March 2009 Rads Group?

JustStamping

I'm on board.

Finished chemo on 02.11.  Started rad on 03.10.  Today was day three of 30 and I'm already battling fatigue.  Anybody have suggestions for battling the fatigue.  Skin is already drying out and is turning red.  I had thought the side effects wouldn't start appearing for a couple weeks but I'm already seeing signs of the skin problems.

Britt

Hello March Rads Ladies!  I just found out today that I will not need chemo, since my Oncotype score came back as 12! - so I am going directly to rads - simulation scheduled for 3/24/09.  Ergo, may I join your wonderful group?  Thanks so very much!

Maria

TorchSong

Welcome everyone!

I don't start rads until Monday--the 16th--but I've already started using lotion, just to be sure the skin is well-moisturised. The techs who ran the rads class suggested it, so I thought it might be a good idea!! I'm hoping it will stave off some of the skin effects.

I'm also worried about the fatigue--really hoping I don't have to deal with that. I've taken too much time off work as it is, plus I just ended a relationship and the last thing I need is to be lying around with nothing to do but keep running things through my head. I'm planning to exercise as much as I can--walking, mostly--in hopes that will help. I got really depressed during chemo fatgue and I don't want that to happen again. Also, I'm looking for a new job and I want to be able to be "up" for any interviews.

Hugs to all

Martha

jessee54

hi everyone,

Three tx's down, 30 to go!  So far so good, I can't complain. It's a bit more time consuming than I expected, but I just have to remember this is all worth the trouble.

Brenny, great idea about bringing your own robe! I've about had it with those johnnies. And it's usually so cold in the tx room.

They took more films today, which I didn't understand, I thought they just took them in the beginning. I asked if there was a problem, since it was taking so long, but they said no, they were just making extra sure it was precise. I was there over an hour altogether.

I also seem to be more tired. I slept about 10 hours last night, and continued to feel tired all day. I very recently got back most of my energy after chemo, so I hope this doesn't continue.

Susie, As for moisturizing, I've decided to just use organic olive oil and 99% organic aloe vera gelly 3x;/day. I couldn't find a moisturizer that didn't have something objectionable in it, so I figure olive oil is better. The coconut oil sounds good. I'll have to check it out

Thanks Diane and Blue for the lotion advice..

Jan, you really aren't closed in while lying there. The camera just travels around your body on a huge arm-like thing. Otherwise you are in the open. Some women have trouble with their arms above their heads for that period tho, expecially if they have rotater cuff probs or lymphedema. 

Continued good luck to everyone,

Jessee 

bluedasher

Jessee, I think my rad onc said that they will take films every week to check that things are still lined up.

nelia48

Jessee, I also had a lot of xrays taken at the beginning.  Didn't understand it either, but better safe than sorry.  The first few sessions, they took forever to make sure everything lined up correctly.  I had my 10th session today, and I'm starting to get somewhat red.  Also, my blood pressure shot up two sessions ago to 200/98.  I don't know what that is about, but I never had high blood pressure before.  I've been monitored constantly since July and it's always been normal.  Now, it won't come down.  They gave me a prescription for it and I have to see another Dr.  Anyone else get high blood pressure with all this?

Cora

karen43

Cora...I have high BP but had it before rads too. It has been higher since starting tx though.

Nancy...yes, I'm getting very tired. Will check back with ya this weekend.

Mary22

SusieMTN I have psoriasis and extremely dry skin, I have now had 9 treatments and so far so good. They will give you cream to use if you get an irritation.

kristifromsandiego

You ladies have been so informative. 

I go see my radiation oncologist next week (I get mapped on the 17th), so now I am loaded with questions about cream and aloe, hyperbolic chamber, etc.  Also, did you guys get your blood checked?  I heard that they sometimes do this to check out you blood counts before you start.  I wanted them also to check my hormone level.  Chemo threw me into menopause and I wanted to see how and where I stand with the hormone thing.  My regular oncologist doesn't want to put me on Tamoxifen till after radiation.  Anybody else in this situation? Thank you Kristi

CindaD

Kristi, My onc isn't giving me tamoxifen until after I'm finished rads and I'm glad!  I told the techs yesterday that I was sore from exercising ( trying to lose the chemo wt) and they told me that they don't want me to lose any wt, they said the first place you lose it is in the boobs and it will screw things up!  Just can't seem to catch a break!

