March 2011 Rads

shooshoo23

Well ladies I go for my ct scan and tatoos on Monday the 7th and start rads on Monday the 14th. Here we go......

rackie

i go for my tattoos on the 7th as well.

jackie

marjie

This is my week - starting on Wednesday.  I'm crazy I know - I can't wait to start, but I think it's because this is getting me closer to being done!!

LauraCA

I go for my tattoos tomorrow 3/1.  Hoping it doesn't hurt too much!  It's gotta be quick, right?  This is a local recurrence for me in one lymph node in my armpit (surgically removed 12/27/10). I have saline implants from my first go round with this in 2005.  Going to see if I can order the Miaderm.  We can do this!!!

marjie

LauraCA - no worries.  It's a quick poke that's all.  The only one that hurt me was right on my breastbone only because there's no fat there - but even that was not too bad.

msjag

marje, I know just how you feel, Good luck on wed, I start on Thurs, I am ready, broke down crying on the table when I was getting marked,, but now I am counting down the days to get to the end!

libraylil

Ok, I'm jumping in (Hi Texas).  I will have lumpectomy area, axilla, and collar bone nodes zapped.  I'm all for throwing the kitchen sink at this.  Bring it on. Was supposed to begin rads a week ago.  The RO felt there was too much 265 ccs fluid left from the lumpectomy and wanted it drained.  Went back and forth with the BS about this and it was drained last Monday.  I was surprised that this much fluid was hiding in my barely B.  I did notice it had rounded out quite nicely since the lumpectomy and just considered that a bonus. After the fluid was drained, its a little smaller but DH says "don't worry about that, just get well".  Needless to say with my control issues I was not happy.  It doesn't seem to have re appeared and I'm going in this am to get re CT''d and see if the tatts need adjusting.  I am ready to get this party started.My RO is young so a little eye candy doesn't hurt.  libraylil

marjie

msjag - you never know what will set us off into a crying jag!  I'm just glad to be moving forward, but I do notice that my emotions are all over the place since I have finished chemo.

libraylill - welcome! I keep hearing about these cute rad techs....all mine are female, darnit!  I had fluid for quite awhile after my lumpectomy...it used to make sloshing noises that drove me nuts but it finally re-absorbed. I know the first time my rads onc examined me, he mentioned fluid and this was in January (my lumpectomy was last August!!) but when I saw him after chemo, everything was good to go.

LovemyLife12

Hi all just checking in !  5 rads down 30 to go.  It helps to know others ae going through the similar things.

msjag-  I cried too after getting after getting marked up.  But it is the beginning of the end.  We can do this.  Let's all KNOCK this CANCER OUTTA Here!!

Peace and Blessings to all of you..CK

Adey

11 rads done and 17 to go!

lestwin

May I join in this forum?  I am coming over from January and February rads.  I started January 31st and will go until 16th March, #22 today.  I am closer to 70 than 60 yrs old and I must say I have been pleasantly surprised so far (being older and have other major medical issues) except for an allergic reaction to a cream I tried which has left me with hives (been almost 3 weeks) and a section above the rad area is not looking good.  I started out with the underside of the breast all red before rads (no infection) and now it is all red but does not hurt (yet?).  Had 21 nodes removed (all clear, still makes me mad though, that he took so many) as I am having a few problems with the only useful arm I have.  Tatts were painless, 10 of them and they are tiny, they look like tiny blackheads!  To be honest, I was dreading radiation (skipped the chemo part) but it has flown by and if I can do it so can you.

GirlFriday

Hey Lestwin! I'm coming over from the Feb thread.  Started rads 2/28.   Two down, 31 to go!

marjie

Welcome!  Welcome!  I am counting the hours....start my rads tomorrow, then I can have a countdown too

libraylil

Saw the RO today.  The fluid draining was a success as he said "it looks a lot flatter".  So I go Monday for my dry run/patient education and start the real deal on Tuesday.  libraylil

LovemyLife12

Yay! Marjie and Libraylil.. Let the countdown begin!

shelbytroy12

I am starting rads on March 21st.  Do people generally have issues working full time while having them?  I don't know what to expect.  I know it's not like chemo side effects - thank God!!  I was on disability for a week with each of my chemo cycles.  My plan is to have rads at 8am each day and then go to work.  I am eager to get started as well so it's closer to being done!

marjie

shelbytroy12 - I know a few people who worked through rads and they said it was doable but you do get tired near the end.  Ofcourse they said the "tired" was nowhere near chemo tired.

nred2002

On timing, a friend who had had radiation recommended to me to have the treatments at the END of the day, rather than at the beginning.  That way, if you get fatigued as they progress, it is nearer to bedtime.....I had #5 of 33 today, and still feeling okay.  Nancy 

libraylil

shelbytroy12  I will be working through rads.  I worked during chemo.  My chemo was on Thursday, Friday fine, but by Sunday slept all day.  Working kept my mind off of BC and me off the internet "researching".  My coworkers are a great source of support.  I'm scheduled at 3:20 so I can leave work, rad and go home.  Should be finishing up around the week of spring break so I'll crash then if needed. 

