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Radiation recovery

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Comments

  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,474
    edited July 2012

    Mini congratulations on finishing!  Another milestone to put behind you.  Feels great to be finished doesn't it? 

  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,121
    edited July 2012

    Yay for Mini! Now the radiation recovery can really begin!

    Recovery milestone for me yesterday...my first 9 holes of golf since dx.  I didn't bother with the scorecard, just counted it as a good game cuz nothing associated with the surgery fell off, tore, or swelled up Laughing.  Also, cording in the armpit is a great built in excuse for all the bad shots!!!

    How are the mammos going out there?  I know we had a bunch of them in July?? 

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,895
    edited July 2012

    Congrats Mini....and SAB!

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited July 2012

    Congrats Sab, so glad you got to enjoy your golf game. My mamo was normal. I am hoping we will hear from Joan she had a July mamo too.

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,309
    edited July 2012

    Thanks everyone! I so happy to be done.

    I do have a question. My RO wants to see me every 6 months. I saw another doc today as my regular RO was on vacation, but I want to know what he will be tracking that my onco doc isn't. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I don't mind if it's necessasry but if it's just a duplication of service, i don't see who benefits other than the doctor.

  • schatzi14
    schatzi14 Member Posts: 906
    edited July 2012

    Mini...No one...I think you are right. The MO is the one to do follow ups. My RO told me he was leaving the clinic and going into research. He said everything looked fine and as you say, have a good life. He did not suggest seeing another RO, what would be the point? If there is a concern in the future, I am sure the MO would take care of it.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 1,939
    edited July 2012

    Mini twice a year seems to much. My ro wants to see me once a year.

  • liefie
    liefie Member Posts: 761
    edited July 2012

    Mini1, so happy for you! It is such a good feeling to walk out of that treatment centre knowing it is all over.

    My rads finished on July 6, and I have no more itchiness or redness. Towards the end the RO prescribed Flamazine (for burn wounds), because it was hot and angry red in some spots. This did not help for the itchiness/redness at all, and I just went back to the hydrocortizone cream twice a day for a few days. My skin never broke down. It just peeled a little in the armpit, and the skin was quite brown, dry and 'leathery' for a few days afterwards. That is gone now and my skin looks and feels dewy, soft and normal apart from the fact that it is a little darker of course.

    I also use Lubriderm Intense Dry Skin Repair twice a day, the only cream that I also used throughout radiation together with the Aloe Vera gel. My plastic surgeon told me to use it after my mastectomy. It does not stain your clothes, and I will use it for ever, because it is the best moisturizer for my body, legs, arms etc. that I've ever come across. I was supposed to have 28 radiations which was then condensed into 25 more intense radiations, because I had a time constraint, and had to finish sooner. This Lubriderm cream is cheap too - I found a big container for $6.99 on a special at a pharmacy last week. My take from the beginning was that all these different, expensive creams are not really necessary. It seems I was right, in my case at least.

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,309
    edited July 2012

    I'll have to try that. My reddest area is under my breast but my itchiest is from my cleavage to my collar bone, although it has eased a bit as they changed the angle of the rads. I'm just glad to be done. Now I can refocus my energies on getting on with life and my "new normal." :-)

  • liefie
    liefie Member Posts: 761
    edited July 2012

    Mini1, you can get the hydrocortizone cream over the counter, no prescription necessary. Hope it helps! That itching is unpleasant, and you can't exactly scratch there - LOL!

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,895
    edited July 2012

    Mini, I also experienced that itching in the same area as you describe, but it did remit after I kept it creamed up. It was several months ago so I'm not even recalling what I used since I was using so many during and after rads (!), but I agree that if it is bad itching the hydrocortisine cream should work. Now I am even able to go to the beach as long as I slather that area up with sun block or 70 sunscreen, and it has been fine. Good luck to you and hope that time is the cure....and not too much time!



    I saw my RO a couple of months after finishing rads, and she said we just needed to make an appt for next January ( meaning a year from my end date), and she said that if everything is still good, we will say good- bye then. I have called her a couple of times with questions about the burning pain I still get. I'm not eager to part ways until I know the random pain and cellular changes are ended...and I feel she's the "expert" in radiation effects....and is always available for my questions.

    I suppose if I didn't have excellent attentive care from her, I might feel differently. Of course the fact that my new insurance may require me to re-mortgage the house every time I see one of these specialists is not so exciting, but I think that her fee may be wrapped up in the whole radiation package as I recall her telling me. You might want to see how that works in your system, to rule out any

    financial aspect of your appointment making decision. Good Luck!

