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Radiation recovery

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Comments

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Hi Sab,

    It brought tear to my eyes that you and my other bc sisters know that I am a fighter. Thank you for recogniizing that trait in me. You have been so sweet to me, and I can't thank you enough. xoxo Kate

  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,121
    edited April 2013

    Kate, I know that you are worried, and I don't know if this will help.  My math isn't so good but I think 12cm is about 4.5 inches.  (Is there a math nerd out there?  My ruler doesn't have centimeters.) Still large and scary, but maybe a little less scary than 12 inches. I'm so happy they have it out of there, and that you can move forward and hopefully heal quickly.

  • joan811
    joan811 Member Posts: 1,981
    edited April 2013

    Kate, your news is hardly believable.  Were you in pain?  I hope you are feeling better physically.  So glad the surgery is behind you.  We're hanging on with you through all of this, and are waiting for a good report.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Hi rmlulu,

    Thanks so much for your support. Yesterday my foley was all blood, and today it is clear. So it looks like its back to normal fairly quickly. They are taking it off tomorrow YEAH. I am hoping I can talk my doctor into staying till Sunday Hugs, Kate

  • joan811
    joan811 Member Posts: 1,981
    edited April 2013

    SAB, you are right about that - it's 4.8cm...it's out and next is a good report.
    (((Kate)))

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Sab, You are the bearer of good news You are right 12 cm is 4 3/4 inches and not 12 inches. I am a math major who passed the CPA exam, and I made such a big error regarding my tumor. OmG thank God 4 3/4 inches is a lot smaller than 12 inches. Funny cpa brains are usually so accurate and I mad a major boo boo HAHA You brought me my first laugh of the day. You are such a good friend and your support means everything to me. Hugs, Kate

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 1,373
    edited April 2013

    Hi Kate I am sorry to read you are going through so much! Major stress for sure. When I read about the Math ? I asked my geeky math teens boys. There is 2.54 cm in each inch. That comes out to about 4.724 inches SAB is close. Still scary never the less! Your go to Girls here are great helping you get through this! I hope it's nothing & everything comes back B9. On the plus side it's nice not to have to get up to pee! ; 0). My bladder tore when I was having my uterus removed years ago. My Hyster surgery ended up being 3 1/2 hours long & I went home with a Cath for a week. It was nice not to get up in the middle of the night! I'll be thinking of you hoping for the best!

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 1,373
    edited April 2013

    Kate hahaha! I just posted & went back & caught your update post! Don't sweat it as stress does these things & you've had just a few things to worry about!!!

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Hi Joan, I am not in pain. I have discomfort from the irrigation of my bladder and the catheter. The irrigation makes you feel like you have to go. One piece of good news that I had from my doctor today was that having a strong urge to go  during the irrigation etc. is good. Thanks so much for your support

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Hi Juiz4 ,

    Besides Sab thank you for recognizing my big boo boo. Can you believe that I was a math major HA HA. So sorry that you have been through so much xoxo, Kate

  • RunFree16
    RunFree16 Member Posts: 649
    edited April 2013

    Kate, I'm sending you heaps of positive stuff!  My mom had bladder cancer 15 years ago and she's been all clear ever since.  I can tell you're tough and determined, a warrior.  12 cm is about 4 1/2 inches, big I know but not enormous.  I hope you can get some good rest and comfort tonight.

    Aisha, welcome and hooray for finishing!  Hope your headaches go away pronto.

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 1,373
    edited April 2013

    Kate on the skeem of everything your going through don't sweat it Girl! If you can laugh about it all the better! As for me my sister often tells me I should write a book. Although the in the long run of everything my outcome could of been a much different story. BC was just one of the episodes of as "The Julz Turns". But I'm not nieve to think that many can put there name in place of mine. But being in a personal tornado can make it hard to stabilize your blown apart world! Hugs Kate!

  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 1,983
    edited April 2013

    Kate, it was wonderful to come here and see you posting and sounding so positive and even having a good chuckle at your "math error" cause you are truly my hero right now. I know that you are STRONG and that whatever the path report says, your outcome will be nothing but excellent. As a couple of people mentioned, bladder cancer can be beaten and if that turns out to be what is going on, you are just the dame to stomp on it and get rid of it! Kiss

    OMG Janis, now CARROT CAKE??? I think my WW points are in the red by about 100 this week Wink

    Aisha, congrats on being done with rads! I am betting that the headaches are from the stress of it all. This BC and radiation stuff ain't for sissies!Surprised

    Those hot men SAB posted are making me hungry for more than cake...that will make us walk faster if not run anyway! Embarassed

    Ok ladies, that pocket party and wine (and champagne that Cindy uncorked) have made me sleepy...heading for the couch and a little tv time tonight. LONG day!

