April 2011 Rads

duckyb1

Will see the Rad Onc soon............I had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders............so this should be fun.....sometimes I can't lift my arm from over my head without using the opposite had to pull it up..................The sentinel node biopsy was miserable too (besides the torture), cause I had to keep my arm above my head then.................the tech kept saying................"you have to keep that arm over your head, and don't let it droop"..............I felt like taking that arm, and giving her a bitc-h slap right to her jaw.................I finally told her after the 3rd time she told me to raise my arm higher to "shut your pie hole, and just get this done"..........She never spoke to me again.  I also told the BS about her attitude too..................Can't wait for all this crap to be over.....

AimeeMac

Reading Mama - I was told not to lube 3 hours before or 2 hours after, 2-3 days total. Good luck as you start your treatments!

Rachel2

I just found out that I am in the whole breast radiation arm of the study, and not the 1 week partial breast radiation group.  So I start on the 11th and will have to go 6-7 weeks, not sure of the exact number.  I must admit I was hoping for the 1 week and shed a few tears when I found out I had to do 6 weeks.  I don't think I have felt this bad since I was diagnosed but I'm sure it too will pass.

duckyb1

I will be seeing the Rad Onc soon............actually her office was suppose to call me today, and I am not happy that they didn't............says to me "not on the ball" however, when I finally do get there I am going to ask about all the options available with Rads.........I know there are several ways to have it done in a shorter amount of time, but don't know who is a candidate for that type of procedure.............I don't want the lengthy one either, but that is the one they  spoke of when we first met.............before surgery...............don't know is the smaller tumor size will change anything...............Not happy about any of this crap to tell you the truth, but we do what we have to do.

sammolisa

Day two is done! - much better today and the stupid tech wasn't there today.  Tho I coughed almost all the way thru it today.  Dum ol cough. 

I wasn't told anything about not lubing when or what - doc even said I could wear deodorant if I wanted.   Of course the paperwork they gave me all contradicts that!   I just lube when I feel like it.  I try to do it at least 3 times a day.  Got a huge bottle of Aloe with lidocaine in it - but figured that would come later.   The scars from the oncoplasty are already pinking up.   I asked the doc how many rads I was getting - he said 180 centigrays per treatment - no boosts.  27 total treatments.   So 5.5 weeks of rads. 

Welcome to the newcomers! 

I applaud you Ducky - I haven't told off anyone yet - but it's getting close lol.

AimeeMac

Day 2 down! Hopefully this will get emotionally easier. Don't know why the start of radiation is bringing me down so much, but I was totally depressed all day, Maybe it's because it seems like such a long process (33 days), or maybe it is the fact that when I am laying on the table I can see myself in the reflection from the ceiling, and it brings it all home with a huge dose of reality. I can no longer be in denial. I should be rejoicing that everyday brings me closer to the end, but everything seems uphill today. Sorry to be such a bummer ladies, thanks for listening.

thegood5

Good morning everyone!  I've been hanging out on  the March rads thread since I was supposed to start in March, but due to a 2nd lumpec, I will be starting in about a week.  I go today to have my simulation and will find out when this journey will begin.  I also am on herceptin every 3 weeks, and will be for however long it keeps working for me since I have 1 liver met.  Anxious to get started on this!

I was told by my rads nurse to buy a sports bra 2 sizes larger to wear during rads, if I even want to wear one at all.  I also bought mens "wife beaters" tshirts in smalls to wear around the house, cheap and not a biggie if they get stained.  Wishing you all the best as you proceed with your treatments!

gymnut

hi all,

thank you to well, i'm sorry i forgot your name already but to whomever it was that answered my q. about whether it was ok for me to post here.  my brain can't be counted on as much as i'd like lately and i'm trying not to beat myself up about that.  i've been wandering around telling my poor cat we're going to play his favorite game "where did mommy put it?"  of course when & if he answers me...well, let's not go there right now.

switched treatment to an earlier time so i could go to a workshop this afternoon which i ended up not able to go to b/c it's too bright outside & the sun would have retriggered the rest of the comeback of the migraine i had yesterday.  sorry for bitching everyone.

