My Chemotherapy Journey
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I am also taking calcium and vitamin D. I'm supposed to take it twice a day but I'm only taking it once. I had low vitamin D when I was diagnosed and apparently that's a risk factor for breast cancer. I had my port taken out the week after my last Kadcyla infusion.
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Thanks so much Maggie!! I know SEs vary you either get lucky and have next to nothing or you don't and be really sick. But nice to know you tolerate Arimidex (anastrozole) for the most part. I hope I do too.
Yeah I actually just messaged my onco on mychart coz the calcium PLUS vit d my husband got is more than she prescribed. I also am supposed to take it 2x a day. But she probably will tell me to take mine once a day with the larger dose that I got right now. Honestly, I probably will also only take it once a day even if she tells me to take it 2x a day. LOL.
Yeah I don't think they ever tested me for vit D deficiency. But I had been taking vit d since covid started.
Wow, I feel like we have almost identical treatments although I did neoadjuvant TCHP. And I have radiation currently. It seems you didn't, lucky you.
Ya, can't wait to take my port out. I just hope it didn't stretch my skin too much.
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I have been on Arimidex (anastrozole) for 18 months. For the first 3-4 months I had some joint pain- for me it was knees and hips. They felt achy at times (mainly at night or first thing in the morning) but not too bad. It did not stop me from working out, etc. After that, I have not had any joint pain. My biggest SE is hot flashes. if your hot flashes are really bothersome there is some medication they can put you on to help with them, but mine have not been that bad- plus I only will go on another med if I feel I have to.
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YAY!. Thanks Ann! You and Maggie gives me hope and alleviates my fear big time in taking Arimidex (anastrozole)! God willing, I have same mild SEs. SEs are my biggest fear in anything pharma makes. UGH.
Actually kadcyla already is making me feeling sore on both legs on the back of my knees and me waking up with achy hands. Fortunately it's tolerable.
I was prescribed 1mg of Arimidex (anastrozole). Glad it's really a small dose.
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So my onco nurse replied on my question. She said it's ok if I bought an OTC combo of calcium plus vit D in slightly over dose. And she still wants me to take it 2x a day. But I think I will do what Maggie did which was just take it once a day.
I am just glad I am taking care or making my bones strong with bone supplements before I start taking Arimidex (anastrozole) which my onco did tell me that it weakens the bones. Great.
And that's why she makes me take dexa scan coz she will now monitor its effects on my bones.
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Did your dr also tell you that Magnesium supplements are important for your bones? Mine told me after hysterectomy 40 yrs ago.
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No she didn't. She just explained that Arimidex (anastrozole) blocks hormones and that the effect is bone disease. She named couple of them and ask me if I know what it is. I said ya it makes your bone brittle. And so she prescribed those supplements to me.
I told her but my multivitamins have those and she said that's not enough. And actually she made me stop taking my multivitamins. And just take those calcium + vit d supplement.
But thanks, Gail. I did just message her if I also should start taking magnesium to strengthen my bones.
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OK so my onco's nurse replied to my question. She said for now I only need to take calcium + vit D. I actually have 4 more radiation treatments to go. YAY. I had 16 treatments total. I declined the +4 boosters. And I ask my radiologist if she's OK with that, and she said yes.
Next week is my last week of radiation. Jan. 15 to be exact. The only SEs I noticed which started ALL this week:
feeling light headed when I get up after my treatment. Both my onco and radiologist and even the assistants says I am probably just dehydrated.
I definitely notice my right breast is red and some spots have darkening.
Also red dots on my right breast and some on my left.
I didn't experience the ones I read on the threads here that they can't wear their bra. I have no problem at all wearing my bra and I actually even sleep with my bra now. Since my breast surgery and they wanted me to sleep with my bra on. And I believe I will sleep with my bra always now. I actually used to do it before and when I stopped wearing my bra when I sleep, I did notice my breast sag more. LOL.
