Winter 2015-16 RADS

Kate - I love your fuzzy dome!! Can't for mine to be like that again (like it was when I initially buzzed it, after failing cold-capping). I have a little white/light grey fuzz now that I keep buzzing down (looks like dryer lint to me!), but I want my dark stubble. At 2 weeks post last chemo, I know I still have many weeks to go before I see any real hair. Is your pic recent? Did it really take nearly 3 months after last chemo to get to that point for real hair growth? Hoping for a real buzz like yours for a conference I will be attending mid May where I will be wearing my dress blues uniform....that is 3 months from now.

CT scan for rads along with sharpie marks covered with clear bandages was yesterday, then I drove the 5 hours home and I'm working today through the 23rd. Simulation and tattooing will be Feb 26th and starting actual tx on Feb 29th. Bought some supplies they recommended too.

Is it crazy that I signed up for a language class 2 nights/week for 6 weeks, which starts the same day as radiation? My class is 2 hours after my radiation appt. Was so excited to be in a city where I can take a class and that it worked with my radiation schedule!! Going to be working all day until radiation appts too.

- xo

Hi Mom,




General: Eat mostly whole foods including vegetables, whole grains, fruits and beans. Limit meat and dairy. 

Alcohol: Alcohol is a known carcinogen, but interestingly, red wine is not a carcinogen and supposedly suppresses the activity of an enzyme, estrogen synthase (which breast tumors use to create estrogen to fuel their growth). All in all, I think if you're going to drink, drink red wine. 

Melatonin: Minimize melatonin disruption. I think this will be something difficult to control. Thought to play a cancer-suppressing role (not much evidence though). 

Heterocyclic Amines: Compounds created when cooking meat. 

Fiber: Looks like it helps reduce the occurrence of breast cancer, but no conclusive results if you already have it. You should already be eating plenty of fiber and not have to worry about it anyway. 

Flaxseeds: Increased lignan intake reduces breast cancer. Liganas are present in highest in flaxseeds. They are phytoestrogens that dampen the interaction of the body's estrogen by interacting with the ER by blocking your body's estrogen. Breast cancer survivors who have higher levles of lignans in their bloodstreams and diets appear to survive longer. Flaxseeds seem to increase endostatin, which also inhibits tumor vascularization. 

Soy: Oh ho ho, this is where everything is turned on its head. So soybeans are high in isoflavones another class of phytoestrogens. So again, phytoestrogen mimics your body's estrogen, essentially blocking the receptor from interacting with your estrogen. Essentially soy seems to LOWER breast cancer risk (and also reduces hot-flashes btw).  Researches found that women with breast cancer who ate the most soy lived longer and had lower risk of breast cancer recurrence than those who ate less. Additionally, the isoflavones in soy turn on BRCA (the cancer suppressing genes in breast cancer) by removing the methylation. So, put the soy sauce back in the veggie burgers!!

So that's pretty much it. I've included the original research sources if you have any questions or want to read through those. I think the soy article (POCPA) just goes to show the difference between actual research information and information from people in blog postings. I think the general takeaway improvements for you should be: you can eat soy again (and should) and perhaps start having flaxseed-based toast in the morning. (Here is a easy looking recipe: http://momsdish.com/recipe/590/5-minute-flax-wheat-bread) 


Hi all
My daughter is a biochemist. She has a special interest in nutrition and cancer or disease. She has been doing some research for me. I thought I would share what she has learned so far. If you want any of the articles please let me know I have them. Just a lot to post here.
Also radiation damages all cells using photons or at least for me having full breast radiation. The cancer cells can not repair their DNA but normal healthy cells can.
I had a hard time sleeping last night. maybe Ativan in pm?
I also have a strange feeling in my throat and my voice can feel odd and sound a bit different. Asked RO she just said lymph nodes on my left side are not swollen so all is good. She did say I'm pinker than I should be at this stage. I'm putting cream on three times per day aquaphor.I will try cabbage leaves too. As far as BO goes I try a spit bath if I feel stinky... I haven't been wearing deodorant for a while... I didn't want to get cancer! Oh boi we won't go there. Hang in there everyone. thinking of you all and especially mdoc and Duzy my rad twins.

I've had no BO whatsoever since chemo. I've been in chemopause (which might actually be permanent, even though I'm only 36) since the beginning of September, and I've also wondered whether chemo made me smell like roses all the time, or what. Tis strange.

Brightsocks, one down! I cried a tiny bit during my first one, too. It goes with the territory. You've got this.

Andraxo, re: hair. . . Yup, that's my hair, almost 3 months PFC. There's a great page on here called Hair, Hair, Hair--it's worth checking out! My hair has grown really quickly on the sides and in the back, but lags behind on top. I'm told this isn't unusual, especially with taxotere, and Herceptin might also be slowing it down a bit. The magic seems to happen right at week 12 PFC, though I've noticed it darkening quite a bit over the past couple of weeks. Be patient with it. It really does take time.

And no, you're not crazy to sign up for language classes! How cool!

Brimton, anything on soy + tamoxifen? I also wonder about turmeric + tamoxifen. Turmeric works wonders for many things, but there's some evidence that it interferes with how the liver metabolizes tamoxifen. I'm drinking turmeric tea once in a while during rads and adding it to smoothies, but stopping myself there.

Tomorrow I get to have my zaps at 7:45. Then I go back to the hospital at 12:30 for Herceptin. Please, everyone, don't be too jealous.

I am done...so done with radiation. Last one today and rang that bell.

