Winter rads 2014-2015
Comments
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Thank you, Quiggy. I hope your new normal is wonderful.
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Good Morning all. This is a big week for many Winter Warriors. The end of rads. It's a great day. Congrats to all.
The "New Normal" speaks the truth. Which "normal" was the "old normal" anyway? Life changes through time. My normal as an 18 year old fresh out of high school was certainly not my normal a few years later as a mother of three little boys under 3 years old (twins); that normal passed by also. We can say that we change, evolve, adapt, or grow. We do it all, sometimes with joy and sometimes not so much. Sadly, we learn our strongest lessons in life through adversity and pain. I guess that is where the dreaded "opportunity for growth" comes into play. I know I certainly don't want to have gone through all of this (choose your word) for nothing. Survival, albeit a terrific reward, is not sufficient.
I am looking for a better version of me to morph out of all of this. I wish to embrace this as an open-eyed opportunity for change. I'm not talking about grandiose ideas of going out to change the world, however much I feel that needs to be done. This is a very personal, soul searched, conscious refinement of me. I am no longer disturbed by the awareness that I have limits - I used to think I could and should do it all. I was truly a "jack of all trades, but master at none." I will now strive to be a "master at one".... or maybe some
. I was involved with so many "helping the community" activities that I let slide the needs of those a lot closer to home - including mine. I want to do a better job in a smaller bubble. I want to strive for excellence. That's my new normal. Excuse, or opportunity? Personally, I'm excited about it.
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Thanks everyone for the warm wishes for finishing rads.
Quiggy, hopefully by now your all done! The new normal piece is spot on.
Sjacobs, sorry your husband did that. When I told my family I specifically requested that nothing be put on Facebook and that has been respected. I basically said I would tell the people I wanted to know. It is good to have spaces in your life where that's not the first thing people think of when they see you. Sometimes I think it is how husbands cope. My husband did fine until he put something on Facebook that I was half way through rads. Oops!
Windgirl, I had bad cording after my surgery. Physical Therapy helped. Had no problems during rads but last weekend (after 5 boosts) I began noticing the tightness again though not nearly as bad as before. Back to those exercises too!
The brown skin is peeling off, especially in the clavicle area. The boost area is still getting redder. This too shall pass. A switch has gone off in my brain that finally breast cancer does not need to be the main focus of my life. Feels wonderful!
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I want to say Thank You! to all of you amazing breast cancer fighters here. I love reading your individual thoughts on this horrible thing called cancer treatment that has brought us all together. Your words are so uplifting and truly help at the end of a long hard day. Congratulations to those who have finished or will finish radiation this week. I am really sorry for all of those who have had horrible side effects my heart goes out to you. I pray everyday for better treatment options for those who unfortunately will follow in our foot steps.
CoyoteNV - I especially love your most recent post, how true your words are and we all have made it through many rough patches to get to the next wonderful adventure life has in store. I have learned a lot about myself throughout the past several months and have a list of things I would like to change and/or accomplish as well. Thank You so much for sharing your wisdom with us all!
You are all so inspirational!
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Beautifully said CoyoteNV, I think I'll need to take this to heart as well.
Everyone... Did you see the new board topic? Check out:
Share the Journey app (part of Apple's ResearchKit)
Big thanks to Breastcancer.org for helping to get this put together.
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Windgirl ~ I experienced that painful tightness running up my arm to my hand a ways into my rad treatments. I had never had it before. I was told here that it sounded like "cording". My MO said she would give me a prescription for PT but I didn't do it. I consulted with 2 local PT's and neither had ever heard of cording so I figured that was a dead end. So, I stretch out a lot. There are remnants when I reach to the top shelf which reminds me to not ignore my stretching exercises.OK Quiggy. Today was party day! Hooray!
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I'M DONE!!!!! No more RADs! Last one two hours ago.
I got my certificate, a little gift and a reminder that things could get worse for a little while. This was the first time I felt they were open and honest.
Yahoo!!! Weeeeer!!!! 🙌💃🙌💃🙌💃
All my best wishes to my bc sisters. If you're done, just started or somewhere in the middle, you're stronger then you know and braver then you think! (Winnie the Pooh)
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Quiggy, congrats on finishing!
I'm over halfway done as of today - 18 done, 17 to go (10 regular, 7 boosts). My skin is still red and a little itchy, but so far still tolerable.
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This is our list of Winter Warriors as of March 10, 2015 - We are still growing! The Winter Warrior sign up will be over soon. Our Spring will be a new beginning.
