January 2010 Rads Start

ginny68

My surgeon, my med oncologist and my rad oncologist all told me NO deodorant except the non-metallic kind. (Even the nurses stressed no deo & no shaving!) It must interfere with the radiation. Med onc & rad onc are both from Boston Dana Farber, the rad onc is from Holy Family Hosp in Methuen MA, she was recommened by med onc to do my radiation so I wouldn't have to drive 35-40 min to Boston. Love them all

Melinda-Tma3

Weety...I am using the Tom's alum free deodorant lavender scented and really like it. I'm actually thinking of switching permanently!  I was concerned it wouldn't do the job, but it works great!  I do believe the aluminum causes problems with the rads on your skin....perhaps a reaction.  Don't recall the exact details, but they're clear not to use it...  Also was told not to shave on that side.  I don't feel very pretty with my hairy pit out there for all to see! (possibilities of small cuts getting sore etc. ) I was also told not to wash that side.  Just get sudsy water and let it run over the area...the less touching the better.   The tattooed square over my left breast includes the bottom corner of my underarm. (just a little) 

Ask your rad staff all the questions you can think of! I drive them crazy with all my questions...  But I like to know all the answers!

Melinda 

catwrangler

Well, the peeling that the nurse mentioned last monday showed up today, and so the underside of my breast is a little tender. Not blistered, just the old skin is pulling back and leaving the new skin behind. Even putting the Fruit of the Earth aloe gel causes a little ouch today, but the XClair felt good.  I guess tomorrow I will have to grab the nurse and get some of the protective pads to cover it. 

Ezscriiibe

weety911: very good questions and almost word for word what went through my mind, too. . .

kmf

I didn't realize how much of my underarm was catching some rays -- and it is red now -- like it just happened overnight around treatment #15 -- so I am really putting the Aquaphor up high in the armpit and the tech told me the armpits, because our arms hang down, don't get the oxygen they need -- so I'm airing everything out and being sure to air out the armpit too.  My dr. told me to only use Dove soap.  I had used some other soap occasionally because the Dove just didn't seem to take care of the body odor, but the body odor has subsided a lot, even w/exercise so now I am on Dove only.  My dr. said early on that I wouldn't need deord. after this.  I was skeptical, but it is lessening.  I got some Tom's of Maine which she said is ok, but w/the reddening recently, I'm not putting anything but Aquaphor on it.  Karenanne

cookiegal

I almost did not want to mention this, but did anybody read the article in the NY Times!!!!!

unklezwifeonty

I did. Scary to say the least.

c2will

I read the article, not exactly what you want to read when you've just accepted that you need to do it.  Time for vigilence and prayer - I always pray first for the person that's treating me.

unklezwifeonty

That's well said Carol. Good luck for all that are getting started this week. I'm going for simulation this morning.

unklezwifeonty

I got tatted! 9 pin sized marks. Didn't hurt much. Rads will start next Wednesday, Feb 3. I have to go in for 1 more planning session on Feb 2. Wonder what that session is for. Saw the doggie do me saddle also today!

Woof! Woof!

DebbieSawyer

Good morning! Heading out the door for errands, then rads, but I wanted to wish a happy day to the birthday girl. I believe I read on another thread that today is your birthday....COOKIEGAL?! If I knew how to insert pictures, I'd post a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY sign with balloons, cake, ice cream, and lots of presents!

Chat later today...

Debbie

deebou

Dee and I start Jan 26th with 26 treatment in all

cookiegal

thank you....I am expecting ice cream and balloons at treatment!

precioustime

Hello Ladies,

Because of cancellations, I will start #1 of #33 treatment tomorrow on the TOMO machine.  So far I have had 6 rounds of TAC and BMX with rt axilla dissection and really do not look forward to RADS? Could it be the unknowing?  My RADS will be a little different then most.  They are going to us a Bollus and radiate rt. side supraclavicle, axilla, chest wall and (both sides of mediastinal nodes)

DebbieSawyer

As well you should be Cookiegal...lol!

Hi OneL, Catwrangler, Melinda, and all the 1/10's!

