November Rads 2009

cherneski

Hi all, Today I am much calmer. 

Yesterday the aloe was sooooooo cold, so today I put it in the microwave for 15 seconds and it is soooooooooo nice.  Much nicer to slather up with.

I feel the burn in the middle of my chest.  My feet are ok, today.

amlg1

Yea!!! Had # 7 today,only23 more to go.The other nite I noticed,I had a little trouble swallowing.It fells like a lump when I swallow,told the rad.team,and they said I am getting rads close to my throat.Monday I see the Dr.

Welcome to our new girls.

Anonymous

First week down, but this week has been a real bitch. I had rads Monday at 2:00 PM then drove to Tampa to spend the night with my sister so I could do Herceptin at Moffitt South Tuesday morning. I was in terrible pain Sunday and Monday nights because I had developed a seroma in my right mastectomy incision and axilla area. I didn't know what it was, but my oncologist's PA looked at it and called my surgeon and got me an appointment at his office as soon as I could get there. The PA at the surgeons office drained 230ccs of fluids from the seroma! by needle aspiration. Then it was in the car and playing Mario Andretti to get back to Sebring (125 miles from Tampa) to do rads on Tuesday at 3:00. When I got there the machine was down!!!  ARRRRGH

Here it is Thursday and the seroma is filled up again. At rads today they couldn't even get my mold on so they did radiation without it. My Rad Onco called my local surgeon (who did my gall bladder removal several years ago) to see if he would work with me in keeping the seroma drained. The surgeon said NO (the SOB). Some excuse about not wanting to touch another surgeon's 'field of operation'... Probably more like he's pissed he didn't do the mastectomy and make his big bucks.

If this thing keeps filling up every two days there is no way I can continue to drive back and forth to Tampa every other day to get it drained so I can get my rad mold on. Draining is a very simple procedure... wipe down with lidocaine then remove the fluid with a needle.

I went to my family doctor who called a friend of his who is willing to work with me and it is right on the way to the rads clinic. It's a monkey wrench in the works, but ya do what ya gotta do.

hugs, gals....

Christine2000

Also finished # 7 today! The Boiron Calendula cream is really working for me so far. But looking forward to the weekend break-

shelleyr25

Swampy~ That totally sucks!! Hang in there!!!

Had my first treatment tonight...so far so good...

MarciaGoudie

What has been surprising me is how my breast has been shrinking. Today was #11 of 30. There is such a visible difference in my two breasts and there wasn't before. Has anyone else noticed this?  I am wondering after rads are complete will the tissue and muscle relax and go back to it's original size?

Marcia

Anonymous

  

Hi everyone,  I can't believe I haven't yet posted on this thread, DUH!   I go every day for RAD and I'm 3weeks into it.  So far no skin issues, and I rarely use the clear aloe gel they gave me. I'm usually right in and out of there.  I have one tech that helps position me and she drives me up a wall.  She's this big muscle bound bouncer type girl, and she comes off very abrupt and almost mean if you dare move.  I feel like smacking her sometimes.  I'm starting to get little sharp stabbing type pains in my arm pit where they took out the nodes.  They told me if I need to I can talk to th dr for pain meds.  Bui OTC is working so I won't ask him for the hard stuff yet. 

debnyc

still can't find the l00% aloe (unfortunately, there's no walmart in nyc), but found the bioron calendula. should i get the calendula lotion, gel, cream or ointment?

anyone else laying on their stomach with their head to the side? i keep my eyes closed most of the time, but even if i kept them open, i can't really see what's happening. i'm pretty sure they raise the table up high. i've also noticed that the robotic arm thing with the red lights comes down right next to my head and i guess it shoots radiation down into my boob that's dangling.

what's it like of you lay on your back? can  you see everything that's going on?

anyway, 3 down. yea. only se so far is one really hot boob.

Niknak0320

I lay on my back for treatment - I have to keep my head turned to the left so I can only see things happening on that side of me.  I see shadows and hear the techs walking all around me but it drives me crazy that I don't know what's going on.  I wish there was mirrors on the ceiling so I could see LOL!

Lauren3

I did #7 today too, it seems like there are several of us on the same exact schedule although I don't know exactly how many I will have.  lay on my back too, with my head turned to the side.  It hurts my neck and ear.  My boob is warm to the touch too and I've been having a lot of under arm pain and near the back too.  I was at a concert Sunday so hoping it's from that and not the rads.  LOL.

Sunone

Marcia- my rad onc said that one of the side effects of the rads can be the breast getting a bit smaller

debnyc - I use the calendula cream, but the nurse said either the cream or lotion was ok

I lay on my back, since they are radiating my left side my head is turned to the right so I only see the machine when it is on that side. Today was #16, skin is a little pink but otherwise ok.

cs34

hi everyone!

marcia-one of the ladies yesterday said her boob was shrinking so i think it's normal and kime heard it too.

chrstine-glad the cream is working.

debnyc-i have the lotion but yesterday was told about the ointment so i got it for home. i'm on my back and i'm only looking to the right and it is REALLY annoying not knowing what's going on to the left...

i want to throw this out there for everyone too...a man i see on the train every morning just got done with rads because of throat cancer. he's extremely fair skin and he had no burns at all. he had redness but no burns. he used Aquifor (not sure if i'm spelling it correctly) and he used it three times a day! i believe that should be easy to find in the drug store. it's an ointment/goopy.

good luck to everyone today! wishing you all as peaceful a day as possible!!!

shelleyr25

I also lay on my back with my head turned to the left, away from the right breast. A perk is that the ceiling tiles are all decorated by previous patients so I have something to look at

Had my second treatment today, so far, so good

gillyone

Got home yesterday and there's a message on the answering machine to say I start rads today. Will report back when there is something to report!

debnyc

just got a bill in the mail for the simulation. has to be a mistake because i have insurance. but for anyone who's interested in how much just the sim cost... the bill is for $6,839.82!!!!!!!!

off to #4 in a few.

good luck gillyone!

