Starting Radiation August 2017

Thanks Lego, we all know there aren't really right words but I do appreciate the thoughts/prayers

Paula, I hope yours turns out to be something else, something better like nothing at all but if not, we're here for you.

girlsI started Rads in August but the hurricane set me back as you know.. I finally finished today! My chest looks like burnt toast and feels like it! But I am relieved to have this step behind me, its been a long year and I am praying all these treatments have worked and I can move on to my hormonal therapy. And trying my best to stay healthy...

Its all we can do , that and keep praying..

Illimae , hang in there my prayers are with you

My best to all of you

Mamaoz

MamaOz and Legomaster225 I finished rads on Sept 19. Breast was totally fried and I was concerned about the scar under my arm from lymph node removal. RO told me to keep using the lotions/cream for 2 weeks and all would be good. She was right, 2 weeks to the day, everything looks great.

Just checking in and seeing how all of you are doing. There is so much going on, my response would be too long. I think about all of you often.

From all the comments, I guess the thought I'll leave you with is: No one as a crystal ball, and friends and friendships matter tremendously.

legomaster

I see we have similar dx, although I opted for no recon I just finished my radiation on the 6 th and feeling ok , chest still brown...

what hormone therapy will you be doing? I started arimidex last week

Mamaoz

elbow surgery is done. Drain ugh is absolutely minimal ans no pain. I thought I was going to wake up from pain. 500mg tylenol at 10 pm last night nothing since then.

Here I come hystrectomy.

I think I'm the last August kid to finish rads, lol

I'll be done tomorrow! I had that several week break due to the expander infection/removaland then the hurricane. I feel like I'm in that movie Ground Hog Day every time I walk in to the rads office. I even tried to schedule an appt next month around my rads appt and the lady had to remind me that I'd be done by then, sheesh. Hope everyone is healing well:)

Has anyone else started Tamoxifen? I started on September 7th and so far no serious side effects. I was evacuated for 1 week due to the Napa fires but luckily our home was saved. Fire was approaching from two sides less than a mile away but it seemed to be deflecting around our subdivision. See picture below, the yellow circle is my house. There areas are geeen foilage.

Thoughts on follow up visits, my Nurse Practitioner wants me to see her instead of my oncologist for my regular checkups. I am not sure how I feel. I want a cancer specialist doctor to tell me at each visit that I'm ok. Is an NP qualified to take over? My gut says to see an actual doctor due to the seriousness of cancer. The NP also recommends for me to have my first mammo at my 1 year anniversary instead of six months post treatment. She thinks I will be less sore. Is this a good idea

Hi shocked and Lego! I started tamoxifen about two months ago. I had some night sweats for a couple weeks, just had a popcicle and went back to bed and some joint stiffness in my fingers. The night sweats are gone and I am taking glucosomine for the joints, easily manageable so far.

I'm sorry about the fire but glad it spared your house. I grew up in Southern California, I recall one burning in the forest near my old house, very scary.

I find the nurses to be very competent and more involved in the patients care than docs in some cases. I would wonder if this is standard, if so, I'd be ok with it depending on the severity of the discussion covered but that's just me.

Good morning! I haven't been here in awhile. I hope everyone is doing well. I just read some recent threads and thought I would give my two cents.

Shocked at 48 - I'm glad your house was saved during the fires. That sounded so scary. On your question about NP - I would rather see a doctor than a NP unless it would be on a rotating basis and for general care and not a follow-up. I have had a few visits that weren't followed up with a NP in other areas of my health care and ended up costing more time, pain, and money. On the follow-up mammogram - a friend of mine is a RO and she said the the doctor who did the biopsy and your MO and RO should work together to get a date for the follow-up. It is usually 6 months to 1 year after diagnosis. I feel uneasy waiting for 1 year.

I have also been prescribed with Tamoxifen. Only been on it for a week. All seems okay. I feel like have taken Dramamine - sleepy, cotton mouth, and on the verge of nausea. I take it at night. I also take Zyrtec with it. Some women take Claritin it is suppose to help with the bone pain. I was diagnosed with osteopenia from my dexascan and will probably be receiving Prolia. Has anyone been give this?

My MO says I will have MRI’s every six months. I’m about 1 month post rads and still very fatigued and have pain in my upper chest (not in breast). Was taking Motrin and Tylenol but it was beginning to affect my kidneys so cut back to only taking Motrin before bed. I will start hormone blockers in December