Anyone from Alberta? Edmonton? Fort McMurray?

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited May 2014

    Carren, my underarm had a large area that was a lot darker & hurt after rads.  Remember, after rads u will continue to cook for about 2 weeks .  Then you start to heal.  I slept not too bad,  Used Aloe/ after sun along with Glaxol base.

    As for hair.  It will probably be 2-3 months before you will have enough to call hair. lol.  Mine is still too short to curl, I tried . The first bit of growth you have will almost look like it is clear fishing line,  Then it will start to darken or whiten.  and it is SO soft, like rabbit fur. You will be constantly running your fingers through it. 

    Rad side effects ,  the fatigue hits you out of nowhere after doing not much at all. Still does for me anyway.

    They say 2-4yrs recovery.  Any side effects left after 1 year , may be permanent.

    For me, Chemo effected my speech.  My chemo brain won't let me get out 2 sentences if I'm tired or stressed.  Right now I'm battling  with bowel problems,  Not sure if chemo related or not.  Have tests this week.

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited May 2014

    P.S>  Also losing toenails, 4 so far, last one was just a week ago.

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited June 2014

    Carren- I got in with Dr Cuataro too!  Whooop!  Glad to not have to drive to Calgary every day for 6+ weeks :)

    Gia - I love lacombe.  And it's tea houses!  Was at Morrison House on Friday...mmmm.  And then the LMC for the rotatary clubs pirate/lobster dinner.  Fun times.  My hubby works in Lacombe :)  

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  • Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock
    Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock Member Posts: 116
    edited June 2014

    Charger70 - thanks for the information of post-rad se's. I sure have had mine! It was the raw flesh eaten sight that was extremely sore. I did not wear a bra for almost 2 weeks. I am heavy, large breasted so you can only imagine that sight. haha It is now healed but still peeling. The BC breast is extremely dark and will swell at times. It seems to have taken on a life of it own. I will wake up in the morning and depending on if I slept on that side of my body it will be all contorted. I actually have to manipulate it back into a 'breast like' form. TMI? LOL If I can tell you gals, who can I tell.

    Clarrn - Dr Julie is WONDERFUL! She is very good at giving you ALL the information you ask for - good and bad - in detail; do not be afraid to ask the questions. I would research online stuff and make a list. I found that she will take all the time you need and never one felt rushed to leave her appointment; what a nice change. Have you started your rads yet? When and how long will you have them?

    Charger70 - hair today! Yippee! I am back at work now and have worn wigs for the last week but as soon as I do NOT see any white scalp, I will stop wearing them. Mind you, I really do like the two wigs I have now fromt he Cancer Society here in Red Deer. It just seems to 'finish' my outfit off. It is amazing was make-up and a wig can do for ones' self-esteem when in public.

    Carren

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited June 2014

    Carren  Healing takes time.  Lots of time, it happens very slowly.  Glad to here things are a bit better for you.  Are you done active treatment now?

    Yesterday was 7 mos PFC!  my how time flies.  Lost another toenail.  Hopefully last one.

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  • Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock
    Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock Member Posts: 116
    edited July 2014

    70 Charger -  I am now 55 days since my last Radiation treatment - whoa, AA flash back - lol. I have recently started to lose 1/2 nails - top halves are starting to come off. So have cut them short to help to maintain some of what is left. Haven't even thought about the toesnails - but they did not have the discolouration like the finger nails did.  My left breast is very swollen right night by some arm activity. Suspect I lifted one to many boxes and a heavy one at that (14kg/25#). It is now day 5 and the cold clothes, ice packs and Aleve are not really helping the swelling - but I do not have back pain or sore knees. :)  TIme to go to the regular MD - as the Radiation Nurse suggested that. Still shaking my head. The fatigue is getting worse NOW and better with the increase of Water.

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    maybe your fatigue is more related to de-hydration.  But definetily get checked by dr.

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  • kimag
    kimag Member Posts: 114
    edited July 2014

    Hi Everyone  I am from Edmonton, ALberta, now 6 days post BMX, recovering and waiting for pathology results... anyone else close to Edmonton? I had my surgery at Misericordia Hospital

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    kimag, I'm in Leduc. Also had my lumpectomy at Mis.  Waiting for that dreaded path report is horrible.  Big Hugs.

