November Rads 2009

jeffrine

Niknak - I have finished 8 also and have noticed a tightness under my arm and across my chest when I reach for anything.  Right now the aloe is working to help with the tightness and redness, but it only will get worse from here.  The radiologist uses a BOLA to get near the top of my skin, its a plastic gel pack.  The techs told me I would really start burning pretty quick due to this.

 Cherneski - I'm more and more nauseous as time goes with radiation, I'm not throwing up yet.  I'm not sure if it is the radiation or Herceptin so I'll ask the Onc this week.

I'm sorry a lot of you have techs from hell!  My two techs are wonderful, we laugh and joke.  On Veteran's Day they were so slack they brought me over to the console and showed me what they did each time I came in and how they could tell where they needed to radiate.  It was toooo cool!  One of my pictures showed dark areas in my lungs, I pankicked for a momement until they told me the main picture was from my CAT Scan and the dark areas were actually the air in my lungs.  Each day they take the new x-rays they make and overlay them on the CAT Scan picture to make sure they radiate the correct area.  So for those who were wondering why they take x-rays each day, this is why.

Anonymous

So tomorrow is Monday, everybody.  RADS again  

Niknak0320

2 hours ago jeffrine wrote:

Niknak - I have finished 8 also and have noticed a tightness under my arm and across my chest when I reach for anything.  Right now the aloe is working to help with the tightness and redness, but it only will get worse from here.  The radiologist uses a BOLA to get near the top of my skin, its a plastic gel pack.  The techs told me I would really start burning pretty quick due to this.

Interesting, I get a bolus every other treatment (they place a wet, warm towel on my chest) - I didn't realize that it would make me burn faster. 

Lauren3

I get the gel thing with every treatment but of course I have no idea what it is.  I just lay there and do what they say.  Lol

jeffrine

Niknak - the purpose of the bolus is to change the depth of the radiation.  Normal radiation goes into the chest area and the bolus allows the radiation to occur near the top of the skin.  That's why you'll start burning sooner wherever they place the bolus.  I also have it every other day.  My radiologist checked me last monday (#5 - we were off Tuesday due to TS IDA) and stated I was pinking up.  This was expected to happen sooner because of the bolus.

shelleyr25

I definitely feel the tightness and I have only had 2 treatments so far. Just another reason for me to love the weekends 

lissak

I'm 11/30 and as fatigued as I was on chemo.  Anyone else have this problem?  I didn't think radiation therapy would be fatiguing.

pritamsingh98

hmmmmmmmmmmm

Anonymous

Here's an update on my seroma problem. On Thursday, last week they couldn't get my mold on because there was so much fluid build up in the seroma. They did my tx that day without the mold. I told my technician I felt like I was having "unprotected sex" because  I really didn't think they knew for sure where they were zapping me.

Friday, I found a doctor that will work with me in keeping the seroma drained. The mold fit just fine for tx. The doctor put me in a compression bandage (Ace bandage) around my chest to try to keep the seroma from refilling. It seems to be working, but I will know for sure when I go in this afternoon. I'm supposed to wear this thing for a week to 10 days. It makes it a pain to apply the Aloe Vera and I need someone to help me "wrap up" again.

hugs, sistahs!

Anonymous

lissak,  I have 2 more weeks left after doing 4 already.  Since this weekend I am suddenly feeling so wiped out and fatiquing as much as I was during chemo.  Talked to my rad onc today, and he told me it was normal to feel tired from the rad.  I just pacing myself right now.

Sparrow

Hi guys!Can I join in?  My "Acuity Simulation' is tomorrow with rads starting Wednesday.  I know I have to have rads to bring my chances of recurrence down to a level I'm comfortable with, but I'm not looking forward to it.    For some reason my ribs are brittle although my bone density scan turned out to be normal.  I broke a rib sneezing too hard this spring.I'm 11 weeks out from lumpectomies due to the swine flu and a lot of miscommunication with my oncologist's office.  After a week of calling I finally had to get my husband to call for me and ask for the referral to the rad onc to be faxed. They always call HIM right back.  >:(  Does anyone know if this will decrease the effectiveness of rads?  I'm pre-menopausal and my Oncotype score was 16 so I didn't have to do chemo.

debnyc

Hi everyone and welcome Sparrow.

Today was #5 for me, and because it's Monday, I saw the rad onc. I'll see her every Monday during rads. I also need to fill out a questionnaire every Monday checking off se's and rating how severe they are. BTW, for those of you who are nauseous or vomiting, they are listed on the form, so are clearly se's from rads.

I told her about the tightness in my armpit and she suggested stretching. I told her I've been doing yoga since I started and she said it's okay to continue doing it for now. She also told me I looked fine, although I know for sure my nipple is definitely getting darker.

I'm feeling a little tired and have definitely been sleeping much sounder. Tamoxifen night sweats and hot flashes had been waking me up pre-rads. Anyone else here doing rads and tamox concurrently?

