January 2010 Rads Start

Melinda-Tma3

Sophie - great post about the celebration! I'm looking forward to celebrating too....as I'm sure we all are!  Thanks for the inspiration! 

Melinda  

Scoobydoo

Well I met with my rad onc today.  I will get 35 txs including  7 boosters.  I will be in the supine position.  My simulation is next Tuesday, but my start date will probably be in February.  I am quite upset about that.

Question - Is there anyone currently on rads that is large chested?  I was told that I will have more severe SEs because of it.

Anita

Melinda-Tma3

Anita...I always considered myself large chested, however my rad onc said to me the other day..."since you are not large chested"  Guess he told me!  However, he did say large chested women get more rubbing under the breast, it can cause more problems than smaller chested women..with my lumpectomy...one of the "girls" doesn't hang quite so low...if you get my drift!  It reminds me of a girlfriend that once told me she "let's her girls out to play all the time" I'm like....huh...She says "you know going braless!"  Haha...never heard it put like that!  I have found that wearing a tight spandex sports bra..the kind you wear for jogging, is nice as it stays in place and has no underwire to rub.  The rad line is right where the underwire is and gets sore... at night I wear a t-shirt w/sleeves and no bra to let "the girls" breathe and heal....so far it's treating me right...Melinda 

catwrangler

Hey Scooby!

 I'm a 'D' cup, which is on the larger end of things.  I quickly developed a dark red line under my breast, but with using a lot of creams frequently, it hasn't blistered yet (cross fingers and toes!)  In casual conversation around the rads waiting room, the more annoying side effects don't seem to happen until sometime after treatment 20, and I haven't hit there yet.  I do go braless but I wear a soft T-shirt and a formless, oversized sweatshirt; I'm lucky to work in a t-shirt and jeans place, so it's no big deal and the lack of support doesn't freak me out.  I do put cornstarch on top of the creams at night, under the breast, to help with any accidental friction then.  So far so good, and today's treatment #19.

DebbieSawyer

What a wild week! The heavy series of storms that just rolled through California, knocked out my electricity and water (we're on a well) since Wednesday morning... just got power back early last night: 33 hours later!  Wednesday the TV news reported 60mph winds, and 2.5" of rain per hour in my area. I sure wasn't looking forward to driving in that to rads, when suddenly the rads center called me and said their power was out! (yes, they have back up generators, but it all goes to the main hospital area of critical cases, and inpatients). So no tx on Wednesday which adds another day at the end.

Internet finally came back on today and I am checking in here first: wow, am I behind! I'm excited to see lots of new postings, great advice, and swapping of information!!! 

I'll update with you later, as I have numerous emails to answer from 33 hours of no internet!

12 down 4 to go.

Debbie

cookiegal

Change of Plans

I guess I could have anywhere from 3-8 boosts, depending!

Plus I skip a day, inbetween.

so 18 down....10 to 15 to go!

gogo_xago

Melinda, some researches have shown, that flax oil and flax seed aren't suitable for ER+ PR+ bc, because is phytoestrogens. Did your doctor mention it??? But also there are researches have shown that flax oil is the best natural product for prevention of recurrence of bc. I very confused about this and because I believe in natural nutrition, I'd like to have one serious doctor's opinion. My mom' doc. when I asked him about, seemed to not believe in such these things.

unklezwifeonty

Cookie

How and when do they decide whether you will get how many boosts?

DaylilyFan

The contact dermatitis turned out to be an allergic reaction to the adhesive on the clear round sticker covering the central axis black marks right between my breasts.  So off it came, and the techs repainted me.  They asked if my DH could touch it up with a Sharpee if the marks start to fade over the weekend.  I can't do it myself because unless you are looking dead straight at the site, the marks won't be accurately straight.

The stories the rad techs could tell.... One man's wife wrote Happy New Year on his rear, and one woman's DH painted a green shamrock on her breast for St. Pat's Day.  He did such a good job the techs nearly fainted because they thought she had gone out and gotten a tattoo! 

