January 2011 Rads

jo1955

elaineg - Welcome and of course you can join us.  This is a wonderful bunch of ladies who will help you through rads

Congrats everyone on finishing rads today

BIG CONGRATS TO GRANNY - WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SISTER. 

Sherryc

Sunangle yes I remember you.  In fact the other day I was looking at some older stuff and ran across one of your post and was thinking of you.  So sorry you are having to wait so long to get the biopsy.  It is hard enough to do the waiting game and now to have to endure this because of someones mistake makes it even worse.  Please keep me posted on what is going on with you and I will keep you in prayer.  You can PM me any time with updates, would love to keep up with your progress

rachel5738

4 more full breast rads to go and then 5 boosts---light at end of radiation tunnel!!!!! Skin is holding up--little pink but not more than that. Fingers crossed as I know the last week can be hard.

Good luck to everyone either starting, midway or finishing. It truely does go faster than you know.

beacher4209

sorry sunangel for for your wait!! i will be praying for you, and welcome elaineg ! you should get on Feb rads too, people are right where u are. 

   Has anyone ever had a soar throat and still gone to rads ? not sure if im catching a cold but should i go?? please answer as quick as possible i got rads at 11 west coast time thanks girls 

rachel5738

beacher--I haven't been sick but did speak to someone at rads last week who had caught flu--she missed a couple of rads but even when she wasn't 100%--she did go---it was only when she was really ill--she missed. Not sure if that helps. I am guessing--sore throat would be OK.

raincitygirl

beacher - I had this happen and they told me if I could get there, be there, just wear a mask.

beacher4209

why a mask?? omg is that so they do not get sick? what about me will the rads make me more susceptible to get sicker?? geezzz they would not care if your head was hanging off just get there get it over with why???? i know its the culmative thing but really i think 3 days a week is enough and would make it alot easier on us!!! thanks for your answer so quick though Gos Bless

walker2222

I had so hoped this would be my last week but not.  Gotta add the three I missed last week. 

Boy lots of activity this weekend, I was off the board this weekend as my skin was real irritated and burned under the arm.  Put my silver sulfadiazine on twice each day and alternated with aloe vera and Aquifera.  Better today, but still irritated, go to my appt in an hour.  Was glad for the break but would have rather had gone to the tx so I could get this over with.

They put markers on me tomorrow for my boost treatments, those should start Thursday.

Omaz

My onc said my skin looked better than normal for this far into rads and asked what I was using!  The office only recommended miaderm but I told her about my whole herd of products.  She was most interested in the emu oil and aquaphor  and said they were good especially in winter.

beacher4209

mjbmiller,sounds like you had a rough time,glad u r doing better. but just what u went through is why i want to back off on so many rads a week i do not care if it takes abit longer i would rather save myself the pain andmy skin especially since i to this big tupperware in my chest ( t/e) hmm i just may play hooky a bit so my skin survives enough for the exchange... my body right 

Sherryc

beecher I answered your exercise question on the Feb rads board.  I personally think we should only do rads 4 days a week and have three days off.  I think our skin would hold up lots better that way.

jo1955

Sherry - I agree with you on the shorter weeks for rads.  I never did understand what the hurry was.  They are going to get their money sooner or later.

(((HUGS))) To Everyone Still In Treatment

Congrats to everyone who is finished. 

redninrah

im done! they decided that i didnt have to do rad today (last one) as my skin is in pretty bad condition!!!!! so ive been told to keep using the silver cream only and I will see him again in about 9weeks time.

Saw my oncologist today also and she gave me an RX for tamoxifen to start taking 2 weeks from now, once im fully healed from  this major inflmmation  caused by the rads.

 woohoo..

I asked the oncologist, so am i cancer free, and she said yes! everything from now is preventative!

im done!!

Teklya

Just a thought about shorter rads, in Canada we are given an option to have less treatments, (16) vs the higher # of treatments (mine was 25).  I chose 25 as the lesser treatment amount means a stronger treatment each time.  That way you get the same results, but in less time. 

I was told the majority of women choose the longer time with more treatments knowing that the treatment will be more manageable each time.  With something this important and crucial, time frame is hard to see as a priority. 

That being said, I too, believe that 5 days a week is a bit much.  (There apparently was a time when you went 1/week and went for the best part of 6 months!!!) Those 2 little days on the weekend hardly provide a rest and break from the invasion of all those rays on a daily basis throughout the week.

take good care,

Teklya

jo1955

redninrah -CONGRATS ON FINISHING RADS!!!

                                 

Sherryc

Congrats Redninrah-Am doing the happy dance for you.  I see my new MO on the 15th will be dancing if he tells me I am cancer free as well.

marjie

Tekyla - I am also doing the 25 sessions.  Can't wait to get started and get all this done and over with.  I will also have an additional 8 boosts.

LuvMyLab

Suepen:  My 1st bill for $2,770 was for the simulation plus a couple of radiation treatments as well.  I think the setup part came to $2,200, the bill is hard to decifer but yes, very expensive.  I had it out with my rad onc about the cost and he just said that's what it is.  Maybe that's why he's given me shorter treatment!!  Geeez I hope that's not the reason.  Anyway, I was really miffed because he is private but works out of a public hospital as well.  When I booked the appointment with him there was room at the public hospital and after 3 weeks when I got in to see him the waiting list had grown and I couldn't get in there and had to go private.  That's why I thought maybe he'll be lenient with the costs but no.. 

The 1st week cost me out of pocket $1,100 so I must have reached the threshold in one foul swoop which is why last week only cost me $100.

