Fall 2015 Rads

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  • PamelaR2015
    PamelaR2015 Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2015

    If you're offended by bad language, look away. Or if it's against the forum rules, sorry and feel free to take it down.

    I just ordered this and plan to wear it proudly. This is my second fight with cancer and this bracelet expresses exactly how I feel.

    image

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited October 2015

    Amen Sister!

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  • PamelaR2015
    PamelaR2015 Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2015

    littleblueflowers - He gave me hydrocodon. I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. Fingers crossed for good news on your husband's test.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited October 2015

    Moles were atypical cells!!!!! DH is cancer free!!

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  • meezers3
    meezers3 Member Posts: 95
    edited October 2015

    littleblue I will be soooo happy to finish!!

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited October 2015

    is anyone having trouble with dizziness/light headedness? I feel very dizzy and woozy this afternoon. I was wondering if it's connected to Rads? Called my RO - he said, nope, not Rads. Have you started Tamoxifen yet? (No I say) Did you take an Ativan? (No - I'm at work I say)...well call your PCP. Not Rads...

    ergh...

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited October 2015

    He's full of cheese. Its totally Rads. When I was getting whole chest radiation, I was getting my supraclavical nodes radiated too. It caused my eustachion tubes to swell up, which caused my ear to slam closed, which made me light headed, because of plugged ear. My RO said it couldn't be caused by Rads, but it started a week after I started Rads, and went away a week after I finished whole chest radiation so.....I think the supraclavicalar radiation scatter caused irritation in that whole side of my neck. Just my oppinion.

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  • meezers3
    meezers3 Member Posts: 95
    edited October 2015

    Tresjoli I had dizziness and light headedness too. I think it was from getting dehydrated during rads. Some days it was tough trying to drink 64 oz of water. If I got dehydrated it was hard to get back to normal. Chicken broth helped me when I got like that.

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  • Wildflower2015
    Wildflower2015 Member Posts: 279
    edited October 2015

    Hi everyone,

    I joined the group a few weeks ago and will soon be moving into active radiation treatment. I had my simulation today and got more details on my treatment plan. I'm doing the Canadian protocol, and will be receiving 18 treatments to the right breast only, plus 5 boosts. The dry run is next Thursday. I'll start radiation on October 20. Hoping for the best - will be following this thread avidly!

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  • PamelaR2015
    PamelaR2015 Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2015

    Littleblueflowers - Doing the happy dance with you!!! I know you BOTH needed some good news. Soon you'll be able to put cancer treatments behind you.

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  • PamelaR2015
    PamelaR2015 Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2015

    On another note - My RO said my skin looks so irritated he thinks I'm reacting to one of the creams. I've only used Miaderm and hydrocortizone cream. I only started Recticare last Thursday. I've used hydrocortizone cream pretty much my whole life so we're leaving off the Miaderm. But I think he's wrong. Why wouldn't my hand break out from applying it? Or at least itch? I think it's all reaction to the rads. My entire breast is a deep beet red. They did give me a script for silvadene. I'll fill it in the morning.

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  • bluedog
    bluedog Member Posts: 212
    edited October 2015
    Great news, LBF!

    Regarding rads side effects, I just reviewed the handout they gave me last week about them and found "decreased blood cell count" as a possibility. Seems like a low RBC could make one feel dizzy or light headed.
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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    Yay, Jen! Good news!

    I had some vertigo-inducing disease I caught from a co-worker in June 2014. It got better but I had little recurrences. I've had some more enduring vertigo since around the time of diagnosis, when my RBC turned out to be low. It was worse with chemo #3-4, and with Tamoxifen.

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited October 2015

    thanks ladies...it's gone for now. We will see if it comes back tomorrow. I'm going to crawl into bed at 9pm. Night all

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2015

    little blue, thankful for hubby's good results!

    Meezers and littleblue, congrats on finishing! I am 2 days behind you.

    I got more Mepilex dressings today. 3 more... Just 3 more. Tomorrow is doctor day

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited October 2015

    You can do this Kbeee! Everything will be fine, just fine.

    Well, last treatment tomorrow. Experiencing a little wet desquamation now. It's yucky. Hopefully that means it's working!

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  • jctreehugger
    jctreehugger Member Posts: 31
    edited October 2015

    Thanks Pamela, I found the cooling towel at Target. Mine had Serena Williams on it, I decided I could use her help! 180 cGy down, another 5,760 to go.

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  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited October 2015

    thank you all for sharing your experiences, and the reality of those photos........it eaves me speechless how strong you are.

    I am still on the fence re radiation decision -- not a clear cut case [IMHO], but rad onc now suggesting, and me kinda balking......... but still thinking. Zinny - I just realized you are the same person on the diep site too that I just responded to. I guess if your rads are starting soon a trip to Vanc for the BRA day event isn't in the cards. We have similar diagnosis, as they belatedly found other s#*t, so am a combo of types too, and 3 nodes removed with micromets in first, and my tumour was larger.

