Anyone start rads in October?

ferretmom

Penni, a thought for you. Could you go into the treatment room wearing a open front shirt/blouse backwards? You will need to drop it down for treatment, but at least it will give you some feeling of being covered.

I am handed a gown to wear backwards from changing room to treatment room, about 15 steps. Just seems to me any facility should offer that, but if not, and you provide your own coverup, what can the do, fire you?

garnetann

I had a question about soaps since ferretmom brought it up. They said to use a mild soap like dove, but I normally use body wash, so I got Dove body wash. Do you suppose that is the same thing? I like it because it has a lot of moisturizer in it and I dry out in the winter. I compared the ingredients and did not see much difference.  They both had fragrance too.  (even though I can't smell it)

Also loved the comment to the doctor to take off the wig. 

For surely you did not choose this battle. Rather, it chose you. Inspired by your warrior spirit, I am here for you, ready to fight at your side.
Dx 6/1/2007, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/5 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

bomber410

Penni, what you described gives me the heebie jeebies.  I'm not an overly modest person either but you'd think they'd have at least one woman in the room.  You know when you get a gyn exam, if it is a male doc, they usually call a female nurse in for everyone's comfort. 

Joanne, good one about the wig.  Sometimes, they just don't think. 

Ferretmom, I'm with you.  Once you get the plan in your mind, you don't want anything disrupting it.  For me, the rads are to finish the day before Thanksgiving.  So my little mantra to friends is that Thanksgiving will be my day to truly give thanks.  Well, if I'm beset with delays to that plan because the machine is down or whatever, I'll be bumming.

We want to be done with this stuff so we can get back to really living.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not sitting around doing nothing.  It is like you say.  you plan your day around this stuff.  Hang in there.

Debbie 

Anonymous

I meet w/ the rad onc this week and start rads soon. Count me in w/ the October rads group. I would like to know who is starting Arimidex during the treatments.  It sounds like a good idea.

Melissa

dville

Yikes, No bra? That will make life interesting. At least it's not summer, though it sure feels like it. I did get snap front sports bras 3 sizes too big after the mastectomy and they work OK. Thanks for all these day to day boob reports. They are encouraging for pale-skinned chickens like me. Has anybody heard no chlorine water? I read that on this site somewhere yesterday and was kind of dissapointed. I was thinking about joining the indoor pool since I'LL be going to town every day. Is anybody out there swimming?



Debbie M.

joanne_elizabeth

Debbie M,

Snap front sports bras?  Where do you get them?  Do you use a prosthesis in them?  I have been trying to find creative solutions to this when I get to the gym once every 5 months lately !

Joanne 

4tngupnblu

Good evenin' gals,

Wow!  You've all been busy typing today!  I got tickled this morning when I saw that Helen had started a new link---for the Octobra--less Girls---it feels so much better!  And if'n they don't want to see flat chested me---well then just don't look!

Penni, I'm with everybody else.  I had 2 male techs in the rad room yesterday, and 1 was a stranger, but they still tuck the gown over the good boob for me after they get me positioned and order me not to move.  Get rebellious--take something with you to slip into, that's easy to drop off the bad boob shoulder!

Debbie girl, you and me are on the same schedule--due to finish the day before Thanksgiving!  And when I saw the onc doc today, he told me that I could use Lubriderm or other such items, just to make sure I wasn't wearing it to treatment.  I got into a minor disagreement with him though, as I have sore ribs and he says I don't!  I've already been diagnosed with thinning of the bones--he finally told me to increase my calcium intake.  They told me to make certain that any soap I used was fragrance free, that it could have moisturizers, but no fragrance, Garnettann. 

I sorta freaked myself out earlier by reading the threads about hormone treatment--I am prescribed Arimidex but have decided to delay starting them until rads are done.  Brenda in Va.--are you doing hormone therapy?  I discovered that many are having horrid side effects--and then luckily I found another board telling about minimal side effects----with way more posts than the bad ones. 

I'm looking forward to completing tomorrow's treatment, cuz with my minimal math skills, division tells me that I will be almost 25% done! 

