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Rads done, done, DONE! YIPPEE!

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Posted 5/9/2005 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Today was my last Radiation treatment!  35 of 'em done and over with!  It all seemed so anti-climatic that I decided to go out afterward and ..... You guessed it SHOP!!!  I celebrated by getting a cute skirt and sweater set.  The dress I liked didn't like my hips so much when I tried it on.  Man did I put on some weight during rads!  Only about 6 lbs. but it all looks like it landed on my hips and gut!  Ugh!  I think the weight gain is due to being so tired.  Maybe when I get my energy back it will melt away!  Hey, a girl can dream can't she?

 

Met with the oncologist after the treatment and I will see him in 3 weeks on June 1st.  He didn't talk about the Tamoxifen though.  And I was dreading that, I know it causes weight gain, doesn't it?  I was all prepared to talk to him about a hyster.  I'm thinking since I have a fibroid growing in my cervix (and it has been causing problems that my gyn. said at some point I may just want to have the hyster) that I might be better off doing that instead.  Anyone have any experience with having a hyster instead of going on the Tamoxifen?

 

One more thing, I've been having mid back pain just on the right side for almost 2 weeks now.  And when I mentioned this to the onc. he passed it off as muscle pain and said we could talk about it when I come back if it is still bothering me.  I felt a littel put off but chalked that up to being tired and didn't want to blow my happy day.  Should I be concerned?  This is unlike anything I've ever felt before and there is no reason for it to hurt there.  I have no bruise or bumps there.  And DH is getting concerned.

 

Heading off to take my nap now.  DH, DD and DS wore me out yesterday with a wonderful mothers day! yeah

 

L & H,

Posted 5/9/2005 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hooray for treatments being over!!!! Could the pain be due to stress of radiation? Tensing up or something similar? Could be it from the fibroid? I would certainly persue the hysterectomy altho I am not sure it would keep you from taking tamoxifen. I was prescribed Tamoxifen after a hysterectomy. I did not take it long, tho. I pushed to have hysterectomy because I needed repair work and a dr told me in my 20s that I needed repair but without having the uterus removed it would not hold up. So when I was having problems anyhow due to premenopause I suggested the repair and removal. The dr was not really all that excited about doing it, but my uterus was enlarged some and I was positive so he agreed. After the path report came back he told me I had precancerous cells and he was really glad I had convinced him to do the surgery. So get rid of that fibroid, you never know what else could be lurking in there is my two cents worth. LOL

Hugs MK
Posted 5/9/2005 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Yea to the RAD GRAD! Yes, it is sort of anticlimactic though, isn't it? But nonetheless, retail therapy is the best solution!

I think if they were going to Rx Tamoxifen, they would do it even if you have a hyster....I do not think the hyster replaces it, since our bodies still make estrogen (they may use an aromatase inhibitor instead)...as for the back pain, I would give it a few more weeks and see what happens...it is frustrating for the onc to brush you off, but I know from my own experience and that of others, that we tend to report on every ache, pain and bump....and they cannot possibly run us through a workup every time. If the pain is only a couple weeks old, I do think it is wise to wait...but be sure to take note of any changes in it.

I developed strange pains in my head right after rads, turns out it was from TMJ and teeth clenching. I was sure it was brain mets. I developed pain in my sternum in late 2003, was sure it was mets, and turns out to be an arthritic process, likely a result of rads.

Hang in there...and savor the moment of being done with rads!!
L&H,
Lori
Posted 5/9/2005 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
We need to celebrate the end of rads. There is nothing like finishing rads and walking out into the sunlight and know you do not have to get up and come back again tomorrow. I am so happy for you. I know I can still remember that feeling, and the huge smile on my face.... only thing bigger than my smile was my butt moving as fast as it could to put serious distance between me and that building. I can tell you there are not many things I like to do everyday and one of the things I do not like to do is get up everyday and drive into the city. I think I exited with the words of M. L. King bellowing from my mouth. Free at last....As for the tamox. I am glad MK already hit you with that news. I would guess you will have to take it also. I know for a fact there is nothing easy. Never count on easy and you will not be disappointed. Hugs, Joyce
Posted 5/9/2005 9:05 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks you three for all the wonderful words and encouragement! :-)

Now, I have to say (sarcastically) Thanks A LOT for the news about tamoxifen! sad

Ding dang it, I was hoping to avoid that stuff.  Not that I really have any reason not to want to take it.  But I guess because of the unknown.  I can't seem to get very much info on what to expect from it.  Maybe I should look in Dr. Love's Breast Book again.  But I don't remember reading much about it there.  Anybody have any insight to give or a book to recommend?

