March 2011 Rads

marjie

Yes, 15-30 minutes would include changing in and out of the gown, but the actual treatment is very quick.

Antigua

marjie:  Thank you very much for this information.  Our diagnosis is very similar except for our grade.

msjag

Congrats marjie on being able to start the countdown!!!  I go today for final set up and now they will start radiation tomorrow.  Not sleeping well at all, anyone else?  Doc keeps trying me on all sorts of sleep meds and NOTHING is working, ambien trazodone, ativan, all work for a mininual amount of time, any suggestions on sleeping to get through this would be greatly appreciated.  Of course, going into menopause from chemo and my age probably isn't helping either!!!

Thanks for the info marje.

lestwin

msjag:  I take 1/2 of a benedryl 25 mg and sleep soundly.  I have sleepless nights too (I am older as well), even my RO agreed there was no problem taking this.  If you don't sleep it's very hard to have a positive outlook and to me it well worth taking ANOTHER pill.  I am #24 today and start boosts Monday, YEA!

texasrose361

Hi libraylil!

I do my simulation appointment tomorrow and start monday! I sure am excited!!!... The tatooing didnt hurt anymore than some of the shots i've had, but i can tell you i prob wont get a real tatoo anytime soon!

Congrats on those who started! And yeah all my techs are girls too LOL

Adey

13 down / 15 to go!

I think I'm going to expand on the little dot on my right boob when I'm done with tx.  Any ideas?  I'm thinking a butterfly for rebirth...

LovemyLife12

7 down/ 28 to go.. only 21 until the boosts 

msjag- hope your simulation went great.  Starting on Monday great.. It really is short, just everyday..  My onco gave me 30 mg  Restoril.  It knocks me out!!  My RO asked me if I was sleeping well.  My hubby says when she takes Restoril she sleeps great. Apparently it reallty relaxes you(hubby says I snore loudly) the RO says this is expected.  I won't take it when my husband is out of town on, but the night he gets back you bet I am sleeping good.  I have 3 refills so I plan to use them:-)  Best wishes

Adey-  I so love the idea of expanding your tatoo A butterfly sounds beautiful.   Good Luck

Hope everyone has a FABULOUS day!!!! Chk

thegood5

I was supposed to be a March girl but since I need to go now and have a 2nd lumpectomy, I have to put it off a little longer.  I'll be interested though to see what you all have to say about it since it is still right around the corner for me.  Good luck to all of you and I hope you get thru it w/o too many SE's!  For those of you who haven't seen it yet, there is a great new thread called OMG they found the cure for stupid...just started the other day and is HYSTERICAL!!  Literally "pee your pants" funny.  It was just what I needed for a good boost...but you have to start reading from the beginning to understand what everyone is talking about.  Hope you check it out and it makes you laugh as hard as I did!

PitPat

Hey gals! Rad marks for me is March 16th. I fly out March 15th to stay on the west coast so i can have family support (it is that or go to our closest Cancer center 4 hours away by car and be alone paying 40$ day (included 3 meals and 2 snacks with all amenities near at hand, but you ahve to share a room) for full treatment it would be over 1200.00 for the entire time and driving home is not an option as the gass money alone would nearly double the monthly cost. So I get to have time away to recouperate from the chemo and sit and listen to the ocean when ever I want. I can't wait and am very thankful for webcams so i can see my kids eveyday via Skype. Not the same but they still have their mommy. As well it will be good for my husband to see the "invisiable work" I do.

As my rads will start around March 22nd I'll be running into the April rads time, but will stay here for up dates. I'll be having chest wall, upper chest and arm pit radiated. So happy to see that we are all in this together as we both begin and end our treatment journeys.

I've got this post I put on the Oct chemo board and the Nov. chemo board to update where I am completely for those interested in knowing where I am at on my journey.

 Patti

(Re-post from Nov Chemo board)

Good Morning Everyone!!

March 2nd has come and gone and chemo thereapy is a thing of the past. I'm in recovery now abut knowing that I don't ahve any more treatments just makes me feel like a huge weight is off my shoulders. I didnt bounce back as well as I'd ahve like after treatment 5 so thinking this recovery might take longer too. I'm activity intolerant (walking up stairs makes my heart pound) but a hemoglobin of 110 will do that. I'm stocked up on prunes, spinach, beef and iron pills so that I can do my part in getting my levels back up tthe 140s where I'm used to. Lethergy sucks.

I'll be heading out to the Canadian west coast on the 15th of March for my radiation treatments. I have 28 of them so will be gone from my family the whole time. I'm thankful though that I will be staying with family so it all works out. Plus I'll be near the ocean and I find that is always healing.

