November rad girls check in here!!

Clessie,10 more wa hoooooo!!!

Steffi,10 more yipp peeee!!!!!

Pam, 15 down yeaaaa!!!!! 

Pat yourself on your back, this has not been an easy ride.You are all strong wonderful women. 

I Hope you all do  something nice for yourself you deserve it!

I have 8 more ,I can't believe this is almost over!What a good day I actually slept last night.

Have a wonderful glowing day ladies.

   Good Hopes and Warm Hugs,

            Terry

Hey you all,

Today will be treatment 16 out of 25 - almost through. 

I have had moments of "rad rage" especially when one of my employees returned from being off six weeks from elective surgery and she looked at me and asked, "What's wrong with you, you're not smiling at this minute as usual, do you need an energy drink?"  I had just come back from my radiation treament and I smarted off and said, "No I don't need an energy drink, I have been radiafid."  I had to apologize to her because I was the one having a "heat stroke" after the treatment and I was turning red all over and breaking out in a sweat and it wasn't her fault.  But as she said, "You just had a radiation treatment you should be fine."  Some times I don't know if the symptoms are really real or just an excuse to be irritable at times and lash out.  My boss says, "you have handled all of this so well, you're our hero."  I'm not a hero, I love my job, I love my children and my grandkids and I feel that I have to be there 100% weather or not I want to. 

The one thing that helps me get through all of this is God - he's my "right hand man."  Without God, this would not be easy - At times I'm tired, I have irritation under my breast but I don't have a "Jokey strap" to hold it up - I have large breasts.  I did break down the other day for the first time through this whole thing but then I said a little prayer and turned everything back over to God and turned it loose.

I went shopping for Christmas and over spent but I'm happy and I can always work extra after this is over.

How are the husbands responding to this.  My husband, I think is in denial.  "as the doctor's say this is not cancer only a precursor to cancer."  He doesn't want me to start the Tamoxifen or any drugs.  His mom died last year of lung cancer and she didn' do well due to all the side effects.  My daughter at age 21 is having the same thoughts as my husband.  At times I believe he is afraid to touch me because I might break - I think this is the worst of my whole ordeal (my husband not being consoling or affectionate.)

Sorry, got carried away.

dink- I would have smacked anyone who said something like that to me.

My husband is taking this....okay. He will avoid the issue by keeping busy. Since I don't have any real outward signs of being sick (just rads, you know ) he has difficulty with my exhaustion being more than my usual working mom/type A exhaustion. That comes out when he wants me to do the usual errands and cleaning/sorting and financial things and I'm too tired to do so. He went to all of my medical appts, so he knows this is cancer. Pre-invasive, but cancer nonetheless.

My daughters have different ways of dealing with it. The older one will talk, discuss, shows interest in the treatments and so one. My younger would be happy if it just went away.

The medical therapist at the rad office says she'll meet with us as a family before the treatment is over. We'll see.

Ha. I pulled the cancer card this morning at work for the first time. This big thing I do each quarter had some stupid, but not critical, errors in it and in explaining it I blamed the rads for frying my brain. My focus is not there. I've stopped multi-tasking for the duration.

I hope everyone has a good day.

My nipple is coming off, really looks like it, today when I had my treatment the radioligist notice my nipple was peeeling badly, hadn`t even  noticed myself so must have happened during the nite, they went ahead and did the treatment and said they would do the last one tomorrow, thank God my poor little booby and nipple will have time to heal as I do my 8 boosts, Dr. will check out tomorrow and may order some different cream for it but as of now using my aquaphor, I thank God for  the rads team they have all been so kind and gentle.

Hi Steffi, I just remembered in one posting way back that you said you'd pop in some German language tapes to keep yourself busy during the ride to rads.  I was just being the teacher and checking up on you.  I live on the outskirts of Brussels in a Flemish-speaking area, but I just have to go a few miles down the road to reach the French-speaking area.  I used to live in Germany and taught basic German for a long time, so I'm pretty good at murdering Dutch.  Thank goodness the hospital staff speaks excellent English, though (which is always their first choice before French, but that's another story...).

