November rad girls check in here!!

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  • kiwikan
    kiwikan Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2007

    Clessie - I, too, got a package in the mail the other day.  It was a sterling silver cross necklace AND a check for $100 so I can continue with the massage and body work I've been getting.  It was such a lovely surprise...and so very meaningful.  Since July I've recieved numerous thoughtful gifts.  But, the BEST gifts of all have been allowing me to express my true feelings, continuous prayers and helping me stay bouyant.  Also, having you all - my e-friends to converse with.  Blessings, Ruth

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  • conniehar
    conniehar Member Posts: 954
    edited December 2007

    Hi girls - just stopping in to say hi!  I am officially over the hump.  16 down, 14 to go.  I had a nice partner who had the other 7:30 am slot, but she finished up on Friday and I was all alone today.  No big deal as I never have to wait more than 5 minutes, but it was nice having someone to chat with every morning.

    I hate to say this to those of you who are hurting, but so far my skin looks the same as the day I started.  Maybe they aren't even turning the machine on!  I guess I will count my lucky stars.

    I hope everyone is doing ok today!

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  • 2dogsnburg
    2dogsnburg Member Posts: 79
    edited December 2007

    Connie, you are now on the down hill slide(YEAH!) it will seem to go much faster at this point.Lucky you for having such good skin.

    Really my skin has done pretty well too, just a slightly sunburned boob and a tan arm pit.Three more boost and I'm done!!

    Soon we will all be done and ready to celebrate this new year like no other.

    Good Hopes and warm hugs to all you brave ladies! 

                         Terry
     

                         
     

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  • garnetann
    garnetann Member Posts: 158
    edited December 2007

    Hi all

    I had #27 today, have one more regular.  I will not go tommorow, we are supposed to get some bad ice and snow tonight and tommorow.  I did not want to skip any, but these things happen.  I am still just dark pink.  Last one, weather permitting will be next Wednesday. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    I have started the boost doses today and will finish on Friday.  I have had some redness but no other problems.

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  • Clessie
    Clessie Member Posts: 210
    edited December 2007

    We are to get some freezing rain ton ite also, had some this morning but gonna be worse tonite, I`m planning on going to treatment tomorrow but than I`m less than 2 miles from my cancer center, so can get there and back in less than 30 mins., 5 more boosts to do.

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  • arby
    arby Member Posts: 126
    edited December 2007

    labhusky- its ok to be scared but talk to your technicians and use the cream they recommend.  I mean use it 3 -4 times a day and then if you wake up at night, smear more on.  Your skin has to be clean (no oily residue when you go for RADS, so you use the stuff all thru the day after each treatment.  I am fair and am living with the burn under my breast and in the armpit right where the SN scar is.  The burn didn't come until after 23 treatments.....but I'll be very relieved when its no longer fire engine red and the new skin grows.  I can't expect that til after these final 8 boosters are finished and I've been warned that the nipple will be badly burned by then.  Oh well, I can handle a day at a time.  Prepare to nap alot.  I am whiney and sharp tongued when I have no "reserves" left and the energy thing also became noticeable after 15 treatments.  Just be honest and tell your supervisor and get a lighter load or shorter hours.  You can only maintain civility if you have emotional and physical energy.  that's the sum of it.  the best to you.  sounds like you know yourself well, so please pamper yourself and go nap. Best to You, arby

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  • arby
    arby Member Posts: 126
    edited December 2007

    Connie, I am so glad to hear that your skin is tolerating the treatments so well.  I hope you get thru pain-free.  You're incredible!!! 

     to you other Nov Rad Gals:  I haven't written as I have had the BURN experience for the past 6 days and have 3 creams that I use multiple times daily.  Its uncomfortable enuf that i don't concentrate well and certainly am not in the mood for writing Christmas cards!!!  Saw that others were looking at the weather this week.  Here in Neb. its raining at 23 degrees.  I think the dog is sliding around on the small deck.  She's been tapping on the window so I'm going to shut off the Christmas lights so she'll find her dog house and go to bed.  My daughter was to drive home from college in KS this evening and she had to turn around and go back to her dorm because of the roads.  so thats disappointing to me too.  Guess that figures into my crying spell this evening.  oh well....this too shall pass.  I'm just thinking of all the school children who will be happy that classes are cancelled tomorrow!  Take care.  God bless you all as you progress through the treatments.  I always ask Him to bless and benefit me as I lay down under the machine each morning.  I'm grateful for the workers at the Treatment Center, too.  Have a good week.  arby

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  • LisaKJ
    LisaKJ Member Posts: 27
    edited December 2007

    Enjoy the rest, Pam!  In hindsight (always the best sight!!) I wish I'd have taken more time off in the middle of rads when I needed 12 hours of sleep every day.  I think you've timed your leave well.  Now it's time to let everyone spoil you!