Pegs

shelbytroy12,

I scheduled my rads for the end of the day not knowing what to expect.  i was fine , i never felt tired .  i left work around 3 was home by 4.  it was more an inconvenience going that anything else.  one day we had snow storm and it took me 2 hours to get home, its normally half an hour ride.  that was annoying to say the least.   i had no side affects other than the skin reactions, which hurt.  that lasted about 2 weeks and now i have just a slight discoloration.  good luck

LovemyLife12

29 Rads to go.. I do mine first thing in the morning.  Hasn't zapped my energy yet!  I come home and walk 3 miles.  But I have noticed my right arm gets tired quicker (typing cooking etc.  Sometimes I think I make self fullfilling prophecies for myself.  Not bad.. Will askthe RO next week.  Meet with him each Tuesday.. Hope EVERYONE hasd a JOYOUS day!!!!

Peace and Blessings..Chk

dogsandjogs

Hi:

Well, I still haven't gotten my appts scheduled (with the oncologist and the radiation oncologist)  The surgeon's office is supposedly taking care of it. I had my lumpectomy on Feb 8th and want to get started on the rest of the stuff ASAP as it is really stressing me out. I have occasional Atrial Fibrillation and it is really acting up since my surgery. I am worried about the side effects of any drugs the oncologist might recommend and about the radiation. I'm 75, as some of you know, so I'm told most of the side effects (like heart vavle problems) won't occur for another 15 years!  But I'm also worried about my ribs getting fractures as I have osteoporosis so my bones are not in that good a shape anyway. Oh well, I will have to mention all these concerns and see what the doctors say. All this waiting is not helping things.

Thanks for letting me rant!

Ween62

Hi Ladies

On day 3 of Rads. I have to tell you I was so anxious to get started and finish. I am finding this week so far has been awful. This has turned out to be really emotonial in more ways than one.

My breast looks like a road map they keep adding marks each day I go. I feel I am at the mercy of this huge machine. It is somewhat humiliating to be bare chested in front of the techs and have them do whatever it is they need to do to me. I feel so stressed trying to juggle working and getting to these appointments. (although lord knows I would be worse at home doing nothing). I saddens me to see the many women I see everyday. We are just a number waiting our turn. I want to finish this and have my body and dignity back. Oh I know this is for the best I chose to do this. Just didnt realize the impact it would have on me emotionally. Kudos to all of you who are going through this. And thanks for listening just needed to really vent.

Lisa

GirlFriday

ween62: I totally hear you.  I don't have to juggle appointments because I got laid off, but I get sick of having my tits shown to the world.  There always seems to be a student or someone extra in the room.  I've never really been shy or modest, but it is starting to grate on me.  I've been a personal care attendant (a long time ago) and honestly I never really thought about the nudity of the person I was assisting.  They needed a bath so I gave them a bath.  Needed to be eat so I fed them.  It was routine.  I'm pretty sure these techs are not thinking much more about my tits than is she lined up correctly, but still they're mine and I'm tired of showing them.  Although I put a smile on, inside I feel a bit frantic, but that's quickly replaced by apathy.  Now I need to excuse myself and put in a resume for some silly meaningless job

Ween62

GirlFriday

 Thank you needed that. Good Luck to you!

thrmine

Hi All,

Hercptin started today.  Rad start Monday 7:40am.  oh yea.

Alice 

marjie

Yay!!  I have my own rads countdown now....1 down 32 to go

Antigua

marjie

Antigua - do you mean the session?  It took me longer to change my clothes than the actual radiation part.  Once they get you in position on the table, I had two "shots" that were about 30 or 40 seconds each.  Easy-peasy, lol.

Antigua

That is very fast, I taught I would ask because I have been reading it takes 15 to 30 minutes every day for RT.  Thank you.

 I have my planning session tomorrow 3/3/2011.  Please talk me through it. 

Anyone who completed treatment without any burns, please let me know what cream or creams did youall used.