Winter rads 2014-2015

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  • bellegirl
    bellegirl Member Posts: 7
    edited February 2015

    Congrats PoppyK!

    I am all finished just now as well! (except for the healing!)

    I have rarely been wearing a bra lately, using layers as well. However it has been cold up in Ontario in Jan, and I am not working right now, so not a problem. A bra should be comfortable once hot weather returns.

    Good luck to everyone still having treatments! You can do it

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited February 2015

    Congrats PoppyK!! I hope you are healing well.

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  • texas94
    texas94 Member Posts: 204
    edited February 2015

    WndrWoman- Oh boy, you've got that right!

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  • meanmomto3
    meanmomto3 Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2015

    PoppyK: Congrats! You'll be amazed at how quickly the skin pain will be gone. My breast is nowhere near its original color, but the skin doesn't hurt. It's wonderful!

    Coyote: I had no drain after lumpectomy. I don't know anyone who has had a drain after lumpectomy. In hindsight. I wish I had...


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  • Nomatterwhat
    Nomatterwhat Member Posts: 587
    edited February 2015

    CONGRATS Poppy, welcome to the other side!!!!  I will do your happy dance for you, my boobs don't sag or jiggle. 

    I saw my PCP today as I have been having some flushing and horrible hot flashes.  She seems to think that my thyroid got damaged during radiation.  Anybody else having this issue?

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  • Lulubelle1
    Lulubelle1 Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2015

    I finished my rads today. 15 whole breast and 4 boosts. Red with a really sore nipple. I can't stand anything touching it which isn't possible. I was to finish my root canal as well today but the dentist found more abcess so he cleaned it out and put more medicine in the canals. I felt like crying. I wanted to be done with that as well. I can't believe the strange things that make me cry these days.

    I guess it is off to tamoxifen in the near future. Hang in there to all of you still going every day to get irradiated and congrats to all of you who are finished.



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  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited February 2015

    Congrats Poppy!


    I had a major melt down yesterday. As you all know, I called the rads center on Saturday to try to get some help with what was going on with my skin (how do burn patients stand being alive? i have SO much empathy for them right now) and they never called me back. I called my RO on the way to work yesterday morning and lost it. She's fired. Minimized everything that had happened. I yelled at her, I cried, I was a mess driving to work in a snowstorm. Went down there after work last night and got some lidocaine gel and some non-stick pads and wow, what a difference. It still hurts but only 10% of what it did. I'll take that, for sure.


    And amongst all that raw red flesh I can see the new skin coming in. Little patches here and there. I'm on my way, FINALLY, to healing. YAY!


    JJ

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  • meanmomto3
    meanmomto3 Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2015

    btw, all, the hyperbaric chamber is its own special hell. It better heal my breast or I'm going to lose it. 2 hours in a room with 5 other people, wearing an oxygen hood, listening to a movie set to a high volume because of the chamber noise, trying to read. I'm also experiencing fatigue like I never did with rads. Doc says that's a result of the pressure and decompression stressing the body and it should pass in a week. Fingers crossed!

    Today's movie choice was "The Best of the Carol Burnett Show." I'm looking for HeeHaw or Lawrence Welk sometime soon! At 54, I'm easily the youngest there by 15 years. They're all sweet people, and they're all dealing with healing issues, but they're making me crazy. I just need a week of "normal."

    Docs will do an ultrasound of my breast tomorrow after HBC to see exactly how large the seroma is. Because the opening is tiny, traditional measurement is iffy.

    Initially, I was told 20-40 treatments. I haven't asked if they've decided how many. Honestly, I'm terrified of the answer.

    I am thankful, however, that I don't HAVE to work to make ends meet. It definitely makes our life more comfortable, and I really enjoy working, but it's simply impossible. HBC therapy ends up taking 5.5 to 6 hours each day, counting travel and treatment time.


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  • meanmomto3
    meanmomto3 Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2015

    JustJean: Lidocaine is the best thing ever. My boob looked and felt like road rash and bad burn combined. I loved my lidocaine gel. RO suggested I keep it refrigerated for help with the burning feeling. It was so soothing.

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited February 2015

    Well Ladies I had rads #7 today. It feels like I had too much sun, but after reading everything that could happen to me, I am a little freaked out. I have 28 total, and she said that she will see how the skin looks before deciding on any boosts. Yikes, I'm not too excited about what is coming. But I hope the aloe helps.