I still have 10 Neupogen injections to do and the side effects of that, but I know that every one I get is one more to be completely done. YEAH!

I'll be on Tamoxofan for at least two years and then the doc suggested the aromatse inhibitors (?), I haven't done the research for that yet.

I'll also be looking at book my surgeries for reconstruction. I have made the choice to re-create breasts and not just get the TE out and live flat. though I have a PS that I really like, I've requested a consulation with anothe PS for post radiation. I want an unbiased opinion of the skin after it has been radiated. As I have full thickness scars from a burn injury to my torso as a child this factors in with any micro surgery. I want to hear what this doc has to say. Though he works out of a hospital 4 hours away from me, if i feel more comfortable I'll go with him (I've heard that he has no personality and just gives you the facts, where as my first PS is soooooo charming!!)  I really look back and wished that the PS who did the immediate recon did not put in the implant and instead went with the TE on both sides as I believe the stress on the incision played a part on the area that did not take and eventually broke down and lead to the loss of the implant.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda...

On the time calander of getting reconstruction I'm going to have to wait longer until the rads skin settles down and options can be given. I'm getting the 28 treatments to my chest wall, the upper chest and the arm pit. I will not be getting the ALND as the research shows there is no diff in re-occurance vs LE and the problems women have with that.

On another positive note..I have my full count of growing hair back, it is about half an inch long and my regrual dark color with grey poking through...my luck. BUT it does feel thinker in the crown. I did not lose any to the Taxotare. though my eyebrows and eye lashes did thin significantly. Did I read that Vit D helps with that cause i got a whole bottle of that stuff and I;ll be on it like a junkie on heroin if it helps!

So glad this part of the journey is over. You gals have been great and I've loved reading all your posts.

Blessings to you all,

 Patti

msjag

Found out my treatment plan today, I start tomorrow with number 1 of 28 full breast radiation then 7 boosts.  seems like a loooooooong time to go, but I will be happy to start my countdown tomorrow. Thanks everyone for the advice on sleeping, going to see the doc tomorrow, she thinks my body has gotten into a cycle of not sleeping because of chemo.  She wants to do hormone/thyroid tests too.  Another appointment..ugh!!!

Hope all is going well for everyone who has started and to those who are just getting started with simulation, don't worry, its a pretty easy process.

Adey

patti- enjoy the ocean!

msjag- it goes surprisingly fast, it's hard for me to believe that I'll be half way done tomorrow.

GrandmaBubba

Hi everyone, Went for simulation yesterday and start rads in about 2 hours. I picked the end of the day so I could just go home afterwards. Blessings to all of you.

marjie

Compared to all the hours in chemo, rads is unbelievable! Today I was in and out in less than half an hour.

PitPat

I'm looking forward to that too marjie. And to have the rest of the day off to do as I please!

libraylil

Texas  omg they wanted to start me on Friday , but it is impossible to get a sub for 1/2 day on Friday.  How weird is that?  So I'm a day behind.  Ready to get this party started.  How are you doing after surgery? libraylil

GirlFriday

thegood5:  I'm so sorry to hear you have to go in for a second lumpectomy...are they increasing margins or is it for a different issue?  On the lighter side, I grew up in PA, and my first love was in Lititz.  We used to cruise the back roads in a beat up MG.  I think Lancaster County is one of the most beautiful areas of the country!

djfrro

ok, I started radiation this week, 20 treatments for 4 weeks.  I have finished chemo- 6 of TCH, still doing the Herceptin once every three weeks for a year.  My question is this-radiation is kicking my butt, I am soooo tired and I have only had 4 treatments.  I pretty much breezed thru chemo with little to no side effects.  I was not expecting for radiation to bother me at all is this a normal reaction, the dr just said it does happen to some people this way.

thegood5

GirlFriday...GET OUT!!!  I was born and raised in Lititz!  My husband and  I moved 10 min. south about 8 yrs ago.  All of our family still lives there so I'm there all the time!  Small world!

I'm going back in for the 2nd one to clear my margins...should be short and simple, but since I have to wait to heal, it puts the rads off longer.

So....now you've got me thinking...wondering if I knew your "first love"...

pegnie

Have been reading the boards since Jan.  Diagnosed in Nov.  Had lumpectomy to remove 8 mm ILC but after path. exam tumor was reevaluated to 2.1 cm.  Made me Stage II.  Had Oncotype DX test that came back with score of 9.  So, no chemo but started rads last week.  Have had 6 treatments so far.  So far so good.  No irritation or whatever one can expect as yet.  Guess that will happen after another week or so.