My skin held up very well and stayed intact. The tech says that it's unlikely that it will break down in the next week or two but you never know...now just waiting for PS appointment to work out reconstruction plan..oh, and I get to watch my hair grow..it's like watching grass grow, isn't it?

Hi everyone! Day #2 today and the tech called me in the morning to tell me that the machine I am on was down so they were running two hours behind. They gave me a time slot in the afternoon that wouldn't work, so I got them to agree to an earlier time slot if they promised to get me in and hour without waiting for two hours. I had to juggle some stuff around a bit, but they kept their word and got me in and out.

The machine DOES look like a giant KitchenAid mixer. I mentioned this to the tech and she thought it was so funny and said she had never heard that before.

A question for you all...what kind of bras is everyone wearing as regular ones get too uncomfortable? I don't think I have anything that is going to work after a few weeks right now.

Thanks!

Brightsocks....congrats on your first rad completed.

KateB79.........you crack me up too!

LindyC...........congrats on finishing today! Good news on your skin.

Fearless195...how nice to hear your skin has done so well.

Congrats to all who have finished and best wishes for all still in the process. Thanks for sharing all your photos...you are all superstars here!

Have a great evening!

Tessio and Durhamgirl, Try buying Walmart hook in front cotton bras and buy a size up around, not cup size. The ones I got do not have a cup size and they were 7.99. I figure I am not going to wear them forever. If I need a little extra on the empty side I just take the cups out of a sports bra and put one or two in to the Walmart special!

Hi ladies, just checking in to see how everyone is doing. Hang in there. I had a reduction after my lumpectomy, so I had to wear a sports bra for three months afterwards. My PS also recommended the front close ones from Walmart. They worked out well for me. I wore them all through radiation, with no problem, and since they are cotton, they wash up well from all the aloe, etc we slather ourselves with. Towards the end of rads, I had some pain under my breast, so I bought a couple of pairs of those fuzzy slipper sock from the dollar store, and I would place them under the band of the bra, and it was nice and soft. Good luck. Patty

Wow. So much new info from everyone! I must say that I'm envying those of you who are finished with rads and actually have a bit of hair. I'm 5 weeks PFC and there might be something happening there, but not much.

On the other hand, I'm glad there are some of us who are just getting started (finally) like me. Had imaging today which went OK and my first treatment of 28 is tomorrow. Needless to say, I have mixed feelings about it all, but away we go. I'm trying not to be nervous and reading about everyone else's experiences here has helped to lessen my fears. I'm so glad you're here.

Ativan is definitely my friend. Not for nausea or anxiety, however, but for a nice, solid 6 hours of sleep. I only take it at night. I had nausea during chemo only one time and took one single compazine for it and never took another one. Never took one of the zofran they prescribed either. But I do like the Ativan. Can't imagine having one during the day, however, unless I really needed to sleep for a while.

I haven't used any deodorant since my surgery and I don't think I have any b/o. Sometimes I put a little powder under my arms but won't be able to do that during rads.

I know there was something else I wanted to mention but the chemo brain lingers...

YEAH - Over the half way mark for this week. MDoc and Brimton after this week 4 more weeks to go - we got this. My day started off with a 2 hour dentist appointment then off to RADS, then saw the doc after and he said I am getting pretty pink/red. Just watch and if it gets worse we will deal with it then. Then got blood work back from my regular doctor and found out my VIT D is really low and need to go on a weekly pill to try and get it back up. It was fine last year. Wonder if this is from the Chemo. Then went to work for a few hours and now completely exhausted.

Catfurr I love the seven dwarfs reference - I am definitely Whiney this week. Waiting for the weekend. Congrats on the grandbaby. My daughter is getting married this year so we hope not to many more years before we have a grandbaby.

Twnkltoz - I am with you on the lopsided and don't care. I have not wore a bra for the past week. I usually put a camisole with no shelf another shirt and then a poncho over that. You really can not tell any difference but I am probably a B so not that big. It is more comfortable for me.

Love all of the hair pictures. I posted one at 10 weeks PFC in the hair thread and will again on this thread when I have more energy. I am at 13 weeks now. Growing too slow for me but glad it is growing.

Rest and minimal se for the rest of the week. Congrats to all who finished this week. Can't wait till that day comes.

Connie

Mary....
I would think that you will be totally fine. I very highly doubt that the shot will in any way interfere with the radiation. Seriously. I don't think that you have anything to worry about.

(((Hugs)))

Mary, I meant to add that I think you will be just fine! You are a cancer killing machine!!

Brightsocks, are you doing the three week high dose accelerated treatment? I am and I turned pink after the first treatment. My breast is super sensitive and a bit sore. I asked the RO today (after 4th treatment) and he said that was normal and to expect it to get worse and then better with no other lasting side effects.

Brightsocks, I did the short treatment, 16 and 5 boosts. I didn't have any problems. I turned pink by the end, I didn't have any soreness or itching except for the nipple, I never peeled, I did turn purple-red with deep freckling over part of my breast after treatment ended, I'm slightly tan now. It's been a month since my my last treatment. I do get a few twinges of pain now and again, but nothing terrible or lasting. Please remember everyone's experience is different. If you have any concerns make sure your RO knows about them. BTW, I upped my workouts during rads to battle fatigue. I think it helped. I was tired each evening after work, but not too bad! Good luck! you will make it through rads just fine and any remaining cancer cells will be toast

My knees are definitely more painful in the last week and a half, since the start of rads. Taking one extra strength Tylenol that sort of helps