Hey Onty; Glad to hear you're past tats and the 1st planning session. The second one is just to confirm everything they did at the first one. At my second, they drew all over me with markers, moreso than the first session. Also at the second planning session, they went ahead and did the first rad tx. So you've finally got a definite date to start! Which means closer to the end---Yahoo! btw, how comfortable is that doggie do me saddle? You and Cookiegal just crack me up!

kmf: Thanks for the heads up about underarm radiation and keeping it aired out. I now sit on the couch at night with my left arm up over my head! Looks silly, feels good. And speaking of feels good, I believe it was you that suggested doing snowangels? Since you mentioned it, I've been doing those faithfully since day one of rads and for me it's helping alot, by keeping my arm mobile, and breast tissue supple (for lack of a better word). 

Someone asked earlier why I'm only getting 16 tx. Rads dr said my skin, and breast size (36C), (and because of good clean margins around the tumor site), could handle the double dose, shorter timeframe of Canadian Fraction. He said 16 CF's is equivalent to 30 standard fractions. I get zapped on right side for 18 seconds, the "teeth" of the machine change, then I get hit for 2 more seconds. Then the machine does the same thing on the left side. Rads dr said that extra 2 seconds is for focusing on a part of my breast that's a little more dense than the rest.

Friday was my 12th tx. That night I was red. Not screaming red, but no longer just pink. Breast felt hot, but wasn't unbearable. Applied lots of calendula and aquaphor, and by Saturday evening, it was back to dark pink, and no longer hot (oh and I did drink TWO glasses of red wine for extra insurance). I do think the treatments are catching up with me, but for the most part, my skin is holding up well. No peeling, no more red bumps, not much pain: just feels like a very slight sunburn. I have stopped wearing a bra (to the delight of my husband, but horror of the neighbors), and now wearing a soft t-shirt under a cami with bra shelf. As for the fatigue, some days I have plenty of energy, and some days I just drag all day, but I can still function. Rads dr did say 5-7 days after rads are over is when the full skin SE's should show up, and then start to improve.

I'm kicking around maybe getting a small tatoo over one of my rads tatoos when this is all over....is that a nutty idea? I've never thought about having a tattoo until now (I'm 56), but thought a small gold star over one of the tats would be kinda fun, and it wouldn't show. Maybe try a temporary tat first....?

weety

Hi all,

I went for my simulation and tattoos last Friday.  I start the rad treatments tomorrow.  I will have 27 to the chest wall (invasive tumor cleared it by 3mm but the DCIS was still present at the chest wall margins.)   I don't know about boosts.  Do they tell you this as you get closer to the end?  I'm nervous about what to expect, but I went out today and got my Tom of Maine's and some aloe vera.  Do I start using the aloe vera the first day?  Do I use it before or after the rads?  How about the deodorant--do I just wash off my normal deodorant in the shower tomorrow morning and then put on  the Tom of Maine's?  I hope this stuff works because I tend to get wet pits when I get nervous!!!!

DebbieSawyer

weety-- Your rads dr or nurse should have given you a timeframe as to when you can apply lotions just before tx, but it's generally don't use any for four hours or less before your treatment. IMO, yes start the first day applying your lotions. After rads treatment, when changing from hospital gown back into street clothes, I apply calendula (or aloe vera) right then. Then apply liberally 3-4 times a day. Shower in the morning before tx, you want your skin and armpit clean. After treatment, apply lotions and Tom's of Maine. Tom's, and the lotions, gets washed off in the shower the next morning before rads.

I'm not having boosts, so can't address that question. Someone here will be able to.

You'll get the hang of it after the first day....you'll be fine!

cookiegal

the bad news...fatigue is really hitting me today of all days

 the good news....the techs actually had party favors and all yelled happy birthday when I walked in.

I think they needed something fun, they have a lot of nervous needy patients after the NYT.

19 down 9-14 to go!

jenn3

Well - today was the day I took my first topless photos.  Topless without a shirt or boobs. 

I had my first treatment today - they took x-rays and drew all over the left side of my chest with various colored Sharpies, took photos with their camera, then sent me on my way.   That was the left side - on the right side I had the port removed today. I came home and showed my family my chest, one side colored with Sharpies the other bandaged.  What a day.

They are radiating a much larger area than I thought. The nurse also indicated that they will have to go deeper with the radiation than I was led to believe. Either I didn't hear things correctly the first time it was explained or the rad onc looked at my files and saw something he needed to address.  Guess I'll ask more questions when I see the rad onc later this week. 

The nurse told me about the deodorant and lotions, but I forgot.  I have afternoon appts, so I guess I'll need to ask again about using the lotion and/or deo in the morning.   So much to remember.

