MARCH 2018 starting RADIATION

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  • Nancy116
    Nancy116 Member Posts: 53
    edited April 2018

    Congratulations Kaywrite!! 👍

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  • Beaverntx
    Beaverntx Member Posts: 3,183
    edited April 2018

    Kaywrite, Congrats!

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited April 2018

    Congratulations kaywrite!!

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  • Marigold8
    Marigold8 Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2018

    Congratulations, kaywrite!

    I'm know how good it feels to be done!

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  • metoo2018
    metoo2018 Member Posts: 64
    edited April 2018

    Congratulations Kaywrite! Wonderful news!

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  • Paco
    Paco Member Posts: 208
    edited April 2018

    kaywrite, You did it!! Congrats! I raise a virtual toast to you and your health!

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  • kaywrite
    kaywrite Member Posts: 219
    edited April 2018

    <sniffle> Thank you, everyone. I cried today, for the first time since BC diagnosis. I laid down on the table and just felt overwhelmed with tears. The techs, who have been with me for 21 days, were like there, there, patting me. They all came out for the bell ringing, I bawled my eyes out thanking them. Really caught me off guard, cathartic. I gave them a dozen cupcakes and a heartfelt thank you card. We got pictures.

    Now - how do I get the stickers off??

    Love and peace xoxoxx

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  • DoubleBloom
    DoubleBloom Member Posts: 67
    edited April 2018

    Felinemum: I loved your quote "It's one thing to be alive. It's another to be able to live your life" and will be inspired by it for all my years. Thank you! I think of you every day and hope

    Kaywrite and anyone else who has completed rads, CONGRATULATIONS!

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  • flowergal
    flowergal Member Posts: 167
    edited April 2018

    Hi Feline and Veeder,

    I finished rads on Monday and was instructed to use the same care on my breast until it was better- no time frame given, so I'm braless or wear soft camisole under my tops and lathered up with aloe vera 2-3x day plus hydrocortizone cream for itchng as needed. Still red and sore esp at incision and underarm. I don't see the RO for a month .Wait for an hour for a five minute visit.

    Weekedn is almost here so everyone rest up and relax.

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  • FelineMum
    FelineMum Member Posts: 141
    edited April 2018

    Bad news. My cancer has metastasized to my liver. I'm now Stage 4 and terminal. Will have a biopsy on the liver tumor next week to confirm that it's TNBC. Even if it's something different, it's still "hold it back" vs. cure it. I'm getting my deflated expander refilled so my clothes fit better.

    Best of luck to you all. Beat this bastard.


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  • Nancy116
    Nancy116 Member Posts: 53
    edited April 2018

    Feline, I am so very sorry. Just know that you and your family will be in my prayers. I will continue to support you in any way I can. You are a warrior and always will be.

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  • kaywrite
    kaywrite Member Posts: 219
    edited April 2018

    Oh, Feline.... <hug> pm me if you want to talk. I'll give you my phone number - I am on borrowed wifi so may not get messages immediately, but eventually. Just an offer, if you need it. I know you are reading other threads and looking at options. Sincerely. All love from here

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited April 2018

    Hi flowergal,

    The more I look at the new area that is very red, the more I think it's from the boosts as there's a definite line where it meets the pinkish areas. I bought another tube of Miaderm just in case and I will need it soon. I'm just anxious to get this radiation out of my system.

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited April 2018

    Hi FelineMum,

    I'm so sorry to hear this news. I hope your care team can find effective treatments for you. Will be thinking about you.

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  • metoo2018
    metoo2018 Member Posts: 64
    edited April 2018

    FelineMum - you are strong and you are living with cancer and yes, it will be treated as a chronic illness without a cure. It is a new normal that you are facing. Not easy and very scary but you can do this. I love to tell the story of my Mom and I know I have before but it is worth repeating as you face this new reality. Hers too were in the liver - several tumors. All tumors are all but gone now with some amazing chemo pills - no hair loss, no real side effects. At 82 she is living with cancer - golfing several times a week, lunch with friends, time with her family. 3 years since her mets diagnosis, 7 since her double masectomy (done before her mets diag) , 12 years since her original diagnosis. There are new and better drugs all the time. When one stops working they move her to another. I hope and pray your experience is similar to hers and that you will find a way to continue living your life fearlessly. Keep coming here for support. I'd be happy to tell you more about her treatment if you'd like - just pm me.

    Praying for you and for all of the ladies here and so thankful for this forum for support and advice!


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  • kaywrite
    kaywrite Member Posts: 219
    edited April 2018

    metoo - re your mother's experience - what a wonderful illustration of the new normal mets can be. As I've mentioned, too, I've a cousin in Maine and a friend in Colorado living with what is now referred to as a chronic illness. Thank you for this inspiring, positive message.

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  • Beaverntx
    Beaverntx Member Posts: 3,183
    edited April 2018

    Feline,

    Prayers for your desired quality of life as you live with your new normal.

