Winter rads 2014-2015

As for wait times....my last chemo was Jan 15, had my port removed February 19, and going for rad sim on March 13. I wanted the port out due to lying prone for the rads.....the docs didn't think it was a dangerous request. If any of those sucker cancer cells got started again after chemo, the rads will finish them off, so I'm not worried. I'm thankful for the breaks to regain strength and more "normal" days before hitting this last marathon. I'll be looking for a Spring Ads group here too. Thank you all for sharing your adventures

May I ask what areas are you receiving radiation on if you had a mastectomy with node involvement?

Farmerma, I also just bought the Bali comfort bra! I got another one that Amazon suggested, the Marilyn Monroe sports bra - don't laugh, it's comfortable and stays in place! Someone else suggested a fruit of the loom but I found the cups too snug.

I had # 2 of 30 today. I don't know if it's my imagination, but the axillary incision feels like it is a little tight.

I did not buy any special bras, I used a piece of foam or a soft towel under the part of my bra that wraps around my body.  It kept the bra away from my skin and kept the aquaphor and sharpie markings away from my clothes.  It looked kind of funny with one foob sticking out further than the other, but that was the least of my worries. 

Jean, how are you doing on Femara?  I started mine about a week ago and haven't experienced any side effects yet. 

Thinking positive..........Went to the RO today and was told no radiation as the little benefit doesn't outweigh my risks of recurrance, so I was skipping out and I'm feeling very good about it. She answered all my questions and then some. I feel very blessed, she said mine will be best managed with the hormone therapy and I have an appointment next week for that. I am sosososos happy as the whole radiation scares me. She said I have all clear margins and was very impressed with how my surgeon accomplished it. Taking out 42 total nodes and only 1 was affected. I'm good with that for me, You have to feel good about the decision that you make and only you can make it, sure we all may have second thoughts but once you make up your mind go with it all the way. BC it is what it is! Feel free to pm me anytime and good luck on your decisions. Oh my Oncotype DX score was 9. That too helped.

Good luck to all that are going thru the radiation, I will try to pop in here once in awhile to check and give you my thumbs up and keep fighting the fight no matter what we can all to this in our own ways!! I'm off to pick up my new puppy tomorrow and start a NEW form of life, hope she helps me do this as she will be my only companion in the house. Always good to have a little buddy to elp you get the smiles out.

Mary

Great news, Mary! 

Oh my goodness this is active thread. Keeping up is tough! I finished rads #7 of 33 today (left side all the way up into my neck). I have a bolus every other day to increase skin reaction, so I'm already slightly pink and a tad warm to the touch. My RO saw me yesterday and said I look exactly the way he wants me to look right now, and if I can make it to Friday with the bolus he'll be happy. He's also told me not to use anything at all except mild soap and water. No creams, lotions, nothing until he says so. I love, love, love my RO and have zero doubt he's going to take care of me, but I have a sweet friend who gave me some European products that are supposed to have a cult following for radiation, so I'm hoping to get to start using them before things get much worse!

I've definitely noticed the fatigue already, but RO says he's not surprised because chemo was brutal for me, so I still have a long way to go to build strength and muscle again. I feel like my rads takes a long time; there's so many angles! I also have to hold my breath for every angle, which makes it worse. I seriously think I may hyperventilate one day.

I know everything above is expected, but I have another question for you sweet ladies: When I started rads I also started having major joint pains (hands, feet, ankles, knees...). My RO says they aren't from radiation and their onset is coincidental (he wants to check my thyroid labs, which I agree may be it), but I thought I'd ask you too. I'm having an oophorectomy Friday and won't start Femara until after rads, so I know that's not the issue. Anyone else have joint pains not in the radiated area during rads? I seriously feel as if I've suddenly developed arthritis (again, it definitely could be my thyroid, and we'll check soon).

Did you try telling them that cancer is NOT necessary? WTH! Sorry they are dumping on more frustration.

Hi Cassie, I finished rads #20 today and my chest is tanning but the armpit is getting red and feels tight. I went back to my mastectomy exercises and that has been helping a lot. I use 100% clear Aloe Gel and Aquaphor at night. So far so good. I just have a small itchy rash just below my neck and on the back of my shoulder. I have 8 more rads to go. Take Care!

Hi everyone. Sharing this well stated blog (from mbcteam.com).

You are certain to feel sheer joy and relief at the end of breast cancer treatment! Whew, you think, I finally made it to the end of a long and painful process! Ending treatment is definitely a reason to celebrate and you probably can hardly wait to return to life as "normal."

But you may quickly find out that life as you knew it before treatment just isn't the same. Gone is the safety net of a team of doctors, nurses, technicians, and other means of support that are no longer there for you on a daily or weekly basis. Family, friends, and employers may have high expectations that you will be the same person you were before treatment. You will probably have the same high expectations of yourself. However, cancer is a life-altering experience and you will most likely be faced with establishing a new "normal" as a breast cancer survivor.

A myriad of things may present themselves at the end of treatment and it's quite typical to go through an adjustment period. Experts estimate that it takes as long for you to rebound from treatment as it did for you to go through treatment*. However, we are each different and it may take weeks, months, or even years to make the adjustment.

It's often said that cancer treatment is one of the few treatments that leaves you in a worse condition than you were before you started. This is often true for most breast cancer survivors. Some of the feelings and side effects you may experience at the conclusion of treatment may include: fatigue, anger, loneliness, depression, anxiety, grief, pain, permanent scars, body image adjustments, lymphedema, neuropathy, menopause, weight gain, changes in cognitive functioning ("chemo brain"), changes in intimacy, increased stress, fears of recurrence, along with other feelings and side effects related to your particular treatment.

But there are also positive things that can happen at the end of treatment. You may appreciate life more, become more spiritual, change how you think about life, reduce your stress at work and at home, adopt healthier eating and sleeping habits, and you may even decide to channel your energy into becoming a breast cancer advocate or become a source of support to others who have been just diagnosed or are undergoing treatment.

The biggest thing you need to give yourself is adequate time to heal and adjust. Be reasonable with yourself. Don't set your expectations so high that you can't reach your goals. Consult with your doctor(s) about side effects that are still lingering. Join a support group. Share with your friends, family, and employer that you are going through a period of adjustment and ask them to allow you the time to adapt. Rest, relax, and know that eventually you will come to terms with accepting the things you can't change as a result of treatment. Time is your best friend after finishing treatment. Best of luck to you as you find your new "normal"!

magdalene- Frustrating to have the pain on top of everything else, isn't it? It makes me super concerned to start Femara, as I hear the joint pain is pretty harsh (and it's the very best AI for my type of cancer, ILC, so I'm stuck with it... especially since I'm a recurrence!).

CassieCat- Thanks for the Calendula tip. I may get some and start sneaking it. So sorry about your insurance company issues. It's ridiculous they'd even question your doctor's treatments.

quiggy- Oh my gosh! My heart has felt as if it's racing the past day. I hadn't thought about it. I'm getting rads up into my neck, but since I don't have a thyroid (thyroidectomy in 2004), I wonder if rads would still affect my thyroid hormones?

Annie- I agree with you 100%. I may be hurting, especially in the morning (and my hands really ache during the night), but it's all better than the alternative of NOT getting a chance to beat this damn disease!

Hello, amazing women! I have been lurking here, cramming for my radiation exam, while finishing up my weekly Taxol. I have read the entire Winter rads discussion topic, so I'm ready. Dear Coyote, I have my sims 3/3 and begin radiation 3/9. Y'all have helped me so much already. I met with my RO - my DH and I agreed he passed based on my list compiled by all of the information from you - he looked a little scared when I pulled out my legal pad of questions, but I figured by the time he was demonstrating arm exercises for me, I was in the right place. I'm not sure why some discussion threads work and why some don't but this is the best. I think its because of the respect you have for each other and because of the way you share the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Talk to you all soon - gotta go turn up the heater. It's 38 degrees! (Don't hate me - that's really cold down here!) Linda

CassieCat ~ I'm sure the insurance denial letter sent your blood pressure sky rocketing and you into panic mode.  I do suspect that it will be resolved by your RO very quickly.  Every little word and phrase on the paperwork from the doctor has to be just so when they send it to the insurance company.  I can't remember what it was about (chemo brain forever) but it happened to me at the surgeon's office.  They corrected what was required, and the bills were paid.

Booklady1 ~ Welcome to the Winter Warrior site. It's a terrible situation to be in, but the women here are wonderful and the support is simply amazing.  I'm really glad all the shared information was helpful to you.  I think it is as helpful to do the sharing as it is to read what is shared. 

Quiggy ~ That was great - and so well said.  I've been trying find the words for those feeling.  I'm pretty sure that I will really never get the "old" me back, so I have to try to adjust to the "new" me and make her an improved model.   Thanks.

Oh my goodness!  I had absolutely no idea there could be a connection between my newly acquired painful and achy joints and a thyroid issue.  I had extensive radiation around the clavicle and outer neck area. I had read that radiation "splash" could affect the thyroid, but that slipped out of my mind.  I'll be checking this out.  Thanks for the heads up. 

Thanks for posting that Quiggy! It is much needed. I was very very emotional on the last day of rads. And since then I have been feeling like, "Shouldn't this all be over?" But it doesn't feel exactly over. And what you posted reminded me to slow down and remember that I am still healing. This "event" happened to me. And I am allowed to move forward at my own rate.

That's too bad, Mags. An area that is not in the boost will begin healing so maybe you will have some relief.

Professor50. You got it. Go at your own pace.