Winter rads 2014-2015

Pita119: I am in central NJ near New Brunswick - a small town called South River. Also lived in Cape May county many moons ago during my first few years of teaching. Lived in Stone Habor and Avalon. Where are you? Also - our "cancer stats" are similar.
To all: What is the guarantee this crap won't resurface in the future and how do you deal with worrying about it?

This is our list of Winter Warriors as of December 11th - I'll do my best to keep it current. Let me know if it needs a change.

ILCMom - December 15......................................  HockeyCat - December 3

Minnielee - December..........................................SandyLovesLucy - December 1

Nomatterwhat - November 17.............................  Hope50 - November 5

Linzer – December 16 ........................................  Mmtagirl - November 3

CoyoteNV - November 10. ...................................Shuf - unknown

surrrrana99 - December  ......................................MarisaG - December

Beachbaby65 - November 4 ............................... Perfectlyimperfect39 - November 23

Pita119 - December 1 .........................................  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 10

JustJean - December 5 ........................................ Lush61 - November 13

Purrrrana99 - January 5.......................................  Bippy625 - December 29

bjeaneg - ?   ........................................................... Windgirl - January ?

Birdgirl11 - November 23  ...................................... Rosa54 - November 13

dennyvol - November 5   ........................................  PoppyK - December ?

Lorrilynne - November 18 ...................................... labelle - December

fossf - December ................................................... CanuckMom December 4

MeanMomto3 - December 4 ...................................MarieBernice6234 - November 4

KGotThis - January .................................................Carynbrit - December 10

AnasNana - December 1.......................................... ForHisGlory - December 10

Davida58 - December 10

CoyoteNV,

Thank you for keeping our list updated. The machine was down for a short time yesterday @ my facility too but they were able to get it back up and running without having to cancel appts. Everyone was about 1 1/2 hr. later than they would have been had we all been taken on time.

Beachlady28...I am in Haddonfield, south jersey, just a few miles away from Cherry Hill. Lived here for 35 years and am thinking that I might like to move somewhere where the property taxes don't kill me. As far as a guarantee that our BC won't resurface in the future..sorry to say there is no guarantee. All we can do is to stay on top of our health with the testing, drs. appts. etc. How do I not worry about it? I've accepted that it's out of my control & I can't change things. Treatment options (though not at all fun) are many and are being improved all the time. Things that I was offered weren't available to my mother when she was battling this 20 plus years ago and weren't even thought of when my grandmother battled it in the 60's. So, I try to stay positive...do the things that make me happy and pray alot.

Why does my screen freeze only here?? I have to walk dogs so that helps post chemo rigidity. I've had serious nausea every am since rad 4 but take Compazine. Sleep is a joke but if I get the ac to 60, walk at least 2 miles that day and go 100 miles an hour I get a few hours with some medicinal assistance and two nights ago I said screw it and poured a vodka on Ice w fresh cranberries. My dr gave me these giant sticky pads I cut to size and wear for 24 hours to alleviate burning and itching and they're a damn miracle!! Ask for them!! 4 reg rads left then 7 boosts- ie 11 left. Keep rocking ladies!!! YALL are all amazing!! Anyone ready for the holidays? If so post some pics please

Back home from the long run to the radiation clinic for the make-up treatment. (#18)  Generally, I haven't had much in the line of visible skin issues.  I itch around my collarbone and have discomfort under the skin under my arm.  I feel rather punk, but nothing compared to the entire time of chemo - just sort of a run down feeling.

On the way back we stopped for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, which was a treat.  We are going to put some lights in the tree in the front of the house, and that will be the extent of the outside decorations this year.  OBE (overcome by events) all over the place this year.  Inside is pretty much done. The Christmas Village is pretty cute, so I'll take a couple photos and post them.

I've been reading all of the different treatment experiences, so I thought I would share mine, just to add to the mix.

