Spring 2014 Rads

Oh Anne, he is so happy to be on your lap!  And vice versa---You look really good.  Theory on curcumin is it helps rads hit the cancer cells which are weakend by it and helps protect healthy cells from it.  All I know is two of the ladies who did it posted end of Rads pics and I would have eaten it by the bucket loads to have a chest as normal looking as theirs.  After seeing their chests, I'd take it even if my RO poo-poo-ed it.  Seeing is Believing.  And it is a common spice used in Indian cuisine, so how bad for you can it be? Not.

Do those of you on curcumin think it would benefit those of us that have finished rads? And where do you get it?

Being at  my home in Fl is so different than being at my DD#1's house in Ga. I had "chores" there- empty the dishwasher, keep the laundry going and cook dinner- only when and if I felt like it. She keeps a beautiful home, in fact, I always tell her she cleans too much. She never stops and just relaxes. My DD#2, who lives in my home in Fl...not so much. She has someone come in every other week to clean, but there is a lot of "stuff" on the kitchen counters, end tables, etc. I've seen a lot worse, but because it is my home, I want to jump in and make everything as neat and clean as Nancy's was. Problem #1: it is Tracy's home, and her job to clean, etc- not my place to judge. #2:, I just don't have the energy or range of motion needed to do much. I just finished rads yesterday! But we both agree this house needs a major facelift. I moved Tracy into the master bedroom a few months after DH passed. Too many memories, and I was traveling a lot. It had grey and sea green walls. Tracy goes much more for earthy tones of tan, brown, darker greens. So it took more than a year, but they just repainted the room the past two weekends. What a difference- and how shabby the rest of the house looks. So we have a task ahead of us. Thank goodness although our color choices are different, our tastes are the same- watch out stores and bank accounts--here we come!

Yes, use tumeric as much as possible girls. I have been including it in my cooking. And there is no side effects if taken in small amts. 

I got 9 more treatments to go. 5 boost and 4 all over. I got some peeling on nipple. They gave me some form of bandage that does not stick to skin but easier on skin. That is helping me. 

I asked doctor if my nipple area will receive boost or not. And he said NO. I am so happy. Light at the end of dark, long tunnel. 

looking hot, mama! now did you color your hair?? it looks good!

Vintage you look awesome!! I wish we had like buttons!! 

Vintage gal you look great!

FightBC, I have 10 boosts left.  Part of my boost area was the nipple, but since it is already peeling RO was concerned and changed my area.  I haven't seen it, will tomorrow.  With 10 he was worried about the redness I would develop as I receive a bolus everyday.

Question for anyone in treatment and those done.  My radiated boob has been swollen, the past week. Previously it would swell and go down, and I could tell as it would flatten out and there would be a dent where tissue was removed.  For anyone that is done who had swelling how long did it take to go away?  I can't tell if the tightness I feel is from swelling or if the implant is getting squeezed.  I see the PS 5 days after rads are done (see the MO same day for bottle O Tamoxifen) , as he wants to take a second look.  He saw them pre rads, will see them post and then probably at 6 months to see if we need to fix anything since not having an issue is an exception with existing implants.  

Today I finished my 25 full breast and side chest wall.  I only used Aloe and Aquaphor when needed towards the end.  Knock on wood it has not been that bad.  The next 10 will be harder.  But, it seems a lot of us have less skin issues when we don't do anything until needed.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Ha Redhead!! I love the new crayola name! It made me smile! 

Did you get boost Red? 

redheaded1, yes I have a weekly Dr. check. I think like many of us you start feeling the symptoms towards the end. My Dr. checks are on Tuesdays.  I'm fine, just notice I'm swollen and feel tight the past few days.  I am similar to you in that by the end of the day I'm red, but by morning much of it is more tan.  Under my arm is very dry and is a purplish color.  You are correct about the boosts, it is a smaller targeted area, so the rest receives a break.  The smaller area is still receiving the same radiation as the larger and my RO has already warned me I will get red.  Thank you for your reply.

