El Tigre, I take melatonin nightly (2.5 mg), with my MO's (and RO's) blessing. It's supposed to help with Tamoxifen metabolism or some such thing, but I take it because it really helped me when I was having wretched night sweats. Melatonin is good stuff.

For what it's worth, my MO thinks I'm nuts for taking the Turkey Tail, but she deals with it. She has no thoughts about turmeric, beyond "you are spending lots of money on supplements."

Yeah, but it beats spending lots of money on a recurrence, doesn't it?

Kate - I got a surprise open sore that came up a couple days after rads stopped in an area that I didn't even have on the radar. So I stayed with the aquaphor on the worst spots for a week after rads and Miaderm everywhere else. Now, just Miaderm twice a day.

YES! I am 48 going on 93!

And this week my left wrist and thumb hardly work, like I sprained it? Only there's no swelling. I don't know what's up with that.

My MO told me that estrogen is a lube for joints and that with the chemo, we killed off our estrogen production and very suddenly degreased our joints. I am a little unclear on the long term prognosis since none of us can take hormone replacements

I also understand that we are at much higher risk for osteoporosis.

What do you all know?

Yes on the joint pain, mostly in my hips but knees and even my right elbow feel it. Getting out of bed in the morning is awful.

A body transplant?

Finished!

Not sure what to say or how I feel I wrote out a card for the very helpful nurse who was in a different department today. I really hopped I was going to see her to thank her but not this trip. In 6 weeks when I go back I will look for her. While reading over the card to a friend I started to cry but that has been it for tears. I did get to ring the bell after I asked the tech boys. One is all about the tech and numbers while the other is more about the person. The one guy left the room so I just had to ask about the bell. Did not want to miss my moment. A slight ring sound come out past the lead door in room 3 today. For 93.3 will not be returning....

Hi everyone Met with RO today. After reviewing my chart she added two more boosts. I THINK it was because of the margin size. But now I won't be done until 3/16. Did anyone else get boosts added and Why? I will ask in am but I'm pondering it tonight. she also gave me silvadeen for my underarm and under boob. My sister says it looks like a large blister that has popped. Ugh Does the affects continue for a week after rads?

So excited to see more of you fabulous women done with rads this week! HOORAY!!!!

Lots of joint pain here - especially hips and knees. It is very discouraging to me. Today was the worst it has been in 10 days. WTF? Shouldn't I be getting better not worse being 6 weeks after last chemo? I feel old. A body transplant sounds great about now Marijen!

Today I saw the RO, as I do every Thursday. I asked about why my redness/rad field starts halfway between my sternum and my right nipple (right side is not involved, cancer was left and so lateral it was practically in my axilla/armpit). He said it is to get the best angle to avoid my heart....which was tricky. OK. Just keep avoiding my heart...I'll take the burn anywhere to avoid my heart.

Mary - that is great news to have both surgeries done at the same time under anesthesia! I'd want the same.

My head henna is fading but I may get it done again ext week. Lots of translucent fuzz coming in but it's not consistent/even so I will keep it bizzed at a few millimeters until the front area shows some signs of life. Fingers crossed that happens soon!

- xo

kate, i have been experiencing itching and a rash near my collarbone since my last rad on monday. It isnt bad, not complaining, but filled my scripts of flamizine and hydrocortizone so i dont have to suffer. Fatigue has pretty much left the building and am feeling stronger every morning.

Jersey girl, i too am taking turmeric daily in my smoothie with black pepper and olive oil, but since reading on this board (i think) that it could interfere with tamox i am a little concerned. I see my onc next week for discharge and will ask her what she thinks.

Thanks for the compliment MissV.

What's wrong with antioxidants during/post rads???

Doing the happy dance I am done with whole area and move on to 5 boosts tomorrow. Mary glad to hear they go much quicker. I hope that area holds up. I am with you on the pain and skin - except mine is my armpit. I have all of these white blisters and one area starting to peel so any day I am going to loose all of the skin. Hopefully this is the only area. I started getting these deep pains tonight and I think it is when anything rubs against that area. They said after I finish radiation they will give me something different for my skin they just did not tell me what. Also congrats on the surgeries. That will be nice to have it all done at once.

DiDel - I am with you on the pain and itch. My RO said to just keep using the Aquaphor and Hydrocortisone until treatment is complete then they will give me something else. Yeah for boost so the rest of the area can start to heal. The finish line is in sight.

Adarkadapted - I see you are finishing next week with a few of us. Everyone here says the boost is much quicker and the rest of our skin can start to heal.

Brimton - So sorry they added the extra treatments. We all know our end date and it is so hard to hear something different when you are so close to the finish line. You can do it though You will still finish one day earlier than Mary and myself. We will all get through this together.

Brightsocks - YEAH for being done. Take some time for yourself and rest up.

Welcome to everyone just starting this week. This is a great group of people to lean on, learn from and just get through all together.

Have a good night everyone and a great Friday. Not sure about everyone else but in Michigan we have had the best weather this past week and it is suppose to continue through next week. Went for a bike ride tonight after work which felt great.

Duzy, congrats on getting done with whole breast rads!! Woohoo!! I am halfway done with them.

One more day, then we all get a two day break! I'm ready.

Here's my understanding of the prohibition on supplements.

Most of the reason they don't want us taking supplements and vitamins is because those interfere with the radiation. The whole idea of radiation is to kill off the cells. The normal ones bounce back better than the cancer ones. So they zap us until the cancer ones die and the other ones are within a thread of their lives. If we take supplements that keep all those cells alive and healthier, it messes up the whole ugly process.

Other supplements and drugsare off limits because they thin your blood. That has been a no-no since chemo because our blood is already thinner from the treatments.

I take them anyways, Vit D, magnesium, Vit K, probiotic, calcium, zinc