After Radiation
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trueblu----i had a surgery in april,biopsy in may,another biospy in sept and when i went to see my RO he said i waited past statistics.i kept changin my mind about doing it.soooo when i finally made up my mind it was late....however all my drs.had a meeting and they all felt that the RADS should happen.hey they even called my gastro dr!!!!!they all know each other.sooooo maybe i did wait to long just maybe, but i did it and im damn glad i did.That poison could have saved our lives.0
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truebff - Had surgery Aug 30th and started rads Oct 15. Had tried mammosite along the way and had to wait for that incision to heal before moving on the whole breast rads.
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truebff I did mine 9 weeks post surgery. My RO said optimal is 6 to 12 weeks post surgery. But the way I see it if there were any cancer cells there no matter the length of time the idea is that radiation would zap them so I don't see it as a waste.
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Off topic but i need your helpThis is home for me.This Thread.My thread and I need help from my girls.
On one of the threads the Fuzzy Romp room the one who started it is gone...puff just gone.not a word to anyone cause she really didnt bother with anyone except just 1 sista on fb and still could not find her.This really upset me.imagine one day gone without a word.sooo we thought about this buddy system.now remember i dont know what im doin except tryin to hook up sistas that dont have even 1 phone number or email address.This is soooo wrong.I have been gettin pms about this and everyone feels its a great idea but cannot wrap this entire thing together.
Most of you here know me by now but we have newbees here too.do we know if they have 1 sista who cares?Help me out here!!!and you know who you are!!!!!!
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I had my surgery on March 15th 2011 then started rads pretty soon after (it was close to the beginning of April since I finished 7 weeks of rads May 30th). They didn't even want my seroma to heal up. I was actually surprised how rushed they were to start, but I think they were just more concerned with me finishing treatment and getting back to my life again.
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Diagnosed June 9th 2011, met surgeon June 16th, had lumpectomy June 22nd, met onco and rads onco, started chemo August 4th finished Nov 17th, had left MX Dec 14th all of this 2011... started 5 weeks of rads jan 12th 2012.. All done Feb 15th....... Got final path report from MX..... NO residual carcinoma found, surgical margins FREE of malignancy, and nipple showed NO signs of Pagets disease....... So I think thats GOOD right????????????? I WANT MY LIFE BACK TOO
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That's fantastic Terry!!!!0
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I had my lumpectomy in October and then had a second surgery about two weeks later because the oncologist wanted wider margins. Then I started chemo in November because my oncogene test came up as 25, right in the middle, and I wanted to err on the side of doing more. I had four sessions three weeks apart. Then I met again with the radiologist, who said he liked to wait a month after chemo was finished to start radiation. So once that time came, I am now taking radiation and have also started on aromatase inhibitors. Some doctors, from what I am reading in this forum, call for a different timetable. I don't know which thinking is correct. I will say it's hard to put your life into the care of doctors and technicians and I always wonder if they know everything they should, or if they are missing some important latest data or study, or if they are operating their machines, for instance, the radiation machine, right. But when I get to second guessing a lot, I can feel pretty crazy.
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Granny, have been paying attention to your concern regarding sisters going AWOL. Alot of sisters seem geographically close i.e. alot in Fl, Wa,NY,NJ, Ill etc. perhaps those sisters could exchange phone numbers and sisters who are more isolated could pick someone they like from forums. Just a thought.
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thanks ptdreamers-----im glad someone is payin attention.I have sistas phone numbers that live all over America.If you need to talk to a sista it doesnt matter where she lives.I have gotten special calls from sistas when NJ had the tornado....and vica versa.We care.Any way you want to push and shove this thing we need contact.And yes I have numbers i have never used but GOD FORBID i had to its always there.Sure the closer the betta but the end result is there are sistas alone!!!!!!
lets just work this thing out...ok!!!!!!
This is my home.You are all invited to share it.pm me if you want my number...
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I appreciate everyone telling me their time tables as that helps me to see how all over the map it can get.
I found my own lump June 22. I cried for two weeks straight. But I also thanked my body because it showed me there was trouble in time.
Medicine could learn alot from listening to women's bodies.
It took way too much time to get "approved" for the mamogram -had to go through a wait list with a gyn and not allowed to get mamogram for-e-v-e-r- and then rush rush rush when "they" found the lump too and then biopsy and then switched to the right hospital. It was a panic of red tape. I got into U of M hospital August 1st. My surgery was August 19th. My father was in a panic that it took so long before surgery. We were all so relieved that the nodes were clean.
It took me 7-8 weeks to heal from surgery. Rads were started end of October -approx 2-1/2 months after surgery, completed December 12th.
