December 2011 Rad

LuvRVing

Nana2Six - I see you are in MA, where are you going for rads?  I'm going to Dana Farber.

kks_rd

I was concerned about the amount of time that lapsed between finishing chemo and starting rads - since my rads were effectively delayed by a month so I could have a re-excision.  My SO assured me there's a good "window" of as much as 8 weeks after the last tx (whether surgery or chemo) before starting rads.  I sure HOPE that's true!

LuvRVing

Kat - I'm sure it will be fine.  My Dana Farber RO had me undergo surgery to have my TEs removed and wasn't at all concerned about the two month window.  I know a couple people who had DIEP after chemo and before rads, they also had at least two months off.  Try not to worry about it, if Dr. Jay Harris (who is writing the book on breast cancer radiation treatment) isn't worried about it, you shouldn't either

Nana2Six

Thanks for info, everyone.

LuvRVing - I'm going to Dana Farber too. Sorry you have such a long ride! I'm hoping they can schedule me between dropping off and picking up my granddaughter from preschool.

I think the drive should take me less than half an hour. My husband used to teach in Salem, NH so many years ago and I remember the commute. Now we're in Boston.

Anita333

Had my first radiation today. Still 29 to go. I am happy it finally started (just because the end of the treatment is getting closer ).

Hope everyone had a good day today. 

kennylynne

Thanks Ladies, day 2 of tamoxifen so far so good i think other than some hot flashes. Less then a week to go before rads...... hope yours went ok today anita

hugs

Southamptonmom

Kat, my last chemo was 8 weeks ago, and my planning isn't until Friday, so I'll be close to 10 weeks out. I think that is normal. Glad to see you're hanging in there Michelle. Hope the rain and traffic isn't too bad.

Anonymous

Nice to meet you all. I guess I belong here too. I had my simulation yesterday and my first radiation treatment today.

Is anyone else doing the "breath holding technique?"

YaYa5

had my 'practice run' today and will start actual radiation tomorrow.  i couldn't stop crying once the therapists left the room and i was there alone not knowing what to expect.  it's a very lonely treatment compared to the wonderful nurses for chemo.  and now i'm covered in black marks that they don't want me to wash.  i feel like a big baby.  i really dread going back tomorrow.

Anonymous

Hi, again, yaya - I cried through half of my 1 hour in the treatment room today too. I'm with ya all the way.

LuvRVing

Welcome Windlass and YaYa5!  It is a lonely time when they all scoot out of the treatment room and you see the red light come on.  I haven't been too emotional yet, maybe because I did Mammosite last year and this raditation isn't nearly as scary as knowing there are radioactive seeds right inside your breast cavity.  I pretty much knew what to expect this time and that really helped.  Because I'm a "techy" I find all the equipment and automation rather fascinating.  Now, that doesn't mean I like being there!

My planning session wasn't nearly as long as everyone else has described - maybe 30 minutes.  And the RO and his "fellow" doctor both came in and checked on me a few times.  Plus they gave me a break from the position for a few minutes in the middle of the session.  I'm always amazed at the uniqueness of every treatment center.

Windlass - I am not doing the breath holding. I asked about that, but apparently I don't need to do it. My center does use that technique for some people.

Southamptonmom

I will only admit my crying to my fellow sisters. My planning is on Friday. YaYa and windless, each day will get better. I think that fear of the unknown combined with the lonely, cancer sucks, feeling is overwhelming to say the least. I felt that way, walking the halls of the hospital during pre-op testing. Group hug XOXOXO

sandy115

I heard back from surgeons office and they told me to do ahead with Rads dont put them off any longer as the surgeon will not take my aux nodes out that I asked for and Ro agreed with me for my piece of mind Fustarated .Also having alot of breast pain even though I had lumpactomy back in June and only had a few pains here and there now its every day  has anyone else had this issue 4 weeks post chemo.The BS wont see me untill end of Dec.

LuvRVing

Sandy - I think the latest research shows no advantage to removing the axillary nodes in many cases.  There is an increased risk of lymphedema once those nodes are removed, so perhaps your RO can assure you that radiation will take care of anything that might be lurking in that area.  Sorry to hear you are having breast pain - that is a separate issue and your breast surgeon should be paying attention. 

YaYa5

luvRVing, i LOVE your new pic!  you look really awesome.

shelley2011

YaYa and Michelle, you both look awesome!