Deb

cs34

hi everyone,

cherneski, i KNOW how hard it is to quit. i still wish i could smoke and especially when i'm having a few drinks...it's SO hard. i actually take a cigarette and just hold it in my hand (while i'm having a few) and the desire goes away soooo much. maybe you can try to just tell yourself you'll have 5 a day? start slowing down? maybe that's a way to start? i'm sorry you're getting sick too. that stinks.

debnyc, i'm tired all over again and today was my third. i'm not sure if it's the rads or i'm in a depression. i know i go EVERY day kicking & screaming inside. i handled chemo 10x better than radiation. go figure...ugh. also, i will be starting tamoxifen shortly. i'm just getting rid of the night sweats--gosh i hope they stay away...

swampy, good luck!

i was told 1 out of 3 gets the fatigue.

under my arm hurts like heck (where they tunneled it through to the front) and i thought i was crazy thinking it was too soon but i guess not if you guys are also feeling it soon.

wishing you all a peaceful night.

Lauren3

I was just starting to feel better from the weekend and now I'm back to being exhausted and sore again!!! 

DebNYC - I started Tamoxifin already, took my first pill about a week after radiation started.

Sparrow - sorry you have to be here but welcome to November rads.  I am sorry you're having a hard time getting your doc to call you back.  I'm going through the same thing with my breast surgeon.  I want to have my port out and the office just wont call me back.  I left several messages last week and am starting to feel like a pest.

cs34 - my underarm hurts like heck too.  It's so frustrating when I have come SO far with Physical Therapy since my surgery. 

I noticed a red spot right on the incision from the mastectomy/recon today.  The doc said just put some Neosporin on but I'm nervous.  I've only done 9 rads, what is it going to look like a month from now?!?! 

gillyone

Had rads #1 today!! And not surprisingly I can can say I'm fine. Just hope I can say the same thing 33 days down the road. As a redhead with freckles and very fair skin I am a little concerned about how my skin will hold up.

Sunone

I'm feeling the tightness too, especially under the arm, am also doing streching which seems to help some.  Over the weekend I started to get itchy under my breast, it is red and rashy looking. I was hoping that having two days off would help it go away but it didn't. I went in for #18 today and asked the nurse about the red rash, she told me to start using 1% hydrocortisone cream on that area, along with the calendula cream I am already using. She said if that didn't help they would give me a prescription for something else. I see the dr tomorrow so I will see what he says. Anyone else getting itchy?

Niknak0320

hey ladies!  Welcome to all those who are just starting rads!  I had #9 today.  Tomorrow I go in early so they can do something about mapping out for my boosters.  I'm still feeling tightness and mile irritation but nothing serious.

I found out today that my Aunt's niece (from her husbands side) was diagnosed today with breast cancer...she's only 19

sunnyfornow

I am on to my 10th rad and everything is going ok with my skin even with being very fair with freckles.  I have been find through this whole mess, but this week I am noticing that I am clearly depressed or down.  I don't think I am particularly tired but my chest is tight (dr said the rads have irritated my asthma but I should get use to it) hmmm. Anyone else feeling down since starting the rads? I have been very upbeat about this whole mess it is just this I feel like I am on a slippery slide down. I know I am tired of HOT FLASHES!!!

gjlanders

Hello ladies,

I was in the Jun Chemo group and I just transfered into the Nov Rad Group.  I have had 12 treatments and so far no SE. 

Hope I keep it up.   

Niknak0320

Sunny - I am sorry that you're feeling down!  Hang in there!  Do you mind me asking if you are on any "happy" meds?  I started taking Zoloft when I got my diagnosis and it has really helped.  I also decided not to start Tamoxifen until after rads so I don't have any of those hot flashes that I keep hearing from you gals about!

I had #10 today.  The doctor said that it looks like my skin is going to start itching soon...she wrote me a RX for a creme for that.  As I drove home tonight I started to feel much more irritated in the rads field   Today was bolus day too.  I hope it doesn't get too much worse.

 My rads office is closed on the day after Thanksgiving so they are allowing everyone to come in this coming Sunday.  I was going to but the more I think about it, the more I think I'll take advantage of the long weekends break!

Janets1

Hello Dear Ladies:

I start radiation tomorrow - here's a crazy question: everything I have read says that in preparation for radiation, tiny dots are drawn or tatooed on, plus some lines. But my breast looks like a treasure hunt map with not dots but squiggly lines as well as some straight lines,  not very uniform looking - and all done with a Sharpie pen plus a few little tabs that keep falling off. I'm nervous enough without worrying that the technicians were on acid. Does anyone else have lines that look like this? Somehow I expected something more strategic looking.

