Summer Rads 2014

Mari, good luck with the MO appt today. I have been trying to eat a lot of protein and exercising. Finally managed to lose a pound this week after slowly increasing weight since the beginning of rads but I have had do an awful lot of exercise(for me) to do it. Not sure I can keep up the pace. Have ordered a FITBIT and will join the exercise forum to try to stay motivated. The calories have been ok on the protein, adding lean chicken to salad on the couple of days I eat at the office. Chicken teriaki sub with spinach and no cheese from Subway once a week that I enjoy and we get lean turkey that is tasty from Costco. Have also found the pure protein chocolate drinks that only have 100 and something cals and 20+ gms of protein which is good before exercise. Worst thing is the bouts of fatigue and hunger when I am working. Not sure if it is a hangover from rads or the tamoxifen I am taking.

Louanne, I do feel that my brain can only take so much before concentration shuts down. Not so bad if I am dealing with an interesting problem and making progress but if I get a roadblock I just want to eat and lay down! There is no way i could work full time anymore so I am just seeing how the 3 days a week works out for the time being.Less money but I get to keep health insurance which is a huge plus.

jbok, does if feel like liquid, or fluttering? I'm not sure how to describe it, but sometimes I feel as if underneath my ribs on the radiated side there is some sort of movement. I'm not having trouble breathing, or, wheezing. It is just really weird, only happens occasionally.

Mari, sounds like you may be working up to full time soon. I just had a huge project thrown my way along with my usual work. I put in about 33 hrs a week. With this project I'll be adding close to 9 more hours. I'm starting to really feel it. 

Lizzy, the brick wall fatigue I was getting is slowly going away. It hits me less often now. I really think it is the Tamoxifen. I just like you start doing something that takes a lot more concentration, and my attention goes. I have to get up and move around. The work I'm used to doing for the past 12 years isn't a problem. So I'm blaming the devil drug! 

I am now 4 weeks post rads...skin is fading nicely, no issues.  But, I am noticing the tightening is continuing in the radiated breast.  I told my doc is felt like the foob is pack in shrink wrap.    Interesting how this will continue on long after the treatments!   Im not looking forward to refilling these puppies!

Sunshine I am so sorry to hear about your situation...it is unbelievable to me that he and an associate who must have known what you have been going through would do such a thing. 

Congrats to all who have crossed the finish line!!!

When I started having skin issues they recommended Domburro soaks which you can buy at CVS in the first aid department. It really helped and can be used for other things like insect bites and poison ivy.

I have also crossed the finish line!!! Yesterday was my last day. So glad to finally be done!!! I have some peeling in my clavicle area but nothing bad and keeping the area very lathered up. Now I am working on making a goal plan for this coming year since I gave cancer all of last year!!! Going to work getting my house back to some kind of order and clean, work on losing some weight, and get ready to enjoy the holidays this year!!!

Congrats Charusa!!! Yes, I see the leaves turning for fall here and it is like Summer 2014 just never happened even though I had a few days vacation. This is my first Friday on my new 3 day work schedule so I have the day off. I think will go to the gym then have my hair cut and colored to hide all those greys. I just wish I would get some energy back. Still, I have more muscles from the gym that I have had in a long while LOL!

Lets hope 2015 is SOOOOO much better for all of us!!!!!!!!!

I got invited to the neighbors for Jewish New Year last night so I am afraid I ate and ate and...then fell asleep in bed watching TV. None of it will be recorded on the FITBIT!!

Two weks past last rads and no itching, but lots of fatigue!

Dee

Yey charusa and congrats!  I guess we need to make a new board since no more summer rads 2014!  How about Goodbye Summer Rads...Hello Better Days!! Glad everyone is finishing up and moving on...wishing better days for you sunshineinky.  Hang in there! Rosie

Hi ladies! You all are so kind.  I've sort of taken a break from social media just to focus on putting life back together.  I think I've experienced every range of emotion out there.  My husband and I are working on saving our 21 year marriage.  It's hard, that trust we had built got broken and I'm not sure how or when or if I'll be able to get it back. So just like my breast cancer journey I'm taking it day by day.  I've missed you all and while summer may be over, we all got through this together!

