starting rads feb 2017

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  • Patti1746
    Patti1746 Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2017

    Pamela - yes, I would qualify based on those three factors, but when the pathology report came in after the lumpectomy, she said I wouldn't be needing Chemotherapy. The doctor said since my tumor was 5mm, not aggressive, slow growing and well differentiated, I would only require radiation and hormone therapy. I should have insisted on the test however, to see where I fall.

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  • Ruby3813
    Ruby3813 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2017

    Morning Ladies!  Hope you're all doing well today.

    Had my lymph node surgery yesterday.  He only took out 1.  Surgery went well, but I swear, it knocked me out more than the lumpectomy did!  Maybe they used more anesthesia or something, but I was more tired afterwards.  Plus, my throat was really sore, I was hoarse and I had a frog in my throat the rest of the day.  It's much better today and I feel much better.  Not much pain at all and I only took ibuprofen this morning.  Took hydrocodone after I got home yesterday.  My BP cooperated, so I was happy about that.  I should know something on the pathology in a day or 2 and then we'll be on to the next step.  I appreciate any and all prayers!  :-)

    Welcome to any new sisters and I hope you all have a fantastic day!

    Blessings to you all!


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  • Elem
    Elem Member Posts: 327
    edited February 2017

    Thank you Pamela for the skin solutions . I will look into them . I appreciate all the advice as my brain was so overloaded for so long it is hard for me to remember everything.

    Have a great day .

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  • Pamela23
    Pamela23 Member Posts: 510
    edited February 2017

    Patti-my Ki67 protein was moderately high on my pathology report which put me in grade 3 which was the flag to suggest Oncotype. See if you have that info, it'll make you feel better. You look like you are a grade1 so I'm sure you are on the right course! I'd love to have been grade 1!!

    AnnoyingB--thanks for the tip on Lavender oil, I'll look into that! Also, I use a Vit C & E serum on my face from Timeless. It's $25/bottle. Since I use a 5-6 drops every morning, it lasts almost 3 months. I've been using it for about a year along with some of their other serums. I found it through a youtube video I follow and there's coupon I always use with this code: HF5OFF. If may want to try it since it's a serum which penetrates skin better than a cream, I recommend getting it right from the company & not amazon only because they make it fresh so it's clear. Once it oxidizes over time, it turns yellowish and some of the amazon reviews have complaints they are getting yellowish, older products. Here's the website: http://www.timelessha.com/20-vitamin-c-e-ferulic-a...

    Ruby--hoping for a quick recovery for you!

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  • kshorten
    kshorten Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2017

    Thanks Pamela23, just ordered everything from Amazon, it will be delivered Thursday.

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  • annoyingboob
    annoyingboob Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2017

    thanks Pamela! That's awesome. My Derm had recommended skinceuticals which was about $150 for the same little bottle, and it looks like same ingredients!! Who knew my boob would turn into a chemistry project with me mixing a witches brew in attempt to keep my skin. Here is hoping we come out the other side looking younger and healthier than ever!!

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  • Mamasha
    Mamasha Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2017

    HI ruby,

    Ouch! That area was definitely more sore than breast incision. Prayers said for no node involvement.!!!! A lady in January rads said that during rads she says prays for everyone that will be on that table that day. I've been doing that plus for my cyber friends and it makes it go even quicker.

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  • annoyingboob
    annoyingboob Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2017

    Mamasha, I do the same exact same thing!!! I have a mindfulness book that has a section on befriending. The mantras are 1. May you be safe and free from suffering. 2. May you be as happy and healthy as you can be. 3. May you have ease of being. Then I added 4. You are loved.

    I repeat this first for myself. Then for all the girls here going through the same thing. Then for all the women I don't know who may be on the table that day. And I keep expanding the circle until I'm a little speck and time is up.

    So I really am praying for all you girls and at the same time you are all helping me stay calm, so THANK YOU!!!

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  • Mamasha
    Mamasha Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2017

    Annoying,

    Did you start real thing today? Was thinking about you.

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  • Patti1746
    Patti1746 Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2017

    Ruby - the same thing happened to me. With the lumpectomy I was up and about in a day. With the node surgery I was like a zombie for days. A nurse called to check up and said I was probably given Fentanyl. I would vacuum a room and would have to lie down for an hour afterwards - and this was 3-4 after surgery. Sending prayers and good thoughts your way.

    Pamela - Thanks for the information. Saw doctor today and said to start using Aquaphor next week.


