Starting radiation September 2017

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  • deedledee
    deedledee Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2017

    Thanks Mamaoz. I agree with being in a daze. I'm fighting to find myself again.. and will keep on ๐Ÿ˜‰. Thankful MO agreed I could wait to start the AI mid November. I will be monitoring the Ai forum for sure. Wishing everyone good healing and peace.

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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    ๐Ÿ˜Š DeedledeeLooking forward to chatting with you on the al thread



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  • Eleanor1960
    Eleanor1960 Member Posts: 9
    edited October 2017

    I rang the bell today. Saw the RO afterwards and discovered that I am peeling under my arm. How did I not notice that? RO says it will probably get worse before it gets better. I see my oncologist tomorrow to discuss medication going forward. I really do not want to take the Arimidex as I have read that it can increase BP and cholesterol, both of which are already somewhat elevated. I have a strong female cardiac family history so I do not want to do anything that increases my likelihood of having a heart attack. I am going to push for Tamoxifen instead. I have already had a hysterectomy so I do not have to worry about the uterine side effects related to Tamoxifen. Has anyone else wrestled with this? I am 56, and I know my doctor really wants me to do the AI, but I just have this little voice inside me saying "no, no, no."

    I am wiped out and heading to bed before 7:00. I can barely keep my eyes open and my head up. Tomorrow is a new day, and things always look a little brighter in the morning. At least the weather has cooled down, and my hot flashes are loving that!

    Monday blessings to all!

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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    congrats Eleanor!!

    As for which med to take , do whats comfortable for you

    I know the concensus is the AL s are better , but as you said at what cost to your other health issues.. I know 2 friends who have reached their 10 year mark and they were on tamoxifen ..

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  • deedledee
    deedledee Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2017

    Congrats Eleanor!!! It's funny how the peeling sneaks up. I agree the two weeks post is when I got the worst of it. Mine was under arm at lymph site then under breast. Watch for red rash bumps then blisters. My RO said to call if there are blisters before they pop and she would subscribe something. Never knew what it would be because mine happened on Saturday morning of a three day weekend. ๐Ÿ˜œ

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  • bmm11071
    bmm11071 Member Posts: 13
    edited October 2017

    Eleanor- congratulations! I only have 2 treatments left! My MO wanted me on Al's too but I told her I had high blood pressure and very high cholesterol- so she agreed with me that tamoxifen was a better choice. I am 61. Do what makes you most comfortable! Good luck!

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  • JennD
    JennD Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2017

    Wonderful news Eleanor! Congrats! I understand wanting to go to bed at 7pm. I slept through most of the weekend.

    Deedledee good to know about the red spots turning into blisters. I have a lot so I hope that doesn't come to pass.

    Was anyone else told to do saline compresses. On my last day I was given some gauze and saline and told to do it 2-3 times a day to pull out the heat and settle the itching and discomfort. Can't say if it's helping other than I'm not quite as itchy but I'm keeping my fingers crossed I don't get this blisters!

    Bm11071- you're almost there!!!

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  • shelabela
    shelabela Member Posts: 584
    edited October 2017

    Yay! Congrats Eleanor! I have very little peeling and it mostly on my chest/ neck area. Very itchy though. I was prescribed Elocon for the itch. It works great.

    Ladies we are all getting there!


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  • Canela
    Canela Member Posts: 26
    edited October 2017

    I'm done! I forgot to ring the bell, but oh well.

    Congrats, Eleanor! I'm going along with my MO's recommendation of Lupron and AI, but if I start getting things like hypertension and high cholesterol, I'm dropping it. One disease of which I have zero family history before 40 is enough for me.

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  • SuzyFL
    SuzyFL Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2017

    Congrats Eleanor!

    I finished today! There was no bell for me to ring, they printed me a certificate and presented it to me. Starting the Tamoxifen tomorrow

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  • deedledee
    deedledee Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2017

    Congratulations Canela. Hoping your healing is smooth sailing!! ๐Ÿค—

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  • deedledee
    deedledee Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2017

    Congrats Suzy. Woo hoo!! Good healing vibes on their way.

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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    congrats canella and Suzy!!! ๐ŸŽ‰

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  • shelabela
    shelabela Member Posts: 584
    edited October 2017

    Congrats Canella, and Suzy. That's awesome. 2 more done. We are kicking butt 1 person at a time

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  • JennD
    JennD Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2017

    Congrats Canella and Suzy! Bmm11071, today was your last one wasn't it? Happy healing to you all!!!

    Jenn

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  • Cher64
    Cher64 Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2017

    Hi Spikar, I had a lumpectomy done on Sept. 6, 2017. My pathology report was positive, Grade 1 Stage 1, small, ER+ PR+, HER2-, clear margins and lymph nodes were clear. I will be starting radiation soon. Since I am a low risk person for reoccurrence, I was offered to do a clinical trial where they just do partial breast radiation. So instead of the whole breast, they just focus on where the cancer was and a margin outside of that. The nice thing its only 5 days of treatments, side effects are low.

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  • VLH
    VLH Member Posts: 1,258
    edited October 2017

    That sounds like an interesting option to minimize risk while hopefully protecting yourself from a local recurrence, Cher64.

    CONGRATS to everyone completing radiation recently!

    Two and a half weeks after the final treatment, my red areas are turning to tan and the angry "freckles" have faded. The little brownish moles are still there & I've seen no improvement in the nipple shriveling. Hmmm, that keeps autocorrecting to shrieking. Nope, luckily, it's not doing that.

    Lyn

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  • MommyErin
    MommyErin Member Posts: 187
    edited October 2017

    Congratulations to those of you who have finished these past couple weeks!