Omaz

CONGRATULATIONS redninrah!!!

suzieq60

Luvmylab - where do you live? I'm in Brisbane and go to Premion. That's over the top for your planning session!!! For 5 treatments and one xray verfication it cost me $737. I'm so glad I hit the safety net yesterday, as you know I did all this last year and can't afford it this time.

Sue

LuvMyLab

Hi Sue,  I live in Melbourne and have to go to the Epworth to do my rads.  I wanted to goto the Austin but no go.  Epworth is part of Peter Mac.  They are more expensive than most private clinics

suzieq60

Luvmylab - It's taken me 3 bills to reach the safety net - would have been nice to hit it the first week I deliberately delayed my planning session until January, so I would get there sooner. If I had done it last year, it would have saved me $300 but it would have taken me longer to get there this year and then actually cost more. I've become an expert with this safety net thing.

16 down - 14 to go. Skin still good - touch wood. Waiting for a call from the tyre place to tell me my new tyre has arrived. I was very nervous driving there today with no spare. I actually drove in a different lane

Sue

Gingerbrew

12 out of 35 done.  My doc told me today that missing too many treatments, even though they are added onto the end,  can mean your stats become less favorable. 

msjag

ok..getting nervious I will be joining in as I believe my first rad will be Feb 28th, or that week. I am trying ti read all the posts and be informed. I meet with onc nurse next week. The process is confusing me,  do you not put any lotions on your treated area the day you get treated? not even deoderant? then after treatment you put lotions (I've heard aloe, miaderm, aquafor, other oils)  right on before you leave, and then apply again many times throughout the day?  I am having 28 treatments (no boost word mentioned at consultation, but I will ask next wed when I get marked), no nodes, but does that mean you still get your underarm treated a bit? Sorry for all the questions, chemo is over and now I'm feeling like I need all the answers to rads. Is better to use the cream on your chest wall and shoulders beside the breast?  Thanks so much sor any info.  I'm sure I'll calm down once this all starts!!

JoAnn

oakley

Hi JoAnn - you should not use any creams or lotions or deodorant before you are treated (as in the day of treatment), but you can put on any of the things you mentioned AFTER treatment.  Every RO is different in what they recommend to put on, but it seems that something they all agree on is that you can't have any of that stuff on at least two hours before treatment.  I got a whole rundown from the RO beforehand, so maybe that will happen with you too.  Don't be confused - after your treatment you can lotion away with whatever is recommended or what your RO allows.  I was told no deodorant/no shaving/no perfumed soap (I use Dove unscented), no antioxidant supplements.  

Some of the women on here started using their lotions before they started treatment.  I had no node involvement and half of my underarm was treated.  

You will definitely calm down once it starts - I completely understand your anxiety about this, but promise you it will become routine for you.  Good luck! 

lestwin

 I submitted this on the FEBRUARY 2011 board.

Eloise:  I think your description was right on (rads).  There are a few minor differences but WOW, I am going to read it to my husband.

Had #6 yesterday, so far so good except for the UTI which was the worst I have ever experienced and I've had major bladder surgery, eons ago.  Saw my RO and he answered all my questions this time without too much grinning.  My questions were all the advise I got from you guys and I got a positive response except for the cream and how often to use.  He says only Aquafor and once a day on top of the breast only, weird.  He did give a script for 5 cipro as I was desperate and I took one last night and it feels like night and day.  Got to give him credit for that without a urine test too.  He also suggested referral to an LE specialist if my arm gets worse.

His basic confirmation was: drink water/eat protein/avoid anti-oxidants/use cornstarch/aquafor/excersize.

Congratulations to all that are now DONE.  We are all behind you in different stages but we WILL be doing the HAPPY DANCE!

Omaz

msjag - I have my treatment first thing in the morning.  I wash the skin gently with basis soap, rinse and pat dry.  Immediately after the treatment in the bathroom getting dressed I apply a generous coating of aloe vera gel.  I wear a very soft Target cotton tank and wrap it all the way under the breast and then put on my bra (no skin/skin contact). It also comes all the way up to my armpit.   After about 2-3 hours at work I apply a generous amount of miaderm or essential vitamin e cream.  When I get home I usually shower or take a not too hot bath and then apply a generous amount of emu oil and a clean tank top.  Then before bed I apply a lot of aquaphor (rub it between your hands to soften up).  I apply all over the breast, up into the armpit area and across the top of the chest.  That is my treatment area.  I also got a larger bra to wear over the tank top.  I got about 5 of the tank tops and use hot water to get the goo out.  Good luck, so far (crossed fingers) my skin is OK (just had #21 today)! 

edited to add: my breasts are large and have not won the battle with gravity that's why I wrapped the tank top underneath - those still winning the battle don't have this problem!

rachel5738

#22 today--3 more full breast rads and then 5 boosters to go. Skin is holding up very well--little pink but that is it. I seem to have rads in the AM--other than the times that I have had to change times. Each night, I shower and use Dove cleanser to clean the breast etc--I then put some cornstarch under the boob to keep it dry then I slap on cream--and I put on a LOT of cream (I am in Canada and using Glaxal Base). I go to rads in AM and right after rads--put on more cream. Then I will put on cream again at lunch and then again at dinner. I seriously slap on so much cream. I don't wear a bra very much at all. I have my fingers crossed that my skin will hold up through rest of week and next. Techs seem to think that I will be OK to the end!

Good luck to everyone on their rad journey!

Omaz

rachel - I also use a lot of whatever I am using at the time, really gushy!

beacher4209

omaz, glad you explained at the end why the tank top stuffed in bra... very inventive i must say is that cause your bra is a few sizes larger and you are trying to puf up the top part cause of droopy? just wondering i only have one done with T/E tryng to figure out how to bring the other one up so i can go out in public ..been a long lonely time alone in the house ...