January 2010 Rads Start

Anonymous

Today will 9 of 35. So far just tanning and tired, and I have pain in the nipple. Anyone else experience this pain? Today a friend is taking me to my appointment. Hopefully we'll have each other laughing. Today I see the Rad onc.

RedheadPam

Well, today is tx number 27 of 33 - the finish line is coming up! I go in Monday for the setup on my boosts. "Pinky" is starting to turn more of a light red, and I have a little soreness, especially under my arm.  I switched to a very soft, stretchy camisole-type bra today -- wish I could remember where I got it! I have started to notice a little more tiredness this week -- I tend to hit a wall somewhere between 5 and 7pm. I learned something interesting this week from one of my rads oncs...I told him I was out of breath easily, and he said it takes around 120 days from your last chemo for your red blood cells to regain their oxygen-carrying capacity. II'm a little under half that far out, so I guess I just need to be more patient. On another post-chemo note, my eyebrows have started falling like snowflakes this week. Bleh. 

1rarebird

For what it's worth, when I mentioned to my doctor that I lost some skin when the transparent tape was pull off by the technicians, he said that they should not have placed any tape in that location in the first place. He told me to but Polysporin on the raw area and keep it covered with frequently replaced non-stick Tefla pads.  I hope the techs don't get chewed out too badly over this since they have been so good to me otherwise.  But I suppose we all are learning something new about this therapy as we go along---patients, techs and doctors alike.. 

29 down and 4 to go--

bird

unklezwifeonty

Was counting wrong, I am 12 down, 9 to go! Woohooo!

one-L

I am having trouble with my left arm, this is not the surgery side and it has been bothering me for awhile.  My hand  has been swelling for the last two days, so today I mentioned it to the Rad Onc and he sent me upstairs to see my Med Onc.  It is really painful and I am not using it as much and I know I am losing strength.  Anyway, she sent me for an ultrasound to see if there was a blood clot, all was well no  problems there, so she wants me to have my port taken out now unstead of waiting for rads to be over.  I am really ready to have my port out and I hope that solves the problem.

Will all this stuff ever end?  It just seems to be one thing after another.

onty, don't feel bad, I have trouble  keeping count of mine also.  It is nothing to be ashamed of.  You can always blame it on chemo.

I am still feeling good.  I may be suffering from some fatigue, because I can hardly stay awake after 9:00.  I slept from 9:00 pm to 8:30 am last night.  But that is not usual for me.  I don't generally get tired during the day, that is a good thing.  My skin is still holding up and just now turning a little red.

22 down 11 to go, yippee skippy.  I did ask about the boosts today to see if there would be another simulation and she said no, they did all that when they did the original sim. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend. 

Juannelle

AsiaYM

15 down, 18 to go! Tanned a bit more than yesterday. No other SE yet. 

Ladies, have a nice weekend!

Karen

DaylilyFan

Gosh, just when you think you're out of the woods....   Eight days after I finished rads, I suddenly wigged out and could not think straight.  I left the office, and crashed when I got home; then I felt better the next day and went to yoga, but became sleepy again that evening.  I put in a full day's work today but can hardly keep my eyes open.   I don't feel fatigued, just sleepy.  Very weird! 

Debbie, the cat was a hoot! 

tangi-girl

Good Morning, Gals!

Only three more boosts and I will be done!  Yesterday the fatigue really hit me.  I was tired when I got up and after my treatment took a nap.  Slept most of the afternoon and then went to bed at 8:15 and slept for 12 hours.  I still feel like I could sleep.  Wow.  And I am a little fuzzy-headed as well; just don't focus well.  But this too, shall pass.  Enjoy your weekends!

sanaisa

Bird, thanks for explaining the Bolus. I did not know that it filters the rays so that the chest wall muscle/bone/heart won't get exposed. That sounds like a pretty good deal. 

12 down, 21 to go. 

victoriasecret

Just thought I would check in ...have posted this on another thread .. I am  having discomfort 1 week after rads ended...well actually last sat had to remove the bra and have been pretty uncomfortable all week ....red,peeling,seeping( not infected),swollen...have used all creams prescribed and went to see my naturopath and he gave me another(calendula & vit e) that is working better...today I am feeling on the mend as the day goes on ..I have the flannels off ...but no bra.

ml C

victoriasecret

RH Pam...my eyebrows fell out after taxol ...thought I had dodged that bullet...but they grew back just as fast...eyelashes as well they are all accounted for now !! ml C

weety

About the bolus, my rad tech told me something similar.  Radiation doesn't work if it is just going through the air (something about the molecules have to start moving/ionizing something????? didn't really understand this part) and in mastectomy patients, especially, there is not enough tissue for the radiation to do its full job.  Hence the bolus--it provides that extra bit of tissue.  Also, she said the bolus usually makes for more intense skin burning than not using a bolus.  Lovely.

