December 2017 Radiation Group

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited February 2018

    HAHA!!

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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited February 2018

    Ellyn is going to have some fun with that bracelet tomorrow!

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited February 2018

    Elly, melatonin is a supplement I only take 3 mg, I know some ladies take 5 even 10 mg.

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  • PVM
    PVM Member Posts: 136
    edited February 2018

    hahaha Lifechoices i think i need to get me one of these bracelettes when i start back to work as i am sure i will be needing one of them lol

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  • Ellyn27
    Ellyn27 Member Posts: 147
    edited February 2018

    lifechoices, that picture made me crack up. Yes, I wore my bracelet to the superbowl party I went to. Because it's stainless my arm was a bit cold haha. Driving there I left it off because it was freezing outside, plus it's pretty big and awkward. But everyone loved it and we had fun with it. 

    PauletteK, thanks for the melatonin info. I'm definitely going to mention it to my MO at my followup because my not being able to sleep is getting worse. Have a good week everyone. Stay warm. It was 3 degrees when I woke up and the high is only going to be in the teens for today. BRRRRRR

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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited February 2018

    I started on 3 mg of melatonin 3 nights ago and am having some relief, I wake up but not taking hours to fall back asleep, fingers crossed.


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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited February 2018

    Gigibee I hope the melatonin worked for you. I’m going to start AI soon, I have all kind of doctor appointments the next couple days.

    Hope everyone are having a good day,


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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited February 2018

    PauletteK- I see the MO tomorrow for AI prescription. Not looking forward to it, but in the same breath I feel like "let's get this show on the road!" Scary to think I'll be on a drug daily for the next 5+ years.

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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited February 2018

    CindyNY- I go Monday so we are in a similar place. I am scared of side effects but also want to know I am doing what I can to keep this at bay.


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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited February 2018

    I've been on anastrozole for two weeks and so far having some hot flashes at night and noticed some achy joints. Otherwise all is good. Best of luck as you move to this next stage.

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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited February 2018

    MO checked my skin and said for me to wait until 3/1 to start the AI, which is Anasyrozole. Then once I start I'm only taking it every other day for 6 weeks, then if I'm OK with no major side effects I'll be taking it every day for 5 years. Finally a date to start the final chapter in this story! I'm hoping for the best,

    OCDAmy if I have what you describe, I'll be good with that. Thanks for posting.

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  • Rhyfelwr
    Rhyfelwr Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2018

    CindyNY, I know how you feel. As much as I don't want to open that bottle, I just want to get the next stage underway and deal with it.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited February 2018

    I’m going to see MO on Thursday will let you gals know am I starting AI right away.


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  • Neanie44
    Neanie44 Member Posts: 73
    edited February 2018

    Hi Ladies,

    I know some of you have started Al and hopefully SE's are minimal. I had my last whole breast rad today, so I can see light at the end of the tunnel. :-) However, I am burning something horrible under my breast and underarm. No breaks in the skin, so I am grateful. RO does not want me to use anything but the Miaderm, but they have given me these gel paks that seem to help. Just glad to be the finish side. How's is everyone else?

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited February 2018

    Hi Neanie and I'm glad to hear you are almost done. Do you have boosts still to go? Those should affect a smaller section of skin at least so hoping the healing begins soon.

    I have been on Tamoxifen since January 2 with minimal side effects. I see my MO tomorrow for a check-in on that, then I see my surgeon for a check-in in April. I do feel like I'm almost "back to normal" in the sense that I'm just fed up with winter like everyone else on the East Coast. Happy Mardi Gras!