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  • mqt64
    mqt64 Member Posts: 103
    edited February 2015

    Congrats Poppy K and Lulubelle! May you both heal quickly. Beachbum, I finished 7 today too.Saw my RO afterwards and he is one of the most kind and caring people I've met. He answered all my questions with patience without condescension . Guess they use a state of the art linear accelerator and use 3D images. My skin on the middle side is a little pink but I never lost all the discoloration from my methylene blue debacle and I still have swelling from that. No new pain, just a sunburn feeling. On with the Aloe and Eucerin. I have to wear a bra. I strained my pectoralis muscle with the heaviness and swelling from the dye. It took weeks before I could even go to bed without one. It was a beautiful day, blue skies and sunshine.

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited February 2015

    mqt64, I am having 28 rads to start, and we will see how it goes if the boosts will be needed at the end. I am with you, I just hope they pass quickly for us. The Lake was beautiful today with bright white snow and deep blue water where the ice has split. I love the winter more than the summer on the Lake. It is something to see. Take care!

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  • LARock
    LARock Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2015

    HappyCongrats PoppyK, Lulubelle and Bellegirl! Justjean, hang in there.

    Today was #2 for me. I met with the RO after and he explained that I'm getting 25 regular and 10 boosts. Does that seem like a lot?

    My biggest concern is that we have plans to leave the country the day of my last scheduled treatment. According to my RO, there are times when something is wrong with the machine and they can't treat for a day, pushing back the end date. When I exlained that our travel plans aren't flexible, he agreed to work with me if a treatment is missed. Options would be to increase the dosage on the remaining days, to double up on some days, or to possibly break off treatment earlier and complete the remaining sessions when we get back. I'm not particularly thrilled with any of those options so we'll hope I don't miss any days. Has anyone else faced a similar issue? How did you handle it?

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  • quiggy
    quiggy Member Posts: 315
    edited February 2015

    Yahoo, you finished RADs!!! Congrats to PoppyK, Labelle & Nomatterwhat!

    Sending you hope and best wishes for a quick return to normal and no more pain!

    :)

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  • quiggy
    quiggy Member Posts: 315
    edited February 2015

    LaRock, I missed a day my first week and this week, the machine is broken so I'm missing two days. Broken equipment doesn't instill confidence.

    I'm told they add them to the end. Not loving the idea of stretching this crap out longer but it is what it is.

    I have completed 10 out of 33. It seems the norm is 25-30 (including the boosts).

    We WILL get through this! :)

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  • PoppyK
    PoppyK Member Posts: 1,805
    edited February 2015

    Thanks Everyone!

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  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited February 2015

    This is our list of Winter Warriors as of February 3, 2015 - I'll do my best to keep it current. Let me know if it needs a change. 

    October / November Start

    MeneK – Oct 24 ThumbsUp.................... MagicalBean - Oct 28Happy......... Mmtagirl - Nov 3 Happy

    MarieBernice6234 - Nov 4 Happy ... Hope50 - Nov 5 Happy..................  dennyvol - Nov 5 Happy

    CAS4 - Nov 6 Happy........................ Beachbaby65 - Nov 4 Happy.......... CoyoteNV - Nov 10 Happy

    Lush61 - Nov 13 ThumbsUp.................... Rosa54 - Nov 13 ThumbsUp.................  Beachlady28 – Nov 17 Happy

    Nomatterwhat - Nov 17 Happy......... LMVerma  Nov 18 Happy................ katieC12 – Nov 18 Happy

    Lorrilynne - Nov 18 ThumbsUp.............. Gongshow18 - Nov 20 Happy.........Yikes1 - Nov 20 Happy

    Birdgirl11 - Nov 23 Happy.............  Perfectlyimperfect39 - Nov 23 HappySingsing1020 -Happy

    December Start

    Pita119 - Dec 1 Happy.................. SandyLovesLucy - Dec 1Happy......... AnasNana - Dec 1 ThumbsUp

     HockeyCat - Dec 3 Happy......... . CanuckMom Dec 4 Happy................  MeanMomto3 - Dec 4 Happy

    JustJean - Dec 5 Happy...............  runningcello - Dec 9 Happy............... carynbrit - Dec 10 Happy

     ForHisGlory - Dec 10 Happy........ Davida58 - Dec 10 Happy....................SCMom - Dec 11 Happy

    ILCMom - Dec 15.......................  eileenpg - Dec 16 ............................ Linzer – Dec 16 Happy

    WndrWoman - Dec 16 Happy....... sweetbanker - Dec 16 Happy..............  labelle - Dec 17 Happy

