May 2012 radiation

AEM47

JNS - fantastic idea   I've been doing the saran wrap for days - round the clock.  The RO basically said the goal is to keep the skin on long enough that the skin underneath is not as raw.  It really has slowed the destruction down a bit !! They have changed my rads to 33 and the boosts start next week - right over the nipple !!!  I think this saran wrap will be the only thing that saves me.

Congrats on finishing !!

mckenna

it is all due to rads!!!!    i am very lucky in that almost anything i pointed out, they contributed to rads.  even the starnge freckle on my back

 i am at work on pain meds, throughout all of this, this is the first time i have gone to work on any thing stronger than ibuprofen.  but the mess that was under my arm is now under the boob and hurts about 10x's more.  it is also going to be about 109 here today, we don't get 109   i am not used to this, my poor baby is at camp.  i get to drive out there for family night tonight.  i am secretly hoping he wants to come home with me because i am very worried about him in this heat.  i can't wait to see him and hug him.  (and i wonder why he is such a momma's boy, i have nothing to do with that

congrats Patti and one more day dizzy and spoke!!!!!

everyone else, one more day til your 2 day break then only a 4 day week!!!!  we are on the home stretch now!!!!  we can do this.

Goodie

Congrats Patty!  Enjoy your day!   

Neeners - I agree with everyone else.  It has to be due to rads.  Ugh, how can they just dismiss it?  I actually don't talk to my techs about things like that because they are just there to give me my treatment.  I would go to the nurse and show her/him and not wait to see your RO.  My nurses would definitely make time to see me.

I'm done most of my treatment.  It was 25 rounds to one area and the the 28 rounds to my chest/boob area.  RO said it shouldn't hit my pit much more.  I'm thinking about doing the saran wrap at night.  I'm just afraid of what next week will do after I'm done. 

Jenn - I kind of had a cough the first two days and got really worried but I've had nothing since.

Etherize -  Sorry about your fatigue.  I'm feeling it too and I'm not even done yet.  Ugh.  Yesterday I could barely get out of my recliner!  I can't do that today; I have too much to do.  So, I'm not even getting in it until everything is done!  LOL

Oh, my nurse did tell me to get lots of vitamin C and protein especially now to help rebuild these broken down dead cells!  Off to get some more OJ!

Neeners815

Here is something else you guys would get a kick out of - the male tech showed up.  At one point he sort of loomed over my boob and stared while the other lady tech was writing on me.  I think my eyes almost rolled up into my head with embarrassment.  Hahaha.  Then I paid attention when I was getting zapped if the nipple felt tingly this time.  NOPE. So clearly Mr. Magoo wasn't the cause  I will say when it was done and he came back, he covered me up. The others don't do that and I told him thank you and then had to explain why because to him he didn't do anything out of the ordinary!  He did appreciate the thank you, though.

mckenna

close youre eyes.  as soon as they started postioning me my eyes were closed, they could have looming all day and i would never have known it

Neeners815

Close your eyes and think of England?

sbelizabeth

Ha ha ha ha....Neeners, that was pretty good. 

etherize

Goodie, you might want to double-check with your RO about the vitamin C.  I was told specifically NOT to take any vitamin C or E or A because they're anti-oxidants and can interfere with radiation.  They said a multivitamin was OK.

Jan, I'm glad to hear the fatigue gets better.  I worry a little bit about being one of the people who have fatigue to "up to 6 months or a year and for some people, it never goes away" as my handy-dandy radiation booklet tells me.

sweetpea23

Just popping in from the June Rads board to see what more I can learn. Etherize: I was told no multi-vitamin, no vitamin c, and no vitamin e because of the anti-oxidents. They told me vitamin d was fine. All those are in a multi-vitamin so I wonder why they told you that was fine?? So weird how things differ Doctor to Doctor. I have finished day 9 and am so tired. I run around w/ my kids because it is summer and am not resting. I guess I will have to find the time to rest. haha Take care.

Goodie

Thanks for the heads up about the vitamin c.  I don't really like OJ anyway!  LOL 

BLinthedesert

Hi Ladies, I did not take any antioxidents - because they said it was a no-no, BUT, I did take b12 and I made sure I got a lot of electrolytes (I used sugar-free sports drinks).  In part it was because I was running and it is hot as ... well, as hot as a desert here ... but also, I know I felt even more dehydrated than usual during radiation.

I am still tired ... like not normal work tired ... but in general, I feel much better already (probably just from not having to drive to treatment every day!!).

I hope you are all doing well!! Dizzy and Spokanellie, I am so excited for you!! 

etherize

sweetpea, I think the difference is how cautious/conservative the ROs are ... mine said multivitamins were OK, I'm sure, because the level of A, C and E in those is going to be a lot lower than in a separate vitamin pill of pure C, etc.  But even green tea is an anti-oxidant and mine didn't mention it.  I was drinking it early on in rads but when I read it was an anti-oxidant, I stopped.

BL, I'm glad you're on the upswing, feeling less tired. 

