January 2011 Rads

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  • rachel5738
    rachel5738 Member Posts: 920
    edited February 2011

    lumpectomy with external radiation.

    Congrats localgirl on finishing rads! 

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  • beacher4209
    beacher4209 Member Posts: 540
    edited February 2011

    pennythoughts, hello hope u r doing ok. The reconstruction that i will be having is taking out my tissue expander (t/e) then putting the nice soft implant in( because the t/e is so uncomfortable like a brick on your chest) i am also having surgery on my other breast that did not have cancer to have it match the new implant breast . But all this will take along time in the mean time i have the t/e breast up and painful and the other sagging about 2 inches lower . i cannot wear a bra cause the t/e is so painful especially with rads tightening it up even more... if i could where a bra i could lift the droopy one but no way ouch!!!! so i stay in the house probably will till im reconstructed about a year i guess. i use to be very social,and worked out regulary,i even was a jazzercise instructed up till about 1 year ago.. But life is on hold now unless anyone know how to lift just one breast temporarily ha ha i hope all goes quick and painless for you god bless

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  • oakley
    oakley Member Posts: 206
    edited February 2011

    nancep - I had a lumpectomy and external beam (IMRT) radiation as well.

    #23 tomorrow and then 7 boosts left - I can't believe this is almost over.  Just red and tan.  Tired.  I feel run-down actually - not sure if it's because of all of this, but there's a lot of people getting sick with colds/sore throats, etc.  I HATE BEING SICK!Yell 

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited February 2011

    localgirl woohoo can't wait for you to finish tomorrow.

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited February 2011

    localgirl - It is 36 degrees here and 26 in the morning - I am close to Brownsville - that is so wrong 

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited February 2011

    I am 2 1/2 hours west of localgirl and it is 30 degrees now will get down to 18 tonight that is just very wrong for Texas

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited February 2011

    Me too - lumpectomy and getting ready to start external radiation.

    Lynda - love your smoothies?? don't do without, just balance things out is all.  If you keep a food journal it helps.  I have started using My Plate on livestrong.com although it tracks calories and I don't really think all calories should be the main focus.  I would rather track food groups/ portions.

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  • walker2222
    walker2222 Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2011

    Well due to bad weather my 5th week of rads has been extended.  I got in Monday and will be missing three days this week.  Hopefully Friday I will get in.  They were suppose to do scans for my boost treatments next week and give me more markers.  I guess I do not get my Valentines gift of no more rads.  Well at least my skin will have a break.  Saw a big change from the fourth week to the fifth week.

    About husbands and doing stuff - my neighbors daughter came over yesterday after the ice storm and said her garage door would not go down and did not understand why, I guess her mom was not home (dad past away a few years ago very said).  My DH went over to check it out, she asked if he was a handy man. He was not for sure how to take that but just smiled and said he just knew how to do stuff.  We the problem was snow had piled up against the sensors and he just cleared the path.  But he really is a handy man and handy to have around.  He did take me to all but two chemo treatments, drove me to appts post surgery.  He does not take me to rads since they are short and I do them on my lunch hour, but was going to drive me Tuesday when the roads were bad but they had closed anyway.  I will say in his own way has had a hard time dealing with my BC and my mood swings, but only complains when he is tired of doing stuff.

    Sorry for the long explanation

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  • lrr4993
    lrr4993 Member Posts: 937
    edited February 2011

    My rad onco also said the same thing about ribs and lungs.  I understand the rib thing to be very unusual.  She said it has only happened once in her career.  The lung thing seems more common but, according to my onco, is easily treated with a steriod.  There is a name for the lung thing, although I cannot think of it right now. 

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  • walker2222
    walker2222 Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2011

    I am 30 north of Dallas and it is 21 right now, the wind chill makes it 17, and it my snow again Friday. Yikes, this is no fun.  Did get into work today though (had a project due), roads were very icy but I live 5 miles from the office so went very very slow. 

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011

    mlb - bummer to miss 3 days.  I am 1 day behind so far due to server problems.  does give you skin and tissues a break though.

    Suepen -  How are you doing?

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited February 2011

    My onc also told me about the chance of cracked ribs and also that I may develop a bronchial like cough because the radiation may hit a part of the lung.  But he also said it was rare. I got the impression he was covering all possible SE's including the more common skin reactions and fatigue, oh and hair loss in the one armpit (big deal LOL).

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited February 2011

    Marjie, thanks for all the nutrition info, does make sense, sugar is sugar.  I got a juicer for x-mas, have yet to use it, due to onc prefering not to use alot of "fresh" vegetables or fruits during chemo, can't wait to try it.  I will make sure to balance the fruits/veggies.   Hope all went well for you today. I believe my onc said I would not have  radiation under the arm due to no nodes. 

    Last chemo at 7:15 a.m....then I am a rad gal!! my appt cancelled for marking today due to snow.

    Well, no shadow from groundhog! If you live in MA, this is a good thing, bring on SPRING!! Thanks all for the info!

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited February 2011

    msjag - yes I had to stay away from raw fruits and veggies when I knew my blood counts were low during chemo.  My taste buds are all screwed up too so I have found that raw veggies are very bitter to me so I have changed from a salad girl to steaming all my veggies....for now!  Fruits havent been too bad because they are sweeter - depends on the day though.