Brenda  

joanne_elizabeth

Hi everyone,

I got my films and more markings today.  From the markings it looks like he wants to irradiate the axilla. My understanding is that this is not necessary after a node dissection. Is anyone else doing this? I have read it greatly increases the lymphedema risk. May be a tug of war tomorrow.

I  am taking Arimidex - about 2 weeks into it.

Joanne 

Barbeqrn

Wait for me everyone!!!!!! I am finishing chemo and already met with rad onc and will start as soon as TC 6 is done(tomorrow) and then I have to wait how may weeks before rads????? I forgot to pin that date down, as my last dose of TC is half dose from last week(long story)... I have updated myself on all of you, and it looks like I need to get "Udder Butter" new deodorant, female techs, Ivory soap and whatever else you pros have to offer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



How long does the session last, as I am hoping to plan work around it ....my biggest hope is that it is way better than Chemo!!!!!!!!



Barb

4tngupnblu

Hi Barb,

This was one of my questions before starting rads and I checked on the earlier groups for answers.  Gee, now I can help provide them!

I am working around tx's and needed to know if I would feel like going back to work.  I will be taking #8 today and after the first couple of tx's it's settled into routine.  The first ones take a little longer to make sure everything is on the marks.  In the door and back to car, has varied from 21 to 30 minutes.  Treatment itself takes about 10-15, dressing room, waiting to be called takes up the rest of the time.  Then I sit in my car and read and eat my own lunch and then head back to work.  Works well for me!

Brenda

Penni

Hi everyone, thanks for being there in my robe crisis.  I got the time slot I wanted today - when my 5 year old is in preschool, so I have a new team, and one of them is a woman.  Yay!  The first thing she told me is that it was up to me if I wanted to change in a changing room into a robe, or skip it.  Now that I have the choice I may just skip it - I'm totally insane.

I'm going to start tamoxifin after rads, is anyone taking that yet?  

My bad boob is still looking pretty normal after 9 rads. I'm swearing by the straight vitamin E (poke a vitamin E soft gel tablet with a pin and sqeeze). 

I'm done Friday before Thanksgiving week.  I might go out of town if I'm not too exhausted by then - full of energy so far.

joanne_elizabeth

Hi everyone,

Got my first one today after maybe 8 more tattoos!  I hope it gets to be a routine after awhile. I cleared up the axialla questions first which was good. I pulled in my DH for an assist with the questions.

They gave me samples of the aqua whatever cream so I guess you use those after treatment but not before you go in?

I have a chart on my desk here to cross every tx til done.  

I like that skipping the robe part now that I hear about it!  Great choice  - anything to get you moving outta there ! I am glad you had a woman there as well as a choice, Penni,

Layne - you are more tired than usual? I hope the fatigue doesn't get too bad !

Joanne 

KaraInLA

Hey everybody, just want to introduce myself. I'm starting rads tomorrow, after my appt today where they drew all over me with a sharpie, why don't they make up their minds, either use tats or a pen, but both is a mess!  I found my lump in early April, stage IIa, no node involvement, ER+, HER2-, finished chemo in early August (my onc just wouldn't do any more because I was becoming so sick, so didn't quite finish the full set), had a re-excision 3 weeks ago (yeah!  clean margins!).  I'll be reading to keep up with what to expect.  I had so much trouble finding a time that worked, I finally picked something toward the end of my work day, but I'm already looking at my calendar (next week my son will be home for his fall break from his first year of college...I want to spend time with him, not the rad techs).  Looks like I'll be done in early December, what a pain.

-Kara

Anonymous

I decided to come back and check on you ladies....and what do I find???? More ladies!!! Im so happy to see everyone supporting each other so well....

Laynel57, the fatigue issue: I didnt noticed much until the last 3 weeks of treatment then it hit like a ton of bricks....I worked full time, had rads, then in the evening tried to walk some, it helped alot but the fatigue was a real kicker for me.....it also took me about 2 months to feel 1/2 way normal again.....I found it helped alot to drink tons of water and juice...I also took extra b-12 vitamins daily due to having pernicous anemia but didnt figure it could hurt.

