Radiation recovery
Comments
-
Mostlysew thank you for your support and advice. My surgeon does not want me to use any creams or lotions right now. The only thing she wants me to use for itching is oral prescription benadryl. Percocet is working for my pain, and I take 1 every 4 hours. The combination of percocet and benadryl works on the itch for 2 hours. Then for 2 hours the itchiness is unbearable. The good news is my surgeon said everything is healing nicely, so the itchiness must stem from healing. I am sorry that you still have so many issues from bc. I am glad your doctor can take care of the scaring lumps. I am sorry that he can't take care of some of the issues for 1 year. I know 1 year seems like a very long time when you are uncomfortable. Hopefully massaging will help. HUGS!
0 -
Ptdreamers, I have more info on all this edema, fibrosis, necrosis and all the other gunk that's filling my breast and maybe yours. I was sent to a lymphedema pt specialist today, and sure enough all the hard tiisue areas in my breast are a form of lymphedema. Seems its causing a congestion and thus causing the fibrous, edema, etc. tissue. No swelling in my arm etc...just the breast. This therapist feels she can get it all drained out and worked on me for about an hour. The breast responded quite well so we're both hopeful. Wants me to have a sleeve and gauntlet and the compression bra but I'm not concentrating on that.....only on the part where we can get this breast tissue down to something manageable. So...if you haven't seen a pt that's rated highly for lymphedema, you might want to think about it. This gal is "out of network" for me, so will cost more money, but so far she's well worth it.
0 -
Hi all, am under the radar for a few days -- took time off from work for a 5 day week end. Am using the time well....
I join (belated) in the New Year Wishes! For me, it is truly a new year as I am past the 1 year cancer free milestone.
Kate, SOooo glad that the drains are out and happy hour is IN. I have to say it did not seem to go by quickly....you have paid your dues again. Keep your eye on the end goal. And have a good time along the way.
SAB, thanks for the good wishes - DS had a rough first night as he arrived at the long term hotel with 4 bags at 10 PM only to be told that his room was $200 more per week than promised. But he is working and I hope doing OK....I hear occasionally but he needs his space. I am glad to hear you are more relaxed about your tenant. It is not an easy transition - kind of a balance between thinking positively and being vigilant.
Sew - my mammo was also after a year had passed. I had no other scans - just a slew of appointments and physical exams. I am sad to hear about the LE...it's so darned overwhelming after all this time.
Janis, wow, I am going to start calling you Bree Van der kamp!!! You are awesome and I hope that your relationship with your niece is warm and comfortable, just like your house must be when you are cooking with with love as your main ingredient! Hope you recover quicklly.
Will check in soon,
Joan0 -
Sew, sorry about the LE but I am not surprised you developed it. I do have sleeves/gauntlets and they are not heavy and very comfortable. You might want to consider it, also the compression bras. I have two....and have to thank the generosity of Elizabeth for sending me hers. She no longer needed them and sent them to me. They aren't real attractive but they sure do help.
Speaking of Elizabeth, I get to see her three weeks from tomorrow! I am so excited. We have become very close via e-mail and phone calls. She is an absolute sweetheart. Cancer has brought me the gift of many friendships and for that I have no regrets.
Joan I am thrilled for you taking a few days off. You deserve it. I hope you can take some time for YOU and enjoy it. Happy New Year to you. I am so happy your one year cancerversary os now behind you!
Kate I hope you are mending well and getting plenty of relief from the pain.
0 -
Janis, Thank you for the kind words about me. Everything you said applies to you, too. You are an amazing person--so brave and always putting others before yourself. The BC journey has brought me precious friendships. All of you here have helped me so much.
0 -
Hi merilee I just finished 33 rads today. Glad it is over. I have been using cortisone creme, candula oil and aloe Vera gel the candula lotion works great. I am glad to have a place to be able to talk to people who truly understand what we are going through. Hope you are doing well
Patricia0 -
Welcome Patricia. Glad to hear that rads are behind you. Now you can focus on healing, and getting back to a normal routine. The new normal we often call it. We have all been through it and are at various stages on the other side. Keep up with the lotions/oils. You will see improvement every day.
Elizabeth....Silly woman! I speak only the truth of course. I am so very happy to be meeting you. It was on my bucket list!
