After Radiation
Comments
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Okay, I'm getting close to the end with only 3 boosts left. Anybody know how long do you have to wait to shave the armpits and use regular deodorant?
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ewa-swimmer-you can use deod immediatly and if you skin is irritated under your arm you might want to wait on shaving or if it is not irratied be careful and just shave in the non radiaited area.
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ewa-swimmer. Sherry is right - you can start to use deodarant right away. Shave under the armpit? I am six months out and still have not shaved. But if you do need to shave, do be careful.
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susan hg , i was diagnosed dcis and i was referred to an oncologist for the long term follow up, not sure why they would say you don't need one! is it a state or insurance thing?
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I do wonder if our armpit hair will every grow back or if it is gone for good. Unfortunaly only half of my armpit got zapped so I still have to shave half of it. If the rest does not grow back think I might laser the rest of it off for good. But gonna wait to make sure.
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Joycek, wow, really? I had 3 lymph nodes removed and my BS made it sound like the risk of lymphedema was small and no one mentioned the plane. I'm scheduled to fly x-country in two weeks (3.5 months after my lump+SNB) Does your doc need to order the compression sleeve? I googled and it looks like they're available in other places. Do you know what compression level you have? (Did your friend have all 15 nodes removed or just a few? Any other lymphedema symptoms prior to flying?)0
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Hello Everyone!
GirlFriday/Joycek...oh my gosh the storms here in MA, tornado's all around, feel badly for those who lost their homes, businesses, schools etc. Scary, that's for sure.
I am doing well 5 weeks post rads, thinking of making an apt with le therapist, just to make sure I do not have any early stage issues, can't see any, feel ok, but its worth the $25 dollar co-pay to make sure, and I will be flying this summer/winter, so I can be prepared if I need a sleeve. Geez, never ends.....I do feel better each week, minor things seem to have disappeared..shhhh!!
Blue cross insurance has been great, had a case manager nurse who calls often to check on things, she's a great asset to my medical team. They covered so much of chemo/rads, I feel blessed.
Heading to Maine this weekend for a celebration with the girls!! Ocean bound, hope the weather is kind to us. Take care everyone. TGIF tomorrow!
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Eloise, I'm catching up on the comments here on lyphedema.Thanks for posting yours. I'm taking notes and will call my nurse educator, probably on Monday. FWIW, she told me that when traveling to try to avoid using that arm to carry heavy things: no big purses; when pulling a piece of luggage, use the other arm, etc. She had other suggestions, but I don't have my trusty notebook in front of me. Since I have no symptoms I tend to forget to baby that arm, so sometimes I shove my hand in my coat pocket to remind me not to use it.
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joycek - No one has ever mentioned lymphedema and the risk of flying or needed a compression sleeve if you do fly. Guess that is going to be added to my list of questions for my onc when I see him on the 20th. I have gotten more information from this website than all my doctors put together. I do realize we have to be our own advocates.
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Although I was told not BP or blooddraws on my bc side no one has mention lymphedema or wearing a compression sleeve when traveling. I'm like Jo will add this to my list of questions for my onco.
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If it weren't for all the information that is shared here, I would not have known about the blood draws and blood pressure. I do have to say that when I go to my onc, the BPs are done on the right side and I don't have to say anything.
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Juliet62: I think the reason why I don't need to see a medical oncologist is because I go to a cancer instiute with a large breast center. They all work together for the followups so an oncologist is always available if I need to ask them something. When I first arrived there, I had an appointment with the surgeon, but had questions for the onco as well. She just went across the hall to get her. I saw an oncologist in private practice 2 days after my biopsy because she is a friend of a friend and did a great job reassuring me and calming me down. She also gave me good advice abou avoiding non-organic meat and dairy (now i just have organic dairy and am a vegetarian by choice).
I feel much more comfortable at the cancer institute because they go by the book with everything and are up on all the latest research.
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My first surgeon mentioned nothing about lymphadema. It looked as though I had pure DCIS but she left it up to me to do the lymph node biopsy. Being in the sate I was in, of course I chose to have it done. When I got to the cancer institute, they were amazed that the surgeon did this and took 6 nodes as well! I just hope I am ok and don't wind up with LE.
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I'm going in for my 3 month appointment with the surgeon since finishing everything. I'm suddenly nervous, but I won't have a mammo, not time yet, but still nervous. Think it must be the "scene of the crime". Perfect way to put it Aimee!
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kathy - I like the way you put it - "scene of the crime." There is one patient room at my surgeon's office that reminds me of that. It always make me nervous when I am put in that room. Try to relax and breathe - you are going to be just fine. Let us know what happens. (((HUGS)))
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next week I am going back to my regular job which takes me on a plane twice a week three weeks out of the month. I'm so excited to start back, but now I am worried about developing lymphedema. I don't any symptoms, but just got a sleeve as a precaution. This would be a major bummer - flying is actually the part of the job that I really love (not to mention room service and a hotel room to myself)
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Aimee - Hooray on going back to work. Sounds like you really like your job. I hope you have no problems with the flying. Wear the sleeve even if you don't think you need it. You would rather be safe than sorry.
