August 2011 rads

Elizabeth1889

pat01:  Please be gentle with yourself.  Rads is an emotional time for some people.  It is OK to cry.

jenny12000

Pat01, I was like you! I just started Monday. It will be my #5 this afternoon. I am so glad that this week has been so much easier than I thought. I know how you feel. I was crying the whole time when they did the "dry run" last Friday. Monday, when I went in, my goal was just not to cry. I definitely never been a cry person whatsoever. Now, I look back, it's a little silly about me crying that way (it was tough as I couldn't control myself of not crying...I couldn't move therefore couldn't wipe my tears...it's such pitiful). I feel so good now. This week has been the same technician. He is so kind and so gentle. I am just feel so comfortable around him. I also feel it's Friday and I will finish the week #1...so, 6 weeks to go...the number seems so much smaller that way My appt is at 4:20pm...I left work at 4pm and go there without any rush. Go straight to gym to work out (zumba) after...everything is going to be just fine for me. You will be the same way soon too...

I chose to not tell everyone at work (only my team and my direct boss). I felt much easier that way. Life is still going on as normal. And, I don't need to think of that at work. Work actually is a very good sanctuary for me.   

cellomomof5

Day #9 finished today. No sign of red yet, but a bit itchy in a patch just above my breast.  I'm tired today - it is Friday, after all!

The unfortunate thing is that I developed cording in my arm three days ago, and now my arm and hand are mildly swollen as well.  The radiation nurse took one look and gave me a referral for PT, a prescription for a sleeve and a gauntlet.  I asked if the radiation had triggered the LE - she said it was possible, but also possible something else had contributed as well.  I just hope I can keep it from getting worse.

MamaV

Finished #12 today. No pink skin or itchy yet. Little tired, nothing like chemo fatigue, like I worked all week and it's friday tired (oh wait I did ha ha)

Cyborg

Yay for the weekend. Hey mamav! your moving through this

I hope all of the ladies on this thread have a wonderful weekend.

julianna51

5 down, 30 to go.   Ready for the weekend!   They did my tattoos today, I have 3 and I can't really figure out where they are they are so hard to see.  haha  I'm happy to say this week reallly flew by.   

jenn_h

Hi ladies! I am glad I found a thread to join for the next part of my "journey"! I finished chemo end of May and had bilateral mast. w/axil node dissect. June 29, then they needed to take nodes from other side too bc surprise, surprise they had cancer too and showed a false neg. during first surgery.

Finally got to see radiologist today and after a painful CT scan (due to lack of range of motion in my shoulders from surgery) I get started next Monday for seven weeks...I read through a few of the posts here but there were so many. I am a little concerned about tiredness and work as well as some of you mentioned. My work day is 7:30-3:30. I scheduled the treatments for 3:30 b/c its a 30 min. drive there...hoping I am not exhausted by the end of it all. I am a teacher and it makes things a little difficult b/c I will have no planning time ro be able to attend meetings.

Will be good to hang out with others in the same boat as me and as most of you seem to have gotten started I will know what I have to look forward too! Good luck everyone!

jackifp

Jenn - we'll have very similar schedules... teaching workday, then half hour to the town with the rads, then I've an hour to my house afterwards, perchance to rest up to get up and do it again the next day. Can't get the rads office to commit to appts late enough I don't need a sub, so I anticipate that as a problem. This is a great forum for questions and support for this leg of this obnoxious journey.

jackifp

Jenn - we'll have very similar schedules... teaching workday, then half hour to the town with the rads, then I've an hour to my house afterwards, perchance to rest up to get up and do it again the next day. Can't get the rads office to commit to appts late enough I don't need a sub, so I anticipate that as a problem. This is a great forum for questions and support for this leg of this obnoxious journey.

Merilee

Ah finally the week end and a break from Cancer mind.

MamaV

Merilee we need a like button here like on Facebook! Love the images! Enjoy the weekend!

sweetcorn

Hi everyone,  I finished #7 of 30 yesterday.  I haven't seen any ill effects yet, but glad to have a couple of days off from it.

Thanks Merilee for the beautiful images.  We need all of the sunshine and light we can get!

Jane

shayes37

Hi everybody



I'm new to this site and have been reading all your posts and decided that this is where I need to be!



Just finished ACT (4 AC and 12 Taxol) on July 29.



Just went yesterday to get mapped out and tattooed. Was not bad at all! Have to go back August 22 for "simulation" then the 23 for Xrays then the 24 for a dry run (I think) then I start rads on the 25th for 6 weeks.



As I was reading through all of your posts, I see that a lot of you are talking about "boosts". What is that?



Hope that all of you have a great weekend!



Sue

Merilee

I can micro-spike my peach fuzz LOL

MamaMia41

I'm glad to see some other teachers on this thread!  I recently went back to work and my students started this past Monday; the first week is so tiring.  I teach early childhood special ed and there was a lot of crying this week, and that was just the staff! (Kidding!)

Anyway, I finally started rads this week.  On Thursday I went for my dry run and got my first treatment, not too bad, I think I can handle this. Friday's appointment was quicker, but I ended up waiting a long time to get it.  I guess the patient right before me usually takes a long time for some reason; they will try to move my appt earllier as soon as something opens up.

Sharon, saw your post about BRCA results, I'm sorry.  Please keep us informed on your new treatment plan.  Sending hugs and good thoughts your way.