the techs are still really nice and my right shoulder is better.  i am starting to have some effects from the rads though, which i'll share with the rad onc when i see her on friday.  i know it's "normal" or "to be expected" or whatever but i still don't like it.  my left boob is really getting tender & sore, especially the past couple of days, and the nipple and areola seem darker (& maybe larger?) than on the right.

as far as the "lubes", i guess we all get different info? i was told notto use any 3-4 hours before, but it was recommended that i could bring it w/ me to treatment, which i do every day, so that i could put it on immediately afterwards.

duckyb-if i have the right person-i would encourage you to ask all the questions you want and need to ask before you get started.  i did, even though it meant starting treatment later & even though i was fairly sure i was going to end up having to go with full breast anyway.  i had read a lot on this site and done some other research and wanted to know about the other types of radiation and what was available to me & what i specifically would or wouldn't be a good candidate for and why.  it took a while to get the answers i needed but it was well worth it because even though i do not WANT to do this, i know i made the right decision and the best possible decision for me.  that's really all any of us can do, isn't it?

to the other woman whose name i forget who is in the study, i hear that you're sad about having to go through the longer treatment.  grieve for what you thought you'd get if you need to, but then maybe you'll find a way to see that this may be the right option for you right now.  yes it takes longer overall, but you also get a smaller does each time. i guess there are always trade offs.

oh well, time to try to focus & get something productive done.

take care everyone.  fwiw, if i "count" at all, it's only in one direction, as in each day is one more day closer to done.  for me personally anyway, i can't think of/look at it the other way.  it'd feel even more overwhelming....but that's just for me

MaggieMc2

Hi! I won't start rads until sometime in May but I thought I would check here for advice and encouragement. My BMX is on 4/14 and was wondering how long after surgery could I expect to start radiation. I love my doctors, but find more information from these boards and women who are actually going through this whole process.

My doctor told me that I would need 5 weeks of radiation. I already went through chemo, and am glad that that whole scary process is over. Now I just want to know how long after BMX can I expect to start radiation????

thegood5

MaggieMc2, welcome!  My onc told me 4 wks after, but I had a lumpectomy and you may need to wait a little longer with a bigger surgery.  Basically it is to let the scar heal completly.

Got the simulation done today.  Gotta say, it was a piece of cake.  there was a woman at my church who came up to me one day (only met her once before) and just started telling me her horror story about her simulation and how I should take a nerve pill before I go and get ready for uncomfortable positions and markers and yada yada yada...glad I didn't take it to heart, because everything went so smoothly today and thanks to all of the ladies from the March rads thread, I felt like I knew exactly what was coming.  I guess everyone is different, but compared to everything else, this was a breeze.  Got my 4 tats and was told I will probably have to get more. They need to zap me under my arm, my left breast and a node that is right in front of my sternum.  I'm going to feel like a fried chicken after all that!

MizChiz

Hi all! I just began radiation on April 1st... My chemo was finished on Feb. 10th but my ONC was adamant that I have a decent amount of time off inbetween. The last chemo kicked my butt (5 days after I became dehydrated, BP plummeted to 74/51 and I blacked out and fell down a full flight of wooden stairs, ended up in the hospital for three days) and I think he wanted to give me some time to return to "normal."  I'm supposed to have 5 1/2 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week, M-F, weekends and holidays off (woo hoo!). I laugh when I read about everyone checking their heads for sprouting hairs because I do the same. The top front of my head seems to be sprouting more slowly than the rest. Anyone else on board w/ that? I told the kids (5th graders) at school (not teaching this year but a "shadow" for a boy on the autistic spectrum) that when it gets hot I probably won't be wearing my wig. They asked to see me w/o it, so I took it off. Little Meg said "Gross!" and most of the boys just said "Wowwwww!"  Meg is such a drama queen but a sweetheart of a girl!  Thank you to the woman who posted all the helpful hints! And thank YOU for beginning this thread!   

AimeeMac

Ginger - sorry to hear that you had such a hard time of it after your last chemo. I guess 3 days in the hospital is one way to relax, and you probably got some good pain meds out of the deal!

 You finished chemo exactly a month before me, so I am curious as to how much hair you have coming back at this point. Have to admit I am obsessing over the slow pace of its return. I don't think I have seen a change at all in 3 weeks, although my husband says he can see more there. The front and sides of my head still seem almost bare, but I have about 1/8" sprouts toward the top and some in the back.

