September 2010 Rads

flopsy

Bubbalu,  I did not have taxotere because I was allergic to decadron and the T's so I only had AC and now rads but this weekend the wierd looking area now seems to be a bruise, I think.  Don't know what caused it but hope it quits spreading and goes away soon.  Thanks for the concern.  All of this treatment that is foreign to our body can really through us for a loop.  I have started Femara this weekend and I guess I'll probably have SE's from that.   Already I feel a little dizzy.  I am taking it in AM but I think I will start taking it in PM.  I have to be able to function during the day at my job and drive back and forth.  Hopefully the SE's will lessen as my body adjust to the meds.  Have a good weekend and hopefully SE free one.  LOL, Ginny

bubbalu

Marie2:  I agree wtih you on the radiation.  The doctor in Phila. said he was going to ask some questions of the people in genetics there and he would call me. I guess if there were more people doing what I do they probably would do research or even a study but he's never seen it before and he is in a huge area and my doctors here have only seen it 3 times at UPMC.  I don't know why they wanted me to have the radiation, said it was part of my treatment because I am triple negative and have nothing else for reoccurences.  Said it would lower my reoccur fromo 30 to 10%.  I always questioned that.  I hope someone will look into my DNA. I would be willing to volunteer for studies on this too.

I guess I'm done, no one has offered anything else.  I see my med onc in Nov.  I'm needing now to recover and get my port removed.  I'm baffled at how you did the math on this but I like what you came up with.  I appreciate your confirmation.......

jsmiley60

Is anyone else experiencing the radiation fatigue? My legs feel weak and rubbery and a few times I get off balance when walking and start to sway to the side and have to touch the wall or furniture to get my balance back. It's really weird! So I'm hanging out in the recliner this weekend - bored to death. Nothing good on tv.........ugh! Beautiful weather here....wish I had a lounge chair I could lay outside under the tree.

PearlGirl

jsmiley60...I don't remember ever being do tired in my life. Have had 14 rads and after about 9 or 10 the fatigue started to catch up with me. Some evenings I have had to drive home with the windows down and to get more air to keep me awake. I have just emerged from a short nap and am thankful it's the weekend. Tomorrow morning is my drive to and from rads tx and then clients from noon to 5. I'll work with them again on Tuesday from 9-12 and then hightail it to rads center for an afternoon session when they plan to do some measurements or something to get ready for my boosts. It tires me out just thinking about all the driving and hours I have to stay awake! 

Maybe you can put a blanket under a tree, grab a pillow, and get some enjoyment from the lovely weather you describe. Here in my part of Florida we are having the weather everyone dreams about...high 50's or low 60's on the morning and high 70's or mid 80's during the day with NO humidity!  Since I don't feel chipper enough for much activity, at least I can enjoy sitting on my porch. But....right now I'm going back for another nap. The RO told me to slow down and now I just have to. I honestly cannot stay vertical! I need to go back to bed.

But has anyone else noticed diminished strength. Perhaps it's from lack of activity, but honestly, I can barely open a jar or bottle or can or do anything requiring exertion with my hands.  My hands have no strength at all. I have to use a butter knife to flip the clasp on my watch in order to get it off my wrist. I can't pull the tabs to open the cat food cans...or even the yogurt lids!  My hands don't want to work.

rcca

jsmiley6  I have also noticed the reduced strength. My onc thinks it is delayed neuropothy from chemo, not from the radiation. Neurontin is helping.

SharonNM

Alotte - shingles!  I can't believe that you have to go through that on top of cancer treatment.  My thoughts are with you.....I have heard many stories about shingles and it can be miserable. 

I think you can get a shingles shot when you turn 60 - maybe I will get one a little early as I also have a friend that got shingles about a year after cancer treatment that included radiation.

