April 2011 Rads

GirlFriday

sagina:  I think it's mostly lotion...especially if there's oil in it.  My rads unit had baby wipes...the sensitive kind.  I don't think it would hurt to stuff a travel pack in your rads bag...I had a bag for book, my crocheting (everyone seems to be pregant around me) and I carried a fleece jacket to wear over my johnny instead of the robe they provided.  I just felt like wearing the robe made me a "patient" in the hospital.  That's just one of my cancer crazies!  Talk to your RO or Techs...ask, ask, ask.  They will tell you what you need to do!

ReadingMama

sagina - wow chemo brain!  I didn't even think of that F when I was writing, tho it should definately be that!  I'm afraid I have way too much peach fuzz on my face to pluck, it either live with it or shave I think, .

sammolisa - I'm also curious if you have LE or getting the sleeve as a precaution.  I still have that call to make.  My hand swells slightly every night (actually my fingers) and I want to go see a LE therpist, primarily to get a sleeve for a flight in July.  But it was too much to think about when starting rads, so I haven't made an appt. yet.

GirlFriday - congrat on finishing and please keep visiting us with tips!

My rad just said no underwire, so I bought some of those and some of the fruit of the loom front hook ones, I figured those would be easier to re-lube at work.  But they are very tight so I think I might need to take them back and get 1 bigger size than normal.

Anyone know much about how they determine the number of sessions?  I think its funny we all have a different number.  I'm in for 34 (including boosts) myself.  only 8 down so far.

hdangelbaby

going for my consult on the 19th..... probably have simulation shortly therafter. I am smaller breasted (36b, and probably a little smaller on the lumpectomy breast),

any good ideas? i have thought about the sports bras.... luckily i won't be working during rads, i also heard cheap tanks cause some of the lotions and creams stain them. any suggestions???? thanks! oh yeah, what are some good questions to ask too???

and,.... if i ever wanted to go in and have a revision done (for example breast implants), can it be done on an irradiated breast?? i am thinking about having implants  in a couple years..

DLL66

Yay. 1 week down, 5 to go! Got my next meeting with my PS scheduled for halfway through rads. I am a little pink, but using miaderm many times a day. I'm very pale--red hair/green eyes & normally stay out of the sun. Can't wait to move on to recon!!

thegood5

question for all you ladies who have started...I forgot to ask my nurse today ("dress rehearsal", rads start Mon) if the road map she drew on my chest would be there the entire 33 treatments, or if they just use them in the beginning?    I even have one on my neck...lovely.  Looks like a really bad tattoo, in a very odd place.  Glad I will just be camping this weekend and not going to a wedding!    I also found out from my nurse that I can use deodorant on my rads side, something called "Toms" or something like that, which she said can be found in my local grocery stores.

sagina

thegood5~ I start next week too, my rad tech told me no deodorant in fear it will contain aluminum flakes - I know some stores here do carry the all natural stuff too, that's when she told me cornstarch out of box applied with a power puff will give the same results.  I think it's the anti perspirant part that uses the aluminum....

I didn't get a road map per say, I got target marks, looks like cross hairs, not sure if they will tattoo the marks or not, was on overload information when I left, didn't ask.

BlueLily

Hi thegood5.  The nurse took the marking off the neck and the two on the back side of my armpit after a few days.  They told me that the one in the middle and the three on my breast were the ones that needed to stay.  (The one in the middle being the starting measuring point ... and to not lose it.... if the tape bothered me - they'd put a dot tattoo for safe measure). The leftover markings are not visible with a scoop neck.  They change the clear tape upon request but told me to request prior to treatment when they are lining me up.  "Crystal" is widely available (RiteAid/Walgreens/organic section of the grocery store as is Tom's... Just check that it contains no aluminum.  #8 done ... oh and my raspy throat turned out to be bronchitis....   Good luck next week....  

thegood5

Thanks BlueLily and sagina!  Good luck to the both of you! 

ritaz

thegood5 and Bluelily:  They didn't give you the pinpoint tattoos?  Lucky you!  I got 5 of them - I wish they had given me a tape option... 

"Tom's" deoderant is Tom's of Maine, an all natural deoderant without the aluminum in most deoderants - all kinds scents too - perhaps more common here in New England?  I saw the RO yesterday that reminded me not to use regular deoderant because of the aluminum in it - it will block the rays apparently...She also wants me to use Jeans Cream - it absorbs into the skin and I could use it right before rads if I wanted to...www.jeanscream.com...I ordered it last Friday and it came on Monday - just in time for my first 'session'...

