July 2011 rads

Fitz33

Linda, thanks for the emu story - it really did make me smile.  It must have been bizarre for you to go through that but the story if sure funny. 

I'm 19/32 with my rads.  I became pink after the very first rad and have stayed that way until #18 when I turned red.  I use my cream twice a day.  I don't feel bad at all and no fatigue.  Actually, I feel pretty darn good through rads.  Chemo, don't ask.  I have a rash on my chest from the rads and I can live with that with a prescription cream.

This is going along well.  I hope it continues as easy as this has been so far. 

janinnj

I went for my sim today and willstart rads on Monday.  Thanks to all of you I stocked up on Auquphor and Aloe.  Haven't found the Emu oil yet.  I think someone saif they found it at GNC.  I'll have my DH stop there or check a couple of Health food stores.  Linda, the Emu story was great. 

ked329

Hello everyone -- I'm 7/33 with my rads and am so glad to find this thread.  Don't know what took me so long!  Thanks for all your posts.  I'm dealing with unusual amount of pain in my breast -- got triggered by about the 4th rad . . . no infection, no problems with my skin yet (my RO prescribed Biafene) . . .  It took weeks for the pain after the lumpectomy to get better.  Things seemed to have healed by the time I started radiation last week, but then quickly went downhill. 

Any similar experiences?   I'll be going back to the surgeon next week to see if she knows what's going on; RO doesn't know.

Hope everyone's hanging in there -- 

Mimidi

Eaglesara I had thought about the makeup brush with the cornstarch.  I had read on one post about putting it in something like a saltshaker and wondered about just using a makeup brush.

I will end my first full week of radiation tomorrow.  I have not had any problems with any of the doctors or staff.  I have met some wonderful people.  We compare our treatments and situations.  I have gotten some of the best encouragement from others who are so much worse off than me.

ImJulie

Linda, your emu story was a hoot! I read it to my husband and we both had a good laugh! Thanks, the smiles are needed.

I have my "dry run" on Monday. A couple of hours after my pre-op to have my port removed. I don't know when my rads will start.

I need to go back through all these posts and compile a list of the creams/lotions and get to the store!!

~Julie

kshav6

I started my first round of rads today (1 down 15 to go). Since reading about all the aloe and lotions and deoderant on this board I asked them what I should use or not use.  They told me I was fine to use deoderant as long as I did not put it below my lymphnode scar line.  Nothing above that is in the field of radiation.  They said to use no lotions until the doctor tells me too, but that I could use aloe if I wanted to as long as it was not put on several hours before treatment.  Also, I did not get "tattooed" like others spoke of.  They only drew markers all over me and just remark them as they think they need to since they see me every day.. I was thankful for that too.

 The actual treatment was way shorter than I thought it would be which I was glad for as I suddenly got very nervous before going in thinking about what was going to be done to my body .  About 30 seconds after getting up off the table the power went out in the whole building!!  Whew, was so glad I had finished the treatment before that happened!!!  Round two tomorrow!  My friend and I decided that she would go with me to my every Wednesday appointment and then treat ourselves to a movie once a week.. Hopefully that will make the weeks fly by a bit faster!

coraleliz

I'll be starting RADs on Monday. I was thinking about stocking up on various creams but I think I'll wait. I was given samples of 3 different kinds on my tattoo appt. Tomorrow I have an appt. I was told it is for the "1st phase" perhaps this is the same as a "dry run". I guess I'll find out.

Linda- Emu's are indeed mean, nasty animals. There is a ranch near me that raises emus & ostriches. They allow kids to feed them. Huh!!!! The dispense metal bowls with "food" in them. You walk over to the fence & put it thru openings in the fence. The emus knock it out of your hands with such force & aggression that it sends all the kids away crying. I'm kinda of disgusted by the thought of using "emu" oil. Hopefully something else will work for me. Glad you got rid of yours(emus).

Maybe484

TGIF.  Today will be Lucky #13 for me.  Have a good day, all.

Maybe484

TGIF.  Today will be Lucky #13 for me.  Have a good day, all.

smilie

I'm joining the July group too....I start my rads next Thursday July 21..my dry run is on Wed. I've already bought my aloe and Aquaphor, thanks for all the info regarding creams! I'm trying to be as positive as I can be(and I am a wicked positive chick!)...and am dealing with a great bunch of nurses/dr's, really upbeat office! My appt's are scheduled for 1pm every day....so for 6 weeks I'm having a lunch date with 'Ray'.