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,309
    edited July 2012

    I have some and it makes it tolerable. Aloe helps too. Hopefully, it won't be too long and I won't need it. :-)

  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,121
    edited July 2012

    Oh I'm sorry to be a wet blanket but be careful of using creams (and deodorants) with parabens in them, or as long as we are on the subject deodorants with aluminum. A brief and reasonable article:  

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/healthcare/health/healthcare/studies/story/2012-01-13/Does-deodorant-ingredient-affect-breast-cancer-risk/52528952/1 

    The substance paraben (and lots more) is also mentioned in the book anti-cancer.  I know the science is not complete but thought I would throw it out there for anyone who is interested. I will also say that Whole Foods, usually a place too pricey for me to shop, has an aisle full of great creams, lotions, shower gels, etc. that are "clean" and that some of them (like their private label stuff) is very reasonable.

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,309
    edited July 2012

    I have found Tom's to work well and was using it prior to my diagnosis. Also, the Naturally Fresh Spray they gave me to use worked really well. I may continue using it. I figure better safe than sorry.

  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,121
    edited July 2012

    I use Toms.  Also, Crystal Essence seems to be good.

  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 1,790
    edited July 2012

    I went for a facial today and thought I would buy the exfoliating scrub she used but when I checked the ingredients, it had SOY in it. The place where I go sells only natural products so I was glad I checked before I bought it. She tried to sell me another one but it had LAVENDER in it.....you can never let your guard down even when the products are

    Natural.

  • MostlySew
    MostlySew Member Posts: 1,311
    edited July 2012

    Scottie,

    I had my first ever facial a couple of weeks ago. Gift from my SIL. My sister, SIL and I went together. Great fun but I promptly broke out a day later! Guess I'm not destined to be beautiful! What's wrong with Lavender.....have I missed something?

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,895
    edited July 2012

    Mostly, I'm not an expert on facials, but have had (only) two or three. The last one was a gift from a friend for me to use before my son's wedding. Well, I went two days before the wedding, and experienced the breakout thing also....just in time to not look my best at the wedding. :( So I guess the idea is to have the facial a week or more before any important event....or get them frequently enough that breakouts are less likely. :)

  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 1,790
    edited July 2012

    Lavender is supposed to be estrogenic, according to some articles I have read, I know,

    Lovely lavender.

  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 500
    edited July 2012

    Wow, that's so unfair! My mom, who has an ample bosom, often keeps a sprig of lavender in her bra. She's 80, and has never had any health issues.



    I, on the other hand, have eaten salmon and blueberries most of my adult life, and still had cancer. Go figure....

  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 1,790
    edited July 2012

    Janet, my cousin is an oncologist at PMH (kidney specialist) she said, and I quote,

    "you got it because you are getting older"......I am 65.....who knows???????

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,309
    edited July 2012

    It's common to break out after a facial. They're sloughing off dead skin and with that zits and other lovely things that may be under the surface appear. I always get a facial at least a week before a special event I may be attending to give my skin a chance to calm. It's like a deep tissue massage. You usually feel worse before you feel better. :-)

    I agree with Scottie1. I have one friend that never smoke, drank, did drugs, or took HRT. She died of pancreatic CA last year. Her sister does all of those things and is heathy as a horse. Sometimes its just a genetic roll of the dice; same DNA, totally opposite outcomes, go figure. 

    I read on BreastCancer.org that the leading cause of breast cancer is being a women and aging. Apparently our best chance to not develop breast cancer is a sex change operation and dying. I don't think my BCBS covers either of those options. Wink

  • MostlySew
    MostlySew Member Posts: 1,311
    edited July 2012

    Lacey, seems you and I are behind the times with this facial stuff! Ah well, hopefully the wedding pictures looked good anyway....it was a thoughtful gift anyway.



    Mini, I'll keep this time frame in mind if I ever do another facial.



    Janet, I think I'll join your mom and put lavender in my bra....can't get much worse than having already had BC.....especially since there's no history of it in my family prior to me. I felt awful having to tell my nieces that they now had to change their medical records to say, yes, they have cancer history in the family!



    Ain't aging fun?



  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,895
    edited July 2012

    Yes, Sew, I definitely felt like an uninformed non-princess with that facial break-out issue. Fortunately the pics were just fine....no close ups of the mother of the groom! :) But I'm glad this discussion came up since I probably would have forgotten about being careful about timing in the chance that I ever again have a facial before an event!



    Yes, it is sad to break the family health bubble for your nieces, but then, my mother never had BC and several of her sisters did. Honestly, I always gave the family history over the years, but never worried about it because of my identification with my mother's experience.Good that my docs did so they could be vigilant and ultimately find my tumor. So you have basically armed them with life-saving information, dear.

  • joan811
    joan811 Member Posts: 1,981
    edited July 2012

    Hi friends,
    I just read every single post - was laughing and crying and learning....lavender??? uh oh I grow it and cut it....
    And thanks to all of you who thought of me....too many to name....big HUGS!
    Kate, soooooooo glad about your mammo.  And so glad you got out.  You live in a beautiful place.