Good luck to you all and enjoy the weekend off - I'm volunteering at the Boston Marathon on Monday - have been for 14 years now - Here's hoping, but not expecting, that an American will win (those Kenyan's are FAST!! lol) 

Also, Bluelily - good to hear it was bronchitis instead of radiation based - not that bronchitis is a good thing but at least it's something that will respond to antibiotics...

msjag

Hello everyone, well I'm back to share a few things that have worked for me, I have completed 28 whol;e breast radiations, 8 boosts to go (on the scar of my lumpectomy).   I used aquafor after each treatment, 8:30 a.m then again at 10 a.m. then at 3 or 4 when I got home from work I used aloe from the plant I have, and again at 6 pm. then used the aquafor at bedtime.  each evening for about 20 minutes I would lay on the couch with my arm stretched over my head and breast uncovered to "air" it out. was told that would help to prevent/or to help skin break down.I wore soft cotton tank tops ( the mens white ones give support) and put a larger sized cotton bra over that so my breast never touched other skin.  So far so good, but like Girl Friday said, everyone is different.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

SusanHG

Glad to meet all of you, and sorry I haven't posted sooner.  I just finished #5 treatment today.  I have six weeks and 1 day more to go (7 weeks and 1 day total).  I am one of the few lucky ones who are coming straight from surgery (or in my case, two surgeries).  I had a 3 mm. TN tumor hidden within a large area of DCIS.  I may have avoided chemo, but I am having a heck of a time so far.  I came down with cellulitis 2 1/2 weeks after my second surgery.  I went on one course of antibiotics and it seemed to go away pretty fast.  They started rads on Monday, the day after my last dose of antibiotics.  My first three treatments were great.   It felt to me like going to the tanning bed-same pinkness and warm feeling to skin.  I had been putting aloe vera gel in the dressing room immediately afterwards, then applying Aquaphor as soon as I got home.  Then, calendula oil before bed.  Yesterday, I woke up to some red streaking, so immediately went in to see PA about cellulitis.  She wasn't sure if it was from the radiation and wanted to see me again this morning.  Well, it was redder and more painful today, so I am right back on an even stronger antibiotic for another ten days!  Starting yesterday, I felt a little short of breath, then today very short of breath.  Also, very fatigued since yesterday.  I am hoping this is coming from the infection because I can't imagine how bad it will be if it gets worse every week.  Besides my infection area, skin seems fine so far.  Actually, I seem to be already tanning after 5 treatments.

I am hoping things go better because the first three days felt great.  The therapists and doctors are all great and very, very fast.  I am literally out of there within five minutes time!  I am anxious for my journey to be over.  Good luck to all of you just starting!

SusanHG

Forgot to add that I have been having fun trying to find something to wear.  I am large breasted (36DD) and it is not so comfortable being without a bra normally, but now it is hard to wear anything.  I had bought many shelf bra camis and they all seem to constricting.  I also have those fruit of the loom bras everyone talks about-also too constricting.  Today, I went and bought, you guessed it, a nursing bra!  Never thought I'd wear one of those again!  But, it is perfect and the flap is very habdy for apllying the lotions round the clock.  Ribbed tank tops are also nice, but my nipple is sore and sensitive (from the infection I think) and the rubbing drives me nuts!

 OK done complaining.  I should be grateful to still have my hair.  There was a question for a while whether I would need chemo and i had my wig and scarves on order.   Went to a major cancer institute and was told chemo would not be considered until 6 mm.  Happily canceled my wig...

ritaz

Hey Susan, I finished #5 today too...They tell me I have 4 more to go...Congrats on not having chemo...me neither...Sorry about all the troubles ((((hug)))) Hope things improve!  I didn't take what you were saying as complaining - I just hear frustration...Understandably so...

I've noticed that a lot of you have been using the different creams 4-6 times a day - I started with 3X a day and when I saw the RO yesterday she said there was no need of that - that I only needed to put it on twice a day...I'm a fair skinned, blonde blue eyed gal and I haven't seen any changes - yet... 

SusanHG

Hi ritaz,

Well, I figure the more cream the better (i'm fair skinned with light eyes and hair as well).  My rad doc just gave me a list of recommended creams and just asked to have anything different approved by him.  He said that the creams are just to prevent side effects.  The lady that has her radiation before me is in the dressing room everyday when I come in putting on her aloe vera gel.  I thought that ewas a great idea, so I do it too.  Have you been tired at all this week?  I am really feeling short of breath today and tired.  I can kind of understand being short of breath since part of the lung has been hit, but did not expect to see anything this week.  My son is home for easter vacation next week, so I hope I don't get too bad. (He is 6 years old).  I notice your second cancer was double negative.  Do you have to take any hormonal therapy?  

