Starting Chemo, November 2013 Group

I'm feeling the same way smrlvr. My toes and fingers still have the tingling and numbness feeling

smrlvr: I have some swelling on my radiated side compared to the other and I am almost 3 weeks PFR. 

The skin still looks redish and puffy, although it has subsided in severity over the past week. 

I started to massage the skin and the scar especially feels super tight - kind of ropy.

I am thinking of using a home ultrasound device to soften the tissue and increase recovery. 

Has anyone tried or heard about ultasound to treat radiated skin?

Plus I have noticed in the past few days that my neuropathy is getting worse?! The bottom of my left toe started to feel numb today and my fingertips have been bothering me as well.? 

Is this possible after 3 months PFC?

Amazon, you look great!!  

I'm almost 11 weeks PFR.  I took on too many little things a couple weeks ago that ended up overworking my left side.  Now that the achiness inside is subsiding, I realize how much tighter that side feels than it did all through and right after I finished rads.  Healing from the inside out now?  I wonder....

what a wonderful change in the condition of your skin! So happy for you!

My skin today--on last day of rads--actually looks WORSE than yours did in the 12-days-PFR photo. It doesn't feel too bad though; just if I lay down on my side--either side--it feels extremely prickly, like someone is jabbing me with about two dozen toothpicks all at once. The feeling goes away after a couple of minutes though, if I just hold still. The entire area itches off and on---which is really WEIRD under my arm because I still don't have much feeling there from the surgery, so I can feel the itch but can't identify where it's originating from. And I am peeling under my arm, but the tech said it didn't look weepy or anything and should be fine. 

The funny part is that my husband--the same guy who got me through showers in the days after my BMX and took care of my drains and even SNIFFED the drain fluid to make sure it didn't smell icky--gets the shudders every time he looks at my radiated skin. He says it looks like it hurts a LOT. It doesn't.....not yet, anyway.

Amazon, I have question about your healing, particularly your armpits.  (Weird, I know!)  When I raise both arms above my head straight up, my right armpit (no lymph nodes removed) looks pit-like.  My left armpit, on the side where I had the axillary dissection, looks flatter and doesn't have that distinctive "pit" that armpits have.  Is that the same for you?  Anyone else? 

Lisa, I have that same itching sensation.  I can feel the itch but imcannot feel the scratch.  Amazon, your skin is looking good.  I also have the achy shoulders, but mine are on both sides.  I don't know if it's from rads, it may be the tamoxifen.  I have notices that in general, my arms are weaker as I have not been using them to lift weights as I used to do.  My PT told me to use bands to build up the muscle there, but I haven't had time.  Maybe when I am out of school,for the summer.  Bec, I also have the armpit indentation in my non BC side.  I think it is from lack of exercise.  Are any of you having side effects from tamoxifen?  I am having hot and cold flashes.also,random aches and pains all over my body that last a few days then move on. Also very creaky joints and muscles.

I went to see my MO today after 3 months PFC. I asked her questions regarding the following studies:

- Tamoxifen and daily low dose Aspirin to increase the effectiveness of Tamoxifen.

http://www.breast-cancer-research.com/content/16/2...

She wasn't familiar, but said that the regiment of 4x per week sounds OK

- Trental (pentoxifylline) and vit E to reduce fibrosis after rads

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22846413#

Again, she didn't know much about this one and said to talk to my RO about it which I already did today over the phone. He was not familiar either and said that they don't do this normally, but checked it out right away and was open to the idea to the point that he gave me a prescription for it as well.

Then we talked about SE of Tamoxifen. I told her that I have hot flashes that feel more like a warm sensation, but I said that it was not as bad as during chemo when I would wake up several times a night drenched in sweat. I found them milder and more manageable.

She asked me about my period. I said I had spotting for 2 days only once since chemo.

She also wanted to see my hair growth and checked out my radiated skin.

I told her about bone and joint pain while on Tamoxifen. She said it was common with pre menopausal women to notice changes with bones.

I asked about the recommended dose for Calcium and Vit D.

She said 1,500 mg of Calcium and

800 IU of vit D daily.

She ordered an MRI of the right side due to my 'medium dense breast'.

She seemed in bit of a rush and just before she left I asked for another Tamoxifen prescription and then she said: See you next year. 

I didn't have a chance to ask anything else because she rushed out the door. Next year? Did I hear well? Then I checked my appointment card and sure enough the next app IS in one year's time in June 2015!!! Really?!

Here is my weekly update for hair growth and radiated skin being 13 weeks PFC and 4 weeks PFR.

Yes, it is!

amazon you look very pretty with your hair also the rads looked very well after right you've been through. It's so great you're all done. Don't forget about us who are still doing chem. I'm still taking herceptin every three weeks till December 18, then I'll be done with treatments.I still have my port on.don't forget to check on us once in a while

I'm still doing Herceptin every 3 weeks till November.  I too still have a port in.

Here is my weekly update for rads skin and hair growth at 14 weeks PFC and 5 weeks PFR. I am also including a pic of my maximum baldness from about 4 months ago and now for a comparison.

It seems that the colour of my skin plateaued since last time. The soreness is now more internal with an increasing tightness. 

amazon nice hair. My hair is really growing too. I'm taking a big chance I'm going for a camping trip with four of my grandchildren but they are really helpful, which is a plus

BigT16 sorry that you have bone joint pains. My SE is I really get achy all over then I have to sleep. When I get up then I'm ok.

Phebe, you are sure brave to go camping with the kids!  Have fun!  I am achy too with the tamoxifen.  Yoga helped the other day, so does walking.  Have a great camping trip!