Glad to "meet" all of you.  I'll be with you now for a while.

crlacey

Adey: I love the idea of the butterfly tattoo. One of my techs suggested I ask for a flower and then the actual line up spot would be the dot in the center of the flower. I'm sure my hubby would like that better than these temorary marks and stickers.

thegood5: Sorry to hear about a second surgery. 

Yesterday was my first official treatment. So one down and 35 more to go. Next week I should be getting permanant marks, but at our hopsital, they wait until you have a few treatments under your belt before putting on permanant marks.

As far as the techs go, the 2 I've seen the last two days are really great. They try very hard to keep me comfy and covered as much as possible. Unfortunately, the other team of 2 contains a young male (who reminds me of my brother), so it's strange to have him working on me.

GirlFriday

thegood5: I know we should not use real names to protect the innocent, and even though he took my innocence, there was nothing innocent about that summer!  His last name was Livingston! Ha!  I haven't thought about him for many moons!  I'm 37 so if that helps you put an age group to the family! 

Good luck with the margins!  They had to take more from me on the table. I have no idea how they know what to cut.  The path report after surgery was so confusing, and I was worried about the margins until they explained it all.  Apparently there is a consensus that a min of 2mm needs to be clear, but some want 10 mm.  You'll heal quicker this time around...the body is already prepped to fix that area.  Don't forget to boost your protein!

thegood5

Thanks GirlFriday!  I know 2 brother's with that name...(last name?)  First name start with M or B?  I'm 40...one was a year older and one was a couple years younger.  If it's who I'm thinking...we grew up in the same neighborhood...right around the corner from each other!

Thanks for the info...hoping I'll sail right thru it and be done.  I'm also having a bone biopsy on my sternum on Monday, so I get to start and end my week with surgery...fun fun!

GirlFriday

That must be the same family.  I date M!  His brother was 4- years older if I remember correctly.  I can't remember his brother's name.  His mother had short dark hair, and I don't think she liked me at all.  His father was a little absent minded profesor like.  And so dang loveable!  I just got the call that I have a complex cyst on my ovary and it's bigger than my ovary, and have been referred to a specialist.  And the teeny little fibroid that was diagnosed a couple years ago in my endometrial lining has tripled in size. I haven't had BRCA testing and there's not family history, but this is a little too close for comfort.  I've always been healthy.  And I've taken care of myself.  Today my theme is going to be WTF...I believe I'll go make a lemon martini...it's five o'clock somewhere.  F it if I'm not sober enough to get my oil changed. I'll just re-schedule!

On the lighter side...5 down 28 to go! Sensitive red nipple be damned!

thegood5

That is them!  too funny! 

So sorry to hear about your latest results.  I had the testing done...only a paternal grandmother and maternal aunt had BC in my family, but I have 2 sisters and 3 daughters, so we wanted to get checked for their sake and also that would make or break my decision to have a double w/ ovaries out, but the test came back neg, thank God.  Now I can breathe a little easier as far as my daughters go.

Seriously, if you need a good laugh, and you sound like you do, check out the new thread OMG they found the cure for stupid!  it's hysterical!  I've been laughing so hard my stomach hurts.  I'll be thinking of you and hope all turns out.  WTF is a great attitude to have sometimes...sound that out myself!

thegood5

ok....I guess I've been puffing a little too much on the social joint going around over there on that thread...just saw that you posted on it!

msjag

I'm trying to find that OMG thread, can someone guide me!  Thanks, I could use a good laugh!

Adey

14 down, I'm half way there!

heavenschild

Got my CT scan and tatoos yesterday.  Start next Thursday, was really bummed I couldn't start the next day so I COULD GET IT OVER WITH.  Worried about clothing, etc.  Looked at lots of camisoles to wear under things, but all my clothes are pretty form fitting, so I'm thinking I might have to buy some loose shirts to wear for awhile.  Any ideas? 

GirlFriday

katerarbill: I'm having the same issue.  Currently I'm wearing the hook in front Fruit of the Loom athletic bras (got mine at walmart 2/$15) they are cotton and it's a size too big.  I looked at men's tank tops, but they are ribbed and I'm thinking that's not good cause my nips already red and tender (5/33 complete) Walmart sells danskin athletic wear...they have athletic tanks ($10) that don't have elastic supports in them. They are soft and stretchy.  I'm thinking this is going to be my move if I get too sensitive for these cheap brazieres!

GirlFriday

thegood5:  I went to that thread because of your suggestion!

msjag:  It's under the depression anxiety ptsd forum...or you can click on my name, and then see that I've posted there, and then link to it.  Just a little Board stalking can get you where you need to go!