    Layta gators!

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited April 2013

    april - let us know how your twice daily treatments are going? Any redness or burns? Did you find out the total dose of your radiation treatments? I am curious. I had #7 today and so far I am just itchy - but when I go to scratch, it hurts -just like sunburn. One treatment at a time!!

  • aisha1
    aisha1 Member Posts: 10
    edited April 2013

    hi kate, be strong and  live it in god hands, sorry that ur having bad time at the moment but there is always hope

  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 1,983
    edited April 2013

    Hi adagio, I dont' start the rads until the 22nd but I am going to find out the grays when I see the RO on the 19th. I am curious how many I will get in my tx's. Since they are twice a day, I am hoping they aren't too intense! I will be one hurtin pup if they are really strong I suspect. But, I will be all done in ONE WEEK! Yahoo for that part anyway.

    I had to meet a lot of criteria for the clinical trial. I had to be over 50, had to have no nodes involved, large margins >3mm's, DCIS or Stage 1 only, never had BC before, size of lesion <3cm's so I met all of that and decided to accept the trial offer. They have 9 years of data on short protocol, dose dense rads and the outcomes have been excellent although some cosmetic issues have been noted (more breast shrinkage being the most which was 2-4% more reported at one year) but the recurrence rates have been similar to the long 33 tx protocol (clinically insignificant differences) so I figured why not?

    Anyway, need to rest as this was a long long day today. See you ladies later!

  • Lisa1637
    Lisa1637 Member Posts: 15
    edited April 2013

    You go Kate!!!!!!!

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited April 2013

    april - I just noticed on your profile that you don't start until April 22nd - sorry for not noticing that. You are a brave woman to go into the trial - I am sure that it will go just fine. At least it will be fast! And it looks like the outcomes have been successful. I look forward to hearing all about it.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Hi Run free,

    How sweet of you to post for me, and to share you mom's experience with me. you have brought me hope, and your support is so nice to have. Hug, Kate

  • MostlySew
    MostlySew Member Posts: 1,311
    edited April 2013

    hey Kate......Glad we got the math straightened out!  I immediated went to check it, because I had 12cm+ by 9 cm removed with my breast tumor (dense tissue...don't ask).  Anyway, while I know that boob is now a full size smaller than the other since I got rid of the LE.....I really didn't think it was 12 inches smaller!  Glad to know it was simply conversion issues.  Why do they torture us with all that anyway?  Glad you're obviously feeling better, and do hope you get to stay.  I'm especially glad you love the carrot cake as that's my all time favorite and I know Janis will make a great one for you.

    OK.....Pocket Party Ladies......NO MORE PANTING over the pictures Sab is posting!  Simmer down!  Just get in line behind me..Embarassed  And......everyone try not to snore tonight, OK?  Last night it got just a bit loud in here.  Kate....I recommend a new gown tomorrow, this one's getting a bit ripe  (kidding...)

    Aisha1   you know, I don't really remember headaches, but I'm not about to say I didn't get them.  Are you drinking enough liquids?  I know that can affect me and bring them on.......might be a simple solution for you.  Mostly I agree with everyone else, and think it's the "end of treatment" "end of fight" sort of syndrom.  Your body's been in fight mode all these many months, and now it gets to relax......

    Sab...Ok, those guys are enough to make me pass up dessert tonight! 

    Josie...keep on trucking.  You're getting there.

    RunFree....how you doing with the Rads?  Looks like you must be a bout 1/3rd done?  Hope it's going OK for you....

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Hi Juiz4,

    Sorry that you have been through a tornado too. MY son called about one half hour ago, and told me the cutest thing that made my night. My son has a 5 year old daughter. Her name is Molly. Molly says to her mother I am mad at you Mommy. Why did you marry daddy. I want him for my husband. Omg I loved it. It will give me more resilience and

    more fight to be ok for my children and grandchildren. Thanks so much for your support Hugs, Kate

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    April you are such a sweetheart, and you give me such positive energy. Thank you for recognizing my strength. Your wonderful posts and my other bc sisters wonderful posts are making me stronger and stronger, I will have an orgasm lol from Janis' carrot cake with butter cream frosting. Watch out bc sisters when I am done with this stress I'd be able to eat the whole cake, so you better better grab a piece while you can.