I think, my opinion anyway, showering with warm water at most helped with me not irritating my radiated breast more. Since I did read, that after u have radiation treatment that you have to put sunscreen on your radiated part of the body every time now since it's sensitive to the sun now so that sucks.
And they don't want you to do cold or hot compress on the radiated part. So if you shower using hot water on your radiated breast then ya I believe your breast/skin will be prone to blistering. Just my opinion, anyway.
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pneuma,
You do not need to apply sunscreen to radiated skin areas unless those areas will be exposed to the sun which is unlikely if it’s your chest/breast area. Makes sense, no? This is from UPMC ‘s site:
“ If the area being treated is exposed to the sun, apply sunscreen routinely to the treatment site whenever you are outdoors for more than 10 minutes during the summer or winter. ”
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Yes exbrnxgrl. Your last sentence is what I meant. You don't need to put sunscreen everytime just outdoors.
But you know what? My dermatologist once told me you NEED to put sunscreen even indoors? I was like why? She explained why and I forgot now. LOL.
Oh I re read your post The one I read said exactly the same thing but it stated including the ones hidden by your clothes. I don't know about you but when me and husband are motorcycling in the heat of the summer, I kid you not I can feel the sun burning my thighs through my jeans.
Just saying..
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Ok, My radiation treatment was going smoothly until yesterday. This is EXACTLY what I sent to my radiologist on mychart just now:
Hi. I feel I need to document this because I am VERY worried and this is my biggest fear that happened yesterday. So I hear the radiation is on because of the long beeps. I only hear it after they told me to hold my breath ALWAYS. Then the beeping turns off when they told me to breathe.
Well that did not happen AT ALL yesterday, I probably should have stopped and asked them about my worry the first time. I only get 2 radiation hits. I should have stopped them and asked on the first hit, But I didn't.
So it happened again on the 2nd hit of radiation. What happened on my 2 radiation hits yesterday is:
They told me to hold my breath. I hear the radiation beep. They told me to breathe out... the radiation beep DID NOT STOP! And I was told to breathe in and out and hold my breath while the radiation is beeping THE WHOLE TIME!!
This happens both times on my 2 radiation hits/treatment yesterday. So I am like what's the point of me holding my breath and breathing in and out if the radiation is ON the whole time?!
I asked Lily(?) why was the beeping did not stop? I don't know she explained it but I did not get it. Why was the radiation beeping did not stop? I want an answer because yesterday after I shower, I always clean both my ears with Qtip and my right ear has some blood in it! Then after I brush my teeth last night, there's some blood!
Was I a victim of radiation leak yesterday? I want answer please! This is my biggest fear and it happened yesterday which sucks coz I have 3 treatments left. It was doing good and smoothly until the fiasco yesterday.
I don't know if I had a radiation leak yesterday, What happened was the usual girl that does my radiation was not there yesterday. So I don't know if the 2 girls that were left there yesterday were inept or what but wow. This really is what my nightmare is made of and once again…. I am experiencing yet another living nightmare with this cancer treatments.
I really hope it did not damage my body. My God.
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So I talked to the radiologist and the radiology girl who was there on my last treatment. The radiologist said if I got radiology overdose it would show but she said the dose was just the right amount that day, OK.
Then the radiology girl explained that even though I can hear the radiation beeping they can control when to stop and start it. OK?
Both her and the radiologist said they programmed the treatment so that the radiation won't start until it sense the breathing hold, Whatever I somehow doubt them but just hoping against hope that they are not saving their asses. I documented it anyway so I have record if my internals got damaged somehow.
I actually originally planned to just stop the treatment altogether but of course my husband went apeshit again even made my sister who is a doctor call me. When my sister heard my symptoms she said you probably have the flu.
Oh wow what a coincidence that I am flu free my ENTIRE cancer treatment and my last treatment possibly gave me radiation exposure then BAM! suddenly I have flu. Whatever, shit.