I havent had time to read back to check on each of you but I will this evening and if you have questions please feel free to ask and I will try to help in anyway I can....

Hugs to all of you and remember your almost there!!!!!!!

Jule

Anonymous

Ok, I read back and you all sound like your doing well....your antics here almost (but not quite!!!!) make me wish I were going through my rad treatment with your group....you are all so happy and strong!!!!.....you are very similar to the group of ladies that befriended me here through treatment and as you will find...these friends dont go away once treatment is over....I still visit daily with many of the ladies that traveled my journey with me...some of have moved on to chatting on msn or yahoo and then there is an entire group of us that have a group going on yahoo as well....the friendships you are making here will always be with you......

ok, enough of the insight on life here!!!!!

I read back a page or two so hopefully Im not already giving advice that someone else has already given.

4tngupnblu: you said something in one of your posts about bone lose and the dr. saying to up your calcium intake....I didnt have bone lose but was taking Arimidex so thought I should start taking a calcium +D supplement...I was taking 1200 mg per day as recommended and about 3 wks into it I was plagued with twitchy legs at night, so much so that it was keeping me awake....upon further research I found that if you take a calcium supplement you should so increase your magnesium intake as it helps your system obsorb the calcium....just a thought, if you start experiencing odd things you might back off on the dose of calcium (as I did) or add the mag and see what happens.....

Penni: You were questioning whether or not to take tamoxifen during rads....I started the tamox in January and started rads in Feb...no one said not to take it during rads and I was a full 3 wks into rads before the nurse finally saw it in my chart and questioned it...she said they dont usually like you to take it during because in some people it can cause the radiation burns to be more severe...since I was already 3 wks into it and didnt have burn issues I took it all the way through....And the male tech thing!!!!! when I first started the tech was a woman, but then as time went on I ended up with two male techs...they were very discrete about things....keeping "both boobs" covered until immediately before zapping and then only exposing the portion the needed...they were very gentle and compasionate about it...

Laynel57: Braless, no that is a conversation ...Im smaller breasted so have always been able to go braless whenever I wanted but out grew those days and have worn one daily for years.....I stopped wearing a bra the first treatment and wore white cotton tank tops under other blouses and found it very comfy...it was kind of strange to be going to work braless though as I work in an office mainly of males.....

Helensm: Tattoos-a conversation I will never forget having with my 27 yr old daughter....recently my daughter and her girl friend were over in the evening and we were discussing tattoos....both girls have discreet ones...I said "hey, I have four..." they laughed as they know I dont really have tattoos, so I ended up showing them the four tiny markers....I was teasing and said that the one on my inner/upper part of my breast that shows when I wear low cut tops I was going to have tattooed over with a smiley face....my daughter got the most ghastly look on her face.....she told me that I had just given her WAY too much information.....all I could do was laugh, she didnt think it was funny a week later either when I stopped by her home and walllllaaaaaa theres a  just barely peeking out of my neckline....I had gotten a fake one placed there just to tease her....we are very close, but she said I was pushing my luck ....

Sorry my post is so long but you ladies just have WAY too much fun here .....Remember I will be back to check on you so keep up the good work girls.....your almost to the finish line!!!!!!!! (wow, that is almost scarey, I can only imagine the party you ladies will be throwing!!!!!!!)

Hugs

Jule

Helenhsm

Wow this has been a BUSY place!! Welcome to the new ladies here and nice to see some of you who've been through this come to visit here. Thanks!!

Jule, you are too funny with the smiley face tattoo! Ha ha! You have a great sense of humor, and you sure pulled a fast one on your daughter.

Well I started the Octobra-less thread coz I thought this one was getting to long, but hey, this place is getting busier and busier!! Well that is cool and I suppose all you new people have know idea what I was talking about!

Penni, I'm glad you now have a choice about where you dress and that a woman showed up. Yay.

Going fragrance free was easy for me, as I had made that switch this year due to other reasons.

