August 2014 Surgery

So what do you all think? 4 out of 5 okay? I really don't want to go tomorrow. In addition to various expected side effects I've got shortness of breath, which concerns me. The technicians say they can email the oncologist, but you know her concept of timelines for returning calls. I tried to get my GP office to check me, but they suggested making an appointment for next week...

Thorasic 7, also, though they radiate one above and one below. I haven't thrown up...taking major anti-nausea meds prescribed because of the lumbar radiation through the GI system. I still get waves of nausea now and then. Cramps right where they are radiating in the front, that sort of thing. But I'm an asthmatic. It could be GI related, but I don't like the sensation. Climbing the stairs at the rail station made my legs feel weak.

seriously...what happens if you only get 80% of your treatment? Does anyone know?

Milaandra, I hope your docs listen to your question and are able to give you a real response about how interuption at this point would impact you considering the specific fractionation protocol they are using on you, the nature of your bone mets, the other therapies you are doing, and the goals they hope to achieve and the bad side effect you are getting. And I really really hope that the shortness of breath goes away soon! Sorry you haven't yet gotten the info you are searcing for, and that I can't offer anything but support.

(P.S: - Are they doing CBC to check your rbc count or is it too early for the bone radiation to affect that??)

Milaandra, Sorry you had to deal with that added stress.

My question about CBC (=Complete Blood Count) /RBC (=red blood cells) was just because I was wondering if maybe your feeling of not getting enough oxygen when you breath could be due to the radiation suppressing your bone marrow production of red blood cells and causing you to become anemic. But it was a question based on ignorance, not knowledge--- I don't know if an anemia would manifest itself so soon after the start of radiotherapy (seems unlikely, actually) or if irradiation of just a few vertebrae would be sufficient to cause that.at all.

I do think that if your shortness of breath continues you should mention it to your oncologist. Hopefuly it's just fatigue and stress causing your asthma to kick in, and things will go back to normal soon.

Hang in there Angel faith! I hear that it will feel so much better after your exchange. I am December 19th -- pre-op this week. I'm nervous too! {{Angel faith}}

Angelfaith, I'm glad that your exchange date is arriving. (and wishing you an easy healing up from the surgery!) I hope that afterwards you will be so comfortable that you will be abe to forget for much of time that you have given up your breasts. May the damn cancer never come back, may you never have any scares that make you even consider the possibility that it might have, and may you start to heal emotionally as well as physically!

Bobogirl, courage for your upcoming surgery! I think I understand that you think this one could be the last one, and you hope that it is, so it's safe to say that I hope it is?

Quiltlibrarian, sending you courage as you wait to arrive to your biopsy date.

(Must be irritating that a person who has so far gotten off easy with this thing has so much excess courage to spread around.)

Ganzgirl, Ganzgirl, You are so on my mind! Hoping so hard that you got a happy clean path report on those removed ovaries!

Mandy- Have those blood clots resolved? You doing OK?

Milaandra, I sure hope the breathing issues are resolving!! Do your Oncos still want to do the breast irradiation soon?

Allydp, Hope all is in place (including insurance cooperation!) for your upcoming surgery and that all goes well!

As for me, Today is my last day of radiotherapy. (I think) The boost that I'm doing these last five days is giving me more discomfort than the previous whole breast irradiation-- I think I understand that the boost is a higher dose than the full breast treatments, and one of the beams is aimed right at my nipple, and that's getting a bit painful with the skin breaking down at the nipple root. Experiencing now also bit of nerve irritation pains (like after surgery) , but that doesn't last long. But really, my side effects of the radiation have been minimal and totally tolerable. I've heard that things continue to degrade also after the treatments stop, but hopefully won't get too bad. I think it will all heal up quickly. (The itchy rash I had on underside of breast at end of week 2 actually has mostly healed up (no cortisone or other drugs needed) , despite the continued bombardment. -- That was mainly caused by the bolus, which concentrated the rays more on the skin, which they did on me only for the first 10 days)

Hooray I'm here too! And hooray ml! I hear bells ringing

Ally, we need an update! We have so many sx coming up in our little group -- I wonder if you feel like posting them up at the top of our thread! For some reason I cannot make paragraphs, so forgive me if this comes out in a whoosh. Quilty, when is the biopsy? Many thanks for your kind words.


Okay, sisters! Circling the wagons for December!

Clean path report on my oophorectomy !! Exchange surgery is next on the menu ...January 7th, god knows I cant wait to get these tissue expanders out of me ! Im looking forward to not being in pain/discomfort anymore

Got my last fill a couple days ago..omg do my breast hurt ! And too think, when I got to the apt my ps asked me how many more fills and how much I wanted. I told him I wanted 100cc's in each side today and another 100 when I come for my preop on the 16th. Umm I think Im done with fills ! Lol...I don't think my skin can handle anymore fills. So I have a total of 480cc's. I'll take it !

I saw my pcp yesterday and she almost fell on the floor when I told her I started tamoxifen. She told me to stop taking it immediately. She says my onc should NEVER have me on that because of the blood clot risk and the fact that I am a smoker makes that risk much higher and because fam history of clots. So..now Im on nothing..She called my onc to discuss and is supposed to get back to me about what they want me on

Thanks for your kind thoughts angel and ally! My sx is actually the 15th now. Meantime, I'm in the bag for Ally for tomorrow! You can do it, Ally! We'll be with you every minute. XXXXOOOO

We are with you Mandy! That sucks that you have to be at work. Take small breaks and give yourself little treats!

Ally, I am in the bag for your surgery and wishing you a perfect and completely pain-free outcome. XOXO

Angelfaith wishing you all the best for your surgery tomorrow!! Hope you heal up soon and feel much more comfortable!

Hooray Angelfaith! Hope you are home and cozy. XXX

Good to hear that surgery went well and got good results Ally. Angel glad that you are home again.

They took 9 core biopsies this morning, and not too painful at all after the freezing went out. Now just the waiting.

Hugs to all.