Thanks for the hug.  I really needed it today :-)

Susan

sammolisa

Evening  girls!

10/27 done today and My MRI of the "spot" they found on the kidney done today too.  We will know results on monday.   Skin looks  fine so far.

As for the lymphadema sleeve, it was needed for swelling in my hand and elbow area as well as the pain and achyness, acheyness, uhhhh my chemo brain has no idea how to spell that word anymore,  and now it doesn't even look like a word to me either lol --  so yeah, the sleeve,  we are flying later this summer  to CA and needed one for that too.  Arm feels better with it on - less achey,  tho the fingers still feel puffy for a little while after I take off the glove.  Hard to type with it on and I have gone back to hunting and pecking it seems like with mostly my index finger.

My appetite has been weird lately - not sure  if it is the Celexa or the Metanx or what.  But nothing sounds good and things smell funny to me. 

Still have a cough,  dealing with that and the fatigue - i try to nap every afternoon. (if i can sleep thru the cough that is).

Hugs to all,

Lisa

ritaz

Lisa:  Good luck to you on that spot on your kidney - hope it's nothing...Also good to hear that you still don't have any skin issues - yet...Sorry about the lymphadema...that's lousy...You're not on any blood pressure medicine are you?  I had a nasty cough last year caused by lisinopril,,,I had no idea that was what was causing my cough - I though I had mets to the lungs...changed my medication and viola! no more cough...

Susan:  Actually I have been tired this week - I was trying to tell myself that it was all in my head and the fact I'm not sleeping that well with my husband in China and this first week of rads weighing on my brain...I hope you're okay with your little one home next week...Boys can be a handful!!!  Yup, I'm on Arimidex for the first cancer - that one was ER+  Haven't seen the Onc since this diag yet...Hope you can get some rest this weekend...

Hugs to all,

Rita

SusanHG

Hi again Rita,

I know how you feel about your husband being away. My husband normally travels a lot, but is supposedly on a 6 month travel ban due to my treatments.  They keep trying to weasel those trips in, though.  He has had two 1 day trips over the last couple weeks and one overnight.  He just asked me whether it would be ok to go to Mexico for 3 nights at the beginning of May and I said "Absolutely not!" He kept quiet after that.  He is going to Belgium a tthe end of June and we plan on going with him (my husband is French and his parents live in the South of France).  Hopefully, I'm healthy enough to travel by then

Hello, Lisa: wish you the best of luck for those MRI results.  I am sure it is just a cyst.  Glad your treatments are going well.  Any tiredness or shortness of breath so far?  I did feel like I wanted to cough yesterday from the shortness of breath, but I feel much better today.  I just got out of bed and its 2:30 in the afternoon!  Guess those weekends will be good for resting up for the next week.

About the lymphedema, how did you know you have it at first?  My upper arm has been aching on and off-some days are better than others.  But nothing seems at all swollen and my rings are not tight.

Rest up all!

Susan

pbgirl

Hi ladies

for tvandyk:  we have the exact same diagnosis.  I start rads in May (needed a second surgery for unclear margins and I'm just waiting for healing).  Let me know how the  rads go, and what cream you end up using.

Blessing and good health 

thegood5

ritaz~ I have 4 tattoo's and will be getting 2 more.  The marker and stickers are a bummer since I had to be so careful in the shower...wrapped myself in saran wrap...what a sight!  The stickers will come off tomorrow, so then things should be better!

hdangelbaby

when do they mark on you? the day of the consult or the day of the simulation?

i want to make sure to shave the ole armpits beforehand! lol cause i will be getting rads in my left armpit as well as the left breast.

i hope my center does tattoos....

thegood5

I got the tat's at my simulation, and then marker all over me Friday at my "dress rehearsal"...lining me up to make sure everything is right.  My husband came home and thought I let our kids draw on me...lets just say that I wore a turtleneck all weekend!  I'm having the same area done that you are...not thrilled about a hairy armpit!

rebeccabear

Hi, I've been reading and learning for awhile from all of you. I'm a newbie.  I had my lumpectomy 3/3; started RADs just Thurs 4/14. I'm really concerned about the thryoid thing. Anybody watch Dr Oz? The concern over mammos and even dental xrays exposed the sensitive thyroid to cancer?  I showed my Rad Onc Friday where my chest and all the way up the sides of my neck are pink and warm after just the 2nd treatment. (this is waaay out the the field of treatment for my left breast only) He says radiation "scatters" over the skin, but I have heard from women who developed Thryoid Cancer after RAD and I'm concerned. He's putting a device on my neck tomorrow to register the RAD and also double checking my alignments. Anybody had any experience with any of this? And I'm so glad to have found you all! thanks. Not sure how to post this: Diagnosis 2/18/11,IDC, <1cm, Stage1, Grade2, 0/2 Nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

sagina

Rebeccabear~ you can post your diagnosis when you edit your profile. Thanks for the info on the thyroid.  I start next Wednesday.

