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After Radiation

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Comments

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 7,545

    GMA - So glad you like your new pain doc.  I go see mine on Tues and if he does not tell me something new or do something else, I am going to change docs.  This one is not the greatest.  We got off to a rocky start - he just had shoulder surgery after an accident and was dealing with a terrible infection - not my fault but he was a real jerk.  His problem now is he is so narcissistic.  Will wait and see what happens.

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 4,503

    Jo there are too many good caring doctors out there to put up with a narcissis.  When I have not been happy with a Dr. and I have had two on this journey.  As soon as I changed Dr's I felt such a hugh relief knowing that what I was doing was right and I felt comfortable and trust.   We need to feel those things with our Doctors.

  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 849

    Hi everyone, checking in quickly - such a busy month, will get better though and you'll see me more after Jan! 

    GMA so glad you found some relief. 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 4,503

    We've been missing you gina guess you have busy with your daughter being home

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 7,545

    Sherry - One of the hardest things for me to do is to change doctors.  That's only because when I was in the military you did not get to choose who you saw.  That is just something that has been engrained in my brain and I need to change that thinking.  I will give this guy one more try since I already have a follow up appt scheduled.  It is one thing to have to live with a little pain but not as much as I am having to deal with.  The breast pain is tolerable - don't feel it every day - it is my damn toes on my left foot - that is what is driving me crazy.  I will keep you posted.

  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 293

    Went to MO and BS today.  MO thinks I'm doing great.  BS says we can wait and see if the "probably benign" growth grows, so we will check in 5 months, right before planned reconstruction.  I guess I'm good with this.

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 5,858

    Have I told you lately that BC sucks???????

    That every time i read all the crap the sistas go throu after rads my stomach turns.

    I went to PA this weekend.snow 6-12 inches...and guess who fell????on the arm that had the surgery?????ME...scared shit cause it hurts and all i think of is LE!!!!!

    Stupid me thinkin AFTER RADS we were done....yeah right...

    hello sistas!!!!!!sending you hugggggggs K

  • ptdreamers
    ptdreamers Member Posts: 639

    Granydukes, Hope you are okay. I am so scared of falling. I grab DH and have him hold on to me. Its still very icy and slippery here even though it is pouring rain. Take care.

  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 504

    Five months out from radiation and now I'm having jabbing pains and increased soreness in the radiated breast again. My MO says it's normal but when does it end? I was hoping it would get gradually better....

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 5,858

    LovesChristmas----yes it should get better BUT my onco said that it could always hurt.Im finished with Rads 1 yr.feb 6th and it still hurts.not all the time and not jabbing pains but a soreness that is there.Weather has a lot to do with it too.

    This is the gift that keeps on givin...yah right,,,take the damn thing back!!!!!feel better.

    when i fell i picked myself up with that arm.My GD and I figured it out today.this happened Sat.we were screamin laughing.And she was holding me too!!!!!!!

    bc suks.every single part of it suks.

  • ksmatthews
    ksmatthews Member Posts: 743

    My mo told me yesterday that the pain could last up to two years and for some woman forever!!!!

    Sure hope we all get over it.  I also am having tenderness under my left arm where the sentinal node biopsy was done, she also said that could last awhile. 

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 5,858

    KS----your MO is right.good DR.yes to all of the above.

    Have i told you lately how much i hate this friggin bc.

    find a damn cure/vacine!!!!!!.enuf!!!! so tired of all this shit.

  • ksmatthews
    ksmatthews Member Posts: 743

    I saw a 15 year old on one of the other discussion boards.  REALLY????  I hate this friggin bc too!!!

  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 504

    I guess I'll take two years over forever!

    I wouldn't be surprised about the weather affecting it...it is strange how it comes and goes. I have periods of time when if I touch or bump the area around the incision for my lumpectomy, I get a burning pain. The BS told me to rub lotion into it, but it about makes me what to jump out of my skin sometimes if I even touch it much less rub it. 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 4,503

    ksmatthews I saw the same thing.  My heart breaks for her

    Barb58-mine hurt so bad after rads.  I would get the burning and stabbing pains.  My BS put me on amytriptoline 25mg.  It is an old antidepressant that works well for nerve pain.  It really works and you can always try to stop taking it at a later date.