 How are your rads going? I got really depressed at the beginning, because it seems like such an uphill climb, but I am marking every day off on my appt schedule and trying to be positive about the progress. I have had 3 treatments, and today my breast is beginning to feel a little bit tender. I was hoping that wouldn't start so quickly, but I guess whatever is bound to happen will happen.

I enjoyed your story about taking off your wig in front of the 5th graders. Kids are certainly honest, aren't they?!

thegood5

wow Miz-chiz, glad to hear you are ok after your fall...ouch!  I've been done with chemo since the end of Jan. and my hair is looking like it's a buzz cut that's getting a little too long, about an inch on top and 1/2-3/4 in. in the back and sides.  Hang in there, it will grow!

Letlet

Hello, had dose #8 today and my L breast/chest area has changed hue already to a darker shade. So worried since I have 17 more to go!  Does this mean I am going to end up like Kentucky Fried Chicken??? I feel more tightness across my left chest/trunk area. I have been applying aquaphor twice a day, I guess its not enough? How many shirts do I have to ruin...it is so greasy but I just endure it UGH!

LisaMomOfFour

Hi Everyone... just had my last chemo today, so pumped up on steroids and will probably be up half the night energetically posting all around the board!  So I thought I would introduce myself here. 

I have my simulation on the 18th, so I expect to start right after that.  My doctors said that I could start rads as soon as I felt well enough, so I'm hoping to start soon enough  to finish before Memorial Day.

Anyway, just saying hi to all as I'll be reading everyday, and posting as I get started on rads.  Not sure if I will have 25 or 28, I had a BMX, but had only one positive lymph node, but it had a macroencapsulation, so my onc recommended radiation to the lymph node area, and maybe, radiation to the chest wall as well, which I am not happy about.  Also have to worry about tissue expander failure with the chest wall, so really anxious to hear what the radiation oncologist has to say about the chest wall.  He was bringing my case to his board for discussion, and i will hear the result of their review on the 18th.

Good wishes to all!

Lisa

MizChiz

Well, Aimee, The most I got outta them for pain when I was in the hospital was TWO 325 mg. Tylenol! I asked for Advil and they wouldn't even let me have that! Not sure what the reasoning was, maybe because my BP was so low. I feel great now and lo and behold, my high BP that had magically disappeared for a month is now back! I guess that means I'm normal although I am not well known for being normal. About my hair... The sides and back sprouted rather quickly and seem like the hair is about 3/4" long. The top front, back to the crown, is coming in very slowly and I just noticed some new sprouting going on there, maybe 1/8". I look like I have male pattern baldness! It's very fine hair, looks white (or shall I say "colorless"?) mixed in w/ a shade of dark, yuck brown. So much for being a hot redhead!

Radiation is going OK. Tonight will be my 5th official microwaving and I have only seen a slight darkening and possibly a flattening in one area of my breast. I had a second surgery after my lumpectomy and my surgeon removed a pretty good "slab" of tissue to get clean margins. Last time I had a visit w/ him I told him I have names for my breasts now... Pint and Half-Pint! I think I'm destined to wear sports bras for the rest of my life. However, Fruit of the Loom DOES make bras for women w/ 2 different sized breasts! You buy 2 individual sides, whatever your cup sizes are, and they hook together in the front and back! Cool, huh?

I have never been very down about this journey we're all going through and I have no idea why. I guess I just battled it with humor. My main concern when I was first diagnosed was how to tell my 13 year old son (my only child). I told him I would never keep any information from him and would always answer honestly any questions he has. This is the same son who reclined the passenger seat in my car so he could hide last night when I was pumping gas w/o my wig on! Yep, children can be brutally honest!

Keep the faith and laugh as long and hard as you can!

MizChiz

Good, I love your profile pic! LOL! I can't wait until my hair looks like a buzz cut. Like I told Aimee, it looks like I have male pattern baldness. W/O my make-up and hoop earrings I could probably be mistaken for a guy... Soooooo not good! I saw a photo of my nephew's wife who has brain cancer and her hair has even grown back, so I know there's hope. )

AimeeMac

Ginger - thanks for the feedback. I wish I could be more patient about my hair, but honestly that has been the thing that has bothered me the most about this whole journey - stupid, I know. But I only feel sick when I see myself in the mirror without a wig. I used to wear a knit cap around the house and a wig when I went out, but now I put on the wig as soon as I am up just to tell myself I look normal - and I am probably one of the least vain people on the planet!

