December 2010 Rads

jo1955

toomuch - Sorry you are having such a terrible time with rads.  Vent all you want - this is the place to do it.

 

Tg5471530

toomuch- that must be why I havent had to shave on that side since my dissection. lol   Also, after reading everyones comments about their treatment team and Dr.s I started thanking my Rads therapists, nurses, office staff and RO for their wonderful care.  they are very professional but very friendly and take my comfort very seriously.  They are always very upbeat and like to joke around when appropriate.  People ask me why I dont go to U of Penn or Fox chase for treatment.  (both within 40 mins of my house.  But I say, why should I go there when I have the best 5 mins from my house, and dont think I would feel so welcomed at those other places. I wish it was this was for all you other ladies too. 

susantm

sandiddstn (I hope I got that right), I have been using cream since I started. However, a friend at church said her doctor had her use cornstarch the whole way through, and she had no major problems. Last week my rad onc told me to use cornstarch under the breast, where I was having too much moisture and redness. So apparently cornstarch is used for radiation by some doctors, at least.

 I finished #23 today! Three regular treatments and seven boosts to go.

tammyg, I have a great team of people, too. I just wish mine were 5 minutes away like yours, instead of an hour by train. How fortunate for you!

Barbcard2

toomuch--Sorry you're having so much trouble with rads--much too much. (Couldn't resist that.)  Where are you having your treatment?  As I think I said before, I'm at the Suburban Radiation Center off Democracy Blvd. in North Bethesda.  Cold, impersonal, but I'm almost at the halfway point and am getting used to the routine. Happy New Year. 

lizzybelle

  Haven't written lately, found out my lumpectomy and node disection is Monday the 3rd. After being told I had BC, I still have not spoke to a dr from Dec 22. He is on vacation, and no phone calls.  Went to sign paperwork, but nurse scared me more! She said, oh the doctor tells everyone to not worry and they will be alright! Geeez, that was the only statement I was hoping on. When you get the dye put in  ( 2 hrs before surgery) , do you have to stay perfectly still? And , can they tell you anything when you wake up? Or do you have to wait for pathology report. I need to hear that many people survive breast cancer, right now I am so negative. Don't mean to bring the group down, I'm basically a positive person.

toni30

Lizzybelle - Given your unhappiness with your breast surgeon, I would encourage you to find another surgeon and make sure you get a second opinion, regardless of what the doctor ends up telling you.  You should not be feeling ignored.  After the surgery, you have to wait for the path report - you shold ask them how long the wait will be. 

Yellow78 - I have not heard of anyone having x-rays every day.  I would ask your rad onc what is going on; there may be a good reason.

toomuch - so sorry about your crappy experience with the set up.  I think that the techs have no idea how miserable that process is. Vewnt away.

Jo - love the graphics - thanks!!!

susantm

lizzybelle, No you don't have to stay still when/after they put the dye in. For me, they put it in right before surgery. In fact, they had already started the anesthesia, and I don't remember that part. And right after the surgery, they told us that they got it all, nothing was in the nodes, and that I would be fine. (I actually don't remember that part either, but my husband remembers. He hugged the surgeon.) The final pathology report will give the details, and occasionally will find cancer in the nodes that wasn't seen during surgery, but usually they can give you a pretty good idea right after.

I know it's all scary right now with everything up in the air, but hang in there. Odds are you WILL be fine!

jo1955

lizzybelle - I was in radiology for two hours before surgery.  Had 4 injections in the nipple with dye - OUCH and then had a series of three scans done at 20 min intervals.  When that was finished, I had a final scan and my arm was marked with a sharpie to tell the surgeon where to go for the sentinel nodes.  The dye was injected after I was in surgery and already under anesthesia .  The surgeon told my DH that he got all the cancer and the nodes were clear.  The only thing we had to wait on was the margins test and the final path report. I got those results at my one week follow up.  

Seems like surgeons all do things differently but the end result is the same.

I would also encourage you to seek a second opinion and find someone you are more comfortable with.  The last thing you need is a surgeon and staff that does not communicate with you and answer questions.  This is scary for all of us - hang in there - you will do great and will be just fine.  The group here will help you get through this. 

lizzybelle

  thank you soooo much, I am so glad I am corresponding with you all. I will keep in touch, and hopefully I too will be there for others.

jo1955

lizzybelle - You will be here for others.  I finished my rads on Dec 3 and I am still here as well on the Nov Rads thread. 

I did not find BCO until I was well into rads - wish I had found it sooner. 

toomuch

Thanks to everyone for the support! I feel much better now. I actually really like my radiation center. After my first set up my RO decided that she wanted to add a field. The first time they set it up it didn't look right to the physicist so she had them recut the block for my field. The next day they set it up again. Then there was a peer review of my case by another RO in the practice and she felt like there should be deeper coverage in my axilla so after talking it over with my RO they decided to change the plan for that area. That meant sitting for another setup which was today. So, that's why 3 setups this week! I know that next week will be better.

The techs at my site are actually compassionate and they did keep apologizing that it was taking so long. They brought me warm sheets several times and told me that I did an amazing job holding still for so long. I was just having a bad day.

Lizzybelle My surgeon spoke to my husband after my surgery but I didn't see him until the next day. I did know the result of my sentinal node as soon as I woke up because if the sentinal node is positive, they do a full axillary dissection and then you have to have a drain. I waited a week for my final path report.