A boost is an extra treatment (or treatments) given at a higher dose targeted at a small area where the cancer was located. It is typically given to women who have had a lumpectomy, but some women who have had a MX may also qualify for this extra treatment. 

jenn_h

jackifp: yes, we will be pretty similar time wise. I was worried about going to late and adding time on top my day and just being exhausted, but don't want to miss any more work either...fast running out of sick time!

mamamia: I am special ed. as well, but have a 4th and 5th grade class...many of them I had over the summer (it's residential treatment so a lot of them live there), but I have a couple coming back in the fall that will be surprised to see my new hair (or fuzz)!

Looking forward to getting going so I can be getting done!!

GiGiL

Hi ladies. I started rads halfway into July and I have all of August to go. I just had 19 of 33 so far. Some fatigue, some pinkness, but doing good. I was reading on your post Cyborg that if we take tamoxifen, we won't be able to take tumeric. I was disappointed to read that. It almost seems like tumeric is as valuable as the tamoxifen. Wish there was some finished research on the tumeric.

Cyborg

GigiL: heard about the tumeric too. My breast is swollen some and pink. Put some aloe Vera on it. Hope I don't get to raw or have my skin start breaking down. Feeling a lot better. Found out that the reason why I was tired was not rads but due to effexor. Took one pill instead of two and much better! Plus working again so that is different too.

Merilee

Just to clarify boosts. It is not a higher dose, just the same dose spread out to a smaller area. Usually 2 grays what ever the heck grays are.

I work in early childhood education as well. I am a mental health consultant for Head Start. 3 & 4 year olds.

sweetcorn

Does anyone else have headaches?  I hardly ever have them, and now, coinciding with rads, I have been having those dull ache headaches.

Jane

julianna51

sweetcorn - I've been getting slight headaches late in the afternoon (and my eyes feel really dry) since I've started rads.   Don't know if there is any correlation BUT this weekend I really haven't had any.  I've only done 5 treatments so far though.

LovesChristmas-Barb

I have read on other threads of women having dry eyes and headaches during radiation so there may be a correlation....

SAB

Hi all.  Had my mapping Friday, and got my tattoos.  I asked for little skulls (or at least butterflies) but no surprise, got a couple little freckles instead :-)  Putting off Rads for one more week due to what looks like a mild infrection.  Doc wants to start clean and clear. 

So happy for those of you who are in process.  Every treatment, tough as it is, is a step away from cancer.  Cyborg, and others who are progressing to Tamox: There is a thread going for Tamoxifen..."Bottle o' Tamoxifen."  Maybe they will know about foods.  Does your medical group include a nutritionist?  Mine does, but I don't think it is covered.  

SAB

Sharon_W Just saw your post--sorry to hear about BRCA. I'm glad you have some friends with expertise and support to make your next decisions. If you move boards, please let us know where you are...peace and healing prayers right back to you.

MamaMia41

Thank you so much for the correction about boosts Merilee, I must have been misinformed.

bb226

Merilee as far as I know the boost is added radiation. The usual dose for breast cancer is 50 Grays divided into 25-28 factions or days (daily dose is 1.8-2 Grays or 180-200 cGrays). The boost is another 10-16 Grays over 5-8 factions or days. You are right that the boost does only go to the tumor bed or the high risk area so that your whole breast does not get the added radiation. Skin reaction is dependent on the amount of Grays you receive. That is why if you research you can find out what to expect at each point of your treatments because of the amount of Grays you have received.

For example I have had 15 treatments of 2 Grays for a total of 30 Grays. I know that I have to watch out for moist patchy desquamation in folds (blisters that break open and don't heal). As I approach 38 Grays this increases and can develop anywhere on the breast. If anyone is interested try googling skin reactions during radiotherapy for breast cancer.

I am pink (mild erythema), have a itchy rash with bumps but I don't think I have any blisters and no peeling (dry desquamation). I am having problems finding comfortable tops to wear. My fold below my breast is probably going to be a problem this week. I think it is heading towards peeling??

I am praying for an uneventful week for all of us in treatment, those in planning and finally those starting this week.

Merilee

Well perhaps those boosts are different for everyone. I ask the specific question and was told it would still be a 2 gray dose for me.

 I have a little sun rash type thing starting where my chest has previously had exposure to sun but nothing in the area that is receiving the radiation.

I have had 13 so far.

pollyt1

Just to let you know there is nothing to be afraid of during radiotherapy, it doesnt hurt and it doesnt last long.   I used 100% organic aloe vera and I never even had the slightest pinkness or soreness and it didnt happen after either.  The one thing I wasnt ready for was the real tiredness a week or so later and it still goes on a couple of months later, but I know it will improve.  Be prepared for your mind playing games after all the treatment ends, you think you want to party and celebrate the end of treatment but strangely, at least I felt this way, you feel a bit out on your own, on a limb and your little safety net of medical help goes.  Give yourself lots of time, make no plans take each day as it comes and never forget to say thank you for the fact you are still here when so many are not.  Life goes on and we have to be strong and positive and let people know it can be overcome with time, love, prayer and positivity.  Take care everyone from someone on a little Island off the UK xx

julianna51

I have been out thoroughly enjoying my weekend and first break from rads.   Went to what will probably be my last Bikram yoga class until after rads (I was energized and then crashed big time...all this after only 5 days of rads) to start out my weekend but finished off today by going to see The Help.   Absolutely the best movie I've seen in years, I laughed, I cried and I enjoyed every moment of it.

And, how could I forget!   I had a wonderful time shopping for my granddaughter and coming grandchild at a super sale.

I hope you all have been enjoying your weekend!

Juls

jenn_h

So here's a question for those of you who have gotten started...can you comfortably wear a bra or is it too sore and itchy...i have my post mastectomy camis, but was very excited about getting my new bras with the new "chick fillets". The cami is just not cut well to wear under clothing, it is too high and the straps are too close to neck, it seems to show under most of the necklines I wear...