Melinda-Tma3

Gogo...the interesting thing with the rads doc is that he is also our leading Dr in Nutritional health and oversees that division as well.  I found it interesting that someone so knowledgeable in Nutritional health also is part of the Radioliogy Oncologist team for our cancer center.  I guess I never would have put those two together as a team. Much that I read, says that those two areas don't agree on cancer treatment.  One says natural healing and one says best bet - chemo & rads... I like that he is so knowledgeable in both areas. He seems very well educated and has offered me good info in both areas.  Next week when I meet with him, I plan to ask him his opinion of my curiosity of this.   He loves to talk so it could be a long visit.  I'll let you know what he responds with.  It is difficult trying to decide the right direction, when so many opinions vary.  However, it is the trial results that seem to offer the most substantial info.  My docs say there is no conclusive evidence showing flax oil or Vit C create any harmful situations with my ER/PR +, and that the benefits outweigh.    So for now, for me, I'm going with this.  As we go forward, I'll keep you informed of the progress.  

Mel 

one-L

As with so much in the treatment of cancer, how much, when, etc, I guess they all are at odds with supplements also.  I guess we still have to do what we feel is the correct thing for us, and just ignore everything else.

Debbie, sorry to hear about the storms.  I talked to someone in California today and he said it was raining, raining, raining.  I think we are suppose to get the storms here sometime next week.  We can always use the rains in Texas.

Scooby, I am not large breasted and I just started my rads, so I can't give you any advice, just wanted to say hello.

I guess we cal all relax for the weekend and get rested up for another  week.  I know February is going  to seem like a very long 28 days.

Juannelle

kmf

Re: armpit -- I didn't realize how high into my armpit the rads were going until that area turned really, really red -- so now I'm putting the Aquaphor up there.  It doesn't hurt -- dr. says I'm numb there from the lymph surgery?  but anyway, I'm slathering it on there now.  So, yes, great advice to those behind us -- don't forget the pit!

I too am in a quandry about Flax seed oil.  I found a study on the internet that said that Tamoxifen combined w/Flaxseed oil was better than Tamox. alone.  That would be w/Er/Pr + women.  So, I have a bottle, but haven't taken any as my rad/onc. didn't want me to do any supplements during rads ( except red wine ) and I don't know what I'll do w/it after rads.  Give it to my husband I guess.  But, Fish Oil interfers w/Tamox.  So how do we get out Omega 3's?  Eat more salmon I suppose.

The tech told me again today that the more oxygen that could get to the skin the better.  The Aquaphor is more healing than the hydrocortisone cream, which she said I could use for itching.  I'm not itching enough for hydrocortisone.  I'm more interested in long term skin conditioning.  But, I am taking her suggestion about letting the air get to the breast and she emphasized -- the armpit -- so I'm sitting here one boob out and the other covered.  I'm hoping the weekend will let the skin calm down a bit.  18 of 33 today.  Have a great weekend everyone.  Karenanne

Sido

Scooby:  I'm a DD on the left and a D on the right (post-lumpectomy).  My rad onco said that I might have some problems under my breasts, but I'm on tx13, and I'm fine so far.  My redness is more focused around the aureola.  My bs gave me a great cream that has been helping my skin and I always wear a bra of some kind - underwire during the day and soft sports bras at night, so my breasts don't rub against my skin at all.

I finished my first week of teaching along with 10 medical appointments this week (incl.rads).  I'm exhausted.  I'm finding that I need to rest and eat a little protien after each 50 minute lecture or I start feeling sick and my energy plummets.  I've started packing greek yogurt and organic peanutbutter on toast (I made bread last weekend!) to eat between classes.  I'm nervous about teaching my night class because it is 3 hours long.  My students will just have to get used to taking longer breaks than the standard 10 minutes.

When the fatigue hits, my chest starts hurting along my sturnum and I feel queasy and out of breath.  It sounds like most of you aren't really getting the fatigue (lucky!), but is there anyone else who has been feeling that way?

