Fall Rads 2014

Susug, I'm actually feeling pretty good. The fatigue is pretty much over. I came down with bronchitis last week but am feeling pretty good now. I still don't feel completely normal. I guess that will come with time.

Susug, I'm feeling much better. My fiance now has it. He was so worried about me being sick for Christmas that he forgot about himself. He is off to the doctor today so hopefully any meds will have kicked in by Thursday.

Started my boost treatments today and it was not a good day. Not sure what happened, but I think that I just got overwhelmed with it all. Once my treatment was over, I went out to the car and just broke down crying…for no apparent reason and couldn't stop. My husband came over from work (20 min. away) and sat with me until I was OK to drive home.

I am a bit tired and take daily naps, skin isn't too terrible. Red, tight and a bit itchy. My biggest problem are the muscles (side and under breast - like rib muscles) are sore as hell. Went to PT and she is helping me with ROM exercises and feels like its the rads making scar tissue…..

Thanks for listening! Hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas :-)

I'm doing physical therapy exercises too trying to stretch out the tightness on that side, slow process

KKay, thank you. I'm pleased that I can help anyone going through this awful crap. I don't think of myself as particularly inspirational so I'm surprised when someone thinks I am. My journey through BC has been so much easier than many others on this site. Few side effects and good results. About the only left to whip into shape is that tightness. It didn't seem to show up until about a month ago. Well, I can certainly spend a couple minutes every so often stretching-that's no hardship. I'm planning (keyword) to start yoga for the first time next month at age 69. Way back in the Dark Ages I was quite limber. Now let's see if I can regain some of it.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the wonderful women here. You've been a source of so much support and information and I do so appreciate it.

We ARE kicking Cancer's butt!

CoyoteNV, not for me. Mine is more like a little tightness similar to what you get when your back is a bit stiff. No pain, no zingers or jabs. Stretching absolutely takes care of it. And just a minute of stretching. No real workout. My sleep isn't bothered at all nor am I bothered when I wake up. Just need to keep moving. Good luck. HUGS!!

I have started my "boost" treatments and am having ALOT of irritation. It really itches and I'm not sure what to put on my breast or take…Benadryl?

My nipple is a bit inverted after the surgery, and it is very sore also…has a white area around the base of nipple and at first I thought it was lotion….but it doesn't wipe off and has a bit of a smell. ??

I go to the RO on Monday and will have him check it out…but in the meantime, I am ITCHY!!!! HELP.

Kay

yikes1 - It itches all over the radiation area and I am having small red bumps show up. The white around nipple is weird, not sure it is anything??

Thanks for the info! I have anti-itch and will use it now. I really didn't start itching until after the boost - I have had 3…2 more to go!

Have a great night!

KKay5525

Two things - I am also having little red bumps show up and I did not start boost yet, but last week was told that what I was seeing is typical.

The itching has been slowly building.

If you are concerned about the white area around the nipple I am not sure you should put stuff on it.

If you do think it looks like it could be something, anything at all, I think you should contact your RO and ask, and yes, I do mean ask them over the weekend.

At this point, my new motto could be -- better safe than sorry.

Also, I think you are the person that has some concerns about starting Tomoxifen, so if that is you, then you and I will have some future discussions, because I am also very concerned to start taking that drug.

Yikes1 - I am concerned about the Tamox! Still doing a bit of research and I just can't commit at this point. Need to make an appointment with my MO to chat….I know what she will say, but want to see if I can wait a bit to start (if I decide). My husband about had a heart attack last night when I said "I've decided not to take the Tamoxifen" . We have been married for 29 years and he never tells me what to do….just the opposite, very passive. He said "YOU WILL!"" I was shocked. Makes me think that maybe I am not thinking clearly or am being irresponsible? stupid? - can't find the right word…

I will share my info with you.

The white around my nipple seemed to disappear overnight - actually now I think it is from pressure within the breast and the "smell" may have been from trapped lotion. Not so worried now. It is very sore, but I guess thats from the rads.

Have a great day.

I could only hope Peggy that I would have zero side effects. That is absolutely what I am afraid of. I have battled with being overweight my entire life and I equate my happiness to my size. If I'm overweight I'm miserable with myself. I know that's not the way it should be, but it is and that is that.

So..the weight gain associated with Tamox scares the crap out of me. I just know that I would be miserable with myself…..which could lead to being depressed = more meds, etc.etc. In my mind, Tamox is a catalyst to being miserable.

As I read my own message it appears to me that I need a shrink! Hahaha :-)

As always, thank you for your positivity!

KK

MarieBernice, I'm so sorry it has taken so long for me to answer you. My household was all down with the flu. It was a lovely way to spend Christmas. We got up opened presents and went right back to bed.

I finished radiation on 12/2 and started my tamoxifen on 12/3 so I've been taking it almost a month now. So far I haven't had any SEs. I have had hot flashes but I was getting those before. I am just having my first period since starting it and it hasn't been any worse or better than before. My breast is basically looking almost normal now. Still a few "quilling" areas and it is still peeling a little but it is definitely looking much better. I'm back to wearing regular bras though I still can't go braless when I sleep or at home like I used to. I'm sure it will come in time.

I had the same soreness in my rib area too after radiation and I just noticed yesterday that it didn't hurt there. My arm still gets stiff and I need to stretch but not bad.

KKay, I was sure I would get every SE under the sun with the tamoxifen. I wasn't worried about the weight gain as I'm already overweight and though the MO wants to see me lose weight, I can't see it happening in the near future. I was worried about all the other side effects, the hot flashes, the bad painful periods, etc that I had heard about. As I already have been having all of these things, I was sure it was about to get much worse. Luckily, as I say above, I haven't really had any SEs so my worrying was for nothing.

congrats skbrown! I'm taking arimidex, have been on it about 6 weeks, no side effects yet.

KKay, Congrats on finishing rads! I am glad to hear that you are going to try the Tamox. You may have no side effects at all. You won't know unless you try. I'm off to the MO today to follow-up on the Tamox. After this, I go to seeing her every 3 months. It will be so nice to go a month without a doctor's appointment!

We are beginning to feel better. I am wishing I could retire at this point but that is a different story.

MDNowPatient, welcome to this very caring group. I wish I had some answers for you. My radiation fatigue was compounded by exhaustion caring 24/7 for DH (who is now in a nursing home). Just this week, 2-1/2 months after finishing radiation, I am feeling pretty normal. Not my "old" normal of 5 years ago when I started caring for DH but I'll take it. I have more energy and motivation to do things. I would think that your fatigue will start to go away within weeks and back to normal within a month or so.

It would be very help if you would make your diagnoses and treatments public Then the responses will more often be from ladies with similar diagnosis and treatment and more helpful.

You're almost done! HUGS!!!!