Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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Michele,
Might as well get used to the no deodorant hygiene since you can't use the normal stuff during radiation. I would say don't use any, seriously. There are a few deodorant products that are okay I bought "Crystal" at Wal-mart but thought it was useless. There might be some others could recommend.
pam
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Michele - I actually had deodorant on when I went for my simulation and tatts since I did not know ahead of time they were doing it and I was not told not to wear any nor was I told to wash it off. Here is exactly what took place when I went in... in a brief description. I undressed on top and put on a gown. I lay down on a CT table they exposed my breast and started making the positions and markings and the scans. It all went very fast. As for using no deodorant, I used Tom's of Maine stick deodorant for a few weeks but (my underarm was not suppose to have been in the radiation field), unfortunately my underarm was in the radiation field though I had no positive nodes and it began burning to a krispy fritter and quickly I figured out why they tell you NO deodorant. The rubbing on of even the ALL natural deodorant's will irritate the already burnt skin. So I went to the Cornstarch being applied with a cotton ball. That is what I recommend. The other stuff really doesn't work anyway and is a waste of money and time. You can reapply the cornstarch as often as you need to all the burnt areas and the armpit and you can keep it in your purse to take with you.
Oh yeah only get the kind of Cornstarch that you cook with in the baking section.
Hope this inoformation helps.
Renee
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I think the ban on deodarant has to do with the aluminum in it. You might ask if it's alright to use aluminum-free deodorant (like Tom's of Maine brand)... but of course ask the technicians first.
Lilah
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Michele and any others going through rads - Lilah is correct the ban on deodorant has to do with the aluminum in it.
Renee
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I think i will avoid it anyhow. I am normally not a stinky person...so no big deal...At least it is the winter right now and not so hot and sticky out. Thanks ladies.
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So.... Renee,
Wondering if you find this is true for you...
I, too, was told no rads to axilla but all signs indicated it was zapped good and proper during the boost. Now, 8 months later, no hair, no sweat, and no underarm odor on that side. I asked my rad onc last time I saw him. He still denies treatment to the axilla.
Not necessarily complaining.. just a mystery.
pam
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Renee: Oh yeah only get the kind of Cornstarch that you cook with in the baking section.
Wow. You know, I had no idea there was any other kind! LOL!
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Ezscriiibe - you can get cornstarch that has talc in it, you find it in the baby section. It is in the one of the baby powder talc bottles. That is why they are so specific. They don't want you using talc. I'm not sure why you can't use talc.
Pam - my onc didn't deny zapping my underarm, it was hard for him to deny it since mine was burnt black ( I wish I had taken a pic and then I could have posted it). However, I don't know if I will have any hair regrowth their or not. I do not really have any odor but it does seem to get moist when I get hot. I have noticed that since that underarm was burnt and the hairs stopped growing they have also stopped growing on the other side, which I find very strange! But it's o.k. with me I haven't had to shave my good underarm in about 4 wks now (NO hair). It will be o.k. with me if it doesn't grow back. I have to shave my legs almost every day that more than makes up for the underarms. LOL!!
Renee
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Hi Sisters, I am sitting here contemplating the barage of medicines, vitamins and supplements at my disposal and wondering how important taking them at certain times of day or with/without food, absorption rates, should one go hand in hand with another?
Before BC all I ever took was a couple of Advil for cramps....don't have those anymore. During treatment I had to take all sorts of anti-emetics, heart meds etc.....don't do that anymore. But now I'm on Tamoxefin, I take about 6000IU's of D-3, a fish oil pill, a multi-vitamin with minerals and 325mg aspirin. Do you all know if it's OK to just wash them all down at once, or is there a better process to get the most from each thing. Thanks in advance, Mary
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I am with you, Mary. I never used to take anything. Now my bathroom counter top looks like a pharmacy! The only thing I know is, if you are taking calcium, you need to split the dosage as our bodies can not absorb 1200 mg of Calcium all in one taking. Also grapefruit interferes with some meds so always ask. And some anti-depressants cancel out the benefits of Tamoxifen.
Not much help, I'm afraid.
pam
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Oh, yeah, be very careful about grapefruit, whether the fruit or the juice, when taking some medicines.