Janet

sopris

I am on 26/33.  And I am tired, sore, red, etc.  2 more regular treatments and then on to the boost.  I refused tattoos and the sharpie marks get smaller and more uniform.  Don't worry about it.  Ask for them to reduce the size and number and the techs will.  Whether or not you are pink, use some sort of protective lotion--aloe, aquafor, biafine and calendula are all helpful.  You need to retain the mositure in your skin to keep from blistering.  And find out why your doc is doing what they are doing and how it will affect you and your skin and your cancer! 

sunnyfornow

I am not on any happy pills since I have felt very upbeat about everything so far.  I don't think it helped that I quit taking estrogen cold turkey from the day they told me about my bc, and that was in Sept.  I imagine that has probably helped with the energy surges, plus an alnight sleep now is a thing of the past!

 My rad office is closed the 24 and 25, but not no  extras on Sunday or anything. I will have a 4 day weekend and I don't know if that is usual or not but I guess it is ok to miss 4 days in a row.

I have sharpie marks all over me and tabs too. Plus they tried a new ink but it just keeps rubbing off on everything.  Stragtic looking its not.

Lisa1970

Hello everyone, I had a CT scan scheduled yesterday and I just couldn;t do it. I cried like a big baby...I was so intimidated by the machine....Then when they started it up, OMG, it totally freaked me out, it was so loud! Am I the only one who's feeling like this? And I kept telling myself, just get me through Chemo and rads will be a breeze for me....Well, here I am and I just don;t want to play this game anymore!!! UGHHHH!!!! I know it's just an x-ray, and I have adefibulator as well, and I am afraid it will give me un-ness. shock(s), and I should be reassured that it's not because my Cardiologist AND Rads Dr. both said it's just an x-ay and it won't...But I am sooo scared.....Please help me!! We eneded up not going though with it and my dr. gave me a sript for zanex to take when he reschedule and to bring ear plugs....

cheers247

Hello ladies, I had my simulation this week, and will start my 35 rads on Monday.  I'm pretty nervous about the whole thing.  I'll let you all know how it goes.  XOXO Jessica

Sparrow

OMG Lisa, I feel your pain!  I made it through the CT scan OK because I knew DH was in the waiting room...  today was my 1st 'real' rads session by myself and I completely lost it as soon as I saw the machine.  I felt faint and panicky and cried the whole time!    I still feel weird and I've been home for 2 hours. 

I have panic disorder but only about big, scary medical machines.    I took a Xanax before my appointment but it didn't seem to do much.  I think my dose might be too low.

It seemed to be the sight of the machine that set me off.  If I kept my eyes closed it helped but I could still hear it and felt it & the 'couch' moving around.

I am even thinking about buying a 'sleep mask'  so I won't have to see the thing at all or the shadows it makes on my closed eyes.  Haha, I'm going to have to walk backwards into the treatment room from now on.  

You're not alone-  big hugs to you!!!   

amlg1

I do feel for all of you staring rads.2 weeks ago when I went for my practice run,I laid on the table and lost it,couldn't hold my emotions in.It is just so overwhelming.The first rad made me nervous,and seemed so long,Now after 11 rads,you will see,the session will seem shorter,and it will be routine.Stay strong!!

Lauren3

Xanex has really been helping me a lot!  I take them at night to help me sleep and also before a big appointment if I'm nervous.  I was taking them before chemo b/c I had so much anxiety about getting my port accessed. 

Rads doesn't bother me too much.  It's so much easier than chemo.  I get nervous about the side effects and stuff, especially since I have my TE in and it's full.  But other than that going there every day and laying still is more annoying to me than anything else.  That being said, there have been a few times that I was in there on the table and I felt a bit overwhelmed, as if I might burst into tears.  I think it has to do with feeling alone.  One time I was in there and having trouble getting comfortable b/c I had just had my Lupron shot the day before and it all hit me that I would not be having another baby.  That was probably the toughest rad yet. 

11 down anyway!

Sparrow

Thanks for posting about your worries, you guys, it helps to feel like I'm not the only one with rads anxiety.  I have no heart or fertility issues to cry about (so far).    My molehills are nothing compared to your mountains and I'm so sorry about that!  I deserve the giant pacifier award for sure!!!

I am seriously considering asking them to lead me into the treatment room backwards tomorrow so I won't have to see that machine.  I have even thought about buying a sleep mask to wear during the whole thing.  Earplugs might be good too.  

My heart is racing just thinking about tomorrow's zapping... 

Lauren3

Sparrow I laughed outloud when I read your comment about the giant pacifier!  It was a really funny mental picture!

A sleep mask and earplugs sound good to me too.  Personally I would love to bring a big fuzzy blanket in, LOL, it's so cold in there!

Although I don't have the anxiety about rads the way some of you do -- I can totally relate.  I used to seriously freak out when they were accessing my port before chemo.  Monday, I had to have it accessed for a flushing WITHOUT my trusty Xanex b/c I knew I would be picking my son up at preschool and would need to have my wits about me.  I did ok surprisingly this time.  They did it in the lab though, not the chemo room.  So your plan to go in a different way and not see the machine might just work!!!  Worth a shot?