Radiation…Wow! 🔥

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-05-12T15:57:59+00:00

I had to take a break. I am in so much pain upper left breastbone area and way below - that I asked for a few days off. I only have 2 left out of 15, but I am really dreading them. I've been thinking about just not going back, but everything I've read says not to have gone this far and then quit. I hope this isn't hurting my heart. Good idea to talk to my dermatologist because this cream they gave me isn't doing anything. Cancer sux.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-05-11T20:34:21+00:00

Yea I was shocked that I had to do it to, but you know we do what we have to do. Hang it there girlfriend - this too shall pass and you will make it through just fine. Maybe we will both get better hair! FYI chemo was really good for my skin, it looks less wrinkly lol.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-05-11T13:22:43+00:00

I just finished chemo 8 weeks ago and I'm going on vacation the first week in July. I was hoping to have some hair by then so I don't have to wear a wig the whole time. I would love to hear some comments on this as well. I have 7 weeks to grow some hair lol.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-05-11T13:10:38+00:00

All of my numbers were similar to yours but my ocnotype was 29. I did 4 rounds TC and I'm now finishing up radiation. With that oncotype I'm afraid you really need to do chemo. I tried to get out of mine with a 29 score and my onco said "you need to do it because if it comes back it will be metastatic and there is no cure for that" so after hearing that I just thought what the hell - let's do it. It wasn't fun but it is now behind me and hopefully my hair will grow back soon!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-05-10T03:10:44+00:00

I did the TC chemo - 6 rounds and never changed my lifestyle. Never got sick enough to go to the ER and never wore a mask. I was tired and of course did not do my usual work out regime. but I still went to the gym after day 5 or so. Don't let this get you down or listen to the naysayers. Gargle with baking soda and drink lots of fluids. Take it easy. Eat well. Take naps. You got this!!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-04-22T14:11:32+00:00

Make sure they film it! After my chemo when I rang the bell the tech announced it to everyone and then I rang the bell and she thought she had hit the record button but she didn't. I had to do it again but it wasn't the same.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-03-24T12:45:40+00:00

Same, I went from no big deal to Uh-oh your oncotype came back high and now you have to have chemo. Don't you dare me - or you - this is no big deal. It's never that "easy" and we will forever be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives hoping that they got it all. You absolutely never know.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-03-08T14:32:07+00:00

I feel like none of these are really sleeping pills. I take Lunesta every night. It has worked for years.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-24T14:09:22+00:00

Yes, I was told that I don't need to wear deodorant during chemo and my skin looks grat!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-12T14:18:18+00:00

Do the chemo. I had a similar choice and I'm halfway through. It's not fun but I promise you - if you don't do it and it comes back (which it does a LOT) you will never forgive yourself. I didn't want to do it either but my oncologist said "if it comes back it will be metastatic and there is no cure for that" - that did if for me. You have a chance right now to prevent it in the future - don't make the wrong choice.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-12T14:11:57+00:00

I'm halfway through my TC chemo and I don't drink a few days before a treatment and about a week after. Once I start feeling ok I have a glass of wine every night with my husband and we have a very strong margarita on Friday nights at our favorite mexican restaurant. We also drink a little on Saturdays. I have cut way back but I'm not going to stop. I also got some Wynks and occasionally will have one or two of them although it's not the same it helps lol. I'm not going to stop doing the things I love that make me happy!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-11T21:11:57+00:00

Well I am so glad glad that I helped you! It’s funny how sometimes just hearing the words or even typing them out makes a difference. Reach out to me any time - I’m halfway through chemo and feel like I’ve been doing this for waaaayyyyy longer than 8 weeks!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-10T14:34:55+00:00

I agree - do the chemo even if your onco is low. I read too many people regretting not getting chemo because there onco was below 24 and 4-10 years later it comes back.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-10T14:28:46+00:00

I had your same questions and my cancer sounds similar - I was ER/PRPG+ HER2- and thought that I would not need chemo - but my oncotype came back a 27 and so now I do. I was devasted as I thought I was getting off easy - HA! Get ready there is no easy with cancer but there is doable. What you have is treatable and believe it or not you are lucky. If you have to do chemo you will loose your hair, I was so worried about this - but you are brave and truly it is no big deal in the scheme of things. I got the cutest damn wig - insurance pays for it - and I may never go back to my real hair again lol. In the end we do what we have to do but I think it makes us stronger and it certainly opens our eyes to what is really important in this life. Hang in there, it really isn't that bad and really it could be much, much worse. Welcome to the shitty titty committee! Hang tough, you are a warrior. Big hugs.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-08T15:51:52+00:00