I am treated at BAMC, a military hospital in San Antonio. It's a 45-minute drive from home, but could be worse. (My heart goes out to you, CoyoteNV!) They gave me 3 tattoos, which they then marked with giant X's and covered with clear plastic tape. Since the sim, they've added at least 8 more X's or brackets. I have anchor scars from prior breast reduction, a new lumpectomy scar and all the markings. Frankenbooby meets robot! For treatment, I take off everything from the waist up and cover up w/pillow-case size towel and walk over to the table. I have a plastic form molded to my shoulders and head. I settle into that, grab the bars, and have to hold my breath for each dose of radiation (4X). I see RO 1X week. Techs are great, so far. No bubblegum pink anywhere! I hate that color

Does anyone else freeze up on this site or is it just me. Geez!!! Anyway I ordered the spf as well.

HockeyCat - Got 'ja. 

My skin issues are minimal at this point. (18 treatments - 10 to go) I have Aquafor from the RO but dislike the greasiness.  I have aloe cream with calendula in it. I also have a Bioron Calendula gel (maybe similar to what Beachbaby mentioned) that I like a lot. It seems to address the itchy collarbone issue quite well. 

Meanmomto3:  Although my trip to the clinic is long, it travels through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.  We start in Nevada by Lake Mead and travel through three states every day.  We cross the desert that is surrounded by mountains, bluffs, buttes and mesas and wind through a mountain gorge with towering multi colored cliffs and unique rock formations. The red cliffs are so beautiful with the vibrant blue sky filled with white puffy clouds above and surrounded by the sage brush that's the color of green that only sage brush can be. Our road passes through a Joshua tree forest and patches of desert with many kinds and shapes of cactus.  We watch for the wildlife that live in the desert and mountains around here. We've frequently seen mountain sheep, eagles, hawks, coyotes, wild horses, rabbits, desert fox along this road.   Sometimes we listen to Native flute music, some times the silence, but lately it's been Christmas music.  It really could be worse.  

 

 

 

 

Hi CoyoteNV -

The list of warriors you posted are those people who finished radiation or starting it?

MarieBernice6234

MeanMom (I'll bet not): As you probably figured out, I go to St. George, Utah for my treatments.  We live between Vegas and there, and the drive to St. G. is actually easier because of the non-traffic.  We lived outside of Dallas for awhile and I didn't find too many scenic drives around there either.  I grew up with mountains, and the love of them is in my DNA.  Texas folks are among the nicest possible neighbors.

CAS4:  Christmas decorations photos - Hubby and I did this on Thanksgiving weekend.

Our whole house is generally pretty festive this time of year but we restricted our decorations to the living room and dining room.  We generally have a couple of 10 ft trees decorated but decided that this year one shorter one would be fine - and it is.  It was a matter of choice, decorate a big tree or set up Santa's Village.  We decided on the village this year.  

MarieBernice6234 - Those are start dates.  I added you today. Sorry I missed you.

Thanks Eileen.  I hope we get to see more photos.  My dear cat is getting older and is not so healthy, but he is well loved and cared for.  He is sitting on Santa's chair - DH, who sometimes serves as Santa at local holiday events, sits in this chair when he visits with children.  I call this photo "Waiting for Santa". 

Oh and the present wrap under one of the trees my five year old wrapped one of his toys for me for Christmas. Lol I love this boy beyond words. He has kept me going through this disaster.

Hello.

It took me ages to get to finally signing up for this site after browsing for ages!

I am due to go in tomorrow (Dec 8th) for set up for rads.. then I am due to start on Wednesday.10th.

It'll take me a while to get social.. but I'd like to join you ladies this winter as we go through this.

No chemo .. had oncotype dx testing that showed that would give no known benefit.

Not started hormone therapy yet either. I've spent a lot of time reading the articles and Im really on the fence about that.

Kgot this= I start radiation Dec16 for 33 cycles. My last chemo was Dec 1 th. My RO wanted me to wait that long to give my body a rest after chemo.

Welcome to the Carynbrit and K Got That= Sorry you have to be part of this club. Great group of ladies hoping this ordeal to be over soon.

Hello everyone. I started my radiation last Monday. One week down, five more to go.