0 -
Welcome Medwick. Thank you for the support Joan and Janis. I had another high blood pressure episode Wed. 203/120, so was a scare. I finally get to see my internist Tuesday, so we can figure out what is going on. Today I am feeling good except for a little itchiness. Last night I went to happy hour with my suregeon, and it was just what the doctor ordered. I had so much fun being out and talking about something else other than my health.
0 -
Welcome Medwick. It's a good place to recover. In addition to recovering from radiation these ladies have helped me recover my sense of humor and (almost) my sanity.
Keep us posted Kate.
0 -
Sanity? Sab....mine left so long ago I wouldn't recognize it if I tripped over it! Feels like I am tripping some days....lol....
On another note, they are having the opening concerts for the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University this weekend and my Mom and I are attending tomorrow afternoon. This hall rivals Tanglewood or even exceeds it apparently. This will be fun...although probably insanity to fight the parking .. :00 -
Sew- Nice! Who will you hear? So gorgeous in Sonoma this time of year.
Baked with DD the younger today, making my mother's cream cheese brownie recipe. Handling her tattered, hand written recipe brought tears to my eyes (in a good way.) She would love that her grandaughter wants to learn her recipes! Special day (until I ate four.)
0 -
Hi y'all! It's been forever since I've been here! Kate has new breasts since I was here before. ;o) I'm glad to hear you are doing well, Kate! Wow, you have really been through it.
MostlySew, I pulled out my sewing machine for the first time in YEARS. I made a bunch of chenille burp cloths. They were seven dollars each on etsy and I knew I could do better than that! They turned out really cute!
SAB, so sweet to cook with the kids. Those handwritten recipes are the sweetest. My son was home from college today and I cooked all his favorites for him, so I was in the kitchen, as well.
Hi Janis!! So fun to see Elizabeth live and in person!
I've been doing pretty good, healthwise. I've been through Femara and Aromasin and now am trying Tamoxifen. I just can't tolerate the joint pain from the AIs. It's better with Tamox, but I'm also realizing that what I eat has some to do with the pain also. Crazy,
I'll be seeing the survivorship clinic docs next week for the first time. I'll come back and let y'all know what they had to say. I've been looking forward to this appointment, hopefully for some support in how to find wellness after the whole cancer experience.
Blessings!
0 -
Steph it is so good to see you back here and catching up. It has been awhile. I am really sorry the meds are causing you so much pain. I am getting it now in both knees and my right hip. My MO told me that it is one of the unfortunate SE's of Arimidex and there is nothing they can do. Really? I find that hard to believe. Does anyone here get any special treatment for the joint pain? I am really curious.
SAB how special that you and your daughter bake together. I bet you had a great time, and those handwritten recipes are indeed special. I came from a family of non cookers, so I don't have many recipes. My mom made a couple of special things but she just was not into cooking. My dad was a horribly picker eater and I think she just found it too confining to try to cook for him. I love those cream cheese brownies! I surf the internet for new ideas. I get a link to some recipe sites on my FB page. The other day I saw a recipe for a cake that sounded so wonderful. Simple to make and very rich and delicious. Of course I had to try it and it is already gone! I am really happy that you enjoyed some of those brownies. You just have to!
Sew tell me it isn't so....you can't find your sanity? Did the dryer eat it? You know what a sneaky appliance that is. I think it is a conspiracy. Reading this I am fairly certain that yours ran off with mine. They are hovering not too far from us, pointing and giggling as we struggle to appear normal. Snots huh?
I hope everyone has a great day. I am watching football later. I admit to having a weakness for the Denver Broncos. Okay it goes way back. Both my sons were born in Denver. I have been a fan since the dawn of time! So far we are not looking great. Two losses, one win. The 93 million dollar man has some 'espalining' to do!
0 -
OMG I am so excited I have to tell someone. I just had a really happy phone call. My oldest son Ryan called and asked if I would like some company for Thanksgiving. Really? It is a difficult and sad story with Ryan. He is very gifted and educated, but depression and alcohol have consumed him. When we lived in Wyoming we lived about 2.5 hours apart so saw each other several times a year and almost always spent one holiday together. Ryan is unemployed and lives with my his dad in Casper. Cal and I get along so much better now that we are divorced. Okay, Cal's family lives in Oregon and he goes to Oregon every year for Thanksgiving. Ryan has no money and no way to travel. last year broke my heart. Cal went to Oregon and Ryan spent the holiday alone. We spent it alone here. We can't afford to travel either. It was tough.