I wish all of you wellness and positive energy !

Elizabeth1889

Happy SE free weekend everyone.  I don't think I have ever been so glad to see Friday arrive.  Five down/28 to go.

ked329

Yes, happy Friday everyone! Just finished #9 and am looking forward to the break over the weekend!

LindaJanette

Helo Gigil,

I hear you on the poking and prodding - today as I walked out of my treatment I was so engrossed in thought I did'nt even tie my robe - I swear I never thought I would say this but my modesty is

just gone.. Oh well - 1st week down- tastes a little metal like in my mouth and some shooting pains but not constant and not intolerable-truthfully much better than I had built up in my head..

Merilee sorry I just got worried about you -Im so glad you had some time off  

Eaglesara great to hear you are coming through so well.

Thanks everybody for liking my Emu story I used to laugh so often and kind of thought of my self as a happy person with a decent sense of humor -Just thought I had lost that part of me too..

Sick to death of crying (Pills are helping) 

LovesChristmas-Barb

14 down....17 to go! I was really down in the dumps this morning but I had lunch with my sister and feel better.

I hope all of you wonderful ladies have a wonderful, restful weekend!!

LindaJanette

Welcome ImJulie

and Ked329- the pain I have is in the breast with the lumpectomy as welll and can be very sharp

 the Doctor told me this is normal.

pejkug3

I'm having some pain in my ribs.  The techs all said, "Yeah, that's to be expected."  *sigh*

It's not major but it makes it uncomfortable to sleep on that side.

13/33 treatments completed.  No skin issues yet.  They kept warning me about next week - but that did that last week, too.

GiGiL

I went for my sim today. It went quickly and well. I got two tats. They were painless. The CT scan went smoothly. I get nervous having anything like that done after my diagnosis. I'm always afraid of a problem. I used to take normal results for granted. I start next Tuesday. They said I will get the tat in the middle that day, and my full treatment schedule. Hope you all have a restful weekend.

PSU222

pejkug3**  I was glad to see that you asked about the rib pain.  I get strange pains and always fearful of asking.  All this crap scares me and I don't want to look for more issues.  7 down and I am still not quite sure of what my total is going to be.  Treatments have started to go a little faster and that has made the week easier for me.

Now if only my hair would sprout.  Monday will be 3 weeks PFC and still no sprouts.  I really want my hair back!! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend. 

coraleliz

I had an appointment today that included Xrays & setting me up on the machine that will be used on me. The hardest part was holding both arms over my head for 20 minutes without a break. I don't know if it took this long because I will be recieving RADs to both sides(chest wall & axilla) due to bilateral disease. I had a BMX.

My left shoulder started hurting & I was told to keep holding still. It's 5 hours later & I  still have numbness/tingling in my left arm down to my thumb. I'm thinking of asking them to treat me as 2 patients, left & right. So I can move my arms in between. I'm very active. I go to the gym, weight train,swim, run.....

I was told each of my treatments would last about 20minutes & to take an Advil before I come on Monday. Any similar experiences????

pejkug3

PSU - Hang in there - the hair will be sprouting in the next couple weeks. 

CORA - I didn't have MX but I was so stiff after haing my arm up for a 75 minute sim.  I'm sorry you were so uncomfortable!  The 20 minute treatment time for bolateral treatment likely includes the time to dress and undress.  It's *so* much easier than sim.  If you can get through sim, I think you'll be ok.

I skipped the Advil before tx...went straight for the Xanax. 

Lena

Well....here we go. Yesterday's films went good, so I officially start rads on Monday (July 18th). Since I'm going in still sick from the Mystery Ailment -- the doctors STILL dunno what it is yet -- which hit me out of the blue around July 4th I can only assume the worst is going to happen in terms of fatigue.

:::::sigh:::::

And I'm doing this why?!

:-*( 

LindaJanette

hi girls

cora I did not have the same as you but my surgery was very recent the girls position a pad under my left arm/shoulder - it is not perfect but it does help quite a bit ask if they can do this for you. 

Dana25

23/33 treatments completed. Definitely have some skin issues - redness and peeling.

Maybe484

I've always loved weekends, but now I LOVE them.

Hope everyone's doing ok.

LovesChristmas-Barb

I know what you mean Maybe484. And I dread Monday even more than I used to!

