Winter 2015-16 RADS

lindab - Sooo sorry to hear that you are having such SE's and also maybe a cold coming on! I can understand your feelings about wanting to cut it short. I hope that today the RO can give you advice/meds/creams to help you get through it and to also be able to sleep. About the dizzy feeling afterwards - I experienced that a few days ago and I remembered someone on the Fall Rads group saying that it can be caused by not drinking enough water. So I went to the market inside the hospital and got sparkling mineral water, hoping that the electrolytes would also help. Very soon I felt no more dizziness and really refreshed. Since then I have made this my treat after rads (OK, and also a little chocolate ) Perhaps making sure that you are well hydrated before and may mineral water afterward could help you too (at least with that part). I hope you do get to visit Israel!! And I hope you feel better!

Rina- thanks for sharing that beautiful view...how healing to be there sipping water and looking at that! (And, the chocolate

Yes, I hear you on the "shell shocked" response...surely, "this too shall pass", but it can really be scary! Glad you and hubby went to the movie! Who knew cabbage cold be used like that? Good thing to share with others.

Glad that the sim went well, El Tigre! It's great to feel that you are moving forward, isn't it?

Rina, what a beautiful post-treatment treat! Both the view and the chocolate.

I went back to work after getting blocked. My co worker looked at me and she looked horrified. I looked in a mirror and hadn't noticed the sharpie markings went up to near my clavical. What fun!

marijen, the only bloodwork my RO wants is a pregnancy test, lololol!!!

Kim

They did the same thing with me, insisting on a pregnancy test. I requested to sign the waiver... they weren't happy, but I knew I wasn't pregnant, and I was tired of poking, prodding, and peeing into cups!

Marijen, it can. My RO sent me for blood work this week.

A friend of mine sent this to me today. She said a friend of hers used it and said it really helped. I'm going to ask my RO about it tomorrow. I'll let you know what he says. Patty

I haven't been an active participant lately, and I will have to join the spring/summer group now since my Oncotype came back "high" risk. All of the other tests have been negative and never once was chemo mentioned, until yesterday. I start next week. I am not mentally prepared and all of a sudden, again, there is a rush to get everything ready. I have another surgery next week to have the port placement and then start TC on Friday. Ordered my cold caps today - I am so not vain, but this is the only thing I seem to be able to control, at this point. I am feeling guilty that they are so expensive, but my husband has been overly supportive of this one. Wishing ALL of you that are starting, in the midst, or finishing rads the best!! Wish I were there with you instead of what is ahead of me for the next 12 weeks. I still have my rads consult next week - decided to keep that appt. since it's down the road anyway and I'm feeling okay right now, may not feel that way in April when I'll be starting. I have no words for how I feel about chemo - maybe just plain alone at this point. Good luck ladies - ya'll rock!!!

Thr_yet - Darn! What a shock! - I am sure that you were blind-sided by this and are still trying to wrap your head around it. I hope that you are able to get some encouragement and calm in the next week, and that you are able to come through the next 12 weeks with minimal SE's. I would suggest joining the January Chemo group. When I thought that I might have to have chemo I perused one of the groups to get prepared, and I am sure I would have found it helpful and comforting to be a part of it if I were going through it.

HUGS and wishing you all the best

ok here's my question - Is AI medication stopped during radiation

My RO also required a pregnancy test prior to beginning treatments plus I had to sign something basically saying that I was warned of the risks of becoming pregnant during treatment. I had the Essure procedure in 2007 and I'm pretty sure between the Taxol and Tamoxifen I've been pushed into menopause sooner than I normally would have.

This thread does go fast! Whats the deal with cabbage? Cause if it helps, there's gonna be a shortage here in El Paso! I had 1st rad yesterday. I woke up at night and felt like my boob was on fire and woke up hubby and asked if my boob was going to explode. He gave me tylenol. He was explaining how radiation works and I fell asleep on him! I hope this doesnt mean its only gonna get worse!

Thr_yet I'm sorry that you were hit with that news. All along before surgery I was told I would most likely only need radiation after my lumpectomy then BAM the Sentinel node came back with cancer. Everyone was shocked and I was devastated. I had a good cry over that one and then my oncotype results came back and my MO decided that AC + T would be best which meant 6 months instead of 3 for the chemo. Now this cancer kicking train is getting closer to the station and I'll soon be done except for the tamoxifen and the crossy fingers that it never returns. Best wishes to you!

justmaximom, you and I should have won the lottery! Since we both ended up on the side of the slim odds. Now that I'm reading your profile, you are the only other one I've seen with 1/1 for nodes. I didn't have oncotype testing. The MO offered, but had already recommended chemo since I was grade 2. And I had told her "just get it out of me!"

Hey, remembering what you said about all the doctors, I have a dentist appointment on Monday, and will have to remind myself not to take my top off. ;-)

El_Tigre, My MO gave me a prescription for Tamoxifen, but said to ask the RO if I should take it during radiation. (They are at different hospitals.) She said that most prefer to wait. The RO had initially said to wait about a month after treatment to begin Tamoxifen, but when I finished treatment on Tuesday said to ask the MO when to start. He said the reason is that side effects for radiation and Tamoxifen are similar, and doctors like be able to determine which treatment is causing the side effects.