Winter 2015-16 RADS

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2016

    HappyHammer....I'm glad to know it's "normal", whatever the heck that means. Normal has taken on a new meaning since cancer! LOL! Things I never would have considered normal are now just that.

    Loopy

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  • Fearless1956
    Fearless1956 Member Posts: 106
    edited February 2016

    FINAL DAY OF RADIATION IN THE BOOKS!!!!!  What a great feeling to have this phase of the journey behind me.  Below are celebration pictures with some of the great staff who took care of me.  I rang the victory bell in celebration of my "graduation" from radiation therapy and as I walked out the door of the rad onc office, the tears started flowing.  The emotions that cancer brings about continue to astound me.  The tears came out of nowhere.  Albeit they were happy tears, the realization of breast cancer hit me square in the face once again.  And, as so many of you have already commented/questioned on this thread, what will ever be considered "normal" from here on out?  I know my life has been changed forever and I don't take one day for granted.  I'm thankful to God for each new day He gives me and know that His mercies are new every morning.   I am a survivor!!!

    image

    image

    image


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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited February 2016

    DiDel - so hope your niece is OK .. I had the Tech in my face yesterday taking my picture too - they took it so fast did not have time to say No ..LOL! Hope you got some sleep

    WooHoo Congrats Fearless! Great pics - you look beautiful! And yes you are a Survivor!!

    Grammy - hugs for you! Sorry the machine broke - that stinks! Hope Thursday is your day!

    Etnasgrl - I often think about once treatment is over - how will I feel? What will normal be like and I think we set the tone for that - not easy but I am going to try...

    Mary

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  • justmaximom15
    justmaximom15 Member Posts: 264
    edited February 2016

    Twnkltoz, you mentioned that you're trying to get your protein in and I'm not sure what if any dietary restrictions you may have but my MO suggested a protein drink that I've been getting from Costco. It's called Premier Protein and each shake has 30grams of protein but only 1 gram of sugar. I get the chocolate and keep them very cold. I usually drink one every morning on my way to rads because it's too early for a big breakfast.

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  • JerseyGirl22
    JerseyGirl22 Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2016

    Day 12 down!!!!! mdoc, I've gotten to a point where I'm standing my ground and taking charge of the rest of my treatment. I'm so not going to drink the koolaid when talking about SEs and the like with the docs. I love my MO, but like I said before, she's kind of a big deal, and it frustrates me sometimes, when she acts like I should fit the mold for this or that, while saying, your cancer is your cancer, and not like anyone elses... So, onward into the fray...

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  • Twnkltoz
    Twnkltoz Member Posts: 215
    edited February 2016

    thanks, @maximom!

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  • Twnkltoz
    Twnkltoz Member Posts: 215
    edited February 2016

    oh, and congratulations, @fearless!

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  • LindyC
    LindyC Member Posts: 231
    edited February 2016

    Fearless...congratulations!! I have 10 more to go and am so ready to ring that bell off the wall.

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  • Fearless1956
    Fearless1956 Member Posts: 106
    edited February 2016

    JerseyGirl -- I love your perspective.  I'd heard and read so much about all of the SEs and skin problems with rads and expected to have them all to the greatest degree.  But, like you said, my cancer is my cancer and it affects me and only me and I will handle whatever comes my way by being in charge of me only.

    Twnkltoz and Mdoc524 -- Thanks for the kind words. 

    Grammy -- Sorry about your setback.  Just know the end is near!!!

    Etnasgirl -- On with the new normal.  Mentally knowing that rads is over, I realize I'm now on the next phase of my new normal. 

    LindyC -- Hang in there!  You get to ring the bell soon.  It's a great feeling. 

     

     

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited February 2016

    Woo-hoo, Fearless! Yay for last day of rads. BC is a roller-coaster, right?

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  • Fearless1956
    Fearless1956 Member Posts: 106
    edited February 2016

    Happy Hammer --- It definitely is!!!  Emotions are all over the place some days.

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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2016

    Yay, Fearless! Congrats!

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  • El_Tigre
    El_Tigre Member Posts: 520
    edited February 2016

    congrats Fearless!

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  • justmaximom15
    justmaximom15 Member Posts: 264
    edited February 2016

    Congrats Fearless!!

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2016

    WOOOOHOOOO Fearless!!!! Congrats to you, girl!!!!