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  • kimag
    kimag Member Posts: 114
    edited July 2014

    hi 70charger - how are you doing now? Are you done with chemo?

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    Had my surgery aug 9th 2013, started chemo Sept-nov, Radiation Dec/Jan.  Still have some side effects & fatigue& you?  How you handling all this?

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  • gia444
    gia444 Member Posts: 68
    edited July 2014

    Hi kimag,

    I am from Lacombe.    Not that far from Edmonton...

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    gia  Are u going to Lacombe days?

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  • gia444
    gia444 Member Posts: 68
    edited July 2014


    70 charger,

    Not sure yet.   I spent several hours in the ER for my husband.   Always something...

     

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    Gia, OH NOI really hope things are better for you guys.  That's all you need.  Just asking about Lacombe Days as I think we will be showing our car there.

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  • gia444
    gia444 Member Posts: 68
    edited July 2014

    Yes my husband has been having a lot of health issues lately.    He already has severe COPD, heart issues etc.     We have not been going very far.     I see we joined around the same time.     

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  • kimag
    kimag Member Posts: 114
    edited July 2014

    Hi Gia444, I hope it will all start to go better for you and your husband.

    70charger - I am waiting still for path. report, now any day... I have some issues with right side, drains removed but right side seems to look inflamed and I think it is swelling too, tomorrow should see home care nurse, I hate waiting, with anxiety on board it is even more difficult.. I am not even sure how it supposed to heal, what is normal, maybe what I feel is normal I just don't know...

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    kimag, The waiting is hard, really hard.  Don't be afraid to ask your doc for something to help with the anxiety. I didn't have drains, so can't help you there.  Hopefully your home care can help.  Glad you found this site.  LOTS of info & helpful ladies here.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  Are you on other threads here?  Wishing you the best.

    Gia  Still hoping for the best for you guys.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2014

    Hi !!!! I am from Airdrie Alberta !

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    Hi erase, sorry you had to join us.  Did you just start your chemo? how many rounds are you doing?  Are you also doing rads?

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited August 2014

    bump  Wher have the alberta girls gone?

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  • Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock
    Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock Member Posts: 116
    edited August 2014

    Here I am - in Red Deer. We must all be enjoying the last of summer. Cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. Just an update on my post-BC.  In July, the sernoma - left from the tumor removal last November - started to swell - again. Since it had done this before last December I knew that the procedure was simply to have it drained so went to my family MD. Nope, he put in an emergency request to the surgeon that did the initual surgery and past aspiration; turns out he is off to school for another year to learn about Colon Surgery. Boobs and Bums, my sister said! LOL Long story short - ER for 4 days, aspirtation with lab result of STAPH Infection; IV antibiotics every 12 hours at ER, oral antibiotics, 3 weeks with an ALWAYS with WINGS on my LB to soak up the drainage, recheck with the (new) surgeon and now on daily visits to the Home Care Nurses. I now have a hole the size of the old tumor that is open and is being packed in the process of being healed. My LB looks like an orange (dimpled) - extreme edema, my skin is SO itch and peeling - even with the Glaxal cream. So that is what is happening with me - how about the rest of you? Do you have any solutions to my itching? OH, yes, my husband has been home with a sore throat and head cold for the past 7 days and guess what he gave me ... sigh. cough, cough

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited August 2014

    Carren- it must be going around Red Deer.  My hubby also gave me the cold, but so far I am avoiding the fever part.   Fingers crossed.   11 out of 12 taxols due today,  feels like I have been on chemo forever.   I had a seroma and staph infection too in July.  Earned myself a severe sepsis and 8 days in the hospital. ...grrr.  severe sepsis still felt way better than how I felt on AC...lol.  Perspective really is everything.   

    Where had summer gone?  I can't believe that it is almost Sept!  I will get a few weeks off in Sept before rads starts. (Other than appts)  Hopefully the weather holds! 

    Hope the rest of you are doing well! 

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited August 2014

    WOW! a lot has been happening.  So sorry you guys ended up in er.

    The virus that is going around right now is worse than in winter.  My Doc says right now there are 87% bugs in the air, in winter it is 47-63%.  This virus stays in the system for 2 months.  It will continue to raise it's ugly head over & over.  I have bronchitis from it. Done anit-biotics, but still coughing up a lot.

    I have been busy getting garden & fruit into freezer for winter.  Getting part numbers to order parts for car, planning a garage as well.