Anyway....today the call. Cal decided this year to drive to Oregon. So he invited Ryan plus Ryan's son Wesley is likely coming. My only grandchild! Wes just turned 11. I have not seen Ryan in almost three years, have not seen Wesley in a over a year. So this is so exciting. Ryan is not sure that they will actually spend Thanksgiving here. Cal and his girlfriend Karen will both be staying here en route. He is hoping they can leave the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It is about a 12 hour drive here. Cal said he and Karen will stay one or two nights depending on when they leave Casper. Ryan may stay behind and spend Thanksgiving with us, but he feels torn because Cal's family really doesn't know Wes and Ryan thinks it would be good for Wes to spend time with them. I told Ryan to do what works best for him and not worry. I'll make Thanksgiving dinner any day of the week. Hoping Karen can get Saturday off and they can leave Saturday. If so they will stay here until Tuesday morning. If Ryan and Wes decide to go to Oregon I can do an early Thanksgiving here Monday night. I could care less when we have it. Just being together is such joy for me.
I hope this all makes sense, I feel like I am babbling. I am just thrilled that I got this wonderful call. First Elizabeth, and now Iget to see family I miss terribly. Ryan and I have always been so close and I have really missed him. Wesley is my cherished boy. This feels like a huge gift.
0 -
Janis, What fantastic news! I am so happy for you.
0 -
Elizabeth, thank you. I know you understand all this means to me. It is huge. It is my Ryan. I am so filled with joy right now. Thank you. I haven't seen him in far too long. This means everything to me. Thank you so much. Wow, my head is spinning. My heart is just bursting. I sound like like an idiot right now! Thank you!
0 -
Stephn glad to hear from you, but sorry you have been in pain. Janis I am glad you will get to see your family.
0 -
Thank you Kate. I know you got to go visit your daughters earlier this year. Isn't it wonderful? I am just so happy right now. It feels so good to have this visit to look forward to. I get to see Ryan and Wesley as well. I did not have a clue that Ryan and Cal were planning this trip. I am overjoyed! I can barely calm myself. I am just so happy. I feel giddy!
0 -
Janis...great news for you....I understand exactly why you are so excited. Hope you and all of your extended family have the greatest of Thanksgivings no matter when it happens.
0 -
I will be starting my last week of radiation tomorrow! The "boost" will focus on my incision scar. I had a bi-lateral niiple sparing mastectomy but my surgeon could not get clear margins on the affected breast. So I started radiation therapy the last week of August.
BEST recommendations for keeping skin from burning and tightening were:
1. restorative yoga three times per week
2. 100% Calendula cream purchased at Whole foods.
I am pretty read but no tightening of the skin which will be very important for the final reconstructin surgery. So glad to be nearly DONE!!!
0 -
Schatzi, thank you so much! I can barely contain my joy right now. This came out of nowhere and was a huge surprise. I needed this. I expect Ryan did as well. We are so rarely able to spend holidays together. We will cook together and make a great meal. Wow. Just wow!
0 -
Janis, I'm jumping up and down for you! Wonderful news!
StephN, nice to see you!
Makethismeaningful, it sounds like you are doing great. Best luck on your last week, and think about adding a bit of 100% aloe to your routine for the redness...applying it right after the treatment seems to work well.
0 -
I just had to post it.
0 -
Janis,
That is the most wonderful news....I can see you just jumping for joy. What a wonderful gift for all of you. And even better....you get to savor the joy of knowing its coming way beforehand. I'm so happy for you.
StephN, glad to hear from you. Those burp cloths sound so cute, bet it felt better making them rather than buying. Now that the sewing machine is out, got more plans? Sounds like you're doing OK mentally, but so sorry about the challenge with the drugs. Fingers crossed that Tamoxifin does the trick. I do think you're right though, what we eat plays a big part, and so does the exercise...it's so needed. Vicious cycle though...I exercise then overdo it and end up with fatigue! Go figure. I think by the time I get this all worked out, my 5 years will be up! Is this like doing time or what?