Keep shining Octobraless gals! 

joanne_elizabeth

Jule,

Thanks for sharing about all your experiences.

The fatigue has be a bit alarmed though.  Sounds like a version of chemo fatigue?

Everyone keeps telling me that rads is nothing, won't make you tired.  Wonder why this is - most don't get tired???

A woman I haven't had occasion to talk to in maybe 6 yrs came up to me at a school event last night - oh I heard you have cancer! I hate that kind of unsolicited attention. I only like to talk to certain people about this, not relative strangers. Oh well, another day another zap in a bit!

Joanne 

joanne_elizabeth

Layne,

Sounds like you are moving right along with this all ! It is always nice to have someone in front of you a bit so you know kinda what to expect.

Kara, welcome to this forum.  

Sometimes I feel like I am too sensitive - if a quasi-stranger asks if I have cancer what is so bad about saying yes? On the other hand I would never have told her had she not asked. I wonder what the assertive thing to do would be.

I have to start remembering to put my udder stuff or aloe gel on. I hate the idea of getting all over my bras, but they may be going away soon for awhile anyway.

 One more work day then the weekend! Yeah no racing to rads for 2 days !!

Joanne 

joanne_elizabeth

Layne,

Thanks for all the words of wisdom. I guess I regret not having blown her off. She took me by surprise. Sometimes I think I on my feet (or back) A tech recently asked me during a dexa scan if I had a mast or lumpectomy so I asked her how that related to a dexa scan.  She later aplogized and said she did not mean to be intrusive so then I told her I was a one-breasted wonder.

I am definitely a private person, except for here! I would never have told most people in this town, but my son told all his friends who told all their moms, etc.  I did tell him from the get go though that it was his call to tell people or not. He is a social butterfly - you gotta wonder where he came from!

The good news is I have 2 rads down. The worst part of it is the drive home and if that is as bad as it gets I can thank my luck stars and all you women for going thru this with me. I am getting in the habit of greasing up this rad site a couple times a day.

Joanne 

Helenhsm

Hi Layne and Joanne, nice to see you here today. Joanne, how rude for the person to ask you about cancer. You know I hear of this type of thing, but it has never happened to me - and I've had Chronic Fatigue/Fibro. for years. I hope you don't run into any more people like that!!!

Layne, yahooo you are almost half way!! I will 2/3 done on Monday. This is actually going quite fast and I've felt fine the whole time! Yay!!!

Ya just some nipple soreness is all. Hope that isn't TMI. lol I think the Aloe Vera is helping, I am red, but not terribly so.

4tngupnblu

Hello everyone,

I disappeared and look at all the catching up I have to do.  Woke up Weds. morning with a sinus infection, which always knocks my equilibrium all out of kilter.  Kentucky-allergy/sinus capital of the world, I think.  Yesterday I couldn't even drive myself to tx, but I think it's better today and I'm going to tackle going to work.

Nice thing happened though--my family doc was closed Weds. and in my search for help--called rad clinic & they found me a doc to see and got me in immediately, who of course gave me script for the anti-biotics to kick this infection.  Just a bump in the road I guess.  No wonder I slept thru last weekend. 

I know that Jule and someone else posted on things I want to respond to, but my head is still a bit pluffy.  When I get out of the fog, I'll have to start back at the top of the page. 

I'm not going bra-less because of any real discomfort.  I found that bad boob was feeling creepy-crawly inside the cup and reminding me constantly of tx and bad boob.  Maybe it's shrinking--does that happen--wouldn't you know that's already the smaller one.  And tending to be kinda small breasted, I can get away without wearing it and it feels so good not to be picking at it and re-adjusting--until the headlights come on-LOL  Helen I also am using Aloe Vera and that seems to be all I need at this point.

Feels good to be out of bed and back with the girls!

Brenda

ferretmom

Morning GlowingGirls.

Radiation Dermatitis. On my boob, back and abdomen. Dr said switch to Cortaid cream. Hopefully my body will just adjust to this.

There is a nasty cold/flu type bug going around here, seems like everywher I went yesterday folks were sneezing and hacking.