  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 504

    A 15 year old? How heartbreaking!

    Thank you, ladies, for the replies. I'll keep that med in mind, Sherry, if it gets worse. At least it's not all the time yet. I just started Arimidex three weeks ago and I waiting to see what happens with that too. 

  • gmafoley
    gmafoley Member Posts: 5,978

    Ladies with breast pain - Best thing I did was go see a pain management doc... I really wish I would have done that earlier - I got a combo cream with 5% lidocaine cream... it is really taking the edge off the nerve pain... Pain doc explained that it takes a month for a nerve to grow and INCH - he also said it causes pain as they grow back...SO the plan is help me with managing the pain while the nerves grow.... Finally a doc that talks WITH you not AT you...Smile

     Ok Ladies - I need pocket ppl today at 2:15 pacific time.... I go for my first mammo since cancer was found.... and I can't put my lidocaine cream on during, so I hope the gabapentin helps...  Love you Ladies and I know BC sucks, but we have eachother here to help get us through..

     God is walking by our side through this... LOVE YOU ALL!

  • chabba
    chabba Member Posts: 3,600

    Gama, I've seen most sisters say their post bc mamo experiences are easier than pre bc.  At my imaging center the tech used to squeeze until I yelped and then give another crank.  I've had three now after the surgery and they haven't hurt at all.  She was even kind to the other breast too.

    Edited to add -- I will be thinking of you.  God luck for a tolerable experience.  As far as I'm concerned, while no mamo can be pleasant, It should at least be painless.

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 7,545

    GMA - Will be in your pocket today.  I have to tell you, my first mammo after dx was the easiest one I have ever had.  No pain whatsoever and I had asked my BS for a pain med to take before the exam.  I had a tech that has worked with BC patients before.  You are going to do great today.  Do you mind it if we bring an afternoon snack?  LOL!

    WTF!!! A 15 year old - now that is so not fair.  That just breaks my heart.

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 4,503

    Gma will be in your pocket.  I had the same experience as chabba post surgery they have been much more gentle on me that prior bc.

  • Ceeztheday
    Ceeztheday Member Posts: 246

    Gma, I'll be in your pocket.

  • gmafoley
    gmafoley Member Posts: 5,978

    Boy I'm glad I have big pockets :) Thanks!

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 5,858

    A 15 yr.old with bc?????talkin about how much bc suks...

    i stressed over my first mammo that my edema came back that day.cancelled and when i went the following week it was easy.NOT ALL TECHS ARE CREATED EQUAL. A good tech will not hurt you...I too will be with you.

    When the area around the arm hurts i use EMU oil.it works too.and its natural.

    I hate you bc.huggggggggs everyone K

  • truebff
    truebff Member Posts: 322

    Gama,  Thinking of you. I'll be in your pocket too.

  • ksmatthews
    ksmatthews Member Posts: 743

    gama I am in your pocket too!  good luck!

  • crog234
    crog234 Member Posts: 324

    Don't know how big your pockets are Gama but I will jump in too......



    Cindy

  • Panmars
    Panmars Member Posts: 166

    Make room, I'm jumping in too, Gma!

  • truebff
    truebff Member Posts: 322

    Pat,

     Here is a link to a pdf of the U of Mich Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center's surgical book.

    www.cancer.med.umich.edu/files/breast-surgery-handbook09.pdf

    Skip ahead and pages 50-60 will give you the post surgical posture/strengthening/stretching exercisesyou asked about. They are boring but they only take 5 minutes to do once dail, so you can do them during 2-3 commercial breaks while watching tv easily. I have found that they keep me from tightening up - which rads seems to still be doing to me. So I do these once a day about 5 x a week just to help stay stretched out.

  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 504

    In your pockets too Gma!

  • phxsunshine
    phxsunshine Member Posts: 156

    I finished rads on 9/12/10.  Last month I had a blood test which showed my wbc count at 3.3, it had been 5.1 in August.  I'll have another prior to my regular checkup with my oncologist in 2 weeks.  Has anybody had a similar experience that they can share with me?  I read where it could be a side effect of having your sternum irradiated.