May 2012 radiation

Dizzy215

Lagata, I have been using Biafine since about week 2 and it's lovely, smells nice and it's non greasy. My RO said to mix it half & half with Aquaphor three times a day, but I don't like the greasiness of Aqua, so i only do that at night.  Mckenna is right, there's nothing that can prevent the redness or the rash that sometimes occurs, but the creams do help to keep your skin moisturized and prevent peeling.  My skin is holding up really well - I am only slightly pink and I do have the rash across the top, but hydrocortizone is helping that. Had #21 today, only 5 more whole breast, then I'm onto 7 boosts.

schatzi14

I had a male student and he talked to me like I was an idiot! He over explained everything he did. I am sure he was trained that way, but really, after a few treatments I already knew the ropes. He was soooooooooooo slow and always had to tape my arm back so it was clear of the field of rads.

Sometimes he taped it 4 times...the other techs NEVER had to tape it. I just dreaded it when I saw he was in my section...I knew I was in for a longer session. It took him soooooo long to position me. Glad it's over.

Neeners815

Schatzi - they TAPED you?  Huh?  You didn't have to hold on to the posts above your head?  Crikey I would have hated seeing that dude, too.  Oddly, the tech was much nicer to me today after my post whining about her LOL.

schatzi14

Neeners...yeah HE did...the girls not. I have LE in my arm and when HE put it in the arm rest, (there were no posts) it didn't fit well enough. At one time I thot he would use a whole roll of the stuff...and it hurt to pull it off. SEE.. whining is good for the soul.

mckenna

You have the right to say no students. I say no to any students anywhere in the hospital and I make no apologies for it

Neeners glad age was nicer maybe she is stalking our thread.

luvmygoats

McKenna - And that's what they're called.  ABD pads for short/simple.  as in A-B-D.  Sorry I may be making this more complicated.  They are pretty soft.

mckenna

My ro gives them to me. The package says 5" x 9" abdominal. Pad with wet proof barrier

Lagata1276

Dizzy - that's good to hear about Biafine, and to mix with Aquaphor. I'd hate to think I bought a whole tub of that for nothing. I actually use it on my heels now.

BLinthedesert

ha ha ha Lagata, multiple uses of aquaphor!  I bought a tub and have barely used it too!

I am seriously red and bumpy.  I wish I had some sort of prescription stuff, the over-the-counter doesn't work worth a #*$@.  

There are 4 different techs that I see, 3 of them more than others, 2 of them are men.  It was sort of freaky the first time I walked in the room and saw two guys there ... but now I am used to it, and one of them cracks jokes to help me relax.

Speaking of techs and the "nice/funny" guy tech, today was one of the women of my groups last day.  She said she was going to miss, "the crazy Irishman" ;-).  Not me, I won't miss them at all, no matter how nice they might be.  But - what I wanted to share with all of you was that "we" bought the nice woman a little orchid for her last day.  When I say "we" I am you all and I.  I had to go to the grocery yesterday, and I thought of this woman and how it was her last day.  So, with all of you in my heart/head, I bought her a little gift.  I knew you all would approve.  It was a way that I could imagine it was you ... so I treated her as I would treat any of you.

I really appreciate your being here through these weeks.

mckenna

Bl that was so sweet.



I think our boobs must look similar angry and rashy would be the best way to describe it.

Have you asked your ro for a script?



This week is seriously dragging on. I keep thinking tomorrow is Friday so the next two days are going to seem like forever.

BLinthedesert

My RO is on vacation (how dare she???) -- the one she had take over my care apparently thinks over-the-counter is good enough.  I disagree ;-).  If it gets worse I will beg for something on Friday!!  Someone will have pity on me, I have been behaving myself (no wiggling on the table and I was only late once).

silviazara

Hi everybody, so I survived past two days without seeing the doctor. The fever went down. The wound is healing somewhat, but hurts and bleeds a little. It is only the area where the bolus was used. All the other radiated skin has not even changed the color. Makes me thinking, if that bolus was at all necessary. And for the all 30 treatments! To burn me like this.. makes me actually pretty mad.

I want to congratulate Jan24 and Jitters for finishing , and Beachbum you are done tomorrow! Great! I like seeing more and more people off the list. !!!

jittersmom

shatzi.... tape yikes..never had that i just held onto grips when then got me ready for the boost there was a problem with the machine, and I had to stay like that for like 20 minutes or so...my poor arms were starting to shake!

Beachbum...congrats on finishing!

schatzi14

jitttersmom...I can understand the shaking for sure. It is a weird experience. I never had a boost...is that different than the regular rads? More local?

Neeners815

Congrats, Beachbum!

OK, today they replaced my stickers (whatever those things are).  She kept apologizing about hurting me, but it honestly didn't hurt.  I just wanted her to hurry up, since my arms were over my head  while she was doing it and we hadn't even started the treatment yet  Written on again.  I seriously think I've been written on every single time AND I have two tats.  My girl does wear glasses, though, so maybe that's it.  They did say the xrays came back and everything looked great as far as making sure they were hitting the targets, etc. 

mckenna

congrats beachbum!!!

silvia, glad you checked in.  sorry about the burns, that does suck.

neeners, they are actully taking all the tapes off and re drawing???  if my tapes are hanging by a thread, they take them off and re draw.  this morning she had to do the same one she did yesterday because it is in the field that gets the aquafor pad, so it does not stand a chance.  she drew on one of the peeled skin spots.  i am mad.  at least she didn't put tape there but still.

my 3 y/o neice texted me a photo of her holding a sign that says 2 more to go, it was so cute! 

now for the funny of the day.  as i am laying there top off, people positioning me and drawing on me, LET'S GET IT ON starts playing on the radio!!!!  and just for more comic relief one of the techs is singing along it was all i could do to hold still and not laugh hysterically.