 Barbcard2 I am getting my treatments at Sibley. I had 2 oncology opinions and 2 radiation oncology opinions. These decisions are so personal but I just felt the most comfortable with the RO at Sibley and I'm really happy with my decision.

Okay, it's been a long day. I'm off to get some sleep.

Sherryc

too much-so sorry you having such a difficult time.  I sure hope things get better for you.

lizzebelle-my MIL had BC in 1969, she had a radical mx and she just turned 83 two days ago.  She is in great health.  She did not even have any treatments.  Back then they barely did chemo for bc and they did not even know about ER,PR & Her2.  So she gives me hope that with everything that I am doing I do have good odds. As far as the dye, every hosp is different.  They did mine in the OR, when I came out of surgery my BS told me my nodes were beautiful and the prelim report on the SNB was clear so they did not do an axilary dissection and she really did not think that the final path would show anything but of course you have to wait on the final path to be certain and she was correct no node involvment. Also had to wait a week for all the path reports

I had #18 today and the fatigue is getting to me finally.  My DH took me which I was glad because I don't think I would have made the 45 minute drive home. As soon as I got hm went to bed and slept for 1 1/2hours. And bed will not be too far off tonight.

Sherryc

Raincity--have you found out anything regarding your fatigue so quickly?

raincitygirl

Sherry - They ran so bloodwork and I guess I have some residual low cell counts from chemo and also a bit of anemia, b12 based, not iron.  I will probably do B12 injections for a while.  Oddly, I have felt slightly better the past two days.  Excited to have a three day weekend as they are not tanning me tomorrow.

jo1955

raincitygirl - Even though you are anxious to get done with rads, enjoy all the forced breaks you have.  The skin will heal that much more quickly.  Enjoy the rad - free weekend

raincitygirl

jo - I am very much looking forward to the break  

Happy New Year to my red and pink booby friends...

jo1955

susantm

I am also enjoying the break from rads today. I got to bed before 11 pm and didn't get up until 8 am, and I only had to get up once in the night. I feel wonderful today! And I am looking forward to a quiet day today. I have loved having sons (and DIL) home, and seeing other family and friends, but it has been a hectic week. Today son and wife are busy seeing friends (other son left yesterday), husband goes back to work this afternoon after a week off, and sister-in-law has her last day of the temporary job. So I will have a quiet evening to myself. I can catch up on a few chores, maybe watch a video or some movie on TV, and just relax. I will probably watch the ball drop while munching on Chex mix and crackers with salmon ball, then go to bed and sleep in tomorrow. I do have family coming over tomorrow, but have planned a simple menu, so it won't be as hectic as Christmas.

Wishing everyone here a wonderful and healthy New Year!

Sherryc

susantm glad you are getting some rest.  I took a 1 1/2 hour nap yesteday went to be at 11:30 and got up at 9am this morning.  I too am going to take the opportunity to rest today.

IowaSue45

 Had rad. # 5 today, I have noticed some se like fatigue, plus I get a headache every evening after rad. and my body aches all over, anyone else have these last two se?

The techs at the hospital I got to are all very nice so is the RO.

Happy New Year 1/1/11

raincitygirl

I had today off, so only 7 down. So far, just fatigue for me.  About to cancel our 7:30 p..m. dinner reservation because I don't think I can handle that late.....

jo1955

raincitygirl - The end is definitely in sight.  I know what you mean about the late night.  We have a party in the RV resort we manage.  At least I can walk home and go to bed when I want to.

Have A Relaxing Weekend. 

toni30

Hi Ladies:

I an happy to report that I got 9 hours sleep last night - thanks to gettng today off from rads.  But I still passed on the parties tonight and will be watching a video instead.  I'll celebrate when I finish rads in a few weeks.  I hope that 2011 is full of good health for everyone!!!  HAPPY NEW YEAR to my BC Sisters!

Sherryc

I am staying home tonight and currently watching "Eat, Pray, Love".  DH recovered from sinus infection and now has a 24 hour virus.  Have been nursing him all day and really hope I don't get it.  Took a long nap yesterday and still sleep 9 hours last night.  Had off tx today which was nice. Will get the Christmas deco put up tomorrow and probably another nap in the afternoon.  My skin under my arm is has started to peel.  Looks terrible, feels ok if I keep powder or aquafor on it so it does not rub skin to skin.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!!!!

jo1955

toni & Sherry - It is nice when we can get some sleep.  Helps to get us going the next day.  I also got about 9 hours of sleep.  Haven't done that in a long time and it feels good.  Now going to do much today.  I have a quilt project that is waiting for me to get back to and that sounds like the order of the day.

IowaSue45

We had a quiet evening at home last night, watched the movie Grown Ups, very funny!

I am very excited to be going to Florida Jan. 23rd a week after I'm done with radiation. Much needed vacation to get away from it all.

I also wanted to comment on skin cream during radiation. My ROs office gave me a great cream called Chap Guard plus udder cream with aloe. Makes my skin very soft. I use it twice a day but not within 4 hrs. of rad.

jo1955

IowaSue - Bet the warm weather will be nice too.  What a treat after finishing rads.

Lynn18

Next week will be my fourth week of rads and so far all I have noticed is a little pinkness.  I have been using aloe vera gel. Happy New Year to everyone!

IowaSue45

lynn- do you get fatigue with radiation?

raincitygirl

I only have 7 done so a ways to go  - so far not pink at all, but I am tired.