Also thinking of getting a flu shot - which my oncologist has assured me is fine.  Anyone else planning on a flu shot?

shells43

Cleared to get a flu shot by both Onc and Rad Onc, so I'm gettin one on Friday. Last year I got H1N1 and it wasn't fun.

doggylover

I just finished day 15 on Friday, and I am really tired all the time.  I feel terrible saying this but what a relief to know I'm not the only one.  Thank goodness for this website and all of you! I still walk the dog everyday, and I'm determined to go to Zumba 3 times a week (though I only made it twice last week, just too tired.)  But between working full time, and zipping over to the hospital everyday for Tx, and squeezing in a little exercise, I'm beat.  I refuse to give up the exercise!!!!!!  I honestly think that is what is making all of this possible.  I'm spending my weekends resting and relaxing, not easy to do for me, but it's all I can do.

nwshannon

jsmiley60 - Yes the fatigue is getting to me now, I am on treatment 23, 10 more to go and I work full time so by 7pm when it is getting dark I can hardly keep my eyes open. I also noticed this weekend that my legs were achey which is not normal so I assume this is part of the side effects as well. Sounds like yours is extreme be sure to drink lots of water and get plenty of rest, I myself find that a short nap always helps me. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, just want to be finished and start my days back to my normal routine as well. Thanks for all the support on here it is so nice indeed to see that we are all feeling some of the same side effects, you all give me alot of strength! It is sunny and beautiful here in the Pacific Northwest I plan on enjoying it while it lasts

BocaCiegaBabe

Today was my 25th treatment, the last of the full treatments.  Tomorrow starts 5 boosts, then DONE!  woohoo!! I've got new lines drawn all over that breast, but at least this time they didn't show over the neck of the outfit I was wearing like my first time, when I was wearing a tank top.  Big blue  magic marker square on my chest as I walked through the lobby of the medical building. LOL   I'm at least getting to the point I can laugh that sort of thing off. 

As for tiredness, last week I really started feeling it, more so every day, and would often just take a nap after 1 o'clock treatments. 

Had a weird experience this weekend.  We went up to Dallas for the Cowboys game and I was so looking forward to that, and a weekend away from thinking of breast cancer.  But what was Sunday for the Cowboys but breast cancer awareness game.  The teams sported hot pink shoes, chin straps, towels, gloves, armbands.  I just wanted not to be thinking of this, yet hot pink was everywhere...in the stadium,on the field, on the teams, at halftime show!    cancercancercancer!!!  Nancy Brinker was there for the coin toss, and I think she was with Troy Aikman's mother, who is evidently a survivor.  Then there were the Cowboys cheerleaders in their teeny tiny tops, cleavage out the wahzoo.  It can sure bring a girl down!!  We did sort of laugh at it, but inwardly I was thinking...cover yourself girls--there are a lot of us out here who you are supporting awareness for, who are all too aware that we no longer look anything like what you all do!  Well--it was still nice to get away, get out of town, nice hotel etc...we just picked the wrong weekend to do it! :>

DMS

Glad so many of us are in the home stretch.  I was out of town for the long weekend and had three days rad free, though extended my last day til Friday.  Four boosts to go.  My breast is pink but it really isn't bothering me.  I haven't had any fatigue.  I'm a runner and have been keeping up my exercise throughout, on the advice of my radiation oncologist.  She told me to make sure I did plenty of stretching (I do Pilates regularly) so I wouldn't lose any motion.

Gin2ca -  I will be seeing oncologist two weeks after last treatment, she wanted to see me after I've healed, I imagine to separate symptoms.  I will likely need to take one of the aromatase inhibitors and am very nervous, given all I've read about side affects.  Hope you don't have any.

Bubbalu- Sounds like you are at peace with the outcome and you can move on.

Like many of you, I don't know how to feel when I am "cured".  Don't even know what that means. 

Alotte

SharonNM-

Thank you for noticing my post and the good wishes. I'm lucky that the shingles are on my left side and the radiation on my right. I'm taking a lot of drugs for the shingles so after many sleepless painful nights I'm sleeping like a baby. Problem is I'm still drugged out during the day (a friend drove me to radiation today) so tonight I'm just taking advil for pain.