AEM47

okay - well I need some opinions.  I originally was scheduled for 25 whole breast rads and 6 boosts...total 31.  Then when I got my schedule, I was on there for 33 - so 27 reg, 6 boosts.  When I questioned it, she said it's just standard to do between 31 and 33.

Well today was #25 and I totally broke apart, I am a total mess...skin is broken, nipple looks like it's falling off and there is one area at the nipple that looks like a cut.  My RO is on vacation so the other RO took a look and stopped rads today untill monday when my RO comes back.  I'd like to push to start boosts on monday and stop the whole breast destruction now.  This would give me 31 treatments.  Considering I had a 1cm, stage 1, grade 2, and NO lymph node involovment, isn't this enough??  I had LVI, but I did 4 rounds of chemo as a precaution.  Just want some opinions on this.  I think I've had it and want to get to the boosting at this point.  I mean, how much will 2 more treatments do?  especially since I'm quite destroyed over the last couple days.  Any thoughts?

BLinthedesert

Oh AEM, I am so sorry to hear about this.  I would wait until Monday and see how things go after the weekend.  Personally, I think the difference between 25 and 27 is really arbitrary -- unless your RO had lowered your every day dose -- sometimes (especially with you ladies coming off chemo) they will divide your dose into 27 days instead of 25, so you have a slightly lower dose every day -- but still get the same dose.  If the 27 days is a greater overall dose, than the 25, then I think it might be more arbitrary.

Good luck to you .... 

mckenna

Aem I cant tell you what to do but I can tell you what I did. You can see my diagnosis in signature. I had 25 regular zaps no boosts. At limpedtomy there was no evidence of disease as they had rmoced all the cancer at biopsy so they did not do boosts.

Kiddos is home. My car said it was 111 degrees on way to camp. That is crazy.

Nipple is white . What a shock to see when I got home tonight. They said that is the new skin I guess I will find out. One more day this week ladies. I am so proud of all of us. We are amazing!

jdwench

Hi ladies, I've got 3 boosts to go then I'm done! July 3 is my last boost, July 4 is my own personal independance day! question for you all, any of you retaining water because of radiation? my breast is swollen, but I can feel water retention throughout my whole body, including the other breast, and in my legs. my non-treated breast actually hurts, like they used to during my cycle, before my period my breasts would get really tender. Up until my hysterectomy 2 years ago. this is the first time I've felt this way I feel like I'm on estrogen replacement but I'm not anymore.

Judy 

sbelizabeth

Sleepless night...my sister called yesterday to say she is seeing a breast surgeon today.  She discovered a swollen, red, painfully hot breast Monday night and has been the rounds of family physician, mammogram, ultrasound.  Of course, the fear is inflammatory breast cancer and we're all scared.

Please, my new friends, be in prayer for us.   I want my sister to avoid following me in this last year's journey.

schatzi14

sb...of course we will keep the good thoughts for your sister and you. She is lucky to have you in her corner too!

jittersmom

sb..prayers for your sister...keep us posted

julz4

SB.... Sending out prayers for your Sister & You!

BLinthedesert

Oh SB ... thinking positive thoughts for you and your sister.

mckenna

oh sb, that is just my worst fear.  i pray it is something b9.  please let us know once you know more we will be thinking and sending good thoughts.

mckenna

congrats to Dizzy and Spoke!!!  so happy for you.  5 more of us to go!!!!!!!

neeners, was it you with the numb face?  what did the dr say?

enjoy your 2 days off ladies

BLinthedesert

Hiphiphurrah for Dizzy and Spokanellie!!  

Have fun this weekend all you May RADs ladies!  Lots of real live hugs for Lynne and Spokanellie this weekend in their meet-up!! 

sbelizabeth

Hi, everyone.  My sister just called from the breast surgeon's office.  It's IBC.

She'll get her port next week and start chemo immediately following.  This is just so unbelievable for me. 

Thanks for your support and prayer. 

etherize

Congrats to Spokanellie and Dizzy!  

sb, I'm sending positive thoughts for your sister.  I sure hope it's nothing.

AEM47, your plan sounds like a good one.  Definitely suggest it to your RO; I bet he'll go along with it.  Good luck! 

schatzi14

oh sb...I am soooo sorry to hear that. I am sure as you go thru this together, you will be of comfort to each other. My thoughts are with you both.

mckenna

oh my goodness, that is so unbelievable.  i just don't know what to say.  are you guys near each other.  if not, maybe one of us is near hear and can help with something.  i don't know how but it is worth a try.  still sending postive thoughts.

Goodie

SB - I am so sorry for your sister and you.  That is wonderful they are treating her so aggressively.  Is she at a major hospital?  I would recommend for her to go to MD Anderson or Boston for a second opinion.  I think Philly has a good center too.   I think these three are the best for IBC.  My prayers are with you and your family!   

FLislander

AEM

I was on same sched.that you are on. I finished all Thursday. My skin started breaking about same time and they prescribed silver cream, but I am allergic to sulfa drugs so then got generic biafine and Took a 4 day break from rads and then did boosts only, skin healed great then finished up reg. Rads at end. Now skin is really red but I did the prescribed dose. Dr really wanted to give me breaks, at the end I just wanted to finish already