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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited February 2018

    Had my MO appt today. Walks in and asks me "hows the tamoxifen?" "uh I am not on it yet, that's why I am here" grrr, performed cursory exam...had a fellow with him, I go to a NCCN teaching hospital and he is very highly acclaimed. He says I look good, asks how rads went...gives me 2 possibilities for while taking tamox blood clot 1/1000? i think, and uterine cancer , 2/1000 (versus 1/1000 chances of having it without tamox) main side effect is hot flashes, otherwise it is "like a vitamin"(!) I ask about dosage 2 x 10 mg versus 20mg, he said "we used to do that 30 years ago !" so no, everyone gets the standard dosage, I ask about taking it at a certain time of day he says take it whenever I want, I ask about baseline uterine US, blood work ? Nope to both . I ask will I have periods ? he says I could they may also be irregular. He says 5 years not 10 given my low risk oncotype score. Asks for my pharmacy name and tells me to come back in three months. Get home and get a call from a different pharmacy than what I requested telling me my rx is ready. On a positive note my 3 month supply was free. day 1/1825

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited February 2018

    Well, Gigibee, that sounds annoying! I am taking Tamoxifen before bedtime since most women here recommend that to minimize the experience of any nausea, but it has been really easy so far. Wishing you similarly easy SEs.

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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited February 2018

    Hellooooooo Ladies!

    gigibee.... other than the rx at the wrong location that was an informative post! I didnt ask about my blood work, but my MO also mentioned about the blood clots etc.... ive been on Tamox since Jan 1. Hot flashes very manageable, and i take my 'healing power' every eve at 6pm. I still get the arm flutters and breast tingles every now and then. No pain, just a reminder that the pills are working and that my nerves continue to talj to one another. I say they are singing and the flutters are my nerve instruments:)

    But all in all minimal SEs. Oh... im 49, and oddly enough my periods stopped in Nov; before meds. Guessing life just caught up with me. I asked if Tamox is still what id need. MO said yes until no sign of it for a year.

    But... im glad you are on your last lap on the meds journey. Stay strong... YOU GOT THIS!

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited February 2018

    Hi ladies, how’s everyone doing?

    Neanie, boosts will be much easier then whole breast, you will find out yourself. On the week of boost, some of my skin turned real red.

    I started Anastrozole today, I take mine in he morning because I heard people said they lost sleep if they take it at night. Guess I will find out the SE in weeks.

    I’m three weeks post of radiation and started using my pump last week. I still feel tired and napping in the afternoon. Today I actually took 2 hours nap, now I worry I can’t sleep tonight.


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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited February 2018

    glad to hear from you lifechoices ! I am going in with an open mind and hope I will be blessed with minimal SE’s.

    Paulette , forgive me but what is the pump you mentioned ? Hang in there my rad sister!

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited February 2018

    hi gals! I too am on Anestrozole. Minimal SES, mostly just the hot flashes at night, a little achy joints. Feels weird to not be actively fighting cancer. See my RO next week for follow up

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  • Neanie44
    Neanie44 Member Posts: 73
    edited February 2018

    Glad to hear that the meds you gals are taking are manageable. I have 8 boosts that start Wednesday and the RO 's nurse told me that wouldn't be as bad as whole breast. So I guess I can say the hard part is over.. Maybe. 😏 Georgia1, I agree.. So tired of this weather and ready to be outdoors. I see gigibee and lifechoices mentioned bloodwork and thought it was strange that my MO has not ordered any since my last infusion. My follow-up is Feb 26th but he never mentioned that I needed to arrive early for bloodwork. If he just going to assume I'm cured? OCDAmy- he has mentioned Anestrozole as well, but is only giving me an 2% chance that it will help with recurrence, so not really sure how productive our next appointment will be. Glad to hear you are not experiencing too many SE's though.

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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited February 2018

    also, wanted to add the dietician info, I have high hormonal BC 95%positive ER and PR

    Soy does not have to be avoided in food forms, would not recc. taking soy supplements

    same with turmeric, fine in normal consumption via Indian food etc (as a spice) does not recc. taking it as a supplement as it could have estrogenic effect.

    low fat dairy products, whey protein is also ok since it is the lean portion of the dairy and not the fatty part ( I asked if I should avoid whey and do vegan protein pwd in place of it and it sounds like I don't have to)

    18oz of lean red meat a week is ok (surprised me thought it would be lower)

    1 drink a day at most, (12 oz beer, 5 oz wine (check your bracelet flask for its amount! lol) or 1.5 oz liquor ) I am limiting myself to 1 a week, gives me hope for a decent vacay though!)

    focus on plant foods

    at least 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity a week

    limit processed meats, even nitrate free, suggested using rotisserie chicken meat or making a turkey breast at home for sandwich meat

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited February 2018

    gigi, thank you so much for that great information!