Still on the floor from all that. Baby steps to the window, looking out at where my life is now. Still sleeping off the winter. What kind of flower will I become?
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trublu - I also had surgery waited 6 weeks for the oncotype test, was found chemo wouldn't help me so did rads about 8 weeks out from 1st surgery..
Terry - That is REAL GOOD... Awesome.. but warning, it takes awhile (some of us a LONG while) to heal... be good to yourself.
As for me... I am sooooooooo tired of docs right now... this week its the dentist.. got a toothache.. When does it stop..
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Hi Granny: found your thread. Hi everyone, I'm a newbie to this thread. I have not finished but I'm in my last week. I am now getting boosters to the surgical areas.
Brief history: diagnosed in Nov 2011. Was told 2 1/2 years earlier that the mass was B9 after excisional biopsy. Radiologist and surgeon missed the mass and found out 18 mos later that it was still in there (long story). Consulted with 2nd surgeon. Had MRI guided core needle biopsy that confirmed it was cancer. 2nd Surgery in December and this time mass was completely removed, clean margins and negative nodes. No chemo since oncotype score was 13 so am currently doing rads. Will be finished a week from today. I'm tired but can still function ok, I get my work done before the end of day. Some nerve pain and dry skin.
So joining you a little earlier.
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kingjr66 welcome to the thread hope the rest of threads is not too hard on you. Get plenty of rest, your body needs it to heel.
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Hi Ladies,
I try to be positive but today is one of those days when I'm down... When can I have one week without this doc or that doc? This week its the dentist with a toothache that they now feel might be TMJ (which had not been a problem for years) - then I get a call that my primary needs me to do some labs and see him within the month... then the nutritionist... then the counselor.... then the pain management doc... then back to the onc..... Can't they just leave me alone!!!! -- Thank you for letting me vent... cry, cry. cry.... does this ever end...
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GmaFoley, Vent all you want. We are here to listen with empathetic hearts. I am sorry your time is overtaken with doctors appointments. It really is a drag sometimes.
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Hi Ladies,
My breast surgeon is sending me for PT on my shoulder that hurts.Have any of you had to do this? How long does it usually take?Thanks for any info:)
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I walley I did PT but not for my shoulder but my pec muscle would not move and was causing alot of pain. They were able to stretch me out but it took 3 months of PT twice a week.
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thanks Sherry C for your reply.I go in for an evaluation on the 26 th,I will see what happens.
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Sherry-I feel your pain. Just got through my own TMJ problem. Went to PT for I think about 5-6 weeks and took a 5 day course of steroids, and it is so much better. I was getting headaches that i thought was a sinus infection, but didn't go away with antibiotics. Now, my new complaints are my GERD is back from taking the steroids and all the motrin for the jaw, and my gall bladder went on the fritz last week, but is better. I also have a rash under my breast from the steroids (the good breast) that I am pretty sure is fungal since my foot cream works. I really want it to end as well!!
I am back down to one day a week for PT, but it was nice to do Pilates twice a week. My back hasn't felt better! See RO in 1 1/2 weeks then my mammogram/MRI at the beginning of May. Chiropractor every 3 weeks and headache doc is coming up as well. Uggh!
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SusanHG that was Gmafoley with the TMJ. But gee I hope it all gets better. ONe thing causes something else to go haywire. As they say BC the gift that keeps on giving.
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Woops, sorry Sherry! GMA I meant, and I am with you in frustration...
I really think my TMJ problems were made worse by the anxiety of diagnosis. I had it for years, but was never a big problem. I'd wouldn't be surprised if many BC survivors have this same issue with the jaw. Hope you can get to the bottom of it...
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I have very bad TMJ. my joint is so worn down that my jaw does not fit in place properly. When I chew, sometime even when I talk, you can hear my jaw snap, crackle, pop. It hurts real bad on occasion but not all the time. I was given a muscle relaxer, flexeril, and that works like a charm. I grind my teeth in my sleep which causes my jaw to tense up. I also experience tingling in my cheek and sometimes numbness. These are SE of TMJ. It effects nerve endings in the face.
SusanHG - I can see the flare up because of the tension and stress of a diagnosis.
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Hey I have TMJ for years.My dentist sent me to this big dentist who wanted to operate.he said it was the worst he ever saw.I told him i would think about it.On the way home I met a girl who i worked with and told her my problem...She has the same thing and did the operation and told me the only thing that would work was valium...After all my Drs saying how addictive it was one said lets give it to her.The pain way beyond bad.And everytime I opened my mouth it knocked,cracked etc.you know the rest.Im on 10mgs of valium for about 8 yrs.now.Thank you GOD the pain is gone.
