my chest that were irritating and also put corn starch baby powder on those. Seemed to relieve the itching and dry them up.  DON"T use baby powder with any metals or talc. Don't let your rads area be exposed to the sun-they probably already told you that.

I hope you all have few SE's. I think you will find that rads are much easier than chemo:). Good luck y'all!:)

Thank you ladies for all your ideas, I am just worried about pain and stretching/bending...

I can't remember who asked about the swollen feeling hands and joint aches a few days ago.  I had that this morning.  Had to open and close my hands this morning to get them moving.  On a good note, I was able to sleep with my hands under the covers last night.  They have been to hot to be able to do that.  Hopefully that means another step closer to the end of neuropathy.  Also, so far today not hot hand flashes.  They are a little warm but not like before. 

I went to Happy Hour with my buzz looking hairdo and got several compliments on my chic look.  Hee hee!  I just smiled and said "Thank You". 

I have my dry run for rads today, start Monday.  WOOHOO! let's get this show on the road. 

Jodi, you made me LOL - computers and cheerleaders bwwaaaaa!  Honestly, I feel like I hit rock bottom with chemo about 2-3 weeks PFC.  My brain was like, this is supposed to be OVER!  And my body was like, not so much.  Mouth sores & taste issues are the worst.  They will improve.  Soon!  Just hang on.  When I really started to feel the difference was about 4 weeks PFC.

Charusa, in your pocket today!  I agree with the water bottle idea.  Needed to do that post-baby for quite a while & it worked.

I have simulation today.  For some reason, I've been told it takes a week after simulation to get started.  Something about building a model with radiation physicists?  Sounds very high tech.  On the low tech side, I have to go physically pick up CDs of my MRIs in December and April and bring them to the RO.  Apparently, despite the fact that all locations are Johns Hopkins (and despite what they told me initially when I asked), they can't access the images electronically.  My RO wants to see especially my December (pre-chemo) MRI to triple check that she doesn't see anything in the nodes (they were negative post chemo with no sign of "chemo effect" but there's no way to be 100% certain that there was never cancer in the nodes).  I think I mentioned that I love this RO.  She can triple (and quadruple  . . . and quintuple . . ) check anything she wants!  Love how careful she is!

DJJ and Holli, hopefully I'm right behind you with started rads either next week or the week after!

Hi girlies, I have been MIA for a bit,  I am trying to take in this big city and make the best of this experience.

I had rad #15 today, I am half way there !!! yay..... I am flying home for a quick visit this weekend with my little family and then back to Toronto on Sunday.  I just booked flights yesterday for the kids and my husband so we are taking advantage of this and getting a little vacay out of it.

I have been out with a couple ladies from the canadian connection boards, it was very nice to meet them and share some stories.

oh and my skin is holding up so far.*knock on wood* it looks a little tanned but thats it, heres hoping that all I get from rads.

Hair is coming and my brows and lashes are doing well too.

charusa - hope all is going well today

DJJ - love the drug clean up I have to admit it felt great to ditch that shit

Jodi - sending you lots of prayers..

well I am heading for a nap, I do find I am getting a little tired with the rads

xo

Well now 4 weeks PFC -RT dry run done today and they flip the switch tomorrow and turn on the machine.  Never thought I would get so up close and personal with a linear accelerator. Getting IMRT with the usual 33 treatments including 5 boost. RO said not to use anything on my skin unless I start to get problems. He is easy though, can use regular deodorant and even shave if wanted. I picked up some Tom's deodorant that does not have any aluminum which I will try first.

Oh and to top off starting Rads tomorrow I will be taking my first dose of Aromasin tonight. Hot flushes and a glowing boob, what fun!

There is a thread now for Summer Rads that was started about a week ago.  summer Rads 2014

Jodi, glad you Dad is strong willed, wishing him a good recovery

Kim- glad you are getting out and exploring your temporary environment. A quick trip home will pick up your spirits.

So I had my second radiation treatment today.....much shorter then the hour and a half i was on the table yesterday! I was given Califlora gel to put all over the area 2 to 3 hours after the treatments and then when that is completely dry to put corn starch on.  This Califlora is made from dandilions i guess?  Anybody else on this?  I was told not to use deodorant....funny how doctors are all so different.  I had lab work done yesterday......its been about 3 weeks since i've been on tamoxifen so i figured it was because of that but the nurse said my MO was checking for tumor markers?  I asked if i always had that done with my labs and she said looked through all my labs and the only time they checked it was during my initial labs when i was first diagnosed.  According to my nurse, she said that number was very low so i think that is good? I will be curious to see what it is now.

Thanks for the good wishes.....and my best wishes to you all as well! For any of you facebookers out there, you can find me at www.facebook.com/missy6758703.  

Off to bed........good night my fellow warriors!

Yes, very different...but similar...No deodorant from my RO. His nurse gave me an Aquaphor sample and said to use it either when I get home or at night before bed. No strict guidelines. My RO says not to use until/unless I have symptoms of needing it. Who knows....going with the until/unless! 

Michelle, sent you a friend request! Here is my facebook page Robin's FB page link