Summer Rads 2014

Aff I just want to stay on the same brand! I spent way to much time probably like a lot of you reading these boards.  I came to the conclusion that once you start a brand stick with that brand.  I find it crazy how they're all the same but each one may carry a different side effect.  My pharmacist said it had to do with the fillers.  

Yesterday was a tough day.  Our aunt was diagnosed with cancer spread throughout her body 3 weeks ago.  She only went to the doctor because her stomach hurt! She left us this morning about 1 am.  I absolutely HATE cancer and the devastation it causes!!!! 

Rette, thanks for your reply. Sorry about the pain you're dealing with in the nipple. I was spared a lot in that area because of the position of the tumor.

lyzzy, yes, it is VERY stressful. When things go wrong you need to be on top of it instantly until it's fixed. Went on a day trip yesterday, it was good to get my mind off of work.  

Rosie, I hope you get the dosage straightened out! 

Have a wonderful day ladies.

sunshine - I am so very sorry about your aunt. Your family will be in my prayers. 

I posted before I saw the last page. 

Just wanted to say Sunshine I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt. I am thinking about you and your family. Such a difficult time. My brother in law went for what he thought was hernia surgery and it turned out he had a really bad Lymphoma. He has been battling it and is hanging in there but its very tough for him and his wife.

Barbara, so sorry about you little dog too. I really hope they are able to operate and she can be with you an by your side for a long time. I know we would do anything to save our little dog too.

 Cancer is such a curse!! Sometimes people know what caused it but most times its just a cr@p shoot.

sunshine. So very sorry about the sudden diagnosis and loss of your Aunt. That knocks the wind out of you, doesn't it. 

Just had a lovely weekend bouncing between several friends in Tampa area and looking at houses.   If we are going to be stuck here (and not Australia) we at least want to be on the beach!   I still get tired in the early evening and find myself a wee jealous of my non-stop, crazy friends with their stamina. 

Sometimes I have to remind myself I am only 11 weeks  PFC and 6 days past rads.   

jbokland...I am right there with you!  Came home from a funday Sunday at my sisters at 6 pm and thought how nice it would be to cruise to the beach and hang out down there...but sooo tired!!  So I laid on the couch instead...I also forget what a " war" our bodies went through...as I lay here in bed with aches and pains at 9:20...guess it will take some time my friend. Rosie

I find the fatigue just comes and goes. Was napping and watching TV with my feet up when I heard an odd crunching noise. Upon investigation it turned out to be my knee bending, and the other one sounded similar, Yucky! I have had a few twinges jogging round the track but nothing much. They sound like they need oiling. Any ideas anybody? Don't want to stop the exercising!! My neck has felt like it has crystals in it for a long time and this is kind of similar.

I was also thinking about the black cohosh. I know a few of you have tried it. Has anybody had any comments from their MO about the plant estrogens that it apparently has?

Deb, the snoozing is normal. I had no chemo and had a few days during rads when I slept pretty much all day. Even yesterday, 3 weeks out,  I stayed in bed most of the afternoon and evening and saw the Devil Wears Prada, which I have seem before, twice because I was too sleepy to a. watch it and b. change the channel! Today energy was better. Went to gym and only fell asleep for a few mins watching TV. Tomorrow is a holiday. Intentions are good but who knows!

Don't worry and just let yourself heal!

deb, jbokland, momofirishquads...the teacher in me wants to collect all of our data on the meds we all took...graph our symptoms and figure out how long this feeling of lethargy and aches and pains will last and why some of us feel like this and others have more energy but there are just too many factors!!!

My cousin reminds me that our bodies went through a war...we need time to heal...so I try to remember that and listen to my body but I like to be out and about!!

Deblc...I also had TAC that ended June 2...just ended rads august 13 and started back to teaching kindergarten...I am still baffled as to why I have these aches and pains so far out of chemo..then I remember how it always feels the first few weeks back to school, so I attribute it to that for me....YOU had TAC and herceptin...and rads....BAM!  Sooo much and I guess we just want to get back to normal and are tired of all this!  

But even though my job brings on weariness, I am going to try to get in with a good general practitioner to keep things in check...what about iron levels for sheer exhaustion or other deficiencies we may have??  I need to know if all that is ok before I will blame the chemo/rads.   But really, what is the length of time after PFC or PFR before we should feel ok??  I am sure each person differs depending on the meds they were given and other health issues...