I started having pain in my ribs this weekend too. It's so nice to be able to come on here and read that other people are having the same issue and it's not just me....

I hope everyone has a blessed Sunday!

var126

15 of 25. yay!  Liking the Jean's Cream and Miaderm - one in my purse, one by the bed.  Also the Barely There bras working great - thanks to whomever recommended them!

10 to go, but also ugly heat wave coming, oh please don't let me blister in 100 degree heat!

Maybe484

I hope you're all having a great rad-free Sunday.  I just took a shower (adapted to preserve my markings, so not as long or as warm as I'd have liked, but still a great shower) and most of my underarm hair on the rads side went down the drain.  At least I don't have to worry about not shaving under that arm.  

I am actually experiencing fewer of the sharp, random pains than I had the first two weeks, but I too am noticing not really pains but a tightness in my rib area.  My RO said that the ribs on that side would always be slighltly more vulnerable than on the other side, though she'd known only one patient who suffered a broken rib, and that was due to a horse kick.  Watch out for emus too!

LindaJanette

Good one Maybe484

Yes, I agree Sundays are great -Monday's not so much..On Wednesday my hubby goes in for knee surgery. It's going to be a rough couple of months around here- 

Who makes the barley there bra?  I Recently ordered the ones from the TV " Genie Bras" really, really like them most comfortable I've ever tried and I have tried so many over the years, If you order just know it took a long time to get them, and order a size larger than they tell you too -honestly I have been living in them not bad and pretty soft..

Good Luck This week Lena..

Heck good luck everybody 

Lena

Glad those of you who started rads enjoyed the rads-free weekend. I wish I could have done EVERYTHING I had wanted to do prior to beginning treatment -- a total housecleaning and FULLY topping off the supplies at the supermarket but I had little energy and no motivation. I guess I should be glad I got the laundry done and and at least bought all the "easy" food (fresh fruit and salad stuff, sandwich makings, cheese, eggs, yogurt). Oh crap I forgot the prunes LOL. :::;;sigh:::: must be because I knew I'd be having lunch with my Pack Rat after the shopping...didn't know he'd be having me for dessert though, but we took a walk in the "woods" (his "yard") and there was the picnic table... LOL took a nap as soon as I got home.

Thanks for the well wishes, LindaJanette, and, I hope your husband's knee surgery goes OK.

Maybe484; when your radiation oncologist told you that your ribs would be slightly more "vulnerable" -- more vulnerable to WHAT??? Fractures?!

var126:  Interesting you're worried about blistering in 100+ heat -- I don't blame you since I wouldn't want that either, but your comment (about the heat) reminds me of my very first thought when I was instructed by both my oncologist and breast surgeon to have rads ASAP after my BMX -- "My whole summer is going to be ruined!!!" 

It IS -- July 18th through August 26th -- that's the whole damn summer all right, especially if you count the approximate month after finishing (if you're lucky and that's all it is) to get over the FATIGUE!   :-O

The problem with ruining my summer is really because summer is the almost the ONLY time I can ENJOY the weather, it's the only time of year I LIKE going out, going for walks, and even sometimes look forward to doing something other than what I "have" to do like go out to the laundromat or the food store.  I live in the northeast USA where summers are gorgeous and winters are brutal.  It was the longing hope for SUMMER that got me through the past winter (remember the news this past winter everyone, how the northeast got slammed with snowstorm after feet-of-snow storms over and over again and spring didn't come till almost JUNE?). Well fine ruin my frickin summer, I'm going to rebel this winter maybe, no more goddamn doctors and procedures because I will stay in the nice warm house (hey 60 is warm compared to the subzeros outside!) and flat out REFUSE to go outside in that cold brutal crap. GRRRRR! EFFF 'em all!

Maybe I could deal with losing the summer better if I wasn't suspecting this might be my last one (which would figure: other than the terminal cancer, most everything else finally started going right), but....the "best" thing I can think about the rads in the summer is "well I won't have to go out in the cold or try to drive on snow and ice."  eeesh.  :-*(

coraleliz

Pejkug, So, if I asked for Xanax, I might need a driver?  I'm such a lightweight. But it's not out of the question.

LindaJ, I'll inquire about a pillow or somehow repositioning that arm.

Thanks everyone, I was hoping to get thru RADS rather unscathed.Still hoping....