November Rads 2009

linn56

Hello:

I started in Oct but will finish probably right after Thanksgiving. 28 regular and 5 boosts planned. So I guess I'm in 2 "clubs"; Oct and Nov.

My place does not make a mold. Instead, they have a form that looks like a hollow mannequin. Back is flat where you lay down. Molded neck rest. 4 Adjustable arm holders in which to lay upper arms and wrists. They turn a screw and tighten the holders then I lay my arms in. When I am done they pick up the whole thing and put it aside.

Simulation is more for them than us! No one explained anything while I was having it done. Decide where to target, etc. , take pictures. I found I have a nice picture of me taped inside my folder...from my neck to my waist with arms raised. Don't I feel anonymous now... Though so far all the staff have been nice.

I will have #13 today (Monday). This last Friday was the first time I started feeling tired. As  pre-emptive strike I have been trying to walk more, as many say it helps with the fatigue. It's funny, what I'm feeling does not feel like "regular" fatigue. It's more like a feeling of inertia. I can't get myself to DO anything other than in front of the computer. Luckily for me this is my off-season. I will confess I tweaked my preliminary appointments  to be able to start rads after. If the cancer comes back I will be really angry with myself for starting too long after my surgery, which was late August (2^nd lumpectomy). But no one said anything.

I think I'm fighting a cold, too, and now that I can't take my usual Vit C at the first sign, it will probably catch me.

The actual treatment feels like nothing. The machine clicks a few times, opening windows to the right size. Then I hear the buzzing which the actual radiation. I am getting 2x each day, from the front and side, and from a little behind and below my armpit angling up. I am not having nodes done. So far the length of all seems exactly the same. I had a few tiny twinges of pain (no where near the surgery site, exactly on the apposite side actually) the first few times. Now it feels maybe a little tender inside after each treatment,  which goes away after a few hours. A touch of redness which also goes away. No burning. Some swelling under the arm and along the outside of the pectoral muscle. The doctor said it is edema produced as a side effect of the rads. She seemed to be glad to see it. I am applying aloe 2 x a day.

cherneski

Hi Linn, I have a question about the edema.  I thought that was bad?  Could you ask next time for us, so that I know if I hear it I dont freak out thinking it is bad~lol.  I freak out enough.

I had my sim yesterday, yep look like a map.  5 tattoos.  I go back on Thurs for them to double check everything and IDK what else.

I had 2 u/s yesterday too. Ovaries look clear but I have calcification's, and my thyroid is goitered.  So I will wait to see what Dr. wants to do, maybe a ct scan next.

So all is still set to start Monday.  I am going away this weekend and cant wait!  I need a break from this house.  

Much love Deb

linn56

Deb:

Edema from lymph node removal is bad. That's lymphedema.  Edema from rads alone is not, and is temporary.

The edema does not hurt or bother me at all. It's just puffy: basically on the whole outside half of my breast, over the pectoral muscle where it goes to the arm, and under my arm. I see it when I'm changing, mostly. I am glad I got a bra for this that does not fit tightly under the arms. I have gained 1.6 lbs since last week and I think that is this fluid. From what I have read here, the radiated tissue produces this fluid: it is an expected side effect.

I just thought it is useful to mention, that it has to be attributable to the rads, since I did not have any lymph nodes removed and still have swelling.

Lauren3

Deb have a great trip, you deserve it!

I'm going tomorrow for my trial run and possibly my first treatment if they can squeeze me in.  Otherwise I'll start officially on Thursday. 

Solarbeam

Hey everyone! 

I'm going in today (November 4) for my radiation tattoos and expect to start the radiation treatment November 23.  I'm told 6 weeks, so I insisted no later than November 23 start date because that will take me to the end of December and I'm planning full time nursing school in January.  I was going to start in September, but with radiation being every day for many weeks, I decided to put it off a semister so I wouldn't miss so much school.

I went for my H1N1 shot yesterday and a woman there said she was diagnosed 6 years ago and told me that the tattoo in the center of the chest was painful.  I remember reading that here from someone as well.  I have 2 tattoos from year ago, and somehow I've not needed any pain medicine for the past 3 surgeries that I've had, and the nucular die injection didn't even hurt at all, so I guess I'll find out today about the radiation tattoos and let you know.

I sure am looking forward to my next surgery once radiation is all done.  They're going to remove my left breast (which is completely healthy) to match the right side and put in tissue expanders.  I'll be even again and on the next step to having new boobies!

I'm wondering how long most of you ladies who have had tissue expanders had to wait between radiation and having the tissue expanders put in?  Thanks everyone.  God bless.  xo

amlg1

Hi All..Went for my prac.run yesterday,Oh love those pix,especially laying on the table bald with big boob sticking out.LOL.Well lately I have not had any meltdowns,but for some reason,the techs were positioning me and I could feel myself welling up,and just started to cry.I think I was just thinking to myself,I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS !!!They were very compassionate.I was fine then.

