Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[rajak73]

Lovetink: DW finished radiation treatment, had I think 14 regular and then 6 boost. They didn't call them accuboost, just boost. Directed at a specific spot. Her machine, (kinda looked like a machine you would shoot lasers out of) she laid down with her arm above her head, (had her own pillow which they formed just for her) to lay in so she was in the same position every time. She didn't have any skin problems with radiation either but still a little sore under the arm. We go back to her oncologist the end of Nov. to plan from there.

 

[lovethattink]

Lovetink: DW finished radiation treatment, had I think 14 regular and then 6 boost. They didn't call them accuboost, just boost. Directed at a specific spot. Her machine, (kinda looked like a machine you would shoot lasers out of) she laid down with her arm above her head, (had her own pillow which they formed just for her) to lay in so she was in the same position every time. She didn't have any skin problems with radiation either but still a little sore under the arm. We go back to her oncologist the end of Nov. to plan from there.

Yay! Congratulations on her finishing treatment! !

What you described is what my "normal " treatments are. The boosts though are being done in an AccuBoost machine. It looks like a mammogram machine. They take an xray first. Then figure out what size canister they need. Get it approved. Then the physicist comes in and connects tubes to the radiation. I sit there another 10 minutes getting the radiation. Then they release me and change the position of the machine and we start all over. The whole process takes about 45 minutes.

Being claustrophobic, these boosts have been the worst part of my whole experience. If I wasn't claustrophobic, they'd be easy because other than pressure of the paddles, I can't feel anything else.

The good thing about AccuBoost is that it targets only the lumpectomy. Which reduces the chances of lung and heart damage! I have 4 down and 5 to go. Then it's back to regular radiation! Which is so much easier for me since I'm not trapped! !

 

[smiley_face2]

Popping in to say a quick hi! early Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in the US LMP your trip sounds so good! and lucky you going again in december! Older daughter has had some bad health issues, requiring us to do a lot of child minding. she is doing better now so trying to get some extra rest and recover. Glad our thanksgiving was last month, so I don't have anything big to do for a while. Anniversary trip to Victoria coming up Dec 5 looking forward to that!
GAGWTA

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Also dropping in to say HI and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am back from the Mayo Clinic in AZ. Still no concrete answers however the gastro doc is pretty sure it is my liver.

I will say that most of the doctors blamed STRESS for my condition. REALLY? Very disappointing. I get the whole "Mind, body, spirit" approach to medicine however they take that philosophy a bit too far imo.

The only doctor that was interested in my condition was the Gastro. He did an MRI on my liver and pancreas. My ducts are "not right" and my numbers are off so I am going back to Mayo on Jan 3rd to see a liver specialist and get a camera scope of my insides. No cancer that they can "see" so far.

I have a whole book of test results to plow through. I am post menopausal. I need to find a different oncologist here for sure.

 

[lovethattink]

Enjoy your anniversary trip to Victoria @smiley_face2. Glad your dd is doing better.

Also dropping in to say HI and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am back from the Mayo Clinic in AZ. Still no concrete answers however the gastro doc is pretty sure it is my liver.

I will say that most of the doctors blamed STRESS for my condition. REALLY? Very disappointing. I get the whole "Mind, body, spirit" approach to medicine however they take that philosophy a bit too far imo.

The only doctor that was interested in my condition was the Gastro. He did an MRI on my liver and pancreas. My ducts are "not right" and my numbers are off so I am going back to Mayo on Jan 3rd to see a liver specialist and get a camera scope of my insides. No cancer that they can "see" so far.

I have a whole book of test results to plow through. I am post menopausal. I need to find a different oncologist here for sure.

Sounds like things are moving in the right direction. Hope you get answers and results.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I'm super thankful for a 4 day break from radiation! ! Of course they tag those 2 days onto the end of treatment. But that adds this holiday and another weekend to heal!! My skin is getting pink and dry. But Miaderm is really helping!! I'm applying it more regularly and the doc said to apply it more than the 3 to 4 suggested times a day. The improvements are amazing overnight! !

GAGWTA! !

 

[Dancind]

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! We will be spending a quiet holiday, no big family celebrations. Easier to make my gluten free dishes and know what I'm eating, and lots of leftovers! DD will be here for Christmas.