    Slavrich - Dec 27........................InGodshands - Dec 18 Happy.............. Catie57 - Dec 18

    lilactulip - Dec 18?..................... PoppyK - Dec 29 Happy...................... kpmacmill - Dec 29 

    Jlynn13 - Dec 29 ...................... gretchy - Dec 29 .............................  Bellegirl - Dec 30 Happy

    January Start

    reader425 - Jan 2..................... Purrrrana99 - Jan 5........................... Cath57 - Jan 5 

    Proffessor50 - Jan 5 ..................fossf - Jan 7 .....................................Lulubelle1 - Jan 8 Happy

    lescover - Jan 8 ........................Nancy6540 - Jan 12 ........................ Saltygirl - Jan 12 

    aj103014 - Jan 12 .................... Fionascottie - Jan 13 ....................... Magdalene51 - Jan 15

    quiggy - Jan 19 ........................ Bippy625 - Jan 20 ............................ Dacre - Jan 20

    feelingoverwhelmed - Jan 20 ... KYBLUEEYES - Jan 20 .................. Beachbum1023 - Jan 22

    Cavalier - Jan 22 .....................  mqt64 - jan 26 .............................  Sjacobs146 - Jan 26

    Windgirl - Jan 28 

    February Start

    JeniferE - Feb 1 ........................ LARock - Feb 2 ............................. Chrissie29 - Feb 2

    ladyb1234 - Feb 9 .................... Texas94 - Feb 16

    March Start

    WheelyGirl - March 2

    FebruaryStart Dates Not Known

    CassieCat - Feb ? .................... intothewoods - Feb ? ....................  MaggieCat - Feb ?

     Special Sister Warriors and Warriors who stopped for a visit, but for various reasons didn't stick around. No start date determined.  We wish them well.

    zjrosenthal  - Rads delayed by surgery, until ? SadHonorary Winter Warrior

    Minnielee; surrrana99; Coloradocancermom; Shuf; bjeaneg, gemmafromlondon, knittingPT, Shayne36, KGotThis, ckr1956, funthing42


    Happy= Reported Completed

    ThumbsUp = Should be Complete by now.


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  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited February 2015


    I'm sorry that I got behind on the List.  I hope it's caught up.  Please check you, and let me know if I'm not right, which is highly possible somewhere. Great congratulations to all of you who have completed your treatments - Labelle, Bellegirl, Lulubelle, and Poppy. Hmmm - One of these names is not like the others. :)

    meanmom - You really have my sympathy.  What a nightmare. I did not know about the intentional non-drains for lumpectomies.  It does seem that there is a risk involved there. 

    I'm going to start copying the suggested questions for the "poll" tomorrow and get organized.  I'm glad you see value it. Thanks.

    I'm done for the day.

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  • WheelyGirl
    WheelyGirl Member Posts: 181
    edited February 2015

    I to this discussion board as I am having my last chemo today.  My first appointment with my radiology oncologist is February 25 and will start rads March 2nd, all I know at this point is 5 weeks 5 days a week but won't know more until Feb 25th  Looking forward to being part of this discussion board and would like to know if you have started a Facebook group as well.

    Good luck to all having rads today, hope all goes well.

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  • WndrWoman
    WndrWoman Member Posts: 333
    edited February 2015

    meanmomto3. I am 68 and I would call 2 hours of Lawrence Welk the torture chamber!

    JustJean. If only they had given you the lidocaine and pads over the weekend. But glad you have some relief.

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  • yikes1
    yikes1 Member Posts: 120
    edited February 2015

    WheelyGirl

    what a great idea - a facebook group.

    We can start a closed group. what do you think? someone needs to be the administrator.

    these are the options:

    https://www.facebook.com/help/220336891328465#What-are-the-privacy-options-for-groups

    Privacy
    • PublicAnyone can see the group, its members and their posts.
    • ClosedAnyone can find the group and see who's in it. Only members can see posts.
    • SecretOnly members can find the group and see posts.

    What are the privacy options for groups?

    There are 3 privacy options for groups: Public, Closed and Secret. The table below shows who can join these groups and what people can see about them.