Delufox, so sorry to hear about that.  What did the Dr's say you could do about it?

Thanks when I first start to get hair post chemo it was salt & pepper. I used a hair refresher mask on it, only took a couple squirts LOL So the package lasts a long time. It is normally used on color treated hair (like dark reds/plums) to freshen it between colorings. It gave it a purple hue to the gray. I wanted it darker so I have semi permanent color from SALLY's (last a couple weeks depending on shampoos) this is called Amethyst. Again a few dabs & rubs is all it takes with this teeny tiny hair growth! The bottle will last a long time, no peroxide, no alcohol, no developer or mixing.

Oh my gosh vintage, you're 60? You look fabulous!! I thought you were younger than me!! 

My hair is so gray and I'm coloring it way to often.  Where do you get the hair refresher? I've seen the semi at Sally's and actually bought it for my sister.  

vintage: I love the happy smile and congrats on being done!

All: I wonder when is it OK to colour ones hair? I have been thinking about it lately since mine keeps coming back with quite a bit of grey.

Also, has anybody experienced lower ribs pains on the radiated side? Abdominal muscle pains?

Today is my B-day and a good time to remind myself to be thankful to live to this point. 

Amazonwarrior  Happy Birthday!   Hope all your wishes come true.     I colored my hair -- didn't give it a second thought thru surgery/rads.  no chemo so don't know if hair color was discouraged during chemo or not.        I have had twinges around the radiated chest but not 'muscle pain' the twinges  come and go pretty quickly.   The boost area is itchy now as they said it may be and using betamethasone cream on it helps me. I have been a bit tired but still pushing myself to exercise -- walking/yoga when I'm tired and some run/bike when I have more energy.   My energy dips with the weather - it has been raining  alot here and it adds to my exhaustion.       Vintage pretty photo -- you look so happy!      Anne love the photo with grandson.  He's a cutie! 

Happy Birthday Amazon!

My hair is coming in pure white, not grey or mixed. The kids want me to leave it that way, but so far I am seeing too much scalp to be comfortable without my wig in public. I am still very red 2 days post rads + boosts. I had BMX but what they left, particularly under the arm gets swollen, especially in the evening. Not much pain, but I have very little feeling in that area.  

Anne

1/33 done today. So glad to get it started.  So nervous I lost count on the zaps and number of positions. But I think   9 zaps from 5 or 6 positions.  They were running late so I waited an extra anxious 25 minutes.  

Again told I do not need to put anything on my skin unless a problems develops. So I will hold off on the lotions and potions for now. 

Amazon happy birthday, so nice it was after you finished all your treatment.   I had mine in the middle of AC. 

Off to do my 1.5 mile walk. Have a great weekend all. 

Momto3boysaz      I'm so with you on the radiation stickers !!   I'm sick of them.  I  must have 25 from my stomach to my neck/clavicle area.  They cover my left and right breast. Only right is being treated.... I keep asking them can they just use a few of the lines to check their measurements and marks... Why do the need the one that goes all the way to my neck line practically.  I live in the south and its hot here too.  I am sick of trying to cover it up with round neck shirts all the way to my neck... I am not like some of the other women who don't mind showing what they are going through.  I really don't want anyone to know.

I am in day 14 of 33 and  starting to redden and itch.  I accidently put zinc oxide on my skin one night instead of hydrocortisone.  It barely came off in the shower and couldn't rub too much.  It ate away at the rubber stickers so they pretty much had to re-do most of them.  They helped to try to remove it from my skin, and mentioned it may cause me to burn more.   but they went ahead with the treatment, and now I have  a few brown splotches that look like bad sun damage spots.    Great.  I was using calendula and aloe with good results so far...  until this happened.

I know they just think I'm just being annoying and silly for being concerned about some stickers, but it is just another smack in the face -- I'm hoping I can get through this...