Summer 2012 RADS HANG OUT

Melrosemelrose

Hiker61-Glad to hear the rads have been easier on you than the chemo.  Not surprised the fatigue hasn't gotten you since I know you probably haven't stopped with the physical exercise/ running/walking you did while on chemo.  Happy we are now PFC--- Hair update:  This fuzz is coming in and some stubbies.  I still have some of my pre-chemo hair-- imagine that.  Eyebrows are half gone on each side but I can see those little hairs coming out.  Hopefully, my little hair follicles will figure out that the coast is clear and the chemo is done!!!!  HUGS to you!!!

Have a wonderful and restful weekend to all!!!!  Wonderful to see the number of rads going down for each of you!!!!

onvacation

Melrose - thanks for hanging with us!

SusannahW

3 weeks post rads and all the swelling seems to be gone. Just a little pink in a couple of areas, using deodorant again(yay!) and just starting to swim in a pool. Fatigue almost gone, just a little tired earlier than usual in the evenings.



Hope all of you are getting through your rads okay, the end is in sight!

onvacation

Yea Susannah!  

Melrosemelrose

onvacation- Hope all is well with you and you are doing well with the rads.  Getting out this weekend for some tax-free retail therapy?  HUGS to you !!!!!

Stacie

Thanks for the encouraging report Susannah.

jpmomof3

I was going to have rads no matter which surgery I chose because mine was in the nodes. I am almost 8 weeks pfc and 1 week after my second lumpectomy for clear margins. Thank goodness they didn't find anything in the re do lumpectomy, still healing from all that. I have an appointment with my RO on Wednesday. Will hopefully start rads two weeks after that. I have been lurking on this site most of the time but your posts are helping to prepare me. Keep up the strong work ladies. Kill cancer.

onvacation

Melrose - going to skip the tax free shopping -way too crowded I think - wonder if I can get that savings online?  Think I will check it out!

Melrosemelrose

onvacation- I bet you can.... Land's End has sent me Texas Tax Free emails. I'm with you--don't want to be around too many crowds of people plus little kids today. Just a little too much for me since it's been only 11 days after my final chemo.

Hortense

I got a call that I am to have my dry run on Wednesday and start radiation on Thursday. I'd had my simulation and been given tatoos a week ago Monday, so it will be a week and a half between simulation and dry run, which I hear is about average. I've been following advice on here about moisturizing ahead of time. My nurse told me to use Calendula oil found in the baby department at Target. I picked the purest version and have been using it. It's like a thick baby oil with an herbal scent.

I have also used cocoa butter which has a lovely mild chocolate scent. I bought a 99% pure aloe gel at the health food store but it has a musty smell that I don't like. 

kjiberty

Horstense;  My RO gives me free tubes of Miaderm, which I have been using.  I also interchange it with Aquafor mixed with olive oil.  

mt4ever

Melrose I am glad you are here because you alway seem to be able to explain things to where I can understand!  LOL 

I am done with 6 of 39 radiation treatments.  My RO told me not to put anything on my site until/when he tells me?  Is that common?  I wondered if I should go ahead and put some cream?  Opinions? 

Hortense

mt4ever - My doctor and nurse told me to moisturize twice a day, but at least four hours away from my radiation time. As I will be going at 11 am once I start, it was suggested that I do so at about 3:30 to 4pm and again at bedtime.

My nurse suggested using calendula oil as she said it seems to help better than anything else for most women. She sent me to Target to get it in the baby section.

eric95us

Sharon just finished 9 of 27. She's got the sunburn look and the skin is getting a weird shrunken leathery look and the scar is showing more than before.



She's still walking a couple of miles a day, but I'm noticing her fatigue.



Her last chemo (taxol) was july 16. Not much hair yet and she still has some numbness in her fingers and feet.

Cottontail

My RO's office called me this morning and I got my appointment set for my simulation on September 20. That will be exactly six weeks after my last chemo, and three weeks after my LX+ALND.



I'll have to reschedule if I need a resection if my margins aren't clear, but at least I have a target time frame.



I'll order a couple bottles of First Aid Beauty Aloe+ Gel, and hope my RO is ok with it. (Eucerin and Aquaphor both have lanolin, which I don't use, and I can't find full ingredient listing or animal testing status for Miaderm so I won't use that, either.) I'll take a bottle of that, and also my FAB Ultra Repair Cream with me to the simulation to get RO's approval. (Truth be told, I'll most likely use them even if she recommends something else, unless there is some extremely compelling reason.)