 You can get a Shingles shot but not during radiation. I don't know how long you have to wait after radiation to get it. I'm certainly going to look into that. As far as a flu shot, I got one pretty early on during radiation. With all that's going on I didn't even feel any ache from the shot.

I hope your treatment goes smoothly!

lorrhaw

Hi everybody, I haven't been on this thread for awhile so it took a bit of reading to catch up.  Congratulations to everybody who has finished rads or are on to the boosts.  I have had 13 treatments so far on my breast and lymph nodes and 6 for a met on my spine.  They started the spine late which will delay my completion for a week but oh well.

Other than a fungus under my arm which they swear isn't related to the rads I am doing pretty well.  I maybe feel a little "off" but nothing too bad.  I have started walking every morning which they said may help with the fatigue issue.  The only other problem I have it keeping all the marks and tape on the rads area since mine seem to constantly wash off.  I know it frustrates the techs but I try really hard to keep them on.  I have even been skipping putting on the Aquaphor but after reading all the posts today I'm going to start using it again.

I should have made notes on all the comments I wanted to make but since I didn't and I am on my way out the door for my appointment I will just leave at saying hello for today and catch up more later.

Hope everybody has a side effect free day (well as much as possible).

Lorraine

shygal

8 days post final rads and my skin is still very red, blotchy and itchy.  I am still fatigued but have continued to walk daily.  Bloody hot flashes still keeping me up at night!!.

I hope everyone is managing their (hopefully) final days without too much discomfort.   Zap-on ladies.

PearlGirl

I got miffed today when the Rads center made me change my appointment time to suit them, and then when I got there for tx and more measurements in prep for the boosts, they said I wasn't supposed to be there then, but 45 minutes later. It takes me 40 minutes to drive there. And they wanted me to wait another 45 minutes for a 45 minute procedure. I just flipped!  It was their error, not mine. And I don't feel well enough to make that drive and then sit in the waiting room. So I skipped tx today and will just add one to the end. After being sliced, poked, prodded, squeezed, scanned, tattooed, and radiated, I am no longer a patient patient.   Bah humbug! 

Tomorrow is another day!  I'll be fine then. Just didn't want to play the game today.

jsmiley60

To all of the others feeling the fatigue and tiredness, hang in there! I took a nap today so that helped me some. I don't really feel up to doing much other than going to radiation every day. I can't imagine how you ladies that are working or have a family to take care of are doing it!!! I think my body is just wore out from all it has been through for the last year.

Have 13 treatments left, 5 regular, then 8 boosts. They put a bunch of marks on me yesterday and the silly round tapes. I am slathering radia gel and aquaphor all over it. I am burnt under my arm, but it is still numb from the lymph nodes being removed so it doesn't hurt....lol! That's a good thing! Thinking of all you ladies!

Teka

lorrhaw,

I have the same problem, but only went one day without Aquaphor.   I'll have 23 full treatments by Wednesday, and then 7 boosts.   Done next Friday.   I keep waiting for bad burn.

sespebadger

I've just spent the last week watching my skin get purple, then red as a raspberry, then turn gray, and then peel off. Lovely!! After 28 treatments and 1 boost I asked for and got a break and sure enough, my skin got worse before it got better. Three days after radiation was over, small areas of skin started breaking down. The silvadene they prescribed, covered with petrolatum-infused gauze and then a bandage to protect clothes, really helped sooth the pain and also provided antibiotic to the skin to prevent infection. Some hours of just air on the skin each day halped also. But it took about one week to have the whole area that was radiated go through this process. I am flat after BMX no recon and it was too painful to wear froms and a bra. I feel for anyone who has to wear a bra through this. Darvocet and Advil and Ativan (at night) also helped. My skin is finally looking pink rather than red and I am greatly relieved. But it has been two weeks of real discomfort. Tomorrow I see if I can finish my last four boosts.