Hope all of you enjoy the weekend. Our weather is not going to be the best, but I hope to get some outside cleaning done. Both the front and back decks are full of dirt/leaves after last weeks wind.

Won't even mention the windows :-((

Penni

Joanne, you sound like my husband, who is definitely the private one in our family.  I seem to spit out to my friends/coworkers/neighbors/kids' teachers, whatever is on my mind, and rads have been on my mind lately - 12 down 20 to go.  Then I'm chatting with a friend of my husband's the other day, and I mention something about driving back from radiation, and I was shocked that he knew nothing about it. 

We all have colds here too, so I can just blame whatever bad I'm feeling on the cold.  Except, is it my imagination or is the bad boob shrinking?  Does anyone have shrinkage? 

joanne_elizabeth

Yes I am definitely the private one here.  I don't mind talking about it at all with fellow bc people, close friends and family, but outside of that I am not too open about it.

I think my mast scar is already tougher, nastier feeling, but it could be my imagination.  You would think something like a mast scar couldn't get too much worse looking!

I am glad we are off for 2 days, but if I could I would go in this weekend, to get 2 more outta the way.

Hope you all have a good weekend.  When is fall coming to NJ?

Joanne 

bomber410

Hello all, It's been a busy week.  As for fall, we have a beautiful fall here on the north shore of Massachusetts.  The colors are magical.  My father lives north of Syracuse, NY and says fall is over up there. 

I've got 10/33 treatments done.  So far so good.  Maybe a bit of rib ache or it's from something else.  No shrinkage for me yet, but I'm with you.  I'd keep going through the weekend right now if they'd let me.  Just want to get this done.

For me the great news is that I'm doing much more regular exercise.  I've got decent energy right now.   

We're off to Martha's Vineyard this weekend with our bicycles and fishing rods to help celebrate my 52nd birthday.  And it's going to be in the 70's.  Woo hoo! 

I hope you all catch up on your sleep and take some time for what gives you pleasure.

Take care,

Debbie 

dville

My bad. There are really seven hooks, not snaps. I found them in Kmart of all places. The brand is Bestform.

They work with my light latex prosthesis and I haven't tried them with my heavier silicone one. The trick is to get a bra 2 or 3 sizes too big--but not too, too big or the prosthesis won't stay in. I jog some and they work pretty well for me.



Debbie M.

Barbeqrn

Layne,

I love reading your posts! I had that last bit of chemo on Wedneday am, went to work for the afternoon and then worked Thurday and made in through 40 minutes of aerobics before the towel was thrown in!

I guess I will start the rads in late Oct. Where do you buy that Udder stuff? What supplements do they recommend or not recommend during rads?



Joanne, I too, am a somewhat private person too, I was at a block party and one of my neighbors announced that I was undergong chemo in front of about 10 other women...oh well, so much for privacy...!



Debbie, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!Have a great weekend, I am jealous down here in Tampa in the high 80's, low 90's!



Barb

joanne_elizabeth

Debbie - Happy Birthday!

Thanks for the info about the sports bras - I have been trying to find an acceptable alternative to regular ones for awhile.  I occasionally go to a gym and that is an issue - what to wear, where to change, etc.  Sometimes I think I should just run around half naked and if women don't like the one breast look, don't look, but so far I haven't been that brave. I think I would make more of an impression than if I wear a pink bow on my shirts !

I may just wear the sports bra to work which would make it easier. 

Barb - what did you do or say when this woman announced your chemo? I would have been horrorfied!  

I don't know if I am imagining this or not, but my mast scar, muscles seem stiffer after 3 rads.  So I am back to doing all the post-breast surgery exercises to try to keep the range of motion going.

Hope you are all enjoying the weekend and 2 day reprieve from rads.

Joanne 

Helenhsm

Happy Birthday Debbie!! I hope you had a wonderful time this weekend.

4tngupnblu

Happy Sunday,

Well, I've slept another weekend away.  Happy Birthday Debbie!  Ferretmom---how are you doing this weekend?  The heck with the windows!

Brenda