MARCH 2018 starting RADIATION

I’m nervous about starting radiation treatments I know I’ll be fine but I’m so low on energy now how much energy will radiation take from m

Hi everyone - I'm still getting email notifications for this topic, and happy to see people still posting. I suppose we are here less now that we are mostly, hopefully, post-BC.

Micahmom - I'm with flowergal - no energy side effects from radiation, or many post-rads side effects. I am 2 months out from completing radiation therapy, and the only thing I wish I'd known more about is post-rads Physical Therapy and/or massage to help with scar tissue build-up or seromas. Put that on your list!

People react differently to rads - I'd recommend just giving yourself a head start with diet and exercise. Keep limber and stretch - especially the affected breast/arm area (with doctors consent, of course).

Good luck - it will fly by!

Micahmom, Ditto flowergal and kaywrite. I literally had no skin problems with rads--followed the R0's directions re showering with an unscented, mild soap (I used Dove), warm not hot water, pat dry, and use moisturizer (I used Aloe gel from Wal-Mart after a treatment because it was less messy on my hands for driving home and Aquaphor 3 to 4 times a day. Had a good piece of advice from a staff member to wash any of that off before a treatment so it doesn't act like the baby oil some used to use to get a suntan).

Also, since BC surgery I pay more attention to my diet with emphasis on protein (no beef, pork, or processed meats), vegetables and fruits. In addition I am doing better at exercising--for now just walking. I found during radiation that when I felt most "draggy" was when I really needed to get up and walk around--thought I was going to wear a groove in the floors but they have survived intact!😊

You asked about a bone density test. That may be to help with decisions re hormone blockers. For example, I am well past menopause and based on that would likely take an AI. However, I was diagnosed with osteopenia over ten years ago and, since AIs have a reputation of leeching bone, I am on Tamoxifen even though the general rule of thumb is that Tamoxifen is used with premenopausal women.

Good luck with your upcoming treatments. Feel free to ask questions here--lots of information and opinions available! This entire site has been very helpful for me.

Hi Veeder - that's great news! I'm so glad to hear you are on the mend after being interrupted by the bike accident. Things are well here. Happy holidays to all. Keep us updated, I'm still reading you. xoxoxox

Veeder and Flowergal,

Veeder, I am sorry that I somehow missed your recent posts, but was very glad that our buddy Flowergal stayed with you and gave you support.

Excellent news on your mammogram! Just so happy that you were clear, and that the MRI just before that was also clear. It seems like a dream, to think of all you have been through. But happy to know you are moving forward healthy,

And that pesky seroma-comments on that in a minute. But keep working on it.

Flowergal, you are a faithful friend. So glad you hung in there to give support to Veeder when these important dates were coming up. And of course I am very happy for your own good news. As you are our lymphadema touchstone, I was glad for you that no ill effects came back on a permanent basis. Because of you, I am very aware and watch myself.

As for me, I also had my own first post surgery and treatment mammogram. Mine was also a 3D, and just like Veeder, my seroma was very visible. Got flagged for an ultrasound, and that was their conclusion as well, so going to take it up with my surgeon, see if he will aspirate it. (I think he was holding off, hoping it would dissolve, but I am a bit fearful that it will harden to scar tissue in my axcilla and become painful. But no malignant tissue otherwise

As we approach the end of Hanukkah, the Christmas holiday, and the New Year, I will be back to wish all of you, including other buddies Beaverntx, Star17, and this wonderful supportive group. Until then, giving all of you a big, but gentle virtual hug.

Veeder,

You are a trouper to hang in there despite this most recent round of challenges.

Just a thought-is there any type of pain management specialist who might have some other ideas on how you might receive pain medication and still bypass the throat and digestive system? I think you are being patient with the tools that you have, but I wish there was more.

Keeping prayers rising for you that things continue to improve.

Flowergal,

Somehow I had forgotten that you also have a seroma. I suppose we three could call ourself the Seroma Sisters, but it might be another “one hit wonder” (just like The Knack). Guess we’ll just carry on. Grateful there areno “bad cells” hiding in there-that was my subconscious fear.

Someone please remind me how to get “automatic” posts to this thread-then I can get better at keeping track of all of you dear friends here.

Good health to all.

Hi Veeder and Josie,

Josie- I added this thread to "my favorites" and I get an email notification when someone posts.

Veeder,

I take anastrazole but only have osteopenia. When first discussing this med. and asking about osteoporosis, he said if it progressed to that he would just put me on meds. for osteoporosis and didn't seen too concerned. Of course, it's not his bones ! Are you taking one of the meds to combat osteoporosis already? I hope you feel better soon.

HI everyone - silently following this all. Good to hear from all of you. Veeder, glad to hear you are back on track after the set backs.

I know this is rads thread, but I doubt anyone else is reading this, and it relates to what we are talking about nine months after meeting! Here goes: I was diagnosed with osteopenia at the same time I had the suspicious mammogram last year. Fast forward 12 months and my MO took me off anastrozole for a month, then onTamoxifen - why? Because I had a pretty bad dryness reaction vaginally.

I understood the SEs of both (i.e. potential for osteoporosis on one, cervical or uterine cancer on the other). Well, I had a baseline uterine ultrasound last month, which my GYN wanted to do considering I had started Tamoxifen. The ultrasound was not normal. I had fluid in my uterus, which is not good. She did a cervical biopsy immediately and my cervix was SEALED SHUT about an inch in. She tried dilating it, but eventually had to just force the instrument in - big pop and she was inside. She got what she needed, I was terrified for a few days, and the results were benign fluid.

I spoke with my MO just after this. She still felt that there was really no difference between estrogen blockers for me. She felt the cervical atrophy was due to the blockers, period, and the only reason any fluid filled the uterine cavity was because it could not get out. Even so, I switched back to anastrozole. I rationalized that I'd rather worry about osteoporosis than cervical cancer. She didn't argue.

FWIW. Happy new year to everyone - wishing us all a MUCH less terrifying year than the one we've just had. On the upside - it was a good lesson in gratitude.

PS - on the subject of gratitude, I published my first novel! You can go to my name dot com - i.e. Kay Spencer to read the first literary review, along with some other articles about the process and breast cancer. If you are on a phone, you can use the radio button to go to the HOME page and look around. I'm on Amazon, Apple, and B&N, too. If it's your genre, I hope you read it. It's full of love and loss and grief and how wherever the road takes us, we are always traveling with everything we need.

Kaywrite,

Congrats on the book ! I will definitely look it up .

Veeder - good luck with the tamox. Hope the stomach settles down.

Beaverrn what is name of your thread?

I like keeping in touch with you guys.

Comments back:

Thanks to all for the suggestion on adding to Favorites. I’d very much like to stay in touch with all of you-you were such a help over this last year.

Kaywrite - yes, congrats on the book. I’m also going to check it out, and best wishes for it’s success.

Beaverntx - that was thoughtful to start a new thread. Going to follow it and hopefully get my favorites set up to follow it as well.

AIs and osteopenia/osteoporosis- my medical oncologist did not change me from Arimidex even after my bone density test showed osteopenia. I know he initially did not want to prescribe tamoxifen, and I think he is going to give me one of the bone builders in the spring. Meanwhile, I continue with calcium and Vitamin D3, weights and weight bearing exercise. No side effects from the Arimidex otherwise, so I guess I’ll keep going.

Hang in there, everyone

FYI

The forum is Share Your Experiences Of Life After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis.