Winter 2015-16 RADS

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited February 2016

    Catfurr, the bass farms Trible B is wonderful

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  • sailorgirl15
    sailorgirl15 Member Posts: 114
    edited February 2016

    I wish I could respond to individual post with a like or a comment just to that person. I get lost as I scroll down and can't remember who said what! Suz-Q I agree!

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  • 6feetover
    6feetover Member Posts: 320
    edited February 2016

    sailorgirl15, et al.: Wholly agree. I wish there were a "quote" feature in these forums. It'd save so much time and effort! *Hint, hint* mods... ;)

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  • LMN
    LMN Member Posts: 35
    edited February 2016

    yes the rads go to our backs! I was glad I read this ahead of time so it did not freak me out, having cancer has made me a bit paranoid.

    The expense is incredible, I glance at all my bills but wonder in the end if I add them up what this will all cost. I took two trips to MD Anderson in Houston, their care seemed especially expensive.

    Monday I have my final two treatments! I am ready to be done with rads! I am sore, red, itchy and swollen. I am ready to get better!

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

    Just sharing a reminder someone else sent....our medical bills may be tax deductions....money paid out, monthly premiums ( if paid with pre-tax dollars), mileage to and from doc medical appts, etc. Be sure to check on all of this w your tax preparer.

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2016

    JerseyGirl.....I can imagine!! I know chemo is much more expensive than rads. It's absolutely INSANE how expensive cancer care is!

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  • 6feetover
    6feetover Member Posts: 320
    edited February 2016

    Only in America...

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  • morelandks
    morelandks Member Posts: 51
    edited February 2016

    yeah the costs - the one that really got me was how much a single neulasta shot cast - something like $15k after the Aetna negotiated discont (!

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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited February 2016

    Happy Valentine's Day - Hugs to All

    image

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  • JuniperCat
    JuniperCat Member Posts: 658
    edited March 2016

    Hi. I have only had two treatments and am already pink. My sister also went through this and recommended calendula. Did that work for any of you? Thank you!!

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  • MissV123
    MissV123 Member Posts: 79
    edited February 2016

    JuniperCat: I use Miaderm and it has the Calendula in it, I order from Amazon. I use this during the day, and slather up with the Auqaphor at night....I think, its helping.....I was red yesterday and sore, and today not so bad...Im glad we get two days off at the weekend to heal up a bit....stay well

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  • SeekingSerenity16
    SeekingSerenity16 Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2016

    Congratulations to those who have finished or are close to it! I can't thank you enough for sharing your personal experiences and advice and I wish you the best as you move on to the next phase of treatment.

    I suspect that many of us would not have anyone who "gets it" to share our day to day highs and lows with if this board didn't exist. I have my DH to talk to; but, otherwise, do not want to drive anyone else crazy. I have not told my family that I have cancer. I do not see what good could come of it, especially since we have lost too many to cancer already and my father and brother are living with it. I do not want to be treated differently, cause my diagnosis to affect my family's day to day choices and plans or put fear in their hearts.

    This group has nourished my heart and soul, has given me strength when I have been fearful and had moments of weakness. I am grateful for your honesty and encouragement!

    TallnTerrific and anyone else interested: When I was first diagnosed I was told this is curable; but, I challenged my BS, MO and RO to tell me how they can prove I'm cured...what will be the determining evidence and when? Will there be a test that proves I'm cured? I felt frustrated that the word was used so lightly though in my research had not seen how "cure" is determined...Finally, the best and most honest answer I received was from my MO who said: "we will know in retrospect". So in other words, if I'm still here 10+ years from now without recurrence, chances are I was cured with today's treatments. That is so not fair. They should not use the word curable if it is measured in decades of waiting to learn the answer. We have to face the fact that cancer is our chronic disease that may or may not result in a shorter lifespan for us, just like heart and lung diseases and even diabetes...eventually we are all faced with something. So, like you, I doubt I will feel relieved when radiation is over, especially since I fear and dread the possible side effects of tamoxifen more than those of radiation.

    The gift here is knowing, way too soon in many of our cases, that life is delicate and precious. We are learning that the toxic parts of our lives, both physically and emotionally, need to be cut out. Treat the cancer aggressively; but, also cut out the stress, the negative energy, the drama that is imposed on us from family, friends and most especially from our work environments and strangers in passing. Once we can find an inner peace and acceptance of our disease, we can begin to live life fully again. Put the disease on the back burner for longer and longer each day...then for days at a time. Smile and laugh more and find joy in every day...

    To update on treatments: Day 5 of rads passed without any side effects. Anxious to get on with it...trying not to wish my life away with the rads!

    HappyHammer so true!

    mdoc524 I think we would all give up Valentine's gifts for a cure! Love it!

    Happy Valentine's day!


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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2016

    I also use Miaderm and aloe gel during the day (first Miaderm, then aloe over it, repeated 2-3x) and spackle Aquaphor all over myself at night.

    I've had 7 rounds of zaps and am looking more tan than anything. I'm very, very fair-skinned. . . . Fingers crossed!