What happens is that in some cases it increases the efficacy of the medication, and you can end up with a increased amount of the medication in the bloodstream. It's a metabolic interaction. It affects the enzymes in your gut that helps break down meds. (And because of that, it can also cause too little of the medication to be in the bloodstream, and you are not getting the appropriate benefit.)
This is especially important if you're taking certain heart or high blood pressure medicines. They used to say as long as you waited about 2 hours after ingesting the grapefruit/grapefruit juice that it would not be a problem, but they found that really isn't true either. Sometimes the effect can last up to 72 hours.
This is true not only with prescription medications, but with supplements, too, such as herbals and vitamins.
Your pharmacist is the person to ask regarding which of your medications can be disrupted with grapefruit juice, and he/she can also tell you if the result is too much of the medication in the bloodstream or too little. He/she will also have a backup medication that will accomplish that same thing if, for whatever reason, you're just not willing to forego grapefruit.
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Hi everyone. I was wanting to know if I could join in. I was diagnosed in Jan 2009. I had a lumpectomy then Chemo. I was supposed to get TAC but I was allergic to Taxotere and then allergic to Taxol. Anyone else have that to happen? I took genzibine and vinorelbine. I finished chemo in Sept. Radiation followed and I finished it at Thanksgiving. I had a total hysterectomy in Dec and started taking Arimidex in Jan. I was wondering what your oncologist thought about rescanning. I showed no mets last year but I am worried about not routinely scanning. I look forward to any advice from you. thanks
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Hello Hello I have a question ladies, I'm sure I am being a spazz! BUT I just recently finished up my chemo YAY ME! I've started a clinical trial and getting ready to start rads. I have had pretty bad leg and hip pain throughout chemo, they stopped giving me the nuelasta shot several weeks ago but the pain is still there. It sometimes makes for a very misreable night to try and sleep and going up stairs is quite painful. Could this possible be a sign of met, I don't want to go running to my Onc with every pain but it's starting to worry me. Anyone here have any words of wisdom for my legs
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How GREAT that you are finished with chemo, Tiffany! **standing ovation**0
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Tiffaany, why not run to your Onc that is what they get paid crazy amounts of money for..can never be to safe. Make him work for his speed boat. oh by the way welcome..
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I have hip, leg and knee pain on the same side - that I sleep on of course. But it goes away and comes back with a vengence! I asked my onc and she said that if I was experiencing constant pain for 2 weeks, I needed to get it checked out. So far the pain only comes around my period and then is gone. If you are concerned about this, always get it checked out if only for your own peace of mind!!
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Hello Ladies,
Sorry that I haven't posted lately too much going on in my life. I did read Mary with all that you are going through and I'm on the same page. Thought I was going to have chemo and then MX. Go to appointment and they say my immunologist says I can't have it too serious for my overall health problems. So the surgeon says I'm booked up til March, and this is the only one all the doctors feel can deal with my problem, along with BC. The surgeon is the Ice Princess. But feel I have to deal with it. So I wait. Tomorrow a complete body scan with radioisotopes or what ever. They are also doing a bone marrow test in my hip. GP is worried about swelling in my neck, and arm, surgeon says not cancer, three other doctors says it is. I want to do nothing at this point and am told that isn't a choice. The surgeon told me six weeks of rads everyday. I said, are you kidding! She said no. I said tell me that after the MX and all the test on my breast after they remove it. Doctors said I have to have in-home help, I don't want it and my autistic child is going to have such serious complications with all these people coming and going. I want control of my life and the cancer. I don't want all the bs. Guess I'm selfish or maybe living in a slow paced world. Then get home from doctors on Friday to have more messages from doctors have they changed plans because of blood test? I drove over 1200 miles going back and forth to appointments this week. I want a trip to Paris, just walk the streets, take in museums, take a train to the south reflect and forget about BC.
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M360,
Don't we all wish we could take all the energy, money, family involvement, planning, all of it, and put it in to a great trip of a lifetime or a house renovation or anything other than this cancer thing! It took me a while but I finally got my head in the right place to deal with it all. 2009 was ALL ABOUT ME! Instead of all the energy I put in to my husband, or my family, or friends, or my home, or my civic work... I accepted the fact that ALL that was going to have to go into dealing with breast cancer. I told everyone that I was going to drop out of being on call for favors, jobs, or responsibilities and all my energy was going to getting through this.