sophie305

Good day to all,

Finally checking in....been nursing my SEs these last days.  My last full tx seems like eons ago on Feb 3, last boost was Feb 8.  I thnk  my SEs peaked this past Monday as I've been improving since that time.  The oozing has stopped although my sternum area is still very tender as well as under the breast.  But i think I've turned the corner and hope I'll be somewhat normal within a couple of weeks.  Continuing to use the Domeboro soaks and the Aquaphor (despite its greasy residuals it does seem to keep the itchiness at bay.  This post tx has been worse than all that preceded....but then I didn't have to experience chemo!  I hope all are progressing to our end-goal....one step forward, one foot at a time.  Have a good weekend, all!

1rarebird

Sanasia--

Perhaps 'filters' is not the best word. 'Absorbs' might be better but that probably is not exactly what is going on  either.  I think what happens is that the bolus removes kinetic energy from the electrons so that they can not penetrate the tissue as much as without the bolus material in place.  The result is that more of the ionization process is taking place nearer the surface of the field rather than at deeper levels.  It is the ionized oxygen that reacts or damages the genetic material in the breast cancer cells, causing them to die.  At least that's the way my doctor explained it to me. I hope I was listening well but I don't want to be tested on this either.

bird

unklezwifeonty

Just when I was getting all upbeat the boobie has started becoming red and tan. Distinct tan lines.

weety

Yeah, I've got a big, distinct, red square on my chest on the mastectomy site.

jenn3

I have the square look starting too.  It's a little pinkish, except on the scar line where it's really pink/red.  I am starting to get really tender - not painful, but am aware of the different textures in my clothes.  Oh well.....guess it means we're closer to the end of the mess.  

Kim09

Thought I would check in and say that at one week post treatment I also have the square look. I can tell the other spots that were hit with the radition.  Under the arm has been the sorest and seems to be getting worse.  I guess that's because it normally isn't exposed to the air and the skin rubs all day.  Where I got burned on the back has already peeled and the skin seems to be doing much better.  So I know the other areas will improve over time.

Juli-CA

One week and two days past my last rad tx, my square was a light tan and the boost area is bright pink.  Interesting artwork?  I have been SO lucky not to have the serious skin issues, just the itching, light peeling and redness but no loss of flesh.  Maybe the shorter treatment made a difference or I gave my all during chemo and was blessed with a calm rad experience!

Juli

victoriasecret

Weety thanks for the bolus info that would explani why I am so ...cooked...skin is a bit better today ,under arm is tender still..swelling seems to be subsiding so on the mend ...slow and steady.

ml C

unklezwifeonty

Wow the lines are becoming more noticeable even after 2 rest days....

sophie305

12 days post tx and I definitely feel I'm on the mend.  Pink that looks (and still feels) like a rash and still quite sensitive but it's improving rather than getting worse since Friday.  That's healing in my book...the end is in sight.  Amazing considering I was so bad on Monday.  Once again the docs and nurses were right when they said the peak would be over within a couple more days! 

More snow to come here in Chicagoland....nice to look at but not to drive in......

Is it spring yet?

unklezwifeonty

Sophie

Spring will be here before we know it! Hope your side effects remain mild. You and I are some of the few who are getting Canadian fraction by the way.

jakhope

15 down and 11 full and 9 boosts to go. Mid week I should be half way there, but who is counting? no se yet but pink the night of and I have great relief from aloe kept in frig and moisturizer.

sophie305

Well the snow turned out to be far less than expected....left 1 hr earlier than normal and made it downtown in half the normal time!  The snow looked so pretty on all the trees in my complex...but spring can't come soon enough.

Onty, keep moisturizing and watch your sternum and under-arm...bow-wow ouchie. 

Still improving this a.m....I am so happy to see it healing.....

Have a good day, all!

unklezwifeonty

Bow wow!

unklezwifeonty

13 down, 8 to go!

elisheva

Finished radiation on Friday! no SEs to speak of, just a slight rash-like area here and there. No pain, no special fatigue. How lucky is that? I'm going to see my Onc today and will learn what comes next (it's Arimidex!). Good luck to all of you there, those who are still going daily and those who have all this behind. May we all escape recurrence! Elisheva.

chinablue

Hello Ladies,

I started my rad treatments today.  I was wondering if any of you exercised throughout treatment.

eclectic_art

18 down and 17 to go.. and in that 7 will be booster dose. I have pain on breasts; it come and go... slight swelling near under arm... But i am regularly excercising my arm, keeping it above shoulder whenver possible.. ( my Doc also told me to do so). During these radiation days, I don't wear bras or camis with bras; instead, wearing tank tops. Tight cloths are hard to wear.