I also want to make sure I get full effect of the tamoxifen so I am careful about just adding in any supplements or OTC which may diminish effect...also prescribed meds interaction and we can't assume our MO knows our meds if he didn't prescribe them....sorry I am going off tangent but these things have come to mind this past weekend for me.

Well I am posting another really good quote for all of us....love this:

Happy Monday to all the QUEENS on here! Rosie

Thats a great quote Rosie. It really makes you stop and think.

I was thinking about glucosamine Sunshine. I went to the gym today and made and appt. to see their head fitness guy next Monday. As they also have physical therapists and people doing rehab there I think the staff are well qualified so I want to try and get a program to get the maximum out of the gym for my needs. Its like I can leg press 180lb but is that even what I should be doing... . When I go to the gym I feel energized by the time I leave and feel like I could do more but then I get home and just want to nap and eat..

Amy my thought has always been that I'll do the recommended treatment until there is such bad quality of life I can no longer tolerate it.  Does that make sense? We are all wired so different.  What I have found is my side effects come and go. 

I think Rosie or someone was talking about taking their pill at night.  I had tried that early on but the night sweats were terrible.  I've been feeling like poop during the day so last night I took my tamox before bed. I've had MUCH more energy today and I think I've been a bit nicer too lol.  

Happy Labor Day ladies!! Hope you've incorporated some laughter into your day!

jbokland...I was super burned and it was amazing that the week after last rad I was super healed!  Now I did an experiment as I usually stuck to what doc told me to use...I went back to my trusty old coconut oil (I get the huge jar at costco) and I use d that and if the skin wasnt too red or sore, I scrubbed ...a wash cloth would work but I also got one of those long back wrap scrubbers for my back area...within the week the peeling was about gone!! When I saw my doc I told him coconut oil really helps!  

When did you finish??? Did I miss saying yahoo??? 

Sunshine...I am like you and will do all treatment until it effects my quality of life...

Rosie

jbok - i only moisturized after rads. first silvadene then after the skin looked less burnt, switched to calendula.  2 weeks out now and looking really good! no scrubbing, and didn't use soap on it during showers. 

i was wondering though, do you any plans to return to Australia? I've never been but it's a place that has always piqued my attention. That, and Thailand.

well jbokland...YAHOOEY!!!  After a week out my skin looked so much better!  I burned terribly and had to have a week break in between and he cut back 3 rads and 3 boosts....so I am 2 1/2 weeks PFR and my skin looks really good!  I just use any of my favorite moisturizers but recently found vitamin e cream and I use that.

So lyzzysmom....I am 54 and just started menopause ....so he is putting me on tamoxifen for 6 months and then we will have a follow up...I see him in 3 months.  By then I sure hope the leg weakness and pain is resolved!  Currently I still need to find out about the dosage and I will call tomorrow...I have just taken 20 mg each day, not the 40 he prescribed....pharmacy said that was how it was written and the odd thing was that it only had 30 pills and at 2 x per day it was only 14 days...so I will see tomorrow!

Well hitting the sack early so I can face 21  5 year olds at 7:30 a.m....am I crazy or what??? Lol...but when they look at me and say, "you are beautiful with or without your scarf on"...it's certainly worth it!!! Rosie

Hello friends.  Sorry I popped on here a month ago, then never found my way back.  Truth is, once I finished the awful chemo I kind of felt like I was done on some level, and needed a break from "talking cancer".  I appreciate everyone's kind words and input.  I am now heading to 12/32 and so far so good.  Except for one new little symptom which creeped up on me a couple of days ago.  Difficulty swallowing.  Does anyone here share this side effect? And if so, did it get worse as time went on?  I will definitely speak with my Onc on Friday about it.  Nobody told me to possibly expect that.  Thank god for Google, lol. 

Today is back to school and that means back to a stricter schedule for me.  I am a secy in a high school so summer with all it's medical chaos was very flexible for my needs.  Now I will be working through lunch and break in order to do my radiation appts.  The good news is that I'm 1/3 done already...  It's so crazy to have to go every day though.  But I wouldn't trade it for the chemo nightmare and a million bucks! 

Have a great day everyone~