Fall 2015 Rads
Comments
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Molly: I was having the same issue in that area and when the peeling started, it actually stopped hurting as much. Maybe yours will be the same. Is the skin broken?
I feel like I have passed the worst of it all now that I only have 2 fields radiated. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is exciting but a little scary, too.
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Trvlr, I don't think it's broken down yet but definitely stings. The nurse warned me it will take 3 days to peak. My foob is quite red too but since I have no feeling there I am not as worried. I am so close to being finished. I guess I can understand the fear of the end of active treatment but since I still have surgery ahead of me I guess I am looking forward to a break.
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What surgery are you having? When are you done with rads?
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December 7th is my last day. I still have reconstruction, free tram flap ahead and a prophylactic mx on the right side due to a genetic mutation which increases my risks of a new breast cancer up to 30 percent and then a implant on that side. I assume several surgeries are in my future.
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ok, change of schedule again for me. Had my simulation today and got my three itty bitty tattoos. Next week I go in for x-rays and then on the 7th is when I'm scheduled for my first official radiation, whew!
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That is great, Stef!
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Wow, that's a lot on your plate, Molly. Keep me posted on how it goes. Are you in a reconstruction thread anywhere?
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Trvler, I have been following the Diep thread because it is the closest to TRAM. I also am active on the TE Primer thread. Other than that I just do a lot of reading instead of posting.
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Can you tell me what the difference between a DIEP and free TRAM is? I have never quite figured that out.
Only 2 more zaps (one day) to go!!!
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Dear Molly, just wanted to let you know I love the Calendula cream! It's a great face cream : )
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Glad to hear it, Marijen! Trvler, I am so happy for you! Diep doesn't take the abdominal muscle and Tram does. Free TRAM takes only 1/2 the muscle (at least that is how it was explained to me). My PS doesn't do DIEP. I am so on the fence about flap surgery in general. I am very fearful of complications but I do understand that a lot of women have huge problems with implants after rads. If you haven't had BC you just don't know the lengths we have to go through for recon. People just assume you get a nice new pair of boobs as easy as augmentation surgery. It just isn't that easy. I actually considered going flat because all of this surgery scares the heck out of me but I just cannot see myself without a shape on top.
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Molly, I would be very careful using anything involving muscle. Can you find a PS that does DIEP? There are some good ones in LA, I think.
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I have few choices because of my HMO. City of Hope does Latt Flap and I don't want that. I really like my PS and I trust him. It is hard for me to trust a doctor but he is very good. My BS uses him all the time. He uses as few muscles as possible. With all I have read, all flap surgeries have risks of failure.
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DONE! Yesterday was the last of my 16 treatments. No bell to ring (I hear they have one in the chemo suite). No skin irritation, stinging, burning, peeling or itching--just pink-tan beneath the surface and enlargement of my mammary (tumor-cavity) seroma. I understand that if skin breaks down, it is from the inside out (rather than with a thermal burn) and happens because the radiation damages the cells that regenerate the skin we normally (and imperceptibly) slough off, so it’s conceivable it’ll get a little worse before it gets better. But the RO and nurses told me that I should begin to see improvement in about 10 days, so to keep on applying aloe, Aquaphor, calendula or whatever’s been working thus far and using only Basis unscented soap to wash the irradiated portions. I’m not a bundle of energy, but I can’t honestly call it “fatigue.” However, the RO confirmed that I’d better get used to SuperBoob for awhile--it can take a year or more for that seroma to resorb, and my right breast may never shrink down to its original size (which was almost a cup size smaller than the left)....or in a couple of years it might get even smaller than it was. All depends on how much scar tissue forms.
And in less than 3 weeks I’ll be on a plane to Rome!
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ChiSandy: hurrah for finishing, and hurrah for a trip to Rome!
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Congratulations to you, ChiSandy! That trip to Rome sounds like a real celebration!
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Congratulations, Sandy! Enjoy Rome!
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Woot, Sandy!!!!!!!!!!!0
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ChiSandy....so happy for you that rads are behind you and Rome is in front of you! Woo-hoo!!!
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ChiSandy, congratulations! Rome in December: what could be better?
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Congrats, ChiSandy! How fun to have Rome lurking in your future. I hope you hang around until you head to Rome and let us know how the 'aftermath' works out for you.
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ChiSandy:congratulations!
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Congrats JCTree!!
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We're taking a Mediterranean cruise on the Viking Star (we did a river cruise in 2012 on the Viking Njord from Budapest-Amsterdam). Cruise itself is Dec. 15, leaving from the Rome-area port of Civitavecchia. Viking's pre-sail Rome extension was sold out, so we're doing it on our own, staying at the airport Hilton & taking the train into the city. Viking will pick us up at the airport. First port of call is Naples on the 16th, then Taormina, Sicily the 17th, Cagliari, Sardinia the 18th, Messina, Sicily (side trip to Palermo) the 19th (was originally Tunis, but terrorist attacks took that off the table), Palma in the Balearic Islands the 20th, Valencia the 21st, disembark in Barcelona the morning of the 22. Given my druthers, I'd have been up for spending extra time in Barcelona (three days there last spring were not enough, especially since much of the daytime was taken up with continuing legal ed. seminars), but DH had some surgical adventures May through July (first from a botched colonoscopy that perfed his bowel, then an incarcerated hernia); so many of his colleagues covered for him while he was hospitalized that he doesn't want to make them miss pre-Christmas days with their families. So we'll ask the cab driver to take the long way to the airport and give us sort of a nickel tour of the city, as we dock at 7 am but don't fly till 1:30.
I normally travel a lot throughout the Midwest & Mid-South for my music (I'm a folksinger/songwriter who plays guitar & dulcimer), but DH's and now my health issues put the kibosh on that for awhile. Did get to gig in Rockford, IL 2 wks after my surgery and drive to a music conference and gig in IA City a month post-op. Usually perform in the Chi. Bar Assn's annual satirical musical revue (the only reason I keep my law license current!), but dropped out this year because I thought radiation would have wiped me out and it wouldn't have been fair to the show if I gave a half-assed performance. So I did a little writing, and maybe next week help with props, costumes & makeup (and play guitar in the “Santa Claus" finale). Will be back in the cast next year. And this spring's continuing legal ed. trip will be London, Lausanne & Paris.
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Yay chisandy! Rome is a great way to celebrate!
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Dreaming of Italy:) Congrats on being done, Sandy!
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I had my first boost today. It took longer to set up then the TX. They put a shaped adapter on the arm of the machine and the RO had to check my position. It was extremely quick after that. 7 more to go!! 4 boosts and 3 full field TX.
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chisandy enjoy Rome. I loved my visit to Italy. I hope to go back some day.
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You're in the homestretch now, Molly!
I am starting to itch again. Ugh. Between that and my husband having a terrible cough and throat infection, it wasn't a restful night.
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DONE!!!! So happy!!!
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