Radiologists and Physicists, My new best friends!

By Peglove Sunday, September 27, 2009

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Hi All, So now I am really learning about waiting...just more waiting, but I am very confident that all will be fine. Today I met with the radiology oncologist(Dr. Williamson, lady) and she told me more than I ever wanted to know about radiation. So they have all this new cool stuff to radiate your tumor and not your lungs or your heart...because THAT is really bad. We also talked about how long it will take. The biggest side effects of radiation are skin burn, muscle tautness and fatigue. 6 weeks, monday through friday, about 20-40 minutes to get all positioned and radiated, then you get a little sunburn and maybe some peeling. The good thing is that your skin and muscle gets taut, and lifts your boob! That sounds nice, except you're only gettin' one done so the other one is out of luck and hangs where it is...but you can get a lift on the other one, and that is entirely a plastic surgery procedure...ooh, yet another doctor. Ugh. Then....I get to be on Tamoxofen for five years, so that any other cells do not pop up some other place in my body! Don't really know what else to say. If you know of some success stories about breast cancer, please share them with me...but I have had enough horror stories, so let's just keep them to a...none, please. I know it's going to be okay. But it still sucks and I'm still pissed. I think they should change the pink ribbon to the camo-desert storm ribbon. Let's all wait some more and find out what other fun stuff i'll get to do. I have told most of my family and friends now that I know I am stage 1 and very treatable. That's good. Now I am talking about it. At first I didn't want to talk about it at all, now I want to tell everyone. I just told a guy in the parking lot, "Hi, I have cancer, can you put your cigarrete out, jerk?" Then some days, I just don't want to even believe it. I didn't actually say "jerk". So hit me back, need to hear you all out there right now, I want to have a little party, but I know most of you want to go trick or treat with your kids on Halloween...and who knows if I will have use of my arm then...so I may not want to party. I feel like I just want to see your faces all in one place and hug and hug you and then take a big nap after I have had my fill of lovie-hugs.

Waiting for the genetic test, surgeon and other variables

Comments (8) | Add comment

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

9/27/09 9:36pm

Peg, we're just about as far apart physically as we can be (probably 3,000 miles?), but I'm sending you a virtual lovie-hug... Sounds like you've got a really good prognosis, and I'm betting you'll do just fine. Here's hoping - sending you healing energy. PJ

Peglove

9/27/09 10:48pm

Thank you PJ!!! I got your warm lovie-hug!

Anonymous

9/29/09 4:23pm

Hi Peggy, I am really sorry to hear what you are going through! After reading your posts I am glad to hear that it is not as bad as it can be. I am really glad you found the lump when you did. I have shared with some of my friends that they should get a mammogram before 35 especially if cancer runs in their family. You will be in my thoughts. Please reach out to me if you need anything!

Love,

Amber

Anonymous

9/29/09 4:24pm

Love,

Amber

Peace

10/ 1/09 8:44am

Dear Peg, here is a Stage 3 success hug for you. What you are going through is a path we most of us have gone through, you've got partners all over the place and plenty of hugs. In ten days will be my second anniversary of my mastectomy, and I am really happy. Living with BC is just fine. You go through the steps with a lot of patience and a lot of care of yourself. Here are some things I can share with you

1.sleep well. ask your doc if you cant. we all have fear, that is so very natural.

2.have good nourishment, your body needs it.

3.do 1/2 hr exercise everyday .I do treadmill walking every single day. you owe it to yourself.after exercising, you are a happy creature.

4.take care of your skin. if something happens to it (tearing) after radiation, baby it and it will heal nicely.don't smear stuff on it. always ask your doc.don't be shocked if

the tear looks yucky. just know that these things come and they also go with good care on your part.

5. if anything, don't panic. read, research,ask.

i am back to work part time and use the rest of the time on routine exercise,music and doing the thousand chores of a household. i make sure what i take in everyday is fresh and balanced. that makes me happy too. So Peg,

here is a fresh, crispy new hug for you.Wishing you a smooth journey through radiation!

Peace

10/ 1/09 7:07pm

After writing the last comment I went to bed. Just now I re-read it and found a mistake. I am "stage 2" and not "3" as written. Please correct. I apologize!But the hug is just as good. Wishing you a lot of strength and determination, Peg.

Peglove

7/12/10 5:25am

Thank you, peace.

I am just now reading your very important info that I am putting to good use right now as I go through radiation.

Warm lovies back at you, amber, and PJ!

I am up, can't sleep for pain coursing through my skin. But I am almost done. Just 9 more to go. Very fatigued, but managing.

Thank you for all your great advice!

Peg.

Peace

7/12/10 5:59am

Dear Peg,

Nine to go, nine to go, one less each day !

Yay! Peg, cheer ra-ra ! When a thing gets a name, it becomes easier to deal with. When I felt miserable after chemo

and felt soft as rubber and must find a sofa to lie down or get ready to zonk out and faint, I learned the word "exhaustion" , the one you are feeling and that is from what's been done on you. As soon as I knew there is clarity and a relief that

is purely from the brain. It does work.

I went through all kinds of sideeffects after the" hurray I'm done "experience. There is for example, still the skin to deal with, which, raw as it looked, also had a time tag on it. It gets better and better the tag is : 2wks. After that, you may have bladder infection to deal with because your bladder has worked very hard getting rid of the poison in your body (don't quote me, I am speaking from experience, not from med school) .

Then it was getting more back to normal where I decided to rid of my

sleeping pills which accompanied me through the whole treatment, easing me off to sleep each day during the ordeal, so thankful .

Then one day you find yourself driving again. And suddenly, you get this sudden anxiety attack, a fear of the road, not to be controling your car , exhaustion again.

Peg, that also will come to pass. I find,

that

1. knowledge to keep the fear out

2. exercise to keep your circulation working

3. curiosity to see what the others are doing and share the load with them

4. and nurishment, nice , balanced , fun , yummy nourishment

5. and a bag full of courage, and of hope

Get better and better with time, Peg, wishing you the very best !

Peace