Sunshine, I second everything Rosie said. I do hope you both work it out and as much as its something you should not have to deal with you certainly have the strength after everything else you have gone through this year! You so deserve to be happy!!

Barney, I have brown spots under my breast in the radiation area that I did not have before.One is quite large. I mentioned my concern to RO that I had a mole close the rads area and he promised me the rads would not cause melanoma. They do however seem to bring out new brown spots and moles. I am just keeping an eye on those spots and will report to MO if they continue to get bigger. Hopefully your MO will be able to set you mind at rest. I am pretty sure some of the other ladies experienced brown spots too. This thread is getting a little quiet as we have finished but hopefully somebody else will chime in.

2014 will be remembered as my year of cancer.  Actually I won't be finished with Herceptin until March 2015.

Yes, an After Summer 2014 Rads forum is needed .  I am also tired of being tired!  The fatigue is still with me after two weeks since last boost.

I noticed some brown spots, too.  And my skin is tan.  I am very fair skinned and it is noticeable if I wear a low neck top.

Still sporting my wig.  Not ready for topless yet.  I think it is my age, as an older woman (70) I just don't look good bald.  In my opinion anyway. I only wear it when I go out somewhere.

My first husband and I were not able to reconcile and we divorced.  Later I met my current husband of 28 years so it worked out okay.  Either way it is tough to go through.  I am not sure which was harder, the divorce or the cancer.

Remember how amazing we are for getting through something as harsh as cancer treatment.  We did what we had to do even if we didn't like it.

Love to you all, Dee

lyzzysmom...is being tired a side effect of tamoxifen?  I am just tired at the end off the day but I just thought it was from teaching kinders! Lol!!  

Yes, 2014 was the year of our Cancer...I was telling my daughter how fast the year is going by but I am wondering how I will celebrate my birthday as that is the time I was diagnosed...such a month filled with anxiety and fear while everyone was celebrating the season...of course DD said we will celebrate big time!!  I won't let cancer ruin what was always a week long celebration for me!  I always loved my birthday!  Now it is a re-birthday!! Blessing, friends! Rosie

Thank you.  I found your information reassuring.  I have my teleconference tomorrow and have some photos of the brown/black spots to show my oncologist.  I'll ask her if I should do a followup with my family doctor. But I feel more at ease now knowing others have had the same reaction.

Rosiesride. Well Said!! Couldn't agree more. Sunshine, you ARE strong and beautiful. Men can be so clueless.I hope he will realize that the best thing in his life is you!!! Please keep us updated. We are here for you. ((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I am still battling fatigue. Almost 3 months out. I am so sick of being tired all the time. It might be a combo of the Tamox and Effexor. 

Bow, yes that fatigue can hit you out of the blue.My hours were 4 days a week at the time and I tried to work from home most days and took a nap for an hour (or more) in the afternoon when I needed it, also took a day or 2 off here and there, but that's not possible for everybody. Exercise definitely helps even if its just taking a walk. And eat lots of lean protein and drink plenty of water. Most of all be kind to yourself. You have been through a great deal and need to heal and get your rest. If they will let you take a nap then bring a cot or find a couch and take a break if you need it!! 

Bow1965, I ditto Iyzzysmom to tell you to eat lots of protein and drink lots of water, exercise even if in 10 minute increments and keep up on using the moisturizers your RO doc says to use. I think this helps tremendously w fatigue and SE's, but everyone is different so remember that. 

I think I'm more tired post rad but my DH reminds me that after rad ended I jumped back into full time at work. So today I decided mid week on Wed's from now through Dec I am only working 1/2 days on Wed and can sleep in. I have council meetings on Monday evenings so work late those nights, and it us contributing to my tiredness, so Late start on Wed may help. I have to remind myself of the afflictions my body has went through these last 4 months!

Well goodnight and  (((hugs))))!  PS are you all catching Joan Lunden's fight w BC and the Power of Pink campaign on the Today show? She rocks!!!