Need a ear

ptomom
ptomom Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Just finished chemo and learned I need radiation.

Comments

  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    I am sorry you couldn't find us in the chat room. It seems the chat isn't the easiest thing to find for newbies. I too had problems when I first started going there. When you click on chat often times the open window immediately goes to the bottom tool bar at bottom of screen. you will see the chat window and will have to open it from there. The odd time it will stay open but not very often in my experience. Look for me again I am in chat often look forward to talking with you. I am stage 3 with 11 our 21 poitive nodes and a 5 year survivor at that.
    Be good to yourself and will look forward to meeting you in chat again sometime.
    Tara24242
  • bullfrog13
    bullfrog13 Member Posts: 213
    dear ptomom (heY used to be a PTO mom too..was president for two years.. anyway.. I did radiation AND chemo at the same time.. be glad they let you finsin one before startin another.. we can compare notes if you want.. email me at ribbitfrog13@icqmail.com... just know that after chemo --raidation is a walkk int he park.... good luck with all you endure !! stay strong..jerilyn
  • ddancy
    ddancy Member Posts: 19
    I had chemo, then radiation. I'll tell you that although you weren't expecting to have radiation it's really a breeze compared to chemo..it does not hurt, and it only takes a matter of like 10 minutes tops.I had no side effects at all. I had 6 1/2 weeks of radiation. All my best.. Debbie
  • julra
    julra Member Posts: 2
    I finished chemo 3 weeks ago and started radiation on Monday. The worst part is the simulation-after that it's weird, but not painful. 3 treatments down and 31 to go! Hand in there!
  • nasa2537
    nasa2537 Member Posts: 311
    Hi....I didn't have to do chemo, but I did radiation. It really wasn't too bad. You don't feel anything for awhile, then you start getting pink, and the breast stays hot. My radiation oncologist had me use over the counter 1% hydrocortisone cream to keep the pink skin at bay. When I started to peel a bit, they gave me Aquaphor ointment....kind of messy, but really helps heal the skin. I just had my first post-treatment mammo, and it said the skin was a little thicker on the affected side, which was in line with the radiation. The breast doesn't feel any different to me, except that the skin has a different texture....just a little rough or something...can't quite pinpoint it. I got some fatigue towards the end, but it was manageable...just needed a nap in the afternoon for about an hour. I wish you well...please keep us posted with how you are doing. Best wishes, Cyndi
  • ptomom
    ptomom Member Posts: 26
    24242 said:

    I am sorry you couldn't find us in the chat room. It seems the chat isn't the easiest thing to find for newbies. I too had problems when I first started going there. When you click on chat often times the open window immediately goes to the bottom tool bar at bottom of screen. you will see the chat window and will have to open it from there. The odd time it will stay open but not very often in my experience. Look for me again I am in chat often look forward to talking with you. I am stage 3 with 11 our 21 poitive nodes and a 5 year survivor at that.
    Be good to yourself and will look forward to meeting you in chat again sometime.
    Tara24242

    Hi, thanks for responding to me. This chat room is confusing. I am lost. Ha. Anyways, I go Monday AM to get my cat scan and markings. Now that my chemo is done, I have felt a bit depressed. I have been so positive through this whole thing and I am mad at myself for feeling sorry for myself. I think I am afraid of the "coat string" not being there i.e. weekly doctor's appt. Is this normal. Whatever normal can be going through this. Can you talk?
  • ptomom
    ptomom Member Posts: 26
    nasa2537 said:

    Hi....I didn't have to do chemo, but I did radiation. It really wasn't too bad. You don't feel anything for awhile, then you start getting pink, and the breast stays hot. My radiation oncologist had me use over the counter 1% hydrocortisone cream to keep the pink skin at bay. When I started to peel a bit, they gave me Aquaphor ointment....kind of messy, but really helps heal the skin. I just had my first post-treatment mammo, and it said the skin was a little thicker on the affected side, which was in line with the radiation. The breast doesn't feel any different to me, except that the skin has a different texture....just a little rough or something...can't quite pinpoint it. I got some fatigue towards the end, but it was manageable...just needed a nap in the afternoon for about an hour. I wish you well...please keep us posted with how you are doing. Best wishes, Cyndi

    Hi Cyndi
    Thanks for the info. We are going tomorrow for my Cat Scan and markings and they will be give me the time I need to start coming. I was worried about the fatigue. I have so much I want to do in the next few weeks. We have two close family weddings and my son is "graduating" from 5th which is a big thing at his school. I missed his field trip in the fall due to the double mast. so I was hoping I could go to this one, a baseball game. I am pretty involved with PTO. As you can probably tell, this was not stopped a whole lot, I just rest when I feel I need it. It is good to know that the fatigue and the "sunburn" is manageable, if I can handle six months of chemo I suppose this will also be okay. I figured out the chat room yesterday. Do you get up there at any time. Thanks for responding-I haven't seek out anyone to talk with about this roller coaster this whole time, but I am feeling a bit more afraid now that it is in the home stretch and the apron strings may be gone soon. Sounds pretty dumb to put that in writing. Hope to hear from you. Darla
  • ptomom
    ptomom Member Posts: 26

    dear ptomom (heY used to be a PTO mom too..was president for two years.. anyway.. I did radiation AND chemo at the same time.. be glad they let you finsin one before startin another.. we can compare notes if you want.. email me at ribbitfrog13@icqmail.com... just know that after chemo --raidation is a walkk int he park.... good luck with all you endure !! stay strong..jerilyn

    Hi Jerilyn Thanks for responding. I can't image doing both at the same time. I start the radition tomorrow. Went today and had my scan and markings. I have been on the board for four years now, treasurer and secretary. This is my last year, my 5th grader is moving on to junior high, but I have a four year old, so I have a year break. Ha. It is good to hear radiation will be fairly easy. I figured if I can endure chemo and those side effects and still do everything I wanted, I guess I can do 5 more weeks and I will be done, hofefully, forever. I guess that is the other fear--future. Darla