Winter rads 2014-2015

Nomatterwhat - You sure do get a smiley face.  I'll bet that you have one on your face too!  Congratulations!  Enjoy the weekend!

Had donuts waiting for me at work with signs like "you made it to the finish line" and "You did it!!!".  I got a cute signed Certificate of Completion from my amazing techs and got to ring the bell.  Lots of hugs, tears and congratulations throughout the day.  When I got home, my husband took me out to Five Guys Burgers.  What a guy!!!  What a day!!!!!  I can honestly say, the every day grind was not fun, but the techs were amazing and I just love them to pieces.  I won't know what to do with myself now that I can have an actual lunch hour!!!  LOL

Good morning Ladies,

I woke up to 5 degrees, and wind chills below zero! And some hot coffee!

I saw the RO on Friday, and she wants to do 5 1/2 weeks of rads. I saw the MO on Tuesday and she wants me to start chemo on 1/20. My BS wants me to see the PS for reconstruction. The RO is going to present my case this coming Tuesday to the Tumor Board and see what they come up with for the plan. My plan was, I hope my hair is back before summer to go to the lake swimming at the beach, and get a tan.

So at this stage, I am leaning towards rads just in case it could be a good thing long term. Then to chemo. Anyone else have this situation?

I meet with RO Tuesday for the initial consultation. Thanks for all the information. It makes this process just a little easier. Will let you know my start date when that is established. I am fascinated by your art work. Thanks for the pictures. A good reminder that life outside breast cancer exists and is beautiful.

PoppyK

Thanks.. yes i have. i got on that back when i first started Rads... (I was too overwhelmed in oct and nov with surgeiries etc and college..got really isolated,because actually hubby was vetting calls and i never got to speak to anyone!) surgery place was 2 hours away so i knew the suport groups there were out of the question... but YAY!. the rads are local.. but the support groups didnt run in Dec here!.. however I have signed up and next week is the first one I'll go to..at least that way I'll have some outlet for the cancer there. I've' actually signed up for everything going.. the support groups, the body image group (not helped by hubbys remark about 'being deformed now) and the lymphedema prevention clinc.... the more people I'm around the better (Im a bit of a loner.) I work pretty closely with the womens shelter (because I got really down a few years ago and needed to DO something about it)..and they are with me on my 'plan' as yes..its volatile situation.. i tread on eggshells most days... its all emotional so its difficult to prove.. you know? Its a he said- she said kind of thing.. and really since going to talk with the counseller there..I've got my head on straight.. i HAVE to get my ducks in a row so to speak and leave /or get him to leave..in a controlled way. I have a daughter to think of and of course these days with the 50/50 parenting thing that most judges go for.. i need to be in as best position as possible to show I'm the best parent basiclly (harsh but true)..hence college and job.

anyway..sorry that was long! Im purging! and hey.. thanks you all for letting me vent somewhat!

Family... I'm a Brit transplant in the USA. I didn't have much family to start with and now it's just my mum over there.. shes supportive to an extent but i 'cant move back'..shes not a mothering kind of mother really.. never has been....sad but true.

. really though half the thing there legally (have daughter whose USA born..and i understand that i can just take her!t.. im not trying to be a cow about it.. maybe that's the trouble! im still trying to be fair!).. anyway..no family over here unfortunately. Constantly moving ( 11 times in 14 years..this is the first time i've been in a certain state for years.. 3 whole yearsnow!)has been a pig as far as making local friends and keeping them..and he does tend to throw 'his 'net far out with people..effectively isolating me more (its how it works..i know this stuff inside out now since going to the womne' s shelter) because 'mutual' friends doesn't work for me. Hes the perfect person when he has an audience..whats sad is that i wish i had THAT guy here at home..and it would of been okay!!!! Although now there is a neighbor or 2 whose can see how it works here..so they are in my corner ..helping (such as childcare or thngs like that. .its good to know for the future!) I found myself constantly trying to make it better here.. be better.. have done the entire marriage (also typical with emotional crap) but It's never good enough (i still occasionally get self esteem issues with that but its getting better.)

I'm being as proactive as I can though! I really am. He being the wage earner has THE say in finances..but I managed to sign up for one class this semester . I managed to make him think that it was his idea...( this stuff makes a person deceitful btw.. i've also talked about that with a counselor..you do what you have to do) and managed to explain that away. He's telling everyone he's putting me though college btw..

I'm going to shut up now! Its already a badly written essay!!!!

Rads.. im so glad the weekends here... stabbing pain in boob because of the swelling..and also that seroma area seems to do that. anyway.. and putting on Aloe as much as can.

CATH.... checked out your site and liked.. its lovely! Thanks for sharing.