    I start my boosts tomorrow and found out on Monday that I will need two fewer than originally planned, so I'll be ringing the bell on Wednesday! Can't wait! My throat continues to be hoarse and sore, but gets better over the weekend, so it's definitely radiation related. My RO assures me it will heal when I'm finished. My neck and underarm are very red now, but my chest is barely pink. I mean slathering on the aquaphor and, per my RO's recommendation, a man applying 1% hydrocortisone cream to the red areas to help with inflammatio and itching. I was also given mepilex to use if needed.

    Hope you're all doing well. The fatigue is real! Hang in there. Xo


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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    great news mommyerin! On reduced days ! Your almost there!

    Its been a week and half since I rang the bell. The brown is fading , I never had bad burns but I think my 3 week interuption made a difference I have tightness which my PT has me stretching it out. And Im still tired ...but I am also still anemic from chemo which ended 6 months ago which doesnt help

    Congrats to all who just rang the bell!!๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰


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  • bmm11071
    bmm11071 Member Posts: 13
    edited October 2017

    So nice to see everyone finishing up ! Today was my last day and I am so relieved!! My skin is doing really well but am feeling a few pains in the boost area. And still so tired but looking forward to better days ahead. Wishing everyone great health going forward and so happy to hear about clinical trials for early stage. That is good news for future patients. I feel pretty certain I was probably overtreated but at least I am in my 60's. I hate to see younger women being over treated but you have to make the best decision with what you know. So all for more research! All the best everyone with your journey!

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  • deedledee
    deedledee Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2017

    Congrats hmm. So happy for you. Give yourself 2 to 3 weeks and you will be feeling better. Moisturize ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ‘Œ

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  • shelabela
    shelabela Member Posts: 584
    edited October 2017

    So 2 weeks post ringing the bell and I am peeling something horrible.. I never really burned but wow am I peeling. I guess that is good as it means the skin is healing right?

    I had a check up with my PS on Wednesday and he said my skin looks great, he never even mentioned the peeling part. so I guess its normal. He did say that there is no thickening of the skin so I am on schedule for his timeline. I will get another fill on the right side in 3 months as I want that side bigger. He agreed but will not do anything till then. Then 3 months after that I will get the xchange.

    Hows everyone doing mentally? I am so exhausted somedays I can not even remember what day it is..... Good thing my phone tells me. LOL.

    Have a great weekend

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  • 53nancy
    53nancy Member Posts: 497
    edited October 2017

    Well, I got my SNL pathology report and Bone Scan results today. All nodes are clear, and Bone Scan does not show metastases in the bones, but does show osteoarthritis in the spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and feet. I am not sure what scares me worse ; the cancer - which so far is not shown to have metastasized depending on the abdominal scan on Monday, or the osteoarthritis. It feels like I have been hit with a double whammy. Sorry for rant!

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  • MelDent
    MelDent Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2017

    Hi friends,

    So happy to hear about everyone finishing well. Those cat naps and brain fogs come and go for me, still, just 1 week after the last tx. I am starting to peel too, and didn't realize that this would happen. Oh well. It's not painful, just a pain to deal with. I'm hoping that my sunburn et al will be gone in a week or 2. Still some itchiness and soreness too.

    Sorry to hear that Nancy- I would feel the same way! What a roller coaster of emotions.

    Love reading your updates and continue to say a prayer for each of you...

    Melissa

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  • AliceAgnes
    AliceAgnes Member Posts: 78
    edited October 2017

    53nancy, I learned about 15 years ago from a rheumatologist that I had osteoarthritis in lots of places,too. It was when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which was totally unrelated to the arthritis. Every time after that when he examined my toes, fingers,shoulders, etc., pressed something and asked, "Does that hurt?" he'd often say,"That's your arthritis,not your fibromyalgia" after I said yes. A fairly mild case of osteoarthritis,which mine is because I still can do most of the things I want to do,isn't too hard to live with.I am 64 now. Is 1953 your birth year as it is mine?

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  • MommyErin
    MommyErin Member Posts: 187
    edited October 2017

    Congrats, bmm11071!

    For those of you who have finished, what creams/moisturizers/body butters are you using? I'm assuming I'll be less limited in what I can use after treatment opposed to during, and I see my RO tomorrow, so wanted to go in with a list to see what he's ok with.

    3 more to go, y'all! Can't wait! I had my hubby, mom, and kiddos with me for the weekend. They just headed home and man am I wiped! My mom leaves on Saturday, so I'll be back to full time mommy (and grad school) then. I'm feeling exhausted just thinking about it! I hope my energy level gets back to normal sooner rather than later.

    Who else is ringing the bell this week?

    Xo,

    Erin


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  • Blipkitty
    Blipkitty Member Posts: 15
    edited October 2017

    Excited for you Erin! Pace yourself so you can be rested going into the final stretch.

    I have 2 weeks left. The SNB site is super tender and swollen so I know this final week of whole breast treatments before the boosts start will be challenging.

    Wishing everyone such strength; ladies, we got this. #kickcancersbooty

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  • MommyErin
    MommyErin Member Posts: 187
    edited October 2017

    Blipkitty- Hang in there! You can do it! Xo



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  • Blipkitty
    Blipkitty Member Posts: 15
    edited October 2017

    Thanks Erin - we all can - and ladies like you and several others in this Community are the reason why. So humbled and gain strength from your stories and journey. Xox

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  • MommyErin
    MommyErin Member Posts: 187
    edited October 2017

    Random question: Did anyone get a little thank you gift for your radiation team? I'm thinking cookies and chocolate, but am open to other ideas.

    How's everyone doing? For those of you who've finished, how long did the fatigue continue after treatment ended? Xo


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