MARCH 2010 Rads Group

Sugar77

I will be starting radiation in March 2010. My simulation is scheduled for March 10th. I thought it would be great to start a thread for all ladies starting rads this month. Looking forward to connecting with others going through the same treatment in the same time frame.

Mommaof2

Thanks for starting the thread for us!  I'm sure we'll have more join us soon.  My simulation is scheduled for March 15th, but I won't start my rads until the end of March.  Looks like we will be following each other once again.

Have a great day!

 Liz

Frankie_

My last Taxol treatment will be on March 9. I am told that I will have a 3 week break before starting rads. I will be in contact with my Radiologist soon to set up my simulation. I am expecting to likely start the last week on March for rads. This is yet to be confirmed. I will having  7 weeks of rads (35 in total) M-F.

Frankie

Sugar77

Frankie - looks like we're starting around the same time.  I'm supposed to start w/o March 22nd. Looking forward to sharing on this thread as we move forward.

Sherri 

c2will

I started out with the January group, but I had to wait for my Oncotype score.  The score was low (14), so no chemo required.  I had my simulation today.  The first treatment will be on Monday March 1.  25 TX in the prone position, with 8 boosts.

joanneasiata

HI ALL

I start  rads on the 22n,d my last chemo was 4th Feb, they wanted to give me a good break inbetween i didnt want to argue with them i took it and ran .

It will be good to share our tails of getting zapped I'm told its a walk in the park compared to chemo ,C2WILL you are very lucky to have skiped chemo .

Had a bit a bad news today my daughter who is 22 has to go tomo for an ultra sound and momo there suspecting B/C praying its not and just a blocked gland ,but she has a lump under her arm as well which to me isn't looking good, ill let you know tomo they should tell me something i ve gotten to know them there

jojo

Sugar77

Jojo - I so hope all turns up to be fine with your daughter. I'm sending good vibes that all will be fine. I will also be starting rads on March 22nd and had me last chemo on Feb. 8th.  I'm glad to have a good break in between as well.

Carol - welcome to the March rads group. Looks like you'll be starting first.

Have a great day!

Sherri 

txstardust

I don't have a start date yet, but I'm sure I will be starting in March.  I've met with one rad onc and have an appt next week with another - I like to make sure about my plan of action!  I'm not in a big hurry to get started, so I'm glad that I'm getting a break before the next phase of tx begins.  Nice to meet you all!

(((((((((JoJo))))))))))  hugs to you and your daughter

Peace to all...

Shelby 

Sugar77

Shelby - nice to meet you, too. I wasn't in a hurry to get started either.  I wanted a good break between chemo and rads.

Sherri 

Mommaof2

Hello to everyone - I hope everyone is doing well.

I'm glad to be getting a nice break between my last chemo treatment and the start of radiation treatments too, but I also think the longer I wait, the more anxious I'm going to get about radiation  treatment.  I really, really want to be through with all of this and try to get back to a normal life.

JoJo - I hope your daughter's appointment goes well today and her lump is not anything to worry about.

Liz

TreadSoftly

Hi Girls,

I am joining you on this journey too.  I am starting rads on Tues 2nd March - will be having 25 treatments first, then 8 boosts.

I had my simulation session last week - all went ok - I got 3 TINY tatoos - one on my sternum (breastbone), then one either side of my body beside boobs.

I have extremely fair, sensitive skin (I wear factor 50 suncream!!) so Im a little apprehensive about Rads so I will be looking forward to sharing/hearing experiences and tips here!! 

Chat soon,

MarieK

Thanks Sherri for this link!

I had my CT scan/simulation a few weeks ago and got 2 tattoos. 

I'm supposed to start rads on March 8 but haven't been given my schedule yet.  They tell me that I will be given my times one week at a time - i.e. getting the next week's schedule on the friday of each treatment week. 

Is that how it's working for everyone else?  Seems kind of loosey-goosey to me!

I'm a bit worried about radiation and how that will affect my reconstruction outcome.  I'm not opposed to going totally flat if I have to - I just don't like this one boob look I'm sporting now!

JoJo - sending positive vibes to you and your daughter!

3monstmama

Joining this thread with regrets--tried to get out of rads but have grade 3 DCIS so no chance. 

On the bright side, I will certainly meet some nice people, right?

I go in for my prep stuff on March 8.  At that time they will determine if I need the ABC thing to decrease my heart's involvement.  Once thats determined, we can set a time---the ABC machine operates on a different schedule than the regular rad machine.  I am hoping to go in over my lunch hour so that I don't miss too much work or persuade my boss to let me do a really late lunch.   And I've figured out that I can walk back from rads [down hill all the way!] so that gets me a bit of the exercise that the radiation oncologist said would help ward off the fatigue.

The actually treatment starts on March 22.  I will miss one day the second week because of a family trip.  28 treatments will be whole breast and 8 will be boost---does that seem like a lot of boost to anyone?