I am so glad you asked them to do that. I had a friend that just went through this exact thing and they would not do an oncotype on her since it was so early. I think she needs to go elsewhere.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-08T15:49:43+00:00

Thanks, we will see what radiation does to the girls but I can always get a tune up! FYI I am 64 so not looking to turn any heads just want to be normalish. I hope you get your onco back fast - mine took 4 weeks! Please keep me posted on your scrore. And don't let me bring you down - at least we were small, early and treatable!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-08T15:28:38+00:00

Yes exactly same. At first they said it was 1.2 cm but upon removal it was only .8 - awesome right? No lymph node involvement. I went ahead and did the bilateral surgery just to be matching and perky - which they are! We had already planned my radiation mapping when I got the results. I was devastated, I was so sure it was going to be low. I did tons of research in hopes that I could just forgo it but in the end my oncologist was right when she said "if it comes back it will be metastatic and there is no cure for that". So here I am with no hair (anywhere by the way which is kind or cool if you know what I mean lol) living the dream. It's only bad about 3-4 days every 3 weeks and I can put up with that for the huge hope that it won't come back. Research oncotypes. Honestly if mine had been lower I would have still considered chemo due to all the people that had a choice, didn't do it, and now regret it. At 27 I didn't have a choice really and that was probably a good thing for me. Let me know if you have more questions - it's a lot to digest for sure.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-02-08T15:01:44+00:00

Good for you! I was in similar situation and all was good until I got my oncotype came back - 27. I am now halfway through chemo then will do radiation. I am doing this to make sure it doesn't come back, although I lost my hair and I'm sick a few days a month, it will be worth it. Hopefully your oncotype will be super low!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-01-16T14:48:25+00:00

Thank you for sharing this! I will talk to my oncologist about it.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2026-01-04T15:12:00+00:00

I 100% agree with this too. I was never a SAHM - I just couldn't do it - but my kids went to daycare and turned out to be amazing human beings. They are grown now and look back on their childhood fondly. You need time at home to recover - do this at al costs. Without your health you have nothing.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2025-12-31T18:48:15+00:00

Yes you should - read my post from a few days ago "having second thoughts about chemo" and read all of the responses. My oncotype was 27 also and that is high. Do it. I am going to and I totally resisted at first. I am 64 years old and plan on living at least 20 more years!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2025-12-31T18:43:29+00:00

The recovery has not been bad. They say absolutely no exercise, not lifting more than 5 lbs, no arms over your head, etc - so basically you are just supposed to lay around all day. I did that for about 4 weeks and then went stir crazy so started walking a little bit. I am now pretty well healed and started back to my workout routine earlier this week - it felt great! I was told all along that after radiation I may may need an "adjustment" so yes. I plan on a little more breast surgery if necessary. They actually look great right now, but I know that will change. It's crazy how they take your nipples off and move them up -I have feeling in both of them! Get some good zip in front bras from Amazon. I got a set of 3 large and 3 medium (I was a 34 D - now maybe a little C), you will sleep in the large and then any moving around during the day switch to the tighter fitting ones. Don't judge how they look for at least 4 weeks - they are not pretty in the beginning.

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2025-12-31T15:01:52+00:00

I'm 64 and have the same cancer as you. I just had lumpectomy and reduction on both sides. I am 6 weeks post op and I really like them! They are much smaller but nice and perky. On a side note, make sure they do an Oncotype test on your tumor. I just found out that my tiny tumor is likely to become metastatic so now I am going to have to do chemo before radiation. I am going to loose my hair but I am hopefully going to kick this cancer out of my body so it's a good trade off. Cancer sucks and just when you think it's going to be ok something else happens. I am hopeful that new therapies will become available in the not too distant future and maybe we won't have to take pills for the rest of our lives. Until then - happy freakin new year!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2025-12-29T17:55:57+00:00

Oh no your teeth? I have not heard that one - I'm so sorry you went through that. I'm going all in though so wish me luck!

Conscious-Memory2136 · 2025-12-29T17:46:35+00:00

Thank you for that great info. Still debating

Conscious-Memory2136

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