January 2010 Rads Start

unklezwifeonty

Dear Annie,

Welcome to the January rads group thread.



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cookiegal

UH-OH

The MSK supervisor is coming to my tx tomorrow.

RE: Techs are upset about my tiny tatoo!!!!!!!

Oh Boy

Gonna end up with a big ugly one by the end of the day I bet.

hugs to all the R1/10's

unklezwifeonty

Is the MSK rad super a hunk?

mom2acat

unklezwifeonty I started my rads on Jan. 11th.

jenn3

Onty - sorry I hadn't checked into this thread in a few days.  I start rads 01/25 - same day as my port comes out and my daughter has a follow up appt.  I'm going to have a busy day!!! 

ginny68

I started rads 01/06 - Going to have 30 in all. We are supposed to go to Florida for 2 months..will I be alright? Tired? What is this booster?

one-L

I had my first tx today and it didn't take as long for all the adjustments as I thought it would.  They did take x-rays and will do that at least once a week.  I will see the Rad Onc once a week also.  They have not mentioned blood work at all, so I  will assume that they will not be doing any.  The Med Onc is right upstairs from Rads and I will see her next week and she will do blood work then.

They had told me they would give me lotion to use, so I asked about the lotion and the tech said they would give it to me later, when they thought I needed it.

Sounds like things are going OK for everyone.  It is good to hear how everyone is  doing.  I just hope I do as well as all of you.

1 down, 32 to go.

Juannelle

catwrangler

17 down, 18 to go.  Halfway through tomorrow. Since it's about ten more base treatments, the dosamatrist was working on the boost plan, and he thought something wasn't quite right.  So today after my regular treatment, they set everything up for the boost...and basically, they would have had to have cut my arm off to get me in the right position given the limitations of the machine.  As no one, least of all me, thought that was a good idea, they shifted me around until they got a good position and the dosamatrist will write the boost program based on that.  I'll need a third tattoo for it, but they won't give me one until that first boost day.  

 Otherwise I'm red and tan and starting to get a little sore, but not too bad yet.  Hopefully the next few weeks will go smoothly.

DaylilyFan

Thanks to all with aloe suggestions, etc.  My rad onc hinted today that I might notice skin changes soon and to ask the staff for stuff if I need it before the next checkup.  His assistant has a checklist of questions she asks every week.  I love the one about decreased appetite.  Ha! That'll be the day!  If anything, it's increased, (probably stress-related? LOL) so I am continuing to hit the gym. 

Unklezwifeonty:  I did start rads Jan. 12.  We had MLK Day off, so today was #6 of 21.  One of the techs said my dose is 266, so I assume that's 2.66 cGY?  My rad onc told me that there's a standard amount that he adjusts down for the chemo graduates.  Also he recalibrates the standard dose slightly for those of us getting the Canadian fraction so that it's biologically equivalent.  So nice to know it's not based on boob size!  Or weight of patient, for that matter!

Sido and Sophie:  Hang in there with the fatigue.  I hope you don't have to do that much every day.  One of the ladies the lounge today said getting some downtime helps her bounce back, whereas she felt lousy during chemo no matter how much rest she got.

My DH had a terrible respiratory virus that only lasted two days.  I expect I'll get it too, but maybe I'll get lucky!  Between trying to get an insurance error fixed and my hair color being discontinued and most of the Christmas decorations still up, I decided I needed a laugh.  So I read "Mennonite in a LIttle Black Dress," which was both hilarious and touching.

unklezwifeonty

Good to hear from you Jenn3 and DayLilyFan. Jenn I am assuming you will be supine and get radiation to breast, axilla and clavicle.... I think there are other gals here who are getting radiation to axilla and clavicle. You can ask them any questions you may have on that front.

weety

Hi all, I have my planning session tomorrow.  Not looking forward to starting!

MarieK

Hello Ladies!

It's nice to read that some of you are just flying through your RADS - I guess it goes that way when you're going everyday. 

Melinda did I read that you are taking Tamoxifen while doing RADS?  Is anyone else doing that?

I'm asking because my RAD ONC (actually the cover DR since my RAD ONC is now on 3 weeks holiday) told me NO to Tamofixen while doing RADS. 

I'm wondering why since I wasn't given an explanation and just assumed that was the way it went.

Thanks for input and thanks for all the sharing ladies!

Marie

kmf

I am on Tamoxifen while doing Rads. Regular onco put me on it and I told rad onco and she said ok.  Karenanne

Scoobydoo

Hello Ladies.

I have my first meeting with my rad onco tomorrow.  Not sure what to expect.  I am guessing that she will just go over the risks and procedures.  Hopefully that is the only thing that will happen.

I guess I am now ready to enter the next stage of treatment.

Anita

Scoobydoo

Onty you go to simulation on Monday?  One quick question...are the tatoos painful?

cookiegal

Hey all, the big bad tattoo bogeyman stayed away.