I was told to get Calendula cream from the food co-op or they can give me a prescription for Biofine.  No scented anything, no shaving  and no deodorant [good thing my rads are in spring before the weather heats up!].  Oh and I was told that I should powder my skin with corn starch and avoid skin to skin contact.  That last part shouldn't be too hard as I'm not that big.

ATeamNana

Diagnosed Aug 09 ..Began Chemo 8/25  Had 4 A/C  12 Taxel  Then Lumpectomy 1/28  Clear margins & 0/2 nodes Clear as well.  Now I begin Radiation 3/2.  Had consultation & another visit to get positioning etc.  I will have 33 treatments.  Had painful shoulders after having to hold arms above head.  But it doesn't last long thank goodness.

cabmom

Hi all and thanks Sugar77 for starting this thread!  Finished chemo on the 17th and do my rad simulation on March 5th, then begin radiation on the 10th.  Little quick but I'm so ready to get this behind me.  I've heard that rad's are a breeze after chemo.  Suppose to have 30 in total, 25 reg ones and 5 boosts.  Not sure of all the terminology yet but getting there.  Didn't know about the not being able to shave your underarm thing...YUCK!  Also, someone else mention on another thread something about only being able to wear a certain type of deodorant but neither onc has mentioned that to me or at least not yet.  Anyway, looking forward to getting to know each of you. 

joanneasiata

HI AND WELCOME CABMOM

yep i was told also no deodorant but they recon that cause of the rads under your arm or near that you don't sweat there any more and you dont need deodorant any way, and the hair stops growing there as well kinda makes sense to me rads is burning every thing in its path ,please any one correct me if I'm wrong

WE GOT THROUGH THE TESTS TODAY AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T SEE ANY THING STRANGE ,SO WE  ARE VERY HAPPY BUT THE LUMP IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PALM OF YOUR HAND ,COULD IT JUST BE A MASS OF FATTY TISSUE AND IF THE FINAL RESULT COME BACK NEG SHOULD WE ASK FOR MORE TESTS ???? SORRY JUST LOOKED AT THE SCREEN AND NOTICED CAP LOCKS WERE ON CARNT BE STUFFED RE WRITTING ALL OF THIS  take care every one and have a good weekend

JOJO

TreadSoftly

MarieK - I have been given my timetable by the Rads Dept for the whole treatment, i.e. right up to mid-april when I am due to finish!  Seems like a lot of dates and times when you see it written out there in front of you, but I suppose there will be a certain sense of satisfaction stroking off every day when Im done!

3monstama - Im getting 8 boosts too

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend, this time next week I will have 4/33 sessions over!!!

somanywomen

Just a warning about costs...I finished rads Jan this year and only then got the bill...They had added a $30. office visit for each of my 30 rads..Almost $1000. total....These charges are not taken into consideration of your yearly deductible...I am fighting these charges, they have been billed in a way that I was treated in a Doctor's office instead of the Cancer Center where these were done...I did not see a doctor but about 3x in the 30 visits, only the techs....You might want to check into this before they shock you at the end of treatments as they did me....good luck to all, I had minimal se's from rads.......

MarieK

Well I just got the call from Radiation saying that I will be starting on March 1 and will have 28 treatments.

I was caught a bit off guard because I thought I had another week off before I started (I was told March 8 during my planning session).  It's actually written down on my information sheet!

After the call I felt - kind of unsettled - you know how you get something in your head and you get comfortable with that and then the plans change?  Well that's how I'm feeling...unsettled.

I have to keep telling myself that this is a good thing that if I start earlier I'll finish earlier but I can't help feeling a bit "cheated".

MarieK

Treadsoftly - I would prefer to have my entire treatment schedule up front but the lady I spoke to just now told me that it is a week to week thing and that my times will change and be affected by other patients.

3monstmama

Thanks somanywomen for the warning on the costs.  I think it will depend on your health insurance---do you have a cap on your out of pocket?  I've already met my deductible for the year--lucky me?  I can't imagine it doesn't count towards the out-of-pocket side of the equation.  I have a cap on out-of-pocket of 5g for the whole family.  At the rate I'm going with procedures and the like, I'll hit that by May.   good thing my kids are still in regular school!

LNFletch

Hi all! My last chemo is this Tuesday. I did 4 AC and responded so well that I was able to then have surgery. I wanted surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix before my husband's insurance changed. I am now on Taxotere and will have my last treatment this Tuesday! I'm meeting with my Radiation Oncologist today for a start sometime in March. I have been looking through the threads to find questions to ask him and really appreciate this website. I'm looking forward to rads, but I have some reservations. I heard that AC was harder than Taxotere, and I hate Taxotere. I feel a dull awful the entire time, just until two days before my next treatment. With AC, I felt horrible for a week, but then the following week I felt great. I'm hoping that with rads I only have fatigue. 