I have gotten on a tear and been actively looking for a place to buy in Portland OR. It has many things we enjoy, and the further out of the center of town you go the closer to affordable it becomes. We have some investments that are not growing at all, so this may the way to grow them. Looking for a place that needs some fixing up.

Should keep us busy for a while!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Stopping for a moment to wish all the ladies here (some guys also) a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. You are the best bunch of people here on the boards. Wishing everyone continued and improved health. God bless.

 

[Feralpeg]

I've been so busy with the sale of my home, I haven't had a chance to stop by. Both my home and my sister's home sold in less than a week. Unfortunately, our new home won't be ready until March, so we had to find a place to rent for the duration. We have to be out of my house by December 10th and my sister has to be out by December 12th. We will be moving into a townhome in Summerport and storing the majority of our things. Will be sleeping on aerobeds and sort of camping out. Doesn't seem much like the holidays, but it will all be worth it once we're moved.

I'm not sure when I will get a chance to stop by again, so Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

 

[smiley_face2]

My goodness lot's of things going on for lot's of us!
Diana that is very exciting!! as much as I love my family, I envy you being able to make that decision and just do it!! our youngest grand daughter who is 2 and a half now, was so sad when I left there today! It would be too hard to not be able to see them all regularly, so here we are living in the rainforest.
and Feralpeg, that sounds like an adventure! and yes it will be worth it! will you be closer to Disneyworld when you are settled, than you are now? Now that is what I would do if I didn't have so much family here, immigrate to the US, live in California as close to Disneyland as I could get! lol
I am sure you had a good Thanksgiving Dan with all your family!
TMM, sounds like things are moving along, but yes you are your own best advocate, and know your own body, so don't give up pushing for answers!
Lovethattink, glad to hear you got a break and are doing well!
Now don't laugh, but we have changed our minds.... well actually it's me, I have changed my mind again, hubby just goes along! We are going to Whistler instead of Victoria! they have gotten a ton of snow up there now, and the weather is supposed to be clear and sunny and cold just like the day we got married! I don't ski anymore, not that I did very much when I was young! it's the apres scene we are going for! and to ride the peak to peak gondola I will let you all know if I change my mind again!
GAGWTA
one other thing I wanted to say, I sure miss Snappy popping in, and I am missing 2 lovely ladies who used to be here with us, one was such an inspiration to me at the start of my cancer journey, Lisa. And Cheryl who left us not very long ago, who loved the California coast as much as I do. I hope their families are doing ok without them.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

rajak - glad your dw is done with the radiation and hope her onc. visit goes well

lovethattink - wishing you all the best with the rads and that the skin issues are bearable

Diana - sounds like you have a good plan for the future.

Peg - Glad to hear your house sold and your sisters too. I hope the air mattresses are not too uncomfortable for you. I am sure you enjoy the parks at christmas time too. I cant wait to get there on the 12th!

smiley - Whistler sounds like a wonderful trip. I hope you and your dh have a wonderful time. Also that your dd is feeling better. And since you asked about Cheryl and Lisa's family. Facebook is my friend. I am not friends with them but looked it up. Lisa's daughter seems to have a boyfriend and looks really happy and has been to Disney World. I know their family goes before christmas too. It would be funny if we ran into them on our trip. Her son is working in Orlando and I think he still performs too. Cheryl's youngest daughter got engaged to her boyfriend. They look cute together.

I finally made the mammo appt. for saturday, so hope that goes well. I am a little concerned about bruising since I take the aspirin daily because of the blood clot. I tried to make a blood test appt. too but they are so booked up, so I made that for next saturday. Next week I will be in full vacation planning mode, watching the weather of course.

Ds3 has applied for the masters program for family nurse practitioner again. Its just so competitive. Hopefully he will get in this time.

GAGWTA

 

[rajak73]

luvmarypoppins: Thank you for the thought, the visit went well, DW is still a little sensitive in spots and onc. didn't want to start on any pills until completely healed. Her chance of it coming back is in the 5-10% range even without taking the pill. He was very thorough about explaining everything, with the pill, without the pill, didn't get into side effects until she decides to go with it. DW really had minor skin issues with the radiation.

lovetink: Hope your rad went well and not much in skin issues and sensitivity. I'm just getting to where I can give DW a great big hug and don't hear, "Ouch, don't touch there, or there, or there, or there" LOL. At one point, with the gall bladder surgery, and a week later the other surgery, and then a week later another surgery, about the only place I could hug DW was a foot. I keep telling DW that some night while she's asleep, I'm going to play "connect the dots" everyone else got to draw on you now it's my turn! You know what I'm talking about.