I cried when they hung my Cytoxen the first time.  I did not cry with radiation...I think because I know it won't have the severe se's that chemo did, and because it marks the end of this long road.  I have found that the 5 minutes or so I am alone each treatment is best filled with prayer.  I am not a big religious person, but I do pray for all of you and for specific folks within my personal circle that are also going through cancer treatments of all kinds.  I find it helps me to not concentrate on every click and whir of the machine and makes me feel like I accomplished something...today when I was getting dressed after tx my RO's nurse stepped in and called my name.  She said she had to ask me something, could I stop by the desk before I left.  Sure.  So I went to the desk, and she grinned because on top were several trays of earrings. She told me to help myself to a pair.  They are handmade by a former breast cancer patient who started a non profit called "Ears to You!". She takes donations, buys supplies and then makes the earrings to give away. They were all so beautiful it took me a while to make my pick.  Nice start to the day. 

kennylynne

What a heartwarming story, think I needed to hear that right now.. Hugs to all

YaYa5

oh, WOW, shelley.  what a wonderful gesture and such a nice way to end a radiation day.  thanks for sharing.

shelley2011

It truly was nice.  Especially considering that my morning sucked.  My DH took his shower and was getting dressed when he noticed that water was rapidly filling our bathroom.  A pipe had come disconnected under the sink.  No shut off so had to shut off hot water for the whole house.  BEFORE my shower!  So had to do a cold water washcloth shower to get ready for rads.  BRRRRR.  So the earring thing sort of turned my day around after a rough start!

twistedsteel

Rads 1 of 30 for me tomorrow after a day's delay for something like quality control to go over the plan and approve it. Sure would not want to boondoggle the measurements, depth, dosage... That would suck! So I was happy to wait another day to start.



I still have sections of MX scab on incision line. Is that common for starting rads a month after MX?



TS

LuvRVing

Thanks, Shelley!  I'm actually liking my hair at the moment, and the color turned out just like I hoped.  What a nice surprise to get the earrings!  Very generous of that former patient!

I haven't cried with anything yet, and I've been doing this for 18 months.  I am mad today, though.  The Breast Cancer Symposium news is that brachytherapy is LESS effective than standard radiation and results in more recurrences and twice as many future mastectomies.  Yup, I had Mammosite last  year and now here I am with a BMX and a recurrence or "leftovers"; no one really knows whether or not they didn't get it all last year.  I went from Stage 1 to Stage 3b while everyone was looking. 

Anita333

Rad 3 of 30 done. So far nothing unusual. I hope it stays that way for a long time.

 Good luck to all of you. 

bgail84

Finally got my DX score--a 12!!.  I started rads and was concerned about stopping and having to start chemo. At least now I know, no chemo. 6 down and 24 to go. Blessed be to all!

LuvRVing

Gail - that is great news!  Now you can just look forward to being done.

Rad #7 tonight.  DS #2 was tonight's designated driver; the drive in to Boston was 1 hour 40 minutes, the drive home about 50 minutes. 

YaYa5

CONGRATS, gail!  that's a beautiful OncoDX score!

michelle,  i don't know how you make that drive every single day.  i think about you often when i am going to my radiation and complaining about the drive and it's (sorry to say this) 20 minutes. maybe being able to get treatment at dana farber would make the drive almost ok??  at any rate, i really admire you and you NEVER complain.  i got #2 today, so i'm not far behind you

shelley2011

Michelle, it takes me, depending on traffic lights, about 5  minutes to get to rads.  I cannot imagine that commute and am praying that the weather holds out for you....snow in Boston would certainly add some drama to an already long trip!  So glad you always have company!

Gail, that is a great score.  Mine was 18 so with the micromets to the only node taken it was the chemo chair for me. 

Number 9 today!  21 more......hurry up Jan. 11th!

FYI, my fingernails continue to recede off the nail beds.  GRRRRR.  I think the colder weather has exacerbated the condition.  Ugly, ugly ugly.

LuvRVing

YaYa and Shelley - thanks!  It took DH and I about 30 seconds to make the decision to put up with the drive in exchange for significantly lowering the risks of damage to my vital organs.  After all, we had moved from Missouri to NH for two reasons - to be close to family and to have access to some of the best medical care in the world.  And we made that move (including moving my mom) within a few weeks of finding out I had a recurrence.  So to then accept the risks outlined by a "convenient" RO (20 minutes from home) whose practice includes every kind of cancer vs. the considerably lower risks explained by Dr. Harris at DF made absolutely no sense.  

Hoping that I have a normal lifespan (most of the women in my family live into their 90's), this is a "time investment" that seems completely worthwhile.  And having the Chair of Radiation Oncology, whose focus is breast cancer and who has been conducting leading research for about 30 years, as my doctor is extremely reassuring.  He is, by far, the kindest, most gentle doctor I think I've ever encountered.  And I am extremely blessed to have a family that is so supportive.  They are practically fighting over who's taking mom to treatment...lol!  So, nope, you won't be hearing a word of complaining from me. 

Shelley - my fingernails haven't separated from the nail beds, but they are extremely thin and breaking easily.  I'm trying to keep them short and I am moisturizing them at the same time that I'm slathering the cream on my chest area. 

Have a great Friday and enjoy the weekend treatment break!

Southamptonmom

Do I need to be moisterizer free for the planning phase? I look like a peeling reptile without moisterizer...

Southamptonmom

I can't figure out how to upload a picture of my nails. I was finally able to remove the gel polish, and they look like hell.

LuvRVing

Rose - I can't think of a reason why you would need to forego moisturizer for your planning session.  Slather away!!!

Is your picture somewhere on the internet (Facebook, Picasa, Shutterfly, Flickr or any web location that hosts pictures)?  You can't load a picture from your computer's hard drive.