I guess they found some other chick with a tiny tatt to pick on.

(only time anyone has ever called anything on me tiny!!)

16 down....14 2go.

unklezwifeonty

Anita - I don't know how painful the tatto or sim process is. From whatever I have read, it seems to be relatively painless.



Cookie - you need to become a standup comedian!!!

Anonymous

Hi everyone,

 I'm new to this thread. I started rads in December (4 out of 35) but because I developed a seroma and had to have it drained surgically, my rads have stopped until the open wound heals. I may start back this month. I hope. I am also on the December thread. I don't know where I belong.

Scoobydoo - Tattoos aren't so bad. I am a baby when it comes to needles and procedures.I sit there and cry. Getting poked with pickers from blackberry bushes or roses are more painful.  I didn't wantt he tatoos either but because treatment was halted for a while, tats just seemed easier.

Scoobydoo

Thanks Onty and Veggy.

Veggy I sure hope you heal quickly.  I had an issue with my lumpectomy and had to have my breast drained.  Then I had to stuff the open wound with guaze for a couple of months until it closed up and healed.  I am sure you are welcome here.  Thanks again for responding to my tatoo concerns.  I am also a big baby when it comes to stuff like that.  I am having my port removed next week and have heard that the shots are very painful to numb the area.  So I am really nervous.

Anita 

one-L

Anita, the tattoos do not hurt much.  It is just a pin prick and the tats are very small.  I have two, the first one I couldn't even feel, it is under my arm, the other is right in the middle  of my chest and sort of looks like  a black head, it was a prick but not painful.  When I had my consult with the Rad Onc when he was finished, he said they had time to do the simulation if I had time, so I went ahead.  It wasn't bad, just long.  It is very hard to lay still for 45 minutes to an hour.

Today when I was getting ready for my tx, she got me all setup, then left the room.  She was gone for awhile and then she came back and said, "You have got to be still", then she had to reposition me.  I didn't even think I had moved.  She then said it was probably because I was relaxing.  I guess she will have to give me a few minutes to relax before  she sets me up. 

2 down 31 to go.

Juannelle

Melinda-Tma3

MarieK... there was some debate over the tamoxiphen during or after rads...I believe in the past they didn't do both at the same time.  Newer information shows there is no conflict with doing both at the same time.  My chemo onc suggested he would prescribe them after the rads, however my breast surgeon and rads onc felt it was the best option to start them right away and saw no reason to wait. I'm very surprised and expected the tamoxiphen to really cause terrible hot flashes and flushing, but everything I have experienced is the same as before it began and no worse.  Yahoo!...a chemo with out SE's ....is there really such a thing???    :-)

Still taking the 4000 mg vitamin c and will begin the ludwig protocall this week (flax oil and cottage cheese)  per recommendation of my nutritionist at the rads center.  Both Doctors have ok'd this after discussing my concerns of mixed messages here and on many different sites.  I have to say, I am feeling really good and am not experiencing many side effects yet from the rads. Rad onc was curious about my tiredness and since I don't seem to have any...he thinks I should continue on that way throughout most of it.  I find if I keep active, that afternoon lag goes away.  Once a week I may take a 30 minute nap...but I don't always sleep good...so it could be due to that too...

I have a little redness square on my left breast and it's sometimes tender in the early evening but by morning it seems normal again...they did give me aquaphor today and said I should also use it on my cuticles...it works wonders to make them soft ...and not so dry or dry patches anywhere else...gave me 15 little tubes of it!   13rads down and 20 to go....the last five are my rads boosts....and they will be putting that together with me next week.  On Tuesday I will be half way! Hooray!

Have a nice night everyone!  Drinking my daily glass of goodness! :-)

Melinda 

1rarebird

I know that some people suffer from fatigue as a result of radiation treatments.  And my doctor warned me that could happen with me too. Today I had my 9th treatment out of 28 and as yet no fatigue to speak of.  I know about fatigue---Taxotere and Carboplatin taught me that lesson!.

While sitting in the waiting room before going back for my daily treatments, I  have met several ladies who are close to the end of their treatments.  Interestingly, none has complained of fatigue---a few told me about their tender skin areas--- but fatigue hasn't been a problem for them so far.  Perhaps it will come later, even after they are finished.  I am hoping to avoid it all together .---bird

DaylilyFan

Melinda:  Are you following all of the Budwig protocol?  I found some information online and it seems to require a lot of discipline!

Scoobydoo:  Wow, after all you've gone through, I would think shots would be a piece of cake! (Note:  Budwig protocol doesn't allow sugar in anything...)   But that's just me; I know everyone's different.  A few years ago I had plantar fasciitis and bursitis in my foot.  After the podiatrist gave me a cortisone shot, she commented that my heel must have really been painful since I didn't blink during the shot.  But a stomach ache completely wipes me out!  You might ask for the site to be numbed before the injection.  If that doesn't work, ask the shotgiver to talk you through it or try breathing slowly and evenly from your belly, counting as you go.