Anyway that's what the nurse and doctor told me too. And so I asked the doctor well if I stop the treatment what will happen? She said well it's like you didn't have the treatment at all. So ya great.
So I asked her, so if I indeed have a flu is it safe for me to have radiation treatment? She said yes. LOL. Watev.
Well I have 2 more treatments so just grin and bear it,
And what do you know they suddenly did it right this time. And this is the same girls that treated me last Friday. Whatever.
What's hilarious is the girl who gave the radiation exposure said she has been doing this for 20 yrs. LOL. And she looks like she is in her 30s. So she has been doing this since she was 10 yrs old. What a joke.
I should have asked for her age to caught her in her lie, I suppose.
Whatever. This fucking cancer treatments… that's the one that's gonna kill me.
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I finally finish my radiation. It was going smooth, pain free and really well until the January 10 living nightmare experience happened. Literally it was brutal. I really hope it was just a coincidence that I got the flu the very same day I had what I believe was a radiation exposure.
After it happened, I am in pain especially at night when I am trying to sleep. In my last day of radiation, I literally have tears in my eyes coz I had to stretch and hold onto something above my head and it's painful. Ugh. I was asked by one of them the day before my treatment ends if I would ring the bell I said nope!
Why should I? I am in no mood to celebrate when I am in pain. It's bittersweet when I finally finished. Emphasis on BITTER.
Anyway, I got a call from some lady she said she's supposed to talk to me on my last day of treatment but she won't be able to make it so she will just give the pamphlets to the ladies so they can hand it to me. And that if after I read the info and I have questions, I can call her. Sure enough I was handed those in a folder with my like 'graduation' certificate or completeness cert, I don't know.
Anyway I skimmed on it. It's called survivorship something. I don't know I don't think I will call her. Not sure if I want to read any of it, LOL.
Also I am pretty sure I was supposed to meet the radiologist on my last day but bitch bailed on me, I guess. LOL. It says on my appointment info treatment with the Dr. whatever.
And then the receptionist said she has to sked me because the Dr. is supposed to see me in a week. So I was surprised I was given an appointment almost a month from now. LOL.
So today is actually day after my last treatment. Surprisingly and fortunately and thankfully, I was not in aches and pain last night. Allelujah.
I thought yay! finally my living nightmare is over… again. But is it? NOPE!
While I was showering today, what do I find in my radiated breast? a blister! it's only one and I hope against hope it's the only one… oh wait there actually is another one on my SNL node stitch. GREAT!
And my radiated breast is now really darkened this started like a day after the radiation exposure incident. GREAT!
Those are usual SEs of radiation treatment I know. But I can't help but wonder…… would I have those if the Jan. 10 incident never happened? That will forever be my what if scenario.
Would I also really have flu or experience these aches and pains?
Thank God, flu has run its course. all I have left is phlegmy cough now.
As always, I am STILL surprised I am still alive. In spite of these cancer treatments….. trying REAL hard to kill me!
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Yesterday, Jan 18. I started taking anastrozole. Last night I also was forced not to wear bra for the first time since my surgery. I had to because a long line of blisters line my underboob. What in the actual fuuuuck, I can't get a break.
I hope these blisters don't pop. because just don't. OMG. So I have one blister near my nipples, one blister in my node biopsy stitch and a long line line under my boob. I think it's the friction of my bra so I have to go braless for awhile. I hope my breast won't sag. gosh. what the hell.
I just checked the test result of the hormone blood test I got. It's supposed to be for flu viral panel test but I was tested this hormone thing instead that no one told me about what the hell.
Anyway - the only test I recognize is called FSH - it just says I have enough value for post menopause. Great.
Same with the other 2. One is I am over post menopause value, the other one not so much.
I think it's a test of my post menopause stage.
I used to google everything but honestly after my radiation exposure I don't care anymore shit. Whatever.
I have to remember to sked my dexa scan tomorrow. That would sure be fun.
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