I think what really got me was the tch told me thefy would target certain areas,and I said "I know I have 6 tats",she then proceeded to tell me they will target 16 fields,yikes that sounded like alot to me,and thats why I got so upset,not that I know what the norm is.

Today is my first Rad,the said it will take 20 - 30 minutes. Anyone else have the same experience?

Solarbeam.. the tat in the chest wall is alittle painful but not bad,it burns alittle.

Good Luck to all.

shelleyr25

Good luck to you both today

gillyone

Hi lades

I feel like I belong here for real now. Had my first visit with the rad onc yesterday and also got my tats. I have five - a little painful but ok. Now I have to wait to hear from them about when I will actually start, but it will be 33 txs. Anna, I felt a little weird lying there, chest exposed, bald, while the tech took pictures. But overall everyone was really nice.

I have been reading the October rads thread too, and can't remember if it was there ot here that someone was questioning why she was getting rads on her collarbone. I will be too and asked the doctor why. It is precautionary for those with positive nodes. The surgeon does not take any out higher up than armpit and this is just in case some microcancerbits are lurking up there.

LRM216

Linn56 - I am about the same as you in time frame.  I began my rads on Oct. 15th, will have a total of 33 (last 3 will be boosts) and my current symptoms from the rads so far are absolutely identical to yours, only difference is that I am put on a special "breast board" which they place and screw into the rads table, arms and wrists go in the brackets and I hold a little foam donut between my hands above my head.  As tedious as this is and I look forward to not having to drive to the cancer center everyday after work, I also don't want it to end, as I am triple neg and after the rads - I just pray!  Good luck to us all!

Linda

Lauren3

Had my first rad today.  It did take longer than the rest will b/c they had to take pictures or something.  My neck was sore from not being able to move but I got a nice free massage afterwards!  :-)  1 down and between 27-34 to go!

Niknak0320

Hi ladies!  I had my first rads today.  It sucked to lay on the table for nearly an hour while they took all the xrays, etc but I'm looking forward to tomorrow going much faster.  I've been applying biofine creme and it STINKS something horrible

Lauren3

Niknak -- we are on the same schedule!  If I remember correctly you had TAC as well right?

Niknak0320

49 minutes ago Lauren3 wrote:

Niknak -- we are on the same schedule!  If I remember correctly you had TAC as well right?

Diagnosis: 5/5/2009, IDC, 1cm, Stage IIa, Grade 2, 4/19 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2-

Yes   I had 6 rounds of TAC and now will do 30 rads.  Nice to have a cycle partner!

lissak

Tomorrow is day 4 of 25.  The facility is 5 minutes away, so it's very convenient.  debnyc is right.  The tattoo in the ribcage actually hurt for an instant. 

With my chemo, I had an anaphylactic reaction to the initial Taxotere treatment (changed to Abraxane) and severe hives with my last treatment/Neulasta shot.  Following that act, I think rad treatments are going to be a piece of cake! 

Lauren3

Not sure how many I'll get.  They said anywhere between 28 and 35.  Seems like a wide range but I think they will see how my skin does before deciding for certain.  I'm thrilled I will be done by Christmas Eve regardless!

I got my first Lupron shot today too.  My butt hurts!

amlg1

So # 2 down,much better frame of mind than the other day.I finished chemo Oct. 6th,and only 2 rads,but why am I so fatigued??I felt better on chemo LOL.

I will start putting eucerine during day and aquaphor at nite on my skin.Just praying I don"t get lymphadema.

Niknak0320

3 of 30 done!  The treatment is going very well, using Biofine 3 times a day.  I'm having trouble with the appointment time and making arrangements for my work/family but I just have to keep telling myself that this is all temporary!

Is anyone wearing a regular bra during treatments?  My rad. onc. recommended not wearing one for the whole 6 weeks and I've been using my post surgical cami with my prosthetics in it but I hate the way it looks layered under my shirts.  I just want to wear my regular bra (it's not underwire) but I don't want to risk irritating my skin if that's what's going to happen.  Any input?

Lauren3

3 down for me as well!  I'm using Aquaphor but not thrilled with it so might ask on Monday about using something else. 

It's uncomfortable laying still for 10 minutes without moving but I'm getting used to it.  The second day I got a little depressed when I got there but I think I was really more down in the dumps about the Lupron shot I started getting the day earlier.  On a good note, I get a free massage or reflexology every Wednesday and Friday if I want, and a free big home baked cookie every day I go!!! 

I've started wearing my surgical bras again.  I only have 3 though so I'm going to have to start doing laundry every other day.

amlg1

Here to 3 down 27 to go!!!