This is one thing i cannot blame on bc.well what do you know about that???????ha
hugggggs all around.K
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I had mammogram on 8/29/11 then to ultrasound the same day. Met with surgeon on 8/31/11. I had an excisional biopsy on 9/13/11 and diagnosis on 9/16/11.
Had pre-op testing done on 10/3/11, pre-op x-rays showed something on my left lung, CT scan and SN injection on 10/4/11. CT scan was indeterminate. Lumpectomy and SNB on 10/5/11. Results were clear margins and no node involvement. PET scan done on 10/24/11 to determine what it is on my left lung.
First meeting with medical oncologist was on 11/3/11, no chemo just radiation. PET scan was clear, nothing to suggest any cancer so diagnosis is granuloma. So relieved since Momma died from lung cancer on 12/31/06.
First meeting with radiation oncologist on 11/16/11. Recommendation was 28 treatments to the whole breast and 7 "boosters" to the tumor bed. Treatments were every M-F, holidays excluded. Simulation and tattoos done the same day.
Radiation started on 11/30/11 and last treatment done on 1/19/12! My breast got red and hot, but the radiagel was great. The worst was the burn and peeling under my arm. That started on treatment #27 but healed great once all was done. Started on letrozole on 1/20/12.
I have no hair under my left arm but need to "bush hog", lol under my right arm!
Appointment with medical oncologist on 1/3/12 and he ordered a CT to check on granuloma to be done yesterday 3/13/12. First appointment post radiation with radiation oncologist, I got my first NED (no evidence of disease)!
Got results of CT yesterday, no change and will check again in about 4 months. I'm so glad I'm down to just check ups now. I'm looking forward to more NED's. I've healed great and now can go back to regular deoderant and soap, etc. Although, I've found I don't sweat under my left arm anymore!
I hope y'all have a great weekend!
LaDonna
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Thanks for your post Ladonna . I am going back for my first recheck next week. I am a bit nervous. So happy for you!
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I will never use anything but natural deoderant AND not on the bad boob side.
Funny there is no smell under there even tho i sweat under my arm i use corn starch.
Tryin to play it safe all around.BTW Toms of Maine has one with 24 hr.control.no odor,no chemicals either.Tryin to go as natural as possible.
Now im lookin for a natural nail polish.Summer is comin and i cannot imagine no toe nails polished.
Any recomendations??????
Dont even talk about leg hair.Hey Im 71...none of my friends have to shave their legs anymore.JUST ME...AND QUITE OFTEN TOO!!!!
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hi kingjr,
That is exactly what was happening with me. We think it may have been visits to the dentist that were aggravating it. I remember getting my mouth stuck open at my visit in November and it took a while to get it to close. My cheeks were tingly and I get the tension headaches at my temples. My PT told me to massage these out when I feel them. I also needed to knock out the gum chewing/hard candies/chewing on pens. I've found these are also things I use to alleviate stress. It has been hard, but so far so good.
Granny-my, your jaw sounds bad! and you take valium everyday for it? must be hard to deal with. I've heard mixed stories about surgery...I guess they haven't perfected it yet. Something unrelated to BC? I thought everything was
As far as deodorant, I used Tom's for radiation and hated it (but i'm not sure if it was the one with 24 hour control. Is that new?). It definitely did not take away the smell for me and was embarassed everyday getting on that machine, but I figured the techs are used to it. I am back to my old aluminum based product, but next time I buy some I will be checking out the new ones without aluminum. Nail polish?? won't give that up...I'm too much of a diva
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Welcome filterlady and greatlakes. Glad you are both finished with rads and joined us here.
As for the deod. My RO would only let me use Crystal during rads. It did not work well at all. But what I found out in the beggining worked was Hand Sanitizer. Of course I had to quit using that because of the alcohol but it seems to kill the bugs that had made me stinky for years. Since rads was over I have been using Tom's and like it but on really hot muggy days here in Texas I would have to reapply at lunch or right after work. Someone turned me on to Melaleuca which you have to join but not expense and the products are very good, green and clean and not outrageously expense. No more than grocery store prices and sometimes cheaper. Anyway I just got the deodorant in and tried it and I did not have to reaply and when I went to take my shower last night I still smelled fresh.
Granny for nail polish go to Whole foods. They carry a line there with lot's of colors to choose from. I think it may be Zoya. I have seen it in a beauty store as well.
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Oh my friends with jaw, face, temple pain....I'm in the bunch too. TMJ was ruled out, and trigeminal neuralgia was ruled in....best guess by the docs, nerve damage from chemo....I
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