I must admit that the flaxseed oil-cottage cheese diet sounds a little scary to me, but I've gone almost completely organic, particularly with meat and dairy, and cut out all high fructose corn syrup.  Even my DH has gotten on board!  We're following Michael Pollan's adage "If it comes from a plant, eat it.  If it is manufactured in a plant, don't."

cookiegal

uwo....good question...tumor stuff I guess!

sanaisa

Melinda and Gogo...let us know if you hear any further as the 2nd opinion Onc I met with (who is supposed to be a very highly regarded/respected Onc...his book is #1 in Amazon (for whatever that is worth!) made it horrifically clear to me that being ER/PR+ meant that I could not use consume Flaxseed Oil (rather, I was to use Primrose Oil)...same thing for Soy products (also high in phytoestrogens).  Oddly, this same Onc prescribed a certain regiment of vitamins during chemo which included lower doses of antioxidants (elminating these supplements 1 day prior and 2 days after each chemo tx).  Of course, no antioxidants during chemo, which I was told meant no vitiamin A, C or E...   There are so many opinions out there, it gets overwhelming.  We are all so vulnerable to wanting to do what is best for our bodies. 

The best thing about being post chemo is having that sweet elixir (as Melinda calls it, "Jesus Juice"...).  So funny!  Oddly, I only had cravings for the sweets about 2 weeks out of chemo, for just a few days where I did indulge in a sizeable amount of See's candies from Christmas...but since then I have been as good as gold with no added sugar at all.  Pretty much have no taste for it...ah...but the sweet red elixir is back and one glass here and there a night is much enjoyed!

I am confused about the Taxoxifen, too.  I had my last chemo on 12/10/09...still getting weekly Herceptins (until 9/10) and will start the Zometa trial next Thursday (I got in on the third arm and they are personally bringing the Zometa to my Onc for IV administration when I get my Herceptin)...but no mention of the Tamoxifen yet (actually, I was told that "when" it is time for that, I was to have Arimidex. I am 46 and keep hearing Arimidex is harder on the body...why are some people on Arimdex and others on Tamoxifen?  Is it a HER+ thing?

Tats (tatoos) x3 on my...on smack dab in the middle and one under each arm.  I don't know who your kind techs were, but my underarm tatoos were a bit ouchy... I am expected to start my 33 rads within the next two weeks...I may be a Feb starter, after all.

Hugs...and Cookie, you make me laugh my arse off!!

cookiegal

Oy, my burns showed up today. I put cortizone on after rads, then walk home and put on the goo 30 minutes later. Except today I got bad news when I got home and forgot for 2 hours,and boom, burn O crisp O.

Ok and this is odd...big red is not so big tonight.

Could this be the shrinking my PS suspected? If so she was smart to make 'ol BR bigger than the dainty sister on the right.

argh...just wanted to make it to my birthday without a burn.

DaylilyFan

Wow--such interesting information about nutrition, etc!  Thanks for those posts.

I just love cottage cheese and found a low-salt version at Whole Foods in the next county that I treat myself to when I'm in that area.  It's a great low-calorie protein source and somehow more satifying than light yogurt.

At the first appointment with the rad onc, he raised the issue of the Canadian fraction as appropriate for small-breasted women like me and I'm a 34C!  Or I was...after the lumpectomy the healthy breast was sagging worse than the treated one!  I'm post-menopause and my estrogen levels must be zero.  I can see the collagen decline in my face as well, but you know the only route to a long life is old age!  

one-L

Edited this post because I gave such a bad answer about Tamoxifen.  Sometimes you just should think before trying to give an answer that is not correct.  Sorry about that.  This is one I am blaming on "chemo brain".  That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Juannelle

kmf

It is my understanding that Tamoxifen has nothing to do w/your body's production of estrogen.  It is an estrogen receptor blocker -- so that the cancer cell's receptors that are looking for estrogen in order to multiply don't get it -- the estrogen can't attach to them because the Tamoxifen is blocking it.