Hey, dink, my husband was definitely in denial in the beginning.   I remember about two weeks after surgery in September, he was talking about planning a 4-day, 15-mile-per-day hike with friends in October, just assuming I'd be okay.  I told him that I didn't think it would be a good idea, and then I got all huffy and teary and said something like, "I'm sorry my little ailment is affecting your social life."  It was the best thing I could have done, because it just opened the flood gates for the both of us.  I was able to discuss my fears and he admitted that he, too, was quite scared.  I only wish I had been more adult in my way of starting the conversation!

Anyhow, he's pretty much okay now and wants to know all about the science behind rads and is fascinated with the markings, the scar and the layers skin flaking off.  Strangely, though, the rads dept in my hospital has open houses every now and then, where you can see the machinery and learn about radiotherapy, and when I asked if he'd like to go to one, he got really jumpy and said no.

Hey Clessie, my nipple peeled a while back and it's just starting to look normal again (well, it looks freckled, where not all the skin has come off yet).  It itched like the dickens!  Just keep putting stuff on it.

Only 6 more to go--yeah!

Lisa

Hi guys

Yesterday was a real bumber for me but things are much better today.  I forgot the day of the week, I forgot my daughter's phone number and I forgot which way I was going to take my granddaughter to gymnastics - after a few minutes all was well. 

You know things happen for a reason and last night I was really down so I got a glass of wine and laid down. My husband's best friend called and I didn't want to talk but I did.   I haven't laughed that much in a while and my husband walked in and asked what was so funny and I told him, 'Robbie and I are having phone cooking lessons."  We were discussing cooking a roast.  My husband, Donnie, and Robbie have been friends since 5th grade and they are still best friends and they are 48 years old.  Robbie's wife was on her cell phone and didn't have time to help him.  Before I knew it all four of us were on the phone together and it was like we were having a party. 

I came to work today and was talking to my boss and she suggested for Donnie and I to take a day trip to Fredricksburg - a small German town in Texas - and spend the day.  Reluctantly, I called Donnie (I just knew he would say no and I would be disappointed.)  and asked him to take off work and go with me and he said, "Sounds great to me."  I nearly passed out and now I'm like a high school teenage because we are sneaking off for the day to be together which we haven't done in a really long time. 

I hope everyone is doing great today.  It's a great day to smile.  I wish I could travel to see places like Europe or Germany but I can't so my Aunt who travels sends me lots of pictures and so many of them make you feel like your actually there. 

My boob is still sore, red underneath, and all marked up from the markings but all is well. 

On another note - I know that many of you are Christians and pray.  I have a request for a little baby named Maggie.  She is 5 months old and is currently being tested for a liver tumor.  Her lab tests are extremely elevated but the CT doesn't show the tumor as of yet.  This baby and her family need lots of prayers.  They are Christian people but are questioning why this is happening.  Please remember them when you have your prayer time.

Have a great day.

I got the silva cream today for my burns so should start healing soon, start boost tomorrow so effected areas aren`t going to be radiated, just hope I can thru the last 8 with no more burning.

My booby sure has taken a beating but we`re on the road out.

Psk,

Glad you are taking the leave of absence. It is hard to admit we need to do so. I am so glad I have taken the time off. I worked the first three and a half weeks of rads. The stress of work plus the stress of rads were doing a job on me and it took me a while to realize it. Now all I have the stress of rads. Two more regulars to go and then six boosts.

Has anyone got a black armpit? It is strange most of the treasment area is pink or biright red and peeling in the burn areas which I have under my arm also. But there is a large area under my arm that is black. It is the darkest tan I have ever had. It doesn't hurt at all. Just wondering why it is black.



Lots of hugs to all. Hang in there

Steffi

Hi Ruth,

Glad your treatments are going well. Tomorrow is my last regular treatment and I begin boosts on Monday. I have attended the "cancer support group" sponsored by out hospital. It is all women and facilitated by the hospital social worker. I haven't found it much help. There are a couple of women there who talk the entire two hours. One is on her second round of ovarian cancer and the other had breast cancer seven years ago. Mostly they talk about cancer camp, cancer relays, and people I have never heard of. I don't think I am returning. I get much more love and support on these boards and in the chat room.