Cookie - HAPPY BIRTHDAY

one-L

Happy Birthday Cookiegal.  I am glad they surprised you and had a party for you. 

good luck weety911 on your first tx tomorrow.  I was so nervous for my first tx, but after 4 I am a pro now.  Just try to relax, I know it will not be easy the first time, but that is what you need to do.

Onty, you are a tatted woman now.  When will you start wearing your leather and riding that Harley?  Good luck as you start your rad journey.

Debbie, my DH would just die if he thought I was getting another tattoo.  Especially one besides the two I got for radiation.  I do think it would be neat to do.  I have always wanted a tattoo, but never  had the nerve to get one.

precioustime, good  luck to you also tomorrow.  It is a good feeling to finally get  started.

Hope all goes well for everyone starting this week or who started the end of last week.

I got #4 today and haven't noticed anything yet.  I guess it will at least take another week, then things will start happening.  I just can't wait. lol.

Juannelle

weety

I'm still confused about the deodorant.  Do you have to wash off the Tom of Maine's in the morning before the rads?  Or can you apply it in the morning and leave it on for the treatments?  (I have my treatments in the afternoon)

DebbieSawyer

weety--sorry about the confusion: my rads dr said no lotions, no deodorant, including Tom's, 4 hours before tx. Better check with your doctor, though....don't quote me. We've learned that for 10 different rads docs, you'll get 15 different opinions!

DebbieSawyer

OneL--do you think your hubby would notice a small new tattoo? Tell him the rads techs had to redo one, and they offered to do a design of your choice instead of a small black dot. Or that the new passcode into the power plant is a tatoo on the employee!

Kim09

Jenn - I haven't gotten my port removed yet so I have a question.  Did they knock you out when they took it out? 

I'm thinking of getting it out next month after I finish with the radiation.

unklezwifeonty

Cookie, Happy Birthday!!!

One-L, 3 years post treatment I may get a bike and a real tat connecting these 9 dots :-)

Debbie, thanks for explaining the second simulation.

Weety, my onc said no cream, lotion or deodorant or anything else after shower till after the rads in the morning. Then after rads I can use Aquaphor or Eucerin. Tom's of Maine for deo.

Kim, for port removal you should be able to ask them to put you in twilight if you like.

Anita, good luck for tomorrow.

All the gals starting rads tomorrow, GOOD luck!

Sido

Happy birthday Cookiegal!  I asked my techs about the NYT article too, but they hadn't heard about it.  I guess not too many people read it here in Peoria, but I admit it made me a little nervous.

Regarding deodorant:  I use Tom's in the morning and have not washed it off for my early afternoon rads and haven't had any problems.  My rad onco is really old school and won't approve anything but Aquafor, but I'm loving the Dermaide my bs gave me.  BTW, I found a study that concluded that "the proscription against using deoderant during radiotherapy is of unproven benefit."  They are calling for further study, but it is an interesting development and may help future women going through rads to be less stinky. The info is here: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123192986/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

I already have plans to get a tattoo when this is all over!  I got my first (and only other than radiation dots) after I filed my dissertation, and my DH is resigned to my getting a second.  I was thinking of a butterfly over or near my SNB scar....

weety

Sido, I'm interested in reading this article, but it won't let me access it without purchasing 24 access.  Am I doing something wrong?  Can you tell a little bit more about what the article says?

DaylilyFan

Re NY Times article:  I skimmed to get the gist--I think if I had read every word, I would have lost my lunch.  I have confidence in the techs treating me.  Every few days a student comes in to train, and the techs are so meticulous leading him/her through the procedure that I know they aren't just on auto-pilot.

Today was #9 of 21; so far, so good, aside from the one sticker adhesive allergy.  After reading how much radiation cuts the risk of recurrence, I have a much better outlook on this, although it's still not as much fun as skinny-dipping in college!  (Dear Hubby does not know about that!)

Cheers and hugs to the ladies who are literally sick and tired!  Hope you feel better soon! 

mommy2two

Good morning all - I went for my simulation yesterday.  That was not fun and took abot 45 minutes because they couldn't get me lined up correctly according to my program.  They even had to call in the guy that made my program but hey, what's one more man I don't know seeing my boob?  LOL

So, today is my official start day.  I am very nervous to say the least and reading that NY Times article did not help matters.  Its hard to believe that I'm more nervous now then when I started chemo.  I am so ready for this all to be over with!

Hope you all have a great day!

Toyah

unklezwifeonty

Dear Toyah,

Shame is only from people that know you partially. Not  from those who know you fully and not those who don't know you at all :-)