Anonymous

Shelly25,  I know what you mean,  I lay on my back and have to keep my face to the right and tilted up a little bit.  While I'm laying there I love to just look at the ceiling.  It's got big panels of beautiful salt water scenes that are lit from behind.  The colors are awesome and the creatures are all porpoises, and sea turtles, colorful fishes and coral.  So many details to stare at.

Lauren3

I'm a stay at home mom for the past few years so it's been a LONG time since I've said this but:

I'm so happy it's Friday!!!!!!!!!  Rads are exhausting!

shelleyr25

Shanagirl~ That is awesome, where are you going for rads???

Anonymous

Lauren,  Yep, I really am glad it's Friday.  Rads really seem to be taking a lot out of me lately.  I really so achy and sore around my shoulders and under my armpit.  I was also wondering fi it's the weather here making it worse.  We're having some really rockin Nor'easter down here  at the Jersey Shore,  It's so cold and rainy and gale force winds blowing thru.   

Shelley25,  I go for rads at Jersey Shore University Med Ctr. in Neptune.

Sunone

debnyc- if you are still looking for 100% aloe vera gel I saw "fruit of the earth brand" at the grocery store today - the store is Vons (Safeway)

I've seen other posters on here mention rad bills, that for total treatment was anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000

I had treatment 17 today, still just a little pink and some occasional pain twinges - I agree with the TGIF, I usually work weekends so I don't usually get to say that. The techs at my rad office were asking me if I wanted to come in the Sunday before Thanksgiving, they are going to be closed for 4 days Thanksgiving weekend, so are taking patients the Sunday before. My last day of treatment is the day before Thanksgiving (without going in that Sunday) so I said no, I want my full two days off! 

amlg1

I also lay on my back with my head turned to the left.Today was #8,and so far skin is fine.I use Aquaphor,at nite,and Eucerine during the day.My onco told me to use these,so far so good.The aquphor is gooey,but I put an old tee shirt over it.

Anyone getting rads near chest wall near collar bone?Just wondering if anyone else is having trouble swallowing?

gillyone

Well I didn't actually start rads today. It was just the dry run!!! The tech drew some extra dots near a tattoo but I don't know whether I need to keep them for Monday when I REALLY start or if they were just for him today. I didn't even know about them until I got changed.

Anna I will be getting rads up by the collarbone so will let you know if I have the same problem.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Lauren3

I'm really sore also.  Mine is under the arm and towards the back.  The foob is starting to get sore also.  Sigh!

cs34

debnyc,

wow. i had to have three sims! my right foob kept getting in the way so i had to be deflated twice on the right side because the beams kept hitting it. 

found out yesterday they're still hitting a part of my lung because it just couldn't be avoided. lovely! nurse told me do NOT smoke. i quit the day i was diagnosed (1/2/09) but does that leave me vulnerable because of the damage that may have been done from all the years i did smoke? add another worry to the list!!!!!!!!  

Janets1

Hello! I had my markings yesterday and begin the radiation journey next week. I have had so many reservations as DCIS is treated as a "one size fits all" and it is not known who really needs rads and who does not. That makes me feel personally responsible for putting radiation into my body and subjecting myself to something I may not even need. Of course, after reading the posts and seeing how much treatment so many women have had, I know I am getting off pretty darn easy. I am really inspired by how many strong, determined and simply wonderful women are out there and I draw strength from your experiences!

cherneski

CS OMG!  I smoke, yes I hang my head in shame.  I quit before sx, but after puking 5 weeks straight I went back.  And now cant kick it again.  I have to freaking quit!  I hope everything goes well for you.

I lay on my back, head tilted to the left.

Anna, No trouble yet, but I was warned it may fry our salutary glands and ruin the taste of food and cause problems swallowing by someone that had rads there.

I am puking, anyone else.  I stated rads Wed, and the puking started Thurs.  

I really dont like the idea of them doing the rads so aggressively.  Radiation is not healthy and I am scared it will cause other problems.

Niknak0320

I have done 8 of 30 so far and I've noticed a change in my range of motion for the right arm - is this happening to anyone else?  When I raise my arm up I feel tightness in my chest.  I wasn't expecting this...not so soon at least.

 I have a slight discomfort under my arm but nothing serious yet.  I also am having a hard time remembering to use my lotion in the middle of the day!

amlg1

Deb.i have been hearing from a few people that my trouble swallowing is from rads.Food tastes fine,no problem there.Also no puking either.Well monday I see the Dr.

Gill..Do let me know how you do.Thanks

Hugs to all

LRM216

I have 10 more to go (last 3 or 4 will be boosts, not sure of how many).  I have been doing fine with just the minimal se's.  But now my poor breast is all mottled red and hurting.  My radiologist told me it's time to start the aquaphor and and not just the Aloe any longer.  It is totally different in color than my good breast and hurts internally and on the outside.  Gosh, I can't even imagine 10 more treatments!  No blistering yet, and I hope I don't but wow, this sure happened overnight.  Good luck to all.

Linda

Lauren3

Niknak - I am very sore and tight as well under my arm and in my breast.  It almost is a swollen feeling although nothing looks any different.  Not happy about it!!!  I'm done with 8 also.