October / November Start
MeneK – Oct 24
.................... MagicalBean - Oct 28
......... Mmtagirl - Nov 3 MarieBernice6234 - Nov 4
... Hope50 - Nov 5 .................. dennyvol - Nov 5 CAS4 - Nov 6
........................ Beachbaby65 - Nov 4 .......... CoyoteNV - Nov 10 Lush61 - Nov 13
.................... Rosa54 - Nov 13 ................. Beachlady28 – Nov 17 Nomatterwhat - Nov 17
......... LMVerma Nov 18 ................ katieC12 – Nov 18 Lorrilynne - Nov 18
.............. Gongshow18 - Nov 20 .........Yikes1 - Nov 20 Birdgirl11 - Nov 23
............. Perfectlyimperfect39 - Nov 23 Singsing1020 -December Start
Pita119 - Dec 1
.................. SandyLovesLucy - Dec 1......... AnasNana - Dec 1 HockeyCat - Dec 3
......... . CanuckMom Dec 4 ................ MeanMomto3 - Dec 4 JustJean - Dec 5
............... runningcello - Dec 9 ............... carynbrit - Dec 10 ForHisGlory - Dec 10
........ Davida58 - Dec 10 ....................SCMom - Dec 11 eileenpg - Dec 16
.............. Linzer – Dec 16 ....................... WndrWoman - Dec 16 sweetbanker - Dec 16
........ labelle - Dec 17 ....................... Slavrich - Dec 27InGodshands - Dec 18
....... Catie57 - Dec 18 ........................ lilactulip - Dec 18 PoppyK - Dec 29
.............. kpmacmill - Dec 29 .................... Jlynn13 - Dec 29 gretchy - Dec 29
...............Bellegirl - Dec 30 January Start
reader425 - Jan 2
................ILCMom - Jan 2 ....................... Purrrrana99 - Jan 5 Cath57 - Jan 5
.................. Professor50 - Jan 5 ....................fossf - Jan 7Lulubelle1 - Jan 8
............. lescover - Jan 8 ....................... Nancy6540 - Jan 12 .Saltygirl - Jan 12
...............aj103014 - Jan 12 .................... Fionascottie - Jan 13 Magdalene51 - Jan 15
...... quiggy - Jan 19 ....................... Annie88 - Jan 19 chtease - 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 ....................... Hotdogmommy - Jan 29
February Start
JeniferE - Feb 1 ....................... LARock - Feb 2 ............................ Chrissie29 - Feb 2
gemmafromlondon - Feb 2
.keri71 - Feb 6?............................. ladyb1234 - Feb 9Mm68 - Feb 10 .......................... CassieCat - Feb 12 ..................... Texas94 - Feb 16
Leslie58 - Feb 16 ...................... farmerma - Feb 23 .................... Dotwithkitties - Feb 23
SunnySydeUp - Feb 23 ............ Allmodestyisgone - Feb 24 ............ brandyrose - Feb 26
Scubawoman - Feb 26
February Start Dates Not Known
intothewoods - Feb ?..................... MaggieCat - Feb ? ..................... ThinkingPositive - Feb ?
March Start
gtlucky - Mar 2 ............................. sybilskelton - Mar 2..................... Kayfry - Mar 4
WheelyGirl - March 5 ................... Booklady1 - Mar 9 .................... Hygeia - Mar 13
zjrosenthal Mar 16 ........................Redhead01 - Mar ? ................... cbooklvr - Mar ?
Shelleym1 - Mar ?
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.
Minnielee; surrrana99; Coloradocancermom; Shuf; bjeaneg, knittingPT, Shayne36, KGotThis, ckr1956, funthing42
Mary59G
- No Rads needed !!= Reported Complete = Should be Complete by now. -
So happy for you, Quiggy! I feel far behind, having just finished 4 today, of 19. I barely made it to treatment, because traffic on the interstate I have to travel every day was backed up for some crazy road work, and the techs had to leave at 11 a.m. for some meeting. Ramped up my stress level considerably, but I made it. Three weeks from today, I hope, will be my last day. So far no SEs. For the rest of my March sisters, I hope you are all doing well so far.
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Hang in there kayfry, it will go fast! The first week is hard as you get into the routine. Don't despair.
With my daily work and RAD commute, I logged 110 miles a day. I totally get the travel stress. It wasn't until about week three that I decided to ease the stress by calling the techs to let them know I was stuck in traffic. They were always so nice about it.. Try not to let the travel add to your stress.
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Thanks, Quiggy. Yeah, after almost being late last week (snow storm, etc.), today I did call when I suddenly found myself stuck in gridlock. Last week the tech very sweetly told me to do that ("We don't want you to rush and get in an accident. Just call if you're in that situation, we can always take the next person until you get here, it's fine.") So today when I called, I got the slightly grumpier tech, who told me that they all had to leave for a meeting at 11 a.m., so if I didn't get there before then I was out of luck. Stress level surged. From now on, I'm leaving considerably earlier to allow for the unexpected. It seems like forever now, but I'm sure that March 30 will come before I know it. I'm lucky to only have 19 treatments, a day less than 4 weeks. I can do this.
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CoytoeNV, as always beautifully said! Love your wisdom and always at the right time with the right insight for me!
Windgirl, I am experiencing the painful tightness down my arms to my hand. My RO had already prescriped PT for me as I have lymphedema. The PT has helped all the way through my RADS with cording, sore neck, sore shoulders, lymphedema, etc. I had a PT apt today and it worked wonders.
Quiggy, congrats on finishing!
I am with each of you on the stress just to make it to appts. I finally fessed up to one of the techs how stressed I get if I am going to be late. She said don't worry just let us know.