I went to a family weddiong this weekend and a funeral. When everyone told me how great I looked I thought to myself, "It's a good thing you can't see my chest, because it looks horrifying." The fact is, I have found the pain of radiation as bad or worse than the pain from my BMX, no recon. After MX everyone expected I'd be out for weeks and I had hardly any pain after about two weeks. Through rads I look fine but the pain and fatigue are holding on for a good two weeks so far. I am glad I am almost done. Then it's on to Tamoxifen. Whoopie!! ;-)  

nwshannon

So happy to hear that alot of us are in our final weeks of rads, I also have 3 regular rads left then 6 boosts, yeah I can see the finish line! Skin looks burnt and my arm pit is a bit tender also but I am ready to move on thats for sure. All of the techs are wonderful where I go, told the girls today no offense but I cannot wait to NOT see you every morning Best of thoughts to all of you wonderful ladies.

swiftbird

Bon, I can totally relate - I've had twice where I've gotten very agitated about scheduling and things taking so long - for some reason, during chemo I was more patient (and more drugged I guess . Especially when they KNOW I'm working full time and they do something goofy like scheduling me with a social worker after my rads in the morning, when I'm LATE for work in the first place.  That one put me over the edge. Then of course I seem like I NEED a social worker for probably seeming like I'm in denial and anxious to get to work.  *grrrr*

4 boosts left for me.  I too watched my skin after my last full treatment, over the weekend thru monday, go from pink to purple to now a freaky shade of dark gray and peeling here and there from tiny blisters. zoiks. hurts too.  I managed to work from home the last two days and go bra-less (ahhh) but today i'm back at work, feeling a little better.  Boosts don't seem to be having too much effect (yet).

I'm feeling more fatigue but it's not something that has really effected anything -not that I could go run a 5k or anything, but saving that for later! extra sleep at night helps.

I'm SOOOO ready to finish this and be done with it and move on with my life.  I've made this a priority for the last 10 months.  I'm done and ready to make me a priority for awhile.  

PearlGirl

swiftbird...funny part is that today when I went at the normal time for my rads, the receptionist and the nurse were different due to shift changes between two centers. And the one tech who caused the mix-up stayed out of sight. Don't know if she was there or not but it's the first time I've had only one tech. Fine with me. I didn't want to be confrontational and I guess she didn't either.

So now I'm 16 down, with 10 regular and 7 boosts to go. Looking forward to November 5th if everything goes as planned! Yes, like you, and everyone else, I'm ready to finish this and get on with my life, too.

AICa

Bon, I'm working and changed my appointment to earlier one Wednesday because I had a meeting at work. After my early treatment that day, the tech told me I had an appointment with the nurse. I asked to see the nurse on Friday; they told me they'd check but she has a busy schedule. I said that I have a busy schedule, too; told them they needed to make appointments with me just like I had to make appointments with them. And I left. When I saw the nurse on Friday, she was really nice; said she's there 5 days a week and will accommodate my schedule. This nurse is my favorite person there, although all I do is talk to her.

DMS

Bon, Sorry you are having so much trouble with your rad center.  Shygirl, hears hoping you heal quickly.  I have one more boost left.  Looking forward to sleeping-in an extra hour next week.  I'm a little pink, especially on the boost area but not too bad.  Can't wait til I'm healed enough to wear regular  deodorant and my regular bras.  

My favorite rad tech doesn't work on Fridays so I gave her a good-bye hug today.  The staff at Suburban Rad Center has been awesome.  They made the experience as pleasant as possible. The Halloween decorations that have been up all week bring a smile to my face each morning.   

Bambaloos

Only 5 more to go and then 6 boosts - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!  The fatigue is debilitating - I have never felt so incredibly tired before.  I have been working daily but get home and am in bed by 8pm.  My skin is holding up pretty good - only a little redness and a few itchy bumps, but this too shall pass.  I wish all of you a good weekend and congrats to those that are almost finished (or have already finished) and the rest of you - hang in there - we are almost done!

