Winter rads 2014-2015

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  • Nomatterwhat
    Nomatterwhat Member Posts: 587
    edited November 2014


    HockeyCat, Sorry to say welcome to this group, but here we are, again. 

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  • HockeyCat
    HockeyCat Member Posts: 222
    edited November 2014

    Nomatterwhat, nice to see familiar names here. How did your second treatment go? Hope it went smoothly. I still have some SEs from my last chemo, like rash and neuropathy. I hope it will goes away before starting radiation.

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  • mmtagirl
    mmtagirl Member Posts: 509
    edited November 2014

    #13 in the bag. Got hydrocortisone cream from RO for itching but haven't used it yet. Sooooo tired! Just get me through this long week at work!

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  • Beachbaby65
    Beachbaby65 Member Posts: 68
    edited November 2014

    Oh boy do I get the exhaustion! Number 9 for me and I've found my legs, especially my upper thighs are really weak. I'm fine if I get enough sleep but within an hour of treatment I am beat! Sunday is my most exhausted day, it's like it all catches up on Sunday. Skin still good. No other side affects!

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  • MagicalBean
    MagicalBean Member Posts: 362
    edited November 2014

    Hello all,

    Well, I just started week 4 and there is a definite sun burned feeling-tolerable but annoying. No real fatigue, but I do stretch out in the recliner every day about 2 pm for a nap. My center is taking a 4 day week-end over Thanksgiving, but they are open this Sunday as a make-up day so we won't get our end date pushed out further than necessary.

    JustJean-where in NE Ohio? I lived in Youngstown a million years ago. Didn't like Youngstown but loved Ohio.

    Keep warm!


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  • Nomatterwhat
    Nomatterwhat Member Posts: 587
    edited November 2014


    Hockeycat, Treatments have been much better and getting better every day.  I am learning!!!  I now take a sleeveless t-shirt with me and put it on under my bra everyday, so I don't get sharpie anywhere near my good work clothes.  I still have neuropathy, but I have had foot problems for years and my podiatrist is not surprised it hasn't gone away.  Do you know when you start?

     

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  • purrrrana99
    purrrrana99 Member Posts: 30
    edited November 2014

    Had my RO appointment yesterday and my start date is Jan5th. My sim is Dec 29th, I am glad so many are doing well so far. It is starting to feel like the end of treatment is near

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  • bjeaneg
    bjeaneg Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2014

    I am only me, not a group and have just completed my second to the last, I will complete one more and will start radiation. I have a PhD and am a nurse practitioner, I understand they may give me radiation to the lymph site only as I have had a double mastectomy prior to chemo. I became very ill post surgery with Pseudomonus which is the second worst infection obtained in the hospital second only to MRSA. I was more ill from the infection then the surgery or chemo. I have been very weak in bed for over five months, lost 62 pounds and now look like I did @ 12 years old. I am 63 and was very strong, very athletic, with waist length hair. They were very worried about me, and the Doctor span me around and danced with me he was so happy I made it this far.

    You need to remember one day at a time and everyone is new at this when it is you.What matters is you are loved.

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  • CAS4
    CAS4 Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2014

    thank you, Coyote! Mmtagirl I have Tamoxifen in my very nearfuture and am anxious as heck about it- I've realized in this process I'm much less vain than I'd have thought but I gained 40 lbs on chemo and am not losing any. You inspire me, I'm gonna step up my game. Still have tremendously weak legs from chemo. Rad #10 was today. Noticed armpit rad site is sensitive today but so far only physical effect. I do have to crash about 2-3 hrs after rad, it's like I crater into exhaustion but 45 min of hard sleep and I'm good again. It's very frustrating, I'm a go person. I'm learning this year to embrace the down time with my pups and reading and taking care of myself. Still frustrating at times though.

    LMVerna I'm glad yesterday went so well!

    KatieC12 that's too bad about your schedule!! Surely they can do better!! All of mine are at 12 or 1230. My chiropractor worked on knots for almost an hr- didn't know they were That bad! Back tomorrow thank goodness! A patient I know is getting her chiro and pt all covered by her insurance via MDA - I need to find out about this

    Perfectly....I LOVED being bald!! I wore crazy hooker wigs in all colors for chemo to get others to smile. I'm currently in the baby bird phase of re growth and its shockingly almost all white and silver! YALL are having cold wether- stay warm! 35 days to Christmas- that seems impossible.

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  • CAS4
    CAS4 Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2014

    bjeaneg I'm so sorry for all you've been through!! Bless your heart! Sending you strength and healing wishes

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  • HockeyCat
    HockeyCat Member Posts: 222
    edited November 2014

    Nomatterwhat, I have neuropathy too. It started after the last chemo. My toe is numb and it's uncomfortable when I walk. I don't know my start date yet. Seeing RO next Tuesday for simulation. They said I can start on the following week.

    Thank you everyone for posting your progress and SEs you are experiencing. It's helpful to know what to expect.