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  • PVM
    PVM Member Posts: 136
    edited February 2018

    Thanks so much for that info Gigibee that is very informative.

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited February 2018

    gigi...any thoughts about sugar?


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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited February 2018

    gigi..my HR/PR+ is high as well; so thank you for that info. I really dont do alot of dairy now. randomly I may have ice cream BUT i havent since my dx. I still stick to my weekend wine! Truth be told, I had picked up a bottle Super Bowl Sunday to enjoy w/my meal. I had a glass. I looked in the fridge a cpl days ago and it was still in there. I was like, LORD...how did i forget wine! I guess out of site; out of mind..OUT OF BODY!

    lol on the flask oz... thats funny!

    As for the plant based foods; i was wondering about that. Im gonna have to do some research on that and see if I can incorporate that in my weekly meals. Here recently my best protein has been peanut butter (PBJ sandwiches) lol. I dont eat alot of red meat now, but every so often I want a steak. Actually my fella and I already have reservations and this great restaurant Saturday and Im gonna treat myself to steak and 'some' wine ozs...lol

    Again, that info was very helpful!!!!

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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited February 2018

    lifechoices: try to add cruciferous vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower , brussel sprouts or kale. I like roasting them with olive oil , fresh garlic and a little salt and pepper.

    Dinner Saturday sounds great, enjoy!


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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited February 2018

    gigibee; on that list, i only eat broccoli (lol). I eat that raw w/a sprinkle of garlic and a spray of butter and I put it in the oven just a little so that it gets to a crisp. I said I was going to attempt a cauliflower pizza one day (havent done that yet). I do salads w/spinach leaves and arugula...but kale can be so bitter. I will eat cabbage, corn, string beans, lima beans and sometimes peas...tomatoes and sometimes beets...BUT... its hard fixing meals for one alot of the times and leftovers arent always my fav. Ive also tried the veggie burgers.

    I think I'll just have to go back to my meal prep and have rotisserie chicken for the week and then all Id have to do is prepare my veggies. I swear my life can be so busy so again dinner is sometimes just a sandwich.

    I already work 8hr days; but on Monday (YMCA I go to work (after work) Tuesday (YMCA wkout), Wednesday (YMCA wkout and church administrative work at my church), Thursday (choir rehearsals) Fri - Sun (errands, my fella time and church)... and before you know it its Monday again.

    Crazy thing; I kept this same schedule (excluding the Y) during my dx and treatments... IM A WARRIOR!

    So I guess Im just gonna have to make time to take care of how Im eating; that's gonna be HUGE in my wellness and Im going to make an effort to do so...BUT... if you come up w/any yummy, quick and easy meals please share! My fella and I live in separate homes and he's a much better chef so I'll have to use the 'cooking for dummies' tutorial. lol

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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited February 2018

    I took 4 days to drive to Florida, slow retired pace of getting here. Truth, my back can't take sitting in a car more than 8 hours. And when we got here my FL neighbors had a party waiting for me! So surprised, what great neighbors we have. Snow birds we are, arriving late to the state.

    I'm starting Anastrozole on 3/1. MO nurse recommend I take it after dinner due to possible queezy stomach. I've got time before I start to take it but I'm praying for minimal SE too.

    I'm putting a 50 SPF spray over the rads area, but we've only been outside today to remove hurricane shutters. Lots of cleaning and organizing ahead if me. I'm worried about burning the rads area.

    I haven't been on here in a while but it looks like quite a few have finished, and others are near finishing. Without this group to share the experience, tears, and fears, I don't know how I would have made it.

    Onward! Lotions, potions, good laughs, and good crys, we power on warriers.

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