Fall Rads 2014

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    IiliyRose, 24 hour care is also the upside for me on DH.

    SKBrown, I'll probably have to take hormones for 10 years, definitely at least 5. No side effects at all. Apparently, the thinking is that 10 years is better. Whatever keeps the BC from coming back is fine by me.

    It is hard to make them medically retire. Chuck should have gone that way (disability), but he didn't. 49 years in April.

    Hugs!!

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited December 2014

    Wow ladies! ! 42 and 49 years, congrats! I pray that I get to 49 years old (the age I will be when my daughter graduates from high school) and would be so grateful to make it that long with my dear hubby! That's why we do this all, right? More time with those we love ♡♡ Here's to NED!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    Clarn, you'll make it to 49! And you and DH will make it to such advanced numbers as 45 or 50. HUGS!!!

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  • KKay5525
    KKay5525 Member Posts: 65
    edited December 2014

    Thanks jeanelle - I'll try to think about the cancer cells instead of my healthy cells getting zapped! It certainly didn't hurt but I was a bit nauseous when I got up - think it was just nerves - went away quickly - once my mom took me shopping! Haha I put my cream on last night and the area is actually a little red (didn't expect that - thought it would take a while). Just looks like a little sunburn - guess it's because my breast are so white! I live at the beach and I tan quite good - everywhere else that is! Ha.

    PontiacPeggy - I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. It is a lot to go through without the added stress of a loved one being sick too! My DH had hand surgery a week after my surgery and that is what we are all focused on….if we like it or not! :-) That may be the reason I post my pity party here because I certainly don't get any at home. It is hard always being the "strong" person in the family because they always expect it. Hugs to you!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    KKay, glad you survived Day 1 rads! I'm surprised you're red, too.

    It is very difficult being the strong one and usually we don't have a choice. Hubby couldn't care for himself. Two surgeries to survive in one week is awful. And this is the best place for a pity party. Everyone understands what you're going through and the stress of having to do caring that has nothing to do with your BC.

    Many HUGS to you!

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    KKay, I am extremely white (glow in the dark white) and I was a little pink after even the first treatment, it faded by the next morning though.

    Today is my LAST treatment. I feel like a kid at Christmas. I am so excited! Tomorrow I start taking my tamoxifen and get to see what side effects I get from that. I've had side effects from everything so far thus expecting some there too. LOL

    For all you ladies just beginning, you can do this. It truly will be over before you know it.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    YIPPEE, Jeanelle! Glad you're done today with your rads. Maybe you've used up your quota of SEs and won't get any from tamoxifen :) Yes, it is all doable!

    HUGS!!!

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  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 961
    edited December 2014

    Jeanelle: congrats on your last day, yeah! Don't go into tamoxiphen looking for SE, as life gives you what you expect. Think positive thoughts, and don't go looking for trouble.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    Great advice, Puffin! Positive attitude helps immensely.

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    That is great advice Puffin! I will try to keep a positive attitude. I've done it this far, I can do it a little longer. :)

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    You sure can, Jeanelle!

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  • Susug
    Susug Member Posts: 193
    edited December 2014

    Jeanelle, Whoowho!!!😊😊😊 so happy for you. You have really been tough through all this. My skin didn't react as much as yours. It's soooo nice not to have to be somewhere evey day..have a wonderful day. Sus



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  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited December 2014

    jeanelle - It is such a great thing to get through each of these passages. Congratulations on conquering the rads!

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  • KKay5525
    KKay5525 Member Posts: 65
    edited December 2014

    Jeanelle - Congrats!! Glad your finished with radiation and can move on to the next step….closer to being finished with all this. I will be taking tamox too once Rads are complete. I had bad, bad thoughts on the tamox, but have decided to keep positive thoughts and I already feel less stress about it. I think Puffin and PointacPeggy are correct in that attitude is everything !

    My redness did subside overnight - it sunk in, just like a sunburn from the beach. My sis says it's her miracle cream she made for me :-) Aloe, coconut oil, minerals and vitamins…we shall see.

    Happy day - 2 down.

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  • Generation3
    Generation3 Member Posts: 45
    edited December 2014

    Congrats Jeanelle, Ive been on tamoxifen for 32 days today and NO SE's. I'm sure you won't either! Enjoy your life and don't think about SE's at all.


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  • skbrown
    skbrown Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2014

    good for you Jeanelle.  I start homones in Jan.  I think.  I didn't think y'all started so soon after radiation.  wow.

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    I am trying to be positive about the side effects of the tamoxifen. However, I already have problems that I am hoping aren't made worse by the drug such as awful hot flashes/night sweats, thickening of the lining of the uterus and ovarian cysts. My Gyn is going to keep a close eye on me though so I'll just try to stay positive about it all. I have a feeling that in a few months, I'm going to end up with a hysterectomy anyways.

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  • skbrown
    skbrown Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2014

    you are just going thru menopause.  poor thing.  I am past that and my side effects the first time were do-able with over the counter meds.

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  • charusa
    charusa Member Posts: 107
    edited December 2014

    Hubermel- I was not able to use silvadiene either because I am allergic to sulfa drugs so he prescibed a different cream and I also used a solution called dumburo....you soak a wash cloth in the mixture and then put it on your skin....it felt really good. I never got a break down but got really red in some areas. The solution you buy over the counter in the first aid section.