I am totally confused about the Flaxseed oil.  I'm going to ask my onco when I see him next week but I doubt he knows anything about supplements.  He just doesn't impress me as being too knowledgeable on that sort of thing.

I've been "airing out"  the radiated boob  and I do think the redness is subsiding a bit.  I may get one of those personal fans to hold up under my shirt.  The tech said oxygen, oxygen, oxygen to the skin -- let the heat out-- and Aquaphor, Aquaphor, Aquaphor.

unklezwifeonty

No wonder my rad onc never mentioned that Canadian fraction is for small boobs. I'm an A cup! I guess she didn't want to offend me!

one-L

kmf, thanks for straightening me out about  the Tamoxifen.   I didn't think I said it exactly right and I knew someone would come behind me and give me a boost.  I guess I should  have thought it out before I commented, but I was in a hurry.

Juannelle

weety

That's right about the tamox--it doesn't stop the estrogen (that's why they use it in premenopausal women whose ovaries are still making plenty of estrogen) but it does block it.  The AI's don't stop the ovaries from making estrogen so they can't be used if a women is still premenopausal.  THey do stop the other organs (I think the adrenal gland still produces much of the estrogen left in a woman's body after menopause) and fat from estrogen production, so that's why menopausal women use the AI. 

However, some premenopausal women do take an AI (that is what is being recommended for me but haven't started yet) but they must shut down the estrogen production in the ovaries by another means--lupron or zolodex shots (or an oopherectomy) in order for the AI's to be given.  These meds put the premenopausal women into a chemically induced menopause, much like chemo does.  There are also times that a premenopausal women uses these shots to stop the ovaries but they also go on tamoxifen at the same time.  From the reading I've done, that is not as common in the US as it is in other parts of the world.  There are several big studies going on right now (the one I'm familiar with is the SOFT trial) that are looking at the best way to stop and/or block the estrogen production in premenopausal women.  I wish they knew, because I'm sure not looking forward to being put into an early menopause at 39!

unklezwifeonty

Weety

I know what you mean. I'm 38 and i never thought I'd want my periods back but after 5 months of not having them, I want them back. My last lupron shot was in December and aunt flo should pay me a visit and end my moodiness hopefully soon!

weety

onty, why were you on lupron and now stopping it? 

Scoobydoo

I am happy if I never get my period back!  Yay for chemopause.  Man I hated having periods and I will cry if it comes back.  Seriously, I will really cry.

unklezwifeonty

Weety,

I asked my onc to protect my ovaries at the time of beginning chemo. 

Anita,

Lol. How old are you hun?

yogamommy

Yoga4Vick Jan 25 sim yes/yes supine 28 5

Melinda-Tma3

Here's a good post on approved/tested multivitamins and probiotics...

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/79/topic/747207 

for whatever reason my link option doesn't work...so sorry but you must copy and paste~

I was glad to see my Naturemade multi was approved!

Melinda 

ginny68

Hello all - I'm still new to all this. When I read about all the different things everyone had to go thru, I feel like I shouldn't be complaining at all. My rad treatments are #13, 17 to go! My rad onco suggested (told me) to use liquid vitamin e, absolutely NO deod unless no metallic in it (she gave me Alra & said Tom's from Maine was good, too). She said the bra thing was up to me, but that I had some swelling, and the bra might actually help. I wear it when I go out. I like "airing it out". I get a "picky" feeling a lot, sometimes a zing, but they only happen once in a while & go away quickly.  Just don't want snow to stop or delay this treatment. I picture pac-man in the radiation machine taking away any stray cancer cells when I'm having rads. My oncologist called me this past week to find out how many rads I have had, then told me she would call me at a later date to give me a presc. for Tamoxifen. She wants me on Tamox for 1/2 of the 5 yrs...Femara the balance. She said that way my se would be halfed. Interesting se on both!!! 

weety

What exactly is the reason for the no deoderant rule?  Does the aluminum interfere with the rads or is it more the issue of irritating the skin?  What if I'm not getting my underarms radiated?  What if I only use it at night and then wash it off in the morning?