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  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited November 2014

    Hi All, It is not an easy trip that we are on. Sometimes when I read the posts and realize how many women go through this, I'm stunned. One thing that I realized on the July chemo site is how strong we are. I'm still active there, and we are discussing the neuropathy and other side effects that hit late in the process. Before we end all that, we are dealing with a whole new set of treatments - radiation for some, surgery for others, or targeted treatments that last years.

    bjeaneg - I wish you well with you final chemo... for some reason, for me it was the toughest one. After what you;ve been through, you deserve it to be the easiest. You are correct. everyone is new, and everyone has a different experience. Similar maybe, but different.

    CAS4 - I really want my hair back. I do not look good bald! Are you thinking of keeping it buzzed?

    I did #8 today, and feel a little prickly in the radiated area. My first physical sign of treatment. I actually had more energy today so maybe there is functional life after chemo.

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  • perfectlyimperfect39
    perfectlyimperfect39 Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2014

    cas4: Thanks for making me laugh about the hooker wigs. I did enjoy wearing different ones for different occasions. One time I came downstairs with my going out on the town wig and my four year old said" you don't look like my mom" I'm just rocking the spike hair right now. When I went to go vote the lady I gave my licence to said "Oh somebody got a haircut" and I blatantly said "No it fell out" She felt bad but I can't take credit for this short hairstyle. I never had short hair. I'm sure we could have a board about wig disasters or the pros and cons of being bald lol Anyways, hope all of you have a great day. Remember it can always be worse.

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  • Bippy625
    Bippy625 Member Posts: 890
    edited November 2014

    Hi Sistahs! Just droppin in to say I will be doin rads in January, no dates yet. Meet with rad dr on Monday. Nice to meet you all.

    I am in the August chemo group, a phenomenal group of ladies. Doin my LAST CHEMO tomorrow, I cannot put into words how it feels. Then bmx in mid December, then rads.........then delayed recon.

    I am very encouraged about rads from about everyone that has already done it. They nearly all say it is so much better than chemo. Chemo has been hard on me, much harder than I let on or expected. So happy to let it go. You all know what I mean.

    I love the wig talk, I want to donate mine when done. I have 3! I feel like I am gettin paroled tomorrow from chemical prison! All I will have is 10 days of illness, then it's over! I (and we) are movin on

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  • eileenpg
    eileenpg Member Posts: 467
    edited November 2014

    Hi Bippy. I join here Dec10. Not as scared about rads as I was with chemo. One more left

    Look forward to joining this gorup and MOVING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • KatieC12
    KatieC12 Member Posts: 19
    edited November 2014

    #3 done, getting the hang of it. I did ask and got one day next week changed, and she said tomorrow she'd see what she could do about a few more. My aunt just found out she has to have 25 treatments, which is very disappointing for her after being told initially she'd only need 16. She has a problem with arthritis in her shoulder and neck which will make the treatments a challenge.

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  • perfectlyimperfect39
    perfectlyimperfect39 Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2014

    Hi Bippy: Congrats on your last chemo. Good luck on your surgery. I would donate my wigs but by keeping them I feel that I won't need them ever again. I'm too scared that I will get rid of them and have a recurrence. I know silly but that's how my mind is right now. Does anyone else feel that way?

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  • windgirl
    windgirl Member Posts: 340
    edited November 2014

    hi everyone. I don't have a date yet but should be starting rads in January. I have a question, did all of you get tattoos? Cant they do this without tattoos? Maybe some other marker? Thanks.

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  • MagicalBean
    MagicalBean Member Posts: 362
    edited November 2014

    Hi Windgirl

    I have the tattoos (3). They were painless and so tiny I can hardly see them. Some people have had just the markers but they say they can be very messy and their clothes get stained from them. To me they are a non-issue. If you read through the posts, I think you'll find what some of the others have experienced regarding them.


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  • Nomatterwhat
    Nomatterwhat Member Posts: 587
    edited November 2014

    Bippy, CONGRATS on your last chemo!!!! Ring that bell, loud and proud!!!!  NO better feeling. 

    Windgirl, I have 4 tattoos.  Mine are so small that during the first couple of rads, the tech's used a blue sharpie so they could line things up.  The only problem was that the sharpies ruined a brand new mastectomy bra, which are not cheap.  Now I take a sleeveless undershirt with me and put on under my bra after rads are done. 

     

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  • Birdgirl11
    Birdgirl11 Member Posts: 51
    edited November 2014

    Joining the winter rads group. Had my sim done on Monday and will start this coming Sunday. 28 treatments planned right now should take me just into the new year with all the holidays coming up. I went through my sugery just fine, genetics all came back clear, but for some reason heading into rads is really been a challenge mentally. Maybe it's because winter decided to hit at the same time? Who knows.