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  • JuniperCat
    JuniperCat Member Posts: 658
    edited March 2016

    MissV123, thank you so much for responding to my post! I will go on Amazon and look for Miaderm. My RO's nurse have me something called "Avo cream," which I used but it hasn't diminished the pinkness of my skin. Are these creams and lotions supposed to do anything other than prevent the skin from drying?? Many thanks for your input!!

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

    Everyone currently doing rads or getting ready to start- Just want to mention about the relief cabbage leaves can give after rads treatments. Cuddy- were you the angel that mentioned them to us earlier in the winter or on the fall grads group? Wish I could give credit to the right person. Anyway, they really are cooling and cabbage apparently contains a chemical that is helpful.

    Just wash and dry the cabbage. Use individual leaves as needed. Hang in there!

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  • JuniperCat
    JuniperCat Member Posts: 658
    edited March 2016

    HappyHammer: do you keep the cabbage leaves in the fridge or the freezer?

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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2016

    Re: cabbage leaves: do I just stick 'em in there? As in, under my T-shirt? How long do I leave them there?

    So many questions!

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  • Cubbie2015
    Cubbie2015 Member Posts: 875
    edited February 2016

    Phoebe, I noticed that post-radiation, I had some new freckles. Or maybe there were always there, and they just got darker after radiation. I'm going to ask my RO about them on my one month checkup.

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

    Kate, et al- keep cabbage leaves in fridge in ziplock bag or wrapped in a cotton dishcloth (what I did). Place leaf on breast bare or under shirt. Keep leaf on until it isn't cool any longer...I was really amazed at how warm/hot the leaf became- as if it was wicking the heat out of the breast/underarm tissue.

    I am NOT the expert and cannot remember who told us about this on these boards. Sometimes it is good to bring great ideas back up for those who cannot possibly scroll and read through lots of old messages. THIS worked for me. Good luck and warrior on.

    Kickin cancer to the curb one cabbage leaf at a time :)

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited February 2016

    Well I had nausea again today. Never got it before radiation so it must be the radiation?

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2016

    I got these cookies for my radiation nurses and techs, as a thank you for all that they've done. I can't wait for tomorrow....last treatment!!!

    imageimageimage

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  • Duzy
    Duzy Member Posts: 134
    edited February 2016

    HappyHammer love the analogy kicking cancer to the curb one cabbage leave at a time. I forgot about that so I will have to go buy some this week and give it a try. I have 3 days with a bolus so I am sure I will be pretty warm this week.

    Marijen - I have had random nausea mostly at night and it seems to happen if I eat something after 7 otherwise I have not noticed it too bad.

    Brimton and MDoc - after this week we will be half way through with the regular treatment. We got this will be thinking of you while the machine is zapping the cancer away.

    Virtual hugs to everyone else going through se and treatment and hoping everyone has a good week. We will all get through this phase.

    Connie

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  • Brimton
    Brimton Member Posts: 87
    edited February 2016
    I too will buy some cabbage this week. Into the third week. the pinkness has not left from last week.
    I am a little embarrassed to say this but it helping me I think. How can one keep a rolled up cloth on themselves at night? I'm rolling around and have difficulty with that. I'm trying to not have skin on skin connection. This said I made a shirt out of an old t shirt, cut a hole in it and have my left side side through the hole. Then put my soft shirt on. Thus no skin on skin connection. Sharing this so far I'm feeling ok.
    Modc and Duzy ---- Here we go into week three! I will be thinking of you and wishing you the best week.
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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited February 2016

    Pure genius Brimton! If it gets bad I'll try it! Funny visual though

    SillyHeart

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

    Etnas- cute, cute, cute cookies! Great thank you for your techs, docs and staff...

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

    Brimton....so understand what you mean...one night my husband came into the bedroom with one of his t's...he had cut out a circle for my bad girl...so no skin to skin....we laughed and called it my titty-t..it really did help. You have this!!!

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  • MissV123
    MissV123 Member Posts: 79
    edited February 2016

    No problem JuniperCat ! Thats what we are all here for, so of course I looked up the Calendula plant and this was amazing, Its the marigold plant here in the states ! This made a good read ! And now Im going to try the aloe over it like KateB79 !

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula.....

    I do love this forum, and SeekingSere, I totally get it.....I come here for answers, and strength...always knowing you ladies are going thru the same thing as me.....I think we encourage each other....and I am grateful.......

    I hope everyone has a great week.....keep going....push on....and we can all collapse next weekend again......Sleep well.......

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  • beryl
    beryl Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2016

    Love the cookies you gave! I'm just starting rads this week so it will be an all new experience for me. Hope I'll still be able to get to the hospital as we are expecting a big snow storm. Why couldn't this happen in better weather? -No really it shouldn't happen to us at all! Thanks to everyone who has contributed. It helps.

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  • Duzy
    Duzy Member Posts: 134
    edited February 2016

    etnasgrl - YEAH for last treatment tomorrow and so thoughtful with the cookies. Great idea I will have to remember to do something in another 5 weeks.

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  • DurhamGirl
    DurhamGirl Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2016

    Hi everyone! I'm starting 5 weeks of radiation tomorrow plus one additional week of boost treatments. I'm not feeling as nervous as I did before starting chemo, but I am worried about how my skin will hold up. It's so sensitive to everything! But it has been very helpful reading everyone's posts these past few weeks as I am nearing my own rads.

    Take care everyone!

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