    I am sorry - I rescheduled mine so I could go to Cape Cod for free business trip with DH.  It was worth it....now mammo is tomorrow....So, I was making healty snacks for y'all but I know probably won't jump in my pockets without chocolate....Anyway, for you night owls and west-coasters, you are welcome to come along.  I saw MO today - not a favorite.  But when I got to the cancer center, the lot was full and I had tears -- so many sick people.  And I am not sick....so I stopped not liking my MO and managed to have a decent appointment.  I decided that if I am not sick or needing treatment the MO doesn't matter so much.  I was so busy saying I'm fine and great that I forgot to tell her that I have lost my sharp cognitive skills and I feel like I have PMS and menopause symptoms at the same time...but when I looked around the waiting room I decided it wasn't so bad taking Femara.
    Congrats to you who have just finished rads....awesome.  What a great feeling to start to get your life back.  I healed quickly but during rads I itched terribly.  I was always scratching in public....
    I don't think I ever told anyone this....maybe I did on the Nov. rads thread...but right before I finished rads, I had what looked like a little "dirt" or something on the nipple and when I went to wipe it off, it was my damaged skin and it all came off like peeling from sunburn. Now it is very pale and I wonder if it will ever be the same as the other side!  YUCK -- but no complaints...I am doing well.
    Gotta send this out....can't think much any  more....I wanted to jump in to your conversations but when I saw they were from many days past....I just have to catch up.
    If anyone is still up, have a good night.
    HUGS
    Joan

  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,121
    edited July 2012

    Darn it!  I keep tripping over my own good intentions.  My Tom's and Crystal deodorants are lavender scented!!! The paraben free soap I chose was...you guessed it...lavender!  I checked the drugs.com site for substances that interfere with Tamoxifen.  There are over 300!  Now I am sitting down with my multi-vitamin to check if I am doing something idiotic without knowing it. Sigh.

    Joan, I'll go with you tomorrow.  I love hearing good news Smile!!!   

  • MostlySew
    MostlySew Member Posts: 1,311
    edited July 2012

    Hi Joan and Sab,

    Guess we're the night owls tonight. Nice to have company.



    Joan, glad you let us know as I've been hoping you were ok. The trip sounds fun...especially a free one, can't beat that! I'm in for the party tomorrow, especially since there's chocolate....you really know how to get people motivated.....well, me at least. I second Sab.....I love good news! I have to say that since my mammo, I've felt like a big weight has been lifted. The cancer doesn't seem to be uppermost In my mind anymore.....it's a great feeling.



    Geeze, Sab, let me know if you find contra-indicated things in your vitamins. The whole supplement/natural/adverse question gets so confusing. Sometimes I just decide I'm going to do the best I can and not worry about the rest. Did check to make sure my deodorant didn't have any parabens, which it didn't.



    Joan, my PCP told me that our brains need estrogen to function so he wasn't surprised to hear that I get quite foggy occasionally. I think soon I'm going to have to start playing mind games to force my mind to concentrate. I forget the simplest words and find I have to actually pay attention to what I'm saying or things come out all wrong. That's a new thing for me, I must say.



    So....I'm off to bed. This night owl has had enough excitement for the day......

  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 1,790
    edited July 2012

    Sab, I spent AN HOUR in the health food store yesterday looking for an exfoliator.....

    If they didn't have soy, they had lavender.If they didn't have soy or lavender, they had lecithin etc etc. I was dizzy after an hour. I talked with my favourite girl there and she said that it is really difficult to find products that DON'T contain lavender, especially

    When you are purchasing natural and/or organic. We just have to be more diligent when

    It comes to reading labels.😱

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,309
    edited July 2012

    So glad to know that I am not the only one with brain fog. I will think something, type it up and when proofing find entirely different words. It's like when you type in Word and it auto fills the word after entering a couple of letters. It should be fun when I go back to work. I forget things that should be second nature to me. I hope this gets better with time.

  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,474
    edited July 2012

    Hi Joan...joining you, but you already knew that!  :).  Everything will be  fine, I have a good feeling.  :)

    I read all and have a hard time keeping up.  Congratulations to those finishing up rads.  Moving on is a wonderful thing.  I Hope everyone heals well with a mimimum of discomfort.

    I saw my BS Monday for my one year checkup and I am officially discharged as his patient.  No need for any more follow ups.  I am glad as I saw no reason to return. 

    I am having some problem with my hands, especially my left wrist.  This is new, but I also have hip and knee pain.  I am trying hard to ignore it though and just keep moving.  I ride my bicycle a little every day which feels so good.  I want to walk but need to get up earlier, it is so hot here.  I am finding that I am very intolerant of the heat lately.  I never did well in it, but worse lately.  Yesterday I was having terrible hot flashes.  Ugh.  Still trying to focus on getting some exercise plan started and stick to it.  I am so bad. 

    Sew....I have to stop baking!  Maybe I need a support group for that?   I made a lemon cheesecake a few days ago and it is already gone.  Oops.

    Have a wonderful day everyone.  Thinking of you and sending healing hugs to all. 

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