I didn't get to keep my grandchildren as much, my house was not as clean, my garden was a shambles, my club had to find a new secretary, my husband learned how to put his dishes in the dishwasher (!), I drifted away from "downer" friends, I told my SIL and husband they could not come for a fishing vacation, and i did not always have a new project lined up. Our life revolved around my doctor appointments, often followed up by "reward" stops at Wendy's for a frostie. :-)
Now as I approach my one year cancerversary life IS getting back to normal. I am cleaning out our utility shed and bathroom cabinets. I redecorated our guest room. We are going to DS's to babysit overnight this week. I am planning a trip to California in May. I feel healthy in spite of achey joints (Arimidex). I actually forgot to be nervous awaiting tumor marker results. Life is good and almost normal... well, the new normal.
I hope you find a way to be comfortable with your new course in life. It is like a war and you have to throw yourself into it and FIGHT LIKE A GIRL. You can do it!
pam
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Well said Pam. It is one of these things in life we don't like and don't want to deal with it but we have to. "Normal" may be different than Pre BC but if we understand our new limitiations we can begin adding back in things we enjoy and like and hopefully our energy levels will be begin to return, maybe not where they were but now we pick and choose which ones WE HAVE TO DO AND WHICH ONES WE WANT TO DO.
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Ladies - I finished chemo today. Woohoo! So glad to be done, especially when I get through the yucky days this week.
Sherri
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Way to go Sherri!!!!!!!! It has been interesting to really pay attention to the little victories as my strength has come back over the past few months.
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Congratulations Sherri on finishing treatment! Hope you get thru your "yucky days" quickly
Pam- You are so right! Going thru this is hard enough, and some of the "fat" in our lives needs to be trimmed in times like these. We cannot possibly be the "yes" people we maybe once were, and if people don't like it, then too bad for them!
I went to my first PT appointment today for my LE. She massaged my arm, which hurt, but it hurts all the time anyway. The swelling crept down into my hand, so my entire arm is wrapped like a mummy! I can hardly move it! I guess this must be what it feels like to have a broken arm wrapped in a cast. I have to leave it on, and cover it with a plastic bag in the shower, so tomorrow morning will be interesting:)
Hope everyone has a nice evening
Hugs
Jen
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Sherri, WHAHOO you are done...justa few crappy days then it is all smooth sailing...
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Pam, you are an inspiration, and Sherri! Congrats!0
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Hoorah for Sherri!!!! You did it!!!!
Visualize streamers, cupcakes, maybe some champagne, and all of us celebrating with you.
pam
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Hi Jen,
It sounds as if everyone is being very proactive in getting your LE under control. I hope it gives you some relief soon. Can you use your fingers? Thank goodness the weather is on your side... not hot, I mean. I would think heat would make the sleeve unbearable. Let's get this under control before summer!
pam
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Sherri ~ congratulations YOU did it !!! woo HOO
I had my last one today too ~
Jen ~ sorry about your arm..... geez.
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WooHOO!!!!! Sherri you are soooo freakin Done!!! You go girl!!!!!! Now just get over those yucky days and like the others said, "smooth sailing"! Here's a great big toast as I lift my glass of champagne to you!
To all the new ladies that have joined, glad you found us, WELCOME!!!!!! There are some really great ladies here full of information and that just like to have a good time and offer wonderful support when you need it.
Hugs to all of you.
Renee
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Yippie for Sherri and Alicia, what an accomplishment. I know how good it feels to finally say, I am finished. Just a couple of days of yuck and then you can move on.
Jen, hoping all this gets your arm under control. Bless your heart, no one deserves this.
Pam, you are an inspiration, I am waiting to get to my new normal and I only have a few weeks to go before rads are finished and I can start healing. Thanks for all your inspiration and encouragement.
Good night to all you wonderful ladies.
Juannelle
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Thanks everyone! I don't feel all that great tonight. I hope it's not an indication of how this Tx is going to go because I don't usually feel yucky until days 3-5. Now that The Bachelor is over I'm off to bed.
Alicia - congratulations on being done today, too. Will you be having radiation?
Sherri
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