Spring 2016 Rads

Iammags- I am SO enjoying the cool breeze blowing through my apt right now. Nothing like feeling like crap and being hot on top! Cheers to a week of good temps on tap!

iammags--planning the wedding? Well that would be mostly the kids and I. :-) And re: the pig roast--it's not really our party. One of my younger brothers and his friends have been doing this annually since they graduated from UVA in 1983 (ish). It floats around the east coast--we hosted in 1996 (right after we moved to Charlottesville), again in 2012, and they asked us last summer if we could host again this year. We said sure (great excuse to work on the house/property). When my son and his young lady called to tell me they'd decided to get married, the second sentence was, "And we've decided to do it when we're home for the pig roast." All of my kids were already planning to come home for it so the timing really makes the most sense. We'll just see where I am having the two events on consecutive days in my back yard. (I keep telling friends to bring me drugs--not sure when I'll need them--before, during, or after, but I'm sure I'll need them. ;-) )

#3 of 20 today. :-D

LG, enjoy your extra day off!!! I plan to do the same thing next week when I finish my rads!

oops Ingerp, speaking of drugs, I should've asked you who you are planning the wedding for! Duh..sorry The pig roast idea just sounds fun and yummy.

Good for you LG, have a great weekend!

And to everyone else, have a great weekend!

#LastRadiationEVER!!

Mags, ###BESTENDINGTOAWEEKEVER!!!###

Today was my 2nd day of zaps of 33.  Nothing major but while in the waiting room the girls and I were all talking and they said most of them didn't like my RO.  One day a week, we all get a quick "physical" from the RO.  Apparently my doctor saw everyone last week cause the other doctor was gone.  Anyway the other women were saying my doctor doesn't do any exam other than a very quick not even close up look.  So today sure enough after waiting 30 min to see the RO she zipped in took a quick look from 2 feet away and said fine and that was it.  If nobody had mentioned it while waiting, I wouldn't have thought anything about it. Can yall tell me how often you see the RO and what is done during that time? 

I was seen once per week and it was very quick. I think that's normal if you're not having anything odd happening.

LG it is the best Friday! I'm done. I got my little certificate and I'm so happy. My RO asked if I would be interested in sharing my story, which I thought was nice.

But I think I'm having a little PTSD now. I mean, for months all I've done is think about BC, docs, sx's , rads, now, boom, all that's left is Tamoxifen (or AI's). Of course, this is the best outcome of a cancer dx, right? Still, I feel a bit deflated. Not sure how normal this is?

Happy Friday to all! #RadiateThis

I love my RO, but it was a quick look from a few feet away and lasted about 60 seconds total, but he was always nice and smiled a lot!

Mags, I feel the same way. I cried my last day because I thought, "what now?" Onto tamoxifen and hysterectomy coming up on ninth of next month, but it's like your hanging in limbo and I got down and cried on and off last weekend. I guess it IS ptsd? I'm not feeling as bad this weekend. I cleaned out my car, did the laundry, checked for tomato worms, and now hubby is going to take me out for ice cream I'm joining a gym Monday to go every day after work so I don't go home every day, crash in the recliner, and over think things too much. Maybe I will lose some of the weight I gained from eating ice cream every day since my cancer diagnosis!!! Congrats Mags and to everyone finishing up and stay strong to those just starting or in the middle of treatment. I wore a regular bra yesterday!!!!!!! But still couldn't wait to take it off when I got home!!!! Lol!!!

Thanks so much for all your responses.  I only had two treatments and I am overall very healthy so maybe I will always just get a quick look unless I start to feel bad.  I just never got any info on skin treatments, what to expect, how to prepare nothing.  If I hadn't read the boards, I would have kept wearing deodorant .  Just seems that treatment varies so much from one hospital to the next. Glad at least this time my RO is somewhat in line with all the rest.  Thanks again.

I had RO appointments weekly but just a quick look and a chance for her to answer any questions I had. As for finishing rads, I, too, felt a little let down. I hadn't thought of it as PTSD as much as just leaving the comfy cocoon of medical attention I'd gotten used to for the previous months. Rather than looking at my BC as gone, treatment done and time to move forward, I kind of mourned the loss of caring attention I'd gotten used to. This feeling only lasted a day or two and then my great big, lovely, beautiful life took over and I'm back to my (new) normal!

Hello, just chiming in on weekly RO appointments. I am seen first by the RO nurse and examined/have a chat, as I imagine you all are, and I haven't seen the onc yet during these weekly visits as I have had no issues (the nurse asks if I'd like to see her and I decline). I'm barely pink, have no itching, no fatigue, etc., and I'm not using any products on my skin. Apparently I'm a boring patient, which is a good thing. I have four regular treatments left (of 16) and five boosts to go. We're having a long weekend here (Queen) Victoria Day, so I'm enjoying the three-day break from driving to treatment and have been gardening my brains out this weekend. Now if my cat would allow me to sleep past 5 a.m. on a weekend, that would be lovely. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I'm forcing myself to get my hands out of the dirt today and get my body into the hammock!

I hope those who've finished their treatments have really celebrated this weekend! So happy for you

Hi rrgoods! Glad to hear you're also having a pretty easy time of it. I haven't had the real 'heat' - keep thinking it'll come?! I even bought one of the cooling cloths and it's still sitting in its package. Some people recommend those or chilled cabbage leaves (I love that idea!). Have you tried those things to cool things down? My breast feels a little warm to the touch immediately after treatment, but then it dissipates. Honestly, if it weren't for the light pink rectangle, I would think I've not actually been getting any radiation. I hope our experiences encourage new people heading into treatment.

P.S. Interesting that you're another "21er".

Grazy I can't help but sing the Kinks song Victoria whenever you mention the holiday weekend.."Victoria..toria....)

rrgoods- the boosters felt exactly the same to me. My RO said it's, in my case anyway, even less radiation then the regulars, just more targeted. Sounds like you're doing well. Ice packs (not directly on the skin, of course) helped with the burning.

SouthernSkies- Good for you! I'm getting on the T train myself in a couple of weeks. I'm anxious to know if I'll experience SE's. Knowing me, it'll only be weight gain. Arrrggghhhh.

My blisters are healing and I'm not so itchy. I'm glad that I don't have to go back to rads tomorrow. I hope that everyone who still does has an easy journey with the end in sight.

What do you think? Do you think we should start a "done with spring rads and on to the T train/AI's forum?" There is another Tamoxifen (or several) topics started but should we start from the beginning? It might be a nice way to keep in touch.

Have a great Sunday!

#NowToGetACuteBra #DoneWithSportsBras #IDidIt! #RadiateThis!

I started tamoxifen before rads....could I still join?

Mags, do you know how to start a new forum- if you start one, I will join! Just let us know or I can try to figure it out?