nelia48

Kristi, they check my blood every week at my Cancer Center.  I'm sure your radiologist will tell you about creams, etc.  Mine have already given me a handful of Aquaphor samples to use.  I'm a little red, but not blistered or burned yet.  But I put it on after every treatment.  Cora

Mary22

I just finished TX #10, only 23 to go. I was very lucky I did not need chemo. Every Friday I see the radiation onc, he said if my skin gets itchy or irritated that they will give me cream to use. I remember today why I had the Mirena IUD in the first place very light periods. I got my first period and I feel horrible. Has anyone else started Tamoxifen, will it lighten your periods?

After TX on Fridays the rad onc sees you, so I do not have to make an extra trip and I am still at work at the same time. I just think that all of this as one big detour in life adn this too shall pass.

TorchSong

I'm interested to see how the orrangement for seeing the rad onc at my cancer center will work.

Instead of an appointment each week, there's a time (say, Tuesday morning) when your rad onc is available on a drop-in basis.  You just let the receptionist know when you check in that you want to see the onc, and you're given a slot after your treatment.

Supposedly, this way if you're doing OK, you don't have to waste your time (or hers/his) when you're spending enough time there every day for treatments. But if you do need to see the doc, you can, fairly easily (and of course if there's an emergency there's always a doc available). 

Gettign ready to start this new adventure on Monday...got my book ready, my emu oil, and my Tom's of Maine!

Martha

mricha02

I have psoriais, too - which flared up like crazy during taxol and hasn't calmed down even though last treatment was 2/9/09.  Had 3rd TX of radiation today.  It's not so bad.  Using Aloe Fruit of the Earth.  Only 22 TX to go.  After I don't know if I'm doing tamoxifen or Arimdex.  I don't know if I'm pre menopausal or post menopausal.  Diagnosd at 48 with BC and making visits since 6/06 cause things not quite right down there with unusual periods, heavy bleeding, nonstop bleeding - dried up like a desert since all this chemo started in September.  Wondering what's gonna happen with that.  Start bleeding again?  All this stuff isconnected but they look at you piece by piece.

soaplady1950

i started my first treatment on tuesday march 10th.  going good so far  i am using biofine and my girls cream hope to make without any skin reactions.  i have had a change in the breast tissue around where the tumor was it has gotten firmer no longer muchy like it was.  good luck to everyone

soaplady1950

has anyone who had chemo experienced weight gain and it all landed in the belly. none of my clothes fit i only gained 7# but it feeels like 20     how do you get rid of this my onco said it will go away if i exercise i have startedd walking agian but my whole body aches after chemo makes it hard to continue but i will   any ideas on the fat

nelia48

Soaplady, I did not have the weight gain during chemo.  In fact, since July, 2008, I've lost about 40 pounds.  But I needed to lose, so I'm happy about that.  I just couldn't eat a thing except cream of wheat cereal.  But you really can't see that I lost weight.  I lost about 3 inches in my height, and all my fat is now soooooo flabby, so I'm still in the same clothing.  The belly fat is the worst!  I ached, too, after chemo.  But that will soon diminish and you will be able to walk again!  I have arthritis in my feet and adding to that the numbness from the chemo, I'm not sure walks are in my future!!!!   Cora

soaplady1950

how long after the last chemo did the achy stop my last treatment was jan 23 the surgery feb 5 and radiation started march10        sharon

jessee54

Sharon, it took about a month for me to stop feeling so achy after chemo. I'm still a little achy, but I'm having therpeutic massages 1x/wk for the next 6 weeks (luckily my insurance covers that, at Mass General). Also, walking, yoga, and I even did a Qigong class at MGH last week. It's gentle strengthening, and that helped. There is a good book I picked up in the MGH resource library called "Cancer Fitness", by Anna Schwartz (foreword by Lance Armstrong), which I'm finding very helpful in creating your own post treatment fitness program, and some guidelines and plans/routines.

Trust me, I haven't been "gung ho" about exercising. I'm still feeling like a blob, and tired from the rads. But I'm trying to force myself to get out there, and when I do, it REALLY helps. All my depression goes away, and I have more energy.