Hdanglebaby~ my RO said the radiation will cause hair loss - in the armpit! I'm getting rads to the armpit, the whole breast (as I had a lumpectomy) and the super clav - not sure what's so super about it~ lol

MizChiz

SusanHG... What you wrote concerns me... Part of the lung has been hit? My radiation comes from 2 different angles to AVOID my lung. If I were you I would start asking questions.

sagina

Hi Ginger, I got told the same thing, that a very small part of my lung can not be avoided.  I start Rads Wednesday, maybe it's the place the tumor was or part of the clavical?  He said the ribs can be affected too, not to get in a car wreck....then he says Oh, I've never seen that happen yet, here's the release.....

hdangelbaby

sagina, well at least that's one less thing to shave!! lol!!!

msjag

Good morning!  So far its true, no hair under my arm that's getting radiated.  My upper arm and shoulder feel sore also, but no swellling, I will take to RO nurse tomorrow, just to make sure its not an early sign of lymphedema. 

I also was told that a small part of the lung and the ribs are being radiated, lovely. RO said they hae to tell patients that, but she has never had anyone with the rib issue, but lungs can show scar/spot from radiation.  As we've said before, the gift that keeps on giving , ugh.

MizChiz

Hi Sagina! Maybe I am the one who should be asking questions then! I see a nurse practitioner every Tuesday (honestly, sooooo much more hands on than the doctor and she's a total sweetheart) and my RO every Thursday. I'll ask the NP Tuesday if any organs are in the way. My tumor was just above my areola on the top of my breast.

I don't know if I ever mentioned in this forum before, but I found it then went for a mammogram. It didn't show up in the mammo, ultrasound, or spot compression. This still bugs me. I was adamant that EVERYBODY feel my lump (No, I didn't ask strangers at the grocery store but I was tempted! ;o) ).

I'm also concerned about this third week of RADS and getting burned. I have turned a little pink a few times of the 10 I've had, and I'm fair skinned. I was told not to use anything prior to treatments and the one time the NP saw that I was pink she told me to get 100% Aloe Gel or as close to 100% as I could find. Found some of that at The Vitamin Shoppe.

ALSO... I am SOOOOO tempted to buy some "I BOOBIES" bracelets on Amazon.com and give them to my closest friends to wear. Did anyone read the article about the middle-schoolers (I love teaching middle school for reasons like this! lol) who were wearing these bracelets and a judge deemed it OK for the kids to wear them at school? LOL... we all know why the boys were wearing them.

Have a great day everyone! Smile and be healthy! (((((HUGS)))))

sagina

Hi Ginger~my tumor was sitting on the chest wall.  I am fair skinned too.  Does the radiated area expel heat? like a sunburn?  I felt my lump while in the shower and I made the three other ladies at work feel it too, and my sister and some cousins - same motives I'm sure! lol. I work in a construction company and when I got diagnosed, the men all started wearing the "i love boobies" bracelets or the pink race for the cure ones, just for me....sniffle.....they promised to wear them until my first all clear after treatment!

SusanHG

Hi Ginger-

Went to see the rad PA today about my shortness of breath.  She explained to me that the muscles in my chest are inflamed and it is a protective mechanism of the body to take shalower breaths when this happens.  She told me to take Motrin and to use a heating pad on my chest to calm it down a little.  They will be watching me closely from now on just in case.  I am feeling much, much better today.  Needed that rest this weekend.

As far as organs being hit during radiation, they do hit a piece of the lung-it can't be avoided, but supposedly we can live without this piece of our lung (at least that's wha they explained to me).  Since my left breast is the problem, I am doing a special Breath-hold technique so that my heart is not in the radiation beam.  I actually chose my local cancer hospital just because they had this technique there.  Any one else doing the breath-hold rads?  Kind of like playing a video game.  I wear special goggles and watch as the bar on the screen goes up as I breath in.  the radiation only comes out if my breath is held within the blue area on the screen.

Susan