As for deodorant, is it just aluminum that we're supposed to avoid? I have a powder deodorant that's mostly cornstarch, tapioca starch, and three forms of dried/powdered coconut that I really like. I apply it with a giant soft kabuki brush, so no pressure on sensitive areas, either. I haven't used it in awhile, but I am thinking this will be the time to break it out again.

Stacie

Just did 13 of 34 will be halfway at week's end. Time is ticking away as is this treatment experience. Four weeks two days and a wake up away from being done!

docziggy

Hi all - I start end of August (meeting with RO on Thursday). Don't know yet what they'll throw at me, but I'm sure it'll be interesting! :P I'm following the April chemo crowd over!

KCB

HI All! Haven't posted i a while, but here we are ; I had my first Rad today..pretty uneventful, actually. But hard to be back in the hospital after a wonderful break away from the city, where I could almost forget about BC. WIshing you all well as we go on with treatment, and I'll keep checking in with you all.

Marcia1111

I'm hoping to go for rads after work once I start.  I hope I'm allowed to wear deodorant!  I keep forgetting to make an appontment with the RO for my consultation.

Nkb

Rads planning tomorrow, had to meet a new RO, my first one was lovely, but 8 months pregnant. She said aquaphor or whatever I wanted- no studies showed one better than another. The new RO says aloe Vera and don't start til your skin is red. Will see what the nurse says. Supposed to get 25 days, both sides at once. Seems short compared to what a lot of you are doing.

onvacation

Marcia - I can wear "natural" deoderant which I must say I am not a fan.  I guess it helps with the stinkies but I still sweat a lot!

IndigoMont11

Cottontail - what is the powder deodorant?  It doesn't cake up in your tops?

Dianefightslikeagirl

I've been using the "crystal" deodorant and my doc says its fine. I've been running and biking a lot too and the crystal deodorant seems to do pretty well. Today I completed 12 of 36, one third of the way there. Hope you are all doing well! =-)

Stacie

Diane were neck n neck. O did 13/34 today.

My occ therapist was surprised at how good my skin looked during RADS. She said it is probably my diet. I never would have thought that.

Dianefightslikeagirl

Yay Stacie!! My doc said the same thing about me today, not really much color.. Just a tad bit of pink. :-)

Cottontail

Indigo, it's Coconut powder deodorant from Lush. They have a couple other scents, I think. I've never had it cake up on me, but it probably could if it were applied heavily. I just pour a bit in a small saucer then use a brush to apply.



It is not an antiperspirant, and it's not heavy-duty odor control, but it works ok for me, if I'm not working out or something.



I like using their body powders, too. Especially in the summer, the powder feels nice between my skin and clothing, and helps absorb a little bit of moisture. I guess body powders aren't in style any more, but I like them. When I put them on I think of the fancy powder container and giant puff my grandmother used to have.

chapter4

I use Toms deodorant ...it's natural....dr says its okay...

Cottontail

I've tried Tom's deodorant in the past and it doesn't do anything for me.

KCB

Stacie: I'm newish here, just started rads yesterday. Interested in your doc's comments about your skin and diet: what is your diet? Hope you don't mind me asking! Hoping for any help to keep my skin from freaking, as I am fair and freckly...

slak

Melrose - I'm glad you're still on here!

3 weeks out from last day of rads and skin is almost back to normal.  I'm surprised at how quickly it recovers.  I'm using up the last bit of Miaderm in the tube.

I know the following is off-topic, but need a little support.  Unfortunately I'm having a biopsy in the 'good' breast early next week.  I found a lump just after rads was done, thankfully it turned out to be a cyst, but they saw new microcalcifications that weren't there 6 months ago (when they found the cancer in the other breast).  They would have done a wait and watch approach, but given they missed mine for years (got pretty big but luckily weren't aggressive cells), I figure I might as well see what is going on in there.  My head is spinning a little.  If this turns out to be something, both lefty and righty are going bye-bye.  However, after rads recon is not recommended for 6 months, so I'll have to wait until Feb for that.  I know I am getting ahead of myself here, but want to be prepared better than last time!