After Radiation
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Been away from the boards for a bit, home computer ate a virus....and overloaded at work. Read just a couple of pages back and realized I was extremely lucky to go to the cancer center where it's a one stop shop. The MO and RO truly worked as a team, they use the same computer so they both see my charts the same and enter their comments and can read what each other wrote. When I finished Rads, I had a two week follow up with the RO (before that my MO scheduled to see me during Rads to check my skin and she said she would have stopped rads for a few days if it was bad), then I had a 6 week follow up with RO, and he scheduled me after that for a follow up in Jan 2012.
So, yesterday I noticed some weird swelling in my clavicle above the port removal site. I called the BS and they ordered an ultra sound immediately looking for a blood clot and got me in for a visit yesterday as well.
The ultrasound tech followed my vein from my neck all the way to my hand. She said I have lost a lot of veins (???) but when she was at my neck she said, "When's the last time you had your thyroid looked at"? Of course my answer was I've never had an ultrasound of the thyroid. I have a nodule. The BS office didn't have results yesterday in my visit, waiting for results today, but the PA asked me how big was the nodule. I told her on the screen it looked damn big!!!! lol. I didn't even ask how big.....I think I was just too tired to want to know at that point.
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Good morning everyone! I finished my Rads yesterday (33/33)
So happy to be joining this After rads forum! Looking forward to healing.0 -
Welcome geriann to the club no one wants to be a member of. This is a great bunch of gals with lots of good information and are really supportive.
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geriann
Welcome.Ask any question....someone here will have the answer.
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I went to the Dr yesterday for my 1 month check up. He didn't like the way my breast was healing. Here I thought I was doing well. He recommended more cream. I was told I could go back to work but to rest when possible. It's going to be hard when I work an hour and fifteen from home. (Still working on the hubby to move closer) I have to wait to talk to the other doctor about the joint pain and swelling. Any tips for weight loss? I seem to gain more every time I go in there.
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geriann welcome to after rads. glad you are finished
sagina-hope the nodule turns out to be B9 and nothing major keep us posted.
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Welcome Geriann! Let the healing begin....
Sagina - I had a nodule (many moons ago) and it was the thyroid acting up - they put me on synthroid and it took care of the issue - I am praying it is something small like that and comes back B9...
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It's the weekend! Time for another group hug! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
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Hey, gerianne! Bio Oil girls in da house!
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Newby here - just completed 33 rad treatments, the last 8 being boosters, Friday, August 5, 2011!!!! I'm going to be concentrating on healing my burnt, peeling, crepe-papery, super-sensitive boob. I'm going back to work Monday after quite an absence & hope I can handle the 4-hr data-entry - if not up to speed yet, at least without errors. I'm so looking forward to finding my new normal.
Martha
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Martha - Welcome to the After Rads thread and congrats on finishing rads. Let the healing begin. Just keep in mind if you are dealing with the radiation fatigue, it does go away - you just have to give it some time. Listen to your body and rest when you need to. You are going to do great.
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Martha welcome to after rads and a big congrats fro finishing. Like jo said rest and don't push yourself too much
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Welcome Martha
- The post rads fatigue hit me by surprise just keep eating protein and lots of water.... rest when you can and don't push...0 -
Hi to the new ladies. You'll get lots of wonderful support here. (((HUGS))) Everyone. I had my 1 year checkup Thursday with my PA for my breast surgeon. 1 year will be Tuesday Aug. 9 since my surgery. She said all seemed well to her and she couldn't feel anything in either breast. Well, no one felt the first cancer tumor either but I'm thinking positive.
She gave me a good exam and today my breast is killing me. It burns, stings, hurts deep inside. Whew, haven't had that in a long time. She told me all the symptoms of burning, stinging, hurting/pain, breast skin feeling leathery, some thickening to the touch, all are normal after surgery and radiation (not to mention having had chemo in between) and not to worry. She scheduled me for bi-lat mammos in October since there was calcification's in the right breast. I'll see them again in 6 months after that and have just the L breast mammo then.Then I saw the foot Dr. and she cut my toenails way short and cut the big toenails clear down to that little sliver half moon part at the cuticle. Looks freaky now but I think maybe not as ugly as what was there. She said from the Taxol that I am definitely growing new toenails under the ones I'd had all my life.
