Sept 2011 Rads

Jandot

Hi ladies,



Last chemo July 11th, lumpectomy with SNB Aug 11th, scheduled for axillary dissection September 1. Think I will be starting rads towards the end of September, possibly beginning of November.



I am so glad to be heading into this last phase of treatment, but am not looking forward to it. We can do this!



Jan

Patty252555140415

Ginger-I'm going for the CT and I guess set up the same day I am so scared of the tattoos . Going to take a sedative that day!

katehudson25

I had my first radiation treatment today. I am very worried about having skin problems

neecee

I had my simulation today.  The procedure was pretty simple, and the tattoos fairly painless.  With that all said, i have to confess that I started crying the moment I entered the simulation room.  I still can't quite expain why.  I just did.  And I cried through the whole process.  This journey is so emotional. I cried right before my surgery.  I cried the first time I met with my MO about chemotherapy.  I guess I was naive to think I wouldn't cry today.

I start my actual treatments a week from today.  I am looking forward to them beginning, so I can begin looking forward to them ending!

EvelynMarie

Had my last TCH on Aug.11 and started my radiation treatments on Aug. 22. The tattoes were relatively painless -- they inject these little dots of dye/ink under your skin. I had two dots -- one on the outside of the breast and one on the inside ... on my chest between the breasts. It's nothing to be scared of --- just tiny needle pricks and really very quick.

The radiation treatment is rather quick too -- 30 seconds on each of the four sides and I was all done. The preparation takes longer than the actualy radiation. I am usually done in under 10 minutes.

I have 35 treatments and am scheduled to be done on Oct. 11. My RO tells me that effects are cumulative and in a couple of weeks I should see some reddening of the skin. Not everyone gets all the bad side effects, and I am hoping that since I did so well on chemo, that this will not be a problem.

I read all the information on the Radiation Therapy of this site and bought Johnson's baby wash and one of the lotions the site recommends. I am keeping my breast lubricated after each shower and I shower twice a day because I exercise after work everyday.

The RO also said to expect some fatigue, and again after having gone through chemo ... this fatigue should be a breeze.

Think positive ladies ... for those of us who went through chemo ... radiation is going to be so much easier, and we are all here to support each other. Do not give this disease anymore power over us than it already has.

julianna51

Hello ladies.   I'll be popping back and forth from here and the August thread as my radiation will be continuing into late September.   I've just completed #14 today and everything is going very well.   I am barely pink, if at all.  I have some tiredness but nothing that is too much as of right now.  I'm still working full time.  I am very happy with how well things are  going so far!

Natters

Thank you, Julianna and Evelyn for sharing your rads experiences! Very reassuring for those of us who haven't started yet.

Leighsa

Hi lovely ladies!

I'm starting radiation Monday (weather permitting-darn Irene) and will have 33 treatments and see my RO every Monday. I had CT scan on Wednesday and two tattoos-quick pinch. I'm getting my treatments at 7:20 in the morning, so I can head straight to work after. I'm a school nurse and don't return until the 6th.



Hoping I don't get too fatigued with the treatments. I have very fair, sensitive skin, so I'm very concerned about skin issues. I was given a special lotion to apply after treatments and before bed. I was also told not to use antiperspirant only deodorant. Only one I could find was Tom's.



On a plus side, my radiation center offers free massage and Reiki after treatments two days a week.



Have a wonderful weekend and if your on the East Coast, I hope Irene goes out to sea!



(((Hugs)))

Elizabeth1889

neece:  I cried a lot too during rads.  All I can say is that it does end and I felt wonderful emotionally when it ended.  It helped me to mark off each treatment with a big red X on my calendar everyday. Hang in there.

mom2ash

Hi All.  I finished 6 months of ACT in June and had a BMX w/ TRAM FLAP 3 weeks ago.  Having my set-up appointment 8/31, and continuing Herceptin (every 3 weeks) through April 2012.

katehudson25

I had my 3rd treatment today I will be having 12 more plus one week of boosts, and I will be all done on September 21.  So far I don't notice any side effects. I am very fair, so I am glad that I am not red yet.

neecee

kate - I am also very fair skinned, and was concerned about burning, too.  My RO said skin reaction is not tied to skin pigmentation, and those that burn in the sun do not necessarily burn during radiation.  Hopefully he is right - for both our sakes!

katehudson25

Hi Neece,

I hope your RO is right, and I wish you all the best. I have only done 3 treatments so far. I heard that skin reactions start after a week or 10 days, so I will know more next week,

ginger_mea

Patty2525555.....  We are on the same schedule, good we can keep each other updated and compare how things are going.  Good luck Monday to us both...

bedo

I'm starting Aug 29th and moving to a cheaper place the weekend after.  I'll join the group. I am fair skinned and am worried, although RO says this doesn't always mean skin changes will be more pronounced. I will do 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

Anonymous

Hello ladies! I would love to be a part of this group, I was dx 7/9/11, lumpectomy 8/2/11. CT is this Tue so Im thinking my first rad tx will be 9/6 or 9/7. I think RO said 35 treatments. What do you all mean about tattos? RO didnt say anything about this, if its real tattos like I think you all mean, then Im ticked! Getting a little peeved that things keep coming up that I have not been worned about. I can deal with whatever I have to but need time to accept it before they just spring it on me, ya know?