Everybody:  I have a dime-sized itchy spot on the OTHER breast.  Has anyone else experienced this?  I will ask the techs tomorrow about it and report back.   

sophie305

Good evening ladies,

I've been keeping up with everyone's status but too tired to do much else.  As I mentioned earlier, I think the fatigue has more to do with my hectic schedule than the tx at this point.  Had #7 today, 12 more to go.  They took an x-ray before tx and said they would be doing that each week....doctor will review and make adjustments if needed.  No SEs yet although my boob felt kind of hot tonight when I changed into my comfy clothes....no redness just a little sore around the scar.

Anita, I agree with Juannelle and veggy about the tatoo...I only have one and it was only a pin prick so not bad.  The rest of my markings are dark-blue Sharpie pen marks with clear tape over them.  They said they prefer these when patient is in the prone position as there can be more arm movement (?)  Okay...I'll buy that.

Melinda, thx for the info on tamoxiphen AND the reminder that I need to schedule my appt with the med onc!  Thanks!

Today I couldn't find a parking space in the little parking lot at the cancer center which is very unusual...then I saw the waiting room filled with people holding balloons, flowers, etc....one of the ladies I've seen every day finished today and her family/friends all came out to celebrate!  It reminded me...there is an end to all of this if we just keep moving one foot in front of the other.

Good night ladies.

unklezwifeonty

Welcome Veggy and 1RareBird..... We all belong whereever our hearts choose to take us!!!

st27

I just finished my radiation treatments yesterday, and I wanted to share some skin care info that might help.

But first, let me say "You can get through this!!!!!"  Six weeks feels like forever, especially every day  for six weeks. My 30 treatments spanned 7 weeks because of short weeks for the holidays. Weeks one and two were a breeze. After week three, I was so depressed; I couldn't believe I wasn't even halfway at Christmas. I stayed that way until the second to last week, then there was light at the end of the tunnel. You can do it!

 So - skin care. Whatever lotions, etc. you use, don't neglect your armpit. I was using Aquaphor 2X/day, living in tee-shirts layered under everything I own and going braless when possible. After week 2, my rad onc reminded me to really rub the ointment into the armpit. But sure enough, the place I was accidentally neglecting for 2 weeks is the most painful now. So remember the pits.

I think the Aquaphor treatment was a good recommendation. The rest of my skin has been pretty comfortable. Also, I didn't use any deodorant on the side being treated. I think that helps, too.

Good luck!

cookiegal

daylily fan....I have three of them!

unklezwifeonty

Thank you so much for sharing your experience st27.

valeriekd

Hi everyone- just read most of the posts and I am totally ignorant about this whole thing!

I have an appointment on 1/27 with rad onc. I am supposed to have one more chemo infusin on 1/28 but am unsure I will do the last one soooooo I might fit in January or February- who knows but you guys seem so much more knowledgeable than I am - at least I'll read.

Good luck ladies!

PS Hi Onty! 

Melinda-Tma3

Daylily...My Nutrition/Rad Dr gave me an overview for this:

Flax Seed Oil and Cottage Cheese Diet:

To be eaten as a meal replacement: 

2T flax seed oil (barleans or other high quality)

4T low fat cottage cheese

-Emulsify in blender

-add fruit, stevia or vanilla to blender...water may be added and extra fruit may be taken with meal

-(if you have bowel issues gas or bloating, eat fruit before the cottage cheese mixture)

-Cancer patients may need to do this 2-3 times daily. (We are all cancer free right or soon to be!) Non cancer patients may do this 3-7 times per week 

I haven't started yet, need to pick up the flax oil. Will begin next week...not seeing to much of an issue, as I eat yogurt w/fruit & homemade granola every morning for breakfast...this will replace it 3-4 days a week.  This is the recommendation for me to getting my body in better health on the inside...I'm 47, 5'5" 145lbs....  My diet is pretty healthy, I've rearranged my breakfast to fruit and yogurt, fruit throughout the day and have lost most of my sweet tooth cravings...Jolly ranchers once in a while...still eat sugar, but have cut it way down...  He just ordered a few different thyroid tests as well.  Curious to see the results of those.  He's not looking to change my food world, just tweak it a little to get a better balance and healthier cells.  I also exercise in some capacity 8 hrs/week.  I buy no fat or low fat whenever it's an option at the grocery store.  These few changes are helping so far...have lost a few pounds and more importantly I feel good.  Looking forward to getting on with the flax seed program...Everything I've researched and been told, shows it has terrific benefits.  I also run the nutritionists' ideas by my other doctors to be sure I am going in the right direction, as I constantly hear conflicting thoughts on nutrition/vitamins before, during and after cancer.  Hope this helps you! 

Melinda