Wellness

[Tissyanne]

@hyacinth003 , I had a lumpectomy, and 3 lymph nodes removed (negative) for the early stage breast cancer that was found on a mammogram.  Mine was HER2 negative. Chemo was not in my treatment plan, but 5 days of accelerated radiation 2x a day was. 

I made it through with a lot of redness, which I still have to some degree almost 4 years later. I used the cream the Oncology radiologist prescribed.  I don’t have any pain, and the radiation was painless other than dealing with what felt like a sunburn. Having accelerated radiation was the same amount of radiation that six weeks would have been. 

I have been taking a hormone blocker since my radiation was complete. Minimal side effects. 

My very best to you, and remember,  you can do hard things. You already have been through the most difficult part of this. 

Blessings. 

[azgal]

I finished 6 weeks of radiation on March 31st .

Had a lumpectomy and no lymph nodes were involved. I'm HER2 positive too.

Radiation was not a problem for me. After treatment I went home and used CeraVe. My Dr. said that was okay. I had to make sure it was all washed off before the next treatment.

My skin did look a little like beef jerky the last week but I didn't have any pain or skin issues besides the color.

It is hard to go every day but I think you will be surprised how fast it goes.

I take a hormone blocker which is going well except that my hair stopped growing. Enough hair grew back before I started the blocker so I think I can live with that. Dr said he could change me to a different one if I want but I've heard many women have side effects that they stop taking them. I think I can live with a pixie cut.

I only took a few rounds of chemo but I couldn't function so I stopped. 

I hope you get through without too many problems and are back to your old self as quickly as possible!

[kathy213]

Thank you. I appreciate it

[kathy213]

Thank you so much!

[hyacinth003]

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@kathy213 wrote:

I just finished proton radiation in January. I had regular radiation last year . Colon cancer which metastasized into my lung. Had chemo with the colon cancer but didn't do well with the chemo. Opted for radiation with the lung cancer. Had a CAT scan in April but there was so much inflammation, the radiologist couldn't tell if the tumor shrunk. Just had another CAT scan this July but from what I see on the report it seems to have grown. I have a telecall with the radiologist next week. Hopefully my oncologist will have a treatment plan for me. Good luck with your radiation. I had no problem except tiredness. 

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@kathy213 

This sounds like a lot for you.  My first go round with chemo was awful and I ended up in the hospital twice after the first treatment.  They had to modify it and I finished it.  I am on a second round with a different drug now.  Chemo really is awful!  Hope your medical team will come up with another plan for you.  They sure do have many other options now than in the past.

Wishing you well.

Hyacinth

[GrailSeeker]

Thank you @hyacinth003  and the others in this thread who have contributed.  I was just diagnosed on June 29 with invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen and progesterone positive, HER2 negative. I'm 68.

I'm still in shock and very frightened, but hearing of other's experiences and success is reassuring, supportive, and helpful to me. 

I have an MRI scheduled for Thursday.  I've never gone through any of these kinds of things before, so even that is anxiety inducing.  

[FastDogWalker2]

@hyacinth003 I am sending healing thoughts to you - I hope your treatment goes well and you are back to living your life the way you enjoy!

[JeanLouiseFinch]

Sending my best wishes to you @hyacinth003, that your treatments do the trick and praying that your health will be restored.

[just bee]

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@GrailSeeker wrote:

Thank you @hyacinth003  and the others in this thread who have contributed.  I was just diagnosed on June 29 with invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen and progesterone positive, HER2 negative. I'm 68.

I'm still in shock and very frightened, but hearing of other's experiences and success is reassuring, supportive, and helpful to me. 

I have an MRI scheduled for Thursday.  I've never gone through any of these kinds of things before, so even that is anxiety inducing.  

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@GrailSeeker 

I was diagnosed with rectal cancer at the end of March.  A common diagnosis for someone my age (63).  As you've pointed out, hearing others' experiences is definitely reassuring and supportive.  And really comforting.

That's the one thing to remember.  There will be days when you feel you are alone in this process, but you are not.

Everyone I talk to has a story.  Even if they haven't had cancer, they have been touched by it.  They always know of someone close who went through what the posters here have gone through.

My hospital's Cancer Center sees 16,000 patients each year.

I'm a psychiatric nurse and I'm determined to continue working as long as I can.  So far so good.  Monday will be my sixth of eight infusions of FOLFOX.  I go home with a pump and infuse for another 48 hours.  I have a port in my chest.

In September, I begin chemoradiation.  The radiation treatments are 5 days a week.

Treatment, at first, seems overwhelming but, as others here have said, it moves pretty quickly.

Don't fret about the MRI.  They should have headphones and several musical options for you.  Hospital staff is supportive and will get you through it.

Let us know how it went.

[just bee]

@GrailSeeker 

How was the MRI?