    Lisa

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  • snowyday
    snowyday Member Posts: 1,478
    edited December 2007

    I start my rads tommorow and I hope it's not cancelled because the ice storm is heading our way. Anyone out there caught in it I hope your all okay it looks really bad. And it's headed north in Canada right to the east coast.  I just pray it's overwith soon I'm watching GMA and can hardly believe my what I'm seeing. Wish they would put electrical lines under ground.  Good luck anyone caught in it.

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  • conniehar
    conniehar Member Posts: 954
    edited December 2007

    So, for those of you having boosts, what are they like?  Do the seem any different than regular rads while you are receiving them?

    So, of course as soon as I mentioned how great my skin is, I wake up to some redness today.  Just a little pink in a couple areas and my underarm was a little sore.  Not too bad.

    I was also dog tired yesterday.  I couldn't wait to fall into bed last night.  I took a sleeping pill so I could get a good nights sleep and not be woken up by these hot flashes.  It worked!  I had a lot of trouble sleeping during chemo so I used sleeping pills a lot, but I wanted to get off of them.  I haven't taken on in a month and I get a fairly good nights sleep, but the hot flashes wake me up several times during the night.  Now that this rad fatigue seems to be setting in, I think I might start taking them again until this is over.  This sucks!

    garnetann / Melissa/ arby/ Clessie - sounds like you gals are almost done.  That's awesome!  Hang in there!

    snowyday - I hope you are able to get started today.  We in Chicago were supposed to get a lot of ice, but I woke up to just rain and the roads were fine.  Sounds like it was worse down south and west.

    Have a great day ladies!

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  • PSK07
    PSK07 Member Posts: 781
    edited December 2007

    {{hugs}} arby. I hope your daughter makes it home safely and the burns feel better.

    All you midwest and east coast girls, stay safe in the snow and ice. Here in the PNW, it's 33 and cloudy. One of my daughters is driving this year, but hasn't yet gotten out in snow and ice.  Scares me to death! 

    I have the sim/beam verification for boosts today, so they gave me an earlier appt. Dr day, too.  More leave paperwork - I swear, everything is doubled or tripled. Had to apply online. Then paperwork from the short term disability provider. Then the same stuff from my company's leave office. Unbelievable.  I don't know how the Dr deals with it all.  That's why he's paid the big bucks, I guess. :)

    I'm very, very red right now.  Slathering on the aloe vera. I have aquaphor for night time. No peeling as yet.

    Lisa - thanks. LOA is a good thing. I'm glad I went through with it. Getting the family to buck up and take care of things is another story, though.  I guess I just have to be asleep when they all want dinner.  The fatigue is unreal. The rads knock me out; there is no way I could work a full day.  I should have a decision on whether they'll pay me by week's end.

    take care all, and keep warm. (ha. I could heat the house w/one irriadiated boob right now. Throw in a hot flash, and there goes the neighborhood.)

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  • Clessie
    Clessie Member Posts: 210
    edited December 2007

    Connie the boosts are so much easier, I lay on my side with a pillow instead of the mold and one quick zap and your done, at my halfway mark today with 4 more to do and couldn`t be happier, I meet with my medical onc. the day after Christmas to start on the arimadix.

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  • 2dogsnburg
    2dogsnburg Member Posts: 79
    edited December 2007

    Connie, Clessie is right the boosts do seem much easier.I'm still laying in the same position in the mold . The machine has an arm on it that comes in very close but not intimidating.One zap about 30 seconds and thats it, you are done.I have 2 more zaps than on to see onc next week to get on the the tamox train.

    I'm with you Clessie, I could not be happier to have this behind me either! 

      Good Hopes to all,

              Terry
     

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  • kiwikan
    kiwikan Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2007

    I don't think most folks really "get" what it is to be fatigued.  It's hard to explain that it is NOT just being tired.  I find that sleep often doesn't change the degree to which I simply can't do or don't want to do anything.  I choose my events for the day.  I run short of tolerance and being nice-nice.  I just keep reminding myself that this fatigued condition is temporary and that I'll soon start feeling better.