PearlGirl

I really like the radiation oncologist, the nurse, receptionist social worker and dietitian, but not the techs and they are the ones I see every day. Didn't get a good feeling about them from day one. Should have listened to my gut and driven the extra 30 minutes each way to go to the main rads center instead of this satellite one. My error.

DMS

I'm done!!!! Finished last boost this morning.  The team gave me a "diploma".  Everyone at my center was wonderful.  I see the oncologist on the 26th about hormone therapy.  I'm off the mall later to buy myself a post-rad gift, a new iPod.  I'll be checking back here to see how the rest of my September rad sisters are doing.

BocaCiegaBabe

Congrats DMS!!  I was thinking of you earlier this morning--tossing confetti your way!  Won't it be nice not having to go in for your treatments!  I visited the Apple store earlier this week (looking at an iMac) then Anthropologie, which is right across the way, after.  That's a lot of celebration, but hey, we only go this way ONCE!!    My last treatment will be Monday.  Yay.

 My techs are good too, DMS.  I'm sorry for you Bon with yours, as they surely can impact your overall experience with this!  Are yours just quiet, or is there more to it?  I so appreciate the fact that they try to preserve our modesty as best they can with this.  I mean who wants to lay out on that table fully exposed, all scarred up etc!!  They are so good about positioning the gown over the half that is not getting rads, and sensitive too about not "touching" us more than necessary.  I have to laugh though at the thoughts of some girl drawing on my breast with markers, as they have to do every day during the boosts.  They re-draw the lines as they fade.  Did I ever think in my wildest dreams think that I'd be in the position I am, with some girl drawing on me??  LOL (And it is always the girl who does that, never the guy.  They really are sensitive to our sensitivities)

Hope those with skin issues are doing OK..we are all in countdown phase now--let the healing begin!

MelBell07

Hi All, I have 4 rads left!! I finished the boosts already and am back to the axillary ones. The boosts weren't bad, but there are little red dots surrounding my scar now. Has that happened to anyone else? The RN said that was normal...but it looks terrible. My skin is still a little messed up under my arm, but sooo much better than what it was. That antibiotic really helped.

It sucks not having good techs/docs/RNs throughout this, I'm sorry for those who are having that problem. I like most of my techs very much. They're very talkative and there are a couple really young ones that I relate well with (we watch the same reality tv shows! hehe). There are a couple young guys too, but they've been very professional. It's kinda weird, having guys around my age looking at me...when I don't even let my own bf. But...what can ya do?

Next Wed will be my last day. I want to get myself a post-rad gift too! I'm thinking a new pair of shoes...

Hope you all are doing as well as can be! It's FRIDAY

BocaCiegaBabe

Sorry Bon...I just reread your note about the techs above.  My brain is a total sieve these days--I'd read it before and it slipped my mimd.  I hope it's some sort of PTS, and not early dementia!! (sort of LOL)

MelBel I fully understand your position.  I'd hate that too!  My male tech is younger than my son, so I don't have that issue, but sure understand where you would!   I'm glad your skin is doing better with your break.  No red dots here, but my nipple is turning strange colors.  Actually a square around that breast looks as if it's spent the past month at the beach, and I guess the nipple is getting tan too.  Never having tanned that part of my anatomy, I'm not sure if they do, but mine seems to!  

dutchgirl6

Good Morning everyone.

Yay DMS!!  You did it.  Enjoy that new iPod.

It's great to see so many September sisters reaching the finish line.  I hope that skin issues are starting to get better.  How go the energy levels?  I felt great all through the rads, and the week after, but now two weeks later, I find that the fatigue is starting to get the better of me.  I am starting to fade mid afternoon, and by the time I get home from work, I am exhausted.  That's why I haven't been posting, but I am reading your posts.  I know that it will pass, I can't wait for my vacation next week, when I can kick back and relax.

MelBell, go for it.  I bought new shoes last week.