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  • Marigold8
    Marigold8 Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2018

    Feline,

    Hoping you have oncologists who can work with you as you face your new normal and make decisions that are right for you. No bad news is easy; no adjustment to a new normal is quick or easy. Will keep you in my prayers. We're here, in the virtual community, if you need us.

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  • Marigold8
    Marigold8 Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2018

    Wow, metoo2018, what a story about your mother! Thank you for sharing it.

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  • Dlpaquette
    Dlpaquette Member Posts: 93
    edited April 2018

    Feline mom, I am so sorry to hear this news. I hope you have a good team standing behind you to give you the best possible care.

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  • DoubleBloom
    DoubleBloom Member Posts: 67
    edited April 2018

    Felinemum, Many people don't like the warrior words like "fight" and "battle" so I hope not to offend you when I ask that you fight this recurrence with all your might. Being "terminal" can mean a very long time from now. I will say your name in my daily prayers. God's speed to you and everyone else in this thread.

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  • Dlpaquette
    Dlpaquette Member Posts: 93
    edited April 2018

    Does anyone have any advice on how to keep open areas from getting worse/ larger? I have 7 treatments to go (21 down) and in 2 days it has quadrupled in size. I am trying to think of some way to prevent the rubbing but so far unsuccessful.

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited April 2018

    Dlpaquette,

    Do you mean some of your skin is blistered and open? My RO said that if this happens to show him when I come in for treatment and they will provide wound care. Even after I finished all the treatments Not sure what wound care exatlyt but covering the wound with something medicated something and bandaging it, I think.

    Have you showed your RO? Please don't suffer with this alone as your team should be assisting you. There must be a weekend/off hours phone number to reach your team, I would call them. Let us know

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  • DoubleBloom
    DoubleBloom Member Posts: 67
    edited April 2018

    Dlpaquette, I agree with Veeder about showing your RO who can recommend the most appropriate solutions for you. To prevent rubbing I used Mepilex foam pads. (they were recommended by a friend of mine who happens to be a RO). You can find them on Amazon. I bought the 4x4 size pads which, despite using cremes, stuck on my skin during the daytime hours. They were a great help to prevent my upper arm or clothing from rubbing against the wounds under my armpit. The downside is that they are pricey. Good luck!!

    My skin had a couple of open sores by the end of my treatment on 4/12. I was prescribed Silvadene creme (which has an antibiotic in it) and continued using Calendula creme during the day and Aquaphor at night. I was uncomfortable for about 5 days and am now much better with a new layer of skin coming in.

    I had a total of 28 treatments with the last one on 4-12. Fatigue finally kicked in the last week and week after but luckily I didn't need to nap. Just sitting for 15 to 30 minutes helped me to re-energize. I'm headed out of town this week to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary and I'm feeling so very grateful. :-)

    Hoping everyone has a comfortable, stress free, and happy week ahead!

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  • Dlpaquette
    Dlpaquette Member Posts: 93
    edited April 2018

    Thank you veeder and doublebloom, the nurse did look at it Friday and gave me silver sulfadiazine cream and Telfa pads, the Telfa is useless as it just crumples up, the mepilex sounds like what I am looking for. I will be checking Amazon right away. I do see the RO tomorrow, as I see him on Mondays. I think having it be my dominant arm and using it constantly at work does not help, then Saturday I spent shopping som day with my daughter. Carrying bags and a heavy purse all day (she lives out of state so it was a 13 hour day in all, celebrating her birthday:). I wish I had dinner vacation time as i would take a couple days off work to not have the constant running for a little stretch.

    Happy anniversary doublebloom! I hope you have a great trip!

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  • flowergal
    flowergal Member Posts: 167
    edited April 2018

    Hello Feline mom' I can only echo all the good thoughts that have been offered to you.

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  • kamalokitty
    kamalokitty Member Posts: 23
    edited April 2018

    Congratulations, Kaywrite! You made it! Yay! I've been done for nearly two weeks. My breast is still a dark purple, but no pain or blisters. Just lots of Eucerin slathering. I hope you weathered it okay! Onward, forward, winning!


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  • kamalokitty
    kamalokitty Member Posts: 23
    edited April 2018

    I've been done with my 21 doses of radiation for two weeks now. But I'm depressed, sisters. I don't know why. I am meeting with my oncologist tomorrow, and I'm just going to ask her, in real numbers, what my prognosis is. I have to know and I have to plan. I just don't want a question mark. If I only have less than 10 years realistically, then I should know that, so I can plan accordingly. I don't mean to be morbid. I just want to be realistic, and practical. As I always have been.

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  • Paco
    Paco Member Posts: 208
    edited April 2018

    March Rads sisters, I have a question.

    Have any of you had a follow up appointment with the RO after 4 weeks from finishing treatment? My RO asked me to schedule a follow up in four weeks' time and honestly, I just don't feel up to it. I have a follow up with my BS in August (six months post-op) which seems reasonable. What say you?

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  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited April 2018

    Paco I can't say for certain but I believe the RO releases you in approx. 1 yr after treatment.  I would suspect that means 2 or 3 follow up appointments.

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