    I'll be done on Dec. 28.  My skin is holding up fairly well.  Under my breast is quite tender.  I think that that area got more irritated because I wore my bra more over the week-end than I had been.  I just may have to give that up.  So what if I'm lop-sided?  The sun is shining brightly today, though it is very cold.  Brrrrrrrr.  Good to read how everyone is doing.  Take care all, Ruth

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  • garnetann
    garnetann Member Posts: 158
    edited December 2007

    Hi all

    I am home today, did not even attempt to go out on the roads.  We got some serious ice.  I am hoping the interstate is good enough tommorow morning to go up, but I can take another day off if I have to. I am itching a lot on my underwire area, but it is not sore anywhere.  6 more.  We are all so close. 

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  • sedosa
    sedosa Member Posts: 152
    edited December 2007

    Hi ladies!



    Garnet Glad you stayed home. The machine will still be there when you return.



    Kiwi, i think you describe fatigue very well. It is much more than tired. It is emotional as well as physical.



    The onc took me off arimidex today to see if it was the culprit for my muscle and bone pain.



    Four more boosts to go. I must admit they are quite easy.



    Hang in there everyone. The end is near.



    Steffi

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  • MLizA
    MLizA Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2007

    Hi Ladies,  I have not checked in for a while and had to change my login due to some privacy concerns...

      I am down to a single digit countdown and start my boosts this Friday -- I will be done next Friday!  I was doing so great after almost 5 weeks of this with only some irritation and redness but unfortunately my armpit is now on fire!  Aloe soothes it right away but must keep putting it on every two hours or so. 

      As far as follow-on to rads, my onc had recommend that I be considered for a more aggressive clinical trial rather than just start tamox.  I hope to be submitting paperwork for approval in the next week.  It is a "Suppression of Ovary function (SOF) Trial"  Anyone heard of it?  They chemically shutdown your ovaries and then put you on one of two different drugs, tamox. being one of them.  If I get approved, I should start that by the first week of January.

      I have been fortunate that I have not had much fatigue with rads but then I have been able to continue to work from home as much as I want so that has made it so much better. 

      My baby is coming home from Indiana from first semester of college tomorrow!  I just hope he does not get weather delayed out of Indy! I am so excited!

      For those of you still in the middle of treatment ... Like Arby said, use your cream all the time and don't neglect deep in your armpit!

      I cannot believe I only have 8 more sessions! Linda

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  • Clessie
    Clessie Member Posts: 210
    edited December 2007

    Speaking of fatigue, I told my dh at the beginning that was  one of the SE and I didn`t want to hear a word if I didn`t feel like doing anything or being accused of being lazy, men can be such jerks when your not up to being fully functional.

    I laid down for a nap today 4 hrs. later my dh woke me up but I believe I could have slept till morning, I really don`t know how fatigued I am till I lay down and than I just die, I know some of my energy will return in time but I`m really enjoying the naps and plan on continueing for life probably.

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  • PSK07
    PSK07 Member Posts: 781
    edited December 2007

    Clessie, I'm right there with you.  As my rad onc put it, it's not possible to see fatigue. While I'm not up to the 23 hrs of sleep per day like one of his patients, fatigue is my major SE. The best thing ever about being home for the duration...sleep, glorious sleep, whenever I want.

    Got all marked up today for my boosts, and they want me to keep the markings on til the end (?!). At one point, 5 techs surrounded me, marking, shining flashlights, raising and lowering the table, moving in the xray machine, and so on. Doc is concerned about my skin and we're hoping it holds up til boosts start.

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  • kiwikan
    kiwikan Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2007

    Good Morning.  I met with my rad onc and discussed that I'll have a CT scan tomorrow so they can set up for the boosts.  The boosts will start on 21st and I'll be done on 28th.  My skin is holding up, though I'm to spritz a 50-50 combo of peroxide and water 3 x a day under my breast and let air dry.  This is supposed to keep the area dryer and keep the integrity of the skin there.  I meet with the medical onc doc tomorrow to discuss hormonal therapy.  I'm already confused and hope I don't have to make any immediate decisions about that.