Here's to everyone here: Wishing you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a great 2017!

 

[lovethattink]

Diana, happy house hunting. Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving.

Dan, Thanks!

Feralpeg, I hope everything is going well with your packing and moving. Hope the mattress isn't too uncomfortable.

smiley, Have fun in Whistler! Enjoy the snow!

lovemarypoppins, I hope your mammogram goes well. My mom takes a blood thinner and bruises easily. She just recently made her appointment. I didn't think about the bruising. Reading your post reminded me and I will let her know. She has thin skin as well and little scraps send her to the ER for stitches.

rajak, I will be showing my dh your post. I've had so many ouches too.

I have lymphedema, yuck. It's not bad, hope it doesn't turn bad. But it is uncomfortable. I am on a waiting list for a specialist with an appointment at the end of the month. It's good my swelling isn't an emergency! Today is a cooler day here in FL and I'm more comfortable than when it was in the 80's.

 

[rajak73]

Sorry about the lymphedema. Hope it's not bad. Glad you are enjoying the weather, it's 28 here expecting some light snow. I would really enjoy that 80 about now. LOL Better not snow too much, I want to go watch the Nebraska girls play volleyball tonight!
DW would like to know which pill they prescribed to you if you don't mind me asking. Are you having any side effects?

 

[lovethattink]

Sorry about the lymphedema. Hope it's not bad. Glad you are enjoying the weather, it's 28 here expecting some light snow. I would really enjoy that 80 about now. LOL Better not snow too much, I want to go watch the Nebraska girls play volleyball tonight!
DW would like to know which pill they prescribed to you if you don't mind me asking. Are you having any side effects?

I'll send you a pm

 

[Dancind]

lovethattink, if you go by this thread, lymphedema seems much more common than the Doctors claim. I don't know what makes mine flare up but when I figure it out will let you all know.

rajak, glad that hurdle is done. Pretty soon she can put all this behind her.

LMP, I can't keep track of all your WDW trips. I am certainly jealous. We want to make a trip after Pandora is done, surely hope we have the money for it then. Good luck with your testing.

Peg, how is the new house? Hope you are getting to the parks more, now that the weather is nice.

Smiley, any trip is a good one. We are not moving away from family, really, we are moving to them. Daughter is in Portland, my Dad, brother, and a SIL in ID/MT, nephew in Seattle. We will need a guest room.

Though it looks like we won't have one for a while. Making an offer on a small 2 bedroom house with a full basement we can adapt to our liking. Has a big workshop/office in the back, so DH can have his contractor stuff and maybe even get some work. Ha. Also has a big lot, so maybe a garden and a few chickens. Nice covered porch and big redwood in the back. We are supposed to be downsizing! It is more than we wanted to spend, but so is Portland. Fewer trips in our future, though will not be moving for a while. Will have to decide what to do about DVC after one more trip.

 

[smiley_face2]

Love that tink, what Diana says I think is correct, that lymphadema is a lot more common than they think or at least talk about. And I do know some of what makes mine flare up, physical exersion, especially things like pulling on something heavy, that last time I did that I ended up with cellulitis in the breast which was very scarey! also I find when I get any kind of cold it flares up. hurts all the way down my arm to my fingers, down my side, all under the arm area. some days it flares up and there seems to be no reason?
Diana, that sounds wonderful! just the right size for us too! the average house price has gone up here where we live to $530,000 in the last 2 years. I am glad one of our daughters got into the market before that happened. and of course it is helping our sons widow now, she will make quite a bit of money off the sale of their home. And I guess when the time comes it will help us when we do downsize, but for now, it has pushed our property tax up so high! I know Portland is a pretty pricey area to buy into now as well. I watch those home improvment shows and am always so shocked at how much more you can get for your money in some places, Texas, Florida, Missouri especially! that one with chip and joanna in texas, wow are the houses ever cheap there!! lol
it was a stunning sunny day here and the snow has come down the mountain a long way so we went up with our youngest daughter and her new beau. they got a tree to take home and I cut boughs to make centerpieces for the tables, the jeep smelled so good coming back home! it was so beautiful with the white snow and blue sky! a very good day