I will (grudgingly) take it like a good girl if I have to.  I just thought I might be able to get away from it with the hyster.  Oh well.  I guess I've got to do what I've got to do.  Like the rads, I can do it with all your help.

Thanks again and hugs,

Posted 5/9/2005 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi: just wanted to tell you I know how good you feel today! I took 25 radiation treatments andafter doing that every day I was tired out.It felt soooooooooo good to be finally done!I was on tamoxifen for 5 years,no problems.Yes you do gain weight,but that's no big deal when you're doing what you need to do to keep well.The doctor told me to expect to gain at least 10 lbs. a year.Well I gained 30 lbs. Now I'm walking every day and eating right and I've lost 17 lbs so far.I'd say that you shouldn't worry about the weight gain,you can lose it after you're done the tamoxifen.You have to do everything you can to be healthy.Oh yeah,that was a good way to celebrate.Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 5/9/2005 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations, Mia! I'm so happy for you and your DH! You both must be soooo happy! What will you do with the extra time?

There is also new therapy instead of TAM for post-menopausal women (can be accomplished surgically, chemically, or with radiation) with early stage, hormone receptor positive cancer. I'll be doing that because it has some wonderful results in trials and recent studies. Arimidex, which is an aromatase inhibitor. Seems to have less side effects than TAM and less risk of gyn cancers. Lots of recent press about it : http://www.breastcancer.org/research_hormonal_120002a.html is a great article. Just thought I'd mention it so you know all of your choices.

Take care of yourself and enjoy the Springtime!

L&H,
Laure'
Posted 5/9/2005 10:29 PM (GMT 0)

Mia- I too was not happy to take Tamoxifen, but I have had little to no side effects. I am approaching the end of my 5th year (about 6 weeks left!) and have gained about 20-25#. I do not eat right, but walk every day, and I have wondered if the walking helped keep the weight gain to a "minimum". I joined Curves last month too, figuring it may help.

And all of us are different, so no telling what side effects you'd have or not.

L&H,

Lor

Posted 5/10/2005 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats!  Rad Grad!!!  Definately celebrate.  I, too, was a retail therapy gal! 

 

I'm the opposite, I think.  I want the Tamoxifen, the more precautions I can take, the better.  I'm getting a hysterectomy because I have adenomyosis, a condition that aggrivates the uteris and causes very painful periods.  I'm now bleeding and in pain very frequently, ever since the surgery back in March.  The tamoxifen messes with the uteris, too.  The arimiden only works if you're post menaupausal.  my onc and I are going to talk about it more when I get the hyster.  I'm seeing him tomorrow. 

Posted 5/10/2005 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Mia,

Celebrating with you sweetie on your completion of rads! SEE I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT!!!!!!!!!!

So sorry that you are having back problems. It is NOT fun to have back ache. Hang in there, it has to get better, if not be persistent and get answers to why this is bothering you.

Hugs,
Deb
^j^ ^j^
Posted 5/10/2005 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Stick a fork in her, the girl is DONE!!! Great feeling, isn't it, Mia. I did the full course of tamox and other than weight gain and hot flashes, had no problems. Good luck. Hugs, Lauri
Posted 5/10/2005 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
Mia,

I'm celebrating with all of you. Congratulations on becoming a rad grad. Let us know if you end up on Tamoxifen or Arimidex. Most of us have done one or the other, sometimes both. Enjoy your free time!

L&H,
Rita
Posted 5/10/2005 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
Mia, would you send me an email with your snailmail? Congrats on finishing rads.

Jo-Ann
Posted 5/10/2005 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Mia, I am a little late but wanted to add my CONGRATULATIONS!!! I did not do Rads, but I know how happy it must be to be finished! I was not able to take TAM so I can't comment on that, but sometimes I wish I could have taken it, just seemed like an extra safety net to me, but I am ER/PR- .

L&H
Sara
Posted 5/10/2005 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Mia,
Im late also, but I wanted to say Congratulations!!!!I can't imagine how good you must feel to be done.I'll be haveing my second chemo this Thursday, and I'm already wanting this over.Hope all goes well June1st.
Michelle
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