Steffi

Ruth, I'm on #18, too. Fun. Who knows fun?

Dr day. Met with rad onc and one of the nurses.  He'd gotten the leave paperwork so we filled it out together.  What a riot. The questions they ask..my weight & height.  We were going to make up a good number, but thought better of it. What are my symptoms? Hmmm. falls asleep at her desk, sleeps 12 hours a day...

Got a tube of aquaphor to use at night on the rough spots under my arm. They told me to cop an attitude w/hand on hip and it would help.

There is a support group, but I've not gone.  I am making use of the therapist the cancer institute provides. That has helped immeasurably.

Off to bed. Last day at work tomorrow, then it's glorious sleep for 4 weeks!  take care, all.

I'm Done!!! (dancing the happy dance!) Had my last rad this morning, and thank God! I don't think the burn in my armpit could have taken anymore. They gave me some stuff to put on it; also took a culture, just to  make sure no infection is setting in.

So now I feel like "okay, I'm done with treatments, now what??" I'm sure some you have that feeling of sooooo glad to be done, yet, a little nervous on actually being done?!

 I will continue to come to these boards, you are my sisters after all!

hope you are all feeling well!

I'm off to get ready for Christmas, and to live the "new normal"!

Peace of the Season to you All!!

It is Friday and #19 is checked off.  It seems like an eternity ago that it was #1.  Bonnie - well wishes to you and delighted to hear you're done.  Take a deep breath.  Let us all!  Ruth

HI all

Sounds like we are all getting close.  I have 2 more regulars and then 5 boosters. So far, I have not missed any. We had a big snowstorm yesterday, I missed it going up and the roads were clear by today.  We are supposed to get more snow this weekend, but so far, next week sounds good. I have a big red square on my chest, but no open sores or peeling at all. They said I am doing quite well. I think it is my radiation coctail of the aloe, sween cream and aquaphor.  Somewhere, something in there is working.  It does itch a bit, but I use a little 1% hydrocortozine cream on the spot.  My doc said to go easy on that stuff because it is a steroid and long term heavy use is bad.  I did not know that. 

I am still seeing a little confetti trickling down this board.

I am so excited to see people finishing this long trip.  I hope and pray that each and everyone here never has to face this again!

I finished the first half of my german language cds.  I now know how to greet someone and ask for directions.  I need to find the CD that tells me how to order a drink though.

7 more, I can do this.

Yay, Brenda!  I'm joining Steffi in the happy dance--so glad for you. 

Garnetann, YOU'RE the one doing the German tapes, not Steffi (sorry about that--blame it on the rads?).  "Ein Bier, bitte" should get you a nice beer anywhere, but when you've finished the rads, you might want something a little classier to celebrate, like "ein Glas Sekt" (a glass of champagne). 

I keep thinking if I'll do anything fun and different next Wednesday (my last day).  I'm making a batch of chocolate chip cookies for my rads team here.  That might not sound like a big deal, but Belgians aren't into cookie baking (they just go for the gooey, chocolatey cakes and things that come from the pastry shop), so homemade cookies will be a nice treat.  Okay, not so healthy, but I'll try to use organic ingredients!!

Hey we are all nearing the end and ready to face our life cancer free although this will be a part of us for life, but we have met new friends gained a lot of insight and willing to help a new person who is scared and confused about their dx, we`ve come a long way baby.

I had a pleasent surprise when I got home yesterday from tretment, there was a BIG package for ME at the door, it was from Dave Darvicky Outreach of Hope, had a DVD in it clled Journey of Hope and 4 books 2 of which Dave and his wife wrote, one was a book called cancer and has scriptures of hope in it, something I will treasure cause someone thought of me in my down time.

Dave Darvicky was a baseball player for the Giants and had cancer in his arm, Drs. told him he would never pitch again but went back to pitch one season than broke that arm which ended his career, not being a baseball fan had never heard of him.

These boosts are a breeze and the burns I have are now are healing as the boosts are not touching it, 6 more to go.