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  • Patti1746
    Patti1746 Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2017

    Forgot - Pamela - did you start rads today?

    Mamasha - I think AnnoyingBoob starts tomorrow.

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  • Pamela23
    Pamela23 Member Posts: 510
    edited February 2017

    Yep. started rads today. Was on the table for 45 minutes while they adjusted and took X-rays to make sure it wouldn't hit the chest wall. I wonder how much radiation I'm being exposed to!! My only complaint was that my neck was in the same position the whole time ( I was on my stomach with my head turned) and it started to really hurt! But I survived. Came home with more marking on my boob. Looks like a treasure map at this point with so many lines and "x"s. Get to do it again tomorrow...

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  • annoyingboob
    annoyingboob Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2017

    yay Pamela! So was today your simulation/planning scan? I had 2 of those sessions, then tomorrow is day 1 of the real thing. I have had insomnia just from waiting for 2 weeks to get going. Finally last night I took a lorazepam just to help me close my eyes. Might do another tonight. Once I'm started I'll be fine, but it's just that preprocedural mind racing. Gah!!! I'll check in when I'm done tomorrow.

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  • Elem
    Elem Member Posts: 327
    edited February 2017

    hi ,

    My fifth rads tx. These tx's after you get going are like 10 mins total . Zap zap zap and zap for me , two at each angle total of 4 . They are about 30 secs each. I was told today to expect some skin rash in a few weeks . I had hoped with having a darker pigment to my skin , I would be ok . The RO , unlike the nurses and techs , said it is not the same as a sunburn . So I guess I will find out. Still nervous about the aromatase inhiniters , which is whatvwevpost meno's are generally prescribed . Goid luck ladies , this is doable .❤❤

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  • Elem
    Elem Member Posts: 327
    edited February 2017

    Sorry for so many typos. Everytime I write something , I get distracted by someone or something and realize afterwards by big thumbs pressed the wrong or an extra key. Gotta love that v instead of the spacebar!

    Anyway.. good luck Pamela23 and annoyingboob .

    Love You Groupies of mine! Just joking but we are cancer groupies! Lol

    ❤

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  • Mamasha
    Mamasha Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2017

    Elem how many are you doing? Tomorrow I'm half way done.....will be 10/20 around 930am.

    Hugs to pamela and annoying who are starting the lastest leg of the journey and the rest of us brave ladies as we continue our daily treatments.

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  • Elem
    Elem Member Posts: 327
    edited February 2017

    Hi Mamasha,

    I am doing 20 as well . 5 down so far.

    So happy you are halfway home. I hope to be side wffect free from rads after all is said and done.

    Good luck ladies starting tomorrow

    Hugs

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  • Pamela23
    Pamela23 Member Posts: 510
    edited February 2017

    can anyone who is further along tell me how you feel? Is the fatigue they warn you about bad?

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  • kshorten
    kshorten Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2017

    Pamela23 - I've just completed 20 of 34 treatments and to be honest I've had very little fatigue. Maybe 2-3 times have I felt like I just needed to sit down and do nothing. I had radiation 2 years ago and it was the same way. My skin looks like I'm sunburned around my neck area but everything else is fine. Best of luck to you.


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  • Mamasha
    Mamasha Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2017

    HI Pamela,

    I haven't noticed anything unusual yet. No added exercise just normal routines taking care of a 8 and 13 yr.old.

    Hopefully fatigue doesn't hit.


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  • Patti1746
    Patti1746 Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2017

    Today is day 6 for me. I am feeling tired but I think it's because I'm getting over a bad case of stomach bug. I usually like to walk 5 miles every morning but can barely do 1.

    Like Elem mentioned, the procedure is very fast. The doctor said from the time I walk in the door to the time I leave, it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Door to Door from my house, add another 20 minutes. So just 40 minutes per day. But sometimes I feel that it is all I think about and can be so consuming and I have to push myself to do things.

    Shorten - sunburn on your neck? Was this expected?

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  • kshorten
    kshorten Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2017

    Yes Patti1746 it was expected as that are radiating my clavicle area as well. The emu oil seems to be helping that area the more than the Aloe lotion that I'm using. Last night a friend said, wow look how tan you are already and I had to remind them it was from the radiation.

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  • nem126
    nem126 Member Posts: 109
    edited February 2017

    Following this! Starting radiation tomorrow....

    Appreciate hearing all your experiences!

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  • Patti1746
    Patti1746 Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2017

    Nem - funny emoticon...looks like me in the morning. Good luck tomorrow. We will all be thinking of you and wishing you well.