    Good luck with your last chemo - it is SUCH a relief!  I have no nodes too but my tumour was to the side of my breast so I think the armpit area will get hit a little bit - enough to affect the hair growth I guess lol.

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited February 2011

    My rads area includes my sentinel node scar which is just barely below the armpit.  Seemed kindof high to me but the onc said there is breast tissue that extends up into that area and the radiation doesn't go very deep into the tissue.

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  • walker2222
    walker2222 Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2011

    My area around my SNB is purple, I have been wearing a cold pack under my arm all night to give me some relief.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Omaz - thanks for asking how I am. No13 done today - skin still looking great, although I shouldn't speak too soon after last time. It's extremely hot and humid here and I worry about under the boob sweating. I'll have to start getting out of my sarong and wearing a bra with a pad in there to absorb any moisture. I actually had 2 swims yesterday it was so hot.

    My rad onc said there is a doctor at one of the hospitals here who might do a small clinical trial of MooGoo - that will be interesting.

    I have noticed a few small red spots on my boob in one area - the onc said the rads tends to make any skin blemishes more prominent. I'm putting some cortisone on it just in case. But, no itching, stinging or burning yet - are they really zapping me?

    Sue

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited February 2011

    My rad techs told me to try to sit with a fan on my irritated skin as much as possible.  It really does work, it helps keep the skin dry.  I had a small fan I just put by my bed and set without a top on and watched TV.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011
    Sherry -  our fans are going flat out :)
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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited February 2011

    I think I am glad I will have my rads done before the heat of the summer.

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited February 2011

    mjbmiller - When I spoke to my RO about my crispy underarm, he reminded me not to use ice packs as it may feel good at the moment but may ultimately cause further issues.....I know they all have their own thing, but I have seen that comment a lot - is a cold pack more like a compress than an ice pack?

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited February 2011

    3 boosts left for me.yay.im like fried chicked.well done.BUT as the dr.said if i didnt burn it means that the tx.didnt work.I joined the Feb. rads group.Please sistas lets help the newbes who are soooo scared.REMEMBER WHEN?????huggggggggggggs K

    Monday ill be partying...everyone is invited.come one and all.ha.

    God bless us all.huggggggggggggs K

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Yay - Granny - you're almost there!!!

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited February 2011

    Tomorrow will be # 11.  I am trying to get back on schedule but am having a horrid time of it. Maybe I do need to go back up on anti-depressant dosage. I feel like a idiot, like I am acting like a high schooler, okay, not thaaat bad. My friend has a very mouthy 17 year old and I am so glad she is not mine. There now I feel all better. Hah  

    Still I need to get back on this horse and am not doing it too well. 

    Ginger

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  • Victoria67
    Victoria67 Member Posts: 44
    edited February 2011

    I'm a bit confused.  I notice that some of you are saying to keep the breast dry which I was doing but I've now been told to keep it moist and not let it dry out... I was 'airing' it but now I've been told to put Solugel (a gel for minor burns) on it and I have a gauze dressing on it each day...Maybe because my skin has been reacting quite a bit? I must admit it is feeling better and feels more soothed.   Like Suepen, the heat where I am is horrendous and I am sweating like crazy and starting to peel a little bit too.

    Omaz, I hope you get the swelling sorted out.  I got fitted for a lymphoedema sleeve and glove today mainly as a preventative measure because I'll be doing quite a bit of flying over the next few weeks and months.

    Pennythoughts and mjbmiller, I hope you are ok and you get some relief soon.  Raincitygirl,I have used facewashers dipped in cold water as a cold compress and I find that soothing.

    Hang in there Ginger, we're all with you!

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited February 2011

    Victoria-do what your RO tells you to do.  The rule of thumb my RO gave me was as long as my blisters were bursting and immediatly drying up that was what they wanted.  If they stayed wet and oozy then they would treat differently with wet dressing etc.  It does all depend on how your skin in reacting.  In my case dry was better and it did make it feel better.  The last week was my worst and I did end up keeping my skin (areola) moist with neosporin and took pain pills.  Once I was done I have healed pretty quickly, not completely yet but I will be two weeks out on Monday.

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  • rachel5738
    rachel5738 Member Posts: 920
    edited February 2011

    Hey Ginger..... Hang in there! It is very wearing--this whole journey. Talk to your Doc--sometimes family doc may give better perspective on the mental side of cancer treatment. I know that my RO and MO are not the most touchy-feely.

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  • NotAgain2015
    NotAgain2015 Member Posts: 223
    edited February 2011

    Suepen,

    I came across your thread here and had to say hello and say the same thing has happened to me!.  I had DCIS last year with lump/rads.  Now facing 2nd diagnosis IDC this time in the other breast.  Can you believe it?????  My surgery is 2/18.  I'm sure rads will soon follow.  I don't know if I'm out of the chemo woods yet until i find out about my lymph nodes.  Just thought I would say hi and commiserate!  Darn this club we're in....

    Trish

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited February 2011

    kickon2it - Sorry to hear you are having to go through this again.  The darn beast won't give up. 

    (((HUGS))) 

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  • beacher4209
    beacher4209 Member Posts: 540
    edited February 2011

    kick2it so sorry you have to deal with this again :( 

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