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Aimee how great that you are returning to work. Hopefully with the sleeve you wont' have any problems
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Thanks everyone, I've actually been back to work since March 28th, about 3 weeks after finishing chemo. I was able to work through all but the last week of rads, when I had to go to half time. But being stuck at home monitoring recorded calls all day long is driving me nuts. I think I will finally start to feel like I'm really back next week and hopefully will stop thinking about BC 24/7.
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Good Morning Ladies - Back from getting my mammo. Rad tech was super gentle and it did not hurt at all. Had to wait until the radiologist looked at the films and then was let go. Have to wait until Monday and call my onc for the results. Not going to stress about it but it is the dreaded waiting game now.
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jo1955 -
too bad they couldn't have given you the results after the radiologist looked at the films. Waiting is the worst. Try not to stress, and enjoy your weekend!
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Hi Gals.....Jo, I know I used to get my Mammograms from an office, but after that last one found a suspicious spot, I was sent to another place, for another one, & a possible untra-sound...which they did, & a Radiologist was there to do this, & tell me right then, what he "thought" it was. I asked him what it looked like, knowing in my heart, what he was going to say.
Then I was supposed to go somewhere else for a needle core-biopsy...But after I got home, I called my PC, and told her I wanted to go somewhere else, where they could do it all in one place. So then, and still now, I go to the Hospital breast care center, where they do Mammograms, read them, then you can go right in for the ultra-sound, and also the needle core-biopsy, and you usually know the results before you leave. I love the "No waiting" for the results.
I DID have to wait for the biopsy results, but just one day, & my PC Doctor told me the results over the phone....Her saying, "I don't usually do this over the phone, BUT, yes, it is Breast Cancer" It was hard news to hear, but I already felt it in my heart, so I was glad she told me! And within 1 hour, they called me back setting me up with the Surgeon, one week later! So it really went fast! I'm lucky I had a good team!
Thinking of you Aimee! I'm glad you're back to work! Hugs everyone! xoxoxoxo
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Chevyboy - I can get my mammos & US done at the same imaging center. Last year I had a US guided biopsy and my surgeon did that one. I will called in three days after the biopsy to hear the dreaded words - "You have cancer." I will never forget that day as long as I live. What a shock!
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Hey msjag! Safe Travels to "The Way Life Should Be" Today it's windy and cool, partly sunny, but tomorrow it's going to be 70 and sunny! You should have perfect weather for OOB!
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I know Jo.... I think everyone of us here, can remember every detail, and feeling when we heard this. But I am so lucky.....I mean that as far as cancer, I think I am done with all of this....
As far as hearing loss from Tamoxifen, at least I could fix that with hearing aids. I just found another thread on here... Hearing loss after Chemo! BeCAUSE, we know what chemo does to our hair, and the nerves in our ears are little hairs....And Tamoxifen is a chemo drug..... It figures.... So if we can survive all the SE's of our treatments, that's all we can ask.....xoxoxoxoxo
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Aimee, congrats on getting back to work full speed ahead!
Since poorly-fitting compression garments can cause problems, do make sure your sleeve fits well -- here's a page about how it should fit and feel:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/proper_fitting_of_lymphedema_garments.htmAnd if you're wearing a sleeve, you need hand protection as well -- either a compression glove or gauntlet (fingerless glove), to keep any swelling from moving into your hand. Here's information about why that's important:
http://lymphedivas.com/lymphedema/gauntletandsleeve/Other helpful precautions for flying: stay really well hydrated, move your hands and arms often with gentle stretches, be careful about hefting luggage out of overhead bins or off carousels -- ask somebody for help.
Hope it goes really well for you -- enjoy!
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Thanks GirlFriday!! Hope things are better with your mother. Looking forward to some great Maine weather...wish I was going for the week, but I'll take a weekend!!
Feeling so good the last few days, better than ever...waiting for the aches and pains to start again!! My stick straight hair has come back with many waves and so thick...its growing really quickly, I actually have bangs starting to hang down!!! Grateful to be one whose hair grew back..gonna be funny to see how this hair is when it grows a few more inches!!
Wishing everyone a great weekend!
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Binney4
thank you for those tips. I will have a heavy schedule of flights, and just don't want to risk developing Lymphdema. Guess I will have to check into a gauntlet as well.
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Hi ladies thanks for the welcome. I hope your all doing well
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Welcome Angelice - Sorry we have to meet like this but you have found a wonderful group of caring, supportive ladies. We do tend to get wild and crazy every now and then. It helps to deal with all that we are going through.0