    Happy

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  • 1957-2057
    1957-2057 Member Posts: 35
    edited February 2016

    Congrats Fearless, way to go!!!! Tomorrow will be #17 for me and that puts me over the 1/2 way hump. Saw the RO today, well the fill in. Mine is on vacation in Hawaii, I told the sub we could all hope he gets a sunburn while playing golf. He thought that quite funny. Anyhow my side effects are not bad, still a little pink and now a little itchy, ribs are tender. I hope the rest goes as easy as the beginning has. Not sure what my center does when you are done but you can bet I will be skipping out that door when I finish. Saw my family doctor yesterday as blood pressure is up a little, never had an issue with it before so no more salt and stay away from preservatives for me. Hope to get it back to normal on my own, sure don't need to have another pill to take.

    Hope everyone has a great rest of their week. We will all finish soon I sure hope we can all come back to this winter rads site in 6 months and post an update on how good we all are getting along.


    Helen


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  • JerseyGirl22
    JerseyGirl22 Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2016

    Yay! Fearless! So happy for you to be finished with this big chunk of treatment! Doing the happy dance for you!

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  • Duzy
    Duzy Member Posts: 134
    edited February 2016

    Congrats Fearless - It must feel great to be done.

    I just had first official treatment today. 32 more to go. The count down is on. Makes you want to have a daily calendar to rip off the days as you go. Not much chit chat with the techs they just line you up and say ok here we go and leave the room. No music, no pictures to look at just the zap machine moving around me. Good thing it doesn't take very long. They come back in and say your all set and before I gather my stuff up they are getting ready for the next person.

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  • MissV123
    MissV123 Member Posts: 79
    edited February 2016

    Congrats Fearless, Im still wiping my eyes from reading your post.. today was #9 for me, and you know, I forgot about them taking my pic the first day.....but after reading posts , it all came back...Im getting a new RO , since our hospital is in the middle of being sold and the takeover is happening as I type.....I think they are a group of 5 docs....I dont know which one I will be seeing....I hope everyone is well tonight, sleep well,rest and make sure to eat....Ive lost about 26 lbs or so since this whole thing started (believe me I could use the weight loss) but loosing to stress isnt the greatest...I started using the Bullet in the morning and making healthy drinks I take with me to work to make sure Im getting better nutrition...and yes emotions are all over the place.....I can forget about things for brief amounts of time and then like a wave , it washes over me again....Im fighting, and we will all win....as JerseyGirl says "Warrior On" I love this saying.....so for tonight I am thankful for all of you and your advise and sharing.....good night all....

    Vera

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2016

    Duzy.....I'm sorry that your treatments and techs are not better. At my center, the techs are AMAZING. They talk to me from the moment they call me back to the moment I'm done. Sometimes, depending on the tech, I even get a little hug when it's over.
    There is music in the treatment room as well. They have Pandora playing and usually ask if the selection is okay or would I prefer something else or nothing at all. On the ceiling is a picture of cherry tree branches, with the pink blossoms on them. It gives the impression that you are lying under the tree, looking at the sky. Very pretty.
    They seriously do everything that they can to make it the best experience it can be. Every center, no matter where it is, should do the same!

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  • Duzy
    Duzy Member Posts: 134
    edited February 2016

    etnasgrl that sounds so much more relaxing and would make you feel more at ease. I was surprised they did not at least have music in the room. They just told me that if I needed something to speak up and they would hear me. Maybe as I have more treatments and have the same techs it will get better.

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2016

    I'm sure that it will!

    Happy


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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited February 2016

    Congrats Fearless!! Whoop whoop...I'm jealous..I had #2 today and from the minute I walked in til I left was 15 minutes . Which included my glam photo 😗

    Vera sorry you're dealing with all the stress from changes at the facility . That really stinks. I got a nutribullet too and I love it, I blend up a healthy drink and zoom out the door.then I got the soup cookbook and that's what I'm having for dinner. I love it. The app has some great recipes too!


    There is no bell at my place . ..I will have to suggest it. I heard of all those chemo ending parties and again my center did zippo notta...nothing

    I didn't get tattooed for my radiation field since it's a precise measurement around my scar and because I'm very allergic to adhesive they keep marking me up and it's ruining everything I wear. 😠

    Hope to get a good night sleep tonight . .my niece stayed with me again and woke up at 3 am ..I'm exhausted

    Good night all!