    When I am done with this aggravation I would love to go gambling with you, and together we would wipe the casino out. xoxo Kate

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Aisha thanks so much for your support Hugs, Kate

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Thanks for your support Lisa Hug, Kate

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited April 2013

    Gosh Sew I didn't realize you had 12 cm removed with your breast tumor, and thank God that was about 4 3/4 inches and not 12 inches. I am so proud of myself for passing the CPA exam and tickled at myself for making such a big math error. We are going to have to duke it out over carrot cake with butter cream frosting. If you are nice I may give you a small piece lol. Thanks for being here for me. You,Sab, Janis Gigil the old gang plus all of the new bc sisters givie me such positive energy and support, and I can't thank you ladies enough xoxo, Kate

  • RunFree16
    RunFree16 Member Posts: 649
    edited April 2013

    Thanks MostlySew, yes, I've done 9/30.  I had trouble with that math too!  Sorry I missed that other people had caught the math boo boo.  So far my skin is fine, phew.  The breast feels a tiny bit tender, and it looks a tiny bit pink and mottled, but the skin itself feels normal.  At this point the main challenge is just getting to rads.  It's a long drive and I have to struggle to stay awake if I drive on a highway in the morning, so I have a different driver every day.  My friend set up a calendar for me. This system is mostly great because I get to catch up with people and it makes every day a little different.  I am lucky to have a really supportive workplace and church and town, with lots of people who are happy to help.  My mom and siblings all live too far away and my husband can't spare 2 1/2 hours every day away from his work (especially after all the appointments already over the past couple of months), so this has been incredibly welcome.  Sometimes it's a little tiring when it's someone I don't know as well.  But I feel as though I will come out of this with lots of better friendships.  I will look for lots of ways to pay it forward!

    Kate, three cheers for a clean catheter!  I am following your story with great interest and support.  I will be circling that carrot cake too, but I could also tackle my share of lemon cake balls.  Is there a recipe on here somewhere?  Anything lemon is tops on my list.

    Just for future reference, I've seen lots of mentions of Boiron calendula cream/gel, but I found on Amazon that there are zillions of kinds.  Could anyone who has done well with this product post a link to the particular one they bought?  I've never seen Aquaphor in the store either.

  • gigil
    gigil Member Posts: 918
    edited April 2013

    Kate, if the bladder tumor turns out to be cancer, it seems there are a lot of good ways to treat it.  I have read up on it recently.  It seems quite treatable.  I am just very glad that you are getting such excellent care and that your output is already looking clear.  It is amazing you didn't have more symptoms before you did!!  Glad you are doing well after your surgery.  Breathing a sigh of relief over that.  Yes indeed stay put and let them take care of you for as long as you can.  

    Aisha1 welcome.  I am so glad for you that you are done with your rads.  I would think a headache is very common in someone undergoing the stress of all of the treatments.  My neck was very stiff, I do remember that, and my thyroid gland went into hibernation for awhile.  Things are getting back to normal after 20 months.  At first it was skin peeling, tenderness, fatigue, achiness.  My appetite wasn't great either for awhile.  Little by little you will feel yourself coming back to normal.  Try to be patient with yourself and rest when you need to.  

    Cindy, I join you in celebrating Kate being done with her surgery and on the road to recovery.

  • MostlySew
    MostlySew Member Posts: 1,311
    edited April 2013

    Run free.....I will get you a link in a bit to the Calendua. You're right, amazon has lots of ones. I got the Boiron calendula cream 2.5 oz says its for first aid, chafing, scrapes, burns, skin irritations. I ended up ordering the 2 tube box 2 different times. You don't want the baby rash one, nor the gel but the cream. The active ingredient is calendula officials 1x hpus-10% I found aquaphor at Rite Aid here in calif, don't know if they have it out there. Right now, since you're just pink, I think Aloe would help, but you need the pure aloe the gel that lists aloe first on the ingredients....if its not first, it isn't right for you. I got mine at a trader joes out here. Don't know if you have the same type of whole food store back there.



    I'm glad to hear your skin is holding up...that's great. And it's wonderful that you've got such a great support system.....

    I'm off to try to get an amazon link for you

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited April 2013

    RunFree - I bought the cream. I decided to stay away from the gel since the pharmacist told me it was more greasy and I wanted something that was absorbed well by the skin. 

  • rmlulu
    rmlulu Member Posts: 1,501
    edited April 2013

    RunFree16- online...amazon...free shipping arrives in 2-3 days:)) aquaphor is thick like Vaseline, but it calms. Don't know about the other...check reviews or ask RO. Yeah, 10/30 tomorrow keep on:). RO say the longer protocol is easier on skin...hope so...but it is a grind.

    Wonderful how your family and friends have rallied to support you...great testimony:))

    Calming cool dreams...

    Cindy

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