Lilactulip, I'm new here, but I haven't started rads yet. I won't know the start date until they decide if it's rads first, or back to chemo. But I hope your abcess heals quickly so you can continue. And I'm sure you will get a lot of responses to help you!

Cath57 - Now that looks really fun.  I love what you do.  So much creativity. Wow.

Yikes1 - Congrats to you.  I'm all smiles for you.  Have a great weekend.

Holy smokes-we sure have a lot of people here. I have a lot I wanted to say but can't keep track of who I wanted to say it to-so....

Rads or not? I was not given a choice but I am not a "decision-maker" so not having the option was ok with me. I was told by my BS and my RO that rads would be uneventful and would kill off any stray DCIS cells that may have escaped during biopsy and/or surgery. I was all for killing off the little bastards and went into treatment with a "kill 'em attitude". I hope we clobbered them good. Fortunately, my SEs were mild. Just a little "sunburn" , and no fatigue to speak of.

Now-I have to decide about Tamoxifen. MO says I don't need it but I am 100% ER and PR + and that makes me nervous. I'm going to discuss Evista with her at my appt in a couple of weeks. It blocks hormones and has fewer SEs.

I don't understand how some people can be so cruel and insensitive, but I do believe in Karma. The "boss" is ignorant, and may just believe cancer is catching. Probably just scared.....or a moron. She certainly does not have the qualities that make a good leader. Wench!!! The husband-well he's just a rat-bastard. I don't have kids, but I do have a rat-bastard of my very own. I played nice for 15 years, then left his hairy behind in the frozen tundra of northern MN and never looked back.

It's awesome to be able to come here and meet with others in the same boat as we are. I live with my sister, and although we are close, she is not someone I can talk to about this adventure. Her husband died from cancer 20 years ago and she has built up such a wall that she struggles to be able to talk about this with me. Thanks for the ear. Keep warm. Bless you all.

Nomatterwhat and Yikes, Congratulations! I would join you in a happy dance, but my big, irradiated boobs are in a stretchy bra and I don't think it would be good. Oh, heck.... I'll just hold them still with my hands. Happy Dance Time!

Caryn, I'm so sorry you live with daily abuse. Mental abuse and control is REAL abuse. It's harder to prove than physical abuse, but the effects are devastating. I'm glad you know you are important and have value and make your daughter the priority. So glad you are getting some local support, in addition to the people here on the board. Feel free to vent. No one will judge or grade your postings! I love what Nomatterwhat had to say. She's awesome!

You are to funny, Poppy!!!  I can see you holding the girls and doing a happy dance -- all 5' 3" of you!!!  All I do with mine anymore is put them on the shelf when I come home from work.  LOL!!!  Thanks for the compliment that made my day.  Personal question -- do you live near Monterey?  My boys are wanting to go to Monterey in August and I am looking for advice on which airport to fly into, where to stay and how hard it is to get around.  Thanks for your help. 

thank you CarynBrit& CoyoteNV!

CongratsYikes on one more step forward!

LilicTulip, I was concerned about!missing rads in case of inclement weather , meaning ice storms here in Mo. My RO said it wasn't much of a concern skipping a week of rads as long as you get your full treatments completed.They didn't want me to "slide" into the cancer center risking my life due to snow & ice.

Caryn, please vent on girl! You need as much support as you can receive & we are all here for you! I know that I told my husband that I'm glad I can vent here because sometimes he just doesn't understand all the emotions that I deal with & gets weary of my rumblings.

MagicalBean, yes I agree that it's hard to keep track of everyone & want to respond to everyone but forget who's who . I wish this sight was more like FB where we could click " like" on everyone's comments.

Everyone have a great Sunday . I hope to sleep in in ( ha) Arimidex has not been kind to me with insomnia SE!

Nomatterwhat, LOL... another body part! Just try to book early. With my boys, I always try to find a place that includes breakfast. The Monterey area is beautiful.

Hello all! I've been monitoring this thread for a couple of weeks and wanted to pop in to say hello. Yesterday was my final chemo treatment so I feel ready to move on and consider myself in the rads phase. My sim is scheduled for Jan 30th and I'll start 35 rads on Feb 2nd. So glad to see several familiar faces here!

Nomatterwhat and PoppyK you guys are cracking me up.

Nomatterwhat I went to Santa Cruz several years ago. San Francisco airport is notorious for fog. Maybe San Jose is an option. I think Southwest goes there and I know goes from KC and St. Louis.

Cath57 I slept til 8:00 this morning after my first day on TEVA brand. Placebo effect?? Lousy sleep the night before. Whatever - it was great. Hoping you sleep better.

LARock welcome

Meanmomto3 - I am really grateful for the bra info. Rather nice that they gave it to you.