She said I need to see her every 3 months because in order to let the new nails grow stronger then the nails I was born with, I needed to keep them extremely short to give the new ones a chance. Oy Vey!! But, I'm back in sandals and it feels wonderful!!!! Doesn't look so great but I reckon if someone hatefully, sneeringly asks me what happened to my toenails, I can look a them and say, "you go first, tell me what happened to your nose because it's poking into places it don't belong!" Well, gotta run. I made Hubby some banana cookies and have to go frost them,. He is at a local car show with his brother and helped him get his 2 restored trucks up there to town for that. I'm just chillin at home printing up maps for when we go to Maine to see our daughter and grand kids in 3 weeks. I hope the Hubby and I can stay healthy and well. We so need that trip! We'll be driving but we like traveling that way. Takes a long time but we get to see part of America that way. I've got a sweet coastal cottage rented and it is only steps from the ocean off the coast of Maine. Really looking forward to it. Haven't seen our daughter and her kids (haven't seen her youngest adopted one ever !) in a year and a half.
Have a great Sunday ladies. We are going to our sons church to see our grand daughter in her Bible School program tomorrow. Grandma loves that little girl to pieces!
Hugs,
Juanita
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Juanita - Congrats on your upcoming one year since surgery. I'm not sure what you use as a cancerversary date but that is something to celebrate. I loved your comment on what to say when someone is getting noisy - that made me laugh. Of course you and hubby are going to make that trip - you two certainly deserve it and I know you will have such a good time. 0
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Welcome Martha! Congrats on being done with rads and here's to healing quickly from it all... Just be gentle with yourself, rest when you need it and slowly but surely things will start to get better and better each day! There are lots of women here with some amazing advice...you will love it!
Juanita! Glad to hear all is going well with your follow up appointments! You go girl! August 12th will be my one year anniversary for my surgery...I can't believe it! My mammogram will be in October as well...I'm trying hard not to worry yet.
Hi Gma Foley! Hi Grannydukes! Hi Jo1955!
HUGS to everyone!
Stay cool wherever you are! It's still brutal here in Oklahoma!
Tori
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Hi. I finished RADS a week ago. My skin is healing fast and my concern now is getting it ready to complete my TE fills. They said I can start that in 2 months. I'm going back to work next week and it feels really wierd.
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Jwatrlily" : when are you headed to Maine? We've been in this pattern of beautiful mornings and afternoon T-storms...looks like its going to continue this next week too! Make sure to bring some afternoon quiet tasks so you can enjoy your time up here. Are you staying in OOB?
I've noticed my rads breast tends to get nerve issues with my cycle. Tamoxifen is pretty much minimizing physical PMS, but instead of getting breast tenderness...my rads breast does a funny nerve pain thing. I'm pleased to say I'm almost 4 months out from completing rads!
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GirlFriday - The nerve pain thing you are experiencing may very well be some nerve damage done by the rads treatments. I had a burning/stabbing pain for about 5 months and finally went to a pain specialist who told me that. I am now on a medicine to manage the pain and it turns out I will have to be on it for the rest of my life - BC the gift that keeps on giving.
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Hi sistas and welcome to newbees.
been away for a few days and i want to go back to the offensive email about cancer---please sistas i hope no one gets offended BUT there is a sisa on here(not this thread but other threads and I am friends with her on facebook) she has that exact email on her profile.if you know anyone fighting cancer,or died from cancer yadda yadda yadda.I looked at it differently.sorry...she did chem,rads the entire 9 yards.IMHO she just wants to get the word out.She is looking for prayers,a cure,a vacine anything.I was soo sad for her...Please lets not debate this and pray for all of us fighting for our lives.
I read on another post if you hear cancer and your name in the same sentince your life changes forever!!!!!!!!
We are here to heal.We did what we had to do...And we are moving on....We are gonna beat this dam bc.OH YES WE WILL!!!!!!.hugggggggggggs K
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granny - I second what you said. You are right - we are going to beat this thing.
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Princess Kantalope! I don't have any idea what you just said! I know you mean prayers for a friend of yours, but I don't know what you mean about "debate"....Am I dense or something?
And yes, I will go to my PC in September for my one ankle/leg that used to swell....but if it isn't swollen when I go, it doesn't make sense...Ha! I think it was the conpression stockings that fixed it! I will wear them eternally ....BUT I also heard from another "pro" that it couldn't be Lymphedema from breast cancer in my ankle! WHO knows? I sure don't....just that both ankles look the same now!
We've just finished yanking up our old carpeting and padding & 3 million staples, and I've painted the floor....blue & white! Might leave it, because it looks so clean! Ha! New hard-wood flooring comes in next week-end....I'm a tad tired! But at 74 I'm lucky I can still do this kind of stuff! Ha!
