Spring 2016 Rads

Hi, how soon after surgery did you start radiation. Have post op with BS Wednesday. Have not scheduled appointment with RO yet. Was waiting to be done with surgery.

Good morning, my gardening all week (and then driving up to my mom's on Saturday to do all of her gardening with my siblings) caught up with me yesterday and I passed out at 8 p.m. She's decided to list her house for sale, so we had to get everything looking perfect. Nothing beats a 92 year old woman sitting in a lawnchair barking orders! haha We called her The General all day. Anyway, I've not been that tired in a long time - hit a wall by 7 last night. I think maybe rads are starting to catch up with me because gardening, digging, hauling stuff around, etc. normally does not knock me off my feet! I'm two weeks in so I guess I should expect some fatigue to start setting in and chill a little bit. I figured se's would kick in eventually I guess I'll slow it down for the remaining two weeks of treatment!!

Trish, I started rads a few weeks after my surgery, maybe 5? Probably would have been 3.5 - 4 had I not delayed things a bit waiting for Oncotype results (because if chemo had been recommended, I would have done that before rads). I was happy to wait until I felt completely healed from surgery.

LG, sending you a big hug - will write more later - have to drive my husband to the airport now. Since he works in the States, this is not "his" long weekend - he gets next weekend off like the rest of you.

Jill, nice to see you - hope you're doing well post-chemo!! How your hair? Will you have a cute short 'do for summer?

LG good luck with your upcoming surgery. My gyn will take my ovaries but not uterus. Im deciding now what I want to do. Wow doesn't take long to miss a lot. Haven't been on in a few days. Went to the coast After rads Thursday to celebrate being finished !!!!

Just chiming in that I started rads 3 weeks after surgery.

Lovestofly--it's normal to be apprehensive. It's going to be a new situation for you. As my mother used to say about my oldest when she took him to the playground, only stupid kids aren't wary of anything. I'm still early in the process (headed to #4 in a minute) and can't say I've noticed much, although affected hooter is a little sore (so I should probably quite poking it, dontcha think?), can't say I feel more tired than normal (I'm always droopy on a rainy weekend), and no skin impacts at all yet. (I did tell my mom last week it's a little like when you have a tummy bug in the house--I feel like I'm waiting for something bad to happen that actually might or might not happen.)

I have rads #11 of 33 today. So far, so good. Only a little pinkness!

Meeting with MO tomorrow to follow up after chemo, that ended 8 weeks ago! Now that is hard to believe. Will also start tamoxifen, but not sure yet if he will suggest I wait til rads are over. We will see.

I would also be interested in joining a newly started tamoxifen group!

Jill, just read your post about your hair - I assumed it would all grow back in at once, but clearly that's not what happens. Frustrating! My friend dyed her hair very blonde once it started coming back in and I wondered why since she'd always been a brunette, but maybe it was to minimize the scalp showing through dark hair? Blonde hair, skin color blend? I just thought she was going for a short, funky look... I wonder if you'll notice a difference in the texture of your hair. My friend's was rather thin and straight before BC and she ended up with thick wavy hair! She joked, "I can't believe I had to get cancer to get great hair!!". (She's now 14 years out, healthy.... and still has great hair!!)

Still on track to start rads on 6/2, but had an appointment with my MO today (she's terrific). Unfortunately my bone scan shows I have osteoporosis...in spite of 4 years of regular weight bearing exercise 😁. She's going to wait until I have completed rads before starting me on Arimidex, but I am going for an injection of Prolia on Friday. Silver lining is the additional hedge against reoccurance you get from Prolia. I prefer an injection to taking a Fosamax pill everyday anyway, especially if it means avoiding heartburn.

Excellent, Grazy! I love it!

Jill - even with a little hair, you look fantastic! And your eyebrows are 'perfection'! I remember your video of how to do them - I should be looking that up. I found once I hit menopause that mine started to lighten up in color and become wee bit sparse, so I do have to do a little filling in with a pencil now. I need to revisit your technique!

aww thanks

2 videos: powder/wax, and pencil:

https://youtu.be/ASMDTjQhVR8

Jill - you look fantastic... and thanks for the video! I've always had sparse eyebrows, so I am going to use your technique!

It's still not a holiday weekend in Seattle, but I was inspired by Grazy's post and poured a glass a wine. This toast is to you

So great to read how everyone is doing. I went after work today to a new gym that opened and for 20 bucks a month, get t-shirt, all the workout you want, tanning, massage chairs, hydro massage chairs and all that (no tanning for me- I've had enough experience with cancer!) I'm going to make myself go every day after work and lose some weight. Hated to start 2 1/2 weeks before surgery that will have me down for 6 to 8 weeks, but it will get me stronger and keeps me occupied so I don't have so much time to over think things and sit around at home just worrying about everything. Hugs to all! Jill, you look great! Ill join the t train Wednesday! This site has been my saving grace and I look forward to reading all your posts every day! 11 days post rads and everything is still ugly, but first day I had little pain and itching is WAY more bearable and regular bra didn't drive me crazy, yay!!!

LTF, I wore a regular bra until around number 11 or 12, I think. After that I wore cotton sports bra until around 8 days post rads, and even then it was too much until today. I say wear one until you can't. The boosts are what did me in the worst!

Jill, awesome video! My 13 yr old daughter/professional make-up video watcher loved it, too As to the bra question, I've been wearing my bra all throughout. I have a few blisters and I'm super red but it felt better wearing a bra, actually. I guess because the fabric was "rubbing" when I wasn't wearing a bra. I don't know.

LG $20 per month for that gym is a bargain! Good for you!

Planb58- thanks.

thanks iammags!!!