    One of the women I've seen every morning since I started rads will be done tomorrow.  She's most excited and of course I'm delighted for her.  I'm anticipating my last day on the 28th.  I understand the techs give folks a certificate of completion.  At first that sounded wonderful, then I got to thinking if I really want that reminder.  Emotions are hard to predict on any given day.  I'm learning that every morning when I arise that the day will be what it will be. I'm better to let it be as is and not fight against the feelings.  I cycle things through more quickly.  Here's wishing you all a restful and peaceful weekend forthcoming.  Best, Ruth

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  • garnetann
    garnetann Member Posts: 158
    edited December 2007

    Hi all

    Had my first booster today, have 4 more.  Not much different than the regular ones except I lay flat on my back and the machine has an attachment put on it with an insert made just for me.  They said it will still irritate the skin, but only in that one spot.  The rest is really pink but no open sores.  I think I lucked out but they said it was a combination of being smaller and using all the creams and stuff religiously.  4 more, I can do this. 

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  • JapanLynn
    JapanLynn Member Posts: 471
    edited December 2007

    Congrats to all of you finishing soon...what a holiday gift!

    Re: the end of rads...just wanted to post a gentle warning.  On Nov. 8 I bounced out of the house for my last session, and while I was lying on the table for the last treatment, my eyes started tearing up.  The techs, who were wonderful, came in and hugged me.  The nurses gave me a prayer by Mother Theresa and a guardian angel pin, and I just lost it!  Very emotional...cried all the way home and for two hours after that.  Then I was fine.

    I had read in some of the books that this happens sometimes, but I was sure I'd be fine.  Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I hadn't really cried since my diagnosis.  Who knows...just watch out for an emotional release.

    Good luck to all...and I hear you about the fatigue!  Give in to it whenever possible.

    Lynn

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    My last day of rads is tomorrow!!  I have only had redness and tenderness.  I start the AI (Arimidex) on Saturday.  Good luck to everyone!

    Melissa

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  • 2dogsnburg
    2dogsnburg Member Posts: 79
    edited December 2007
    I"m doing a happy dance right now !KissToday was my last day!!My sons are coming into town to celebrate,sweet boys one is 25, the other 23.The whole  family will have a night out on the town to celebrate.
    What a Christmas gift!
    Good luck to all ...the end is in sight.
    Thanks for all the support along the way.
    May we all live to a ripe old age ,with this as a distant memory.
    Good Hopes and Warm Hugs,
                Terry
     
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  • kiwikan
    kiwikan Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2007

    TERRY - Oh Happy Day!  Enjoy your most deserved celebration with your family.  Well wishes and best to you.  Ruth

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  • PSK07
    PSK07 Member Posts: 781
    edited December 2007

    Melissa, Terry, Lynn congrats on finishing!

    It looks like the rest of us are right behind you. 

    My last 2 regular zaps are today and Monday, then it's on to the boosts. My nipple is killing me. Dang it hurts.  I'm putting aquaphor on it to help with the dryness, but of course it doesn't do anything for the pain.

    Peaceful weekend wishes to you all.

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  • garnetann
    garnetann Member Posts: 158
    edited December 2007

    Hi Pam

    I also have a very sore nipple, my doc gave me a cream of lidocaine and aquaphor. The lidocaine numbs the pain, it works good. 

     3 left, I will be so glad to have this done.  I am absolutely exhausted all day long now.  I am working half days, and after Tuesday, I am off until Jan 2.  I need the rest. Wink

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  • kiwikan
    kiwikan Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2007

    I had a CT scan this morning in preparation for the boosts that will start on Dec 21.  It's still the plan that I'll be done on Dec 28.  I will start on Femara 2 weeks after I'm done with rads. 

    Who is taking Femara?  How is it going?

    Good thoughts to all and wishes for a peaceful weekend.  Ruth

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  • sedosa
    sedosa Member Posts: 152
    edited December 2007

    Hi Ladies!!

    Congratulations to all who have finished. it really is possible. The time does go fast after the hump. My final boost is Monday. My burns are peeling and no longer painful. I have not noticed any increase in pain from boosts. They sure are performed quickly.



    Ruth I was on arimidex for four months and pulled off this week. Will be starting femara in two weeks. We will get to experience that together.



    PSK, try to get some lidocaine for the nipple. There is no reason the docs should allow the pain in nipple to continue.



    Many happy weekend hours!

    Steffi

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