Watched our Grand-son graduate from Florida State yesterday. The ceremony was a live feed from the where-ever it was! I heard his name, then saw him walk across the stage to get his diploma! I was so excited! Then we talked to him today....Man, I miss those guys....!
Okay, gotta go see what else I can do....gotta clean out my desk drawers.... Too heavy to lift.... Ha!
See Kantalope, I don't have much to say about "After Rads!" I love your thread though! Great gals on here. And they need help....I also need help, but I need help with moving furniture and tying up my tomatoes, Ha, ha! I feel bad for those of you just starting Rads, chemo, etc. I like to think I'm just done with it all by now. It will be 2 years in December since my surgery!
So I'll just keep drinking chocolate cokes, and eating mac. & cheese & listen to little Princess holler her head off!
She just DOES get on a snit, doesn't she? Love you gals! xoxoxoxoxo0 -
Granny,
I am truly sorry. I did not mean for my question and concern about these kinds of email messages to become a debate. Perhaps I worded it wrong but I surely did not mean any harm. I apologize if I have hurt any one's feelings. I am not the only one who finds those kinds of emails depressing and counter productive to our moving on and away from a horrible time in our lives. I am sorry. And I agree, get the word out but for me it feels awful to send it to someone in email. IMO I find it cruel to send that kind of message in email telling someone that has just battled cancer that now that she has had it, she will never be rid of it. Not one single other person has to agree with me. I don't want it to be a debate. It is just my opinion. I can't imagine all those months ago saying that to my friends that I had chemo with who have since passed away that "well, you've had it so now you are just wasting your time with more chemo because you'll never get rid of it." Please oh please don't anyone feel it necessary to respond because I understand what grannydukes has said. It works and feels differently to all of us. I am so sorry if I have stirred the pot or upset anyone with my feelings.
Juanita
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Granny you are so right...we look at things/hear things differently now. Before BC we would be posting those things for "others" to support others who had cancer. Even now friends/family are trying to be so kind, telling me I look wonderful in my short curly hair (never had curls) and my husband calls me his curly top, and little . I just wanna forget the reason why I have this curly top...but usually instead of getting angry at their kindness, I feel grateful I have hair. Well, somedays I do...other days I just look at them and say, "I hate it, it reminds me of cancer"!!! I believe we've earned that right!!!
Hope everyone is doing well, have a great week.
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Oh please Juanita----please dont apologize for anything...i did not take offense to anything..i just wanted everyone to see the other side of the coin that all.Yes these emails are soooo depressing but most of these people who send these emails have no clue....when i saw who posted it i was shocked and that was when i realized that there is another side to that message...This young sista sounded sooo sad it was like she was begging for something,anything.....i wanted to just point out that 2 people can look at the same picture and both see 2 completely different things.0
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Hey Chevyboy! As you can see Princess Kantalope is back with us for awhile. She is much calmer these days. How have you been? Haven't seen you around lately.
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maybe - how is your skin doing?0
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Jo you are right granny does sound calmer.
Granny what have you been eating and drinking?
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actually i was real busy this weekend and for the next week ill be running...its not that im calmer (well maybe a little) but i really did not have too much time to think.
Went to a disco party sat.Im paying dearly for it.this dancing queen betta hang up her dancin shoes soon.my back is killing me and im dead tired.but i kept sayin exercises and that i did.
went to onco today.got the all clear on the blood work.she said the stinging pain under the arm could come and go forever.Thanks for that one...everything else is all good.
Juanita-y sista do you understand where im comin from on that email?????i sure hope so.I think this cancer is such a touchy subject that sometimes we over react.one time i was in a friends house and saw Ricky Martin singin Happy Birthday for cancer.i went nuts.makin $$$$ off this.my friend says calm down he is singing to you...easy for her to say she never had cancer.....WE DID IT.WE MADE IT.AND THATS ALL THAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW...WE WENT TO HELL AND BACK.JUST LEAVE US ALONE!!!!!!!
now does that sound like the lill old me again.huggggs sistas.love ya K
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Hello everyone and congrats to all the just finishers! Whoo whoo let the healing begin, and get some rest! Thanks for the thoughts on the thyroid - I'm hoping this explains the drastic vegan diet I started in March and the weightloss of zippo! But without cancer I wouldn't have had a port, or port removal, then swelling then the ultrasound....to find the nodule.....I'm all about silver linings!
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