Love this web site and all the support and info!!!

Bless you all, lets kick Cs ass and show it... you picked the wrong BI to mess with!

EvelynMarie

Stormy123 ... they call it tattoes because it is injecting ink/dye under your skin to chart the course your radiation will take. It really is just little dots -- I have two. Some people have mentioned four dots, I haven't seen anyone who've mentioned more than four. The process is not painful -- just quick needle pricks.

You have the same number of treatments as I do. Good luck to you. I will be done by Oct. 11 (if I don't have to miss any treatments).

DivineMrsM

Greetings, girls.  I started rads Aug 24 9 (that makes 3 so far) and will have the bulk of them in September, so I'd like to join this September group.  I get my rads at 3 pm and noticed when I am home in the evening my body seems extra warm.  I'm having whole breast radiation.  I notice I'm a bit more tired directly after the rads.

It's been a long road.  30 more rads to go. 

katehudson25

I hope everyone is safe in the East. Cyborg, I noticed that you said you are pink and itchy. How soon after your treatments started did that begin? I've only had three treatments, and I am wondering when the side effects will start.Divine Mrs. M I started my treatments on August 24 too. When I come home from the treatment my bresst feels warm, but I do not feel tired yet. I am having whole breast radiation too, plus one week of boosts just to the tumor area. Altogether I have 17 treatments left.

neecee

Stormy - LIke Evelyn said, the tattoos are small dots (think small freckle) that help the technician define the radiation area.  I have three, and will get a fouth at my first treatment.  Mine will be used to "level" me on the table, to make sure I am in the same position horizontally and vertically each time.  My RO didn't mention tattoos either, but I knew from these forums that they are commonly used, so I asked.

Anonymous

Wow Divine MrsM, I dont like to hear that after 3 treatments your

feeling tired. I wounder if its because your body is run down from the chemo? I hope it improves.

Anonymous

Thank you girls for the info on the tattoos. If they look like freckles I can handle that. I guess I just get a little cranky when I find out what they are going to do to me. Sometimes I feel like Im going through an alien abduction. Lol, not that I have.

Can someone explain what the HER(- or +) means? My RO told me I was positive for both ER (99%) and PR (89%).

ashleere

I too just had my simulation last week and will start RAD around 9/7. 30 treatments. I am waiting to find out if I am HER2 +/-. I f I am + then I will have 2 rounds of Herceptin.  I am ER+/PR+.  I also cried while having my scan. It just made it all so real for me.  I have a 21 year old daughter and am trying so hard to keep a positive attitude for her sake, but it is getting harder and harder. 

Anonymous

Ashleere - Hello! I have a 20 yr. old daughter and a 15 yr. old daughter. I know what you mean, its very hard to go about the daily routine and not let on how much you just want to scream! My oldest tends to clam up, she will talk about it and is very supportive to me, but I have noticed that she has actually pulled away from me a little.  That hurts, but I understand that is her way of dealing with this. My youngest, however...OMG, she is stuck to me like glue! She is our comic relief of the family and my daily dose of sunshine. Yesterday, I actually had to tell her to back up 2 steps because she was following me around and just in my personal bubble space. I love them both more than life, but ghessh!  I told my husband we need to go out on a date so I can have some space and some time for just the two of us. So, tomorrow we are going to Home Depot and lunch, just the two of us! How sad is that, that I can't wait for a date to Home Depot, lol

Patty252555140415

Hello, I was wondering what type of lotion you Rad office gave you. weather permitting I go for CT on Monday. I wonder how long it will be after that before I start Rad? Take care Patty

Patty252555140415

Ginger-Did Irene have an impact on you? I have been watching this storm so close I want to start on Monday with everything Take care Patty

lilylady

  I see the RO on Sept 2-hoping to start the tx very soon after. I just want to get this over with!! Iamtotally sick of cancer AND cancer treatments

LolaM

Hope all you East coast ladies are safe. We are just continuing to roast in TX. I went for simulation on Friday and got 4 tattoos. Is anyone else doing rads in prone position (lying face down)? Was a little uncomfortable, but if each time is as quick, it should be fine. Starting Sept 6.

I agree, Lilylady, I am so sick of cancer and treatments! My final TCH was Aug 11 so am starting to feel a little better and now my eyelashes are all falling out still getting Herceptin every 3 weeks until the spring....it is a long road!

Stormy, I have 18 and 16 yo daughters and mine were the same! Oldest, a little withdrawn from me and youngest stuck like glue. Funny how they deal with it so differently. I have been so worried about them, but they are getting through it in their own ways.

Good luck to all who are starting treatment this week!

ginger_mea

Patty - I am very happy to say we now have power once again....  It was out for 16 hrs... we are very happy to say no damage directly to our house or property, we do live in a water community so the river and lagoons are over the road but it is down past me so I am able to get out and I am sure all systems go for the morning for RAD appt.  My daughter and grandaughter have been here too since Wed. because my son in law had radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer and can not be around my grandaughter until Tues.  So keeping her busy not to mention listening to her talk non stop all day is exhausting, so I am happy we have power again...

I am not sure what they will do, but they did call it Consult, stimulation and films, so I will be there for awhile.  I am really not sure what all that means?

Good Luck tomorrow - Ginger

bedo

PS, why do I have six tatoos???? Does anyone know or have this many?