Neeners815

mckenna - they are writing on me every day, but today was the first day they took my little stickers off and put new ones on - she said the old ones were too sticky and smeary.  Eeek re: drawing on the peeled skin spot  Sounds painful  Girl you are almost done!  hahaha that's hilarious about the music!  I think it was Tuesday I had "doctor, doctor... gimme the news".  The very first day I was in there I had "Takin' Care of Business".

mckenna

wow, they are serious about those marks!!  they only write on me when one of the tapes is coming off and until i had to start with this aquafor that was about once a week and not every spot.  but this week, it seems like at least one spot needs to be touched up each day because the aquafor is just not letting the tape stay.

etherize

Haha, I love these songs ... Yesterday at my place, they were playing "I'm Too Sexy for My Shirt."  I've now got 3 stickers, 5 tats and a lot of magic marker drawings on the boost area.  So yeah, I was definitely too sexy for my shirt.

BLinthedesert, that's really sweet of you to give that woman an orchid from all of us. 

sbelizabeth

The techs put a round sticker on one location on my chest, and three miniscule tattoos.  The sticky spot had a tiny blue dot in the middle of it for targeting purposes.  I hated the thing.  It got in the way when I lubed up, irritated my skin, and didn't stay on very well.

Last weekend when it peeled off again, I carefully cleaned my skin, got a sterile 18 g. needle (I'm a nurse), and exactly where the blue dot was, nicked a tiny ding in my skin.  It created a little scab.  The techs love it, I love it, and it will last until the end of rads.

I wouldn't recommend this for everyone, but it sure worked for me!

mckenna

now that is being resourceful! 

eth, love the too sexy shirt, but aren't we all to sexy for our shirts when we are at radiation.

sbelizabeth

Hey, has anyone figured out what "note" the manhole cover is singing when the beam is on?  It's driving me nuts.  I think mine is a D, an octave above middle-C.  

If I had perfect pitch like Julie Andrews I would just know. 

mckenna

Darn Julie is coming for a work fund raiser if only I could have asked her to come to rads with me -

BLinthedesert

Silvia, I am so relieved you are ok.

Neeners - I have tattoos and they still write on me every day too - I can't wipe/scrub it off anymore because my skin is too red and sore.  (regarding the June rads thread - there is NO way I would give up my wine, although, I will admit that I haven't drank "nearly enough", whoops, "as much" as I did before my lumpectomy).  

mckenna!!!  2 more -- YEA!!

etherize - that is too funny.

sbelizabeth, I wish I had "any" pitch.

I am feeling pretty crudy (sp?) crudie (sp?) errr, tired and sick.  I left work 2 hours early to take a nap -- that said, I am going to sneak out for another run tonight, if I have any energy at all.  

Have a good last day of rads for the week tomorrow ladies! 

Goodie

Congrats Beachbum!

Wow, mckenna - just two more.  You must be psyched!

sbelizabeth - I don't even think of that noise as a note at all! LOL.

I got scolded at radiation today.  I moved before they told me I could.  Whatever.  I heard them coming back in the room.  It was xray day and I had an itch.  Ugh. 

BL - I feel crudy too.  I think I did too much shopping today with my kids.  I had a nap this afternoon too! 

Dizzy215

BL, just looked at the June rads thread.....no way I am giving up wine....ya got a live a little, I say. Having a nice glass of red as we speak (write)



Psyched to be at #22 today.....just 4 more then the boosts. McKenna, you must be thrilled only to have 2 more left! Have a great weekend ladies!

Dizzy215

Goodie, my techs laugh as I'm nearly off the table by the time they come back in!! No sense in hanging around, I say.

BLinthedesert

ohhh- congratulations beachbum!!

Goodie - ha ha ha "whatever" ;-)

Dizzy - there you go, in the past we have talked about how much weight we might lose if we stopped drinking, and then decided, "who cares"!!  22 yea!!! 

mckenna

Girls we are all getting closer to the finish line. Looking forward to our 2 day break.

going out with book club for Mexican and margaritas Saturday, dinner with the fam on Sunday for father's day then the winery after my last rads on Monday. Just have to get past tomorrow.



Have a nice night

Goodie

mckenna - wow you are so busy the time is going to fly and before you know it  you will be DONE! yea!

dizzy - i can't wait to get off that table either!  Ugh.  Tech asked if I wanted to change from 8 a.m.to 7:20 a.m. but I declined.  As much as i want to get it over and done each day I can't imagine getting there by 7 a.m.  It's 40 minutes to get there and I already walk at 5:30 a.m.

I know this isn't the thread for this but what are everyone's thoughts about drinking?  I go back and forth.  I really don't think alcohol gave me bc but what if? about recurence?  DH and I had this discussion the other night.  I used to love my wine but now it doesn't even tate that good (yet)