    Got my 1st tattoo yesterday.  I want more.  LOL  Left ankle,  Mopar logo.

    We did the big Mopar show & shine in Red Deer on the weekend at Parkland Mall. Always a good show.

    Summer is way too short.  I HATE WINTER!  Not looking forward to it at all.

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited October 2014

    Hope everyone is doing well!  

    I just wanted to put a plug in for a retreat for cancer patients/survivors and their support people here.  I went a few weekends ago and found it helpful.  You can look them up at www.knightscabin.com 

    And it's free ;)  

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited October 2014

    Is it all done at the same lodge, they don't really say.  Sounds nice.  But not in winter.

    How you been doing?

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited October 2014

    It is different lodges based on who has availability I think.  They do them in April or October right now but it is still pretty new.  

    I am doing okay.   10/25 rads done :) and just tired (which is so nice after chemo).  Starting to get anxious about returning to work after almost a year off, and well enough now to worry/grieve over the permanent changes and new realities.   But it's all part of the process, isn't it?  Still somehow manage to end each good cry with feeling grateful for today, so I consider that a win!  

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited October 2014

    Yes I still get tired, some days worse than others. I finished Rads in Jan.  I also get chemo flashbacks.  Just wake up & feel like I did on Chemo & or have terrible digestive issues.  It can last a few days or a few weeks, just never know. I also get bouts of neuropathy in my hands or feet. 

    Glad to hear things are going "normal" for you. Air out your skin lots& keep moving, it really does help with the tired.

    Thanks for the post I think I'll check it out.

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  • Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock
    Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock Member Posts: 116
    edited October 2014

    70charger Thanks for sending me a message. Can I blame Chemo brain on not being here for a while. ha ha Seriously,so much happening with the LB these days. In July the seroma from the tumor removal got infected with a low grade staph. After the time in the ER , I saw the surgeon and he said to let it drain naturally which took 3 weeks. At recheck on August 18th, it had developed a hole, which is what the surgeon wanted to see! So, now I have to go and see a home care nurse (every other day)to have the wound packed so that it stays open and draining until it slowly closes up (inside to outside) on its own. It was 6.3cm deep and now is 2.3cm deep. So doing better NOW that they are not over packing it. I have set 1:30pm as my appointment times so that I do not forget PLUS I have put it on my phone calendar and alarmed it to remind me.

    I saw my Rad. Oncologist on Oct 14th and told them that I still felt tired and fatigued. I asked about exercise and going to Curves; she veto'd that idea, said it would exhaust my body to much! So I asked about walking - 10 minutes max. per day. At that point I confessed to her that I had been trying to go back to work and I got a 'look'; I could see she was strongly considering what she was going to say. It was unnerving to see someone half my age give ME the 'look' I use to give my kids. lol She said "you have to understand that with surgery, chemo and radiation it is going to take your body a long, long time to recovery". Oops. So, now, no more working - except I go for 3 hours on a Wednesday afternoon to do some paper work; but even that is mentally taxing, I prefer the physical exhaustion instead.

    It is really hard for me to rest when I am a worker; but I am slowly getting into visiting with friends, I joined Weight Watchers for a social outing and losing the 50# I gained throughout the procedures and meds, going to the local soup kitchen to visit people and friends from church. Unlke Chemo - at least my immune level is where it should be and I can actually get outside my house.

    On a brighter note... I have hair. ha ha It use to be long, mousy brown and straight with a slight wave at the back in it. NOW, it is short (given) extremely curly like a poodle curley and dark with some lovely silver at the temples. I am quite enjoying it now that I do not have to wear wigs.

    Loopy

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  • Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock
    Carren-LB-at-2-0-clock Member Posts: 116
    edited October 2014

    clarrn Good to hear you are half way through your rads. I had 16 and they ended on May 12th. After this last couple of months - All I can say is DO NOT WORRY ABOUT WORK. It will always be there or another job will. It has taken me a lot of thinking and big mistakes to realize that I am important and I need to let my body heal. Do not make my mistakes.

    When I was doing Rads - near the end - all I could think of was (1) how someone had put a ceiling tile in the wrong way, (2) they need some type of music or TV up there to watch & (3) it was a good thing I had done some portrait modeling when I lived in Florida because I KNEW I could sit still for 20 minutes. lol Keep the faith. Be good to yourself. Laugh lots.

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