I haven't posted much, so it's nice to meet you all. 

Mommaof2

LNFletch -

I just wanted to post a hello to you - my family and I moved from Gilbert a few years ago.  Although I sure don't miss the summer heat, I really do miss Gilbert.  If only the temp. stayed in the 90's, then it would be the perfect place to live.  Oh well, I guess there really isn't a "perfect" place to live.

Glad to hear you only have one more treatment to go!  I finished my treatments two weeks and am so glad to be through with chemo.  Now, onto radiation.  BLAH!  Not looking forward to that at all.  Good luck on Tuesday - I hope all goes well.

JoJo- Glad to hear the news about your daughter - that must be a big relief!

Take care all!

Liz

Sugar77

Jojo - that's good news about your daughter.

Mommaof2 - how are you feeling now that chemo is done. Are you getting back to normal? I'm enjoying this time off between chemo and rads and am anxiously awaiting some hair to grow back.

Everyone - it's nice to know we can all share our experiences as we move through radiation.  I don't know what to expect.  I guess I'll do a little research in the next week or so.  I'm just enjoying starting to feel normal again after chemo.

Have a great weekend!

Sherri 

janemachado22

Looking forward to hearing from everyone as they are going through this.... 

I had my consulation with Rad Onc on the 22nd.  My simulation on the 24th.  My dry run as they call it is schedled for March 11th.  Don't have a schedule yet, but should begin on March 15th.

I'm not really nervous about radiation, my biggest concern is I had a bi-lateral on January 28th. I had tissue expanders put in at the same time as I was told I didn't need radiation on my chest, just the lymph nodes under my arm.  Now, the margins weren't clear so I have to have radiation on my chest. 

I only had one fill in the expanders before the tattoo's were put on for radiation.  Now they want to stop the fills and  begin again after radiation.  Since radiation is suppose to tighten the skin, how is it going to feel trying to expand it after.  Yikes is all that comes to mind.....

Anyone know of anyone who filled their expanders after radiation?   

Mommaof2

Sherri - Thanks for asking about me.  Other than getting over a bad cold and being really tired, I'd say I'm doing ok.  I finally was able to work out yesterday and today, so things are looking up.  I was so fortunate to have so few SE's, I really can't complain.  I'm really glad to have such a long break between treatments, I hope to be back to almost "normal" before startings rads.  I really hope the fatigue SE mentioned from rads isn't as bad as the fatigue from chemo.  I can't imagined being so exhausted for so long.  My daughter told me the other day "Wow! You have HUGE bags under your eyes!)  Great....just what I wanted to hear. 

Hope you are feeling well and have a great weekend!

Liz

joanneasiata

HI ALL

Just popping in to say hi and I'm thinking of everyone hopefully having a great weekend I'm of today to see menopause the musical its suppose to be extremely funny .

JOJO

Sugar77

Menopause the musical...sounds like a fun show.  Let us know how it goes!

Sherri 

LNFletch

Mommaof2- I moved to Gilbert from the midwest and adjusted quickly to the heat. I love it when the temperature is between 95-105. I have been pretty cold this winter, and I don't think having a bald head helped!

Janemachado- I ended up having the one step procedure with Alloderm implants, so I'm not sure about the expanders.  While making my decision, I was told if I did the reconstruction with tissue expanders, then they should be filled to the maximum before radiation began. Have you talked to your plastic surgeon?

MaryNY

I started radiation last week on Wed, 24 Feb. I had Tx #4 of 33 today. Tonight I went looking for a rads group to join. Nice to see so many familiar faces on this thread but I'd better check out the Feb thread too.

somanywomen: Thanks for the warning on costs. I had insurance with Aetna until the end of Feb. As of today, my insurance is with United Healthcare. Aetna were covering radiation 100%, not even any copays for consults with radiation oncologist. Now with UHC, they say they cover 90%, but only after I've met the deductible. The deductible is $2,000 and I'm unemloyed so not sure how I can pay it. But will see if I can negotiate it down with the oncology unit.

Can anyone tell me the typical cost of radiation treatment in the US?

joanneasiata

HI ALL

DD HASN'T YET BEEN TO GET THE RESULTS ILL FILL YOU IN WHEN SHE GETS THEN NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS RIGHT

Sorry cap locks were on hate that,  who else here has been just a right bitch to everyone , i adore my family but  i have been really cranky with them, i was talking to DH about my anger yesterday and i said i might get worse when i start hormone tablets the look of fear in his eyes , it made me laugh well ill have to be more aware of this and keep things in perspective , oh now thats a challenge i Carnot be bothed to do at the moment lol

Menopause the musical was ok i was expecting to have a really good belly laugh cause i need and want one, but it didn't happen only a few good giggles nothing to get rid of the cobweds .

KEEP WELL EVERYONE

JOJO