Niknak..I do wear a regular bra,but I just bought 1 size larger so it is more comfortable and also ,no underwire.I can never go braless.

My Rad onco told me to use Aquaphor at nite,I put an old tee shirt under my pjs,because it is so greasy.In the day after rads I was told to use eucerine.

Momushka

Just found you guys - it's great to be sharing experiences with everyone basically on the same schedule - and yet each so different.

 I start my second week tomorrow - 5 of 33 behind me.  Using the aloe-vera twice a day.  Still no se's at all - hope there won't be any.

 I had 2/14 nodes so the rad onc says they will be zapping the nodes which will increase the chances for a lymphadema situation.

 Also, my tumor was close to the chest wall so the rads could cause heart probs.  Do they tell us all the horrible things that could happen just to cover their butts?  Or do we really have new things to worry about constantly being thrown at us?  All rhetorical questions....

Have a good week everyone!

mom2acat

I start rads again on November 10th; details are in my previous post, "Third time around with rads".

I am getting 14 low dose treatments on my left hip; same hip I had radiation on in 2007.

I had radiation to the chest wall in 2004.

mom2acat

I start rads again on November 10th; details are in my previous post, "Third time around with rads".

I am getting 14 low dose treatments on my left hip; same hip I had radiation on in 2007.

I had radiation to the chest wall in 2004.

Sunone

I had 12 of 25 on on Friday, so far so good, maybe just a tiny bit pink. I am using Calendula cream, this was one of the creams recommended by the nurse, she also said if I wanted to use Aquaphor she recommended mixing it with the Aloe Vera (50/50), I guess it cuts down the greasyness(?) haven't tried it though. I've switched to sportsbras, because my regular bras are underwires.

Christine2000

I am about to head out for radiation # 4-- so far the calendula cream is working for me. I do tend to get insanely sleepy about 2 hours afterwards-- but then it passes.

linn56

Niknak0320, I had to give up wearing a regular bra after the first few days. It irritated under the breast too much. Lots of people here just wear a soft cotton undershirt, something that can be washed easily, since you are applying creams a lot.

But since I had a lumpectomy, not a mastectomy, I found I needed support, so bought a soft sports-type bra (someone on here recommended Soma brand, Kahari model, called a sleep bra), that has a wide bottom band and a 3 hook back closure. The closure makes it easier to take on and off daily for treatments without having to wrestle a no-closure sports bra over my head. I have a lot of underarm swelling so am trying not to irritate that area.

I don't like how I look squashed flat, but I'm living with it. If I try on something form-fitting I end up taking it right off again and opting for something that camouflages more.

Where do you find the calendula cream? Several have recommended it, but I have not found it in a regular drug or grocery store, Whole Foods or Trader Joes. I think I'm ready for something stronger than aloe.

Christine2000

Argh-- just got a call from my Radiologiist's office that I have to come in for MORE Xrays tomorrow--(and stay longer...) because the doctor needs to adjust my treatment "a bit" --I'm 4 treatments in (out of 28 or 30), and hoping that this won't prolong my treatment--

Leevje

Hi everyone!  My first time here.  I'm 55 yrs old, was dx on Aug.27, DCIS.  Lumpectomy on 9/4.  Had my CT scan last Mon., and my simulation port films on Friday.  I start my treatments this Wed. Nov. 11.  35 treatments.  More worried about the skin reactions than anything else.  I have very sensitive skin.  They told me to start using the 100% aloe vera gel right away, but now I've noticed it's starting to make me itch.  I'll need to ask them about an alternative.  Nice to meet everyone! : ) 

sopris

I just finished 20 of 33.  Hooray for me!  And I'm red and sore and swollen.  

And Laides, I suggest you give up on the bra totally and find what doesn't rub or bind. I found cotton and latex tees made by Danskin to hold me in so I don't bounce around.(And lately I have just gone au natural as I am very tender.)  I found Aquafor to be too goopy for regular use.  Doc gave me Biafine which goes on smooth.  Also for pain ask for something with lindocaine.  

Finally, you do NOT have to get tattoos!  I have been just fine with magic marker and special clear tape.  I REALLY do not want any more permanent reminders of this excursion in radioactivity than I already have.   

Sunone

linn56 - I found the Calendula cream at a store called Henrys, it is very much like Whole Foods. I had to ask for help finding it though, it was not with the skin creams and lotions, but with the First Aid stuff, it says on it First Aid - Burns,Scrapes & Skin Irritation, it is made by a company called Boiron and is considered a homeopathic medicine.

cheers247

Hi, I start rads on 11/16, that's my simulation day.  I had a bilat on 10/7, and still have trouble raising my arms up, so hopefully all will go well.

Much Love, Jessica