OT - starting radiology this week

[Catnapper]

Tomorrow morning I will see the radiology oncologist to begin treatment for breast cancer. I expect I will have the typical 6 or 7 weeks of treatments for 5 days a week. Before that starts I will have a variety of preparations, including tatoos to mark the area to be treated.

I have to say that having breast cancer has put a different perspective on other health issues I have had. The other health issues have also helped me face this new one.

Lots of people here on cpaptalk have felt the "life" sentence that treating OSA means. I know I did. The first 6 weeks were terrible with that bare bones, no exhale relief machine at a pressure of 15 and masks that didn't fit. To me it seemed miserable and unbearable. It eventually got better, but those were some long weeks.

I wore that maddening immobilizing sling on my right arm for 6 weeks after I had a rotator cuff repair. That was another long, miserable 6 weeks.

Then there was that 6 weeks after I had bilateral total knee replacements. That's right - both at once. Whew. At least I was getting better at the end of that 6 weeks.

So here I am again starting 6 weeks of a medical treatment. I have read that radiology is a breeze compared to chemo, so I am lucky I didn't need that too. I have also read about the side effects which range from not too bad to really rough. I will have to see how I do, and hope for the best. CPAP turned out not to be so awful once I found cpaptalk and learned what I needed to do to take charge of the treatment and make it work for me. I hope I can do something comparable with the radiation.

I did have a bad experience with the medical oncologist. I fired him without hesitation because he had not read my pathology reports carefully, and he completely overlooked the second kind of cancer I have. Two reports, one from biopsy and one from surgery, both described 2 kinds of cancer and he missed the second one on both of them. When I pointed it out, he made a 180 degree change in how he wanted to treat the cancerS! Like I could trust that fool! He had his training at Mayo, but he slept through the classes where they teach you to read pathology reports.

If anyone has any tips on dealing with radiation, I would be glad to have them. PM is fine so we don't take up space on the cpaptalk pages.

Thanks for listening/reading.

Catnapper - Joanie

[gasparama]

Joanie, the local cancer center forgot to schedule my brachytherapy (internal radiation) so that it won't be starting until June 22 instead of the first week of June. At this point, I have no advice or anecdote to send your way. The only thing I can tell you is that you may be able to get good advice from a breast cancer forum. I joined a uterine cancer forum and those women have given me a lot of help. I have learned to expect fatigue As you said, we can p.m. and I do want to hear from you about your treatment.

Jane

[Pad A Cheek]

Joanie,

I wish you the very best through this treatment process. I know you will be thrilled when it is over. You are so upbeat and positive about everything, that will help a lot.

I enjoyed chatting with you on the phone while you were in Virginia. You know the phone lines work from Kentucky too, at least I think they do....

Take care and keep us up to date on your journey.

Karen

[sleepycarol]

I wish you well!!! I know several breast cancer survivors and know you will be among them!!

[DyannaK]

Although I have personally never had cancer I have had many family members with one form or the other... I will be rooting for you Joanie... Please let us know how you are...

huggs, Dyanna

[amos]

Mom,

Please be assured of my love and prayers. You have been one of my inspirations during cpap therapy, and I pray God's blessing upon you.

Love,

amos

[amos]

Mom,

Please be assured of my love and prayers. You have been one of my inspirations during cpap therapy, and I pray God's blessing upon you.

Love,

amos

[Yoda]

Joanie,
I will be praying for you. One of my closest friends just went through this and is a strong survivor. You will be, too!

Cecile

[twokatmew]

Good luck, Joanie! My mom was a breast cancer survivor, and I have a friend who'll be starting radiation for hers in a month or so. I know you'll both do well!

Re Mayo-trained surgeons -- I had one who botched my bowel resection, leaving me with peritonitis and an ileostomy. Fortunately another surgeon was able to repair the damage and reverse the ileostomy about six months later. This butcher was too busy basking in the glow of having trained at Mayo to provide his patients with proper care. Inflated egos are deadly. I'm glad you fired the guy and got yourself a good oncologist.

Take good care!

[SaltLakeJan]

Hi Joanie,
I have been watching for a post from you, and wondering how you have been. I wish you well in going through the radiation. I, thankfully, have no experience with Breast Cancer or radiation.

You were sharp to pick-up on that doctor - It could have been very nasty results had you not caught it.

Post and let us know how it progresses. If prefer, please PM me. I always remember your kindness to me.

The best to you,
Jan

[Muse-Inc]

Joanie, I wish you courage and grace during this new adventure. You might want to check out whether topical (skin cream form) progesterone might be appropriate for you; it activates a gene that fights breast cancer and balances the 3 major estrogens 2 of which increase cell growth (something you want to reduce now) reducing what is called 'estrogen dominance.' Dr John Lee was one of the first proponents of using it and wrote several books, one of which is "What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About breast Cancer." Progesterone also increases bone density by increasing bone buildup not just by preserving old bone tissue as bone density drugs do (that old tissue becomes fragile & brittle over time making it prone to shatter). They did some studies at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta that showed destruction of breast cancer cells over the two-weeks preceding surgery using topical progesteone...investigate.

Cheers & warm hugs, keep smiling 'cause the muscles in a 'smile' convince the brain you're happy, and most of all good luck!

[rested gal]

Joanie, I'll be thinking all good thoughts for you!!

[preemiern]

Joanie...just want you to know you will be in my thoughts and prayers. You are a strong lady and you are a survivor, so I know you will come through this as well. Just know you have all of our love and prayers here!!!
Big Hugs--
Cindy

[Catnapper]

My thanks to everyone who wrote to me, both here and with PM. It means so much.

Today went well. I like the doctor. I had the first marking and CT scans. I look like someone had fun with a red sharpie on my boob. (I never had that fantasy before now!) Tomorrow they will do the marking and scans again, do the tattoos, and a simulation of the actual treatment. Treatment will begin Thursday.

So far, so good.

Thanks again for the support and encouragement,

Catnapper - Joanie

[DyannaK]

Continued good wishes Joanie, you are in my thoughts....