I have 6 more RADs to go. Finished next Tuesday. No boost for my tx. Can't wait as my underarm, nipple and under my boob are very very tender. I had to take a pain med today.
We can and will do this!
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congrats Quiggy!!! Must feel so awesome
Thank you for the messages regarding cording, I started stretching as you all have recommended. I also remembered stretching for a week or so was what helped me get rid of it when it happened after surgery so hopefully it works as quick again.
I jinxed myself! I kept saying I will finish Friday the 13th, but the machine broke so no rads today and possibly tomorrow
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Congratulations Quiggy! Big gentle hugs!
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Quiggy, congratulations!
I too had cording issues after the lumpectomy and the tightening is coming back as a result of radiation. Like many of you, I'm just stretching and it seems to be okay.
I had my first of 10 boosts today. The skins looks a little red but okay. I'm also sore.
9 more treatments and 11 days until we take off for Italy. My "new normal" will be found in Rome, Florence and Venice. Woohoo!
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Can't believe I neglected to tell you, I did finish today, whoop whoop!
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Love the pic, congratulations magdalene51! You made it!!!
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Thank you LaRock. Can't think of a better way to find your new normal! What an awesome trip, have fun.
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Thanks mgt64!
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Thanks Windgirl. SUCKS about the machine. I had a two-day delay on a machine too. Enjoyed the break but hated that it pushed me further out. Don't despair, you're almost there! (no rhyme intended 😁)
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ladyb1234, thanks! You're almost there!! Yahoo..
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Hip Hip Hooray! I'm so happy for you Mags that you completed rads - especially with that shoulder issue. BTW - we have twin hair! Can you believe how long it takes to grow back?LARock ~ Loved my trip to Italy. Enjoy.
kayfry ~ I too had a long commute to rads (around 1.5 hour each way) with major road construction taking place between here and there. The road passes through a deep mountain gorge and there is no phone service in the area. The courtesy call was just not possible. I finally gave in and allowed 2 hours for the commute. When I arrived early, they seemed to find a way to get me in early.
There is also an hour time change between here and there, so figuring out "where I was when" was a daily adventure. I've been a bit of a homey since then. House to Studio and back is about it.
Is snow on the roads still an issue for some of you?
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So happy for you, Mags. Love the picture.
Obstacles like distance, traffic, cranky machines, snow will not hold back the Winter Warriors from finishing rads. We want to see Coyote's list filled with smiley faces.
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Mags - your smile says it all!
Congrats to all the relieved finishers 👏🎉🎆
My 1st session is in 1 1/2 hours. Obviously, I'm close to the center.
Thanks to all of you for sharing your experience. I'm as ready as I'm going to be!
Linda
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CoyoteNV, wow, your commute makes mine sound easy! Today I left ANOTHER 15 minutes early, but the road work was worse than yesterday so I was still a bit late. Tomorrow I will leave a full 70 minutes or so early for what would be, and was before road work, a reliably 40-minute drive. On Friday, I get to move to the time I always did want, which is an hour earlier, at 9:40. I'll just have to leave my house at 8:30 and hope it's early enough. The trip back is still only 40 minutes:) I have to work and have animals who need my time, too, and am finding it very difficult to fit everything in, but I'm hoping getting an earlier start on treatment will help.
Huge congrats to everyone finishing!!!!
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Congratulations Mags, so glad you are done. I can't wait til I can say those words too!
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Well now my next challenge. Weaning off the pain meds. I had actually been on a regular regimen before BC, but stopped after my surgery, so was very reluctant to go back on them. Yesterday I took my 2 before tx, then didn't take any more. Couldn't sleep, pain and restlessness. This morning just on edge. Realized cold turkey wasn't going to cut it. Took half a tab and settling down now. Just want to find a better way to deal with the pain of my "normal" life: arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.
On the rads front, my incision where I had the first five boosts is a mess. I have slathered it with silvadene and covered with telfa pads and a tshirt for now. I cannot describe the disgusting mess and smell. I hope you all will be able to breeze through without ever seeing anything like this.
Oh, and I forgot to say, congratulations, Quiggy! Snoopy dances!
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Happy dance for all of you who have finished or are finishing this week. You are our inspiration that we too can do this!
My halfway treatment is tomorrow and they did the CAT scan for the boosts (4) today. I think the fatigue is starting to hit me -- had a whole day of panic attacks yesterday and didn't sleep well last night. Today I'm just plain tired.
Met with RO this morning and told him about the panic attacks. He was very kind and gave me "drs. orders" to cut back at work -- still work but let my staff do some of the things that cannot wait, and the rest just leave them be until I get done. So here's to shorter days at work, more time at home with the DH and the pups, and leaning on my Let things Go tree (anybody a Rose is Rose afficianado?) Luckily am not having other SE right now.
Thanks to all who post here. Your stories, strength and support are a huge help.
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Congrats Mags & Quiggy! I have ten more to go, they did my work up today for my 7 boosts. RO says my skin looks good for where I am at-i think it looks like I had my chest in the sun for weeks! But luckily that's the only side effect nos thanks to cortisone cream, the itching is gone
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