    Diane

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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2016

    There's no bell at my place, either, but there is a really cool saltwater aquarium back in the second waiting room. I've already got a favorite fish.

    I start tomorrow. We'll see if there's music or something nice to look at! I certainly hope so.

    You know what's weird? I still don't know how many total treatments I'm having. 30, maybe? I should probably ask, huh? ;)

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited February 2016

    Kate- glad you found a fave fish. The techs at my center were great and played music during each treatment,. They knew I liked it and it was a great distraction! In your pocket tomorrow as you get going! Are you still on Herceptin?

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  • Fearless1956
    Fearless1956 Member Posts: 106
    edited February 2016

    It's weird this morning not walking over to my RO's office for a treatment..............more of the "new normal." 

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  • Tam-iam
    Tam-iam Member Posts: 90
    edited February 2016

    Congrats, Fearless! So happy for you. :)

    I had a visit with my MO yesterday and was told that they've heard a lot of complaints recently about my RO and staff. Seems they aren't as patient centric as in the past. I'm dealing with their lack of patient consideration better now and really appreciate all the encouragement from everyone here. Thank you!

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  • Catfurr
    Catfurr Member Posts: 69
    edited February 2016

    Peabrain-what? No sushi?? Hadn't heard that one yet! I think I've only had it once tho during rads. Yes, this fatigue is certainly different from chemo. I'm finding it hard to drive or even stand for very long towards the end of the afternoon. Was doing 3 miles a day on my treadmill until last week. Had to stop at one mile and lay down! Whew!

    JerseyGirl-this "gift" just sucks, doesn't it? I know people have said that their cancer was a gift, but I sure didn't want it!!

    HappyHammer-glad you're doing well!!

    Tomorrow is my last rad!! Yay!! Am planning a trip to Florida the last week of March, hoping my energy level will be up considerably! Wondering too what my new "normal" will be. I'll start on arimidex in a few weeks, so hoping for no SE's. I feel that the events of my life the past few years contributed to my illness and I need to stop being caretaker to everyone but me. I'm putting a big circle with a line thru it around me and declaring myself a no stress;no drama zone!

    (((Big Hugs to all)))

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  • keepwalking
    keepwalking Member Posts: 147
    edited February 2016

    I just finished today (16 + 5 boosts)!! I haven't been writing much, but have been trying to keep up with the posts.

    In the past week since starting boosts I have had more fatigue, so just going to rads and back and doing whatever else needed done around the house was about all I could muster. That is starting to get better now. I took public transportation to rads, which also gave me about a 35 minute walk each day going to and from the stop, and I was grateful for the exercise. Between the transportation time and waiting at the center I could be gone 2 to 4 hours each day, so I will be glad to have that time back.

    My skin held up really well until a week ago, with only a sore nipple area. Then I got progressively redder all over, especially the boost area, and the nipple area got itchy, stinging, very sore and red, and then turned more dry and crusty. As yet it has not cracked open, and I can deal with the pain by taking Tylenol about every 5 hours. My center recommended no creams/lotions at all during the treatment, and I think that worked as well as anything. I know it could have been a lot worse, especially since I am very fair skinned and my tumor was near the surface so the skin was an area of concentration. Also my full nipple area was in the boost, so there was no mercy for that most problematic area in the last week. But after finishing today the nurse recommended calendula cream and it certainly feels soothing! I hope that it does not continue to intensify too much over the next 2 weeks.

    Congratulations Fearless! I haven't thought too much about what life will be like now, but I have to say as I walked out of the hospital today I was feeling a bit like I was starting life anew! But there is still healing to do and getting my energy back, then the 6-week post rads meeting with Surgeon and with MO, not to mention continuing tamoxifen, so I don't feel like it is over yet. I say I am ready to get back to "normal", but I also don't know what that means now. I am so done with having "C" be part of my every thought, but neither can it not be a part of my reality now. I guess I can't figure it out in advance, but can just go on one day at a time and see how it plays out.

    Best to all!

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  • keepwalking
    keepwalking Member Posts: 147
    edited February 2016

    Congratulations Catfurr on last day tomorrow! Thanks for the reminder to make NO STRESS a part of my 'new life' resolution! I also feel that was a major contributor to this thing taking hold, and I don't want to make that mistake again.

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