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  • Susug
    Susug Member Posts: 193
    edited December 2014

    Hey Ladies, I'm sure the last thing y'all want to talk about is another hormone drug BUT!!! I'm not sure how old everyone is on here I'm 59 I had a hysterectomy when I was fifty. Had all the horrible hot flashes,night sweats,crankiness ect. I Got on hormone pellets about 4 yrs ago ( they are called Bio T you can google them) ALL MY SYMPTONS WENT AWAY. WHEN I FOUND OUT I HAD. BC I FRECKED OUT. I ASKED OC IF I HAD TO STOP. SHE SAID I COULD NOT HAVE ESTROGEN but I can still take testtostrone which takes care of 90% of all our SYMPTONS words can't decribe how much better I feel. Instead of being hot all the time I get cold easily

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    skbrown, yeah, I've been in "perimenopause" for like 10 years now. My hormone levels still show that I'm not in menopause yet. I'll be 50 in 3 months. I think it is about time for my body to decide to commit! LOL My Gyn believes I may have something called adenomyosis which is when the endometrium grows into the muscle walls. However, there is no way to test for that except after the uterus has been removed. It causes really long, heavy, painful periods. On the bright side, since it may be triggered by too much estrogen, the tamoxifen may help it. :) My whole breast cancer journey began with me trying to find a solution to this problem and off handedly mentioning that I had a lump in my breast.

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  • jedimom
    jedimom Member Posts: 34
    edited December 2014


    Hola everyone,

    Had my rad simulation & tats yesterday will start daily tx next week.  I'm just as worried about the rads as the chemo but for different reasons.  I know the SE of rads are nothing like chemo.  But I've been told blistering is likely & permanent deformity may happen.  I had a lumpectomy & my breast is a smaller than my other, but it's managable.  If there is anymore shrinkage it will not be.

     I would love to hear from any ladies who have been through it or are going through it.

    Peace & Wellness to all.

     

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    Jedimom, I had no blistering or "shrinkage" from my rads. A bit of redness was all. I used Aquaphor on the redness (and even that didn't show up until my 19th treatment). It's very possible you won't have any SEs. Why would someone tell you that you will blister or a deformity? Was it the RO? Or were they listing the "possible" SEs, not that you would get them? HUGS. You'll do just fine!!!

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  • jedimom
    jedimom Member Posts: 34
    edited December 2014

    Hi PontiacPeggy,

    Thanks for your post.  It was my RO who told me about the rad SE, brittle ribs, lung exposure, blistering, change in shape & size of the breast.  For me she believed after treatment my breast would be smaller & firmer, "lopsided" she said.  I guess she was preparing me for all possibilities.

    I'm relieved to hear that this isn't an absolute w/ rads.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    JediMom, SEs are definitely not a given with rads. The closest to a given is some redness that most of us experience. You had your lumpy about 3 weeks before I had mine and I think my breast is still changing shape. I'm small to begin with and, other than a downward pointing nipple, I haven't seen shrinkage beyond the "stuff" that removed (which was on the bottom of the breast). A good padded bra which I usually wear anyway, takes care of that. You've managed your chemo and you should do fine with the rads. Think positive!! That helps immensely. HUGS!!

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  • Susug
    Susug Member Posts: 193
    edited December 2014

    Hi Jedimom, I didnt blister just got red itchy rash some areas were more red than others I finished 3 weeks ago. It still reacts up to a couple of weeks after at least mine did. It's more tan looking now and thats even fading. I'm still red around my boost area and a little sore. I was more fatigued than anything I'm still get really tired easily. But over all I was please

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  • jedimom
    jedimom Member Posts: 34
    edited December 2014


    Hi Susug,

    Thanks for sharing, you sound like you are doing great.  I'm moving forward w/ positive thoughts & expectations, like PontiacPeggy.  I made it through chemo & I'll get through this too. Thanks again for sharing, it helps alot to hear from experience.

     

    P.S.  I'm in Texas too.

     

     

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  • Generation3
    Generation3 Member Posts: 45
    edited December 2014

    Jedimom,

    If you made it through chemo you can make it through ANYthing. Rads was a piece of cake after chemo. I got one small blister on my SLN scar but that went away within about 7 days after rads completion. The only other SEs were an itchy red rash and a "sunburn" that was easy to deal with. Good Luck!

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  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 961
    edited December 2014

    Jedimom: RO HAS to give you the whole list of what COULD happen. I finished my rads on Halloween. I was SLIGHTLY more pink, no open areas or blisters. Main things I noticed: tender nipple, weird gray color to area around the nipple, sensations of brief sharp zingers shooting through my breast. No shrinkage, if anything, I'm still a little swollen. The fatigue was nothing compared to the chemo fatigue, I think I only took 1 nap the entire time. I used my Vanicream twice a day and RO wants me to continue using cream for several months after.

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  • jedimom
    jedimom Member Posts: 34
    edited December 2014


    Hi Puffin2014,

    Thanks for the post. I appreciate you sharing your experience, I'm sure your right. Congrats on finishing your rads are you doing Tamoxifen?

     

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