Janis, I know lots of gals swear by Claritin for the joint pain. That and exercise which you can't do right now.....typical, isn't it? And yes, I think our sanity has gone off on a lark together...tehehe. Oh, and by the way, did sab's episode of baking cream cheese brownies send you off to the ovens?
Sab, we heard the Santa rosa symphony conducted by Bruno Ferrandis and Corrick Brown and also heard Jeffery Kahane play piano. They're the last 3 conductors of this orchestra. If you ever get a chance to come up and hear anything at all in this venue, do so. I can't tell you how fantastic the acoustics are in that building. Amazing. So responsive. You can hear each instrument individually just about.
Makingthis......congrats on getting to your last week. Be sure to keep moisturizing all the time and I also liked Calendual cream. Pure aloe is also great for the heat. Trader joes carries it....make sure it pure aloe, and not just "with aloe". Also, be sure to rest when needed this week and for the next several. It will take some time for your body to heal all this. It will get easier by the day though so hang in there.
Sab, way to go baking with your daughter. Mine never got in to that, so we didn't share that, sadly. Best of all, you got to taste them!
Oh, and for those keeping count, my DH and I declared today the first sunday in October, so he made whole wheat pancakes with blackberries from the yard. Yum!0 -
Patricia, Congratulations on finishing rads!!! It's such a great feeling....let the healing begin!
Kate, that high BP sounds like such a mystery. Hope it levels off so you don't have to think about it. I hope the pain and itching are lessening for you.
Steph, great to hear from you. You are looking back now at the first year, as many of us are. I started Arimidex just one year ago and joint pain started immediately...switched to Femara but joint pain persists. The joke is the doc says "a little arthritis is normal at your age" but I NEVER had anything until the A.I.s
i went to survivorship appointment but the NP is retiring so not going back right now. It was interesting, but I already take care of most of the things myself.
SAB, thanks for the dessert....looking decadent.
MtM, so glad to hear you are in your last week of rads. You will heal quickly after it is over.
I just got back from a 5 day trip to Colorado where I stayed with a friend in the mountains. The aspens were in peak color and the elk were bugling. I lived there for a few years in the 1970s and have been back many times....but for some reason this brought back so many memories for me.
Falling asleep here....back to work in a few hours.
Hugs,Joan
0 -
Yay, Janis! So excited for your Thanksgiving visit! My son was home for a visit this weekend and I cooked all weekend.
Yes, y'all are right about the exercise. I'm working on it.
Sew, I really enjoyed sewing again. I'm making some baby dresses, but that's hand-sewing. I'm going to have to come up with some little projects. I love the sense of accomplishment of finishing something from beginning to end.
MtM, congrats on being so close! I wasn't sad at all to leave radiation behind. I think I got all the emotion out in the beginning. I just drove away and never looked back. I even skipped my follow-up...not that I'm recommending that!
Hugs to all you girls!
0 -
Hi all,
I haven't been here in a few days - fighting colds here and trying to keep working....
Well it seems a bit too quiet around here. Am I missing a few pages? I settled in to read all the posts and there are only a handful since I was on Sunday.
Hope everyone is doing well. I heard it is pretty cold in the midwest....We had a summer-like day today but will drop about 20 degrees by Sunday.
Happy week end to all.
Hugs,Joan
0 -
Hi Joan, hope your cold is doing better. I think it's quiet because everyone's feeling great and are out and about....at least I can hope.
I've got a good one. Friday evening I started getting bumps. Red bumps. Some just under the skin, some on top. Took an antihistamine and an ibuprofen and went to bed. By Saturday night I had red bumps all over my body. Head to toe. Very lumpy. Very ugly. Looks like measles except I've had them. Doesn't look like hives really. Just ugly. This morning I got in to my PCP and he doesn't think it's measles nor hives. He can't tell if it's a virus (of unknown reason) or a food or drug reaction (both Arimidex and Prolia list rashes as an SE). So, he's running a blood test to try to get it figured. Meanwhile I've had to give up my ticket to the opening night of the Santa rosa symphony season at the new Green Music Center. Bummer!
If it isn't one thing, it's another. We have however wished a fond farewell to my brother-in-law and his son who've been with us 4 days. They're on the way back to England. Think they caused the bumps?0 -
Mostlysew sorry you have something else to worry about and sorry you missed the symphony.
0 -
Thanks Kate. Did you get out for happy hour Friday?
0