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  • annoyingboob
    annoyingboob Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2017

    hi girls! I survived day 1!!! Thanks to all of you who blazed the trail before me!!

    Apparently I am getting something called imrt, or intensity modulated radiotherapy. Instead of the standard 2 planes, they do 5. 30Gy total per day (so 6Gy per plane). There is a recent article that said it was good for my situation. It's more expensive, so RO said not all insurances cover it, and it's newer. I'll dig up more info for those of you that may be interested, but for now I need a nap.

    Thanks again for cheering for me! I was thinking about all you girls while lying there.

    Xxoo

    Ab


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  • Fightingirl
    Fightingirl Member Posts: 409
    edited February 2017

    annoyingboob, day 1 down! Wished I had realized today was the day...was thinking it was later this week. Thinking of you and hope it passes quickly

    I finished radiation exactly 1 week ago today and I haven't noticed extreme fatigue. Mine was also a bit different...high dose brachytherapy and I did nap during my 5 days of treatment. That could also be because I had two treatments a day and a whole lot of doctors appts in 2 weeks! I was probably exhausted from driving circles from home to treatment etc! So far...I hit a minor wall at about 2-3 pm each day at work but I bounce back and that's not really unusual for me. Hoping this continues! Just wanted to chime in for those worried about fatigue. Of course we will all be different, but I've not noticed anything unmanageable so far. I'm up at 5:30am and working full time.

    Good luck to all you girls!

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  • Cowboy-Up
    Cowboy-Up Member Posts: 211
    edited February 2017

    Hey ladies. Was waiting to see if I should join a March radiation board or jump in here. Lots of my January gals are here. I go in on Friday for my dry run. They said I should start a week and a half after that. Love reading about your experiences so I know what to expect.

    Is anyone positioned on their stomach for their radiation. My RO said since I had a reduction, that I will probably have to be on my stomach due to the girls not laying right yet. Annoyingboob, are you on your stomach

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  • annoyingboob
    annoyingboob Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2017

    hi cowboy - stay with us - a lot of other girls are going into march, too. congrats on getting to ride your horses - the next week and a half is the best bc you feel really good postop and you will kinda forget you have to do rads soon, lol - so enjoy the gap!!!

    im lying on my back, arms above my head . tumor was on the rt, just on top of my pec. they never mentioned anything about limits from reduction or going prone. even though I got the lift, I guess my boobs still kinda drift into my armpits on my back, so maybe that's why?lol, no idea.

    anyway, like I mentioned before, they are doing this relatively new thing with me that had a study published last year that showed benefit for early stage disease with less complications - so maybe you could ask? IMRT, or intensity modulated radiotherapy, its called. and APBI is the 'accelerated partial breast irradiation'. im doing that instead of the standard '3dconformal whole breast'. I need to dig up the article they gave me - its buried in a pile of tax paperwork that has taken over my coffeetable. gah - was hoping to tackle that before xrt. oh well. but basically, they really cone down the beam so as not to zap the surrounding tissues. they zap in 5 different planes. about a 20 sec breathhold for each. the study showed less side effects and damage to adjacent tissue bc the field is so small. I feel ok post day 1 - a little sore on the outside, so I have some ice there. a little tired, but more from the commute and relief that day 1 is over than fatigue from the actual procedure. I have no idea how fightingirl did all those appts her last week - I would be wrecked!!

    anywhooo, good luck!! tomorrow is my rest day, so ill try and dig up the article and post it for you and others to read. my treatment is every other day, so I go back Friday.

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  • Ruby3813
    Ruby3813 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2017

    Morning Ladies!

    I hope everyone is doing well today! I got the call from my BS yesterday on the result of my lymph node surgery from Monday. NEGATIVE!! Thank God its one less thing to worry about. Next step is post-op appt with him, then I'll get an appt with the RO that I've been referred to, and hopefully, they'll have my oncotype score by then. My BS is going to get that started, and as we know, it will take a couple of weeks to get the result.

    Feeling sore and a little swollen today, but it sure feels good to have that negative node result. :-)

    I hope you all have a fantastic day!

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  • Pamela23
    Pamela23 Member Posts: 510
    edited February 2017

    Ruby--that's great news! Keep us posted on the Oncotype score.

    Cowboy--I'm on my stomach for 5 weeks, then back for 1. Today will be day 3 for me. It's so they don;t hit my chest wall or any of the organs in there. Sure makes me feel better less parts are getting zapped!


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