My family has been using humor to get through as well. When I first lost my hair my son, who has moved back home (he's 23) walked by me one day and said "I'm sorry Superman keeps foiling your evil plans Mom" and started calling me Lex (Luther). Now he tells me that I should try to sneak a spider into my radiation appointments so it will bite me and turn me into Spidermom! Did I mention that he is 23? Anyway, laughter makes it more bearable. I'm going in for rads #5 tonight after work, but next week and for the duration I will be doing 8:10 am. Just wondered what times you other gals are doing, and if you think it will affect your ability to work? (if you are working during rads)

ReadingMama

Happy Friday everyone and enjoy the 2 day break!  My appt. is not till 5, so I still have to get zapped later, but will be going away for the weekend (sisters bridal shower, yeah!) and not able to post.  This will be #3 for me. 

My hair is barely a buzz cut, but I blame the Herceptin for the slow growth. 

 So far, the Rad center has been great, everyone is super nice and there is a nice pattern of lights on the ceiling to look at.  It looks like a huge 5 petal flower and sort of kite patterns between each petal.  The lights change colors too.  I spent the dry run counting the lights in each petal!

 AimeeMac - I am working also, but did my time at the end of day in case the fatigue is bad later.  My boss also agreed to let me work from home 3 days/week.  My commute is almost 1 1/2 hrs, so on the 2 days I go in, I will have to leave at 3:30pm.  I was afraid if I had an early time and went in late, I would get stuck working late...

 GymNut - I agree, we all get told different things, kind of drives me crazy.  But my rad onc is like yours and said I could lube right after in the dressing room, so I bring my lotion also, figured I'm already undressed on top anyway.

I also found the pure Aloe in Harmons if anyone's still looking.  My Harmons is in Bed, Bath and Beyond, but there are stand alone stores also.

Maureen813

Hi all , Was lurking on the March rads thread as I started the mid- March.  I think I'm a middle child of the March/April rad threads. Anyway, I'm on #14/28.  Doing okay but using gel/cream called R1R2.  You apply R1 immediately after treatment.  Then you apply R2 cream at night.  I'm very fair skin and it's red, but no blisters. After the rads are complete I  have boosts but not sure how many.

 AimeeMac:  I truly understand the impatience with your hair. I check every day, sometimes 2X/day for hair growth.  I look sick without hair, so I feel worse.  I can't wait to go to the salon and get my hair washed, dried, colored, conditioned.  I was driving by my favorite salon around Xmas and actually got teary eyed when I saw women leaving with their Xmas haircut.  Next year we'll be there.

Looking forward to meeting more great friends. 

Maureen

MaggieMc2

I love all the hair (or lack of) comments...Lex Luther esp. Humor helps!!! Our new governor in Florida is bald, and when I catch a glimpse of myself w/o wig, hat or makeup, I feel like the governor is lurking in my mirror. I "draw" on my eyebrows daily, but I think the lack of eylashes is what bothers me the most. Scary. Also my nails are on the verge of falling off, thanks also to chemo.I try to think of all the money I am saving on shampoo, conditioner, salon haircuts and highlights, manicures, pedicures, mascara, razors, and hot water due to my 3 minutes showers these days.

Well, at least radiation will only give me sunburn!

sagina

Hi everyone! I had my simulation today, agree not too bad.  The worst part for me was the "one size fits all small" paper gown, it tore! lol.  I have red shapie marks on me, some kind of stickers, but I'm postponed a week for radiation, won't start until April 18th.  The RO has eye surgery and since I'd like him to see what he is doing....anyway....

On the subject of hair growth, my sides and back have some in fairly quickly, the very top not so much, I too look like my relatives going bald, but at least mine will grow back!!!!  My last chemo was Valentines day, then surgery (they called it a partial mastectomy) March 11.  It is growing back as soft as baby hair and some of it is white, that seemed to grow in faster!  I am however growing peach fuzz on the face faster than the hair on my head!!! I'm 41 and not sure if chemo has thrown me into early menopause? Anybody else?