 

[Dancind]

Smiley, Portland is very expensive too. Our house in Albuquerque has not increased in value, in fact dropped during the housing crisis and stayed there. Our IRAs are not going anywhere either, so hopefully real estate is a good move. And earthquake insurance! Property taxes are at least double in OR, and prices are going up about 6% a year. If you want a home there, you often have to offer more than asking price, and houses generally sell within a week of listing. It's crazy! But better to buy now than later, and be somewhere we like rather than a place with cheaper homes. Just not as much travel, but there's lots to do and see in the PNW. Was just shopping for waterproof hiking shoes! Short hikes, of course.

Question is, how am I going to move when I can't lift anything? So much stiff to deal with in this house. But now there might be a deadline, rather than "sometime in the future".

 

[smiley_face2]

Smiley, Portland is very expensive too. Our house in Albuquerque has not increased in value, in fact dropped during the housing crisis and stayed there. Our IRAs are not going anywhere either, so hopefully real estate is a good move. And earthquake insurance! Property taxes are at least double in OR, and prices are going up about 6% a year. If you want a home there, you often have to offer more than asking price, and houses generally sell within a week of listing. It's crazy! But better to buy now than later, and be somewhere we like rather than a place with cheaper homes. Just not as much travel, but there's lots to do and see in the PNW. Was just shopping for waterproof hiking shoes! Short hikes, of course.

Question is, how am I going to move when I can't lift anything? So much stiff to deal with in this house. But now there might be a deadline, rather than "sometime in the future".

I think every penny spent hiring movers will be money well spent!! and yes, I am sure the values in all of the pacific northwest will just keep going up, as it is here. That is how I dress now in winter 99% of the time, a warm top under a raincoat, and waterproof shoes or boots! lol! those winter boots from australia, Uggs, are very pretty, but very impracticle on the Wet Coast lol! You need to get a nice clear bubble umbrella too! Just think going forward for shopping, no tax in Oregon!! yay! I have a little redwood tree in a very large ceramic pot outside my living room window. I don't know whether to plant it or not. We just took out about a dozen huge fir trees 2 years ago, don't want to go through that again!! there are a few really big redwoods in town we walk by on our walks I can see, I think I will keep mine as a "bonsai" lol!!

 

[lovethattink]

Diana: It sure seems more common than they say. My arm is bugging me tonight. I'll see the oncologist again on Wednesday. I ordered a sleeve from lymphediva, it hasn't arrived yet. Sleeves are expensive! Good luck on your house offer! Movers definitely! Best decision we made when we moved to FL.

smiley: Cellulitis from pulling heavy sounds very scary! Glad you had a good day getting the tree with your family.

We went to DHS on Saturday. We visited Santa then Moana. What great M&G! Rode TSMM. Just that little bit did me in, I was exhausted and we headed home. But those couple hours we were there were so much fun!

 

[smiley_face2]

Diana: It sure seems more common than they say. My arm is bugging me tonight. I'll see the oncologist again on Wednesday. I ordered a sleeve from lymphediva, it hasn't arrived yet. Sleeves are expensive! Good luck on your house offer! Movers definitely! Best decision we made when we moved to FL.

smiley: Cellulitis from pulling heavy sounds very scary! Glad you had a good day getting the tree with your family.

We went to DHS on Saturday. We visited Santa then Moana. What great M&G! Rode TSMM. Just that little bit did me in, I was exhausted and we headed home. But those couple hours we were there were so much fun!

Glad you were able to have fun regardless of how tired you were! When we went to disneyland a few days after I finished my chemo, I was so weak!! hubby kept pestering me to get a scooter but I was determined to try and build my strength back up not give in to it! I miss the old days of hitting the park at rope drop, and the family having to drag me back to the hotel after closing!! lol!! but yes, anything is better than nothing and it's all about "the new normal" whatever that ends up being! 4 months later, after I was done with radiation, we took our grand daughters back, and we made rope drop several times! lol! I am very grateful that I have recovered as much as I have. Now I think it's more old age slowing me down!