    Goofyfoot, may I ask how much your daily dosage was for the accelerated plan?

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  • meezers3
    meezers3 Member Posts: 95
    edited October 2015

    I did it! Finally done with rads!! For now I will celebrate with percocet, lidocaine, and aquaphor.. wish moist desquamation wasn't a part of my world now, but that too shall pass. :-)

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  • bluedog
    bluedog Member Posts: 212
    edited October 2015
    Woot, meezers!!!
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  • GoofyFoot
    GoofyFoot Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2015

    phoebe58: I had 16 treatments of 266 cGrays each and 2 boosts of 266 cGrays each (totaling about 48 Grays)


    meezers: congratulations !

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    Congrats, meezers!

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited October 2015

    Congrats Meezers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am done too! Last one today!

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited October 2015

    Cheers for Meezers AND LittleBlue!

    Though I do rather wish that none of us had to deal with things we didn't know how to pronounce before treatment.

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  • ra1950
    ra1950 Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2015

    Starting rads tomorrow; will find out then how many treatments then.  I have been on an emotional rollercoaster and my MO has me on  Xanax.  As the line in one of my favorite songs says, "I'm barley holding on by a thin, thin, thread."  Not sure why because Lumpectomy was successful and my Oncotype Score was a lowly 6 so I should be dancing on the ceiling, but I'm just the opposite.  My work has been wonderful and will let me off work the entire time for rads but my RO will not sign the short-term disability paper yet.  Whining alert...I get up each day at 4:30 am to do prayer and meditation, head out at 6 am, drive an hour to work and will work until 11:30 and then drive 90 min. to the cancer center, do my treatment, and drive 45 min. home.  I'm exhausted just thinking of it.  I called my surgeon's nurse navigator and asked what my options would be if I cannot work the entire time I'm taking rads and she said there was no way they would fail to get me my treatment so I feel better there. Maybe I won't have any SE's.  I don't know.  My other 2 cancers were treated with surgery only so this is a first for me.  After rads I will be on AI for 5 yrs.  I'm just in a rocky place right now but am grateful my surgery was a good outcome, I have a job that is supportive, I have loving family/friends, and faith my Higher Power will get me through this, even if it's with me kicking and screaming.

    Please add me to the Fall 2015 Rads list.  Thanks for listening.

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited October 2015

    Ra1960: OK, you're on the list, and welcome to the troupe.

    Totally with you on the "emotional and physical rollercoaster" of diagnosis and treatment. I won't speak for the others but somehow I never could feel grateful for the fact that I didn't have to have a specific and unpleasant treatment, whether a mastectomy or chemo.

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  • StefLove
    StefLove Member Posts: 322
    edited October 2015

    congrats meezers and lbf!!!

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  • Skysquirrel
    Skysquirrel Member Posts: 41
    edited October 2015

    Hello all!

    Congrats meezers and little blue! I am so happy your ordeal is coming to an end!

    I had the best news today! I thought I had 33 treatments scheduled but it turns out that it is only 30! (well, 1st doctor told me 30, then I switched facilities and new doctor told me 33 but then said 30 today) So that means tomorrow is my last full breast!!! Had my sim for the next 5 boosts today, Sharpie came out of the techs pocket, probably the same one used on everyone and that made me squeamish. Oh and the electron cone was a surprise. The whole procedure felt like I was in an alien spacecraft being examined. But I was SO DAMN HAPPY that my sentence was shortened by 3 days that I didn't even care about being poked, prodded, drawn on and stickered :)

    For people just starting out... My experience hasn't been as horrible as it could have been. Its been annoying, very uncomfortable, deeply exhausting both mentally and physically. But, I have worked full time, taken care of 2 teenagers and a puppy, and walked/jogged a mile on most days. My skin is red, hot, & dark and peeling in spots and I know that I am not at my peak yet but my RO doesn't expect much more damage. So, read and be prepared but keep in mind that not everyone gets every side effect. I am not discounting anyone who has had it rougher, I feel very very fortunate that my effects have been on the milder side. It still is not something I would wish on anyone or brush off as "easy." More like manageable, tolerable.

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  • Keys-Plez
    Keys-Plez Member Posts: 304
    edited October 2015

    Congrats meezer and ibf. Happy healing!

    Skysquirrel...I'm totally in the same place as you. Overall the experience was, as you say, uncomfortable but tolerable. If I had to do it again, I absolutely would. But hope I never have to.

    I'm 10 days post-rad and am still peeling, but there is healthy skin underneath. I could go back to wearing my pre-cancer bras, except I've gained 14 pounds. ;o(. Now it's time to work on that. I wonder how AIs are going to affect that journey. I start AIs next week. ;o(

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  • KellyAnne13
    KellyAnne13 Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2015

    I guess you can add me to this list. Just finalized my decision to go ahead with radiation despite having a BMX and a right side reconstruction failure. I'm nearing the 3 month post-chemo so will start radiation late oct.

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