    Love reading everyone's posts though - so helpful to know what to expect

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  • Hope50
    Hope50 Member Posts: 103
    edited November 2014

    I've completed #12 today. I will get my last Rad on on Christmas Eve!! I'm getting a little pink. And it hurts to lay on they side. My legs wipe me out. So weird feeling. It's my thighs mostly. In the afternoon they just feel so odd and heavy. It hasn't been to bad though.

    I have 4 tattoos also. Very tiny.

    Welcome to everyone. We will make it. We are strong warriors!!

    May you all feel radiant!!

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  • eileenpg
    eileenpg Member Posts: 467
    edited November 2014

    Perfectlyimperfect = I am not giving away any of my scarves or my wig which I have never worn. I wear scares everyday. I feel that if I do my cancer will come back. So,I am keeping them all in the same drawer. I will lend them out. Maybe in a few years I will change my mind.

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  • Pita119
    Pita119 Member Posts: 85
    edited November 2014

    Hi Windgirl,

    I have 3 tattoos and they are so tiny I think the techs are going to need to use a magnifying glass to find them lol.

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  • Beachbaby65
    Beachbaby65 Member Posts: 68
    edited November 2014

    Hello everyone today was # 10 and so far no SE.

    Hope50 , I too am having problems with my thighs being very weak. It started a little over a week ago. Today at the store I squatted down to read a tag on the bottom shelf and literally couldn't come back up without putting my knee down and pushing up with my hand. My RO nurse said that it's just another wonderful delayed SE of chemo. Yay chemo the gift that keeps on giving lol. This to shall pass I hope. I'm glad we are all doing well. Staying strong!

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  • Rosa54
    Rosa54 Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2014

    Hi all. I had #6 today and got my tattoos after. I also have 4 tiny ones. To me they will be a reminder of beating this disease. I think that we should wear them proudly! And I'm glad to get rid of those messy marker marks!

    Birdgirl, I get your feeling of radiation being a mental challenge. I've had a similar experience but now that I'm into it things haven't been so bad. I think that it helps that the people at the center where I have my treatments have all been so professional, supportive, friendly and actually fun to work with.

    I hope that everyone has a great weekend and for all of you having Sunday treatments this week I'll be right there with you. Positive vibes to all!!

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  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited November 2014

    Magical Bean, I live just east of Cleveland, up in the snow belt where we are getting hammered (but not like Buffalo!) with lake effect snow. I feel fortunate to be so close to so many great Cleveland Clinic docs.

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  • MagicalBean
    MagicalBean Member Posts: 362
    edited November 2014

    JustJean-you do live in a fabulous area for healthcare. Not so good for lake-effect snow though. Just depends which way the wind blows. Buffalo won the lottery this round.

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  • dennyvol
    dennyvol Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2014

    Hey all,

    I am going to keep up with this post.  I've not had the best experience with radiation and that's kind of new starting this week.  I was on treatment 12 yesterday and the issue kind of snowballed. I have Stage 2a, primary occult breast cancer.  First of all the techs messed up my setup, had two of those, which means my tattoos are in the wrong place, which seems to upset the techs (who were responsible for the set up), if the marker is worn off.  Anyway I've finally had my cancer meltdown (diagnosed Aug 11th, lumpectomy and lymp node removal on Sept 16) all in 2014, yesterday after being xrayed for 30 minutes straight with no movement and my arms up in the Christ on the Cross position, 2nd day in a row like this with an explanation that my breast has swollen.  Saw the rad oc on Tuesday the day before these long xrays with no problem, somehow the techs said I was too swollen and eveything would have to be redone.  My arm was killing me, doesn't matter, not treated with very much patience or tolerance.  Anyway my point except for venting, is does anyone else see a disconnect with the rad onc and the tech who seem to be running the show and maybe not running it so well?  Just wondered.  Had to take a pain pill last night and anti anxiety pill today just to deal with the Nazi like mentality and my diminishing tolerance I guess.  Glad for the break this weekend.

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  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited November 2014

    This is our list of Winter Warriors as of November 21 - I'll do my best to keep it current. Let me know if it needs a change.

    ILCMom - December 15

    HockeyCat - December

    Minnielee - December

    SandyLovesLucy - December 1

    Nomatterwhat - November 17

    Hope50 - November 5

    Linzer – December 9

    Mmtagirl - November 3

    CoyoteNV - November 10

    Shuf - unknown

    surrrrana99 - December

    MarisaG - December

    Beachbaby65 - November 11

    Perfectlyimperfect39 - November 23

    Pita119 - November 13

    Coloradocancermom - December

    CAS4 - November 6

    InGodshands - unknown

    MagicalBean - October 28 ish

    LMVerma  - November 18

    Yikes1 - November 17?

    katieC12 – November 18

    MeneK – October 24

    Beachlady28 – November 17

    Gongshow18 - November 20

    eileenpg - December 1

    JustJean - December 5

    Lush61 - November 13

    Purrrrana99 - January 5

    Bippy625 - January ?

    bjeaneg - ?

    Windgirl - January ?

    Birdgirl11 - November 23

    Rosa54 - ?

    dennyvol - November 5

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