I agree with all of you, the thought of radiation seems to stress me more than chemo did, but I think I might have been numb when chemo started....now somewhat clear headed I have to much time to think.

How is the fatigue factor for those of you already in treatment? I heard that larger breasted women suffer more symptoms, burning, etc, due to folds in skin etc.  Has anyone else experienced that?   

mightymon

Hi there all April sisters. I will be on #4/25 on Monday. My appointment is at 7.30am than off to work, so far so good not feeling any fatigue yet.

My BC breast start to feel a little bit sensitive and also got an itchy nipple! I'm using aqueous cream and apply them every 4 hours. 

DLL66

My simulation was today too. No paper gowns, they just gave me a towel to cover up with. It was a trip having a room full of people writing all over me, LOL.

 I start my regular rads on Monday. Yay! The sooner rads is over, the sooner my PS can start building me a new rack

lesleye

Starting Rads at the end of the month.  Should be finished June 10 ish.  I like my center so far.  Free Reiki on Thursdays.

sammolisa

Morning april girls !

Finished # 5 yesterday and today my left breast is feelin a bit sore.  Like the skin is more numb than it used to be - or desensitized yet sensitive?    Not sure what that all means, and my sports bra is bothering that side a  little today.  Been creaming alot with Aveeno Baby.   Anybody else having weird skin feelings already?  The doc was a little concerned it is already turning pink.   

 I also have to have an mri next friday - they found a spot on my kidney during the CT scan for my rads treatment planning - they just now told me about the spot.   Doc said he didnt' wan't to throw alot of stuff at me all at once so he kept the spot from me til yesterday.   It is most likely a cyst - but we need to know for sure.  

Beautiful day here in Nashville.   Enjoy the weekend girls!

Lisa

BlueLily

Hi Lisa, Sending you positive thoughts ... try not to obsess.... and go outside and bulk up on some of that beautiful vitamin D this weekend.  I only did 3x last week.  They had trouble getting me lined up on day one and I spent two very rigid hours on the machine (I wanted to run screaming!)  I have one small red mark already and noticed that I've shrunk a bit already... how is that even possible! (I am blonde & fair)  But thanks to the recent posts, I will never again complain about the one size fits all cotton gowns!   Silver linings.  They told me aquafor 2x a day and aloe as necessary (but not for 4hrs prior).  Thinking of you.

          

doreyme

Hi all,

Finished #5 on Friday. So far no pink! Lubing 3x a day. Once 4 hours before tx with aloe then once right after tx with aquafor and then once more right before bed with aquafor. So far so good! Also, using Dove soap for sensitive skin.....unscented. I do get twinges of discomfort in my breast every now and then but nothing constant. I have been wearing cami because the sports bras I bought rub on my port and was getting red and irritated so since switching to the cami it's been fine. Although I'm now concerned that the girls will be headed south from not being contained!  I know what you ladies mean about your (or lack there of). I check everyday in the mirror. I'm amazed at the fact that what hair I do have is completely white! I've been coloring it for so long I didn't know what was under there! Yikes.....now I know! I'm 49 and not ready for that, needless to say when it comes in enough for me to go "wigless" I will undoubtedly be coloring it again. When I look in the mirror and see all the white it makes me feel old. I know it shouldn't but it does.

MizChiz~I know what you mean about telling your son about your dx. It was by far the hardest thing I've ever had to do!  I too told them they could ask me anything and I would be upfront and honest. I think that was very important for them to know it was not a taboo subject. They are doing fine and we talk about it very openly and even inject alittle humor. It's not easy for any of us but theres comfort in numbers.

samdobbs

Greetings, I'm writing for my wife Liddy who is in the middle of chemo (3 of 6 TCH done) after lumpectomy. How long after she finishes chemo does radiation start? Is it ok to have a delay of 6 weeks after the final infusion? Many thanks in advance for any anecdotal or scientific answers -- and sorry if this has been asked before.

sagina

Hi samdobbs, I had surgery after 6 rounds of chemo - radiation doc said he likes to wait 4-5 weeks for the wounds to heal.  I don't know about waiting until after chemo though, sorry.  Everything in my regiment was in 21 day cycles before that.   Wishing Liddy the best, and thanks to you for taking care of her.