Martha, good luck Monday! Plan on it taking longer than you expect for the first week. 

Jessee 

nelia48

Sharon, my last chemo was in December.  But then I had surgery in January and now I'm doing radiation.  So I haven't felt much like exercising or doing much of anything.  I feel very lazy and unmotivated.  But I must say, the achy, chemo fog is gone.  I think I'm feeling better than I have in a long time.  Give it some time.  Try walking a little bit each day, get your blood circulating, etc.  My sister is an herbalist, and when she had cancer, she did a cleanse after she finished with chemo.  Some kind of tea mixture that she drank.  I should have done that, but I forgot about it and so did she.

Cora

kristifromsandiego

My suggestions for getting back into exercises is, get a dog. Kind of silly but it does work.  We got a 5 month old slum dog from Mexico.  He is great but needs to be walked at least twice a day.  Although be careful about loosing weight, you don't want the rads to be positioned wrong.  I don't start till the 17th but after 3 weeks of chemo freedom I am feeling so much better.

Anyone know how long it takes to get hair? have your eyes stop watering?  Thanks Kristi

Britt

Hi everyone -

Just wondering if anyone else here has gone straight to rads without needing chemo - as I posted earlier, my low risk Oncotype score - 12 -  has catapulted me to rads - my simulation is scheduled for 3/24.  I had two surgeries - lumpectomy and SNB on 1/16, and then ALND on 2/10 to take out the rest of the nodes since a micrometic invasion of one node was found in the post-surgery pathology report.  Luckily, all of the nodes taken out were negative.  My medical onco said she will put me on Tamox after I complete the radiation treatment. So, would like to know if anyone else here on this thread has had a similar experience - thanks for any input - have a great day - and good luck to Torch Song for your Rads Debut on Monday!

Maria

thegoodfight

I am going to officially pass "the torch" to Torch Song on Monday since that is my last of 35 treatments.  It will be a good slot to take over since I really did well during the seven weeks.  I only had a bothersome skin issue the last week to ten days under the arm at the SNB surgery site.  Other than that, I have done extremely well, very little fatigue, etc.   So  Torch Song, I am passing my slot on to you................good luck, and keep us posted.

Caren

thegoodfight

kristi,

I am a little over two months out of chemo (Jan 6) and my hair started to show  noticeable activity about 3 weeks ago, so basically nothing for the first 6 weeks.   It is only about a 1/4 inch at this point, but it is literally growing every day, getting thicker too.  I am now comfortable in just a ball cap going out and I have a really cute straw hat by NIne West.  I have even flipped the hat off when it has been too hot and no  one really seems to notice or care, so just do whatever is comfortable for you and before you know it, hair will be  showing.

Yes, my eyes and my nose have stopped running.  Monday I finish my 35 rads and that too has been doable and actually flew by.  Good luck to you and feel good.

Caren

nelia48

Kristi, I got my last chemo treatment on December 3, 2008.  I now have about 1/2 inch grown out.  Also getting back hair under my arms, on my legs, arms, etc.  Cora

Juli50

I missed my simulation on 3/5 because I was hospitalized from 3/2 - 3/13 with pneumonia, pleural effusion and congestive heart failure after completing 11 weekly Herceptin txs. My onc said to wait a week and regain my strength before rescheduling. Glad to be home...and back on board.

TorchSong

Caren, I stand ready to receive the torch! But I will wait until Monday, if you don't mind

Juli, glad you're back home and on board...what an ordeal. 

 Hugs to all--

Martha

jessee54

Martha, good luck tomorrow, you'll be fine. They may just do films the first day, no actual rads. That's what they did with me.

Juli, good gosh, I can't believe that all happened to you! Was that a result of treatment? Glad to hear you are past that, what a scare!

Best to all of you and hugs,

Jessee

Juli50

Jessee - yes, it is a rare side effect from Herceptin. Not going to take it anymore if it's gonna kill me.

Mary22

Maria, I did not have to have CHemo, since my BC was caught early and no lymph nodes were affected. I had two surgeries( a lumpectomy and a reexcicion). I started rads on Mar 2, I will need 33 TX's. My onc started me on tamoxifen March 12, so far so good.

Good Luck to all.