    PublicClosedSecret
    Who can join?Anyone can join or be added or invited by a memberAnyone can ask to join orbe added or invited by a memberAnyone, but they have tobe added or invited by a member
    Who can see the group's name?AnyoneAnyoneCurrent and former members
    Who can see who's in the group?AnyoneAnyoneOnly current members
    Who can see the group description?AnyoneAnyoneCurrent and former members
    Who can see the group tags?AnyoneAnyoneCurrent and former members
    Who can see what members post in the group?AnyoneOnly current membersOnly current members
    Who can find the group in search?AnyoneAnyoneCurrent and former members
    Who can see stories about the group on Facebook (like in News Feed and search)?AnyoneOnly current membersOnly current members

    Learn more about joining groups. If you're an admin of a group, learn how to change the privacy settingsdepending on the size of your group.

    aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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  • yikes1
    yikes1 Member Posts: 120
    edited February 2015

    WheelyGirl

    the table did not print out as a table!!

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  • WndrWoman
    WndrWoman Member Posts: 333
    edited February 2015

    My RO told me they use the fluid area post lumpectomy to help identify the tumor location in planning radiation. Showed me on the CTScan. Normally it dissipates over time.

    She also showed me how the plan for the radiation beams avoids the heart but hits the chest wall. It is clear that some impact comes to the side and or back. I have a pink strip coming down beyond my armpit, sort of the border between my side and back. As she said, better there than my heart.

    As for the lung, she said to watch for a dry cough with no symptoms a couple of months after treatment ends. Usually no problem.

    She said as a resident they took blood every week. Now they just get a baseline and only more if there is an issue.

    You all helped me know what to ask. Thanks

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  • Professor50
    Professor50 Member Posts: 220
    edited February 2015

    Okay, so at that end of today's session I had to have a weird doodle-y circle and tape put on my boob for the boosters. I mean, they took a sharpie and marked me up but good. It looks like something that would be hanging on a kindergarten classroom wall. The good news is that this means the final 7 doses are on the way, they will be directed right at the lumpectomy area, and the rest of my breast can start to heal. The growing sense of joy that this is almost over is making it so much easier to get through.

    I give major congrats and admiration to all those women who have finished, the "belle's" and "non-belle's"!!! I cannot wait to join you on the other side. The powering through continues...

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  • WndrWoman
    WndrWoman Member Posts: 333
    edited February 2015

    Professor50. I am at the boost stage too. They prefer not to do new tattoos because the skin is tender from treatment. So stickies and sharpies. My original tattoos are hard to see on the treated breast because of the skin darkening - pink, red or tan.

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  • Professor50
    Professor50 Member Posts: 220
    edited February 2015

    WndrWoman, I know what you mean about the original tattoos. For some reason today when they were marking me up with the sharpie it struck me as profoundly ridiculous. I had been in this same position for that zapping and they said, "don't move" and then everyone came scurrying in, including my RO (who I am not kidding looks like he's in 8th grade or something) and they are chattering away and moving stuff around. I had an itch on my ear lobe but did not dare move. As they started to mark me up I just started cracking up laughing. LOL. What on earth? I just cannot wait to put this stage of my existence behind me. Everyone, and I mean everyone, at the cancer center has been amazingly kind, warm, and competent. But I cannot wait to not see them again for a long long time.

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited February 2015

    Ladies, I had the same drawing class today! I have green X's and red lines all over. Do they buy the Sharpie's at Staples, or at a medical vendor? Seems absurd to use a marker. But done with #8. My shoulder bones feel strange, but so far so good. How is everyone else doing?

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  • InGodshands
    InGodshands Member Posts: 28
    edited February 2015

    Hello everyone :) Well today was my final radiation treatment !!!! Hip hip hooray :) so glad to be done with that !!! I dreaded it from the beginning and had to do a lot of mental work to get through but I made it !! Coyote ..... Please add a smiley face for me. As one of the other amazing women on this site said once, I have been watching the wave of smileys coming down and am thankful they have made it to me. And thank you Coyote for taking such good care of the list.

    To everyone still going through it hang in there !! You can do it too!! I know I took lots of inspiration from those of you ahead of me so thank you!

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited February 2015

    Congrats InGodshands, big day for you!! I have 20 to go, so I'll be right behind you, thank you for showing us the way!

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  • Bippy625
    Bippy625 Member Posts: 890
    edited February 2015

    hi all,

    Lucky 13 for me today of 25! Thanks for posting about Lidocaine. i have a full freakin tube, for my port. I have not used it much. Well, I am usin it now! Or will be. i swiped a small bottle of solarcaine burn relief gel from rads, and its first ingredient is lidocaine. That works really well, but I will bring in the big tube soon. Hey, it is the least they can do for me.

    Met a fun gal, she gets tranqulized up before her tx. She is hilarious and demanded a smock that was "not pink and pretty". She gets it

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