Winter 2015-16 RADS

So happy for those who have finished.

DiDel and Musogirl I am right with you on the itch and burning. Under my arm looks like the worst bruise I have ever had and it burns all the time. Clothes touching it makes it worse. I told my DH I am ready to walk around topless. Above my scar line I itch so bad and nothing seems to help. I put hydrocortisone cream and taken Benadryl but it doesn't seem to help. Not sure how much worse it will get. I have 4 more whole area treatment (2 with bolus) then I move on to 5 boosts and done on 3/17. I am so ready.

I had my survivorship meeting last week and it seems so surreal to know that I have to come to terms with a new normal. I will begin taking a AL 1 week after rads so I am hoping for minimal SE's. I understand we have to do all we can but it would be nice to have a few days where it is not consuming my everyday thoughts. I think as we near the end of treatments or more all the appointments it starts to set in that I will not be watch as close as I was. I was told no tests, no blood work unless symptoms appear. Just mammograms from surgeon every 6 months. This is a very emotional journey and I am so glad to share this with all of you.

Hope everyone can find relieve for one more day and then get ready to complete another week of treatment. REST UP... We got this together

I had my last rad on Friday! There were no bells to ring but my family was there to hug afterwards. The therapists gave me a happy face balloon and hugs and wished to never see me again. I did tear up a little bit on the table during the last zap. You were all holding my hands.

Interesting tidbit, one of the techs told me that I would not grow under arm hair anymore on the treated side. Also, I can no longer see the lymph node scar in my armpit. Maybe when my skin is all healed I will see the scar again. ..I will post a picture, sorry for it being a bit graphic but others pictures have helped me to know what might happen.

I am going to spend the rest of the day in my room topless Binge watching house of cards.

I will be meeting with the oncologist in two weeks to start tamoxifen. Dreading it but happy to hear that some people are experiencing minimal side effects.

Xxxxxxx

TESSIO no under arm hair hmmmmm ok. I have two questions. 1. What did the boosts look like? they are saying I would have a gauze over my scar and then a nozzle will come down right to it. What did you all get? Also my nipple is really hurting. it's purply red. It rubs when I'm not wearing a bra and when I do it burns. Suggestions?

Ouch Tessio that looks painful. Glad you are done. I am hoping mine doesn't do the same thing but I have to get through 4 more to the armpit area so chances are it will.

DiDel we can do this. I believe Mary and Brimton are done around the same time als

Marijen: I peeked :-0 at the "machine" and its business end early in treatment and wish I hadn't. It looks like science fiction creepy freakshow robot takeover in there! All these teeny slats move independently and it's really ominous. How does it "know" what it's doing while the techs are safe on the other side of the (lead?) wall? Musogirl, the machine in my clinic likes to break down too. Maybe it wants to be a nuclear submarine in its next incarnation. Tessio...Yeah!! You done, no more scary radioactive robot eye circling you. ouch, hope that sensitive skin heals fast! no underarm hair? Like ever? That's kinda cool...hope mine doesn't grow either! Gotta have SOMETHING good out of this. Kate:-) :-) have you peeked at the machine's business end? (I remember you mentioning that you like science fiction too).

I kept a straight face while telling a friend that my boob very lightly glows in the dark and that I'm not allowed on airplanes because I'd mess up their instruments. His eyes got real wide and he fell for it until I started laughing. Now he calls me 'nuclear nipple'.

@Tessio ouch...I feel your pain! Mine still looks like that, and today is day 7 since that area was treated. I still have dead skin the needs to come off, so I think the raw area will get bigger although it's slowly healing over.

I was also told that I won't grow hair there, and I think I won't sweat there either.

Except for nausea (which is supposedly not a BC radiation symptom). I thought I was breezing through too. Up until 15, now only at 18 of 33 and getting real scared. My torso is STIFF. All the way around, like my insides are fried at the moment

Yay Tessio - you're done! Ouch though...looks painful. I'm on Episode 9 of the new season of House of Cards. Might finish it today or tomorrow...started yesterday. Quite the season!

Thanks to everyone who has posted pics...it helps me know what to expect. One week down...5-6 more weeks to go...already a little pink in the entire tx area. Glad I'm not to the only one to pink early (thanks for letting me know that Kate!)

hugs to all!

- xo

HoC here, too. See? Great minds think alike.

I was just catching up on posts, and this occurred to me: we all have fantastic senses of humor.

A nozzle attached to the Kitchen Aid. Nuclear nipple. Seriously... We are hilarious people!

I itch like crazy, too... Three days to go, and then Tamoxifen time

Hi! I've been MIA trying to get healthy! The lung and iliac biopsy showed granulomas. My lung doctor thinks I am having a sarcoid like reaction to the Herceptin! I've broken out in a rash a few days after the infusion for the past two times. We need to decide how to treat this. My MO is reluctant to stop Herceptin. I'm not crazy about having rashes and inflammation throughout my body. There was talk of adding Dexamethasone back into the picture. Ugh. I am so over steroids. Just my luck to keep things interesting. ;-)

Hooray for being done, Tessio. Bell or no bell! I hope your skin feels better very soon.

Birdysmom, that's too funny about the glow in the dark boob! I might have to try that line some time. I do look at the machine sometimes but mostly concentrate on relaxing my shoulder so it doesn't hurt.

Oh well, it was nice to have the weekend off. Back to the zaps tomorrow.

I start my first rad this afternoon . I am a little nervous. I am thankful to everyone here for getting me somewhat ready. I love the sharing here and the support. It's hard to talk to my family because they just don't understand. They have been very supportive but they just don't know. Thanks once again.

last day! Is it weird I can't wait until 11:30??

so happy to be DONE!! No bell at my place, but my techs gave me hugs and I cried. I brought them donuts as a thank you. My fiance surprised me with a bouquet of flowers, a trophy he had made for me, and a pink "awareness bear." Very cute.